Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 23,2011

Lantern proves it’s not easy being green

Like all superhero origin movies, Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern has its share of growing pains. It can be a narrative burden to have to dispense with the requisite introduction of an ordinary

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 23,2011

Popper’s Penguins pitch-perfect fun

By Chuck Koplinski

Comedians as broad as Jim Carrey are an acquired taste. You either love him or hate him. He’s mellowed a bit over the years and I’ve come to admire his willingness to go all out on screen.

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 16,2011

Super 8 undone by lack of originality

By Chuck Koplinski

If flattery is the most sincere form of praise, then director JJ Abrams nearly drowns his mentor Steven Spielberg in admiration with his latest, Super 8, an obvious pastiche of the cinematic master&rs

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 16,2011

Allen in top form in Midnight in Paris

By Chuck Koplinski

A longing for another time has never been far from many of Woody Allen’s films. Many of his movies take place in a past (Radio Days, Bullets Over Broadway) that’s recreated, if not idyllic

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 9,2011

X-Men prequel good and awkward

By Chuck Koplinski

Much like its teen protagonists, X-Men: First Class straddles the line between grace and awkwardness. There are moments in which it contains some of the best scenes in the mutant series, if not the su

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 2,2011

The Hangover Part II is too familiar

By Chuck Koplinski

Is it possible to catch lightning in a bottle twice? Warner Brothers and director Todd Phillips certainly hope so where The Hangover Part II is concerned. This is the inevitable sequel to the most suc

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, June 2,2011

A poignant second Panda

By Chuck Koplinski

Funny thing about having all of your dreams come true. Usually there’s that other shoe that drops, making you wonder if your good fortune is a blessing or not. Case in point: Po (voice by Jack B

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, May 26,2011

Handsome Jane Eyre undone by lack of passion

By Chuck Koplinski

I’m not sure why the cinema keeps returning to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Yes, I know it’s a classic gothic romance and it probably isn’t a bad idea to reintroduce the story

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, May 26,2011

A worthy adventure for Pirates

By Chuck Koplinski

Disney is back to add to its coffers with yet another entry in the most successful franchise the Mouse House has ever produced. With the bloated, convoluted nature of the last two entries in the Pirat

Film - Chuck Koplinski | Thursday, May 19,2011

Bridesmaids deliver sweetness and sass

By Chuck Koplinski

Written by its star, Kristin Wiig, Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids seems intent on one-upping similar male-centric comedies like The Hangover and Wedding Crashers in the area of gross-out humor. However