Cinema Sentries

Cinema Sentries

TV Review: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: ‘0-8-4’

“The stories are okay, and the Marvel Comics references are fun to catch, but I haven’t connected to the characters yet.” – Gordon S. Miller

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TV Review: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “The Asset”

“I wish I could say the show was growing on me, but it’s really not.” – Todd Karella

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White Collar: The Complete Fourth Season DVD Review: Charming Cons Carry This Uneven but Entertaining Show

The main thrust of the fourth season involves Neal looking into his father’s past.

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 8 DVD Review

“The day Charlie rules the world, I’ll blow myself.” – Dennis Reynolds

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Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction Movie Review: Portrait of an Artist as an Old Man

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction isn’t that meaty, but there is enough to keep the audience’s interest most of the time.

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Cinema Sentries

The Best and Worst of Summer 2013

Three writers give a postmortem on the Summer of 2013.

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Short Term 12 Movie Review: Intimate and Secretive

The indie film you should see this weekend.

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The Thick of It: Seasons 1-4 DVD Review: More Than Just Creative Swearing

If nothing else, you will probably pick up a few new insults to hurl at people when the time comes.

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To Be or Not to Be (1942) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: You’ll Get a ‘Terrific Laugh’ Out of This One

Ernst Lubitsch and the Criterion Collection are a match made in comedic heaven.

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Prince Avalanche Movie Review: A Meditative Study of People

A quite, methodical exploration of man’s ability to connect with each other.

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Book Review: The Greatest Bad Movies of All Time by Phil Hall

A fun read, but I wouldn’t consider it a worthy collection of reviews.

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Lord of the Flies (1963) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Definitive Version of a Classic Text

The Criterion Collection adds a bevy of compelling bonus content on top of a fantastic adaptation of William Golding’s novel.

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Orphan Black: Season 1 DVD Review: Send in the Clones

I cannot recommend Orphan Black highly enough.

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Sesame Street: Elmo the Musical DVD Review: Not Recommended for Adult Consumption

President Elmo. Our long national nightmare is over.

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Phantom (2013) Blu-ray Review: This Submarine Story Sinks Fast

Take my advice and avoid having it sneak up on you.

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The Matador (2005) Review: A Hitman Movie That Misses

Brosnan did the best he could getting the chance to step out of the role of James Bond. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

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The Guard Movie Review: When Irish Guys Are Quipping

There is enough done well to make The Guard a decent watch.

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Movie 43 Blu-ray Review: At Least the Sketch Comedy Movie Got the Sketch Part Right

Someone in Hollywood has Polaroids of these people. Of this I am convinced.

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Killing Lincoln Blu-ray Review: Before and After

It suffers from being dull in its reenactment.

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Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse Movie Review: The Epic Ordeal Behind An Epic Film

An engaging documentary about a man with huge dreams and all the things that conspired to destroy them.

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Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie Review: A Lot of Hot Air

As the movie played, it became more and more evident that it wasn’t my memory that had failed me, but rather Downey, who was less of a cultural icon and more of a one-hit wonder.

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Medium Cool Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Living Document of America’s Rebellion

A piece of Americana that questions and condemns the media.

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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Movie Review: It’s Fine

A good movie, provided you are cool with watching a movie about the end of human life.

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Shakespeare: The King’s Man DVD Review: The Political Education of Willy Shakes

A fantastic resource as well as an enjoyable examination of the inimitable Bard of Avon.

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True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Review:  Very Real and Drastic Changes Occur

The stories that unfold this season are all about some very real and drastic changes for many main characters.

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Shadow Dancer Movie Review: Feel the (Slow) Burn

A well-executed, slow-burning film about family, commitment, betrayal, and consequences, and it is anchored by Riseborough, whose performance is mesmerizing.

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The Man Who Would Be King Movie Review: Not Many Moments to Celebrate

“Being only human, one thing leads to another.” – Peachy Carnehan

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Hanna Movie Review: A Worthwhile Viewing Endeavor

It’s more interesting in concept than in execution.

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Book Review: Film Noir FAQ by David J. Hogan

All that’s left to know about Hollywood’s Golden Age of dames, detectives, and danger.

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generation Um… Movie Review: Um… Well… Um… Yeah… So… Um… No

Speaking of boring, as characters go, John is like so many other Keanu Kreations – completely devoid of emotion to the point that you want to hold a mirror under his nose when he’s not moving.

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Beautiful Creatures Blu-ray Review: A Solid Supernatural Story Worth Watching

An engaging plot and interesting characters elevates this about standard teen films.

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North by Northwest Movie Review: A Perfectly Fine Movie but Not Legendary

A fine thriller, but there’s nothing special about it.

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Safe Haven Combo Pack Review: Cute Leads Can’t Save Dumb Story

A harsh story told in the sweetest way possible.

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Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay Movie Review: Every Trick Is a Treat

A link to the past, a link to the time in magic’s history before craft became crass, is alive and well and mesmerizing.

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Broken City Combo Pack Review: Power Plays Everyone, Even the Corrupt

Corruption in NYC goes deeper than you think.

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Silver Linings Playbook Movie Review: Engaging and Worthwhile Throughout

Silver Linings Playbook overcame its somewhat odd name to get a lot of award recognition, and it deserved it.

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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Movie Review: Like, Totally Awesome

And although the film recognizes the difference between 2286 and 1986, it doesn’t play too much into the superficial trappings of the decade.

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The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) DVD Review: You Say You Want a Revolution

While there are fine performances by the other two leads, McKellen stands out with a sparkling, well-measured performance that could easily slip into caricature but never does.

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Cheech & Chong Animated Movie Review: About Damn Time

Hey man, it’s me, Bruno. I got some new stuff.

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Moneyball Movie Review: A Legitimate, Entertaining Film

Good, but it doesn’t really rise above the trappings of your run-of-the-mill sports movie.

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Apartment for Peggy DVD Review: Good Film, Atrocious Presentation

A sweet comedy/drama from director George Seaton is marred by a flawed DVD print.

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Wife, Husband and Friend DVD Review: Hitting All the Flat Notes

A middling attempt at screwball comedy falls flat despite a typically winning performance from star Loretta Young.

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Panic in the Streets Blu-ray Review: Keeping Order by Breaking the Law

I was more enthralled with the previews for other films than the one I watched.

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Ministry of Fear Criterion Collection DVD Review: (Don’t) Let Them Eat Cake

A compelling, if somewhat convoluted, noir thriller from director Fritz Lang receives the Criterion treatment in this recent DVD release.

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A Haunted House DVD Review: Bumps in the Night Turn into Dull Thuds

Despite a strong structure, and a few throwaway gags that hit, the movie commits the worst sin of being flat-out boring.

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Bachelorette Blu-ray Review: Four Despicable Friends and a Wedding

The film is definitely fun to laugh at but don’t get too close.

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Killing Them Softly DVD Review: Absolutely Worth Watching

Honestly, I forgot this movie existed.

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Prometheus (2012) Movie Review: ‘Pings, glitch, life form.’

This is a truly gorgeous piece of science fiction, where the Engineers’ technology is similar to ours, but more organic in nature.

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