Much better than expected. It's annoying though, when the guy at the end who should be dead ends up not being dead. I guess it had to retain at least one cliche. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

The roof top scene would make a good short film, but the rest is forgetable. April knows kung fu now and she sounds like Buffy. Huh? Impressive CGI though. I suppose. ** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

People from a virtual noir-mystery world and people from a sci-fi thriller world go inside and out of each other's worlds as the mystery slowly becomes unraveled. It's actually pretty cool seeing things come together, though by the end of it, you realize the creators of the movie think they're way cooler and more original than they actually are. **1/2 out of 4 rating symbol thingies

It's from the director of some other awesome, including Magnolia, so it's not a big surprise that it's this good. It's not historical or any nonsense like that. The tension is rediculously good even when nothing normally tension-worthy is happening. A lot of this is because of the weird score, making scenes of people walking across the landscape feel like impending doom. Which it is. The last scene is surreal and some people hate it for some reason. If you end up hating it, you get two less rating symbol thingies. As a person. **** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

This movie is directly by Tim Burton and therefore looks really cool. It's not very emotionally interesting, funny, or scary though. The music is sometimes good and sometimes boring, but never bad. Johnny Depp looks neat and I'm sure there will be many Sweeny Todds next Holloween. Helena Bohnam Carter has been getting some flack for being a bad singer, but I thought she was fine enough. And she looked awesome, so whatever. There are moments that hint at being dramatically good, like when Todd sings about the world being shit with a subtle hint of frightened desperation, but that never gets played out. Oh well. It still looks really cool. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Added to the neat premise is a neat mystery that unravels itself into a neat race-relations political statement. Except not boring. Angela Bassett plays the action hero badass and Juliette Lewis plays the girl-who-gets-naked. ***1/2 out of 4 rating symbol thingies

This movie is way more entertaining than you'd think. Funny but not stupid. And it all takes itself seriously, and does it all well. If you're a fan of at least one of the above (see plot), see this movie. If you're not, go play with some yarn or something. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Billy Bob Thorton is sometimes awesome. Like in this movie. Bill Paxton is underrated. I don't know who the other guy is, but he's pretty great too. Bridgette Fonda is extremely okay. "Hank, do you ever feel evil?" This movie is rediculously great. **** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Insanely good dialogue. You will miss a lot of it because you're laughing at other dialogue. Good drama too! **** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Robert Altman's worst movie. Based on a radio show I hear is good. This movie is not. Way too much singing. Way too much plot not existing. Way too many characters I'm not caring about. Way too much blonde Lindsay Lohan. There were, however, a couple of funny random conversations. Here and there. And I guess if you like folksy singing sung by Hollywood actors who can't sing particularly well, this movie is perfect for you. *1/2 out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Ok, supposedly he has sex, but despite being a movie about gay ravers, they don't actually ever show anything remotely sexual, not even kissing. It's kind of pathetic how they probably weren't allowed to by the studio. Anyway, Seth Green rules, Ricky from My So-Called Life makes me miss that show even more, there's some good music, some violence, and lots of self-aware humor where characters argue over who this movie is about. Good times. Yay. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

It's hard to talk about without spoiling, so I'm just going to be vague and annoying instead. It's violent in parts, sad in other parts, depressing in others. The fantasy exists as an escape from the real life horror. Which is what all fantasy originally was, and that should be seen more in movies. **** out of ****

Not just a high school boy's fantasy movie, but also a surprisingly compelling and sometimes intense drama. Judi Dench plays fellow teacher who seems to be trying to help Cate with her problem, but her motives are revealed to be more interesting. Bill Nighy (Shaun of the Dead's step-dad to us cool people) is good in this too. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

As good as they say. There's not really anything else to say except this movie is one of the best thrillers ever seen. Particular scenes are so cleverly tense that it's funny. Like, literally, you'll laugh at how uniquely and cleverly tense the scene is. They're that good. You won't really know who the main character is, even though it feels like it has one. The ending is off-putting, but better and better the more you think about it after the movie is over. From the directors of Fargo, and I think it might be better. **** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

I gave this movie a chance because of Uma Thurman and Anna Faris. Plus Luke Wilson is alright. Plus the nerdy guy from The Office is funny. By the time the movie ended, I liked the characters and hated everything else. This deserves a sequel made by a different writer and director. If Garfield can get a second chance... *1/2 out of 4 rating symbol thingies

This movie is a comedy, so while wacky hyjinx ensue, I'm left wondering why the clone isn't deeply depressed over his identity crisis, and, considering all his memories (and therefore his love for his wife & kids) remain, why he's not at least contemplating the idea of killing his original or killing himself. That kinda darkly subversive, metaphorical study of the meaning of life and self in the post modern, atheistic world coulda been a good movie. This one just confused me. ** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Not as weird as most David Lynch movies, but still weirder than most movies. It made Naomi Watts a star and features tiny old-people-goblins and unexpected nudity. It's a surreal puzzle that won't make complete sense unless you watch it twice, or watch it once then wikipedia it. Regardless, it's entertaining, at least for the atmosphere. Apparently stories involving lesbians and murder and suicide are some kind of negative stereotype, so maybe I'm supposed to be against this movie. However, I'm just going to label the stereotype harmless and nonexistent and move on. So there. ***1/2 out of ****

Produced by the Jim Henson company. Sadly, there's a shortage of muppets. Lots of cool, weird creatures though. Lots of awesome sets. Some scenes are really neat. The movie's way too slow-paced though, which pretty much blew the whole thing. This is the only PG-rated movie I've seen where the 15-year-old gets with the 30-year-old at the end. Props to that weirdness. ** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

George Cloony's best performance ever. If you're one of those people who think he's unbearably smug and annoying, see this movie anyway. He actually acts this time, it's cool. He is incredibly tired of a life of moral complications, and he has a friend who has literally gone crazy from it. That guy's really good in this too, though it would have been nice to have gotten to know him before he had gone crazy. And some parts are slow and unmemorable. Coulda used some more editing. *** out of 4 rating symbol thingies

Weird. Incredibly awkward. Like, REALLY awkward. No, wait... imagine REALLY awkward. Ok, you got it? Ok, this is a little more awkward than that. Also amazing. Socially weird but oddly attractive girl tries to find love in what begins as a strange comedic love story. But be ready for darkness, sadness, and a little bit more awkwardness as things go bad, get weirder, and really really really sad. **** out of 4 rating symbol thingies