Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Seasick to the fourth power (Now on DVD) 4 Stars Blog exclusive! The previous two Pirates sequels, "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End," were less than stellar. "On Stranger Tides," producer Jerry Bruckheimer's latest extravaganza get's the series back on track. Returning the tongue-in-cheek humor that made "The Curse of the Black Pearl" so great and combining it with the darker thematic elements of the latter two installments "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is simply the best Pirates yet. The biggest difference between the last installment "At World's End" and "On Stranger Tides" is the cast and crew. Trading in Keira Knightley for Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz doesn't hurt the film one bit. In fact it's a substantial upgrade. Both women are extremely beautiful, and have exotic European flair, but Cruz is simply the better actress. While Keira Knightley fit in...

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 ...