‘Goats’ has fuzzy vision
A fun tone is undermined by disjointed storytelling in George Clooney’s “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” and it all starts with the disclaimer that opens the movie: “More of this is true than what you might imagine.”

Supernatural success
LOS ANGELES — The critics have spoken. Here’s what more than a few have to say:
“Scariest movie of the decade.”

‘Getaway’ imperfect but fun
“A Perfect Getaway” is essentially one big red herring, flopping around on an idyllic Hawaiian beach, desperately trying to call attention to itself.

‘G.I. Joe’ show no go
LOS ANGELES — It’s the biggest movie of the summer that practically no one has seen.

‘Transformers’ noisy, nonsensical
A joyless cacophony, an insistent and seemingly endless onslaught, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” director Michael Bay’s follow-up to the 2007 smash “Transformers” plays more like a parody of a Bay movie.

‘Proposal’ says yes to cliches
All the romantic comedy conventions are shamelessly on parade in “The Proposal,” trampling on our brains and turning them into mush.

‘Imagine That’ a solid comedy
The words “Eddie Murphy family comedy” are enough to send shivers down the spine of any self-respecting film lover.

‘Pelham’ an overcaffeinated thriller
The way the original 1974 film’s title has been condensed tells you everything you need to know about the direction “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” is headed. In these fast-paced, mixed-up times, it simply takes too long to spell out the numbers.

This movie in ‘Ruins’
LOS ANGELES — As we learn from “My Life in Ruins,” the Greek word for mojo — or zest for life — is “kefi.” Nia Vardalos’ character has lost hers and needs to get it back.

This movie is not a ‘Drag’
The name alone, “Drag Me to Hell,” tells you exactly what this is: an unabashed celebration of B-movie schlockery. But the dichotomies director Sam Raimi presents within that familiar genre are what make this such a kick.

Terminator Salvation could use Arnold Schwarzenegger
We have seen the future in “Terminator Salvation,” and the future is noisy.

'Wolverine' Unleashed

'Earth' is spectacular
It’s fundamental, cycle-of-life stuff that happens all day, every day, year-round, worldwide.

Happy to say ‘I Love You, Man’
The newly minted “bromance” genre, with its now-familiar mix of the sweet, awkward and raunchy, has entered the cultural consciousness through comedies like “Superbad,” ‘’Pineapple Express” and “Role Models.”

'Watchmen' a disappointing film
Hey, fanboys. Yeah, you guys, the ones who flooded my inbox with e-mails after I trashed Zack Snyder’s “300,” wishing birth defects on my unborn children and suggesting that perhaps my husband isn’t — ahem — keeping me satisfied.

‘Fired Up!’ rah-rah-raunchy
It would be news if “Fired Up!” weren’t moronic and adolescent.

'Taken' is mindlessly entertaining
A great deal of the allure in “Taken” comes from the wild juxtaposition of its premise: the idea of Liam Neeson — esteemed, acclaimed, 56-year-old Liam Neeson — kicking all kinds of butt in a Euro B-revenge thriller.

‘Pink Panther 2’ a mostly toothless comedy
If there’s a huge error behind “The Pink Panther 2” — other than the mistake of producing the sequel in the first place — it’s pairing Steve Martin with John Cleese, then failing to capitalize on their potentially explosive verbal exchanges.

'Valkyrie' disappoints

It will be Nixon vs. Batman for the Academy Awards
It promises to be a colorful Academy Awards season when films featuring Richard Nixon and Batman could go toe-to-toe for best picture.

‘Bolt’ a familiar but sweet tale
Harmless as a puppy, “Bolt” comes bounding into theaters, stumbling over its big, goofy paws, wagging its fluffy tail and begging to play ball.

Subplots sink subpar ‘Soul Men’
The stale buddy road-trip movie “Soul Men” will be remembered mainly as the untimely swan song of Bernie Mac, the comic great who died in August at just 50.

‘Blindness’ pretentious, bad
The blind literally lead the blind — to hell and back — in the pretentious, preposterous allegory “Blindness.”

'Rachel' reviewed

Perky Faris makes 'Bunny' funny

'Get Smart' movie misses it by a lot

‘Osama bin Laden’ gimmicky, occasionally enlightening
“Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?” — To say that “Super Size Me” director’s Morgan Spurlock latest documentary is a gimmick would be a gross understatement. It’s also a given — that’s Spurlock’s trademark modus operandi.

‘Stop-Loss’ well-intentioned, uneven
For her first film since 1999’s “Boys Don’t Cry,” the raw drama that earned Hilary Swank the first of her two best-actress Academy Awards, Kimberly Peirce initially wanted to make a documentary about soldiers who had fought in the Iraq war.

‘Untraceable’ is deplorably gratuitous
“Untraceable” is one of those deplorably gratuitous movies that wants to have it both ways, but gets nothing right.

‘Atonement’ flawlessly crafted

‘Sweeney Todd’ a perfect fit for Burton and Depp’s dark sensibilities

Well-crafted if familiar ‘Orphanage’ achieves subtle scares

Denzel Washington’s ‘Great Debaters’ a solid if formulaic feel-good tale

Romantic ‘Atonement’ a flawlessly crafted study of jealousy and repentance

The Golden Compass’ is visually elaborate but cold to the touch

‘Kite Runner’ a touching tale of friendship, despite convenient twists

Visit ‘No Country’
Llewelyn Moss is a decent-enough guy who makes a poor decision.

