OCEANS - B

Documentary
Though Disneynature’s Oceans suffers from a general lack of flow in structure, the visuals in this aquatic documentary are as gorgeous as anything in 2009’s Earth, with the added treat of delivering images of many undersea creatures so fascinating in their absolute weirdness.

MOVIE MATH: Earth (2009) - (March of the Penguins + Winged Migration + Two Brothers)

PREDATORS - C+

Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga
After the inanity of the Alien Vs. Predator series, it’s nice to see the old Predator creatures return to their roots as vicious jungle killers. But despite a lively supporting turn by Laurence Fishburne, too much of Predators feels like a routine exercise in prey versus hunter action.

MOVIE MATH: (Rambo + Commando) x Pitch Black

KARATE KID, THE - B

Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson
This is how remakes should be done, with an updated spin on location and character, an understanding of what hasn’t aged well and enough bright charm to win over the naysayers. Even when at its most contrived, leads Smith and Chan make for a particularly inspired ying-and-yang duo.

MOVIE MATH: Karate Kid (1984) x (The Spy Next Door + [The Forbidden Kingdom - The Last Airbender])

IRON MAN 2 - B-

Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow
There are a lot more loose bolts and oil leaks in this follow-up to 2008’s smashing Iron Man, as director Jon Favreau seems to pay too much attention to metal-on-metal action and not enough to character or dialogue. Robert Downey Jr. still makes a dapper hero though.

MOVIE MATH: Iron Man (2008) x Spider-Man 3

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - B+

Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson
The pleasures are plentiful in this zippy and well-designed animated adventure about a young Viking who befriends a dragon. The dragon has a little bit of Stitch in him but the danger level is higher, thereby allowing for even more satisfying levels of adventure mixed in with the laughs.

MOVIE MATH: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs + E.T. / Lilo & Stitch x Reign of Fire

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, A - C-

Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner
This reimagining of the original Elm Street was an attempt to bring horror back to the Freddy Krueger franchise after years of jokey one-liners. But Jackie Earle Healey shows little personality as Krueger and the film falls into a repetitive rut of scare, sleep deprivation, daydreams and death.

MOVIE MATH:  Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - SQRT (Jason Vs. Freddy)

WINTER'S BONE - B+

Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Garret Dillahunt
A stark and harrowing drama, set in the unforgiving American Ozarks, about a resourceful teenager trying to track down her good-for-nothing father. Jennifer Lawrence is breathtaking as the lead and director Debra Granik does a masterful job of authentically building tension.

MOVIE MATH: AVERAGE (Down to the Bone, Undertow, Snow Angels, Frozen River)