Author Archives: Dann Gire

Judy (Radha Mitchell) shares a hair-raising (and hair-pulling) experience in a remake of George Romero’s “The Crazies.” Unlike Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller “Shutter Island” that only looks like a horror movie, “The Crazies” is the real deal, an old-fashioned fright fest of paranoid persecution with blood and pitchforks and screaming and knives and contagious viruses […]

U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), left, interrogates Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) in “Shutter Island.” The scariest parts of Martin Scorsese’s surrealistically creepy thriller “Shutter Island” aren’t the sudden shocks, or the terrifying visions, or the bizarre revelations, or even the vanishing bodies. As you watch “Shutter Island,” a palpable sense of paranoia slowly tightens […]

Julia (Jennifer Garner) whispers sweet nothings to Reed (Ashton Kutcher) in the romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day.” “Valentine’s Day” – strategically released just before the title’s namesake holiday – presents 20 main characters or so in a constant, high-speed rotation on the silver screen. All scramble to find romance, flowers, food and chocolates on Cupid’s busiest […]

Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) discovers that even a man who’s pure of heart can transform into “The Wolfman.” Here’s a supposedly scary movie that thinks ripped body parts, spraying blood, video-game-quality CGI werewolves, false scares and Anthony Hopkins are frightening enough to compensate for dull and dreary characters wandering around dull and dreary British […]

Percy (Logan Lerman) shows Medusa (Uma Thurman) how to get ahead in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” Somebody stole Zeus’ lightning bolt, and if the king of the gods doesn’t get it back in 10 days, he’ll destroy the world. What? Over a stupid lightning bolt? Who stole it? Why? Suspicion falls […]

John Tyree (Channing Tatum) finds the love of his life, Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), in two weeks in “Dear John.” Romance movies like Lasse Hallstrom’s “Dear John” will either make you swoon with affection for its war-crossed lovers, or break out in hives as it knocks down testosterone cells to dangerously low levels. Viewers are cautioned […]

Will “Avatar” go head-to-head against “The Hurt Locker” come Oscar night? Dann thinks so. If things go down as I suspect they will at the 82nd annual Oscar nominations announcement Tuesday morning, it’ll be a battle of the ex-spouses as James Cameron’s science-fiction thriller “Avatar” goes head-to-head for best picture with Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq war […]

Homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) investigates his daughter’s murder in Martin Campbell’s “Edge of Darkness.” “Edge of Darkness” is directed by Martin Campbell, who gave us the greatest James Bond movie of the past 30 years, “Casino Royale.” But his newest movie isn’t your standard Hollywood action fare at all. It’s a moody, growly, […]

Beth (Kristen Bell) gets sudden attention from Nick (Josh Duhamel) after stealing coins in a fountain in “When In Rome.” Just when I thought romantic comedies couldn’t possibly go lower on the quality barometer than last month’s behemoth baddie, “Did You Hear About the Morgans?,” along comes “When in Rome,” an itchy, scratchy, irritating allergen […]

A man named Jeep (Lucas Black) witnesses the beginning of the Apocalypse in Scott Stewart’s angel horror tale “Legion.” Five things I learned about God and angels from watching Scott Stewart’s apocalyptic horror tale “Legion:” 1. God may demand obedience from angels, but secretly loves the rebellious ones that think for themselves. 2. Angels’ wings […]