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***** A must watch
**** Worth seeing
*** If you must watch a movie and there is nothing else out there
** Don’t bother
* It’s so bad its almost good... not... These are films I walked out on, or just fell asleep
(K: stars) Rating by my children. As they are easy to please, would typically be higher than mine...

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From category archives: RonenRecommends

Fantasy

Into the Woods (2014) ***

Into the Woods (2014) ***

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales of "Little Red Riding Hood", "Cinderella", "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Rapunzel", Into the Woods is a fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall, adapted to the screen by James Lapine from his and Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award–winning Broadway musical of the same title. The story is focused on a childless couple who finds themselves cursed by a vengeful witch. In their attempt to break the evil spell, the couple gets mixed up with various characters of other fairy tales.
Whether Into the Woods suffers from a poor adaptation or issues existed already in the original stage version, the film lacks the charm of a fairy tale and the simplistic wits of the original Grimm Brothers.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) ****

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) ****

The third and final installment in the film trilogy The Hobbit is directed, as its previous parts, by Peter Jackson to a screenplay by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro. Here is the gist of it: if you are a J. R. R. Tolkien fan and feel that Jackson’s depiction of Middle-Earth and the various characters it inhibits are true to the source, this film is for you. It is lively, full of action, and expands in details well beyond the book, as Jackson interjected into the material appendices that Tolkien wrote as add-ons to the original story (published in the back of The Return of the King).
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Interstellar (2014) **

Interstellar (2014) **

Interstellar is a Sci-Fi film directed by Christopher Nolan to a script by himself and his brother, Jonathan Nolan. It features star power including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Matt Damon and Michael Caine.
Starting with a compelling, even if not an especially novel idea, Interstellar goes at a slower than light-speed pace, from mediocre to ridiculous.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Lucy (2014) ***

Lucy (2014) ***

Following the spirit of the film's theme, which is largely based on the ten percent brain myth, it is fair to say that Lucy uses just about 20 percent of its concept's potential. After an excellent opening, the plot quickly derails into the expected path of violence; one that counts on the audience’s inherent intelligence not surpassing the three to five percent range...
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) ***

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) ***

Here’s to the launch of a new Superhero franchise. Can you hear the cash machines ringing? Sequels, action figures, video games, you name it. If there is one thing the Marvel - Disney partnership learned how to do well, it is to guard their revenue streams using superheroes. What can I say – kudus. All in all, Guardians of the Galaxy provides for a light afternoon at the movies and serves as a typical summer blockbuster. But holding my breath for the sequel, I do not.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) ****

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) ****

Making for a fun afternoon at the movies, X-Men: Days of Future Past is engaging and, for the most part is well-paced. It occasionally borderlines with some good philosophical points, the ones you may expect Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard to ask: can we really change the future? The classic conundrum of destiny versus choice.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people

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Latest Comments

    Re: Logan (2017) ***

    I agree about the relationship with Logan and Charles - added a lot of depth, especially with the next...

    -- ed

    Re: Eye in the Sky (2015, UK) *****

    Great Review Ronen!

    -- Scott

    Re: Top Five (2014) ***

    wonderfully expressed review and very accurately describing the movie...

    -- Zoes mom

    Re: Begin Again (2014) ***

    such great performers - would have expected more of.... very disappointing to hear....

    -- mother of four

    Re: Waltz with Bashir (2008) *****

    Stunned. Speechless. This is a powerful movie. Its objectivity and lack of judgment IS its power, and...

    -- Monroe Movie Lover

    Re: Inception (2010) ***

    Special effects are more than ever present even in drama movies, its almost normal that an action thriller...

    -- Alvaro

    Re: The Real Dirt On Farmer John (2005) ***

    Interesting though i was expecting more of the film.

    -- rondnor

    Re: Midnight Run (1988) *****

    great movie indeed

    -- rondnor

    Re: The Bounty Hunter (2010) *

    wont bother then

    -- superair

    Re: Stardust (2007) *****

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie :-)watching Robert De Niro in a dress what could be better.Enjoy

    -- YRD

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