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2/4
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The Dictator
(2012)
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Christian Toto
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Sacha Baron Cohen is too famous now to trick unsuspecting strangers a la "Borat." But The Dictator reveals his inability to disappear behind a character without an outrageous disguise.
Posted May 15, 2012
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3.5/4
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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Ghost Protocol packs more white-knuckle tension than any action film this year.
Posted Dec 16, 2011
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3/4
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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Sherlock Holmes adds intellectual firepower with the villainous Moriarty while keeping the bromance with Watson intact.
Posted Dec 16, 2011
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3.5/4
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The Names of Love
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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The far-left lead character in The Names of Love is so enchanting even Rush Limbaugh would give her the time of day.
Posted Nov 02, 2011
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2.5/4
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In Time
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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In Time needs a few more rewrites before it can knock on the door of great sci-fi films like 'Blade Runner.'
Posted Oct 31, 2011
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2.5/4
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The Rum Diary
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The hangover from The Rum Diary doesn't hit until the uninspired third act.
Posted Oct 31, 2011
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3/4
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The People vs. George Lucas
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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The visionary behind 'Star Wars' could learn a thing or two from the smart, and richly comic, documentary The People vs. George Lucas
Posted Oct 28, 2011
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3/4
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Paranormal Activity 3
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The new 'Activity' is dumb, strained and obvious. But you'll be scared all the same, and nothing else matters.
Posted Oct 21, 2011
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2.5/4
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Real Steel
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Hugh Jackman refuses to let audiences leave Real Steel without being entertained, no matter how silly matters get.
Posted Oct 19, 2011
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2.5/4
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Contagion
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Why did Contagion have to be such an antiseptic thriller?
Posted Sep 14, 2011
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1.5/4
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Apollo 18
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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In space, no one can hear you scream ... but you'll hear plenty of giggling in the final moments of Apollo 18
Posted Sep 05, 2011
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3.5/4
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The Debt
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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Smart, thrilling and morally complex ... not much more you can ask of The Debt
Posted Sep 01, 2011
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2.5/4
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The Bleeding House
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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Beware of nattily dressed strangers knocking at your door ...
Posted Aug 27, 2011
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2/4
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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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Horror fans can look past a whole lot of stupidity in their favorite genre. But Don't Be Afraid of the Dark simply asks too much of us.
Posted Aug 27, 2011
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2.5/4
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Conan the Barbarian
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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If you're gonna make an unnecessary remake like Conan the Barbarian at least keep it breezy, an approach director Marcus Nispel wisely heeds here.
Posted Aug 20, 2011
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2/4
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Fright Night
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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A few cool 3D effects are the only improvement Fright Night offers over the campy original.
Posted Aug 19, 2011
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2.5/4
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30 Minutes or Less
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Slacker comedies don't get much lazier than 30 Minutes or Less
Posted Aug 13, 2011
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1.5/4
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The Change-Up
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The Change-Up thinks any ol' R-rated gag will make us howl.
Posted Aug 06, 2011
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3/4
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Consider Rise of the Planet of the Apes a belated apology for Tim Burton's misbegotten 2001 remake.
Posted Aug 06, 2011
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3/4
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When Harry Tries to Marry
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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When Harry Tries to Marry shakes up the stale rom-com formula.
Posted Aug 04, 2011
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3/4
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Crazy, Stupid, Love.
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Crazy, Stupid, Love. is as chock full of great laugh lines as it is unnecessary punctuation.
Posted Jul 31, 2011
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2/4
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Friends With Benefits
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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A more accurate title for Friends with Benefits would be Pretty People Trying Way Too Hard For Our Amusement.
Posted Jul 27, 2011
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3/4
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Captain America: The First Avenger
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Captain America's rousing first half proves Chris Evans was the right choice to play the Star Spangled hero.
Posted Jul 23, 2011
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3.5/4
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is everything a Potter fanatic could want in a franchise capper.
Posted Jul 15, 2011
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2.5/4
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Zookeeper
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Cher and Sly Stallone as a lion couple? Quirky voice casting helps Zookeeper rise above its kiddie film trappings - barely.
