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| 1. |
|
01/11/12 |
Very Good |
 "Surfing meets sociology in 'Splinters,' a compelling docu about the sport's arrival in the Papua New Guinea village of Vanimo." |
| 2. |
|
11/27/11 |
Very Good |
 "...primed to please aficionados but also draw newbies into the fold.... Shinbo's elaborate plot remains coherent even in the midst of furious fights and multiple identity switcheroos among combatants." |
| 3. |
|
10/23/11 |
Good |
 "...solid if overlong... Engages auds emotionally with strong characters and bittersweet scenes of enemies fraternizing from a distance..." |
| 4. |
|
10/23/11 |
Excellent |
 "A beautifully written and performed plea for understanding on hot-button moral and legal issues... perfectly pitched to engage the emotions and provoke discussion among fair-minded viewers of all persuasions." |
| 5. |
|
09/10/11 |
Good |
 "Beautifully lensed and impeccably performed by Willem Dafoe... but auds may feel they're not given enough information about the protag to become fully immersed in his journey toward redemption." |
| 6. |
|
09/01/11 |
Weak |
 "...poorly scripted... carried solely on the buff shoulders of macho megastar Salman Khan... he delivers whether engaged in eye-catching, CGI-assisted fight scenes or strutting around like he owns the place during zippy musical interludes." |
| 7. |
|
06/23/11 |
Excellent |
 "The complex relationship between exiled Tibetan spiritual master Cheogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and his Italian-born son Yeshi is examined in this fascinating docu... offers absorbing insights into Buddhist philosophies..." |
| 8. |
|
06/23/11 |
Moderate |
 "A Chinese propaganda film without the heavy dogma and dour treatment that would have been expected a generation ago... a slick and lavish historical epic charting the 1921 formation of the Chinese Communist Party." |
| 9. |
|
04/17/11 |
Good |
 "...delivers the goods so long as butt is being kicked and family conflict is playing out in celestial dimensions, but is less thrilling during the Norse warrior god's rather brief banishment on Earth." |
| 10. |
|
03/04/11 |
Fair |
 "An extremely bleak psychological horror-thriller with arty trimmings... pic compels for a couple of reels before muddled plotting sets in and auds are left with no one to connect with..." |
| 11. |
|
02/03/11 |
Fair |
 "Asian superstars Gong Li and Andy Lau spark together, but the script rarely produces fireworks... a fizzy Chinese battle-of-the-sexes farce is let down by too few zingers and a too-long running time.... the final furlongs still have the feel of a novelty that's worn off." |
| 12. |
|
10/10/10 |
Outstanding |
 "...a deeply moving study of emotionally scarred adults who were illegally deported as children to Australia from Britain in the 1940s and '50s.... a standout debut by British helmer Jim Loach, son of director Ken Loach..." |
| 13. |
|
07/13/10 |
Weak |
 "Too much contemplation and not enough demonstration... lacks the emotional clout that would compensate for the meager footage of martial-arts superman/co-helmer Tony Jaa beating the daylights out of all comers." |
| 14. |
|
06/20/10 |
Excellent |
 "...hugely entertaining... Put this one down next to 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster' and 'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' as a rock doc with appeal way beyond its notional audience." |
| 15. |
|
11/16/09 |
Good |
 "Matters may be murky, plot-wise, but the machinery and pyrotechnics do not disappoint." |
| 16. |
|
11/12/09 |
Very Good |
 "...stands more chance of attracting new followers than 2007 predecessor 'Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone.' Just as visually exciting, and with greater substance in its philosophical concerns and religious references... technical work is outstanding." |
| 17. |
|
11/03/09 |
Fair |
 "Forby's stiff direction and starchy dialogue offer Kilcher little scope to shine, but the pic at least gathers some emotional traction as Ka'iulani blossoms into a political activist." |
| 18. |
|
11/02/09 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "Indie helmer Quentin Lee's fourth and best feature is a little too well behaved at times, but zips along nicely when its raunchier elements kick in." |
| 19. |
|
09/14/09 |
Moderate |
 "...the story lights up when world-class performer Chi Cao leaps about as the adult Li, but is marred by lumpy melodrama when the music stops." |
| 20. |
|
08/16/09 |
Outstanding |
 "Cobwebbed cans of silent and early sound-era film are turned into gold by master archive hunter Gustav Deutsch.... raises the art of found footage assembly to stunning heights. The soundscape, ranging from bouncy electronica to throat singing, is a masterpiece in its own right." |
