This week R.L. Stine’s twisted mind comes alive with help from Jack Black; Spielberg and Hanks team up again; the gothiest movie that ever existed comes to the big screen; and a heartwarming true-life tale of football and redemption gets the movie treatment.
Goosebumps
Jack Black stars as acclaimed children’s book writer R.L. Stine (a real life dude) in this bizarre adaptation of Stine’s books. Taking the concept of the Night at the Museum movies in which characters come to life, the story of Stine’s cranky, weird dad character (who tells the new kid next door to stay on his side of the fence and away from his beautiful daughter) gets flipped when we learn he’s really got an overactive imagination and if any of his books are opened, it will release all the crazy characters he’s written about in real life.
Perfect For: It’s a family film with a grown up sophistication. Fans of Jack Black will be especially happy.
What the Critics Say: Some get it and they really, really like it. A few are clearly fuddy duddies. Writes the L.A. Times: “I have no idea as to the extent of the actual Stine's peculiarities, but just going from his weird, wonderful work, every scene in the movie feels authentic compared with the version I carry of him in my head.” Writes Entertainment Weekly: “It's a never-boring trip to a world where stories and imagination are powerful tools, that just might inspire kids to do the scariest thing of all: pick up a book.”
Our Take: Jack Black as a twisted lunatic in a kids’ flick? Sign me up!
Crimson Peak
The gothiest goth movie that ever gothed, Crimson Peak is directed and co-written by Guillermo Del Toro, stars the gothiest movie star alive, Tom Hiddleston, with Mia Wasikowska, a favorite actress for period pieces, and Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain. They are in the ultimate haunted house, set somewhere in the past –Victorian era perhaps? - and Chastain and Hiddleston lure the unsuspecting Wasikowska to their dark lair, where apparently everyone dies, except for the duo, who’ve lived for hundreds of years.
Perfect For: You like Smith and Cure movies, think the sun is a terrible thing, and know that Hiddleston is hot.
What the Critics Say: Really, really gothy fun, but wish it was a little scarier. Says Entertainment Weekly: “A loving throwback to Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe movies and Hammer's gothic chillers from the '60s, Crimson Peak is a cobwebs-and-candelabras chamber piece that's so preoccupied with being visually stunning it forgets to be scary.” Writes the Wrap: “The insanely lush Gothic romance and ghost story plays like a hitherto unrecorded collaboration between Edgar Allen Poe, Edith Wharton, the designers of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion and whoever directed all those Bonnie Tyler music videos in the 1980s.”
Our Take: Save it for Halloween weekend, when you can really get spooky.
Bridge of Spies
It’s a Steven Spielberg movie (based somewhat on a true story) starring Tom Hanks as lawyer negotiating to get a pilot released from Russia after his plane was shot down. He becomes embroiled in a complicated Cold War espionage plot.
Perfect For: You like historical dramas, thrillers, Tom Hanks (which is basically everybody), and Spielberg movies (also, everyone).
What the Critics Say: Universal acclaim. Duh, it’s Spielberg. Says the New York Times: "Bridge of Spies" is, like most of Mr. Spielberg's films, a consummate entertainment that sweeps you up with pure cinema.” And says the San Francisco Chronicle: “Steven Spielberg is so smooth, so good at what he does, that his best movies have a way of seeming inevitable, when they're the furthest thing from it.”
Our Take: Yes. Spielberg doesn’t really make any bad movies.
Woodlawn
A Christian genre movie (also based somewhat on a true story) set in 1973, about a high school football team in Birmingham, Alabama that becomes born again, and goes on to the playoffs, ending with the biggest game in the racially divided town, producing its first superstar black player, Tony Nathan. Starring Sean Astin, Jon Voight, and Caleb Castille.
Perfect For: Families who want a PG football movie.
What the Critics Say: Only faith-related publications have reviewed thus far. John Hanlon called it: “An inspiring film that shows the power of faith and forgiveness on and off the field.” And Christianity Today wrote: “The Erwins' latest film leans heavily on a genre formula.”
Our Take: May have inspiring elements, but looks formulaic.
