Movie Reviews
Pompeii
“Still more imagined there were no gods left, and that the universe was plunged into eternal darkness for evermore,” wrote the Roman author Pliny the Younger on the day after the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
The Monuments Men
Western civilization owes an incalculable debt to the real-life figures behind the fact-based World War II drama “The Monuments Men” (Columbia). Yet, despite honorable intentions and a cast of heavy hitters, this cinematic salute to their memory falls well short of the monumental.
The Lego Movie
Consider, then, the surprising accomplishment of directors and co-writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. With their lively 3-D animated adventure “The Lego Movie,” they not only deliver a diverting eye-catcher for both young and old, they also manage to incorporate a surprisingly pointed satire of conformist consumerism into the proceedings.
‘Gimme Shelter’ an outcry to help young women
Based on a true pro-life story, “Gimme Shelter” is a daringly poignant and captivating depiction of a young woman named Apple Bailey who struggles to break free from those who would keep her from giving birth and raising her own baby.
Her
Many a tech fan, over the years, may have casually declared his love for this or that cutting-edge gadget. But all would have to take a backseat to Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), the main character in the quirky romantic drama “Her.”
Mary of Nazareth
The story of the Gospels unfolds through the eyes of the mother of God in “Mary of Nazareth”, a beautiful, often moving depiction of the life of Mary from her childhood through the passion and resurrection of her son.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” receives its title, the name of its main character and his principal attribute — a tendency to engage in extravagant daydreams — from a classic 1939 short story by humorist James Thurber. But there the similarities pretty much end.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
It seems unlikely that Pope Francis will decide to shatter yet another papal precedent by visiting a multiplex anytime soon. Should he do so, however, he’d probably approve of the underlying themes in director Peter Jackson’s lively sequel “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”.
Frozen
Don’t let the title fool you, “Frozen” is bursting with enough warmth and charm to defrost even the hardest Grinchy heart.
Black Nativity
If you’re tempted to bewail the absence of Christ from Christmas these days, you’ll find the Lord right where he belongs — front and center, receiving praise and worship — in the rousing musical drama “Black Nativity”.
Free Birds
Parents be warned: Your kids will want you to revise the Thanksgiving dinner menu once they see “Free Birds”, a 3-D animated adventure about two rogue turkeys who travel back in time to change the “main course” of history.
Gravity
Hold on tight for the ride of your life in “Gravity”, a lost-in-space adventure as exhilarating as it is terrifying.
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