Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Apetastic? Nope. (Now on DVD) 2 Stars Blog Exclusive! Charlton Heston's performance as Colonel George Taylor in 1968s "Planet of the Apes" was iconic. In 2001 Mark Wahlberg's turn as Captain Leo Davidson in the "Planet of the Apes" remake was ghastly. Now actor, director and Yale student James Franco has to deal with an ape infestation of his own in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." So how does all this monkey business translate to the big screen this time around? Not well. Not well at all. As a prequel a lot of people already know how “Rise” will end before the projector even warms up. Due to the film's lack of quality content "Rise" offers nothing worthwhile and fails to justify why a prequel was needed in the first place. Both diehard franchise fans and virgins of the series will be disappointed. Besides above average acting and terrific visual effects this film is trash. The biggest problem stems from Rupert Wyatt's ...

h2oh NO! 3 1/2 stars Blog exclusive! There's a new sheriff in town and it's Johnny Depp! As the title character Rango Depp must bull-shit his way through a old western town run by lizards and other scaly life-forms. But dastardly, viscous "vermin" are out to make sure Rango doesn't fulfill his destiny. This is a must see movie. But why's that? Sadly, I didn't watch it in 3D (and no that isn't sarcasm; I am a big proponent of the technology), but nevertheless Depp's performance, the animation style and the "adult" humor cleverly slipped into this children's movie make this one a winner. Also go see "Rango" because it is similar to "Fear and Loathing..." another Depp flick in that it is structured in a much more experimental fashion than other animated movies I have seen as of late. This experimental style coupled with the desert locale brings to mind "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America." The makers ...