TOY STORY 4: Pixar is never quite done … so stick around for the credits!
In “Toy Story 4,” familiar toys from the first three movies -- plus one notable newbie -- embark on a road trip with their owner and...
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JOSEPH W. SMITH III
Christ, Culture & Creativity
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changsmith2
- Jun 28, 2019
- 2 min
LATE NIGHT: Long may she reign
Ladies and gentlemen, Emma Thompson has done it again. This time, though, she had help from Mindy Kaling. More than 25 years after...
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changsmith2
- Jun 28, 2019
- 2 min
SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2: Not as good . . .
The sequel to “Secret Life of Pets” sort of succeeds in spite of itself. For much of the film, I couldn’t figure out whether they were...
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changsmith2
- Jun 27, 2019
- 2 min
ROCKETMAN: Irresistible tunes in a irresistible movie
“Rocketman” is better than “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the same way that Elton John was a better songwriter than Queen. There, I said it -- go...
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changsmith2
- Jun 27, 2019
- 2 min
THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR: The "it" factor … and not much else
In “The Sun Is Also a Star,” protagonist Daniel Bae explains to his new-found crush the five elements needed for love. His final...
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changsmith2
- Jun 27, 2019
- 2 min
THE HUSTLE: Too many cooks, not enough hustle
As a long-suffering critic who’s reviewed many bombs and duds, here’s a little film-going tip: It’s not a good sign when a movie has...
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changsmith2
- Jun 27, 2019
- 2 min
THE INTRUDER: Quaid goes full psychopath
Despite generally lousy reviews, I just had to catch “The Intruder” and see for myself whether Dennis Quaid could pull off a psychopathic...
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changsmith2
- Jun 27, 2019
- 2 min
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS: New animated version does justice to Bunyan classic
Nearly 350 years ago, a jailed Puritan pastor named John Bunyan brought forth a little book called “Pilgrim’s Progress”; it has since...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
UNPLANNED: The truth behind our modern holocaust
In the 2012 movie “Lincoln,” we gladly excused the president’s unsavory tactics as he worked to outlaw slavery -- because we knew that...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
DUMBO: Another win for Burton
The new “Dumbo” is nearly 50 minutes longer than its 1941 predecessor -- so one might justly worry that they padded out the slender...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
COLD PURSUIT: Actioner #11 for the tough-to-kill Neeson
Let’s lay them out in order, shall we? “Taken,” “The Other Man,” “The Next Three Days,” “Unknown,” “The Grey,” “Taken 2,” “Non Stop,”...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
STAN & OLLIE: An overlooked gem
Just because you’re fond of the subject in a given movie, that’s no guarantee that you’ll enjoy the film itself. There are plenty of...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
SERENITY: Maybe the only favorable review you'll find anywhere . . .
“Serenity” is a bold movie: daring, gutsy, painting in broad strokes. It takes chances -- and for this I liked it, even though it derails...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
GLASS: More amazing work from McAvoy!
Were you amazed by James McAvoy’s performance as a schizophrenic in “Split”? Did you enjoy watching him run through several...
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changsmith2
- Jun 26, 2019
- 2 min
DOG'S WAY HOME: Good boy!
When I was five, my family acquired a friendly border collie named Spiffy. A few weeks later, we went on vacation, leaving Spiffy in the...
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changsmith2
- Jun 25, 2019
- 3 min
GREEN BOOK: Fave of 2018 … which went on to take Best Picture!
At the very end of last year, having waited five weeks for “Green Book” to open in Williamsport, I finally gave up and drove all the way...
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changsmith2
- Jun 25, 2019
- 2 min
MARY POPPINS RETURNS … with a bang!
While watching “Mary Poppins Returns,” I spent half the time grinning, half the time crying, and half the time feeling like a little kid...
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changsmith2
- Jun 25, 2019
- 3 min
WELCOME TO MARWEN: Interesting misfire for Zemeckis and Carell
“Welcome to Marwen” is a high-profile movie starring Steve Carell and directed by Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future,” “Forrest Gump”)....
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changsmith2
- Jun 25, 2019
- 2 min
THE MULE: Eastwood dandy in an otherwise boring movie
Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” has some notable flaws -- but Eastwood’s acting is not among them. Fans of the 88-year-old director should...
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changsmith2
- Jun 25, 2019
- 2 min
INSTANT FAMILY: This movie works!
If you plan to enjoy “Instant Family”—and I certainly recommend that you try—then you’ll have to accept some artificiality and...
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