Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Inspired by the "Blue Man Group" (Now on DVD) 4 Stars As featured in: The Ithacan A film taking place several million light-years away has never felt more realistic. With its revolutionary use of computer animation, “Avatar” is the future of filmmaking. “Avatar” transcends ordinary popcorn flicks and deserves multifaceted acclaim for its engrossing visual and sound effects, strong supporting cast and epic moments only director James Cameron is capable of delivering. The on-screen chemistry between Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) sparks with burgeoning passion. Messages about environmental and feminist issues are present throughout the film. Some of them are obvious, while others are discretely hidden. “Avatar” serves as a grim reminder of what could happen in the future if people continue to abuse the planet’s resources. At nearly three hours long, the run time may turn away some viewers, but those who are patient are in for a special treat. ...

Don't wake up, Inception is a really good dream. 3 1/2 Stars Blog exclusive! In a slumber of a summer movie season it’s hilariously ironic that the best film revolves around dreaming. Inception’s director Christopher Nolan likes to bend the rules when it comes to linear story-lines. Like Tarantino in the 90s, Christopher Nolan is a master of time manipulation. Inception revels is Nolan’s bag of tricks from start to finish. The plot centers around a dream thief, a highly skilled extractor named Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team of assistants seeking to plant a idea into an unsuspecting energy company executive. Inception’s plot elements are folded like an accordion, one intriguing bit on top of another. The gist of the story is accessible through a single viewing, but I recommend seeing Inception twice. My second viewing didn’t unearth any significant new information, but it really enabled me to focus on the characters and how they deal with their emotions and each oth...