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Rob is the head of the English and Communications Department at Delaware Technical & Community College, where he teaches film. He is also one of the founders of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and runs a "Flixster" certified film blog. Email him at filmrob@gmail.com.
Recent Posts by Rob Rector
Movie Review
‘Dark Shadows’ has perversely watchable quality
By Rob Rector - May 20Oh what a mess is the theatrical "Dark Shadows." But what a fascinating - and occasionally fun -- mess it all is.You need a compass to follow the ...
Movie Review
More than a Beastie, Yauch was humanitarian, film geek
By Rob Rector - May 13The impact one Adam Yauch has had upon this writer’s life cannot be easily compressed into the space allotted for this column. As founder and ...
Movie Review
Dialogue is smart, playful, poignant in 'Avengers'
By Rob Rector - May 06Like the crowning block in a successful game of Jenga, "The Avengers" stands atop a four-year build-up that, had any of the pieces been misplaced, ...
Movie Review
Humor is packed into 'Pirates! Band of Misfits’
By Rob Rector - Apr 29The fact that Aardman Animation studio has never received the same amount of success as Pixar is a cinematic crime. Animators/directors Peter Lord ...
- Movie Review
'Cabin': Thank you for not reading this review
By Rob Rector - Apr 23I am going to preface this review by urging you to not read it. For many readers, this is a task that is easily fulfilled (See, Mom? You're off ...
- Movie Review
‘American Reunion’ should have let tired franchise retire
By Rob Rector - Apr 16When I was an undergrad living life in my fraternity house, we would occasionally get visits from alumni who would crash the place for the ...
- Movie Review
'Mirror Mirror' offers reflection on Snow White
By Rob Rector - Apr 09Snow White has been quite fortuitous for the world of cinema. There have been more than 20 adaptations dating back to 1902, covering every genre ...
Movie Review
'The Hunger Games' stands strong as its own entity
By Rob Rector - Apr 02With the last spell cast from the final installment of the "Harry Potter" film franchise, and the twilight of "Twilight" series this summer, movie ...
Movie Review
'21 Jump Street' manages to garner strength as it goes
By Rob Rector - Mar 26Growing up, I was the target demographic for “21 Jump Street,” but to me, it always seemed like some awkward mash-up of “Miami Vice” and an ...
Movie Review
'John Carter' fails to achieve liftoff
By Rob Rector - Mar 19Everything old is...well, still pretty old in "John Carter," the big-buck dud from Disney meant to herald the start of the big-ticket movie ...
Movie Review
'The Lorax': Natural lyricism replaced with synthetic soul
By Rob Rector - Mar 12My imagined dialogue when watching "The Lorax" during one of many sold-out screenings at the Movies at Midway this weekend: Young child: Mommy, ...
Movie Review
New release should drop the act and focus on the valor
By Rob Rector - Mar 05If they decided to splice out the the most patriotic parts of "Team America: World Police," and base a live-action film on it, it might closely ...
Movie Review
The Academy Awards: Who will win; who should win
By Rob Rector - Feb 25There will no doubt be a big downturn in Oscar viewership this year, as "Twilight" fans everywhere will sob glittery tears that their favorite ...
Movie Review
'Safe House' is role that has been done before
By Rob Rector - Feb 20Safe House will be considered by many as a breathlessly paced, gritty, hard-edged action picture. That is, if they have yet to see any other film ...
Movie Review
'Chronicle' is shackled when it should soar
By Rob Rector - Feb 13Orson Welles would be both a happy and sad man today. He would be happy to witness the box-office proliferation of his legendary "War of the ...
Movie Review
Simplicity in storytelling of 'The Grey'
By Rob Rector - Feb 06With his predilection for films calling for brute everyman physicality (usually involving good old-fashioned, throat-punching revenge), Liam ...
Movie Review
'Haywire' is unorthodox approach to standard genre pic
By Rob Rector - Jan 30Steven Soderbergh is a director determined to dabble in as many genres as possible. Since his breakthrough in 1989 with the intimate drama "Sex, ...
Movie Review
Wahlberg has the moxie and muscle to pull off 'Contraband'
By Rob Rector - Jan 23From his inauspicious beginnings as a model/rapper, Mark Wahlberg has certainly become one of Hollywood's savviest commodities. He has shifted ...
Movie Review
'Tinker, Tailor,' 'Marilyn' join slew of Oscar contenders
By Rob Rector - Jan 16Another week, and another slew of box office contents have trickled their way into local theaters. Last week brought us two contenders: "Tinker ...
Movie Review
'War Horse': Putting humans in lead is like putting cart before horse
By Rob Rector - Jan 09There is no question who is at the helm of "War Horse." It has the genetics of Steven Spielberg in almost every scene. And this is both its ...
- Movie Review
Movies of 2011: Relatively underwhelming
By Rob Rector - Jan 02The year that was, cinematically, held more promise than was delivered. It was not a total bust, but despite the amount of hype indicating this ...
Movie Review
What is, what is not worth price of admission
By Rob Rector - Dec 26Studios, perhaps hurting from a slumping box office in 2011, have given audiences a bounteous offering at the multiplex this year, hoping to gain ...
- Movie Review
'Descendants' is an effortless blend of comedy, drama
By Rob Rector - Dec 19The family from which "The Descendants" derives its name is unlike any family you've ever met, in that they are the generational heirs to a vast ...
- Movie Review
Multiplex offerings vying for young viewers' attention
By Rob Rector - Dec 05With the holidays upon us, there are countless opportunities for generations to share a movie-going experience. But often, what may entertain one ...
Movie Review
'Breaking Dawn': Let's hope it's the final chapter
By Rob Rector - Nov 28Like the dandelion weeds that choke the grass in my yard, the "Twilight" films are merely an inconvenient inevitability that I must accept. ...
Movie Review
'The Immortals' lands back on its mortal coil
By Rob Rector - Nov 21Director Tarsem Singh's "The Immortals" is a cinematic Icarus. It spreads its delicate waxen wings, soaring on delusions of its own self-importance...
- Movie Review
Harold and Kumar end up on naughty and nice list with '3-D Christmas'
By Rob Rector - Nov 14I don't think Frank Capra has much to worry about with "A Very Harold and Kumar 3-D Christmas," as this third film in the stoner franchise is of ...
Movie Review
Depp enjoys latest dance with Thompson in 'Rum Diary'
By Rob Rector - Nov 07Your appreciation of "The Rum Diary" will essentially boil down to your take on the writings of Hunter S. Thompson. Or booze. Or both. It's not ...
Movie Review
'Paranormal Activity 3' taps into primal fear
By Rob Rector - Oct 31Do you recall that email that circulated about a decade ago, in which the recipient was asked to stare at a tranquil, static scene for a specific ...
- Movie Review
Idea for 'The Thing' backstory is better left on ice
By Rob Rector - Oct 24In film, prequels are a tricky business. You can run the risk of smothering a story with too much exposition (thanks, George Lucas for all those ...
- Movie Review
“Ides of March” just misses the mark
By Rob Rector - Oct 17Like so many political candidates, "The Ides of March" makes a great stump speech (in the form of a trailer), but ultimately comes up short in ...
Movie Review
'50/50': Humor is powerful weapon in coping with cancer
By Rob Rector - Oct 10Anyone who has been affected by cancer can attest that there is absolutely nothing funny about the disease. Zilch. Zero. Nada. However, in ...
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Movie Review
'Dolphin Tale' is extra special to Delaware native
By Rob Rector - Oct 03While the ocean-centric film 'A Dolphin Tale' may have resonance to many living in coastal Sussex, it means even more to one Delaware native, ...
Movie Review
Fall’s action stars move at slower, steadier pace
By Rob Rector - Sep 26Now that the boys of summer have had their time to play in the sandbox, it's time for the men to move in and show them how it's done. While the ...
- Movie Review
'Red State,' 'Tree': Pacing matters
By Rob Rector - Sep 19As an avid runner, I cannot count how many times I have witnessed amped-up racers charging out of the gate in a blaze, only to later pass them as ...
- Movie Review
Part 2: Look ahead at fall films
By Rob Rector - Sep 12Editors note: This is the second of a two-part installment that takes a look at autumn at the box office.Wait a minute. That's it? Did I miss a ...
Movie Review
‘Colombiana’ offers perfectly satisfactory escapism
By Rob Rector - Sep 05Considering there were maybe five theaters opened on the East Coast last weekend, what with everyone’s least favorite summer tourist - Irene - ...
Movie Review
A look ahead at fall movies
By Rob Rector - Aug 29Editors note: This is the first of a two-part installment that takes a look at autumn at the box office.Wait a minute. That's it? Did I miss a ...
- Movie Review
Death takes its time in 'Final Destination 5'
By Rob Rector - Aug 22Look. I'm no English instructor...wait a minute, yes I am. Perhaps that is why the "Final Destination" series irks me like that piece of skin on ...
Movie Review
'Apes' is summer fare to feel good about the next morning
By Rob Rector - Aug 15Just like 2009's late-summer dark horse "District 9," "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" has charged out of nowhere to earn one of the top slots for ...
Movie Review
'Cowboys and Aliens' has ammo but no aim
By Rob Rector - Aug 08Placing James Bond (Daniel Craig) with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in the hands of the director of “Iron Man” (John Favreau), then stamping on ...
- Movie Review
'Captain America' is unafraid to embrace its retro ethos
By Rob Rector - Aug 01It seems from the opening weekend of $65 million, filmgoers still have not suffered superhero bloat (aka Adam West-itis). And this summer, Marvel ...
