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Movie Reviews Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins.

Movie Reviews

Friday

'Up': A Pixar-Style Lift, Pretty Much Guaranteed

C'mon, Get Happy: A pesky but well-intentioned 8-year-old and a 70-something curmudgeon find tropical adventure — and a surprising connection — in Up. Disney/Pixar Studios hide caption

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Disney/Pixar Studios

Movies

'Up': A Pixar-Style Lift, Pretty Much Guaranteed

With visual magic, high-adventure excitement and an intelligent look at one of Hollywood's persistent taboos, Up isn't just good; it's among the groundbreaking studio's best. (Recommended)

'Up': A Pixar-Style Lift, Pretty Much Guaranteed

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From Japan, Elegant (And Eloquent) 'Departures'

This year's foreign-film Oscar winner, Yojiro Takita's movie is a delightful surprise — one part engaging dramedy (about a cellist turned undertaker) and one part thoughtful social statement. (Recommended)

From Japan, Elegant (And Eloquent) 'Departures'

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A Weekend Spent 'Up' In The Sky Or Down In 'Hell'

Fresh Air

It's a double feature from critic David Edelstein, who says Pixar's sublime new film Up reaches heavenward, while Sam Raimi's deliciously gory Drag Me to Hell crawls in the opposite direction.

A Weekend Spent 'Up' In The Sky Or Down In 'Hell'

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Thursday

Friday

Movies

'Virtue,' Old And New: At Least The Silent's Golden

It was a Noel Coward play, but Stephan Elliott's sleek-looking comedy never finds its bearings. Better: The 1928 version — whose director you've almost certainly heard of.

'Virtue,' Old And New: At Least The Silent's Golden

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Thursday

Movies

'Salvation': The End Of The World, All Over Again

John Connor's back — played this time by Christian Bale — in the first Terminator movie that'll make it or break it without Ahhhnuld. Movie critic Bob Mondello goes back to the future to see how it works.

'Salvation': The End Of The World, All Over Again

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Friday

Movies

Cardinals, Conspiracies And A Crock Or Two

There's only so much Ron Howard can do with Angels & Demons' idiotic plotting — or the fact that the war between the pro-science Illuminati and the anti-science church doesn't really make much sense.

Cardinals, Conspiracies And A Crock Or Two

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In 'Summer Hours,' A Handsome View Of The Tomb

Fresh Air

Masterpieces make their own rules — and David Edelstein says it's hard to think of a work comparable to Olivier Assayas's hauntingly beautiful film, about cultural tides and the people carried on them.

In 'Summer Hours,' A Handsome View Of The Tomb

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Thursday

Place And The Past, Evanescing In 'Summer Hours'

The world spins forward: An artist's family (Jeremie Renier, left, Juliette Binoche and Charles Berling) grapples with issues of personal and cultural inheritance in the age of globalization. Jeannick Gravelines/IFC Films hide caption

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Jeannick Gravelines/IFC Films

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Place And The Past, Evanescing In 'Summer Hours'

Summer Hours is the most elegant movie imaginable about the changes wrought by globalization. Olivier Assayas' latest effort is a sharp, effervescent movie, rich and careful as an expert novella. (Recommended)

Friday

Movies

'Star Trek': That Final Frontier, Boldly Reapproached

After six TV series and 10 motion pictures, you'd think there would be few places in the universe a starship could still "boldly go," if the point is going where no one has. NPR's Bob Mondello says you may be surprised.

'Star Trek': That Final Frontier, Boldly Reapproached

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In New 'Star Trek,' A Successful Personality Splice

The Star Trek franchise has certainly taken its own advice about living long and prospering. The current film is the 11th in the series — and critic Kenneth Turan says it revives the brand nicely.

In New 'Star Trek,' A Successful Personality Splice

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