Film review: Inspirational ‘Blind Side’ surprises with emotional depth

Sandra Bullock retrieves much of the career momentum that “The Proposal” gave her and that “All About Steve” threatened to kill with “The Blind Side,” a surprisingly smart and moving drama about a steel magnolia who doesn’t truly bloom until she takes in a homeless teen and …

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

• Related: Another view

Film review: ‘Planet 51’ features good-looking surface, bland comedic core

How might a kid — OK, a teenager — protect himself from that dreaded fate described in legions of sci-fi movies, the anal probe? If you weren’t thinking “champagne cork,” you were way off, according to the sci-fi kids cartoon “Planet 51.”

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

• Related: Another view

‘Twilight’ trio finds enjoyment while coping with fame

LOS ANGELES — The “Twilight” series may have changed the lives of fans worldwide, but perhaps no one has been more affected by its success than the three stars of the film: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Frankly, Scarlett, this Blu-ray debut is a must-have

Arguably the most famous motion picture ever made, “Gone With The Wind” (1939), and a rebooting of a science-fiction legend, “Star Trek” (2009), sit atop this week’s lineup of titles making their first appearance on the Blu-ray high-definition DVD format.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Guide: At the movies

Friday, November 20, 2009

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

DVD reviews: Disney-Pixar’s strange digital worlds dazzle on Blu-ray

Two Disney-Pixar animated jewels, “Up” and “Monsters, Inc.” head this week’s list of the Blu-ray releases.

Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Emmerich treats viewers to CG thrill of world’s end with ‘2012’

Few filmmakers destroy the planet with as much unabashed glee as Roland Emmerich. In his previous films, he has eradicated the White House (“Independence Day”), the Statue of Liberty (“The Day After Tomorrow”) and Matthew Broderick’s career (“Godzilla”).

Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

‘Pirate’ steals rock ’n’ roll hearts

Richard Curtis makes romantic, sentimental and overlong comedies filled to the rafters with friends as cast members. He’s a British Judd Apatow — indulgent, substituting sweetness for edge, charm for shock value.

Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Guide: At the movies

Friday, November 13, 2009

Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Film review: Impressive visual take on ‘Christmas Carol’ misses human touch

The new Disney "A Christmas Carol" is another epic achievement in motion-capture animation, advancing the art form closer to photo-realism than "The Polar Express" or "Beowulf." Dazzling, ornate visuals take us to the snowy London of 1837, swooping over its digital rooftops and down its d…

Nov 06, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

Film review: Few big laughs in ‘Goats’ come by sheer will alone

"Wacky" isn't George Clooney's strong suit as an actor. But it's always at least amusing to watch the suave, silky leading man let his freak flag fly.

Nov 06, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

Flickering images of fear

The psychological tease of a roller coaster slamming toward the earth at 60, 70 or 100 miles an hour gives riders that near-death drama that film buffs say compares to the edge-of-the seat terror they get from watching a scary movie.

Oct 30, 2009 | 12:30 am | Loading…

Film review: Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ stands as compelling swan song

Oct 30, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

DVD review: Kuralt on home video

Charles Kuralt once said, "Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything." But that wasn't for him. The celebrated CBS newsman, who died on the Fourth of July 1997, created a travelogue of America that was delivered from …

Oct 30, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Film review: ‘Amelia’ in theaters

Considering the risks Amelia Earhart took, losing her life in the call of aviation, Hilary Swank and director Mira Nair don't put much on the line in their film biography of the pioneering flyer. This is a biopic on autopilot, providing the facts but not the passions of Earhart's achievem…

Oct 29, 2009 | 5:45 pm | Loading…

‘Vampire’s Assistant’ howls intentionally, but there’s not much bite

"Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" is sort of a "Twilight"-lite. It's about vampires and it's about teenagers. But where "Twilight" vamps down Romance Novel Road, "Freak," based on Darren Shan's novels, is a lark and in this case, the laughs are intentional.

Oct 23, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

‘South Park’ on Blu-ray boasts meaty commentary

Ten years in the making, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have finally made good on their promise to record a commentary track for "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut." The only catch is that the track is exclusive to the new Blu-ray release of the film, and the movie's crude animation doesn'…

Oct 23, 2009 | 12:15 am | Loading…

Guide: At the movies

Friday, October 23, 2009

Oct 23, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Glut leaves ‘Astro Boy’ lost in animation wilderness

The animated "Astro Boy" is a shiny hodgepodge of "Pinocchio," "WALL-E," "Oliver Twist," "Gladiator" and "Superman," with some obvious visual touches taken from "The Iron Giant." As its own entity, though, it's pretty forgettable.

Oct 23, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…