The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - May 2nd, 2014 - Movie Reviews

That’s what The Amazing Spider-Man 2 does best, waste inherent potential. It’s got a great actor as the main character; does almost nothing with him. Has a wonderful actress as the female lead; gives her embarrassingly little to do. Casts two great stars – one up and coming, the other a bona fide Oscar-winner – as the bad guys; gives them precious little of substance to do.

That’s what The Amazing Spider-Man 2 does best, waste inherent potential. It’s got a great actor as the main character; does almost nothing with him. Has a wonderful actress as the female lead; gives her embarrassingly little to do. Casts two great stars – one up and coming, the other a bona fide Oscar-winner – as the bad guys; gives them precious little of substance to do.

Blood Glacier (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - May 2nd, 2014 - Movie Reviews

But the real star is Hessler’s script, the writer playing on ecological fears with playful irreverence. He doesn’t beat the viewer over the head with the climate changes aspects of the film yet at the same time he isn’t afraid of them, either, the filmmakers making their sociological points but doing so in the confines of a giddily gory creature feature.

But the real star is Hessler’s script, the writer playing on ecological fears with playful irreverence. He doesn’t beat the viewer over the head with the climate changes aspects of the film yet at the same time he isn’t afraid of them, either, the filmmakers making their sociological points but doing so in the confines of a giddily gory creature feature.

Blue Ruin (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - May 2nd, 2014 - Movie Reviews

Blue Ruin is a movie about revenge. It is about cycles of violence. It is about the hurt, resentments and insecurities that can build up over time leading to spur of the moment decisions which can have tragic repercussions.

Blue Ruin is a movie about revenge. It is about cycles of violence. It is about the hurt, resentments and insecurities that can build up over time leading to spur of the moment decisions which can have tragic repercussions.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - May 2nd, 2014 - Movie Reviews

With Only Lovers Left Alive Jarmush adds another borderline masterwork to the list, changing gears once again to deliver a supernatural love story hiding a deftly insightful social commentary within its intelligently labyrinthine layers.

With Only Lovers Left Alive Jarmush adds another borderline masterwork to the list, changing gears once again to deliver a supernatural love story hiding a deftly insightful social commentary within its intelligently labyrinthine layers.

The Quiet Ones (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 27th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

Pogue’s grip on all of this might be tenuous, but he knows how to maintain control and deliver the good when it matters most, the climax a terrifying maelstrom of emotional misery that left me shaky and unsettled long after the screen had faded into black.

Pogue’s grip on all of this might be tenuous, but he knows how to maintain control and deliver the good when it matters most, the climax a terrifying maelstrom of emotional misery that left me shaky and unsettled long after the screen had faded into black.

The Other Woman (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 25th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

The Other Woman takes disastrous turns, making its heroines so much less than they should be, reveling in nasty bits of bathroom humor and offensive misogynistic undertones (not to mention ghastly gender identity stereotypes) that are difficult to take seriously let alone comfortably endure.

The Other Woman takes disastrous turns, making its heroines so much less than they should be, reveling in nasty bits of bathroom humor and offensive misogynistic undertones (not to mention ghastly gender identity stereotypes) that are difficult to take seriously let alone comfortably endure.

Brick Mansions (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 25th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

This isn’t a great movie. I’m not even sure it’s a good one. But I can’t say I was entertained, and as inane as this remake might be the fact it’s an action effort that returns to basics and eschews computer-augmented bits of trickery for old school rock’em sock’em fists-a-flying fireworks is a major plus as far as I’m concerned.

This isn’t a great movie. I’m not even sure it’s a good one. But I can’t say I was entertained, and as inane as this remake might be the fact it’s an action effort that returns to basics and eschews computer-augmented bits of trickery for old school rock’em sock’em fists-a-flying fireworks is a major plus as far as I’m concerned.

"Bears" DisneyNature

Bears (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 18th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

Bears isn’t a bad film, far from it, and do think parents should show it to their children (and hopefully watch it with them). I’m just not sure if it is worthwhile for them to head out to the multiplex to view it instead of waiting for the movie to hit DVD and Blu-ray.

Bears isn’t a bad film, far from it, and do think parents should show it to their children (and hopefully watch it with them). I’m just not sure if it is worthwhile for them to head out to the multiplex to view it instead of waiting for the movie to hit DVD and Blu-ray.

"Transcendence" Warner Bros.

Transcendence (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 18th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

That Transcendence doesn’t ultimately work is decidedly a problem but that doesn’t make the experience of watching it any less riveting, and as failures go this is arguably one I’ll be thinking about and pondering for many months to come.

That Transcendence doesn’t ultimately work is decidedly a problem but that doesn’t make the experience of watching it any less riveting, and as failures go this is arguably one I’ll be thinking about and pondering for many months to come.

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