Movies at Home Archives

Everybody Wins with Akeelah and the Bee

Overcoming obstacles. Feeling like an outsider looking in. Coping with the prejudices of others. These are all common cinematic themes, but when...

Everybody Wins with Akeelah and the Bee

Little, If Any, Payoff With Friends With Money

When I watched Nicole Kidman's Oscar-winning turn in The Hours back in 2002, I'd officially witnessed the most vacant, depressing and seemingly...

Little, If Any, Payoff With Friends With Money

Your Heart Will Go On Despite Disaster in Poseidon

Even though it’s common knowledge that “Poseidon” is a remake of the early-70s film “The Poseidon Adventure,” it’s difficult not to compare this...

Your Heart Will Go On Despite Disaster in Poseidon

Warped Worldview Proves Problematic for Just My Luck

A city girl with a charmed life meets a bumbling guy who can’t get his act together, and a chance kiss causes them to swap fortunes. The premise is...

Warped Worldview Proves Problematic for Just My Luck

The Road's Bumpy, But RV Will Still Make You Laugh

In what’s essentially a cleaner, PG remake of the classic Vacation series for the iPod generation, can a road trip bring a family closer together?...

The Road's Bumpy, But RV Will Still Make You Laugh

Heartwarming "Hoot" Most Likely Walden's Next Hit

Walden Media certainly knows the formula for making a successful movie: find an already beloved, cherished, award-winning book, and turn it into a...

Heartwarming "Hoot" Most Likely Walden's Next Hit

Greed and Guilt Power a Slick "Inside Man"

"Inside Man" raises ethical questions about wealth and power, and it examines the consequences of past sins. It asks whether we can wash away our...

Greed and Guilt Power a Slick "Inside Man"

Bad Filmmaking, Lack of Credibility Can't Save "Vendetta"

In the end, “V for Vendetta” has a lot more problems than credibility. Simply put, it’s bad filmmaking. And, surprisingly, it’s also quite...

Bad Filmmaking, Lack of Credibility Can't Save "Vendetta"

Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" Retold in "She's the Man"

“She’s the Man” is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s comedy, “Twelfth Night,” set at an expensive private school. Written by Karen McCallah Lutz...

Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" Retold in "She's the Man"

Taylor's Good Intentions Come Through in "The Second Chance"

From director Steve Taylor, "The Second Chance" effectively displays the tensions between different parts of the body of Christ. What the film...

Taylor's Good Intentions Come Through in "The Second Chance"

"Failure to Launch" Stays True to Name

When an older couple grows sick and tired of their very grown, 35-year-old son still living in their home, they hire a pretty girl to capture his...

"Failure to Launch" Stays True to Name

Setting Is Superfluous to By-the-Numbers "Annapolis"

A few weeks after the successful debut of "Glory Road," Disney tries to win audiences again by combining war and sports in "Annapolis," a new film...

Setting Is Superfluous to By-the-Numbers "Annapolis"

With Its Simple Message, Complexity of "Syriana" Is Ironic

“Syriana”'s confusing complexity is ironic, because its message is simple. Director Stephen Gaghan hammers that as long as America is greedy for...

With Its Simple Message, Complexity of "Syriana" Is Ironic

Cute, Cold and Corny Characterize "Eight Below"

Predictability and willing suspension of disbelief are forgivable if there is an element of overriding tenderness. In the case of “Eight Below,”...

Cute, Cold and Corny Characterize "Eight Below"

Engaging "World's Fastest Indian" Moves a Bit Slow

Based on a true story written by Australian-born and New Zealand-raised director Roger Donaldson, “The World’s Fastest Indian” may have a crummy...

Engaging "World's Fastest Indian" Moves a Bit Slow