Reviews

Yet another adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel ('The Notebook,' 'A Walk to Remember,' 'Nights in Rodanthe'), 'Dear John' is, like two of its predecessors, a romance about young love beleaguered by complications.

The film, directed by Lasse Hallström ('The Cider House Rules,' 'Chocolat'), details the relationship between Special Forces soldier John (Channing Tatum) and college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), who meet in 2001 during his leave and her spring break. He plans to leave the service when his tour ends to be with her, but after the World Trade Center attacks, he feels duty bound to reenlist. The two exchange letters over the years as additional hurdles arise.

Other characters include John's emotionally withdrawn father (Richard Jenkins) and Savannah's friend (Henry Thomas), whose son is autistic, but the movie's mainly about the lovelorn duo.

In general, critics are not completely smitten with 'Dear John,' citing predictability and blandness among other drawbacks, though many agree that it is, at least, heartfelt. Here's a sampling of what they had to say:

Don't let the title fool you: 'From Paris With Love' is not some romantic City of Lights romp.

In the latest shoot 'em up flick from director Pierre Morel ('Taken'), a bald, goateed John Travolta plays Charlie Wax, a maverick spy with a wicked trigger finger who gladly hunts down terrorists. This time, a U.S. ambassador's uptight lackey (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) tags along for the ride.

But, really, who cares about plot when there are shootouts to be had? While the reviews make it clear that 'From Paris' is not destined to hang alongside the Louvre's masterworks, a couple critics found the film's bloody action and a delightfully over-the-top Travolta enough to save it from the Euro trash bin. Read the reviews, and then let us know what you think.

A loose take on Dante's 'Inferno,' 'Saint John of Las Vegas' stars Steve Buscemi as John Aligheiri, a down-on-his-luck Albuquerque insurance company drone and compulsive gambler who gets sent to Sin City to investigate a dubious claim.

John is accompanied on this journey by his mysterious coworker Virgil (Romany Malco), and the duo encounter an assortment of oddballs, eccentric characters and the requisite self-discovery along the way.

Written and directed by first-time helmer Hue Rhodes, 'Saint John' boasts its fair share of bold-faced names both in front of the camera (the movies also stars Sarah Silverman, Tim Blake Nelson and Peter Dinklage) and behind (Spike Lee and Stanley Tucci are producers). Despite this all-star cast and crew and its quirky premise, however, reviewers are finding 'Saint John of Las Vegas' is one road trip movie that may be best not taken. Here's what the critics had to say:

After a 6-year disappearing act from motion pictures, Mel Gibson is back.

Given the reviews so far, though, it might not be such a welcome return, as the critics are mostly split on his recent comeback (How many has he had?), the bad-ass, "take no names" thriller 'Edge of Darkness,' directed by 'Casino Royale' helmer Martin Campbell.

Adapted to the screen from Campbell's own 1985 BBC miniseries, 'Edge of Darkness' is about a widowed cop who sadly witnesses the murder of his daughter; Gibson sets off on an investigation into the killer's identity, exposing corruption and villainous agendas along the way.

Take a look at what the critics have to say:

Simply put, the reviews for 'When in Rome' don't look quite as good as the film's leads, Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel

In 'Rome,' you'll find Bell ('Forgetting Sarah Marshal') as a Guggenheim Museum art curator who goes to the fabled city for her sister's wedding and finds a little magic and romance along the way. Duhamel, Danny DeVito, Jon Heder, Will Arnett and Dax Shepard are Bell's romantic pursuers. Why all the attention? It has something to do with a magical fountain.

Most reviewers, however, aren't feeling the magic. Let's see if this escapist romantic fare can find its pursuers at the box office.

This is an interesting weekend for Paul Bettany fans.

In the supernatural thriller 'Legion' he plays the Archangel Michael who voluntarily falls to Earth to rescue mankind from an Apocalypse brought about by God. In the biopic 'Creation,' which also opened Friday, he portrays 19th-century scientist Charles Darwin, father of evolutionary biology and hero to atheists everywhere. Now that's range!

'Legion' is set in a desolate diner where a motley group of strangers, including Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton and Tyrese Gibson, join forces with the insurgent Michael to battle the exterminating angels sent by God (who's so disgusted with humanity he wants to wipe it out). Pregnant waitress Adrianne Palicki, carrying the future hope of mankind, is specially targeted for destruction.

