Christa Banister

• Year Ends with a Thud in New Year’s Eve
  Director Garry Marshall ups the ante from Valentine’s Day, recruiting half of Hollywood to star in this sentimental dreck.
  Friday, December 9, 2011
• The Muppets Are the Holidays’ Best Act
  The Muppets showcases how fascinating characters trump over-the-top stunts any day of the week—even when they’re puppets.
  Wednesday, November 23, 2011
• Happy Feet Two Lacks a Lightness of Step
  The same characters are basically in place from its Happy Feet predecessor, but Happy Feet Two simply lacks a lightness of step.
  Friday, November 18, 2011
• Jack and Jill Goes Downhill in a Hurry
  While there are definitely more laughs than expected, it still doesn’t take long for a juvenile Jack and Jill to go downhill.
  Friday, November 11, 2011
• Like the Man, J. Edgar Is Flawed, Intriguing
  An engaging depiction of a prickly, powerful man filled with all sorts of prejudice and contradiction.
  Wednesday, November 9, 2011
• In Time Ultimately Isn't Worth Yours
  For all the clichéd dialogue about making time count, the filmmakers don’t make the most of their own opportunities In Time.
  Friday, October 28, 2011
• Real Steel Packs a Surprisingly Good Punch
  Not to be confused with those Transformers robots in disguise, Real Steel has an actual human pulse.
  Friday, October 7, 2011
• Two Steps Forward and Back in Courageous
  A script celebrating family is to be applauded. But the delivery of this message in Courageous is a bit heavy-handed.
  Friday, September 30, 2011
• 3D Does Little to Improve The Lion King
  Still a memorable story 17 years later, The Lion King in 3D format does little, if anything, to improve upon the original.
  Friday, September 16, 2011
• Double Life Proves Deadly in Drive
  Unlike anything you’d see The Rock or Jason Statham starring in these days, Drive’s protagonist is far less flashy.
  Friday, September 16, 2011
• Disaster Looms Large in Contagion
  Germophobes beware: Watching Contagion will only kick those frequent hand-washing tendencies into overdrive.
  Sunday, September 11, 2011
• The Debt Has Plenty of Payoff
  Starring Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain, The Debt is a thought-provoking thriller that’s actually worthy of its stellar cast.
  Wednesday, August 31, 2011
• Don’t Be Afraid Scares in the Wrong Ways
  Clichés hamper Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a movie that’s scarier than other horror films in completely unintentional ways.
  Friday, August 26, 2011
• Stupidity is a Virtue in Our Idiot Brother
  In the new comedy Our Idiot Brother, ignorance is bliss for Paul Rudd’s free-wheeling organic farmer Ned.
  Friday, August 26, 2011
• Love Doesn’t Conquer All in One Day
  This adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel shows that what worked well on the page doesn’t engage an audience on-screen.
  Friday, August 19, 2011
• Apes Reboot Desperately Seeks Charisma
  He looked bored at this year’s Oscars. And apparently Rise of the Planet of the Apes doesn’t excite James Franco either.
  Friday, August 5, 2011
• Heart, Humor Converge in Crazy Stupid Love
  Ultimately examines why lasting love—not merely bed-hopping—is worth fighting for.
  Friday, July 29, 2011
• Captain America is Red, White and Blasé
  With a milquetoast action hero and a relatively generic bad guy, Captain America: The First Avenger is a pretty dull movie.
  Friday, July 22, 2011