- Movie Review
'Deathly Hallows' marks end of extensive journey
By Rob Rector - Jul 26A wise coworker approached me to talk about the final installment of The "Harry Potter" films. What began as the story of a boy’s wondrous ...
- Movie Review
'Deathly Hallows' by the numbers
By Rob Rector - Jul 18A wise co-worker approached me to talk about the final installment of The "Harry Potter" films, "The Deadly Hallows: Part 2." Even though he's ...
Movie Review
Transformers still grinding its gears
By Rob Rector - Jul 11Director Michael Bay has said in interviews that his latest film “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon" was his indirect apology to fans after the ...
Movie Review
‘Cars 2’ puts formula in formula racing
By Rob Rector - Jul 04Of all the things that were missing from the first "Cars" - and the were many - more screen time for Larry The Cable Guy was not one of them. Yet...
Movie Review
Intergalactic threats clutter Hal in ‘Lantern’
By Rob Rector - Jun 27Familiarity breeds contempt. Perhaps that is the rationale behind the critical drubbing "The Green Lantern" has received upon release. Since 2000, ...
- Movie Review
Sure-footed ‘Super 8’ rolls over rough patches
By Rob Rector - Jun 20For the non-geek filmgoer, the term “lens flare” will mean absolutely nothing. But they will know it when they see it. It's a photographic ...
Movie Review
'First Class' restores 'X-Men' to solid footing
By Rob Rector - Jun 13X-Men fans have certainly had reason to be more than wary about the prequel “First Class.” Prequels in general can be an odds-defying gamble. ...
- Movie Review
'The Hangover Part Two' is more reboot than sequel
By Rob Rector - Jun 06I had considered possibly resubmitting my initial review for “The Hangover” for its sequel, since that is all the writers of the latest film had ...
- Movie Review
Depp’s slurs, swashbuckling glimmer with hope in ‘Tides’
By Rob Rector - May 31Did you know that there are theme-park rides that allow you to recreate all the fun and excitement you felt while watching "Alien vs. Predator?" ...
- Movie Review
'Priest' may cause Bettany's career to slip like sands of time
By Rob Rector - May 24Welcome, parishioners! Our reading today will be from the Book of Paul (Bettany). It's the story of a young, striking, classically trained actor ...
- Movie Review
Welcome to The Asylum: Settle right in
By Rob Rector - May 17Did you happen to catch the new “Thor” movie on SyFy network last weekend? That’s right, the all-new “Thor” motion picture was screened on cable ...
- Movie Review
Marvel Comics’ ‘Thor’ hammers out summer fun
By Rob Rector - May 10I must admit, for all the Avengers amassing, "Thor" was the character for whom I held the most doubt. For the uninitiated, Marvel Comics is ...
- Movie Review
‘Super’ squanders its power for good
By Rob Rector - May 03Super is a film currently featured prominently atop On Demand services, featuring “The Office’s” Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin ...
- Movie Review
‘Scream 4’ is just another lame retread
By Rob Rector - Apr 26I was recently asked to participate in a "Scream" retrospective podcast in anticipation of the latest installment of the franchise. To brush up, I ...
Movie Review
Brothers Grimm meet Coen brothers in 'Hanna'
By Rob Rector - Apr 19Sorry, Miley, but if I am looking for a heroine named Hanna for my little girl, I'm heading here. Isolated deep in a German forest with her ...
- Movie Review
‘Code’ severs crucial tension in final moments
By Rob Rector - Apr 12Director Duncan Jones deserves a lot of accolades for his attempt to resurrect old-school sci-fi. In 2009's "Moon," Jones took a minimalist ...
- Movie Review
‘Sucker Punch’ is like a byproduct of fanboy focus group
Apr 05Dragons, zombie Nazis, faceless robots, orcs, towering samurai, scantily clad babes with guns: “Sucker Punch” is like a byproduct of some of ...
- Movie Review
‘Limitless’ leaves side effect of mediocrity
Mar 29Like those little bottles of 5-hour energy boosts found at the convenience store, the drug NZT promises not only the caffeinated rush, but the ...
- Movie Review
‘Paul’ an accessible spaceship ride for all
Mar 22Let’s set things straight at the top of this review: though it stars the duo behind the much-loved genre send-ups of cops (“Hot Fuzz”) and zombies ...
- Movie Review
Damon, Blunt give audience reason to root for their reunion
Mar 15Ever since “Blade Runner” was finally embraced for the classic that it is (it was initially a box-office bomb that was met with lukewarm reviews), ...
- Movie Review
‘Inside Job’ goes for the throat
Mar 10I knew there was a reason I let my wife handle the mortgage. Sure, she’s a financial wizard, but my real fear is that I will become so overwhelmed ...
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And the Oscar will go to...
Feb 25It is hard to grasp the fact that, after this year’s Oscars Sunday, Feb. 27, we could possibly use in a sentence, “Oscar-winner Trent Reznor,” or ...
