http://www.smalltowncritic.com COOP COOPER is an independently syndicated film critic with a split personality. His "Southern Side" prints mainstream reviews that appear in various print publications across the mid-south. His "Dark Side" from Los Angeles befouls the site with reviews of horror and grindhouse flicks. Welcome to the site where COOP's two halves (and his contributors) review and debate the latest film/DVD releases... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 20:11:41 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3033 by Coop Cooper As educational institutions gear down for their summer sabbatical, Hollywood gears up to release their highest-budgeted films. This tradition seems to arrive earlier each year, but the first of these mega-budget projects usually arrive in May. The May blockbusters are strategically placed in this month, often under the assumption the studio heads feel the films are weak, risky or may not compete against the reliable mid-summer releases. Sometimes the reason is simply beating other films to the punch and audiences occasionally find some some pleasant May surprises. Here's what's coming next month: CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE AT THE CLARKSDALE PRESS REGISTER WEBSITE]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 16:54:55 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2748 Coop's most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): THE CRAZIES (2010): Great first half, effective scares (pitchfork!) but ignored much of what worked in the original. 3 stars [REC]2: Creative continuity/action/camerawork, but "Exorcist" twist undermines the mythology of original. 2&1/2 stars FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: Travolta = over the top and action scenes = outrageous, a must see for action fans. 3&1/2 stars HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: Better than AVATAR in story and intent. Total pleasant surprise. Take kids now. 4&1/2 stars SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE: Sub-par comedy. Baruchel unlikably insecure. Cop-out ending. Title ironically true. 2 stars. NINJA ASSASSIN: Good gore. Bad CGI shurikens. Rain = ok. Lead actress sucks. Sho Kosugi rocks. Lame plot. 2 stars. LEGION: Amazing concept. Angels + weapons = BOOM. Weak execution. All characters unlikable. Wings clipped. 2&1/2 stars.]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/12/23/avatar-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/12/23/avatar-2009-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:14:24 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2620 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/12/23/avatar-2009-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 5 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/29/oh-dethklok-youve-done-it-again-review-of-dethalbum-ii-by-dark-side/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/29/oh-dethklok-youve-done-it-again-review-of-dethalbum-ii-by-dark-side/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:51:18 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2530 Pandorum in the next day or two, but when a bunch of cartoon characters from "Adult Swim" can singlehandedly resurrect the flagging "death metal" scene, that's news for the ages. Dethalbum II, by the fictional band Dethklok, hit iTunes last night at midnight and I downloaded it immediately. Why? Because Dethalbum I was so popular and completely owned the genre it satirizes...]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/29/oh-dethklok-youve-done-it-again-review-of-dethalbum-ii-by-dark-side/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/27/tron-legacy-teaser-trailer-made-me-weak-in-the-knees-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/27/tron-legacy-teaser-trailer-made-me-weak-in-the-knees-by-coop/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:00:38 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2307 The Empire Strikes Back have I anticipated a movie so eagerly. Tron was one of the biggest cinematic staples of my childhood. I can't imagine a world without it. Finally, we are about to get a sequel. Tron Legacy (formerly Tron 2.0 and TR2N) has been a twinkle on the horizon for many years now. Four years ago or so, Jeff Bridges did an interview wearing his old Flynn helmet which sparked speculation that something was on stove. Rumors emerged...]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/27/tron-legacy-teaser-trailer-made-me-weak-in-the-knees-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/22/why-wait-for-a-live-action-gl-movie-coop-reviews-green-lantern-first-flight/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/22/why-wait-for-a-live-action-gl-movie-coop-reviews-green-lantern-first-flight/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:00:31 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2285 Green Lantern movie contains a lot of what fans have been waiting for. Massive outer space battles, grumpy Kilowog, a non-wimpy Sinestro, giant green flyswatters. Surely a live-action version couldn't support the FX that First Flight boasts, and... What? Yes, I said giant green flyswatters. Yeah, that pisses me off too. ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/07/22/why-wait-for-a-live-action-gl-movie-coop-reviews-green-lantern-first-flight/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/11/oh-no-you-didnt-3-someone-who-has-never-seen-a-star-wars-movie-tries-to-explain-it-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/11/oh-no-you-didnt-3-someone-who-has-never-seen-a-star-wars-movie-tries-to-explain-it-by-coop/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:00:11 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2013 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/11/oh-no-you-didnt-3-someone-who-has-never-seen-a-star-wars-movie-tries-to-explain-it-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/03/up-2009-quick-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/03/up-2009-quick-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:41 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=1953 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/03/up-2009-quick-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 3 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/16/just-for-fun-the-royal-canadian-kilted-yaksmen-anthem-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/16/just-for-fun-the-royal-canadian-kilted-yaksmen-anthem-by-coop/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 18:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=1835 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/16/just-for-fun-the-royal-canadian-kilted-yaksmen-anthem-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/05/battle-for-terra-3-d-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/05/battle-for-terra-3-d-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 16:00:18 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=1762 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/05/05/battle-for-terra-3-d-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/22/9-scarycool-clip-from-shane-ackers-animated-film-by-dark-side/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/22/9-scarycool-clip-from-shane-ackers-animated-film-by-dark-side/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:00:56 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=1564 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/22/9-scarycool-clip-from-shane-ackers-animated-film-by-dark-side/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/02/watchmen-tales-of-the-black-freighterunder-the-hood-2009-12-dvd-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/02/watchmen-tales-of-the-black-freighterunder-the-hood-2009-12-dvd-review-by-coop/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:28:39 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=413 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/02/watchmen-tales-of-the-black-freighterunder-the-hood-2009-12-dvd-review-by-coop/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/31/monsters-vs-aliens-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/31/monsters-vs-aliens-2009-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:01:11 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=371 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/03/31/monsters-vs-aliens-2009-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/02/25/coraline-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/02/25/coraline-2009-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:56:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/coraline-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/02/25/coraline-2009-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/01/19/2-animated-humans-invade-the-aliens-movies-planet-51-and-terra/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/01/19/2-animated-humans-invade-the-aliens-movies-planet-51-and-terra/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:35:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/2-animated-humans-invade-the-aliens-movies-planet-51-and-terra/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/01/19/2-animated-humans-invade-the-aliens-movies-planet-51-and-terra/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/09/19/79/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/09/19/79/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:16:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/79/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/09/19/79/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/06/11/kung-fu-panda-2008-film-review/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/06/11/kung-fu-panda-2008-film-review/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:46:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/kung-fu-panda-2008-film-review/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/06/11/kung-fu-panda-2008-film-review/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/05/14/chicken-run-2000/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/05/14/chicken-run-2000/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 00:47:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/chicken-run-2000/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/05/14/chicken-run-2000/feed/ 0