Movie Review For May 22, 2015: TOMORROWLAND and POLTERGEIST

TOMORROWLAND
Rated: PG
Stars: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie
Plot: A young genius is recruited by smart people from an alternate universe to try to help save the world
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

I would love to be able to tell you that this movie is amazing and you should grab your kids and rush to the theater as soon as possible to see it. Unfortunately, I can't do that. TOMORROWLAND is a 2-plus hour snoozefest that is slow, confusing and preachy.

The first 80% of the film is a slow build-up for the last 20 minutes of action, and the payoff isn't worth sitting through the build-up. Once I finally realized what was going on my reaction was, "Really? That's it? THAT is the reason that all of this stuff is going on?" It was highly disappointing.

Aside from the boring nature of the film it is also preachy and condescending. It doesn't matter if you don't care about environmental issues at all or you are the world's most caring tree-hugger, you will walk out of this film feeling like you just sat through two hours of environment church. At one point there is even a 2 1/2 minute long speech by one of the main characters explaining all that is wrong with our environment thanks to humans.

This is just the beginning of the summer blockbuster season. Save your money for the good family-friendly flicks that will be coming out in a month or so.




POLTERGEIST
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jared Harris
Plot: When a ghost kidnaps a family's daughter they must do whatever it takes to try to get her back
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

When I heard that they were making a reboot of this classic horror flick I had no idea why. The original was so good and so scary. I had nightmares for weeks when I saw that one. This one lives up to its predecessor.

I'm not a huge fan of the horror genre because most of the film use the same hack scare tactics over and over. It's formulaic and insulting to the audience. This film is actually scary. The evil feels real and the stakes are high. The drama and suspense are legitimate and very few things that happen in the film feel like your typical "no, don't walk down those stairs alone at night" moments.

The children cast in this movie are outstanding. The effects are well done. The plot is interesting and compelling. And clocking in at about 90 minutes it feels like it's over as quickly as it began.

POLTERGEIST is a great date night flick.

DVD Review For February 10, 2015

NIGHTCRAWLER
Rated: R
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Plot: A man becomes a crime journalist, but takes it too far trying to make a name for himself
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD as soon as you can

This is a perfectly creeptastic film. It's not necessarily scary as much as it is creepy.

Gyllenhaal plays a psychotic, anti-social, yet driven man so well in this film that audiences will be mesmerized by his performance. His character is so disturbing you'll feel like you need a shower after watching this movie.

The biting commentary on our society with its 24-hour news cycle, the need to have the wildest news first, and the phenomenon of people more interested in filming a situation rather than jumping in to help is expertly portrayed in this movie.

If you are looking for a creepy thriller that isn't too scary, this is a great choice.




ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
Rated: PG
Stars: Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner
Plot: A family learns to stick together through one of the worst days ever
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD when you can get around to it

This is a fine film. It's not bad, it's not great, there is nothing spectacular about it, and there is nothing horrific either. It's a fun, family-friendly movie that the kids will enjoy and parents will be entertained enough to keep you happy for the duration.

It feels a bit like Carell and Garner went through the motions while filming, and there are several moments in the movie that could have been expanded upon to give us more depth of character. In the end though, the movie delivers exactly what you would expect out of a film like this.

You won't walk away with any life-changing epiphanies, but it will be a nice afternoon with your family.




LAGGIES
Rated: R
Stars: Keira Knightley, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell
Plot: A post-college woman, going through a quarter-life crisis, hides from responsibility in the house of a young girl
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this as soon as you can

This is a great film. It's an interesting commentary on the part of the late-twenties generation that refuses to grow up and move on past their time in high school and college.

Sam Rockwell is spectacular in his role as a single dad trying to raise an unruly teen girl. Keira Knightley is refreshing in her role as someone that doesn't have all of her stuff together. And Chloe Grace Moretz proves once again that she is one of the greatest teen actors of our time.

The plot isn't mind-blowing, but the performances are worth watching.