Cinema Sentries

You’ll bless the rains (and the deserts, and the oceans, and the jungles) down in Africa while watching this gorgeous nature documentary.

An interesting reexamination of the earliest English queens and their vilified roles as the “she-wolves” of history.

It’s well-acted, well-directed, and well-constructed. However, there are enough things that end up being off to limit the quality of the film.

If you just want a sort of coming-of-age comedy drama, Safety Not Guaranteed can fill that need for you quite well.

If you’re hoping to become a screenwriter, or just enjoy reading a good piece of writing, then grab this.

Not the best of the recent crop of Desert Storm-related flicks, but not the worst either.

Sex and drugs and…jazz in On The Road. And despite all that it’s still a little tame.

A pretty good movie, but it doesn’t really rise above that.

Who would have thought that bringing together a bunch of popular characters in one movie and handing the reins to a cult hero would yield such positive results?

Need some help for your Oscar pool?

The way they decided to make the film can’t help but make it feel somewhat hollow.

Detective Noah Cordin goes to investigate the murder of a young boy and winds up returning to his home town – not that he’s all that welcome.

The CliffsNotes version of being an elite chef with a three-star restaurant.

Animation can do anything quite literally.

Karloff is more than make-up in three interesting movies from Warner Archive Collection.

It is funny on the occasion, but it is also genuinely emotionally engaging as well.

It serves as an excellent introduction to the author’s two most popular creations: Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.

This television miniseries adaptation ultimately suffers in comparison to both the original novel and David Lean’s 1965 film version.

Not as well-known as their more ubiquitous counterparts, they are (with two exceptions) entertaining additions to your yearly holiday viewing.

A story meant to be heartfelt only frustrates with its all-white cast and manipulative storytelling.

Did yours make the list?

You’ve never seen World War II quite like this before.

Rife’s book is an excellent reference for those new fans who can’t get enough of Quentin Tarantino.

Animator Bill Plympton’s ill-conceived “revitalization” of a Winsor McCay classic is a slap in the face to McCay’s legacy.

A satire of the American Heartland that also offers an emotional story about acceptance.

Star Matthew McConaughey gives a frightening performance in a film that tests your will.

Recommended for those who have been either naughty or nice.

How can a film about a murder be so darn delightful?

Subtle, understated dealings with grief in a club full of exotic dancers is a little unexpected.

A perfect mix of dialogue and action.

These animated recreations of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip range from hilarious to predictable.

Magical realism and an astounding child actress do little to elevate a non-existent plot.

“Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don’t give a fuck how crazy they are!” in the immortal words of Seth Gecko.

When you come in second in a four-person race, you aren’t runner-up. You’re the best loser.

Tarantino and Rodriguez seemed like the perfect match.

Ruby Sparks has some light, but ends up being a dark reiteration of tired tropes.

Did yours make the list, Honey Bunny?

Sometimes the ghost of Elvis has the answer.

It’s French, it’s subversive, it’s not for the average film buff.

Be sure to add Disney’s latest series to your DVD library.

An entertaining (if less than exhaustive) look back at the pioneering figures of Golden Age Warner Bros. animation.

A look at whether this grand experiment worked or not.

Could have used more extras, but this set is something to have.

The Grateful Dead and the rise of the San Francisco Underground.

A haunting, and interesting subject gets mired down by the director Carol Morley.

The Eagle will provide male bonding, epic trekking, and blue-painted maniacs, but don’t go looking for historical accuracy.

The newly-remastered, long-anticipated release of this Clark Gable-Jean Harlow Pre-Code classic was worth the wait.

The film loves its pretty cast but forgets it has a story to tell.

The newest batch of episodes, taken from 1979-1984, offers adult fans a selection of memorable episodes that are equally fun and bittersweet.

Though I’m glad I saw the actual movie, I can’t say it is entertaining or satisfying.