Sabotage (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - March 28th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

If Sabotage (2014) doesn’t quite get there, it’s not for lack of trying on [Schwarzengger’s] part, and I like the decision to tackle something so profoundly dark, close to off-putting. The movie is a pulpy piece of revenge noir that’s in the end as bleak and as riddled with despair as these enterprises can get (think Man on Fire), that in and of itself almost enough to warrant a recommendation on my part right there alone.

If Sabotage (2014) doesn’t quite get there, it’s not for lack of trying on [Schwarzengger’s] part, and I like the decision to tackle something so profoundly dark, close to off-putting. The movie is a pulpy piece of revenge noir that’s in the end as bleak and as riddled with despair as these enterprises can get (think Man on Fire), that in and of itself almost enough to warrant a recommendation on my part right there alone.

Enemy (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - March 14th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

Cryptic Enemy Weaves a Tangled Web Adam (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a timid, unsure of himself college professor who nonetheless has a gorgeous blonde girlfriend, Mary (Mélanie Laurent), who by all accounts appears to love him flaws and all. Anthony (also Gyllenhaal) is a snarling, self-obsessed actor on the rise married to a gorgeous blonde, Helen […]

Cryptic Enemy Weaves a Tangled Web Adam (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a timid, unsure of himself college professor who nonetheless has a gorgeous blonde girlfriend, Mary (Mélanie Laurent), who by all accounts appears to love him flaws and all. Anthony (also Gyllenhaal) is a snarling, self-obsessed actor on the rise married to a gorgeous blonde, Helen […]

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - January 17th, 2014 - Movie Reviews

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, clunky title aside, does a nice job of making Clancy’s hero relevant again. It brings him into the post-9/11 world with invigorating and suspenseful aplomb, and while Branagh’s effort doesn’t rise to the same heights as the two Phillip Noyce directed efforts with Ford, and is certainly light years away from the near-perfection of John McTiernan’s The Hunt for Red October, it’s still a solidly entertaining thriller that’s easy to enjoy.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, clunky title aside, does a nice job of making Clancy’s hero relevant again. It brings him into the post-9/11 world with invigorating and suspenseful aplomb, and while Branagh’s effort doesn’t rise to the same heights as the two Phillip Noyce directed efforts with Ford, and is certainly light years away from the near-perfection of John McTiernan’s The Hunt for Red October, it’s still a solidly entertaining thriller that’s easy to enjoy.

Elysium (2013)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - August 9th, 2013 - Movie Reviews

While the messaging is on the heavy-handed side, those who agree with Blomkamp’s statements are going to eat up his commentary on class warfare and our collective descent into a dehumanized society by the bucket loads, the filmmaker constructing arguably the most anti one-percent motion picture financed by a major Hollywood studio in recent memory.

While the messaging is on the heavy-handed side, those who agree with Blomkamp’s statements are going to eat up his commentary on class warfare and our collective descent into a dehumanized society by the bucket loads, the filmmaker constructing arguably the most anti one-percent motion picture financed by a major Hollywood studio in recent memory.

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - May 23rd, 2013 - Movie Reviews

Unlike a lot of summer monstrosities that label themselves as being nothing more than “dumb fun” but forget to treat the audience with respect, Fast & Furious 6 remembers that people who do in fact watch this might actually have brain. While the movie itself is pretty stupid, it doesn’t treat viewers as being so themselves, understanding and respecting the audience in a way big budget enterprises of similar ilk rarely do.

Unlike a lot of summer monstrosities that label themselves as being nothing more than “dumb fun” but forget to treat the audience with respect, Fast & Furious 6 remembers that people who do in fact watch this might actually have brain. While the movie itself is pretty stupid, it doesn’t treat viewers as being so themselves, understanding and respecting the audience in a way big budget enterprises of similar ilk rarely do.

Evil Dead (2013)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - April 5th, 2013 - Movie Reviews

I can’t say this Evil Dead will be as revered or as influential as its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without merit. Alvarez proves to be a horror filmmaker with passion, energy, style and vision, taking the Raimi/Campbell/Tapert concept into twisted new territory while at the same time paying just homage to the original trilogy at the exact same time.

I can’t say this Evil Dead will be as revered or as influential as its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without merit. Alvarez proves to be a horror filmmaker with passion, energy, style and vision, taking the Raimi/Campbell/Tapert concept into twisted new territory while at the same time paying just homage to the original trilogy at the exact same time.

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - March 22nd, 2013 - Movie Reviews

My feelings towards Olympus Has Fallenaren’t exactly euphoric, and my reaction to the overall motion picture itself isn’t anywhere near positive. At the same time, for a schlock Die Hard variation (i.e. knockoff) Fuqua’s film isn’t anything close to a disaster, it’s too competently acted and directed for that to be the case. At the same, it’s also not anything even slightly special, making watching it more of thing to do when there’s nothing else to do than a necessity worthy of rushing out to the multiplex to experience.

My feelings towards Olympus Has Fallenaren’t exactly euphoric, and my reaction to the overall motion picture itself isn’t anywhere near positive. At the same time, for a schlock Die Hard variation (i.e. knockoff) Fuqua’s film isn’t anything close to a disaster, it’s too competently acted and directed for that to be the case. At the same, it’s also not anything even slightly special, making watching it more of thing to do when there’s nothing else to do than a necessity worthy of rushing out to the multiplex to experience.

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - January 4th, 2013 - Movie Reviews

Texas Chainsaw 3D isn’t just a bad movie, considering the potential evident during the first third and showcased during the final scene it’s also a disappointing one, the first wide release of 2013 a sad reminder that some wells just shouldn’t be returned to.

Texas Chainsaw 3D isn’t just a bad movie, considering the potential evident during the first third and showcased during the final scene it’s also a disappointing one, the first wide release of 2013 a sad reminder that some wells just shouldn’t be returned to.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

by Sara Michelle Fetters - December 19th, 2012 - Four-Star Corner Movie Reviews

By the time the attack commenced my pulse was racing to such a degree I was worried I might be having a heart attack. Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty is a triumph. See it at once.

By the time the attack commenced my pulse was racing to such a degree I was worried I might be having a heart attack. Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty is a triumph. See it at once.

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