The film, Scott Stewart's directorial debut, was not screened for critics (never a good sign), so few reviews have been published in major outlets. However, many non-mainstream reviewers have weighed in and almost everyone agrees that while there are thrills to be had and Bettany is predictably solid, 'Legion' suffers from a lack of originality and very faulty theology, among other things. Here's what they had to say:

Inspired by a true story, director Tom Vaughan's 'Extraordinary Measures' stars Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell as John and Aileen Crowley, two parents who stop at nothing to save their two children after they've been afflicted with a rare genetic disorder. Ultimately, the Crowleys join forces with a cranky specialist (Harrison Ford) to find a cure for the mysterious and fatal Pompe disease.

Despite a three-hanky trailer that had the ability to reduce even the most stoic viewers to tears, the movie itself -- the first from the newly-established CBS Films -- does not appear to have received the same heartfelt reception. In fact, Ford's growling performance seemed to garner as much attention as the inspirational story.

Medical mystery, or just a case of a middling movie? Here's what the critics had to say:

It's survival of the fittest at the box office and unfortunately for the new Charles Darwin bio 'Creation,' the consensus is director Jon Amiel ('Copycat,' 'Entrapment') has not created a great work.

Critics feel the story meanders along -- kind of like the crabs that Darwin famously studied -- resulting in a film that lacks momentum. It's based on a Darwin bio by Randal Keynes, a Darwin descendant, called 'Annie's Box,' which examines the death of the Darwins' young child, Annie, and its effect on the scientist.

In 'Creation,' Brit actor Paul Bettany ('The Da Vinci Code,' 'A Beautiful Mind') is Darwin and Bettany's real-life wife Jennifer Connelly ('A Beautiful Mind,' 'The Day the Earth Stood Still') plays Darwin's wife, Emma. They generally receive favorable marks, though not overwhelming, with Bettany getting the better notices on the average.

Darwin, of course, wrote 'The Origin of Species,' which detailed the theory of evolution. There's some overseas speculation about whether American audiences would saddle up to a Darwin biopic, given the sometimes still controversial topic. However, it might be lukewarm reviews that keep people away from 'Creation' and not a blowback against Darwinism.

Check out the reviews and tell us what you think.

Critics aren't exactly bearing their fangs when it comes to reviewing Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's latest. There's a grudging acknowledgment that you simply have to be there -- and you have to be 7 years old --– to get the most out of 'The Tooth Fairy.'

Johnson plays Derek Thompson, a hockey brute delivering punishing checks while his younger teammates score goals. For this, you'd think his fans would call him, maybe, 'The Rock'? But no, he's dubbed 'The Tooth Fairy' (his hits have been known to remove the front teeth of his opponents). Can this cynical tough guy be taught to play well with others? His girlfriend, played by Ashley Judd, certainly hopes so. Fate lends a hand when he's assigned a Fairy Godmother (Julie Andrews) and sent off to play the tooth fairy for kids with a pearly white under their pillows.

For Johnson, it's a return to family fare ('Race to Witch Mountain,'' 'The Game Plan') after an experiment in twisted apocalyptic phantasmagoria (Gads, did you catch 'Southland Tales'?!)

For a kiddie flick, 'Tooth Fairy' has some impressive players. The screenplay was co-written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, responsible for some comedy classics ('Splash,' 'Parenthood'). British comic Stephen Merchant (creator of 'The Office,' along with Ricky Gervais) is said to steal scenes as a member of Fairyland's middle management. And even Billy Crystal delivers a cameo.

Check out these 'Tooth' reviews and tell us what you think:

The latest from writer-director Andrea Arnold (an Oscar-winner for her 2004 short 'Wasp') is 'Fish Tank,' a gritty look at the seamy underbelly of lower class England.

The film stars young newcomer Katie Jarvis as Mia, an unruly, tempestuous teenager living in the outskirts of London with her bratty younger sister (Rebecca Griffiths) and her boozy, floozy mother (Kierston Wareing). A surly 15-year-old, Mia's only outlet for her pent up aggressions is hip-hop dancing in an abandoned apartment. That is, until her mother's dashing new boyfriend (Michael Fassbender of 'Inglourious Basterds') shows up and takes an interest in her as well.

The movie, which won the Jury Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival, has been racking up acclaim for its gritty realism as well as its mesmerizing star. Check out the reviews below, and then let us know what you think.