Alonso Duralde

'From Up on Poppy Hill' Review: Teenagers, and a Nation, Come of Age in Another Miyazaki Triumph

March 21, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 9 weeks ago

No cat-buses or walking castles this time out, but the very human storytelling packs a punch

  

'Olympus Has Fallen' Review: Where Are You, Bruce Willis, Now That POTUS Needs You?

March 21, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 9 weeks ago

 “Die Hard” comes to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. with this thrilling but dopey action flick that keeps things moving even while it defies logic

  

'The Croods' Review: Dazzling Fun Proves Even a Caveman Dad Can Evolve

March 20, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 9 weeks ago

Nicolas Cage leads a family of Neanderthals into a whole new world in this amusing and visually stunning animated film for all ages

  

'Admission' Review: Toss This Tina Fey Rom-Com on the Reject Pile

March 20, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 9 weeks ago

Despite the presence of Tina Fey and Paul Rudd neither the rom nor the com work here

  

'Spring Breakers' Review: 'Where the Boys Are' - But With More on Its Party-Till-You're Numb Mind

March 14, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 10 weeks ago

Harmony Korine deconstructs a cherished teen ritual with this hedonistic horror show of nubile teens, reckless partying and a dreadlocked James Franco

  

'The Call' Review: Halle Berry Thriller Starts Strong, Gets Hung Up

March 14, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 10 weeks ago

This suspenseful tale starring Halle Berry as a 911 operator works better as a workplace thriller than as a “Silence of the Lambs” knock-off

  

'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' Review: Magician Comedy Has Nothing Up Its Sleeve

March 13, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 10 weeks ago

Despite the presence of Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey, the laughs get shackled up and suspended in a tank of repetitiveness and sentimentality

  

'Oz the Great and Powerful' Review: Sam Raimi Manages to Fill Some Mighty Big Ruby Slippers

March 5, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 11 weeks ago

James Franco goes from carny conman to reluctant messiah in this ingenious prequel to the 1939 classic

  

'21 & Over' Review: When an 'Animal House' Wants to Be a 'Breakfast Club'

March 1, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 12 weeks ago

Raucous comedy from the writers of “The Hangover” can’t nail the pivot from raunchy to poignant, despite the charming cast’s best efforts

  

'Stoker' Review: When Style Becomes Self-Parody

February 28, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 12 weeks ago

Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska are buried in stares and significant pauses in director Park Chan-Wook’s overdone American debut

  

'Phantom' Review: Capable Cast Can't Keep This Sub Tale From Scuttling

February 27, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 12 weeks ago

Even with Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner on board, this Cold War true story never reaches adequate depth

  

'Dark Skies' Review: When Your Haunted House Is Behind on the Mortgage, It's Doubly Terrifying

February 22, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 13 weeks ago

Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton star in an effectively chilling thriller about a suburban family under attack by both invisible creeps and a sluggish economy

  

'Inescapable' Review: All That's Inescapable in This Action/Personal Drama Mash-Up Is Marisa Tomei

February 22, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 13 weeks ago

Marisa Tomei shines in an otherwise by-the-numbers tale of a Syrian spy confronting his past after his child is kidnapped

  

'Escape from Planet Earth' Review: A Black Hole of Entertainment

February 15, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 14 weeks ago

This bland and charmless kiddie flick can’t even muster enough personality to be awful

  

'No' Review: A Tale of Vision and Daring, Told With Not Enough of Either

February 14, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 14 weeks ago

Gael Garcia Bernal stars as an ad man who helped overthrow a dictator, but the movie could use his character’s skill at thinking outside the box

  

'A Good Day to Die Hard' Review: The Cat's in the Cradle and the Uranium's Enriched

February 13, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 14 weeks ago

Bruce Willis’ iconic John McClane works out his father-son issues amidst noisy, chaotic violence — call this one “Daddy Die Hard”

  

'Beautiful Creatures' Review: Casting Spells with Tongue in Cheek

February 12, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 14 weeks ago

The teen romance feels real while the supernatural stuff goes crazily over-the-top in this surprisingly entertaining post-“Twilight” tentpole

  

'A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III' Review: Starring the Art Director; Also, Charlie Sheen

February 8, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 15 weeks ago

Roman Coppola’s sophomore effort is a doodle with characters that are only there to model 1970s outfits and hairdos

  

'Identity Thief' Reviews: Is Melissa McCarthy's Latest Another 'Bridesmaids'?

February 8, 2013 By Brent Lang 15 weeks ago

Critics have not been kind to "Identity Thief"

  

'Identity Thief' Review: Two Stolen Hours You'll Never Get Back

February 7, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 15 weeks ago

Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman are no match for the comedy quicksand of this labored, dull effort

  

'Side Effects' Review: For Maximum Potency, See the Movie First and Read the Reviews Later

February 7, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 15 weeks ago

The less you know about Steven Soderbergh’s latest (and last?) drama, the more you’ll enjoy its surprises

  

'Bullet to the Head' Review: Occasionally Entertaining...Until the Shooting Stops

February 1, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 16 weeks ago

Walter Hill still knows how to direct an action sequence, but when Sylvester Stallone opens his mouth and starts acting, the whole movie collapses

  

'Stand Up Guys' Review: Grumpy Old Gangsters

January 31, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 16 weeks ago

Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin do their greatest hits in this uninspired tale of aging mobsters out for one last spree

  

'Movie 43' Review: Gross. Disgusting. Juvenile. Hilarious.

January 25, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 17 weeks ago

You may hate yourself in the morning, but this all-star collection of shorts (Kate Winslet! Halle Berry! Hugh Jackman!) brings the dirty giggles

  

'John Dies at the End' Review: Hipster Ghostbusters vs. Flying Mustaches

January 24, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 17 weeks ago

Not even the droll Paul Giamatti can tether this silly horror-comedy, but if you’re in the mood for flash and dazzle, there’s nary a dead spot

  

'Parker' Review: How to Turn a Serviceable Thriller into a Bloody Bore

January 23, 2013 By Alonso Duralde 17 weeks ago

You could completely remove the Jennifer Lopez character from this Jason Statham shoot-em-up and have a much sharper and less muddled movie

  
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