Lights Camera Jackson

Movie Reviews, Entertainment News and Views from Lights Camera Jackson

Navigation

‘The Smurfs 2’ Review

By

“The Smurfs” was a surprise box office hit back in 2011. Just two short years later, the lovable little blue creatures are facing-off against the evil wizard Gargamel once again in “The Smurfs 2”, which is even Smurfier than the original. Appropriately, Narrator Smurf begins the film, voicing-over a clever pop-up book sequence. He reminds […]
CONTINUE

‘Blue Jasmine’ Review

By

Woody Allen’s latest dramedy, “Blue Jasmine”, is not as magical or charming as his 2011 Oscar winner “Midnight in Paris”. However, it’s a major improvement from 2012’s bland romantic disappointment “To Rome with Love”. And it’s just another example of why Allen’s late-career films are much better when he’s behind the camera and not in […]
CONTINUE

‘Blackfish’ Review

By

I see several documentaries each year: Nature films, concert-docs, profiles of famous and sometimes not-so-famous people. Normally one or two stand-out above the rest. One of my top 10 films of 2012 was “Searching for Sugar Man”, which went on to win numerous awards, including the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. I am confident to say […]
CONTINUE

‘Fruitvale Station’ Review

By

“Fruitvale Station” won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for drama at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It depicts the real-life events involving Oscar Grant on New Year’s Eve 2008 and New Year’s Day 2009 in Oakland, CA. What happened sparked a tremendous amount of outrage and controversy, and the film currently has […]
CONTINUE

‘The Wolverine’ Review

By

The Wolverine himself, Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman, said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “we could have done better” with the first X-Men spinoff, 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. I actually liked that film, but many comic book fans were hoping for more. Unfortunately, “The Wolverine” gives you less than what you’re looking for in a […]
CONTINUE

‘R.I.P.D.’ Review

By

After seeing the trailer for “R.I.P.D.” the very first time I predicted it was going to be a disaster. And it turns out I was right. Combine a lame story, embarrassing performances and production problems (the film wrapped in Jan. 2012 and it wasn’t released until this July) and you end-up with a film that’s […]
CONTINUE

‘Red 2’ Review

By

2010’s “Red” grossed close to $200 million worldwide and was nominated for the Best Comedy Golden Globe. The premise was good: an action comedy, comic-book adaptation about CIA agents who come out of retirement in order to take down some bad guys. Unfortunately, the action wasn’t very exciting and it was way too serious for […]
CONTINUE

‘Turbo’ Review

By

When it came out this summer “Turbo” drew obvious comparisons to “Cars”, Disney/Pixar’s animated film about auto racing. But this clever DreamWorks creation can stand-out on its own, thanks to a simple, but sincere script which contains a whole lot of heart. Turbo (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) is a snail with a dream: He wants […]
CONTINUE

‘Pacific Rim’ Review

By

Guillermo del Toro is best known for three things: directing the “Hellboy” movies, helming the Oscar-winning “Pan’s Labyrinth”, and passing on the opportunity to make “The Hobbit” trilogy. His first film in five years is “Pacific Rim”. As actor Idris Elba says in one of the cornball climatic scenes: “Today we are CANCELLING the Apocalypse!” […]
CONTINUE

‘Grown Ups 2’ Review

By

Believe it or not, “Grown Ups 2” is writer, producer and star Adam Sandler’s first sequel. For more than a decade Sandler’s made bomb after bomb (with the exception of “Jack and Jill”, though most don’t consider that an exception). His films consistently get hammered by critics while still making enough money to keep his […]
CONTINUE