Posted Jul 08, 2011
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3/4
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Horrible Bosses
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Horrible Bosses won't make you forget "Office Space," but you'll be laughing too much to mind.
Posted Jul 08, 2011
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2/4
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Larry Crowne
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Larry Crowne makes losing your job, your car and your house look like the greatest thing to happen to a middle aged man.
Posted Jul 01, 2011
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3/4
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Transformers: Dark of the Moon
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Dark of the Moon is just as loud, dumb and illogical as you expect. But when those neat 3D action sequences kick in, none of that matters.
Posted Jul 01, 2011
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2.5/4
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Bad Teacher
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Bad Teacher gets a shiny new apple thanks to a raunchy turn by Diaz
Posted Jun 26, 2011
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2.5/4
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Cars 2
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Cars 2 feels like a rival animation studio trying to copy the Pixar formula - and failing.
Posted Jun 24, 2011
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2.5/4
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Mr. Popper's Penguins
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Jim Carrey shrewdly lets his tiny co-stars have most, but not all, the fun in Mr. Popper's Penguins
Posted Jun 19, 2011
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2/4
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Green Lantern
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Green Lantern uses so much CGI it's a wonder anyone bothered bringing a camera to the set.
Posted Jun 18, 2011
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2/4
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Monogamy
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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Monogamy asks us to root for lovers who seem disinterested in their own future.
Posted Jun 12, 2011
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3/4
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Super 8
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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J.J. Abrams' Super 8 can't live up to its advanced billing, but it's still a crisp combination of 'Goonies,' 'Stand By Me' and ... I can't spoil the rest.
Posted Jun 10, 2011
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2/4
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The Hangover Part II
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The Hangover Part II feels like the fifth or sixth installment in the franchise. It's that out of fresh ideas.
Posted May 27, 2011
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2.5/4
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The Beaver
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The Beaver puts the focus back on Mel Gibson the actor, not the tabloid nightmare.
Posted May 20, 2011
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2.5/4
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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On Stranger Tides is arrgh-uably the best franchise sequel yet. Faint praise, to be sure.
Posted May 20, 2011
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3/4
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Hobo With a Shotgun
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Never mind 'Machete,' Hobo with a Shotgun is the real heir to the Grindhouse glory daze.
Posted May 14, 2011
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3/4
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Bridesmaids
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Bridemaids may make Kristen Wiig the first female'SNL' alum to ascend to the A-list.
Posted May 13, 2011
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3
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Thor
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Thor isn't 'The Dark Knight,' but it's a mighty fine kickoff to the summer movie season.
Posted May 06, 2011
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3/4
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Fast Five
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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All together now ... if you loved the first four Furious films there's no reason on Earth why you won't dig Fast Five
Posted Apr 29, 2011
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2.5/4
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Water for Elephants
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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No passion, no problem. Water for Elephants creates a wonderfully dark circus atmosphere to keep our interest when the film's love triangle falters.
Posted Apr 22, 2011
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2/4
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Atlas Shrugged: Part 1
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Kudos to Atlas Shrugged for bringing Ayn Rand's iconic novel to the big screen at long last. Now, about that script ...
Posted Apr 15, 2011
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2/4
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Scream 4
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Scream 4 isn't the embarrassment one fears from such a belated return to a sleeping franchise. But it's neither scary nor inventive enough to warrant its existence.
Posted Apr 15, 2011
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2.5/4
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Arthur
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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The new, not so improved Arthur drinks less but still brings the funny.
Posted Apr 08, 2011
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3/4
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Source Code
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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With Source Code Duncan Jones proves he's sci-fi's most promising young director.
Posted Apr 01, 2011
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3/4
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Insidious
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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James Wan's Insidious is both an apology for the numbing 'Saw' sequels and proof old-school horror still rocks.
Posted Apr 01, 2011
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1/4
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Sucker Punch
(2011)
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Christian Toto
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Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch should send shivers down the spines of Superman fans.
Posted Mar 25, 2011
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3/4
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Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead makes it safe to eat your vegetables again.
Posted Mar 23, 2011
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3/4
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I Saw the Devil
(2010)
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Christian Toto
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The guilty must pay ... and pay in I Saw the Devil, an unrelenting Korean shocker.
Posted Mar 18, 2011
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