[5.50/10] This is 40 (2012)

This is 40 (2012)

Brief review: Judd Apatow's long-anticipated sort-of-sequel to 2007 comedy hit "Knocked Up" is finally a fact, but was it worth the 5-year wait wait? No, definitely not. Unfortunately, the story about a dysfunctional family, whose juvenile members can't deal with each other, is pointless from the beginning to the end, and barely contains any big laughs, due to the witless, egocentric and clumsily-written script, that is supposed to be funny, but it isn't. Sure, the movie has its moments of amusement, and the constant verbal fights between the characters are somewhat entertaining, but truth to be told, "This is 40" is genuinely funny only when it  really get down and dirty, which is hardly a compliment. Worst of all, for a comedy revolving around family dynamics, "This is 40" has no likability factor, no moral, and no heart... at least not a big one. Besides, it's so long and stretched out, at certain points you start to think that it's never going to end, which isn't a good sign for sure. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are both charming, and decent actors, and they do an okay job with the immature maretial they have to work with, so it's not their fault that the characters they play behave like 14-year-olds, instead of 40. Also, as terrible as it may sound, the kids in the film are loud, noisy, and downright obnoxious, and that makes them very hard-to-like. Sadly, the film barely possesses any noticeable technical qualities, and Judd Apatow's lazy, uneven direction doesn't help "This is 40" either.

Overall summary: Overlong, annoyingly whiny, often nasty, and pretty much pointless, if still moderately funny and watchable, thanks to its charming leads, Apatow's sort-of-sequel to "Knocked Up", "This is 40" is too aimless and self-indulgent to make you care for its story.

[5.50/10] Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

QuickRating: It's still very cute, and adorably charming,  there are quite a lot hilariously awkward situations that will make you laugh, if not hard, and its vivid, colorful visuals suit well the film's sweet, yet quirky tone, but on the other hand, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" doesn't have the liveliness and vital energy of the previous two, probably because the kids starring in it have grown up, and for that reason alone, the whole thing is not that funny anymore.

[5.50/10] Resident Evil: Retribution [3D] (2012)

Resident Evil: Retribution [3D] (2012)

Brief review: The fifth entry in the "Resident Evil" series starts off with a spectacular opening sequence, shot in both a reverse order and slow motion, but soon after that, it turns into the same old same fare we've seen, well, four times before. The paper-thin plot is basically an excuse for killing zombies, but the problem is there are not enough zombies in the movie, and that takes away from the fun. Paul W.S. Anderson, who also directed the 'original' movie and last year's "Aftelife" is well-known for his ability to shoot eye-candy action, featuring shattering glass, huge explosions, highly-stylized fighting and tons of slow-mo, and here, he does it with flair and style yet again. During the action scenes, he uses lots of cool tricks and flashy camera work, and successfully manages to provide the audience with a spectacle, that will please any action fan out there. However, the lack of actual plot constrains him to unnecessarily overextend most of the scenes in the movie, and that combined with the lack of proper cohesiveness, and neat pacing, make "Resident Evil: Retribution" feel a bit confusing, at times surprisingly dull, and generally all over the place. The use of 3D is unimpressive, yet far from terrible, and luckily, the CGIs and creature effects are spot-on. The gorgeous Milla Jovovich proves herself yet again as one helluva badass female action star, but sadly she doesn't really have much to work with.

Overall summary: Worse than "Aftelife", yet better than "Extinction", "Retribution" is a so-so installment in the "Resident Evil" franchise, that won't win any new fans, but will still be appreciated by those seeking for mindless entertainment, cool zombie kills, and frantic action.

[5.50/10] The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

QuickRating: It's realistic, current, charming and fairly engaging, but "The Five-Year Engagement" is also overlong, only mildly amusing and has a very weird atmosphere that that makes it look moody. The usually amusing Jason Segel and the beautiful and uber-talented Emily Blunt are great, but only on their own. Their chemistry as an on-screen couple is lacking big time and their relationship just doesn't feel believable enough.

[5.50/10] Total Recall (2012)

Total Recall (2012)

Brief review: A remake of 1990 sci-fi movie of the same name, "Total Recall" is "Underworld 1&2" director Len Wiseman's latest project, that manages to impress with its top-notch visuals and high-octane action scenes, but falls short in terms of storytelling, due to a largely sub-par script and lack of creative ideas. A few familiar plot elements aside, the story has nothing to do with the original one, and not in a good way. Obviously Wiseman has decided to exclude the trip to Mars from the story, thinking Mars is 'so 90s', but that's his major mistake. The plotline is not only overly twisty hence confusing, but also hugely unsatisfying and only semi-interesting. At least visually, "Total Recall" has the WOW factor. From the gritty, Asian-influenced production design to the stylish futuristic visuals and eye-popping special effects, everything about this movie is technically marvellous. Wiseman is usually great at shooting action, and "Total Recall" is no exception. There are a couple of Matrix-inspired incredibly well-shot action sequences that will leave you in awe. The cast is well-chosen, but the mediocre script doesn't allow them to shine. Colin Farrell is solid in his role, but his action skills are pretty poor compared to Schwarzenegger's, plus, the on-screen chemistry between him and Jessica Biel is nonexistent. Kate Beckinsale, on the other hand, is not only pure eye-candy, but also an absolute force of nature.

