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Summary Judgment Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan distills the critics' reviews to help you decide what to see and what to skip.
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Summary Judgment

'Witch Mountain,' 'Sunshine Cleaning,' 'Last House'

What do reviewers say about three new films? Out this week: Race to Witch Mountain, a remake of the 1970s children's film; the indie comedy Sunshine Cleaning; and the horror flick Last House on the Left.

'Witch Mountain,' 'Sunshine Cleaning,' 'Last House'

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'Watchmen', 'Horsemen', 'Phoebe In Wonderland'

Mark Jordan Legan has Slate.com's Summary Judgment on three new films. Watchmen is a film about the murder investigation for a former comic book superhero. The Horsemen is a murder mystery about a serial killer's crime spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. And Phoebe in Wonderland is a drama about a little girl who seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher.

'Watchmen', 'Horsemen', 'Phoebe In Wonderland'

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'11 Minutes,' 'Madea' In Jail, 'Fired Up'

What are critics saysing about three new films? 11 Minutes is a documentary that follows the first winner of the TV show Project Runway. Tyler Perry's latest is Madea Goes To Jail. And Fired Up is a teen sex romp at cheerleading camp.

'11 Minutes,' 'Madea' In Jail, 'Fired Up'

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Three New Movies: Chick Flick, Thriller, Horror Film

This week, writer Mark Jordan Legan has Slate.com's Summary Judgment on three new films: the chick flick Confessions of a Shopaholic, the thriller The International starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and the remake of the horror film Friday the 13th.

Three New Movies: Chick Flick, Thriller, Horror Film

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At The Movies: 'Coraline,' 'Pink Panther II'

Slate.com's Mark Jordan Legan has summary judgment on three new films: Coraline is an animated film about a young girl who finds a portal into an alternative version of her own life. Pink Panther 2 rejoins Inspector Jacques Clouseau as he tries to foil the plans of a bad guy who steals historic artifacts. And He's Just Not That Into You is a comedy about surviving romance gone awry.

At The Movies: 'Coraline,' 'Pink Panther II'

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New Movies: 'New In Town,' 'Taken' And 'The Uninvited'

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three news films. Which is more deserving of the price of admission, New In Town, a comedy about a Miami businesswoman who relocates to a tiny city in Minnesota or Taken, an action film about a former spy who rescues his daughter from the slave trade? And then there's also The Uninvited to consider, a thriller about a young woman who returns home after a stint in a mental hospital to find a ghost.

New Movies: 'New In Town,' 'Taken' And 'The Uninvited'

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New Movies: More Mickey Rourke Or 'Underworld'?

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three new films. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a fantasy about the struggle between vampires and werewolves. Inkheart is a family film about a man who brings fairy tale characters to life. And Killshot, starring Mickey Rourke, is about a couple placed in witness protection after a horrible crime.

New Movies: More Mickey Rourke Or 'Underworld'?

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January Is Indeed A Bad Month For Movies

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through the reviews of three lackluster films; Notorious, the story of the life and death of the Notorious BIG, Hotel for Dogs and Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

January Is Indeed A Bad Month For Movies

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'Bride Wars' Gets Horrid Reviews

Mark Jordan Legan runs through reviews of the latest films. There's the romantic comedy Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, which has been called the worst film of the new year. There's the horror flick, The Unborn and there's Not Easily Broken, a romance with spiritual themes.

'Bride Wars' Gets Horrid Reviews

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The First Movies Of The New Year

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of Defiance, a Nazi resistance film starring Daniel Craig, Cargo 200 a Russian art house film and Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood's latest film.

The First Movies Of The New Year

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Aniston With A Dog Or An 80-Year-Old Brad Pitt?

Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of the latest movies. This year's Christmas releases include the Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson dog movie Marley and Me, the Tom Cruise World War II film Valkyrie and the much awaited The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in which Brad Pitt is born an 80-year-old man.

Aniston With A Dog Or An 80-Year-Old Brad Pitt?

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The Best Merry Scary Christmas Movies

It's not all fresh snow and lollipops. The Christmas movie genre has a darker side. We explore holiday horror classics such as Black Christmas and the so-bad-it's-good Magic Christmas Tree.

The Best Merry Scary Christmas Movies

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Movies This Weekend: From 'Doubt' To Aliens

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of The Reader, a mystery set in post-World War II Germany and The Day the Earth Stood Still, a sci-fi thriller, among others.

Movies This Weekend: From 'Doubt' To Aliens

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Beyonce, 'Nobel Son' Or Nixon?

Take a trip through reviews of three new films: Cadillac Records, a movie about the rise of R&B label Chess Records starring Beyonce, Nobel Son, a film about a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and his relationship with his dysfunctional family and Frost/Nixon, Ron Howard's adaptation of a successful stage play.

Beyonce, 'Nobel Son' Or Nixon?

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Parsing Reviews Of 'Milk,' 'Christmas' And 'Australia'

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, some big films are coming out Wednesday instead of Friday. Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of holiday film Four Christmas starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, the epic Australia starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman and the story of California's first openly gay elected official Milk'.

Parsing Reviews Of 'Milk,' 'Christmas' And 'Australia'

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Dogs And Superheroes Hit Movie Theaters

What's it going to be this weekend? The animated film Bolt, about a dog who lives his whole life on the set of a TV show, Twilight about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire or superhero spoof Special? We take a tour through the reviews.

Dogs And Superheroes Hit Movie Theaters

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James Bond, 'Slumdog' Or 'Christmas'?

Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of Quantum of Solace starring Daniel Craig and Judi Dench, Slumdog Millionaire about a Mumbai orphan who wins on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and Christmas Tale, a French film about mental illness starring Catherine Deneuve.

James Bond, 'Slumdog' Or 'Christmas'?

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What's Better, 'Soul Men' Or 'Role Models'?

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through the reviews for the comedy Soul Men, about two singing legends who agree to an on-stage reunion, the animated sequel Madagascar: Return 2 Africa and the Paul Rudd comedy Role Models about two screw-up friends sentenced to mentor kids.

What's Better, 'Soul Men' Or 'Role Models'?

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The Scariest Movies You Haven't Seen

Forget Nightmare On Elm Street. In honor of Halloween, Slate.com's Mark Jordan Legan goes to the celluloid vault and shines a light on some of the most frightening films ever made.

The Scariest Movies You Haven't Seen

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Now Out: 'Changeling,' 'H.S. Musical,' 'Synecdoche'

Films out this week include Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood; High School Musical 3: Senior Year; and Synecdoche, the directing debut of noted screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.

Now Out: 'Changeling,' 'H.S. Musical,' 'Synecdoche'

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'W.,' 'Bees' And 'Max Payne'

Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through three new films: Oliver Stone's W. starring Josh Brolin, the adaptation of the novel The Secret Life of Bees starring Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning and the crime drama Max Payne starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Beau Bridges.

'W.,' 'Bees' And 'Max Payne'

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'Quarantine,' 'RocknRolla' and 'Body of Lies'

Slate.com's Mark Jordan Legan guides us through the latest releases: the mystery thriller Quarantine, the Guy Ritchie crime drama RocknRolla' and the Ridley Scott film Body of Lies, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.

'Quarantine,' 'RocknRolla' and 'Body of Lies'

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