Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Same film as 38 years ago, just more of a blast.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/

Quirke

An example of crafting ridiculous backgrounds to fuel your plot.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357908/

Jurassic World

Almost like watching the cat play with her toys, but with more blood and mayhem.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369610/

Consumed

The film came across as an issue documentary, but Nick was great!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3760966/

Wild

Second time in a year that the movie was better than the book. (The other was Gone Girl.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2305051/

Jessica Jones: Season 1

You GUYS. Run, don't walk, to watch this show. (Beware, a little brutal.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357547/

Doctor Who (new): Season 9

I'm still just not yet a Capaldi fan, but I'm glad what's-her-name is now officially gone.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/

The Age of Adaline

Really? Did we really need the pseudo-scientific-crapola at the beginning and end? Really?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655441/

Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy couldn't stay away from unmarried pregnant women, it appears.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2935476/

Z for Zachariah

Perfect example of a book that is NOT at all like the movie. (Wow.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598642/

The Walking Dead: Season 5

As usual, the series describes what it really means to be human. Not as usual, they did a better job of depicting that this season.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/

Spectre

Way to keep it classic: helicopter, car, plane, train, boat.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2379713/

Continuum: Season 4

The best part of this confusing last season was thinking "Ooh, I just saw that while I was in Vancouver!"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1954347/

Furious 7

Is RottenTomatoes having a laugh at our expense?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2820852/

Better Call Saul: Season 1

Skip "Breaking Bad" and watch this instead.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3032476/

Homeland: Season 4

If you haven't finished watching this season yet, read "The Looming Tower" and then finish.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1796960/

Citizenfour

I find it hard to believe that POTUS is not on Snowden's side. (Hi, NSA!)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4044364/

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (mini-series)

Strangely, the book lets the imagination wander more than the rendered CGI magic did.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2548418/

Love & Mercy

I cannot fathom the amount of prep Dano did for this film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903657/

Cinderella

I've never been a girly-girl, but I'd be pleased as punch to wear that dress for an evening.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661199/

Mad Men: Season 7, Part 2

And in the end, the women prevail.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/

The Martian

I wonder if Damon still eats potatoes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/

Manhattan: Season 1

Way too much intrigue and way too little science. (Probably the right amount of sex, but that was boring, too.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3231564/

Wallander (Swedish version): Series 1, Part 2

At least I now know how to say swear words in Swedish. (But I'll miss this show dearly.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907702/

Leviathan

I'd like to say I'm mostly befuddled by the vodka drinking, but in fact I'm much more befuddled by the Russian Minister of Culture.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802154/ (Original title: Leviafan)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

Noir with teeth. (Only, more noir than teeth, unfortunately.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326554/

Run All Night

The made-man-getting-sad-and-rheumy movie is about as trying as the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2199571/

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Give me one good reason that the girl had to be the flibbertigibbet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/

Danny Collins

Wait, comedy? Drama? Tragedy? Who cares, I'll watch Al Pacino any day in anything.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772288/

Veep: Season 3

As with most TV comedies, episodes that are downright hysterical, and episodes that are downright painful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1759761/

My Kid Could Paint That

It's difficult not to appear guilty when being scrutinized publicly.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912592/

Ant-Man

The usual. Although, Rudd buffed up was fun to see, and Peña is, as ever, a joy to watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/

Frank

If you love extremely odd things, you'll love this.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605717/

The DUFF

beepbeepbeep SEVERE IMPLAUSIBILITY ALERT beepbeepbeep
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666801/

West of Memphis

More personal, and thus more gripping, than the other three documentaries.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2130321/

Broadchurch: Season 2

The oddest mix of gorgeous countryside and pure angst.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2249364/

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

This is what genuine and humorous filmmaking can do for a slightly outré topic. (And it shouldn't be.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3172532/

How I Live Now

Why are people not more creeped out by the lovers-with-your-first-cousin part?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1894476/

The Newsroom: Season 3

Of course, he couldn't pass up an opportunity for Jeff Daniels and Friends.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1870479/

