Beginners

The lite version of a Mike Leigh film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1532503/

Kung Fu Panda 2

Nope, not as good as the original, but plenty fun (and sentimental) in its own right.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1302011/

Terra Nova: Season 1

About as good as Stargate Atlantis. Sure would be nice if they gave this series the same chance.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1641349/

Margin Call

Clearly, the main focus of this flick is to humanize the bankers, et al. Not certain they achieved their objective.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/

Point Blank

I think the French are still feeling their way in the action genre.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1545759/ (Original title: À Bout Portant)

The Help

There's a reason Viola Davis is going to get an Oscar nod. If this performance doesn't convince you, watch Doubt.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Great to see these stupendous drawings, but I think the main selling point of this film was the 3D. So, in the theater next time it comes around...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1664894/

The Descendants

Is this film taking the same path as Sideways? Not that you either love it or hate it, but you either love it or you like it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

Cars 2

At least they got the Japanese culture down pat: vending machines, capsule hotels, and silly toy cars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216475/

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Yet another example of a film that needs no words. (And that's not a good thing.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1298650/

Attack the Block

Yo, fam, don't get murked, dig?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478964/

Horrible Bosses

Mostly a heaping pile of classic jokes. (Liked seeing Charlie Day in a large role, though.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1499658/

Fast Five

Mission: Impossible II meets The Italian Job meets Ocean's Eleven. (Read: a bit cleverer than usual.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596343/

Bridesmaids

Maya Rudolph sitting in a wedding dress in the middle of the road is hands down the funniest thing I've seen all year.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478338/

Scream 4

Trying for Night of the Living Dead, but getting only 60% of the way there. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262416/

Moneyball

I was stunned at how riveted an entire audience was by baseball statistics.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

The Big Bang Theory: Season 2

Hands-down best episode was "The Financial Permeability" for teaching everyone what it takes to run a business.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/

X-Men: First Class

It's been a long time since I've fallen asleep watching an action film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270798/

The Guild: Season 5

I appreciate them setting this at Comicon (and thrilling all the lucky fans/extras) but this season had less oomph than normal.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1138475/

Blue Valentine

I think this might be a PSA against marrying young.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1120985/

The Walking Dead: Season 1

Wow, that was a lot more gory than expected. (And a little too much like 28 Days Later at the beginning.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/

50/50

All I've heard and all I just saw give me good reason to believe this is shot straight from the hip.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1306980/

Doctor Who (new): Season 6

Heh. Primo last line. Don't know how I feel about the rest of the season yet, though.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/

Numb3rs: Season 2

By far the silliest part of this show is how much time Charlie Eppes has to work on FBI files while also holding down a full-time professorship.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433309/

Another Year

More disjointed than most Leigh productions, but by no means less uncomfortable or affecting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/

Mad Men: Season 4

I am constantly wondering what Draper is thinking. And how he's about to mess up his life further. (And how they'll top this season.)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/

Paul

My favorite geek nod was what the band was playing at Roy's Roadhouse. Anyone else get that?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/

Breaking Bad: Season 1

Episode 2 made me ROTFL, but I'm not sure I get why I should sympathize with the main character. (Cancer notwithstanding.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/

The Tudors: Season 1

Despite the overwrought tenor of this series, the arguments for and against religious reform makes it worth the watching.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758790/

The Way Back

I expected more of the famous Weir soundtrack. Actually, any music at all would have been welcome. 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023114/

Limitless

Way to use your leading man's most stunning feature.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

Mad Men: Season 3

It's all about waiting for it. Last episode of this season? "Peggy, get me some coffee." "No."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

It's been a long time since I've seen that amount of truth in a would-be sex scene.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570728/

Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'

Same old Nick Park, but hey, it's the same old Nick Park.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1118511/

Robots

Don't understand the critics. Just the Rube Goldberg devices put this over the top (not to mention Robin Williams, Britney Spears and Gene Kelly).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358082/

