Sing 2

Sing 2; Another fully stuffed animated explosion of symphonic colour that somehow manages to offer many characters their own tidy storylines. Movie works best operating in music video style montages and pantomime. New voices are welcome alongside the returning stars. Very fun; A-

Wild

Wild; Talent & execution elevates what would otherwise be a sordid redemption through hiking trails tale. Witherspoon’s ability to play all the nuances within the poetic editing & time jumping narrative keeps it compelling. Could do without the final voice over at the end; B

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle in Time; Imagines the unfilmable book’s emotional constructs with a creative vision. Strong performance from @stormreid at the centre gives the film its heart and soul. Wonderful update on a classic text; A-

Sing

Sing; Impeccably animated, infectiously fun, music driven film flies fast through each character's storyline w/humour & heartfelt moments; A

Cruel Intentions

Directed by:  Roger Kumble
Starring:  Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Selma Blair
Running Time:  1h 35min

What harm can be done to such a fabulous tale?  Phillippe tries hard to destroy this sinister tale but the likes of Gellar and Blair save it form his horrible acting.  One cannot believe that any girl in her right mind would want a bump on a log with the personality of a chalkboard.  However, Blair and Gellar, and Witherspoon for that metter, make things believable in that their desire and curiousity for sex could overcome that.  Which allows Phillippe to portray the body that these girls revolve around.  Gellar is fantastic, and Blair hilarious in an update that is thoughtful and invigorating.  Someone forgot to tell Phillippe that it was set in present day however, as he tries to recreate Malkovich (as if he ever could!)  A better male lead and it's a B+.

Grade: C+

Fear

Directed by:  James Foley
Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Peterson, Alyssa Milano
Running Time:  1h 36min

Good teenage flick, soundtrack interesting but it played too much of the same band and at one point it even played the same song over with no plot intentions.  Performances and casting are dismal and the whole movie has trouble finding a reason behind its actions.  It plays like a "what do we do now" type of production and gives no meaningful history to support the characters' behaviours.  I do give credit for the gruesome scene used to make the viewer's emotions come out.  Never has a film gone so far to just simply get a reaction out of its viewers.  Fine for a scary night at home but a waste in any other purpose.

Grade: D+