Notizie

Maleficent upends a classic fairytale and Disney animated classic. Does the switch up work? We asked our Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest):

"Every Briar Rose has its thorn - Angelina Jolie is both as the title character in Maleficent, the latest retelling of the original "Sleeping Beauty" story. In this retelling, the formerly evil Maleficent is not all that malevolent. If you expect anything similar the original tale of Princess Aurora and the spinning wheel, you will be very surprised - this new take gives the backstory of this beloved villain and adds new twists to the classic tale. The special effects were stunning and quite well done in the film. Jolie was completely transformed into the dark yet beautiful fairy. Also, the fight sequences are incredible, in particular Maleficent's flying is quite phenomenal. Jolie is by far the standout performer...

Movie critics are raving about X-Men: Days of Future Past - but what do movie Stars say? We asked our Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney and Katherine McNamara, who love it, too!

"X-Men: Days of Future Past is a fantastic addition to the X-Men series. Wolverine must go back in time and ally two former enemies in order to save his friends and all of mutant-kind from robotic Sentinels, programmed (and successfully so) to exterminate them all. All of the X-men favorites return, making this a star-studded film that will keep you guessing until the very end. Standout performances include Hugh Jackman, of course, as Wolverine, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, and Peter Dinklage as Dr. Trask. The visual effects are stunning - so much so that they have set a new standard for upcoming X-Men movies - of which there are sure to be many to come. The...

Transcendence dives into some heady ideas, but do they make sense? KidsPickFlicks Movie Star Movie Crix Katherine McNamara (Contest) and Joel Courtney (Super 8) say it's a film worth exploring:

"To what limits should technology stretch? Transcendence does not answer this question, it merely begins to explore its possibilities. The film follows the story of Will and Evelyn Caster as their journey to creating artificial intelligence changes suddenly when Will is fatally wounded by an intelligence resistance group. Stunning visual effects show a myriad of futuristic technologies made possible in this world including plants being brought to life with nano-technology. These phenomena were made believable by the performances of Paul Bettanny and Rebecca Hall as they saw their possibilities for healing and destruction. Johnny Depp also delivered a fantastic performance as Will Caster in his ever-changing altered state of consciousness, if you will. Some strong language is used in the film,...

A current movie trend is the True Story. The Railway Man, Philomena, the upcoming Million Dollar Arm and Walking with the Enemy are some of the April and May titles. Just released is Heaven is for Real, and KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say it's a film that will get you thinking:

"What happens after we die? This age old question is tackled by an adorable 4 year old named Colton in Heaven is for Real. The film follows the story of the Burpo family, headed by Renaissance man Todd, the towns pastor, wrestling coach, fireman, and garage door repairman, as they struggle with questions of life, death, faith, family, and community surrounding the near death of their son Colton. The cast of this film was quite brilliant creating an ensemble that had a genuine thread of connectivity and community between each character.

The Captan America sequel is here - and already Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the biggest movie of 2014. Does it live up to the other Avengers films? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say oh-yeah:

"Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a character-driven action movie perfect for Marvel's first venture in 2014. Some of our favorite characters return as fantastic as ever including Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and, of course, Chris Evans as Captain America. There is never a dull moment as the film has a steady flow of action from beginning to end. The amazing fight sequences certainly do not disappoint, and the computer graphics were visually stunning. This is a great film for the family but may be a bit intense for younger children. 5 stars"

What did You think about Captain America: The Winter Soldier?...

Everyone's talking about Divergent, but is it worth seeing? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) give the lowdown:

"Based on the first installment of the best selling book series, Divergent is set in a dystopian Chicago where citizens are must choose one of five groups based on what they feel the most important trait is for a person to possess: kindness (Amity), honesty (Candor), intelligence (Erudite), selflessness (Abnegation), or bravery (Dauntless). What if a person displays more than one of these traits? They are the Divergent. The film is a cautionary tale about how ultimate power can corrupt even the best of intentions. It is also an inspiring story of how people can find passion, joy, and even love in the face of a seemingly impossible odds. Top notch performances by Theo James (Four), Jai Courtney (Eric), and Kate Winslet (Jeanine Matthews) really...

