Angelina Jolie gives it her all in the title role, and her seasoned performance is almost enough to save Salt from its predictable and ludicrous plot.

Christopher Long of DVDTown.com notes in his review that “Salt changes from super-spy to cartoon-spy, and good implausible becomes bad implausible in a hurry.”  Shawn Levy of the Oregonian was a bit more positive in his review saying that “In a season that’s meant to deliver mind-numbing jollies and has thus far failed, in the main, to do so, Salt deserves some credit for fulfilling its mandate.” You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

Smart, innovative, and thrilling, Inception is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually.

In his review, James O’Brien of the Daily Mirror notes that “In a decade dominated by the three dreaded Rs of remakes, reimaginings and reboots comes a truly original blockbuster.”  Robert Levin of Critic’s Notebook was a little less enamored with the film, saying in his review that “Wrapped up in the logistics of various dreamscapes and the technical details of dream sharing and inception, the picture all but abandons its most essential thread.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Also opening today is The Sorcer’s Apprentice which gives us an update of sort of the Mickey Mouse animated short from Fantasia.  This film has not received high marks thus far, with a 40% Fresh Rating as of its opening day.  Following is the consensus opinion on the movie:

It has a likable cast and loads of CGI spectacle, but for all but the least demanding viewers, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice will be less than spellbinding.

Nick Mamatas of Blastr (formerly Sci Fi Wire) seemed to enjoy it a bit, saying in his review that “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was a horrible movie that I just happened to like.  It’s stupid and childish, but also utterly charming.”  Jason Heck of the Kansas City Star was less kind in his review: “Ever wonder what the Harry Potter films would be like without an ounce of wit, grace or subtlety? Wonder no more.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

After a string of subpar sequels, this bloody, action-packed reboot takes the Predator franchise back to its testosterone-fueled roots.

Michael O’Sullivan of the Washington Post said in his review that “Predators is good if gory grindhouse fun. It tweaks the conventions of the summer monster movie, even as it observes them.”  Peter Sobczynski of eFilmCritic.com was a bit less enamored with the film, saying in his review that “While it may be better than Predator 2, the difference in quality between the two is almost too negligible to notice.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Also hitting theaters today is the animated comedy Despicable Me with The Office‘s Steve Carell voicing the lead character who is a super villain that finds himself thrust into a father role.  The critics have thought quite highly of this one so far, giving it an 82% Fresh Rating as of its opening day.  Following is the consensus opinion of the movie:

Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes, Despicable Me is a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own.

Susan Granger of the SSG Syndicate says in her review that “A film is only as good as its villain – which is why this succeeds so well – and be sure to stay for the amusing end credits.”  Erik Childress of eFilmCritic.com was not quite as enthusiastic about the movie in his review: “Inoffensive and safe without being particularly funny or exciting, Despicable Me would likely earn that description even if some villain went back in time and made sure Pixar never existed.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Despite flashy special effects, The Last Airbender squanders the potential of its popular source material on an incomprehensible plot, laughable dialogue, and a joyless sense of detachment.

Nick Mamatas of Sci Fi Wire had this to say of the movie in his review: “Shyamalan was clearly trying to make a franchise along the lines of The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, but instead he made The Golden Compass—an incoherent and boring spectacle, so full of nothing that almost everything good about the source material had to be left out.”  Trying to give at least somewhat of a positive spin on the movie, Colin Covert of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said in his review that “The Last Airbender is one of the most visually luscious and exhilarating entertainments I have seen this year, full of giddy fireworks and kinetic pleasure.”  Our own Johnny Jay liked the movie as well, telling theater goers to not “buy into all of the Shyamalan-bashing” as he thought it was a decent film.  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Getting an early release yesterday was the third movie in the Twilight saga Eclipse which did not appear to have much bite for critics.  The film has garnered a 52% Fresh Rating thus far with the following consensus opinion:

Stuffed with characters and overly reliant on uninspired dialogue, Eclipse won’t win The Twilight Saga many new converts, despite an improved blend of romance and action fantasy.

Tricia Olszewski of Washington City Paper thought favorably of the movie having this to say in her review: “Step aside, you creepy cougars: Finally, there’s a Twilight suitable even for normal grown-ups.”  Thomas Caldwell of Cinema Autopsy was less than impressed, though, saying this in his review: “The core problems with the Twilight films are still very much present in this new installment including the plodding pace, the trite dialogue and the very regressive subtext.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works.