The Grand Seduction

I wonder how Gleeson felt about Kitsch joining this particular little film-enterprise?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2319580/

Get on Up

When you've started at the top with Robinson and Brown, where do you go from there?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473602/

Bloody Sunday

I should have watched the Irish version before the British version.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280491/

Selma

While excellently acted, I am distressed there were no American actors for the top 3 parts.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/

'71

Complicated in keeping the factions straight, but straightforward and effective in its tone.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2614684/

It Follows

PSA for teenage sex? Nah, it's better than that by far.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3235888/

The Invisible Woman

Is it over yet?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700845/

Diplomatie

Critics loved this, but it's simply an overblown love letter to Paris from the people who live there.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3129564/

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them

The slow reveal was intriguing. The visual description of loss actually was not.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3729920/

Five Broken Cameras

The buried 4 seconds of film that says it all: a toddler unwittingly handing a disbelieving soldier an actual olive branch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125423/

Magic Mike

The world now has too many McConaughey films in which he acts like some version of himself.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1915581/

Red Dwarf: Series 10

Not cute, like that last "season". Thank heavens.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094535/

Penguins of Madagascar

Aw, how can you not adore the "hidden" celebrity names?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1911658/

Mr. Turner

I preferred the movie-as-painting vision in Girl with a Pearl Earring.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473794/

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2

Better the second time, but pleased there's not a third time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2275990/

Paddington

Worth it to see the Earl of Grantham in drag.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1109624/

Inside Out

Ooh, that "facts vs. opinions" joke was sadly right on the money.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz

One-sided, but how can it not be?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3268458/

The Bletchley Circle: Season 1

More like Blech-ley Circle.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2275990/

Inherent Vice

So now they're giving Oscar nominations to screenplays that obscure rather than clarify?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1791528/

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

At least in this installment (and the next) you forget about the Hunger Games themselves. (Now, it's just revolution.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951265/

Big Eyes

I don't know - I think leaving two husbands points to quite a bit of ballsy-ness.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126590/

American Sniper

No true patriot should have that kind of ending.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2179136/

Into the Woods

It is clear that you'd only hire Meryl Streep to deliver the line "Who cares! Cow's gone! Get it back!"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180411/

Project Almanac

That's right, the lesson is that romance (and loud music) is more important than scientific discovery.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2436386/

Modern Family: Season 6

"Connection Lost" is one of their best episodes ever, proving they have not jumped the shark.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442437/

Tim's Vermeer

I'm certainly convinced. Do people really think it makes Vermeer any less of an artist?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3089388/

Mad Max: Fury Road

Best design of a final battle sequence I've seen in years.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392190/

St. Vincent

McCarthy's deadpan retelling of her sorrows is what clinched this one for me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2170593/

The Spectacular Now

Excellent leads, trite story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714206/

Ex Machina

And if the genders had been reversed? That would have a vastly different message.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2

This time it was a freakin' ship instead of a plane. But at least MacLachlan was fun to watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2364582/

Trance

Intricately twisted or decidedly nonsensical?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924429/

Call the Midwife: Season 4

Well, finally, they add some scenes about prostitution (rampant in the East End in the 50s).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1983079/

Avengers: Age of Ultron

My movie-going experience: I enjoyed it, but I guess the guy who snored through the final battle sequence sure didn't.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2395427/

Particle Fever

What a terrifying ending. (Not really - there'd be zero time for terror.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385956/

Like Stars on Earth

Everything in Bollywood is exactly twice as long as it should be: the scenes are, the songs are, the movies are.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0986264/ (Original title: Taare Zameen Par)

Hannah Arendt

Having the ability to deftly step outside your own experience is likely the truest mark of intellect.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1674773/

The Immigrant

Learning Polish should be commended. Too bad it was overshadowed by the banality of the filmmaking.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951181/

Taxi to the Dark Side

Distressed that he couldn't find the 3 minutes to fit in President Carter's interview.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0854678/