Mr. Peabody & Sherman has flown through time: it was a cartoon back when your grandparents were kids and now it's landed in 2014 so you can enjoy them, too. But, does the concept still work? Check out KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) have to say:

"Hop inside the Wabac and fasten your seatbelt for a very endearing retelling of a beloved classic cartoon. The film brings back the charming Mr. Peabody, a genius dog who invents time travel to teach his adoptive son, Sherman, about the past. Trying to impress a new friend, Sherman goes back in time for some fun, but makes too much of a mark on history, forcing Mr. Peabody to fix it before the rip in time is irreparable. The movie is quite fast paced with constant jokes for adults and kids alike. With an all-star cast featuring Ty Burrell,...

Pompeii is ambitious: it strives to be an epic, sword-and-sandal action thriller romance in a disaster movie that is also historically-accurate! KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) evaluate if director Paul W.S. Anderson pulls it off:

"Pompeii, a mashup between Titanic and Gladiator, adds itself to the list of unusual Valentine's Day movies in the box office this year. It is indeed a love story, two people destined for each other but prohibited by social class, only interrupted by gladiator tournament fighting and blood. The performances of Kit Harington, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Emily Browning were fantastic and really draw the audience into the film. The special effects were stunning, showing how Mt. Vesuvius' colossal 79 Ad eruption utterly destroyed the beautiful city of Pompeii in less than 24 hours. While the storyline was predictable at times, the movie was still enjoyable. Please note: there are...

Labor Day looks like a movie for grown ups but KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) absolutely loved it, unexpectedly finding themselves on the edge of their seats!

"Labor Day is not at all reminiscent of the relaxing holiday that gives it its title. The film is quite intense, quickly transforming from a thriller about an escaped convict to an entrapuring love story. This film pushes the emotional boundaries of both the actors and the audience ranging from love, hurt, betrayal, depression, murder, and ultimately to hope. Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin give award worthy performances as two broken people who were previously scarred by love and thought they would be alone forever but find each other instead. Also, Gattlin Griffiths did a phenomenal job and held his own with these masters of their craft as Henry, Winslet's son. We highly recommend this film.

Great romantic movies always stay great, but sometimes need a little updating. Endless Love's  tweaks include turning the teen romance into a movie teens can see, it's rated PG-13 (the 1981 original was R). KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) rate Endless Love a Pick, but barely:

"Endless Love follows the story of Jade Butterfield (Gabriella Wilde) who, after losing her older brother Chris to cancer, isolates herself by dropping out of any social life. That is, until she meets David Elliot (Alex Pettyfer). Overnight, he turns her entire world upside down, opening her eyes over the everything she missed in the past four years in one summer. Bruce Greenwood gives a great performance as an over-bearing and controlling father looking who only has his interests at heart. The supporting cast of Rhys Wakefield (playing Jade's older brother) and Dayo Okeniyi (David's best friend) steal the show.

RoboCop is a movie - if not a punch line - from 1987. KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) rate RoboCop right on the line between Pick and Ick:

"In the year 2028, OmniCorp has a monopoly on robotic technology. Outside of the USA, their robots are being used for police force and military operations. OmniCorp builds a machine-man hybrid (Joel Kinnaman) in order to bring robotic peacekeepers to the USA. Although the film is set 14 years in the future, the movie presents several current issues: the use of unmanned drones, questions of personal liberty vs. safety, and cable news being passed off as unbiased reporting. Abbie Cornish gives a fantastic performance as a wife and mother whose life is spinning out of control as she struggles to support her critically injured husband. Samuel L. Jackson gives a tremendous performance the type of charismatic and...

The Monuments Men is a true story about the world's greatest treasure hunt: taking back stolen artwork from the Nazis! Here's the thing, though, will kids like it? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say it's a Pick, but it's not for everyone:

"The Monuments Men is a fantastic film about a team of art authorities who were ordered to find art the Nazis stole during World War II. It follows these seven men who are the farthest thing from soldiers on their crusade to find these masterpieces and return them to their original owners before the Nazi's destroy them for good. Not only is the plot of this film incredible, the cast is just as top notch. With stars including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett, it is no surprise the ensemble cast of this film delivered a stunning performance.

• Shia Labeouf is not retiring, it seems. The Nymphomaniac star, thrust into the spotlight recently by an ever-escalating plagiarism controversy, has signed on to Barry Levinson’s Rock the Kasbah alongside a host of high-profile names including Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel, Danny McBride, and Kate Hudson. The film follows a past-his-prime rock manager who takes his sole client on a Uso tour in Afghanistan. While in Kabul, the manager discovers a young talent and enters her into the Afghan Star contest — Afghanistan’s version of American Idol. [The Wrap]

• Bill Hader, who showed his dramatic chops in the Sundance pic The Skeleton Twins,...

I, Frankenstein brings the story of Victor Frankenstein's monster into a modern dystopian world. KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say, well, the music was pretty good:

"The legend lives again in this new continuation of the story of Dr. Frankenstein's famous creation. This time, the creature is not being hunted by angry townspeople with pitchforks but by an army of demons planning to overthrow the human race. The gargoyles however are on the side of good as a legion to fight for the survival of the world as we know it. The special effects in this film were astounding and kept bloodiness to a minimum. One of the best performances in the film came from Yvonne Strahovski as a scientist caught in the middle of this war of the shadows. Probably the best part of this film was the soundtrack. A score...

It's Chris Pine's turn to play super agent Jack Ryan - Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck and Harrison Ford have played the character over the last two decades. How does he, and the movie, measure up? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say Pine delivers and this Jack Ryan flick has something action films don't always have: a great story.

"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit was a phenomenal movie. This film was very plot driven for an action flick. The use of only a few key special effects made Shadow Recruit more compelling than most other "bang 'em up" films. The scoring in the movie was quite good as well and added a great deal of suspense and drama to the piece. The cast was truly spectacular. Chris Pine was an agent caught between his love of country and the love of his life played beautifully by Kiera Knightley.

Ride Along isn't really a movie made for kids, but a Kevin Hart comedy with Ice Cube and "Haunted Hathaways" Benjamin Flores Jr. - well, that's enough to get us interested! KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say, as advertised, Ride Along is Really Funny, but for younger kids, well, it's not. 

"Ice Cube and Kevin Hart make a great team in the action-packed comedy Ride Along. This bad-cop/crazy-cop duo takes on a major crime lord on the streets of Atlanta, allowing Ben (Kevin Hart) to prove that he is worthy of James' (Ice Cube) sister, Angela (Tika Sumpter). The comedy in this movie is top notch! The perfect blend of a comedy and an action film, Ride Along keeps you laughing on the edge of your seat! However, the language and subject matter of some scenes may is a bit mature for younger audiences.

The Nut Job is the first kids movie of the year, but is it worth seeing? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say yes!

"The Nut Job is surely a heist to remember. The characters make use of everything from dog whistles to dynamite as they try to pull of the biggest nut heist the park has ever seen. Unlikely heroes rise to the challenge, friendships are forged, tested, and broken, and justice (as well as a huge serving of nutty deliciousness) is served. The all star cast including Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, and Liam Neeson make the characters come alive. Some outstanding performances also came from Brendan Fraser as Grayson, a squirrel with an over-inflated self image; and Maya Rudolph as Precious, an adorably precocious pug who is ready to lick anyone who dares to come close enough! The action never stops in this film,...

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug remains the No. 1 movie in the U.S., but is it worth seeing? KidsPickFlicks' Movie Star Movie Crix Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Katherine McNamara (Contest) say yes!

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was a fantastic movie for anyone looking for nonstop excitement and a great plot. The Thorin Company is on it's way to The Lonely Mountain, being chased by an Orc pack and an unknown darker evil constantly growing stronger. It was an action packed film that keeps audience hearts racing the whole time through. The plot was thick with twists, turns, and subplots but not too hard to be followed. We can honestly recommend this movie and look forward to the third and last part of the trilogy. 4.5 stars"

What did You think about The Hobbit 2?  Review it Here.

You'll see Joel and Kat on screens big and small in 2014, like Joel's Mercy,...

In most films that have a bully character, they're usually some sort of mean-spirited jock who picks on anyone who doesn't run in his same circles. While Contest certainly does borrow a few of these same traits, Kenton Duty's Matt Prylek is much different. Matt, a star on the local swim team, gets busted for a cruel prank on his frequent target Tommy Dolan (Daniel Flaherty). However, Matt is essentially forced to befriend Tommy or he'll lose his spot on the swim team. They team up for a local TV channel's cooking contest, where the winner gets his own reality show. I recently had the chance to speak with Kenton Duty over the phone about taking on a unique kind of cinematic bully, his experiences on the set, and much more. Here's what he had to say.

I got a chance to see this the other day, and it's...