Film Review: Gimme Shelter

Gimme shelter?  How about gimme a better movie?

Vanessa Hudgens, as Apple, gets some life altering news in Gimme Shelter.
Vanessa Hudgens, as Apple, gets some life altering news in Gimme Shelter.

Conservatives have often accused Hollywood of having a liberal agenda, so they should be very happy with Gimme Shelter, writer-director Ron Krauss’s family-friendly film about a pregnant teenager that opens today. The picture has a not-so-subtle religious, pro-life message, and feels less like a major theatrical release and more like a made-for-TV movie that might air on the Family channel or the Christian Broadcasting Network. As a film review is not the place to delve too much into polarizing political debate, I’ll set that issue aside, and will review the film purely for its entertainment value. On that level, though, unfortunately, the film ultimately fails as a compelling dramatic narrative. Continue reading “Film Review: Gimme Shelter”

Film Review: Spring Breakers

James Franco as Alien in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers
James Franco as Alien in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers

Written and Directed by: Harmony Korine

Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco

MPAA: Rated R for strong sexual content, language, nudity, drug use and violence throughout

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Film Review: “Sucker Punch”

Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Emily Browning, Scott Glenn, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jamie Chung in SUCKER PUNCH. Photo by Clay Enos – © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures

starring: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Scott Glenn, Jon Hamm

written by: Zack Snyder & Steve Shibuya

directed by: Zack Snyder

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language.

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Film Reviews: “Beastly” / “Take Me Home Tonight”

Mary-Kate Olsen and Alex Pettyfer in BEASTLY

Beastly

starring: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Neil Patrick Harris, Mary-Kate Olsen, Peter Krause, Lisa Gay Hamilton

directed by: Darren Barnz

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for language including crude comments, brief violence and some thematic material.

Topher Grace, Anna Faris, and Dan Fogler in TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

Take Me Home Tonight

starring: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, Chris Pratt, Michael Biehn, Lucy Punch, Demetri Martin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Michael Ian Black, Angie Everhart, Bob Odenkirk

directed by: Michael Dowse

MPAA: Rated R for language, sexual content and drug use.

Continue reading “Film Reviews: “Beastly” / “Take Me Home Tonight””