James Patterson – Movie Reviews – E

MOVIE REVIEWS – E’S


Eagle Eye movie poster

Eagle Eye

This is a big, loud, dumb-as-a-brick, totally without any logic thriller; and I kind of liked it. If he wants to, Shia LaBeouf could probably become a great actor. Go for it, Shia. It’s probably more fun than crashing cars.

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


The East movie poster

The East

A very well told story about eco-terrorists. Which will probably only be seen by other eco-terrorists. And me.

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


Eastern Promises movie poster

Eastern Promises

Pick of the Week

Hard to imagine but this is two good suspense stories in a row (Valley of Elah). Viggo Mortensen is absolutely terrific in the part of the up & coming Russian mafia person. The film making is first rate. There isn’t a lot of violence, but when it does come, it’s extremely graphic.

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


Easy A movie poster

Easy A

Good dialog and a terrific performance by Emma Stone. Though again, there’s a catch: isn’t Christian-bashing as small-minded and wrong as any other kind of bashing? Seems that way to me.

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


Easy Virtue movie poster

Easy Virtue

Something went wrong with this highbrow comedy, and it’s not just the miscasting of Jennifer Biel.

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


Eat Pray Love movie poster

Eat Pray Love

We left the theater at 9:30 PM to find our car up on a jack with the front tire and rim stolen—so we didn’t much care for the ending! As for the film itself—didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Sue, who had read the book, found the movie version too self-indulgent and silly in places.

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


Echelon Conspiracy movie poster

Echelon Conspiracy

Pick of the Week

This could have been one those big budget slightly goofy somewhat entertaining Shia LaBeouf-type flicks. Instead, it’s just one of those lower budget slightly goofy somewhat entertaining flicks.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon
Posters: Amazon


Eclipse movie poster

Eclipse

I still feel the first episode was the best because it established a tone and voice for the beloved Bella and Edward. The love triangle works pretty well here, but the story is too soap-opera-ish for me. Sorry.

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


Eddie the Eagle movie poster

Eddie the Eagle

Feel good biopic that makes you feel—pretty good. B-

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes


Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness

The first 40 minutes or so are like watching a pretty good British TV show; the next hour is like a twisty American thriller; and the final 10 minutes are a mess.

Through it all, Mel Gibson is a movie-star.

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Buy.com
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


The Edge of Seventeen movie poster

The Edge of Seventeen

The critics love this one, but I never entirely bought Hailee Steinfeld in the role of a lonely, misunderstood teen. I suspect a lot of critics were lonely, misunderstood teens. B

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


Edge of Tomorrow movie poster

Edge of Tomorrow

Pick of the Week

One of the better thrillers I’ve seen in a while. Fresh storyline, clever direction, good performances. And what can I say, I like most Tom Cruise movies.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


Eighth Grade movie poster

Eighth Grade

I liked it but thought it would be better. The kid does a terrific job. I couldn’t get past her father – a nice guy – but like so many people out there who have no idea how to be parents. B


Elegy movie poster

Elegy

Well acted and seemed perfectly fine to me, but I didn’t make it to the end. Somebody send me an email and tell me what happened.

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


Elysium movie poster

Elysium

Somewhat simplistic fairy tale (this one from the left, politically). The first hour worked very well for me—then the movie seemed to lose its nerve, even as polemic. Matt Damon is terrific in the lead role (apparently as the only white man left in LA).

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


Emperor movie poster

Emperor

This is a fascinating and powerful story revolving around whether Emperor Hirohito should be tried as a war criminal & hanged. Unfortunately, the script is very flat and at times the movie feels like it was meant for the small screen, not the large.

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


Enchanted movie poster

Enchanted

As advertised this is good family fun. What I especially liked is the creators didn’t condescend to the type of project it was. They made it as good as they possibly could. I love that kind of attitude.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon


The End of the Tour movie poster

The End of the Tour

Since I’ve been on a lot of author tours, this was particularly interesting to me. And, since I know a little about David Foster Wallace, it was definitely a loaded story for me. So why am I a little ambivalent? I’m not quite sure. Maybe you can help me out? B

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


End of Watch movie poster

End of Watch

Pick of the Week

Tense, terrific acting and dialog, and best of all—a Hollywood film that celebrates cops instead of gangsters.

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


Enough Said movie poster

Enough Said

Sad to see James Gandolfini in his last role but this is a well-told, realistic, often funny adult love story.

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


The Equalizer movie poster

The Equalizer

As usual, Denzel Washington is great. As usual, the material is way beneath his talent level. This one’s interesting enough—until it gets movie-thriller-cliché-dumb-as-a-slo-mo-bullet. C+

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


Equalizer 2 movie poster

Equalizer 2

I don’t remember any Denzel Washington movie that I didn’t enjoy on some level. The vigilante story is effective, although the presentation is a little by the numbers. The ending went a little too Hollywood for me. B+


Eragon movie poster

Eragon

This is another case where the book is a whole lot better than the movie—unfortunately. The dragon & special effects are pretty cool and Jeremy Irons is pretty terrific. Unfortunately, he bites the dust about halfway through. I’m not sure where this one went wrong, but it did.

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


Everybody Wants Some movie poster

Everybody Wants Some

Dazed and Confused II. Diverting and entertaining. Terrific performances. But at its core, the film is nothing more or less than a celebration of likeable jocks trying to get laid. So let’s stop already with the four and five star rave reviews. B+

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


Everybody's Fine movie poster

Everybody’s Fine

Well done, tightly constructed, with good acting. However the story was a little too familiar and predictable for me. Still, it says true things about the role many of our fathers played in our lives.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon


Evil Dead movie poster

Evil Dead

Pick of the Week

Kind of so-so dialog, but directed very well. And of course—it was scary as hell.

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


Ex Machina movie poster

Ex Machina

Intelligent, dramatic, beautifully acted and directed—but I wonder how audiences conditioned to things blowing up on screen every 15 seconds will respond? A

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop


The Expendables movie poster

The Expendables

Stuff gets blown up. Bad guys get shot. More stuff gets blown up. More bad guys get shot. Nobody gets the girl.

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


The Expendables 2 movie poster

The Expendables 2

The Avengers for the over-fifty crowd. Needed to be funnier, and less predictable—for this over-fifty-year-old anyway.

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


The Express movie poster

The Express

Much better than most sports biopics, but you probably have to like football to enjoy. The film’s director also did Kiss the Girls.

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


Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close movie poster

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Critics were apparently all over the lot on this one—some loved it, some hated it. I’m in both camps. The acting was terrific. The story is highly emotional. But I didn’t care nearly as much as I wanted to about any of it.

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


The Eye movie poster

The Eye

I never understood the marketing for this which made it seem like another rip off of the Japanese and Chinese horror films. But this is actually one of the better stories I’ve come across in awhile. It builds tension, and has a pretty cool ending.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes


Eye in the Sky movie poster

Eye in the Sky

Pick of the Week

My favorite movie so far this year. Smart, suspenseful, relevant. This is the one to see. A

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop