James Patterson – Movie Reviews – V

MOVIE REVIEWS – V’S


Vacation movie poster

Vacation

More gross than funny. C-

On DVD: Amazon
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Valentino: The Last Emperor movie poster

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Pick of the Week

Valentino is an unbelievable character with a huge ego and obvious talents—all of which makes this documentary an eyeful & an earful.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon
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The Valet movie poster

The Valet

This is the best romantic comedy I’ve seen so far this year. It’s a small French film though, so you may have a little trouble finding it.

On DVD: Amazon
Posters: Amazon


Valkyrie movie poster

Valkyrie

What can I say, I like Tom Cruise. He’s a real movie star. Valkyrie’s a little slow at first but the last third is surprisingly dramatic. Crisp photography, a great cast, a pretty good thriller.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon


Vantage Point movie poster

Vantage Point

Has its moments of high suspense but the audience was jeering at the screen because of a certain storytelling device that was clearly not appreciated.

On DVD: Amazon
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Posters: Amazon


Venom movie poster

Venom

I like Tom Hardy a lot. But. I found this film to be just full of editing mistakes and logic problems. I also expected it to be considerably funnier than it is. Net net: people like their comic book movies – no matter how competent or incompetent they may be. C+


A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas movie poster

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas

Pick of the Week

If you’re curious about what happens to Beavis & Butthead when they grow up—here it is. Short story: they don’t grow up. Funny, irreverent, over-the-top-gross at times.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon


Venus movie poster

Venus

An acting tour de force for Peter O’Toole. It’s slow, sad and funny in a melancholy way.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon


Vicky Cristina Barcelona movie poster

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Pick of the Week

Thank god, finally a movie that didn’t originate in a comic book. Thank god a Woody Allen movie without Woody Allen as the leading man. Thank god for Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz. The best Woody Allen in a long time.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon


The Visit movie poster

The Visit

Well done and surprisingly humorous family horror tale—until it becomes phony/artsy. B

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon


Volver movie poster

Volver

Pick of the Week

In my humble opinion, this is the kind of art movie that Hollywood is always talking about but never ever makes. Obviously Volver isn’t for everyone, but it’s the most impressive film I saw all year. Pedro Almodóvar manages to combine realism, fantasy, tragedy and comedy in a way that you might see in an award-winning Broadway show, but never at the Cineplex. Penélope Cruz is wonderful, as are the other actors.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon


The Vow movie poster

The Vow

I vow not to recommend this one. Kind of a waste of Rachel McAdams—but she made the choice to be in the movie. I should add that I’m a sucker for romance, so I should’ve been OK with this one.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon