Cinema Sentries

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.

You will often find yourself regretting some of the decisions you’ve made, and the game seems designed to make you do just that.

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.

A fair piece of “Sunday afternoon and there’s not really anything else on” fare.

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.

Ronnie Wood comes to the Stones’ emotional rescue.

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.

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

There are a lot worse things you could do while sitting on the couch smoking pot.

Tarantino and Rodriguez seemed like the perfect match.

I just can’t fathom why they can’t just spring for better, safer compartments for the actual DVDs to plug into.

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.

Should manage to light the fire of every music aficionado.

The horrors of a centuries-old mechanized war displayed in stunning high definition.

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.

Die-hard fans will not be disappointed.

A look at whether this grand experiment worked or not.

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