My Dog Tulip

Ackerley has it exactly right when he describes pets as looking as if they're saying "What?" and "WHAT!!!" at the same time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0843358/

Numb3rs: Season 1

I couldn't care less that it's standard crime drama with characters with no real lives. The math is fabulous.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433309/

Rio

Aside from doing a nice job depicting Rio itself, this is fairly standard start to finish.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1436562/

Jane Eyre

Finally, an adaptation that reflects Brontë's unromantic heroine.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/

Insidious

Old school horror! Title font, solid camera work, understated action, and all. (Consequently, it was a LOT scarier.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1591095/

The Pacific

Two dissimilar things I learned from this series: you can recreate the incessant horror of war on television, and the armed forces does make a significant investment in each and every man.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374463/

Driving Lessons

As with many coming-of-age films, the best part is the soundtrack... especially Salsa Celtica.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446687/

Captain America: The First Avenger

The unfortunate effect of retro stylization is that the flick lacked more of Evans in his hip costume and bike.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/

Unknown

Liam Neeson and January Jones?? Aside from that, seeing Berlin on film was pretty sweet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401152/

Long Way Round

"These aren't the bikes you're looking for. Move along." Fifteen thumbs up for this travelogue.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403778/

The Lincoln Lawyer

I guess McConaughey had to make do with getting down to his undershirt.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189340/

Joyeux Noel

Hints at more than the expected "all men are comrades" pablum, consequently it is more palatable.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424205/

Slings & Arrows: Season 1

Really important distinction: this series is not so much laugh-out-loud funny, but extraordinarily clever.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387779/

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 1

In the last few episodes, they were starting to get creative. Unresolved plots, ahoy!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/

Mad Men: Season 2

I suppose Don Draper is the quintessential onion. But every season they seem to add more layers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Pro: adequate ending of a saga. Con: emotional detachment from both Felton and, especially, Rickman.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1201607/

Battle Los Angeles

There's something comfortingly predictable about military sci-fi movies.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217613/

Winter's Bone

Now that's a rarity, a movie better than the book. And the book was a lovely piece of work.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/

Temple Grandin

Having seen Ms. Grandin in person, I can say without a doubt that Danes nails this portrayal.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/

We Are Marshall

I'm leaning towards calling this McConaughey's finest film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/

Doctor Who: Season 9

For every completely ridiculous serial (The Sea Devils? really?), there's an intriguing one (The Time Monster).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/

It's Kind of A Funny Story

If the kids are that messed up, how come they are so in touch with their feelings?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804497/

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 1

I cannot conceive of how DeVito worms his way into this celebration-of-youth's-foibles show.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472954/

Secretariat

It's all so... Disney. Even Malkovich is muffled.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028576/

Nowhere Boy

I figure when you can act, sing and look handsome, and you're excellent at 2 of the 3, your movie career is made for you.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266029/

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Season 2

Being told by a machine that heaven has a storage problem was the creepiest moment from the entire show.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851851/

The Fighter

I think this is the only boxing film I've seen that's given me a clue about strategy.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/

Friday Night Lights: Season 5

It is surprising to me that I have cared this much about a high school football team, much less a Texas high school football team, and even more a fictional Texas high school football team.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/

Hereafter

Dear Mr. Eastwood, there is quite a large difference between filming everything as reality and filming just the important parts as reality. Regards, me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212419/

The Pillars of the Earth

This clinches it-- I will watch anything Matthew Macfadyen is in. His speech in Ep. 7 was breathtaking.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453159/

Downton Abbey: Series 1

Impossible to say enough good things about this, but the absolute best part? The costuming.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/

The Weather Underground

I think Sam Green is the bee's knees, but I found this less compelling than his short films.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343168/

Jackass 3D

As usual, 1/3 pukey humor and 2/3 physical humor, which comes to about 1/2 laugh out loud.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1116184/

Super 8

Those 5 kids? DePalma, Spielberg, Lucas, Campbell and Baker.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/