Last-man-on-Earth saga ‘I Am Legend’ strikingly shot, then turns cheesy

Ellen Page shines as pregnant teen in the clever comic charmer ‘Juno’

Chinese to allow Olympic athletes to have Bibles

Clooney shows off range in ‘Michael Clayton’
“Michael Clayton” might have been a standard thriller — one that’s as generic and forgettable as the title itself — were it not for some sharp writing from Tony Gilroy and an intelligent, subtly powerful performance from George Clooney.

‘We Own the Night’ too standard
In James Gray’s “The Yards,” Mark Wahlberg played an ex-con drawn back into crime by buddy Joaquin Phoenix.

‘Moon’ documentary captures tingly optimism of lunar landing

‘Trade’ awkwardly takes on the tough topic of sex slavery

Visceral ‘Kingdom’ raises complex questions, mainly comes up with pat answers

‘Balls of Fury’ a copy of sport comedies, with only some slapstick smarts

'The Hunting Party’ a slyly absurd, rock ’n’ roll war movie

‘Balls of Fury’ a copy of sport comedies, with only some slapstick smarts

Reynolds shines in ‘The Nines,’ an ambitious take on the metaphysical

Strong performances, but ‘Champ’ takes aim at too many issues

Rowan Atkinson’s ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday’ takes cute but slight holiday

‘Superbad’ is super good movie
I was told by an editor that I was going to be the first person on the planet to write a negative review of “Superbad,” but it’s just not in me. Let’s face it, the movie is awesome and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

‘Rocket Science’ an observant, unpredictable high school comedy

‘Rush Hour 3’ a lazy, formulaic attempt at cashing in one more time

Pfeiffer shines as a wicked witch in the amusing ‘Stardust’

‘Simpsons’ humor-packed but not ‘excellent’

Lame ‘Chuck & Larry’ trots out obvious gay stereotypes, then turns preachy

‘Transformers’ mostly worth it
Staff writer Justin Cripe gives "Transformers" 3 1/2 maple leaves.

New Potter, same old magic
Harry Potter seems to be living the same school year over and over. And it’s starting to wear thin.

‘Order of the Phoenix’ spins more of the same old magic

Just say ‘I don’t’ to the lame, painfully strained ‘License to Wed’

'Die Hard' resurrects '80s-style action

'Live Free or Die Hard’ resurrects ’80s-style action

Moore offers persuasive, if one-sided, look at health care with ‘Sicko’

'Fantastic Four' still a bore

1408’ checks out as fresh, creepy tale of hotel hauntings

Angelina Jolie’s ‘A Mighty Heart’ chronicles terror tragedy of slain newsman Daniel Pearl

‘Hostel: Part II’ is gorier than the original, and even more absurd

Third 'Pirates' long, convoluted, fun

Based on true events, ‘Gracie’ is a well-intentioned, formulaic sports movie

‘Bug’ begins life as an intriguing thriller, metamorphosizes into a mess

‘Day Night Day Night’ a minimalist, maddening look at suicide bombing

‘The Ex’ is a flat, desperate comedy

Keri Russell is radiant in rich, bittersweet ‘Waitress’

Sarah Polley’s ‘Away From Her’ a strikingly precise first film

Rage virus festers in lame sequel ‘28 Weeks Later’

Lohan’s off-screen antics distract in ‘Georgia Rule,’ but only for so long

‘Disturbia’ well worth a look
Four out of five leaves

Gere pulls fantastic fast one in Hughes fraud-tale ‘The Hoax’

The Reaping’ a bombastic hodgepodge of biblical mumbo jumbo

‘Shooter’ doesn’t hit the mark
The name of the movie is “Shooter,” and for a while director Antoine Fuqua is right on target with this claustrophobic tale of conspiracies, lies and double-crosses.

’The Lookout’ a thrilling, beautifully drawn character drama

Semi-dull ‘Blades’ offers a few decent laughs

‘Premonition’ lacks foresight to present worthy ending

Rock has something to say with ‘Wife,’ but still lacks finesse

‘Snake’ has a heart

‘The Host’ an intense, wickedly funny update of classic Asian monster flicks

‘Bridge to Terabithia’ an adventure worth taking
4 out of 5 leaves
I first discovered Terabithia about 16 years ago. As a young bookworm, my copy of Katherine Paterson’s book was well worn from many readings.

‘Ghost Rider’ not much of a Marvel
1 out of 5 leaves
When the recent wave of live-action movie versions of Marvel comics started, many Marvel aficionados, myself among them, were overjoyed.

Chains of love: ‘Black Snake Moan’ is pulpy but unexpectedly sweet

Idi Amin’s son criticizes portrayal of his father in 'Last King of Scotland’

Allen, Travolta and friends are stuck in neutral with ‘Wild Hogs’

At the crossroads of Europe and language, Switzerland is the land of movie subtitles

‘Gray Matters’ aims for ‘40s screwball comedy but lacks chemistry

Hannibal the Cannibal sinks in ‘Rising’

'Music and Lyrics’ a weird hybrid

'Epic Movie' falls short on creativity

‘Alpha Dog’ a great movie about bad people
4 out of 5 leaves

When a guy hears that a movie was directed by the same person who gave America the tear-jerker “The Notebook,” he’s likely to not give the film a second thought.
In the case of “Alpha Dog,” go against that instinct.

The derivative ‘Smokin’ Aces’ packed with sleazy, two-dimensional characters

Western ‘Seraphim Falls’ is solid technically, unremarkable dramatically