Category: The Twenty-First Century
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Remember [2016] ★★½
I can’t imagine anyone other than Christopher Plummer in the role of Zev Guttman, a man who is determined to find the Gestapo survivor who murdered his family over 70 years ago in Auschwitz. Problem is: Zev suffers from the early stages of dementia and all he’s got in his hands is a gun…
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War Dogs [2016] ★★★
A cross between “Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Hangover”, “War Dogs” arrives to theaters with no particular expectations, and that’s probably a good thing. Good, because, despite its familiar premise, the movie is highly entertaining. Director Todd Phillips has been itching for a comeback after a series of disappointing films, and “War Dogs”…
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Equals [2016] ★½
It’s not the worst Science-Fiction movie you could see, but “Equals”, clumsily directed by Drake Doremus, bored me to tears. I suppose it would only make sense to have Kristen Stewart in it, since everyone in this future society is supposed to be emotionless, even lifeless. The only actor who is allowed to dig into…
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The Neon Demon [2016] ★★½
Nicholas Winding Refn makes movies like no other filmmaker. Sometimes that’s admirable (see “Bronson” and the mind-blowing “Drive” starring Ryan Gosling). Other times it’s a beautiful, incoherent mess (see “Only God Forgives”, also starring Ryan Gosling”). “The Neon Demon” falls somewhere in between. It’s stylish and visually mesmerizing from start to finish. It also features…
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The BFG [2016] ★★★
A lot has been said about Steven Spielberg’s version of Road Dahl’s beloved 1982 novel, ever since it was screened at this year’s Cannes festival. Now that it’s finally here, kids and adults alike can enjoy what this magical film has to offer, from first rate special effects to unforgettable characters. In telling the story…
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The Shallows [2016] ★★½
Even when it feels awfully familiar, “The Shallows”- starring Blake Lively as a woman who finds herself attacked by a white shark while vacationing on a Mexican beach- immediately held me in its grip. What follows the attack is a gripping story of one woman’s resourcefulness and determination to stay alive. Since that woman is…
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Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates [2016] ★½
It’s not really a movie. Zac Efron, 29, and Adam Devine, 33, still acting like hormonally charged teenagers at their sister’s wedding in Hawaii. And yet they’ve been warned by their parents not to show up unless they find decent dates for the occasion. That would be Aubrey Plaza and Anna Kendrick, who aren’t as innocent…
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![Bad Moms [2016] ★★½](https://tlkabtmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/bad-moms-poster.jpg?w=1012)
Bad Moms [2016] ★★½
Surprise: it isn’t bad. A Hangover type of movie featuring moms. Bad moms. Terrible moms. I’m talking Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and an absolutely hilarious Kathryn Hahn, who are crazy fun company. They’re also under-appreciated moms who can’t seem to catch a break. What to do? Ditch all responsibilities and have a crazy good time.…
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Jason Bourne [2016] ★★★
I’ve waited 9 years for Jason Bourne to finally resurface following the hugely entertaining “Bourne Ultimatum”, and despite its ageing material, the new Bourne film delivers the goods from start to finish. It’s also one hell of a comeback for Paul Greengrass (who previously directed “Supremacy” and “Ultimatum”), who keeps the suspense alive as Bourne trots…
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Nerve [2016] ★★½
Up until the lousy final act, “Nerve”, starring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco, had my attention. The setting is simple: you play an online game where people dare you to do stuff. Harmless fun? You’d think. Vee (Roberts) is a high school student who finds herself caught up in the thrill of this game. But…
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Star Trek: Beyond [2016] ★★★
It’s not “Into Darkness” or the classic “The Wrath of Khan”, but producer J.J Abrams and his collaborators have managed to pull off the impossible by delivering yet another spectacular entry in the Star Trek franchise. “Beyond” , once again starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto (who both continue to impress) as well as Zoe Saldana, Simon…
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Central Intelligence [2016] ★★½
It’s a Hollywood summer tradition: a silly comedy starring two likable actors. We’ve seen it in “The Heat”, “Spy” and “The Other Guys”. In Central Intelligence’s case, they are a good reason to buy a ticket, and they go by the name of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. In a prologue set 20 years ago, we…
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Alice Through The Looking Glass [2016] ★★
Tim Burton’s attempt at reinventing Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and turn it into a live-action movie back in 2010 resulted in a visually impressive experience…but it bored me to tears. Did we really need a sequel? Definitely not, and “Through the Looking Glass” offers absolutely nothing new. Mia Wasikowka reprises her role as Alice, who returns…
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Captain Fantastic [2016] ★★★
In a summer filled with lousy remakes and crappy aliens (I’m looking at you, “Independence Day”), it’s refreshing to encounter a movie as original as “Captain Fantastic”. It’s one of my favorite movies of the season. Viggo Mortensen is a standout, playing a devoted father who lives with his six young children deep in the…
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Ghostbusters [2016] ★★
How you react to this remake will have a lot to do with your expectations. If you’re expecting something as memorable as the 1984 original starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykyord, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson and the late Harold Ramis, you will probably come away disappointed. I approached it with no particular expectations and took nothing home…
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The Conjuring 2 [2016] ★★★½
“The Conjuring 2” is that rare example of a horror sequel that surpasses the original. The first one scared the living hell out of me. Part 2 is 20 minutes longer, so you get an extra dose of scares. And boy does it work. So kudos to director James Wan for pulling it off once again.…
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The Legend Of Tarzan [2016] ★★★
As far as summer blockbusters go, “The Legend of Tarzan” is a fun ride from start to finish. I didn’t expect a work of genius, mainly because this is familiar territory for anyone who has seen at least one Tarzan film before. And yet, the filmmakers have a few new ideas up their sleeves. They’ve reintroduced…
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Now You See Me 2 [2016] ★★½
Unlike many friends and colleagues, I wasn’t a fan of the first “Now You See Me” movie, released back in 2013. While I enjoyed the cast and the premise, I didn’t care much for all the twists and turns that director Louis Leterrier threw at us. That being said, I didn’t mind this sequel so much.…
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The Purge: Election Year [2016] ★★½
As someone, who, didn’t care much for any of the previous”Purge” movies, I actually had a good time watching this third installment. Here, writer director James DeMonaco finally gives us a reason to care for all the characters involved in the annual purge, where, for 12 hours, the government allows robbery, rape and even murder.…
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Independence Day: Resurgence [2016] ★½
“We always knew they’d be back” they said. And I always knew it would suck. Let’s face it: what clicked in the mid 1990’s clearly doesn’t anymore. Following the first movie’s huge success (and believe me, it was), director Roland Emmerich went on to direct several “end of times” blockbusters, from “The Day After Tomorrow” to…
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