Starbuck

French films usually irritate me. Not French Canadian films, apparently.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756750/

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

The moral being that life is to be lived? Or at least not squandered?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2576852/ (Original title: Kaguyahime no Monogatari)

Warrior

The best of the sports clichés: a method of wrapping you up in the action without you noticing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291584/

A Walk Among the Tombstones

As a Block/Scudder fan, I can say this was sufficiently gritty and morbid.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365907/

Frances Ha

It's good not to be a disaffected youth any longer.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2347569/

Song of the Sea

Gorgeously stylized, but too rote of a story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865505/

Pride

In many respects, I've seen this film before, but it never hurts to see it again.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3169706/

The Way Way Back

I prefer Carell in his dramatic roles and Rockwell in his comedic roles, so this suited me fine.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727388/

Restrepo

Label me blasé, but the images here did not move me to feel the fear these men felt.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559549/

Foxcatcher

In this particular circumstance, I wonder if knowing zilch about the story would have been way, way better.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1100089/

Whiplash

I didn't want to bang on things around the house, but it did make me appreciate jazz a lot more.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/

Calvary

Resonant, powerful, unforgiving description of the Catholic Church in this day and age.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234003/

The Wolf of Wall Street

All the normal reasons to be wary of this film aside, at its heart it has heart (or at least wisdom).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/

The Grandmaster

Another in his long line of unrequited-love epics.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462900/ (Original title: Yi Dai Zong Shi)

The Railway Man

Ever since reading Unbroken, Japanese WWII POW war films are the only ones I can't stomach.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2058107/

The Skeleton Twins

Ending = crap crappity crap. Rest of this = mostly amusing.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571249/

Le Week-End

Excellent job describing the mess of marriage, but the film shouldn't also be a mess.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392326/

A Single Shot

It might be full of dread, but it's also full of cliches.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540741/

The One I Love

That is the most instructive and clarifying movie poster ever created.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2756032/

A Most Violent Year

Chandor is the master of the procedural reveal.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2937898/

Love Is Strange

While a sweet portrayal of aging love, thematically muddled.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2639344/

Fruitvale Station

It only being semi-Hollywood, I trust it as a realistic portrayal.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334649/

Predestination

I wish they hadn't followed the short story to a T.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2397535/

Peaky Blinders: Season 2

More soap-opera-y than last season, and not surprisingly, more fun to watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/

Nightcrawler

Something you really don't want - criminals with business acumen.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872718/

Kill the Messenger

Hollywood doesn't know how to create a film without bias. (Although, granted, what's the truth here?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216491/

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

So much to love - my favorite parts were Fitz and the new media meta-ness of it all.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392261/

Big Hero 6

Nothing is new. This one: Stargate meets The Iron Giant.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/

Lucy

Mulefritters! 20% capacity is not the joke, it's that you'd gain knowledge out of the electrical ether from a chemical.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872732/

The Homesman

The term "feminist western" sounds like a post-feminist oxymoron.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2398231/

Gone Girl

Far more appealing (gosh, that's the wrong word) than the novel.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/

John Wick

The dog scenes impacted me way more than all those shoot-em-ups.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911666/

The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations

Not surprisingly, Juster has a droll sense of humor.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2586062/

Maidan

One of the best visual definitions of order (and organization) in chaos.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3675486/

The Royal Road

The history lesson was valuable, at least.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3062620/

The Iron Ministry

Want to learn more about current Chinese culture? Watch this film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3907314/

The Creation of Meaning

I hope this area of Italy remains as un-touristy as our protagonist desires.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3905022/ (Original title: La Creazione di Significato)

Episode of the Sea

Excellent example of a documentarian going with the flow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3973638/

Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages

Believe it or not, there were scholarly treatises masked as silent films in the 1920s.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013257/

Glee: Season 6

Glee may have devolved into chaos, but where else will I find new songs?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327801/

Laggies

Shelton is no Holfcener, but she also makes quirky and uplifting films.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2034031/

