Movies

‘Bumblebee’ (2018) is a cute robotic ‘E.T.’ riff

My friend who likes to laugh at bad movies dragged me to “Transformers” in 2007, but I’ve forgotten everything about that movie and haven’t followed

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‘The Spirit’ (2008) a weak imitation of ‘Sin City’

I love the two “Sin City” films (2005, 2014), so the existence of “The Spirit” (2008) is both good and bad. On one hand, it’s

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‘Rambo’ (2008) a shell-shocking portrayal of war

For the fourth “Rambo” film, simply titled “Rambo” (2008), director/co-writer Sylvester Stallone taps into one of the world’s longest-running civil wars. The Burma (aka Myanmar)

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‘Ad Astra’ is a gorgeous but spacey art piece

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy watching “Ad Astra” (2019). Director James Gray’s film blends a solar system travelogue with the family

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‘Fast Color’ a Shyamalan-esque stealth superhero gem

Nearly two decades after M. Night Shyamalan popularized – if not introduced – the stealth/“real world” superhero movie with “Unbreakable” (2000), director/co-writer Julia Hart expands

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‘Under the Silver Lake’ is weird, creepy and great

David Robert Mitchell proved he could deliver an original vision within the parameters of genre rules with 2015’s “It Follows.” Now, with “Under the Silver

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‘Rambo III’ (1988) is a fun (and unintentionally funny) actioner

Wading into the “Rambo” sequels, I braced myself for the point at which they’d get dumb. It doesn’t happen with the underrated “Rambo: First Blood

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‘Ready or Not’ is a tight little horror riff

“Ready or Not” (2019) declares its candidacy as one of the best horror films to come from a children’s game – but we’re not talking

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Movies and TV shows John is looking forward to in 2020

Here are 10 movies and 10 TV shows I’m looking forward to in the new year: “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” (TV series, Jan. 7, NBC) —

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‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ still a fun and funny romp

I imagine director/co-writer Jake Kasdan and his four lead actors, upon finishing 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” – the surprisingly great sequel to 1995’s dull

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