The writing and directing team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa ("Crazy, Stupid Love" 2011) have turned out a mediocre movie called "Focus." The film has a shallow story, a predictable plot, and bad writing. The only factor that made this film a [..]

If you liked "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" back in 2012, you will probably like its sequel, "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." While there is nothing new here, director John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love" 1998) and screenwriter Ol Parker have managed to retain the low key [..]

Director-screenwriter Alex Garland has turned out a smart science fiction film called "Ex Machina." This slick and engrossing thriller tells the story of a wealthy businessman (Oscar Isaac) who creates humanoid robots. He asks a computer programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) to analyze and evaluate his creations. [..]

Another cinematic gem has been added to the Disney Nature library. "Monkey Kingdom" is the eighth film in the series, telling the story of a family of monkeys living in ancient ruins in the beautiful jungles of Sri Lanka. The production-direction team [..]

"The Age of Adaline" is an interesting romantic fantasy film directed by Lee Toland Krieger ("Celeste and Jesse Forever" 2012). The story of a 29-year-old woman whose aging process is halted forever is a difficult premise to buy into, but is executed as well as can be [..]

Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures have a huge hit on their hands with "Avengers: Age of Ultron." The Avengers gang team up once again, only the second time since 2012's "The Avengers," to battle Ultron, an extremely powerful artificial intelligence. Returnees [..]

Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara are featured in an action-comedy film called "Hot Pursuit." This second-rate buddy picture provides lots of action sequences but delivers mediocre dialogue, few laughs, and a predictable storyline. Talent like Witherspoon and Vergara, playing a cop protecting a widow of a [..]

"Jupiter Ascending" is a weird science fiction film from the Wachowskis (Lana & Lilly) ("Cloud Atlas" 2012), who produced, directed, and co-wrote the screenplay. The story was quite incomprehensible, blending elements of scifi and soap opera, undermining the credibility of the picture. Something about the human [..]

Walt Disney Pictures went first class all the way with the new live action version of the old story "Cinderella." Director Kenneth Branagh ("Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" 2014) and screenwriter Chris Weitz employed the highest production values possible in the remake of this age old classic, based [..]

The mediocrity of the Divergent series continues with "Insurgent." Director Robert Schwentke ("The Time Traveler's Wife" 2009) and screenwriters Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman, and Mark Bomback have made a film with loads of action but featuring flat, one-dimensional characters we do not care about. Just like [..]