Christa Banister

• Brosnan More Geriatric Bourne Than Bond in Blasé November Man
  Plenty of car chases, moral ambiguity and a serious body count, but this loose adaptation of There Are No Spies falls into no man’s land.
  Wednesday, August 27, 2014
• Eason Spins a Familiar Plot Into Thriller Gold in Nowhere to Turn
  Like Gillian Flynn’s best-selling Gone Girl, Nowhere to Turn is clever and will continue to keep you guessing.
  Wednesday, August 27, 2014
• Teen Romance on Life Support in Weepy If I Stay
  Nowhere near as intriguing as the novel it's based upon. In fact it feels more like "Touched by an Angel: Teen Edition."
  Friday, August 22, 2014
• Second Chapter of Sin City is Still All Style and Little Substance
  Tries to cram four stories into just over 90 minutes. Star-studded and easy on the eyes, but lacks a method to its shock-jock madness.
  Friday, August 22, 2014
• Little Women + WWII Setting = Love Comes Home
  It takes a particularly skilled pen not to descend into total cheesiness, and Gabhart clearly understands the tricky balance.
  Wednesday, July 30, 2014
• Woody Allen Ponders the Afterlife in Enchanting Magic in the Moonlight
  As with the best screwball comedies of the past, the magic here lies in the sharp witty banter between the film’s leads.
  Friday, July 25, 2014
• Sex Tape a Shallow Exercise in Rekindling the Marital Spark
  Not only do Diaz and Segel lack believability as a couple, they're simply too old to be acting this foolish in this unfunny 'comedy.'
  Friday, July 18, 2014
• Too Many Recycled Parts Clutter Earth to Echo
  A shallow slog of a movie that never delivers the magic, fun or creativity of all the films (E.T., The Goonies, etc.) it aspires to be.
  Wednesday, July 2, 2014
• Tammy Takes the Long, Long Road to Redemption
  Amusing, but difficult to endorse. A good message on taking responsibility for a lousy lot in life is lost in a lack of good taste.
  Wednesday, July 2, 2014
• Knightley & Ruffalo Make Beautiful Music in Begin Again
  Thanks to winning performances, a catchy soundtrack, and storytelling that's sincere, Begin Again has a good thing going.
  Wednesday, July 2, 2014
• The Fault in Our Stars is No Garden-Variety Tearjerker
  As sad and heartbreaking as it all is, this unordinary romance explores love, mortality and the meaning of life in such a memorable way.
  Thursday, June 5, 2014
• TV Matchmaking Gets a New Twist With It Takes a Church
  Unlike other dating shows, the new matchmaking game It Takes a Church puts a unique twist on the typical boy meets girl.
  Wednesday, June 4, 2014
• Jolie is Scary Good in Maleficent
  For a PG film, it's potentially nightmarish for youngsters. Others will find the acting, themes, and new twist on an old tale enjoyable.
  Thursday, May 29, 2014
• Blended Stirred by Chemistry in Leading Roles
  Sandler and Barrymore just pair well. Their third movie is a series of mostly funny fish-out-of-water moments that make a memorable film.
  Friday, May 23, 2014
• Laughs and Truth Awkwardly Co-Mingle in Mom's Night Out
  Directors Jon and Andrew Erwin give faith-based humor with social and spiritual relevance their best shot and get two out of three right.
  Friday, May 9, 2014
• Ragamuffin Introduces Us to the Real Rich Mullins, and to God's Love
  Short on budget and famous actors, but undeniable authenticity in the storytelling helps set it apart from many other faith-based films.
  Friday, May 2, 2014
• Andrew Garfield is Electric in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  Light years ahead of its predecessor, boasting spectacular special effects (every scene gets more eye-popping) and quality storytelling.
  Friday, May 2, 2014
• Mortality, Meaning and Love Explored in The Fault in Our Stars
  Part of what makes Stars such an engaging read is that the protagonists meet in a support group for kids with cancer.
  Friday, April 25, 2014