Peter Hartlaub

Curtis makes an all-in return to the Strode character, and the filmmaking team builds a solid framework around her, in the propulsive and entertaining new Halloween.

Upgrade is a movie by Leigh Whannell, who wrote “Saw,” “Insidious” and other memorable horror movies. But other than the occasional moment of stunningly gratuitous gore, it’s nothing like those films.

The Peanuts Movie delivers genuine happiness with the door left open for woe.

This has to be the first children's film to weave a Grand Theft Auto joke into the script -- and like most things in the movie, it's pretty amusing.

While the documentary isn't as compelling as its source material, Abbas tells an interesting story about his incarceration.

Occasionally thoughtful and very entertaining.

Well-scripted, well-acted and occasionally sexy, but just isn't all that interesting.

With apologies to George A. Romero and the impending zombie apocalypse, The Eclipse may be the most realistic film where something dead comes to life and tries to feast on human flesh. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/15/MVST1CTGJ4.DTL#ixzz0lDuetYGS

Kill List has a slow build, but don't be lulled into complacency. This is one of the most violent and disturbing films you'll see in an art house.

Kung Fu Panda 3 has a moment or two for everyone, but no chance develop any character beyond a single dimension.

Instructive as a portrait of activism.

Mostly it serves as a comprehensive manual of bad places to hide from a masked killer.

The visuals are excellent, featuring a refreshingly small dose of forced cuteness, and plenty of the animals' natural movements.

Most audience members will probably want more.

The more an audience member sees the beauty left in the Buddhist leader’s wake, the more it becomes clear that his influence has the power to continue generations beyond his passing.

It's one of the least scary films that he's made - but still entertaining, and very, very gory.

Like Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s stellar “The Lego Movie,” the filmmakers work with the confidence that if a joke fails, the one that follows a few seconds later will redeem the scene.

This is the "Godfather II" of tasteless prank films.

As entertainment, this approach might be questionable. As a service, it would be valuable.

The Good Dinosaur has an original concept, disarming emotional heft and features the most impressive visuals in animated cinema to date.

Bursts with action, ideas and interesting characters.

It’s a solid first step into the magical world of the familiar. Escapist entertainment for crowds that prefer to know their destination in advance.

The best part about the movie is the way it shifts focus, starting as an observation of the animal and then subtly morphing to the point of view of Nénette, who passively experiences a jumble of voices that start to run together.

The film often stumbles in translation, trying to define too many characters in too little time.

The Providence Effect" is flawed, but it's still a moving film.

Deserves plenty of credit for exploring racial issues story in more realistic terms.

This isn’t just a good horror film. It’s a good film, which just happens to fall in the horror genre.

There's no greater meaning to any of this, and the slapstick turns won't seem particularly ambitious to anyone who grew up on Bugs Bunny cartoons.