Author: AJ

Angelina the Conqueror

Posted August 17, 2010

Here’s how Angelina Jolie enters the story: by water taxi speeding across the black water of a Venetian lagoon. She is seen from above, from the window of a very old palace—it had once been the home of a nobleman, then a monastery, then an embassy, and is now a hotel, which is the entire story of Venice. She sits in an antique chair and sighs. Her tattoos have been covered with makeup. Somewhere in town is Brad Pitt, with the six kids, the nannies, and the teachers and help. Johnny Depp, Jolie’s co-star in The Tourist, is somewhere here, […]

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Posted August 15, 2010

At it’s most basic level, it’s well done. It’s sleek and cool and fun.

The concept is definitely fun and interesting and well executed. Story was good and had some nice depth and nuances. There’s some really innovative directing and editing,

Dakota Fanning| All Grown Up

Posted August 1, 2010

She talks to Tom Cruise regularly. And her first grown-up on-screen kiss is now behind her. Dakota Fanning is definitely not a little kid anymore. The dress code at Campbell Hall, the private Episcopal school in North Hollywood, California, once attended by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and now by Dakota Fanning and her little sister, Elle, is strict: khaki skirt, shorts, or trousers, white collared shirt, navy sweater, closed-toed shoes. “You could actually wear this,” says the elder Fanning flouncing her skirt, a cream-colored silk pouf, and in the process gaily jangles a wristful of bangles. We are sitting opposite […]

Salt

Posted July 31, 2010

The most significant thing to say about this movie is that it would have been terrible if Tom Cruise had starred in it as originally planned. Because he’s good at being a pop icon and worked

Fame

Posted July 29, 2010

It’s kind of hard to score a movie like this, because all of the elements are different (though, sort of, they shouldn’t be which is why it comes out so low).

Stylishly directed, this isn’t so much a film as a series of performances. And the singing and dancing and

Inception

Posted July 18, 2010

There’s really no way to talk about this movie without spoilers. If you haven’t seen it yet though, you’re one of the few but I felt the need to be clear on that anyway.

I sat around yesterday trying to figure Inception out, trying to write

The Last Airbender

Posted July 10, 2010

This has already been out for a week and the reviews have been horrible, so you don’t really need to hear from me. But, in case you’re curious, here’s a reason why…

Fundamentally, I think the biggest flaw in this film is that M. Night Shyamalan stayed too

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Posted July 6, 2010

I think, though still flawed, Eclipse is the best of the Twilight films thus far.

Before I even begin I should say that it’s my favorite book. I like how romantic it is and I like Jacob and Edward talking in the tent and the whole little kerfuffle

The Karate Kid

Posted June 13, 2010

When I first heard they were remaking the Karate Kid, I scoffed. I didn’t love the movies as a kid. I knew they were iconic and classic and still they weren’t my favorite.

And then I saw the trailer for this new Karate Kid and thought it might actually be

The A-Team

Posted June 12, 2010

I have to admit the A-Team is better than I’d given it credit for. Of course it was big and loud and a little funny. Surprisingly, it was also solid with story and characters when I’d expected

girls speak geek

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