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Nolan's Pop Culture Review

Nolan's Pop Culture Review is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Michael A. Smith.

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Rating Title | Year Author Quote
4/5
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Michael A. Smith "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is a smartly directed film that sits squarely on the shoulders of Andy Serkis.
Posted Aug 04, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Cowboys & Aliens (2011) Michael A. Smith In fact, with this performance and his recurring role as James Bond, Craig may be the baddest man on the planet. To paraphrase a popular joke, Daniel Craig is so bad that Chuck Norris has his poster on his wall.
Posted Jul 28, 2011  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) Michael A. Smith ...the greatest showdown between good and evil since Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader mixed it up in "Return of the Jedi."
Posted Jul 14, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Horrible Bosses (2011) Michael A. Smith Day, who was the best thing about last years rom-com "Going the Distance," is hilarious here.
Posted Jul 07, 2011  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) Michael A. Smith Bay has always been a visual director first and foremost and he doesn't disappoint here. Couple that keen eye with a script full of humor and, more important, characters you care about, and you've got the best "Transformers" film yet!
Posted Jun 28, 2011  Edit critic review
3/5
Bad Teacher (2011) Michael A. Smith Screenwriters Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg fare better here than with their first film, "Year One." But like I said in my review of that film, if these guys are truly penning "Ghostbusters III," they have a lot to learn.
Posted Jun 23, 2011  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Green Lantern (2011) Michael A. Smith Faithful to the comics almost to its detriment, "Green Lantern" is a two hour film that would have been much better at ninety minutes.
Posted Jun 16, 2011  Edit critic review
5/5
Super 8 (2011) Michael A. Smith I must confess that my anticipation for this film was up there on the same level I felt standing in line to see "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" or "The Empire Strikes Back." And I have to say that my anticipation was met in spades.
Posted Jun 09, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
X-Men: First Class (2011) Michael A. Smith Like Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale" or, staying in the genre', Hugh Jackman in the first "X-Men" film, Fassbender leaps off the screen in what is sure to be a star making role.
Posted Jun 02, 2011  Edit critic review
5/5
The Hangover Part II (2011) Michael A. Smith If the first film was "The Godfather" of comedies I'd have to call this once "The Godfather Part II."
Posted May 25, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) Michael A. Smith Played with the same menace he showed in HBO's "Deadwood" by the great Ian McShane, Blackbeard is to Jack Sparrow what Robert Shaw's Red Grant was to James Bond in "From Russia With Love:" the baddest mother in the movie.
Posted May 19, 2011  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Bridesmaids (2011) Michael A. Smith I must take the time to single out Melissa McCarthy, who plays Lillian's future sister-in-law Megan. McCarthy, who stars in the current CBS television program "Mike and Molly," is a fireball and steals every scene she's in.
Posted May 15, 2011  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Thor (2011) Michael A. Smith A family torn apart, war, betrayal...these are all things the Bard wrote about and who better then the classically trained Branagh to help bring the story to the screen.
Posted May 05, 2011  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Fast Five (2011) Michael A. Smith The film gets much better in its second half when it becomes an "Ocean's Eleven" type adventure featuring many faces that will instantly be familiar to "Fast/Furious" fans.
Posted Apr 28, 2011  Edit critic review
5/5
Water for Elephants (2011) Michael A. Smith ...one of the best films I've seen this year.
Posted Apr 21, 2011  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Scream 4 (2011) Michael A. Smith Directed with the true eye of a horror master, with a smartly written script by the series' creator, Kevin Williamson, "Scream 4" is what a horror movie should be. Fun.
Posted Apr 12, 2011  Edit critic review
1/5
Arthur (2011) Michael A. Smith I can honestly say that the loud whirring noise you're hearing may in fact be (original writer/director Steve) Gordon spinning in his grave.
Posted Apr 07, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Source Code (2011) Michael A. Smith Gyllenhaal easily gives his best performance since "Brokeback Mountain."
Posted Mar 31, 2011  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Sucker Punch (2011) Michael A. Smith Full of noise and scantily clad women, "Sucker Punch" is the film equivalent of the breath mint known as Certs. That's right, it's three...three...three films in one. Or better put, it's "300" meets "Moulin Rouge" on "Shutter Island."
Posted Mar 25, 2011  Edit critic review
3/5
Paul (2011) Michael A. Smith Let's just say that if you have any love for science fiction and fantasy films from the past 40 years you'll certainly enjoy the film.
Posted Mar 17, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Rango (2011) Michael A. Smith "Rango" is proof that not all new animated films need to go the gimmicky way of 3-D.
Posted Mar 10, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Battle: Los Angeles (2011) Michael A. Smith ...the bigger, badder brother to "Independence Day."
Posted Mar 10, 2011  Edit critic review
5/5
Hall Pass (2011) Michael A. Smith I laughed from beginning to end and to me that's the sign of a comedy classic.
