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Ronen's Rating System:

***** 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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Movie Review: The Sand Pebbles (1966) ****

A Robert Wise period war film, following the story of an independent, and at times rebellious, US Navy mechanical engineer, sailing aboard the USS San Pablo gunboat, doing river patrols in 1920s China. Though making political and social comments plenty, the 3 hours long film, steadily directed by Wise and well acted by its leads including Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, and Candice Bergen, stays focused on the story, and remains engaging throughout. Some scenes may seem a little heavily-directed by today’s standards, but I would still take this film over many of today’s flicks without a second thought.

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Movie Review: Matilda (1996) ****

In one word: a charmer… I watched it with my kids and enjoyed every minute of it, as did my kids. A 1996 fantasy film directed by Danny DeVito (who also produced, acted, and narrated…) and based on Roald Dahl's children's novel. Kudos also go to Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood, Rhea Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood, Embeth Davidtz as Ms. Honey and Pam Ferris as the horrible Principal Agatha Trunchbull, who made my youngest one turn away from the screen (“tell me when its over dad”) when Trunchbull was at her best (furriest…).

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Movie Review: Up in the Air (2009) *****

If you were going to see only one more movie before 2009 is out, Up in the Air should be it. Besides all the other good things I can say about this film, it sums up a somewhat dark period in the recent history of this nation – a period of despair, downsizing and layoffs, a period we hope is soon to be over. Yet this film does it with a warm heart, and an amusing one at times, beating right inside the film’s lead character, wonderfully played by the fantastic Mr. George Clooney. So prepare to laugh at some sharp screwball-style dialogues, while sympathizing with situations plenty. Because aside from using the bleak economy as its backdrop, the film covers lightly, but without mercy, other issues of our times, including the use of technology over personal communication, and the place of traditional relationships at our time and age. Touche' Jason Reitman to a job well done, continuing with your excellent directorial work from Thank You for Smoking and Juno.

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Movie Review: Invictus (2009) ****

Dramatically played, as it should, by Morgan Freeman, and well under-played, as it should, by the talented Mr. Damon, Clint Eastwood, yet again, works his wonders in this worthy biopic. Portraying a somewhat critical moment in the history of South Africa – shortly after the end of apartheid and the rise of Nelson Mandela to power – the film presents an Eastwood favorite: a man of strong will facing a crisis. How does one overcome decades of hatred in need of fast reconciliation? And maybe even more difficult – how does one show it in a 2-hours movie? One really can’t, but that does not stop one from trying… And Eastwood, as skilful as ever, does not attempt to cover a too wide scope of the torn nation’s story but rather focuses his spotlight at one specific place: the rugby field (with a few related sidelines). I enjoy seeing Clint Eastwood picking topics that interest him , and how he constantly reinvents himself.

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Movie Review: Before Night Falls (2000) ****

Ever since seeing The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, I became a Julian Schnabel fan. Having him make Before Night Falls, is doing justice to Reinaldo Arenas – no one better than an artist to tell an artist’s story. Led by a magnificent Javier Bardem, the cast gives an excellent, heartfelt performance. The film, based on the autobiography of Arenas by the same name, and published after his pre-mature death, celebrates Arenas' life, while also painting in vivid colors the horrors of Cuba under Castro. Seeing this film brought the following quote to my mind: "The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution." (Hannah Arendt, 1906 - 1975).

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Movie Review: The Princess and the Frog (2009) ***

What do you get when you take a bunch of past Disney movies and mix them together? You get The Princess and the Frog…. Though somewhat original in its story line compared to "The Frog Prince" (which I understand was not the inspiration for this animated flick but rather the E. D. Baker's novel The Frog Princess,) it has elements plenty from past Disney movies and a well-chewed up theme. I will save you listing here all the elements reused from those past films, and just say that this flick is at least tolerable compared with a disaster kids’ flick such as Alvin and the Chipmunks, a film I was forced to sit through last year, reaching the conclusion that if there is a movie-lovers’ hell, it probably includes repeat screenings of Alvin… It seems the only decent animation studio these days is Pixar, where films can still be original and have enough whit to satisfy adults as well as their young companions. But back to The Princess and the Frog – my kids still liked it. On a scale of 1-10 they gave it as low as 5 and as high as 9. In my book it gets three stars: for beautiful animation (in traditional animation technique, Disney are the masters), some originality compared with the original tale, and for not being as bad as Alvin…

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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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