CineRik

As lazy with its story as it is excessive in its presentation, Avatar is a huge disappointment from the man who gave us The Terminator and Aliens.  Not a great harbinger for the ‘future of cinema’.  I sink my claws into the film here.

A flawed but worthy look at the lives of children who, having been brought to America illegally by their parents, become undocumented and liable for deportation when they turn 18.  Moving, without becoming schmaltzy, the documentary could do with backing up its emotional content with hard facts and figures, but it is still well worth a look to put a human face on this rarely discussed issue.  Find my full review here.

Jason Segel flounders in a role that should have gone to Vince Vaughn.  Unlikable people, impossible relationships and far too few laughs.  Elephants not allowed here.

My second 3D film, and the second I’ve watched without the headache inducing glasses.  Still, this is a film that requires no gimicks to shine.  Selick and Gaiman have produced a proper modern fairy tale.  Follow the trail of breadcrumbs to my review here.

Without the 3D gimmick, this slasher is unbearably bad.  Plus, something has gone horribly wrong in the transfer leaving the characters looking as though they have been green-screened into every scene.  Plus the worst CGI I’ve seen since Leverage.  I don’t have to dig much to find faults here.

Gorgeous visuals couldn’t resurrect my interest in this musical.  Extraneous characters, a lack of catchy tunes and a story which takes the least direct route to its climax possible.  My autopsy can be found here.

Plagued by bad acting and a camp Crowley, this documentary adds nothing to the tale of the ‘wickedest man in the world’.  Summon forth my opinions here.

An entirely unremarkable haunting tale.  A couple of good performances, and some nice atmosphere, but it quickly runs out of steam.  Things go bump in the night here.

Just a cabbage-launcher away from being a complete rip-off of the A-Team, but with a strangely dark element.  Also features some of the worst CGI I’ve ever seen.  The plan completely fails to come together here.

Reviewed at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival

A difficult choice, but Hollywood je t’aime stands as my favorite film of the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival.  Matching whimsey with real emotion, this story of a depressed Frenchman’s journey to find himself amongst the drag-queens and transvestites of Hollywood won me over.  Pull on your best party frock and come celebrate with me here.