Review: FROZEN is a New Disney Masterpiece

FROZEN REVIEW (GRADE: A)

Taking its place alongside Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, Disney Animation's latest effort, Frozen, is already destined to be a long-beloved classic thanks to a strong script, memorable characters, dazzling animation, and killer songs. Based very loosely on the Hans Christian Anderson fable "The Snow Queen," Frozen tells the story of two royal sisters whose love for one another is impeded by one's uncontrolled magical powers, which result in a potentially eternal winter for the kingdom. To say more would be to give away the film's numerous twists, which are best discovered by audiences as it progresses.

Review- CATCHING FIRE is a Worthy Sequel to THE HUNGER GAMES

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE REVIEW (GRADE: A-). 

I won't discuss the storyline of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here. If you've read the books you already know what's going to happen and if, like me, you're just taking the movies as they come then I don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice to say that if you're not yet on board with this series, despite the horrific premise of "teens killing teens," this is actually a profoundly moving morality tale about compassion and courage inspiring a revolution against tyranny and barbarism. As I've said elsewhere, the stories are actually anti-violence. Despite its popularity this is definitely not for children, but is powerful storytelling for adults and for teens willing to watch the films with an active mind.

Review: Romantic, Witty MUCH ADO Joins Shakespeare with Whedon

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (GRADE: B+)

History's most famous playwright (Shakespeare) meets one of this generation's greatest screenwriters (Joss Whedon- Toy Story, Serenity, The Avengers) in this warmly romantic, sporadically-hilarious adaptation of the classic play. Like the Leonardo DiCaprio/Claire Danes version of Romeo and Juliet, this film places the Bard's dialogue in a modern setting. Unlike that film, Much Ado About Nothing is all charm and class, not flamboyance and bombast. The tale revolves around a week-long party, where a matchmaking prince tries to unite two couples while his scheming brother secretly tries to undo it all.

Review: Gripping, Disturbing BLACKFISH Will Stay With You

BLACKFISH REVIEW (GRADE: A)

It may ruin SeaWorld for you, but this Sundance favorite is one of 2013's best films, as well as the first documentary I can ever remember wanting to watch twice in the same day. Far from an emotion-driven smear-campaign, CNN Films' Blackfish instead lays out the cold, hard facts as if building an irrefutable court case; the viewer's emotional investment follows naturally. The film takes the tragic 2010 death of Seaworld orca trainer Dawn Brancheau as a launching point to examine the inhumanity and perils of removing hyper-intelligent, inherently nomadic, and intensely social orcas from their family packs and keeping them in captivity.

Review- THOR 2 is a Tad Sloppy But Also Funny, Exciting, & Romantic

THOR: THE DARK WORLD REVIEW (GRADE: B+)

It is to the immense credit of Marvel Studios that they've not made a single bad film since they launched in 2008 with Iron Man. The internal consistency between all these films, the overlapping stories and character arcs, makes for a truly impressive tapestry. While Thor: The Dark World doesn't achieve the heights of The Avengers, it is nevertheless a rollicking adventure.

Review: ENDER'S GAME is Thrilling, Thought-Provoking, & Slightly Rushed

ENDER'S GAME REVIEW (GRADE: A-) 

As good a two-hour adaptation of the beloved source material as could ever be hoped for, Ender's Game is a satisfying morality tale dressed as sci-fi. The story, about child soldiers trained to be commanders in a future alien war, has stunned readers for decades. This thrilling and poignant film adaptation should please fans of the book while engaging newcomers.

Review: GRAVITY Combines Breathless Storytelling with Artistic Innovation

GRAVITY REVIEW: (GRADE: A+)

From the screenplay to the musical score to the cinematography, Gravity is bursting with originality and groundbreaking creativity on every frame, but it's the performances by Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side, Miss Congeniality) and George Clooney (The Oceans Trilogy, Good Night and Good Luck) that give it its humanity. The duo star as a pair of astronauts stranded in space after debris from a destroyed Russian satellite takes out their shuttle. If Clooney comes across as almost too perfect and noble, it's hard to fault him or the screenplay for giving viewers such a likable hero. Bullock, for her part, so effectively carries the film that an Oscar nomination is assured. It's a gripping performance.