#Emma Stone makes villainy fun and sexy

#Emma Stone makes villainy fun and sexy

“#Emma Stone makes villainy fun and sexy” Running time: 134 minutes. Rated PG-13 (some violence and thematic elements). In theaters. Think of the delicious new movie “Cruella” as the “Joker” of Disney.  Like the pitch-black Joaquin Phoenix film, it explains the origins and psychology of an infamous villain — this time, Cruella de Vil from…

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#Can the sequel live up?

#Can the sequel live up?

“#Can the sequel live up?” Running time: 97 minutes. Rated PG-13 (terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.) In theaters. Spoiler alert: It’s still very quiet. “A Quiet Place Part II,” the sequel to 2018’s surprise horror hit, is a direct continuation of the first film, with mom Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her three kids tip-toeing away…

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#Great Costumes, Sluggish Pacing – /Film

#Great Costumes, Sluggish Pacing – /Film

“#Great Costumes, Sluggish Pacing – /Film” Each of Disney’s live-action/CGI remakes, reboots, revivals, and re-imaginings has run up against the same challenge. Whether they’re about a boy growing up in the jungle, a young woman falling in love with a beast, or a girl falling through a rabbit hole to a magical fantasy world, these…

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#Another long, self-serious Zack Snyder film

#Another long, self-serious Zack Snyder film

“#Another long, self-serious Zack Snyder film” A moment near the end of Zack Snyder’s serviceable “Army of the Dead” perfectly encapsulates the director’s oeuvre. Imperiled, Dave Bautista’s character Scott informs us that Las Vegas will be nuked in 9 minutes. How much movie is left at that point? A half-hour. Hollywood has never been a…

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#Retread Softly, But With Less Impact – /Film

#Retread Softly, But With Less Impact – /Film

“#Retread Softly, But With Less Impact – /Film” The first A Quiet Place was a phenomenon for a reason — its immaculate sound design and unique premise (a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hearing-sensitive monsters) made for a horror film more akin to a roller coaster: immersive, transporting, and almost completely experiential. But strip A Quiet…

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#Be Careful What You Wish For – /Film

#Be Careful What You Wish For – /Film

“#Be Careful What You Wish For – /Film” Writer/director duo David Charbonier and Justin Powell know how to get straight to the point without extracting any key elements that comprise an entertaining horror film. Their debut film The Boy Behind the Door was a terrifying and realistic depiction of friendship withstanding a traumatic childhood abduction….

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