In his review of the film, Brandon Fibbs notes that “A Pixar film is the closest thing you have to a guarantee in Hollywood. Name even one other cinematic enterprise in which you can take your seat, brazenly certain of complete fulfillment.”  Kevin McCarthy of Big Daddy Kev’s Reviews ups the praise in his review: “Dare I say that Toy Story 3 is a perfect film? Pixar, yet again, delivers a brilliant film that will make you laugh, cheer and even shed a few tears. Bravo!”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

The much anticipated Jonah Hex has not found the same favor with critics as Toy Story 3, though, as that movie has only scraped up a measly 10% Fresh Rating from Rotten Tomatoes as of its opening day.  Following is the consensus opinion:

Josh Brolin gives it his best shot, but he can’t keep the short, unfocused Jonah Hex from collapsing on the screen.

Kevin McCarthy had little good to say about the movie in his review as he notes that “The issues that happened behind the camera, including the original directors leaving the project, are extremely obvious in the final product. The film is a complete disaster.”  What little praise the film could garner reflected what Peter Sobczynski of eFilmCritic.com had to say in his review: “You could do worse than this and if you have been going to the movies this summer with any regularity, you most likely already have.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

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For better and for worse, Joe Carnahan’s big-screen version of The A-Team captures the superficial, noisy spirit of the TV series.

In his review, Ted Fry Seattle Times says “Fans of explosions, machine guns, brutal fisticuffs and elaborate set pieces that fuse digital effects with impressive practical stunts will get their fill as the A-Team, class of ’10, accomplishes its mission — and exactly according to plan.”  Claudia Puig of USA Today is less enthused by the movie, saying in her review that “Despite a talented cast, this nearly two-hour inane frenzy of action and violence is rarely more than bloated and boring.”  An even harsher critic of the movie is the original B.A. Baracas, Mr. T himself, who derides it for its violence and says that “People die in the film and there’s plenty of sex but when we did it, no one got hurt and it was all played for fun and family entertainment.”You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

10 Cent Movie Tickets in June!! In honor of their anniversary, Fandango will be giving away 10¢ tickets on their Twitter and Facebook pages weekly for the month of June! Click here to find out more!

It doesn’t take its terrific premise quite as far as it should, but Splice is a smart, well-acted treat for horror fans.

In his review of the movie, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says that “Before the film devolves into cliché, director and co-writer Vincenzo Natali creates a potent and provocative thriller about gender politics and human impulses that can’t be reduced to a science.”  Dustin Putman adds in his review that “Besides its absorbing ghoulishness, Splice is terrifically smart, rife with topics to debate and discuss. How many studio-released horror pictures of the last several years can attest to that?”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

10 Cent Movie Tickets in June!! In honor of their anniversary, Fandango will be giving away 10¢ tickets on their Twitter and Facebook pages weekly for the month of June!  Click here to find out more!

It doesn’t offer much in the way of substance, but Prince of Persia is a suitably entertaining swashbuckler — and a substantial improvement over most video game adaptations.

James Berardinelli of ReelViews did not have high praise for the movie in his review saying “All of the action and mayhem is designed to distract the viewer from the realization that a lot of what transpires during the course of this movie makes little sense.”  Brandon Fibbs was a bit more positive about the movie in his review saying that “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is the first popcorn hit of the summer, a mindless, high-fructose, high-octane adventure that demands very little of your intellect but is sure to get your heart racing.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

While not without its moments, Shrek Forever After too often feels like a rote rehashing of the franchise’s earlier entries.

Eric D. Snider of Film.com seemed to concur with this view in his review as he said “If there were a Shrek TV show, this could be the two-part finale of, say, season 3. It isn’t bad. It just doesn’t belong on a movie screen.”  Heather Huntington of E! Online appeared more positive in her review saying that “It was hard to believe Dreamworks was going to be able to find an interesting enough story for a fourth installment, but Shrek Forever After is actually pretty compelling.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

MacGruber has not received a consensus opinion from the Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, but the early returns for the movie look favorable as it has received an 80% Fresh Rating so far.  Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the movie a favorable review saying that “MacGruber breaks the jinx by putting the skit in the context of a 1980s action movie and creating its own brand of explosive lunacy.”  Joe Lozito of Big Picture Big Sound gave it a less favorable review saying “This SNL adaptation misses even the most obvious of opportunities. What’s left is as pieced together as one of its heroes many ‘gadgets’.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link

Ridley Scott’s revisionist take on this oft-told tale offers some fine acting and a few gripping action sequences, but it’s missing the thrill of adventure that made Robin Hood a legend in the first place.

Lou Lumenick of the New York Post seemed to think favorably of the movie in his review saying that “Robin Hood is head and shoulders above the sort of lightheaded epics Hollywood typically offers during the summer season.”  Devin Faraci of CHUD was less kind in his review saying that movie demonstrates “The epitome of what’s wrong with Hollywood’s modern prequel mania – it tells no story, offers no new insight into the characters and is all about putting everybody into the positions you’d rather have seen them at in the beginning.”  You can read more of the critics’ opinions at the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page and you can see the trailer for the movie at its official website.

Check Out Our Summer 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Movie Preview at this Link