The Norwegian directing team of Joachim Roenning and Espen Sandberg, whose biopic of World War II resistance fighter Max Manus was a huge hit on home turf, have turned to another native hero for "Kon-Tiki." One of the most-vaunted escapades of the 20th century, Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 Peru-to-Polynesia expedition by raft gets glossy big-screen treatment in this efficiently told action-adventure. Delivering visual drama and understated character study, sometimes in disappointingly formulaic fashion, the feature has its incisive moments but falls short as both epic and intimate portrait.

Snow White has been mesmerizing moviegoers and TV watchers with a smile and a song -- and, now, a sword -- since 1937, when Disney released its first full-length animated feature.

This year of re-envisioned fairy tales on TV and film continues with the release of "Snow White and the Huntsman," the darkest Snow White of them all.

Astonishingly beautiful and breathtaking in its brutal imagery, "Snow White & the Huntsman" is thrilling and frightening in equal measure, yet as bereft of satisfying substance as a poisoned apple.

As superhero summers go, this one is truly super.

As superhero summers go, this one is truly super.

Thirty years ago, it seemed ambitious just to see Superman or Batman in a feature-length, live-action film. Back then, people never could have anticipated that we would one day see six of the most iconic superheroes come together in a single movie. Over the course of five movies and several years, Marvel has been building up to “The Avengers,” their main event. If the film did not live up to expectations, there would be an outcry of hatred from fanboys across the nation. Imagine the tragic aftermath of “Star Wars: Episode One” times a thousand. Fortunately, “The Avengers” not only exceeds the overwhelming hype, but also emerges as one of the absolute best superhero pictures ever produced.

Thirty years ago, it seemed ambitious just to see Superman or Batman in a feature-length, live-action film. Back then, people never could have anticipated that we would one day see six of the most iconic superheroes come together in a single movie. Over the course of five movies and several years, Marvel has been building up to “The Avengers,” their main event. If the film did not live up to expectations, there would be an outcry of hatred from fanboys across the nation. Imagine the tragic aftermath of “Star Wars: Episode One” times a thousand. Fortunately, “The Avengers” not only exceeds the overwhelming hype, but also emerges as one of the absolute best superhero pictures ever produced.

For a while now, Walt Disney Pictures has been trying to develop an action/adventure franchise with the same mass appeal of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Its first attempt was with the failed “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” “John Carter,” Disney’s latest venture, isn’t much of an improvement. This is a flashy and corny blockbuster with only a couple amusing moments every 30 minutes.

For a while now, Walt Disney Pictures has been trying to develop an action/adventure franchise with the same mass appeal of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Its first attempt was with the failed “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” “John Carter,” Disney’s latest venture, isn’t much of an improvement. This is a flashy and corny blockbuster with only a couple amusing moments every 30 minutes.

With the Oscar nominees being unveiled in less than a week, numerous critics are attempting to predict what will be nominated. I could offer you my forecast of what will be nominated on Oscar morning. Given my track record though, I'll likely just end up feeling like an idiot. So instead, I've compiled a list of what should be nominated, something that I can't possibly be wrong about.

With the Oscar nominees being unveiled in less than a week, numerous critics are attempting to predict what will be nominated. I could offer you my forecast of what will be nominated on Oscar morning. Given my track record though, I'll likely just end up feeling like an idiot. So instead, I've compiled a list of what should be nominated, something that I can't possibly be wrong about.

Hollywood is respecting the environment and recycling - again.

Hollywood is respecting the environment and recycling - again.

The year 2011 was a tremendous year for movies with a fair deal of pictures that put an emphasis on nostalgia. There were so many great movies in 2011 that a top 10 list isn't going to cut it. I'm going all out with the 25 best films of 2011.

The year 2011 was a tremendous year for movies with a fair deal of pictures that put an emphasis on nostalgia. There were so many great movies in 2011 that a top 10 list isn't going to cut it. I'm going all out with the 25 best films of 2011.

For those of you who may be hesitant to see "Captain America: The First Avenger" because you're afraid you'll be watching the Human Torch in a two-hour-long preview for the upcoming "Avengers" movie, have no fear.

For every summer that brings us a "Thor" or an "X-Men: First Class," there's a fairly standard superhero movie like "Green Lantern" in the mix. This isn't a bad superhero movie like "Ghost Rider" or the two "Fantastic Four" pictures. But "The Dark Knight," "Spider-Man 2," and "Iron Man" it is not. "Green Lantern" is bright, colorful, loud, mindless entertainment. You might be amused while watching the film. Just don't expect it to leave a lasting impression.

For every summer that brings us a "Thor" or an "X-Men: First Class," there's a fairly standard superhero movie like "Green Lantern" in the mix. This isn't a bad superhero movie like "Ghost Rider" or the two "Fantastic Four" pictures. But "The Dark Knight," "Spider-Man 2," and "Iron Man" it is not. "Green Lantern" is bright, colorful, loud, mindless entertainment. You might be amused while watching the film. Just don't expect it to leave a lasting impression.

Bryan Singer's first "X-Men" was exactly what superhero movies needed after Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" and the Shaquille O'Neal vehicle, "Steel," seemingly killed the genre. Singer's "X2" was one of the rare sequels that actually improved upon the original. Many fans felt that these movies started to show a decline in storytelling after Brett Ratner's "X-Men: The Last Stand." I suppose I was one of the few people that actually felt that "The Last Stand" delivered a satisfying conclusion to the initial trilogy. I think we can all agree though that "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is best left forgotten.

Bryan Singer's first "X-Men" was exactly what superhero movies needed after Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" and the Shaquille O'Neal vehicle, "Steel," seemingly killed the genre. Singer's "X2" was one of the rare sequels that actually improved upon the original. Many fans felt that these movies started to show a decline in storytelling after Brett Ratner's "X-Men: The Last Stand." I suppose I was one of the few people that actually felt that "The Last Stand" delivered a satisfying conclusion to the initial trilogy. I think we can all agree though that "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is best left forgotten.

It’s not too late to pull together a last-minute outing for Dad’s Day.

It’s not too late to pull together a last-minute outing for Dad’s Day.

Up until recently my only knowledge of Thor was through the little girl in "Adventures in Babysitting" who idolized the character. In terms of comics, Thor never intrigued me as much as icons like Batman or Spider-Man. When I heard Thor would be getting the big screen treatment, I honestly wasn't expecting to be blown away. I'm content to declare, however, that the mighty Thor's feature film debut is nothing short of sensational, leaving me to believe that I've severely underestimated the character all these years.

Up until recently my only knowledge of Thor was through the little girl in "Adventures in Babysitting" who idolized the character. In terms of comics, Thor never intrigued me as much as icons like Batman or Spider-Man. When I heard Thor would be getting the big screen treatment, I honestly wasn't expecting to be blown away. I'm content to declare, however, that the mighty Thor's feature film debut is nothing short of sensational, leaving me to believe that I've severely underestimated the character all these years.