Movies are expensive, and there’s a huge temptation to wait until they’re available to be viewed at home. But weren’t movies made for the big screen? Luckily, the La Mirada Starplex 7 offers movies you may have missed on the first run. There are some that are definitely worth a trip, and there are some you should just avoid altogether.
3 Days to Kill — At some point in his career, Kevin Costner was an affable leading man. These days he seems content in starring in cheap B-movies. And “3 Days to Kill” is just that. It’s fairly amusing when the guns are going, but everything in-between is horrendous. (2/5)
American Hustle — This was one of the best films of 2013. It’s not an easy film to understand, but like the finest of wines, it gets better with age. It’s clever, it’s funny and it’s one crazy ride that has a lot to say — brought to life by some seriously talented actors and actresses. (5/5)
Her — Not necessarily a film for everybody, Spike Jonze’s “Her” is nevertheless a quirky film that is both stylish and thought-provoking, usually at the same time. Winner of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, this film is sure to have you asking questions and talking afterwards. (5/5)
Hunger Games: Catching Fire — The sequel to 2012’s mega-hit “The Hunger Games,” and this time, the stakes are higher and the action is bigger. The film also manages to be better in every aspect than its already strong predecessor. You don’t even need to see the first film to enjoy this incredible movie. (4.5/5)
The Nut Job — The warning signal should be the film’s terrible name. If you can make past that, an unlikable lead, cheap animation and juvenile potty humor await you. Not even children should have to endure this. (1/5)
Ride Along — Kevin Hart and Ice Cube play off each other well. Sadly, “Ride Along” is a very disappointing movie that just isn’t funny. It’s predictable and plays it safe for the majority of its run-time. Worth a few laughs, but not your money. (2/5)
Robocop — Considering the legendary cult status of Paul Verhoeven's 1987 original, this remake could’ve turned out much worse. The biting political satire is gone, replaced by a story about human connection. Obviously, it’s nowhere near as good as the original. (2.5/5)
The Monuments Men — George Clooney has delivered some seriously good films lately, from in front of and behind the camera. “The Monuments Men” is not one of them. The pieces are there for this to be a good movie, but they never connect. (2/5)
The Wolf of Wall Street — Trashy, vulgar and over-the-top, “The Wolf of Wall Street” has its fair share of ugly problems that includes a rather overblown running time of three hours. But there’s no denying that the film has its moments of genius, and Leonardo DiCaprio is electric as Jordan Belfort. (3.5/5)