Posted Feb 24, 2011  Edit critic review
4/5
Unknown (2011) Michael A. Smith The film is smartly edited and the thrills one would expect are nicely delivered.
Posted Feb 17, 2011  Edit critic review
5/5
Biutiful (2010) Michael A. Smith Bardem proves himself to be one of the finest actors now working in any language.
Posted Feb 10, 2011  Edit critic review
2/5
Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) Michael A. Smith ...way this film is the "Mama Mia" of garden gnomes!
Posted Feb 10, 2011  Edit critic review
3/4
The Company Men (2010) Michael A. Smith A fine companion piece to last year's George Clooney film "Up In the Air"
Posted Jan 22, 2011  Edit critic review
2.5/4
The Green Hornet (2011) Michael A. Smith The fight scenes, filmed in what I'll call "Kato-Vision," are top shelf and rival anything you'd find in the "Matrix" world.
Posted Jan 16, 2011  Edit critic review
3.5/4
True Grit (2010) Michael A. Smith And while Bridges is not the Duke, he IS the Dude, and he makes Rooster his own...
Posted Dec 21, 2010  Edit critic review
2.5/4
Tron: Legacy (2010) Michael A. Smith ...an entertaining film that tries to make up for its lack of substance with some pretty impressive action set pieces.
Posted Dec 16, 2010  Edit critic review
2.5/4
The Tourist (2010) Michael A. Smith Enjoyable but light on substance...
Posted Dec 09, 2010  Edit critic review
2/4
Due Date (2010) Michael A. Smith Let me say right off that I liked this movie the first time I saw it, when it was called "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."
Posted Nov 17, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
Megamind (2010) Michael A. Smith Full of fun and eye-popping images, "Megamind" is what they used to call in the old days of television "side-splittingly funny."
Posted Nov 17, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) Michael A. Smith Kloves brings Rowling's world to life, engrossing you in the story and making your truly care about these characters.
Posted Nov 17, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
Conviction (2010) Michael A. Smith As single mom Betty Anne Waters, Swank is a marvel.
Posted Oct 28, 2010  Edit critic review
4/4
Hereafter (2010) Michael A. Smith Filmed with a master's eye, "Hereafter" continues the streak of outstanding films directed by Clint Eastwood.
Posted Oct 21, 2010  Edit critic review
3/4
Life as We Know It (2010) Michael A. Smith Imagine if Josh Brolin and Josh Hartnett joined these two on screen. It would be a virtual Josh-a-thon.
Posted Oct 14, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
Red (2010) Michael A. Smith "RED" is a smart, well directed action film that counts among its cast an incredible fourteen Academy Award nominations and four Awards.
Posted Oct 14, 2010  Edit critic review
4/4
Let Me In (2010) Michael A. Smith ...easily one of the best horror films I have ever seen.
Posted Sep 30, 2010  Edit critic review
4/4
The Town (2010) Michael A. Smith A tense thriller full of great performances, "The Town" is a heist film that rivals "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Heat."
Posted Sep 23, 2010  Edit critic review
1.5/4
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) Michael A. Smith But pretty pictures do not a good movie make (I'm looking at YOU, "Avatar.") And "Legends of the Guardians" is not a good movie.
Posted Sep 23, 2010  Edit critic review
3/4
Machete (2010) Michael A. Smith Strong and mostly silent, Trejo brings to mind the late Charles Bronson, an underrated actor who made it big as an action star.
Posted Sep 02, 2010  Edit critic review
3/4
The Switch (2010) Michael A. Smith ...the best romantic comedy to come down the pike in some time.
Posted Aug 19, 2010  Edit critic review
2.5/4
Eat Pray Love (2010) Michael A. Smith Roberts has taken a role that could have been played very stereotypically (lonely divorcee' searches for love and the secret of life) and breathes life into it.
Posted Aug 12, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
The Other Guys (2010) Michael A. Smith Easily the best comedy of the year...
Posted Aug 05, 2010  Edit critic review
4/4
The Kids Are All Right (2010) Michael A. Smith "A great drama that is sure to be remembered at Oscar time (note to the Academy – the last name is spelled B-E-N-I-N-G)..."
Posted Jul 28, 2010  Edit critic review
3/4
Salt (2010) Michael A. Smith I would be remiss if I didn't give mention to film editor Stuart Baird, who skillfully conveys the action on screen at a breakneck pace.
Posted Jul 22, 2010  Edit critic review
3.5/4
Inception (2010) Michael A. Smith The visual effects are outstanding, including a fight scene that rivals any ever put on film.
Posted Jul 15, 2010  Edit critic review
3/4
Predators (2010) Michael A. Smith The make- up effects, by maestros Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger, are well done and not over the top.
Posted Jul 08, 2010  Edit critic review
2.5/4
Knight and Day (2010) Michael A. Smith Cruise has always come across as the kind of guy you'd like to hang out with and it's that charm that carries the film during the more, shall we say, unrealistic scenes.
Posted Jun 24, 2010  Edit critic review
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