The Company Men

Power of humility, living within your means, blah blah blah. What about the multi-million dollar actors portraying these parts? Leaves you cold.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172991/

The Green Hornet

If you can get past the first hour, the second hour is a hoot.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990407/

SGU Stargate Universe: Season 2

Oh, I think that's the perfect cliffhanger ending to the series. I require no follow-up.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286039/

Chuck: Season 3

Unfortunately, I think the thing I like best about the show at this point is the soundtrack.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0934814/

House M.D.: Season 7

Little to say, other than it remains the most intriguing (and amusing) medical drama on TV.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412142/

Modern Family: Season 2

Even with cliched themes they hit it out of the park, i.e., "Mother's Day".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442437/

Star Trek: Nemesis

Besides Picard being hard as nails, it appears the Enterprise is as well.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253754/

Little Dorrit

Dickens is the epitome of, on the one hand, ridiculous cliches and, on the other, sly commentary.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178522/

Glee: Season 2

The strangest show ever. For every terrible episode (Sexy) there's a fabulous one (Funeral).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327801/

Tangled

Disney films may be super-specifically American, but when they're good, they're fantastic.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/

Thor

Chris Hemsworth? Who? (Nice abs, though.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/

The Illusionist

While the no-spoken-word aspect of Sylvain Chomet's films is intriguing, this story moved far too slow to engage me fully.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0775489/ (Original title: L'illusionniste)

The Mechanic

Aw, c'mon. Foster and Statham are having a ball, why shouldn't we?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Really? A Ghostbusters moment in a Chronicles of Narnia film??
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0980970/

Megamind

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty! Can I go home now?" (Tina Fey FTW)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001526/

Family Portrait in Black and White

Remind me never to live in the Ukraine. Even as a Caucasian.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1787693/

The Redemption of General Butt Naked

The definition of documentary gold: bizarre character study with twists and turns the filmmaker couldn't foresee.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1733679/

Hanna

Stylish. Internationally flavored. Quick action. In other words: europop on film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo

The film would be better served by solely focusing on the life of the guy who drinks 50-proof hornet vodka.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1339635/

Black Swan

You know the black swan dance will be the crowning achievement of the film and Portman. Doesn't make it any less astounding when it happens.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/

Fair Game

Dense. Factual. Well-acted. Ever so one-sided. Sometimes that is the only way to go.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0977855/

The Tourist

It's not that the stars have no chemistry, it's that the film isn't trying to create that. I don't know what it's trying to create, though.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1243957/

I Love You Phillip Morris

What IS this film? Comedy, drama, utter tragedy?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045772/

Love and Other Drugs

Contrived, but the co-stars certainly have chemistry.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758752/

MI-5: Season 9

How about in Season 10 we make Ruth the Bureau Chief? Even if only for half a season? Please?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160904/ (Original title: Spooks)

Source Code

I need to stop thinking when watching movies. Or the filmmakers need to stop telegraphing the resolution to me at every turn.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945513/

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision

Someone with less presence of mind would have folded under the Vietnam War memorial controversy. At 21, would you have been able to handle this?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110480/

127 Hours

It's not surprising that you need to be delusional to cut off your own arm. It's also not surprising that it takes something beyond that.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/

In Comparison

You would not think watching bricks being made, over and over and over, would be fascinating. You would be wrong.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1380817/ (Original title: Zum Vergleich)

Morning Glory

This is "His Girl Friday" combined with all the fox fur coats in every George Cukor film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126618/

Solitary Man

I wish there were a new genre so I could avoid it: mid-life-crisis, or, all-about-cheating.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294213/

Due Date

First half: what? this is just Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Second half: whoa, that's a lot crazier than the original.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/

Star Trek: Season 3 (restored)

That last episode makes it even more clear why it's "where no MAN has gone before." I'm glad it's forty years later.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060028/

The Next Three Days

The scene with Crowe and Banks sitting outside the van should have clued me in to the fact that this is a remake of a foreign film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458175/

