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Northern Iowan
The student news site of the University of Northern Iowa

Northern Iowan
The student news site of the University of Northern Iowa

Northern Iowan
All content by JOSHUA ROUSE
The new adventure drama "The Lost City of Z," starring Charlie Hunnam, has received positive reviews from critics and currently carries an 88 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Lost City’ is must ‘Z’ movie

JOSHUA ROUSE, Staff Writer
Apr 27, 2017
The new heist comedy film "Going in Style," starring Alan Arkin, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, currently carries a 47 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Go in ‘style,’ leave in disappointment

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 20, 2017
"Ghost in the Shell," starring Scarlett Johansson, is the latest film adaption of the Japanese manga of the same name. The film has received mixed reviews from critics and currently carries a 46 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Ghost” is mere shell of source material

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 10, 2017
Director Daniel Espinosa's new sci-fi horror film "Life," starring Ryan Reynolds, currently holds a 67 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Film fails to breathe new “Life” into genre

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 3, 2017
"Power Rangers," which is a reboot of the original 1990s television series of the same name, has received mixed reviews from critics and currently carries a 46 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of press time.

“Power Rangers” does justice to original

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 27, 2017
"Beauty and the Beast," Disney's live-action reimagining of their 1991 animated film of the same name, has received generally favorable reviews from critics. The film, which currently carries a 70 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has grossed over $428 million worldwide as of press time.

Beauty & Beast: not the Belle of the ball

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 23, 2017
"Logan" starring Hugh Jackman in his final portrayal of Wolverine, has received considerable critical acclaim. The film boasts a 92 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best reviewed film in the X-Men series.

“Logan” claws through critics

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 9, 2017
Allison Williams stars alongside Daniel Kaluuya in Jordan Peele's directorial debut "Get Out." The comedy horror film has garnered unexpected critical acclaim, currently boasting a 99 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Get Out” gets outstanding review

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 2, 2017
The erotic romance drama "Fifty Shades Darker," the sequel to 2015's "Fifty Shades of Grey," has received a nearly universal negative critical reception, currently carrying just a nine percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes

“Fifty Shades” definition of love is toxic

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 27, 2017
The best films of 2016 will be honored this Sunday, Feb 26, at the 89th Academy Awards. Nine films are nominated for the award show's most prestigious prize: Best Picture.

2017 Oscars Best Picture roundup

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 23, 2017
"John Wick: Chapter 2," starring Keanu Reeves, continues the story of its 2014 predecessor and has garnered similar critical praise, currently boasting a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

New Wick flick is critic’s pick

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 16, 2017
"The Lego Batman Movie," starring Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis and Michael Cera, is the first spin-off of 2014's critically acclaimed "The Lego Movie." The spin-off has already gained similar praise from critics, receiving a 91 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Rebuilding” Batman’s legacy

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 13, 2017
M. Night Shyamalan's most recent directorial effort "Split" seems to be a return to form, boasting a 73 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

MacAvoy steals show in “Split”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 2, 2017
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese's new film "Silence" currently carries a 84 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, designating it as "certified fresh."

Scorsese film “silences” critic

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 26, 2017
Ben Affleck's new directorial effort "Live by Night" has proved to be both a commercial and critical flop, carrying just a 34 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $65 million budget.

Flawed Affleck flick falls flat

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 23, 2017
The new film "A Monster Calls," based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Ness, currently enjoys an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes, deeming it "certified fresh."

“Monster” calls for five paws

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 19, 2017
Damien Chazelle's new movie-musical "La La Land," which currently boasts a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, broke the all-time record for most Golden Globes at last Sunday's award ceremony with seven wins

New musical “La La” lands with critic

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 12, 2017
Disney's new animated film "Moana," starring a uli'i Cravalho and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, boasts a 96 percent critics score and a93 percent user score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Disney’s new Pacific Island princess

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Dec 8, 2016
"Beasts" brings wizarding world back to the big screen

“Beasts” brings wizarding world back to the big screen

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Dec 1, 2016
"Arrival," a new sci-fi film, was released on Nov. 11. The film has gained a critic score of 93 percent and a user score of 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Smart, thrilling sci-fi earns “5 paws”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 17, 2016
"Doctor Strange," the newest edition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was released Nov. 4th. The film has earned a 90 percent critic score and a 91 percent user score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Doctor Strange” is Marvel’s best origin so far

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 14, 2016
"The Accountant" was released on Oct. 14 and has gained 51% critic score and an 85% user score on Rotten Tomatoes

Unique hero in “Accountant”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 3, 2016
"Boo! A Madea Halloween" was released on October 21 and has gained a 24% critic score and a 65% user score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows Madea as she house sits for a friend and ensures his daughter is out of harm when attending a frat party against her father's wishes.

Tyler Perry’s newest Madea flick

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 31, 2016
Emily Blunt stars in the new film, "Girl on the Train" based on a novel by the same name by Paula Hawkins. The film has received a score of 43% critic score and 56% user score on Rotten Tomatoes

Save your ticket, “Girl on the Train” is a trainwreck

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 13, 2016
"Masterminds," a new film released on Sept. 30, scored a 51% User Score and 36% Critic Score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film stars Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis.

‘Dumb’ humor fills ‘Masterminds’

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 6, 2016
Denzel Washington starred as Sam Chisolm in "The Magnificent Seven's" latest remake.

“Mag Seven” scores 2 and a half paws

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 29, 2016
"The Blair Witch Project," the first of the Blair Witch films, was released in 1990. "Blair Witch" 2016s new take on the story, features a crew investigating new video evidence of Heather and her encounters with the Witch.

