Author: Sarah Knight Adamson

War Dogs doesn’t know what it wants to be.

When I heard Todd Phillips was directing War Dogs, I became uneasy, even though I’m a huge fan of Old School and the first Hangover film… Read more about War Dogs (R) ★★½…

Yes, it’s true! Dragons and honest-to-goodness family-friendly films still exist.

I love dragons. I was “the mother of dragons” (Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen) for Halloween, received “Dragonology” books for past birthdays, love the dragon-centric… Read more about Pete’s Dragon (PG) ★★★½…

A compelling financial thriller, but still not the “women on Wall Street” film I was hoping for.

As possibly the only film critic in the world who has two business degrees, used to work in… Read more about Equity (R) ★★½…

Suicide Squad makes very little sense.

When I was at Comic-Con a few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe there were hundreds of people—many of whom were in full Joker or Harley Quinn costumes and makeup—standing… Read more about Suicide Squad (PG-13) ★★…

An inspiring, hopeful documentary about one family’s experience with autism.

I knew what Life, Animated was about before I saw the film, and so I was not surprised to find my eyes welling up only… Read more about Life Animated (Documentary) ★★★½…

The BFG, Fantasy Story with a Big Heart

Thankfully, Spielberg’s The BFG stays faithful to the treasured Roald Dahl young adult novel with old-fashioned storytelling of the love between a wise older giant and an… Read more about The BFG (PG) ★★★½…

Finding Dory is a whopper of a film that’s part comedic ‘fish tale’ but mostly life lessons for kids. Sensitivity to disabilities is front and center with the added bonus of parenting advice.

 * Extra… Read more about Finding Dory (PG) ★★★½…

If anyone can make the editing process interesting, it’s Colin Firth and Jude Law.

I love it when a film can expose me to something—a historical figure, a place, an idea, an event—that I would… Read more about Genius (PG-13) ★★★…

It’s extra sad when a sequel about magicians delivers absolutely nothing magical.

The 2013 “heist… with magicians!” film Now You See Me had plots issues, sure, but overall I found it to be a whole… Read more about Now You See Me 2 (PG-13) ★½…

An Inspiring Love Story

Let’s get something out of the way from the get-go: you will, I repeat, you will need to bring a box of Kleenex to the theater while viewing the film Me… Read more about Me Before You (PG-13) ★★★…

Don’t Waste Your ‘Time” On Yet Another Second-rate Sequel

Six years ago, many anxiously awaited director Tim Burton’s take on the wacky world of Alice. Equally so was the anticipation of Johnny Depp’s new redheaded,… Read more about Alice Through the Looking Glass (PG) ★½…

When X-Men: Apocalypse is good, it’s really good. But when it’s bad…

While I have seen all of the X-Men films and liked several of them, I would not go so far as to call… Read more about X-Men: Apocolypse (PG-13) ★★★…

An unnecessary sequel that fails in its girl-power message.

I was not a fan of 2014’s Neighbors, so I admittedly didn’t have high hopes for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. This time around, Mac (Seth Rogen)… Read more about Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (R) ★★…

Ryan and Gosling and Russell Crowe make a fun pair, but it’s not all laughs.
The Nice Guys is one of those movies you’re either going to get, or you’re not. And I didn’t get… Read more about The Nice Guys (R) ★★½…

A fast-paced but ultimately forgettable thriller, despite its A-list cast and director.

It’s a horrific situation that seems all too possible these days: an unstable gunman takes a TV host hostage live on-air, straps a… Read more about Money Monster (R) ★★½…

Another Awesome Hit for Marvel

Who knew comic book characters struggle with feelings of guilt, anger, patriotism, revenge, betrayal, and loyalty? All of these issues are explored as the “Avengers” take sides. Either you’re with… Read more about Captain America: Civil War (PG-13) ★★★½…

Those who were anxious about this remake can forget about their worries (and their strife).

“Now I’m the king of the swingers-oh, the jungle VIP; I reached the top and had to stop and that’s… Read more about The Jungle Book (PG) ★★★½…

When is it OK to kill a nine-year-old girl?

It’s a horrific thought. And you’re probably thinking, “Well, NEVER, of course.” But Gavin Hood’s Eye in the Sky doesn’t let its audience off that easy.… Read more about Eye in the Sky ★★★…

What I remember most about 2008’s Cloverfield doesn’t have anything to do with its alien-invasion plot. Nope, what’s still clearest in my mind is the fact that I was worried I was going to hurl… Read more about 10 Cloverfield Lane (PG-13) ★★★…

Race is one part feel-good biopic and one part unnerving history lesson.

Aside from tales of Middle-Earth and stories about galaxies far, far away, there’s nothing I’m a bigger sucker for than a rousing true… Read more about Race (PG-13) ★★★…

A Girl’s Guide to Dating New York City Style−Sort Of

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, How to be Single, a refreshing, laugh-out-loud comedy, is erroneously being advertised as a romantic comedy. Nope, no… Read more about How to be Single ★★★…