Overall summary: Visually-stupendous and stylishly action-packed, yet surprisingly unimaginative plot-wise, Wiseman's version of "Total Recall" is not a total disaster, but it's totally disappointing, and not as half as memorable as Paul Verhoeven's masterfully-crafted original.

[5.50/10] Safe (2012)

Safe (2012)

QuickRating: UK's Jason Statham proves himself a capable action star yet again, Catherine Chan is just as captivating as she is cute, the on-screen chemistry between them both is unexpectedly great, and most of the action sequence are handled quite well, but the cliche-ridden script and slightly overdone execution sadly let this movie down. Having said that, "Safe" is by no means a terrible movie. It's just a mediocre, forgettable one, that has nothing original to boast with.

[5.50/10] Lockout (2012)

Lockout (2012)

QuickRating: Guy Pearce's super cool character and his fantastically amusing performance make the movie perfectly watchable and at times even satisfyingly entertaining, and the futuristic visuals, while far from spectacular, work for the most part, but "Lockout" lacks originality big time and often feels like a hybrid of dozen other (and better) sci-fi flicks, and that really brings this otherwise well-crafted and decently action-packed movie down.

[5.50/10] Penumbra (2012)

Penumbra (2012)

QuickRating: Probably the most accurate way to best describe this otherwise well-crafted Argentinian occult horror is "Funny Games" meets "The House of the Devil", but not necessarily in a good way, as Boglianos' "Penumbra" is neither as realistically disturbing as the first, nor as shockingly terrifying as the latter. It is just a talky slow-burner that wastes to much time on building 'tension', and than throws a twisty climax that doesn't really work.

[5.50/10] Safe House (2012)

Safe House (2012)

Brief review: Swedish director Daniel Espinosa's latest feature film is basically a cat and mouse game, between a former CIA agent accused for betrayal and a young CIA agent, who wants to prove himself and get a promotion. "Safe House" is your typical spy action thriller, that you will certainly enjoy while watching, but forget as soon as it's over. The film ends up being that forgettable, because of its mediocre script, which tries to cover up its complete lack of originality and fresh ideas with an unnecessarily complex narrative and Espinosa's over-direction. On the top of that, it's twenty minutes too long, and it often feels like it's never going to end. Not everything's wrong with "Safe House" though. It's a technically well-made film that boasts some flashy visuals, brisk editing, excitingly frantic action scenes and tense car chases, that will surely give you a big adrenaline rush. However, it's the talky, slow-paced parts that makes it quite difficult to watch, at times even boring. Set in Cape Town, Africa, the movie takes full advantage of its fantastic location, providing the viewer with good amount of variety, and the vivid cinematography makes it even more visually appealing. It's kind of refreshing to see Denzel Washington playing the 'bad guy' in the movie. He should play villains more often, because he's actually good at that. Who knew? Ryan Reynolds acts passionately as usual, and the role suits him well.

Overall summary: Washington and Reynolds hardly disappoint, the hyper-saturated cinematography dazzles the eye, and the action scenes are sharp, edgy and well-executed, but Espinosa's "Safe House" plays it a bit too safe, and has far more weaknesses than strengths.

[5.50/10] Brake (2012)

Brake (2012)

Brief review: TV series director Gabe Torres hasn't made a feature film since his debut movie "December" back in 1991, and now he gives us "Brake" - a low-budget thriller, that sounds quite promising on paper, but ends up being a bit of a mixed bag. Conceptually, the film is way too similar to 2010's "Buried", starring Ryan Reynolds, and for that reason alone, "Brake" does not win any points for originality. That being said, the premise is still intriguing, the script is well-written and the curveball climax of the film is clever and makes up for lots of flaws. The problem with "Brake", however, is its limited, if truly claustrophobic, setting. Since almost the entire movie takes place in a trunk of a van, director Torres can't really impress us with gorgeous scenery or great visuals, therefore he relies on the amazing use of lighting and as much variety of camera angles as possible to make his movie looks slicker. Even though, he achieves that, the setting itself is just too boring and monotonous and that really brings the film down. Stephen Dorff has enough skill and talent to hold our interest throughout, and manages to carry the entire movie on his shoulders, but sadly, he's pretty much the only 'physical' character in the movie, and despite his tense and convincing portrayal as the confused and despaired, yet tough secret service agent, watching just him the whole time becomes way too tiresome at some point.

Overall summary: Despite the shockingly effective double twist in the end, and Stephen Dorff's exceptionally convincing 'one man show' performance, "Brake" gets too tedious too soon, because of its insanely limited setting and complete lack of supporting characters.

[5.50/10] Intruders (2011)

Intruders (2011)

QuickRating: It starts out strong, with a tense and scary opening scene, than it somehow continues to maintain its vibe of mysterious creepiness right until the end, when it totally falls apart after the twist is revealed. In fact, it has two twists, but sadly none of them works - the first one is predictable, and the second hardly makes any sense at all. However, the always magnificent Clive Owen saves "Intruders" from being just a stinker with bad CGIs.

