Reviews

Marvel’s Phase Two hits the ground running with ‘Iron Man 3′

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Like many Marvel fans, I’ve been suffering severe withdrawals. It’s been an entire year since The Avengers took the world by storm, a period of time that has proved far too long for those itching to see where the architects over at Marvel are going to take their shared universe. Thank God the wait is over; a [...]

Posted on by Hayden Mears 1 Comment

‘Oblivion’ surprises, enthralls, and pleases

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Oblivion was not at the top of my list of movies to see when its trailer premiered some months ago. Even as trailers and footage began to trickle in as the film’s released loomed closer, I remained steadfast in my decision to not see the movie. Well, I cracked, and I’m glad I did. Oblivion is [...]

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‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ is heavy on goods, guns….. and Storm Shadow

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For many, making a G.I. Joe movie is treading on holy ground. The property is such an important part of many people’s lives that countless fans  condemn any film that carries the title, fearing that it will soil the good name of the Joes. For many, 2009′s G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra confirmed this fear. Despite this, [...]

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‘Oz The Great And Powerful’ is a not-so-welcome return to the wonderful land of Oz

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Director Sam Raimi has an impressive track record, having directed the highly successful Spider-man trilogy and horror favorites like Drag Me To Hell. Unfortunately, his latest directorial effort, Oz the Great and Powerful, falls far short of expectations, instead delivering a dull, shallow, and forgettable adventure bereft of any kind of spirit, emotion, or fun. Sly [...]

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Featured Author Week: Elsie Chapman’s ‘Dualed’ is an inventive, adrenaline-fueled read

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Elsie Chapman’s stunning debut novel, Dualed, is an emotionally charged thrill ride that introduces readers to a bleak world brimming with endless possibilities, not to mention an intriguing protagonist you can’t help but care for. Chock-full of pulse-pounding action and gut wrenching tragedy, Dualed is YA fiction at its finest. Fifteen-year old West Grayer has spent her [...]

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‘Jack the Giant Slayer’: Fee-Fi-Fo……Fun?

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2013, overall, has been a very weak year for movies so far. So, naturally, going into Jack the Giant Slayer, I was expecting the trashy, dull crap we’ve been subjected to since January. To my surprise(and delight), director Brian Singer proved me very, very wrong. Not only is the film entertaining, it showcases some performances that, [...]

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‘Beautiful Creatures’ is ‘Twilight’ without the crap

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Going into Beautiful Creatures, many may be concerned that it’s just Twilight with magic. And based on what we’ve seen in trailers, this concern isn’t unfounded. Like Twilight, Beautiful Creatures is, at its core, a love story, but with supernatural and magical elements thrown in for good measure. Unlike Stephanie Meyer’s poorly crafted tale about a [...]

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‘Hansel and Gretel’: Witch Hunters: A Not So Tasty Time at the Movies

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Why, Jeremy Renner? Why? You play Hawkeye in The Avengers, you help out Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, then  you star in this garbage? Come on, man. As one of Hollywood’s most talented actors, you should be picking roles that help your career, not destroy it. Oh well. No use crying over wasted talent. [...]

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‘Django Unchained’ is a Crowd Pleasing Period Piece

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Quentin Tarantino ranks as one of the most versatile directors in Hollywood, dabbling in genres, finding the boundaries of those genres, and completely redefining those boundaries. His latest film, Django Unchained, continues this tradition. This spaghetti western/revenge film reinvents a long-revered genre, keeping key elements in place while adding copious amounts of blood and swearing. Did [...]

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‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is Painfully Thorough

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

  Middle Earth was wonderfully brought to life in Peter Jackson’s acclaimed Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and now, with the release of The Hobbit, audiences have a chance to return to J. R. R.Tolkien’s rich world. Jackson’s latest foray into Middle Earth doesn’t quite match the awe and spectacle of the original trilogy, but for [...]

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