Movie Reviews: The Host, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Admission and More

Movie information aggregated from MovieFone.com

It's feeling like Spring out there finally in Marion. It's a good time to take in a movie so here are some reviews and showtimes what's in theaters now.

The Host

• Run Time: 125mins.
• Starring: Saoirse Ronan , William Hurt , Max Irons , Jake Abel , Diane Kruger
• Director: Andrew Niccol
• Trailer

"An 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' retread told from a postoccupation vantage point, this adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s YA romance novel unfolds in a dystopian future when alien parasites have nearly won the battle for Earth." Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out New York.

"The Host is a step up from the endless metaphorical lectures and gaping plot holes of Niccol’s last film, In Time, but its muffled emotions, delivered with Twilight-esque blank-eyed calm, put it in the same category of a creative idea hamstrung in execution." Tasha Robinson, The AV Club.

Do you plan on seeing this movie? Leave a review of the film with a comment below after you do.

- - - - -

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

• Run Time: 110mins.
• Starring: Dwayne Johnson , Channing Tatum , D.J. Cotrona , Adrianne Palicki , Ray Stevenson
• Director: Jon M. Chu
• Trailer

"It's not enough to call this the rare franchise action movie to bring the goods; it's the even rarer one whose creators seem to understand what the goods even are." Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice.

"The directive behind this sequel, clearly, was non-stop action. Let's think about that phrase a second. Do we really want our action movies to deliver action that does not stop? Ever? I get a little tired of action sequences that won't stop." Michael Phelps, Chicago Tribune.

Do you plan on seeing this movie? Leave a review of the film with a comment below after you do.

- - - - -

Admission

• Run Time: 117mins.
• Starring: Tina Fey , Paul Rudd , Nat Wolff , Wallace Shawn , Michael Sheen
• Director: Paul Weitz
• Trailer

"Admission has some sublime moments, most of them involving Fey and Rudd dancing around their inevitable romance. The problem is in the foundation." Chicago Sun-Times. Full Review

"It’s as if Weitz knows he’s got a corpse of a film on his hands -- never trust a movie when it feels as though you can see the director clasping the defibrillator." Gabe Toro, The Playlist. Full Review

Have you seen this movie? Help your neighbors out. Leave a review of the film with a comment below.

- - - - -

The Croods (3D)

• Run Time: 98mins.
• Starring: Nicolas Cage , Ryan Reynolds , Emma Stone , Catherine Keener , Clark Duke
• Director: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
• Trailer

"This Chris Sanders fellow knows how to craft a heart-warming animation, and if not for a few minor problems this would have had a legitimate shot at the best animated movie of 2013." Laremy Legel, Film.com

"The movie is at its most interesting and amusing when riffing on how cavemen might have reacted to new experiences and ideas, like fire and shoes. Whether the kiddies will appreciate that is unclear, but they’ll certainly like the voice work done by Emma Stone as Eep." Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times.

Have you seen this movie? Help your neighbors out. Leave a review of the film with a comment below.

- - - - -

Olympus Has Fallen

• Run Time: N/A
• Starring: Gerard Butler , Morgan Freeman , Aaron Eckhart , Angela Bassett , Melissa Leo
• Director: Antoine Fuqua
• Trailer

"While Olympus Has Fallen breaks no major new ground in the political thriller genre, Fuqua has directed a sharp, very taut adventure that keeps you engrossed from start to finish." Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times.

"Perhaps every generation gets the movie stars it deserves. “Olympus” has quite a bit to say about the current state of our country. Intentions aside, not all of it is entirely flattering." Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News.

Have you seen this movie? Help your neighbors out. Leave a review of the film with a comment below.

- - - - -

Oz the Great and Powerful

• Run Time: 130mins.
• Starring: James Franco , Mila Kunis , Rachel Weisz , Michelle Williams , Joey King
• Director: Sam Raimi
• Trailer

"Raimi manages to keep things engaging, which is a very real act of wizardry in and of itself." Jordan Hoffman, Film.com. Full Review

"This trip isn’t so notable. It’s not bad. Some bits are enjoyable. But ultimately, other than some genuinely impressive visuals, it never makes a compelling-enough case to justify its existence." Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic. Full Review

Have you seen this movie? Help your neighbors out. Leave a review of the film with a comment below.

- - - - -

Any of these spark your interest? Galaxy 16 in Cedar Rapids has most of these and Collins Road Theatres also has several choices.