“Blair Witch’s” chilling return to screens

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 19, 2016
Tom Hanks stars in the new movie, "Sully" which portrays the events of the plane landing on Hudson River. The film received 82% on Rotten Tomatoes

“Sully” portrays Hudson miracle story

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 15, 2016
"Hell or High Water" was released in theatres on Aug. 12. It stars Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, and Gil Biringham. Two brothers embark on a bank robbing spree across Texas with a retired ranger and his partner hot on their tail. The film received a 98% score on IMDB's Rotten Tomatoes

Paws up for “Hell or High Water”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 12, 2016
"The Huntsman: Winter's War" came to theaters on April 22 as a sequel film to "Snow White and the Huntsman." The film ties in plot details from the previous, while also introducing new characters

“Huntsman” sequel so bad, it’s funny

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 28, 2016
"Criminal" stars Tommy Lee Jones, Jordi Malla, Gary Oldman and Kevin Costner in an action thriller film about a sociopath helping the CIA catch a hacker threatening to sell a program that gives access to the U.S. Ballistic Missile System

Big plot dreams poorly executed in “Criminal”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 25, 2016
Baloo, voiced by Bill Murray, and Mowgli, played by Neel Sethi, work together while Mowgli waits to return to his own kind.

Old Disney favorite stays true to original tale

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 21, 2016

“Hardcore Henry” self-aware nature makes it work

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Apr 11, 2016
Impending doom weighs down new DC film

Impending doom weighs down new DC film

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 31, 2016
“Cloverfield” thrill ride

“Cloverfield” thrill ride

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 24, 2016
Judy and Nick try to crack a missing mammals case in the new film, "Zootopia". It was released in theatres on March 4.

“Zootopia” message too strong

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 7, 2016
Joseph Fiennes and Tom Felton in "Risen." (Photo courtesy TriStar Pictures/TNS)

“Risen” isn’t your average Sunday school film

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Mar 3, 2016
Ryan Reynolds in "Deadpool." (Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox/TNS)

A new type of hero

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 18, 2016

Old western delivers the drama

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 11, 2016
A still from "Kung Fu Panda 3." (DreamWorks Animation)

Third time’s the charm

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 4, 2016

Oscar-worthy Leo film?

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Feb 1, 2016
Major Marquis Warren and John 'The Hangman' Ruth encounter each other during a 'killer' snowstorm. "The Hateful Eight" was released on Dec. 25

Tarantino’s 8th film is killer

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 25, 2016
Han Solo and Chewbacca make their return to the big screen in the newest film in the series, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". The film was released on Dec. 18

The force has awakened

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Jan 14, 2016
Anthony Mackie, Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "The Night Before." (Sarah Shatz/Columbia Pictures/TNS)

You should see “The Night Before”… today

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Dec 7, 2015

“Krampus” delivers coal

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Dec 7, 2015
Jennifer Lawrence, Mahershala Ali and Liam Hemsworth in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2." (Photo courtesy Lionsgate/TNS)

“Hunger Games” goes out with a bang

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Dec 3, 2015
Screenshot from "The Peanuts Movie" (20th Century Fox)

Old classic returns to theaters

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 16, 2015
Daniel Craig in "Spectre." (Photo courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures/EON Productions/TNS)

Just another Bond film

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 9, 2015

Film defies the odds

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Nov 2, 2015
"The Martian." (20th Century Fox)

Ridley film is out of this world

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 26, 2015

Gothic genre revival

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 26, 2015
Emily BLunt stars in "Sicario." (Richard Foreman Jr./Lionsgate)

Suspense film is frightening realistic

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 8, 2015
Dylan O'Brien stars in "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials." (Twentieth Century Fox)

“Maze Runner” sequel falls flat

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Oct 1, 2015
Liev Schrieber, left, and Tobey Maguire in "Pawn Sacrifice." (Takashi Seida/Bleecker Street)

Chess film plays a weak game

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 28, 2015
Johnny Depp in "Black Mass." (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Depp’s Return

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 21, 2015

Little sheep scores big ratings

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 17, 2015
Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in "A Walk in the Woods." (Frank Masi/Broad Green Pictures/TNS)

Film based on memoir fails to deliver

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 10, 2015

“The Gift” that unwraps itself

JOSHUA ROUSE, Film Critic
Sep 3, 2015
"We Are Your Friends": more like "We Are Plot Devices"

“We Are Your Friends”: more like “We Are Plot Devices”

JOSHUA ROUSE, Movie Reviewer
Aug 31, 2015
Date night flick hits the screen

Date night flick hits the screen

JOSHUA ROUSE
Apr 29, 2015

A new type of horror

JOSHUA ROUSE
Apr 20, 2015

Horror film follows cult classics

JOSHUA ROUSE
Apr 13, 2015

Neeson in action

JOSHUA ROUSE
Mar 26, 2015

Film receives five paws

JOSHUA ROUSE
Mar 9, 2015

An indecisive spy film

JOSHUA ROUSE
Mar 2, 2015

Film based on Martin Luther King Jr. gets high marks

JOSHUA ROUSE
Jan 26, 2015
Controversial film is just another comedy

Controversial film is just another comedy

JOSHUA ROUSE
Jan 16, 2015
"Mockingjay:" a lot of drama, not enough action

“Mockingjay:” a lot of drama, not enough action

JOSHUA ROUSE
Dec 14, 2014

Film gets perfect paws?

JOSHUA ROUSE
Nov 20, 2014

Film plays up the terrible to become comedic

JOSHUA ROUSE
Nov 3, 2014

Gritty film drives the horrors of war

JOSHUA ROUSE
Oct 27, 2014

Film brings suspense to screen

JOSHUA ROUSE
Oct 6, 2014
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