Movie Reviews

Did you ever hope for a sequel to Chariots of Fire? Want to know what happened to "The Flying Scotsman" Eric Liddell after his 1924 Olympic triumphs on and off the track? Be careful what you wish for - not all stories have happy endings or are told as artfully as Chariots, though Liddell certainly exemplifies the maxim that it's not the years in a life, but the life and legacy in the years. 

Much like its characters, Same Kind of Different As Me can be a little rough around the edges. Smooth these down however, and viewers will discover a rich, heartfelt story which reminds us that we are all treasured members of God's human family. 

Harrowing but aspirational, Only the Brave shows men and women not only at their bravest but at their best. As a group of firefighters struggles with the forces of nature and the callings of family life, they find a shared purpose in protecting others, leading to a finale that won't soon be forgotten by anyone who experiences it. 

Be warned: Goodbye Christopher Robin is not the Winnie-the-Pooh nostalgia trip you're expecting. In many ways it's more like a real bear than a stuffed one - cuddly to look at but get closer and find teeth and claws. So why the high score? Quality performances, unexpected conflicts, storybook scenery and life lessons abound. But also because this film knows what it means to have been both child and parent.

When a young Thurgood Marshall and Jewish lawyer Sam Friedman reluctantly partner to fight for justice in a rape case, the result is a thought-provoking, uplifting movie. More fun than you'd expect, Marshall is a legal thriller with heart and character, based on a true story.

A survival story of epic proportions, The Mountain Between Us is thoughtfully filmed and beautifully performed. However, its too-contrived plot and screenplay weren't able to withstand the full duration of the film.

A cute little movie about cute little ponies, with life lessons and some mighty fine music thrown in as a bonus. There's color and excitement for small viewers, humor and (clean) adult references for the older set, and fun for all ages.

A true story about how one dog can touch the lives of many others, The Stray is a faith-based film that is appropriate for most families. Still, The Stray may not be the heartwarming tale that dog lovers are anticipating.

Viewers who responded to God's Not Dead and Do You Believe? get another providential plot in A Question of Faith, which works despite somewhat awkwardly incorporating texting-and-driving and organ donation into its story of sanctification and salvation.

This latest entry to the Lego universe has plenty of heart but lacks the ingenuity of its predecessors. It may amuse kids (and even adults) for an hour or two, but will probably be forgotten once the credits are done rolling.

Battle of the Sexes is about more than a 1973 tennis match between rising female tennis star Billie Jean King and a past-his-prime, buffoonish Bobby Riggs. In portraying one of America’s early public figures to live openly as a homosexual, the film also addresses women’s rights, but it leaves little room for reactions other than celebration of the resulting cultural changes.

A religious drama with elements of romantic comedy, this light-on-its-feet tale of spiritual struggle is rarely anguished, even as the story focuses on a priest's crisis of faith (basically, whether or not he should be a priest). That shouldn't be a problem for viewers caught up in this well told, affecting tale.

A valiant attempt to revive the rom-com, Home Again can't quite seal the deal. With a few good laughs and moderately enjoyable awww moments, Reese Witherspoon's impeccable acting saves this movie from being completely forgettable.

Award-winning docudrama Mully, explores the life of orphan-turned-father of ‘The World’s Largest Family’ in cinemas for three nights only this October

Artfully blending family-friendly entertainment with deeply personal questions of faith, All Saints not only succeeds as a compelling movie, but also demonstrates what the Church can accomplish when fully invested in a community.

It's not today's standard animated fare, so it's got that going for it. French-made, Paris-based Leap! takes a Ratatouille-like road on its quest to turn a tweenage orphan into a ballerina. It might have been great if not for our creeping disbelief and some serious at-what-cost questions regarding dream pursuit. The film's in English but something's been lost in translation.

In this southern-fried heist from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, the classic caper gets a Nascar twist. Look for engaging dialogue, strong direction and charming ensemble of characters...

Painfully predictable and disappointingly violent, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature has little to offer any audience. It's not just a skip; it's a definite skip.

Feels familiar at times in prompting a heroine to confront her parents' failings, but The Glass Castle also acknowledges an uncomfortable, unshakeable truth: even the most troubled parents "have their moments," and reconciliation brings closure and healing.

How do you make actors as charismatic as Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba seem disposable and uninteresting? Director Nikolaj Arcel and a trio of screenwriters find a way to do just that in their adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower, a remarkably pedestrian effort that leaves you wondering how a seemingly well-cast film could go so wrong.