Skyfall

Director Sam Mendes tries his hand at the James Bond franchise in "Skyfall", the third entry in the series starring Daniel Craig. After somewhat of a misstep in "Quantum of Solace" Bond is back on track. This is a gritty, exciting, and excellently staged action film with solid performances all around (especially from Javier Bardem as the chillingly creepy villian) and a smart script. There are quite a few winks to long-forgotten series mainstays and even some delving into Bond's backstory. While the drama is effective, there is never that moment when you suddenly understand Bond and why he is who he is. This isn't an expose on character development, and isn't quite as good as Craig's first 007 film "Casino Royale", but it is one of the best Bond films I've ever seen and definitely gets our recommendation.

Bryce ***
Chase **1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Moonrise Kingdom

Well, it's official. I don't get Wes Anderson movies. They're bizzarre and uncomfortable and only occasionally funny. "Moonrise Kingdom" is no exception. While I can certainly appreciate a film that's willing to challenge convention, this latest offering from the director is weird to a fault. The dialogue is cerebral and dry and makes the characters difficult to embrace. Occasionally the awkwardness produces a laugh or two but it's mostly just...awkward. The film even tries to tug at your heart strings at its conclusion but fails to do so because the filmmakers have made it hard to care about any of the characters in the slightest. If this kind of comedy is your cup of tea, more power to you. It just doesn't resonate with me.

Bryce **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

Wreck-it Ralph

"Wreck-it Ralph" is one of the most frustrating films to come along in a while. For starters, the premise is absolutely fantastic. Taking us inside the secret world of video game characters after the kids leave the arcade is a completely fresh take on the "Toy Story" concept. The first half of this film is a riot, filled to the brim with creativity and some legitimately funny gags. The second half is a different story. The narrative turns to a "Candyland" style arcade game that centers around an obnoxious little girl (voiced by the insufferable Sarah Silverman). If that was one stop in the story it would've been fine, but most of the movie ends up taking place in that world and changes the film from a video game movie to a candy movie. There is a lot to love about this film, which makes the direction the story ultimately takes all the more disappointing.

Bryce **1/2
Chase ***
Landon **1/2
Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Lincoln

Steven Spielberg attempts to tackle the last few months of the life of one of the most beloved historical figures in US history in "Lincoln". He succeeds beautifully. Spielberg and his team bring those pivotal last months to the big screen with a powerful sense of authenticity and depth. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of the most incredible performances in recent memory as the title character and is the cornerstone of this film. Upon leaving the theater you feel as though you just spent a few hours with Lincoln himself. It's a performance for the ages in every way. Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field also give terrific performances in supporting roles and round out a truly stellar cast. The narrative can be a bit plodding at times and Spielberg lays the sap on a little thick in a couple of moments, but those are minor complaints. This is the best film of the year thus far and shouldn't be missed by anyone.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***1/2
Logan ****

BANGERANG SCORE: ***1/2

The Bourne Legacy

One of the best action series of all time gets an extra chapter in "The Bourne Legacy". Series screenwriter and "Legacy" director Tony Gilroy does a great job of extending the story in an interesting way and Jeremy Renner is up to the task as the new super spy. Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton are equally capable in new supporting roles which flesh out an intense and action-packed addition to the Bourne franchise. Why the low score you ask? Despite the aforementioned positive traits, the film's interesting premise ultimately gives way to an incomplete story arc with a pointless climax and virtually no resolution whatsoever. In the end, this promising new entry felt like bait to get Matt Damon to sign on for more movies.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Bernie

"Bernie" is one of the strangest movies I've ever seen. More than a little of that is due to the fact that the true story upon which it is based is one of the most bizarre I've ever heard. Jack Black does some of his best work here as the title character - the nicest guy in a small Texas town that would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. Or would he? The plot unfolds in documentary style with extremely authentic and often hilarious interviews with the people of the town in which the events take place. However the humor is sometimes overshadowed by its dark undertones. If you're into dark comedies, you'll love it. If you're like me and the genre isn't exactly your thing, you'll find a lot to like but ultimately find it a bit uncomfortable.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

The Dark Knight Rises

Arguably the most anticipated movie of the year is here at long last. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the final chapter in the excellent Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy and while it is probably the weakest of the bunch, it was definitely worth the wait. This third film is somewhat different in tone than the previous installments (which were, in turn, different from each other) but it does an excellent job of concluding the story with raised emotional stakes. The story loses its focus a bit in parts, and a few of the action sequences are a tad over-the-top, but it all comes together in the end with a satisfying third act that ties everything up nicely. Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway are excellent as Batman's new antagonists and all the returning players are as good as they've ever been. This is an electrifying conclusion to what will undoubtedly go down as one of the great movie trilogies of all time.

Bryce ***
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***