Unstoppable

Tony Scott shoots from the hip: there's not much over-the-top here.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/

GoldenEye

I have no memory of the tanks-rampaging-through-St.-Petersburg part, from the first time I saw this.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113189/

Doctor Who (new): Season 5

See, the unfortunate thing is that Matt Smith is being eclipsed by both his companion and the previous doctor.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/

Connected: A Declaration of Interdependence

Left brain vs. artsy-fartsy, and how the world has come undone because of it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727491/

Mad Men: Season 1

The men are all stereotypical. The women, refreshingly, are not. Or, not yet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503/

Nostalgia for the Light

You need to know this is about Pinochet's regime before you watch it. Otherwise, it feels somewhat convoluted.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1556190/ (Original title: Nostalgia de la luz)

Foreign Parts

Very well edited. For a documentary by a couple of anthropologists.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700810/

The Adjustment Bureau

I was convinced this was relying heavily on the Matrix legend, until I saw that it was a Philip K. Dick story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 3

Animation of the last episode was stellar. Storyline wrapped up a little too neatly, though.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/

Rango

If you're going to mess with convention, do it boldly.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/

The Art of the Steal

There are two morals here: bad publicity is good publicity, and, don't die.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1326733/

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Season 1

Complicated "remake" of an already complicated tale makes for complicated, but satisfying, viewing.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851851/

The Big Bang Theory: Season 1

From the special features: "Oh, and we have a physics consultant for the show." No, really?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/

Conviction

It is super odd to watch a film with scenes in it a block from your house.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/

Sherlock: Series 1

The anti-Wallander, in its cleverness and quickness. The parallel-Wallander, in its wonderfulness.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1475582/

Animal Kingdom

I was puzzled by the first 45 minutes. Well worth the last half hour, though.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1313092/

The King's Speech

Standard story. Not even close to standard acting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504320/

MI-5: Season 8

Please, BBC, don't yo-yo around taking Ruth away, bringing her back, and then...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160904/ (Original title: Spooks)

Boy

Highest grossing New Zealand film ever. A bit predictable in its script, but I can totally see why.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560139/

Chuck: Season 2

No idea how they would have continued into a third season without the sea change.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0934814/

Doctor Who: Season 8

Well, at least the video quality is getting better.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/

Easy A

As with Clueless and She's the Man, clever goes a long way. Plus, references to 80s films!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/

The Town

The ending definitely doesn't pack the kick of his first foray, Gone Baby Gone. Still above average, though.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/

True Grit (2010)

I am not a fan of westerns (one tried-n-true approach thematically) but this is worth it even for those like me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403865/

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 2

How... disappointing to see the Star Wars theme re-hashed.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/

Doctor Who: Season 7

My goodness, the old series looks tame compared to the new one.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/

The Kids Are All Right

Lately, I heartily dislike films that speak many truths, but place those inside an unreal context, in this case the usual, well-to-do California context.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842926/

Cedar Rapids

John C. Reilly turned to his director and said "I've played a lot of dumb characters, but this is the dumbest." Naturally, the director took that as a compliment.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477837/

Win Win

Apparently, Paul Giamatti had a big problem with playing this character: he's happy.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606392/

The American

I think Clooney just wanted to spend more time at his vacation home in Italy.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

My healthy dose of skepticism was to a large degree eliminated by the animation. (It might even have been better in 3D.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219342/

Despicable Me

Surprisingly boring for the first half and weirdly stilted overall, it does have its funny moments.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/

Wallander: Series 2

It sounds stupid to say that this series is evocative of Sweden. But it truly is.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178618/

The Runaways

Joan Jett and her early band seem to have influenced both Madonna and Japanese-pop girl groups.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017451/

Friends: Season 10

Poor Courtney Cox looks puffy. That's what you get for being suckered into doing something while pregnant, I guess.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/

Public Enemies

Name me a Michael Mann film that isn't macho and/or shoot-em-up.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/