Game of Thrones: Season 4

HBO is now acting like Martin - killing off characters before their time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/

Wallander (Swedish version): Series 3

Not an easy season to watch, and I don't mean for the crimes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907702/

The Captains

Painful to watch, surprisingly revealing, and as a documentary style, utter garbage.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1946421/

House of Cards: Season 3

I would bet quite a lot that that final walk out the door ends up being a very short one.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1856010/

The Angel's Share

What better movie to get prepped for a visit to Scotland? (Except maybe the crime does pay part.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/

Agent Carter: Season 1

The 2-minute plane crash scene in the first Captain America movie resonates better than this entire 8-episode series.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3475734/

Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 4

Irritated that they dashed all hopes of the Tucker-T'Pol tryst, in the end. To what purpose?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244365/

Downton Abbey: Season 5

Best LOL line so far (sacrilege that it's not a Countess line, I know): "We can't have you wobbly at both ends."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Nice, but #195 on IMDB's Top 250? How about instead anything by Greta Garbo?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028532/

The Book of Life

Whimsical animation, same-as-usual story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2262227/

Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Man oh man, multitudinously meta.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/

Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 3

The more serious nature of this season gave us more interesting conundrums, at least.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244365/

Parks and Recreation: Season 7

There's no doubt about it: my favorite comedy series of all time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266020/

The Boxtrolls

Smart, funny, quirky and with the best Easter egg in a long while.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787474/

Fury

Can we be done with telling the same WWII story a very slightly different way? (Also, did you know Americans are awesome?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/

The Drop

Lehane provides multiple hints, but you really have to be on the lookout for them.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600196/

Saving Mr. Banks

You have to think Mary Poppins is the bee's knees first.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/

Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 2

They're so focused on highlighting early Earth struggles with spaceflight, they forget to make it thoughtful as well.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244365/

A Most Wanted Man

As with most movies made from le Carré books, it took me a while to catch on.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1972571/

Rush

They must have blown their entire budget on insurance.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979320/

Last Days in Vietnam

If you don't end up more optimistic about humanity at the end of this, we didn't watch the same doc.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3279124/

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

You'll need to brush up on your classic films before watching this clever little independent.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582496/

Enough Said

Holofcener gains wisdom and skill as the years progress. And I dearly wish more guys would watch her stuff.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2390361/

Finding Vivian Maier

Style and the doc's different "feel": A+. Controversy surrounding photo rights: C-. Never knowing the whole story from a doc = well, duh.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2714900/

The Rover

In the end, a misguided Western? Is that supposed to be humorous?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345737/

Only Lovers Left Alive

The film geeks I know would kill for every movie to be this movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714915/

The Guest

Agent: Dan, no one will be reminded of Downton Abbey after this! Dan: OK! Result: Should have stuck with your day job.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980592/

The Maze Runner

Harry Potter meets Cloverfield, and not in a good way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790864/

Bears

[sticky note in Disney office] Remember! Reilly plus cute bears plus clams = box office gold!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2458776/

Neighbors

Some spot-on jokes, but the lesser of the RoFrHiCe comedy genre.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2004420/

Wallander (Swedish version): Series 1, Part 1

Henriksson is correct- Season 1 is not as polished as Season 2.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907702/

Cold in July

Who knew Don Johnson was a comedian? Or at least a comedian in tandem with Sam Shepard?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179031/

Belle

It's impolitic of me to say, but Mbatha-Raw's lack of joy when good things were happening to her really bothered me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404181/

The Imitation Game

I know too much about the life of Turing to watch this film without presumption.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/

Doctor Who (new): Season 8

So, the way it works is, the Doctor and his companion are supposed to have chemistry.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/

Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 1

This is not your grandfather^73's Star Trek.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244365/

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

But, you see, you can put in all the great effects you like, but if the story is obvious, you end up with nothing.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2103281/

The Grand Budapest Hotel

How does Anderson create humor out of shapes (specifically, squares) with such finesse?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/