Dann Gire
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Delightfully animated 'Early Man' falls prey to lack of originalityFeb 15, 2018 5:00 am - “Early Man” - ★ ★ ½ Pixar has its “Cars.” Now Aardman Animations has its “Early Man.” Both movies come from innovative, world-class filmmaking institutions known for th...
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Marvel's 'Black Panther' leaps to front of superhero action fantasiesFeb 14, 2018 10:00 am - “Black Panther” - ★ ★ ★ ½ Ryan Coogler's bold, politically charged “Black Panther” represents a whole new animal in the Marvel Comics movie menagerie of superheroes, a d...
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French film 'Double Lover' doubles down on erotic mysteryFeb 14, 2018 8:00 am - "Double Lover" - ★ ★ ½ Just in time for St. Valentine's Day: an erotic mystery that opens with a micro-closeup of a woman's most intimate chamber morphing into a sidewa...
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'Peter Rabbit' takes on new nemesis in sassy, silly comic updateFeb 07, 2018 10:00 am - “Peter Rabbit” - ★ ★ ★ Not as charming or sincere as “Paddington,” but a superior variation of “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” the CGI/live-action hybrid comedy “Peter Rabbit...
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Dynamically animated 'Bilal' fosters understanding of Islamic idealsJan 31, 2018 11:00 am - “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” - ★ ★ ½ The exquisitely cinematic, dynamically animated adventure “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” tells the fact-based story of a 7th-century s...
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'Death Cure' wraps 'Maze Runner' trilogy with spectacle, spectacular clichesJan 24, 2018 10:00 am - “The Maze Runner: The Death Cure” - ★ ★ ½ As many young-adult-oriented movies do, “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” attests to the bond of friendship as a powerful force for...
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7 take-aways from the 90th Academy Awards nominationsJan 22, 2018 10:00 pm - The 90th Oscar nominations offered no shocks or huge surprises on Tuesday morning. Let's be honest. They were kind of a yawner. Still, here are seven take-aways: 1. “Get...
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Horror-comedy 'Mom and Dad' explores dark side of parental resentmentJan 18, 2018 5:00 am - "Mom and Dad" - ★ ★ Brian Taylor's ultra-black horror comedy "Mom and Dad" squeezes a few guilty chortles from a gleefully sadistic and absurdly heightened take on pare...
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Adorable stars elevate Lifetime Channel-grade romance 'Forever My Girl'Jan 18, 2018 5:00 am - "Forever My Girl" - ★ ★ ½ "If you're a fan of Nicholas Sparks movies, you'll LOVE #ForeverMyGirl." This promotional tagline cuts to the essence of Bethany Ashton Wolf's...
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Who ya gonna call? Elise Rainier in cheesy 'Insidious' horror prequelJan 04, 2018 6:00 am - “Insidious: The Last Key” - ★ ★ ★ This time, it's really personal. After helping other people deal with malevolent spirits in the first three “Insidious” horror films, ...