[5.50/10] The Iron Lady (2011)

The Iron Lady (2011)

QuickRating: Meryl Streep's performance as the title character is simply sensational and arguably the best of 2011, and thanks to her, the movie is somewhat watchable and fairly engaging, but "The Iron Lady" doesn't really work as a biopic, nor as a character study, because half of it features a documentary-like footage, and the other half spends way too much time on Thatcher's late life and not enough time on the start of her political career.

[5.50/10] Texas Killing Fields (2011)

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

QuickRating: Sam Worthington shows a surprising acting range here, and the 2011 breakthrough actress Jessica Chastain delivers a knockout supporting performance, but "Texas Killing Fields" is a slow, moody, lifeless and pretty straight-forward crime thriller, with zero thrills, whose gloomy, blunt visuals and lazy camera work makes it feel more like a made-for-TV movie rather than a theatrical production. Though it has its moments, it's a rather unsatisfying experience.

[5.50/10] Perfect Sense (2011)

Perfect Sense (2011)

QuickRating: Despite its intriguing premise about a virus that causes loss of senses, this ambiguously titled apocalyptic drama focuses a lot more on the flat and increasingly tedious romance between the two protagonists, rather than on the actual epidemic, and that's its main flaw. Although "Perfect Sense" impresses with its bleak visuals and neat cinematography, it fails to engage on an emotional level.

[5.50/10] Sleeping Beauty (2011)

Sleeping Beauty (2011)

QuickRating: While "Sleeping Beauty" is an impressively well filmed debut feature from Australian director Julia Leigh, it's a grim, bizarre and rather unpleasant experience, that shocks with its perversity and disturbing sexual content. Don't get misled by the title, because apart from the stylish production design and refined cinematography, there's nothing beautiful about this dull, uneven, and painfully slow erotic drama.

[5.50/10] Margin Call (2011)

Margin Call (2011)

QuickRating: On paper, "Mergin Call" may sounds like an intriguing financial thriller dealing with the origins of current global recession, but despite its clever premise, solid direction and top-notch cast, J.C. Chandor's debut film ends up being a convoluted, overwritten mess, so surprisingly unengaging and so painfully slow, that will either put you to sleep or bore you to death. And sadly, the lack of entertainment value is a serious shortcoming.

[5.50/10] Fright Night (2011) [200th Horror Review]

Fright Night (2011)

QuickRating: Mildly entertaining, often silly, never frightening and nowhere nearly as delightfully cheeky and memorable as the original, this 2011 version of "Fright Night" flaunts its talented cast, interesting characters and stylishly-executed gore effects, but sadly, it's neither funny, nor scary, nor smart enough to work as a well-balanced horror comedy, as instead, it ends up being a rather stupid, pointless and mediocre one.

[5.50/10] Hostel: Part III (2011)

Hostel: Part III (2011)

Brief review: The creator of the first two Hostel movies, the brilliant Eli Roth, has quit the franchise, leaving the second sequel it in the hands of director Scott Spiegel, who manages to deliver a surprisingly decent and well-crafted entry into the horror series. Thanks to the smartly-written script and the competent direction, "Hostel: Part III" stands a notch above the rest cheap straight-to-DVD horror sequels, however, the film is not without its weaknesses. It's overstuffed with many twists and turns, some of which work well and some which simply fall flat. For instance, the early twist at the beginning of the movie is completely unexpected and rather brilliant, but the one at the very end is a huge let down, and pretty much ruins the good impression the film has made until that point. Set in the posh Las Vegas, "Hostel 3" offers some lush settings, but the lack of budget is still obvious. The acting is passable, if a bit amateurish and stiff. Unlike its predecessors, this sequel does not rely much on the graphic, in-your-face gore and the nasty torture scenes, as instead it focuses more on the story and the characters. But while "H3" succeeds in providing a fairly good plot, a few cool death scenes aside, it fails to deliver the creative gruesomeness of the previous two movies.

Overall summary: Even though "Hostel Part III" may surprise the fans of the franchise with its clever ideas and solid execution, sadly, it's marred with some rather unnecessary twists, and lacks the nasty goriness and slick production values of the first two, far superior, Eli Roth films.

[5.50/10] What's Your Number? (2011)

What's Your Number? (2011)

QuickRating: As expected, "What's Your Number?" is an extremely predictable and instantly forgettable romantic comedy, that barely brings anything new to the table, however, thanks to its somewhat creative concept and spot-on chemistry between the two leads, it ends up being pretty watchable. Anna Faris is sharp, funny and likable as usual, and even the goofy Chris "Captain America" Evans does a decent job playing a modern day Casanova.

[5.50/10] The Smurfs (2011)

The Smurfs (2011)

QuickRating: Apart from the vivid and absolutely dazzling animated sequences in the beginning, "The Smurfs" has nothing to do with the utterly brilliant TV series from the 80s. This modernized version just does not possess the magic of the mini-series, and it feels contrived and fabricated. The CGI smurfs are adorable, the cast is okay, and the voice work is good, but that can't compensate for a weak script and sub-par execution.