CASEY PHILLIPS: There’s a disclaimer at the beginning of “The Men Who Stare At Goats” that reads: “More of this is true than you might think.”

CASEY PHILLIPS: Just like its premise, “Couples Retreat” is basically a rainy day at the beach. All the right ingredients are there — the ocean, the palm trees, the rum drinks — but extenuating circumstances have dampened the fun.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Just like its premise, “Couples Retreat” is basically a rainy day at the beach. All the right ingredients are there — the ocean, the palm trees, the rum drinks — but extenuating circumstances have dampened the fun.

CASEY PHILLIPS: As a philosophical premise, “The Invention of Lying” is interesting. As a movie, it’s hit or miss.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Like "Erin Brockovich" and "Michael Clayton," Steven Soderbergh's "The Informant!" succeeds by pushing the small type and legalese of a lusterless plot to the background and directing attention to a magnetically powerful performance by its lead actor.

CASEY PHILLIPS: “9” may be the most-confusing animated film since “Coraline.” It’s clearly message-driven, but what message it’s trying to convey is difficult to surmise.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Considering it doesn't feature a single musical performance from the festival for which it's named, "Taking Woodstock" had an uphill battle to prove it could capture the spirit of Woodstock.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Considering it doesn't feature a single musical performance from the festival for which it's named, "Taking Woodstock" had an uphill battle to prove it could capture the spirit of Woodstock.

CASEY PHILLIPS: "Julia and Julie" is a charming movie that is simultaneously a period piece, a romantic comedy and a salivatingly good food flick.

CASEY PHILLIPS: There are those who still consider "Harry Potter" a children's series, but this sixth entry defies that categorization. "Half-blood Prince" is easily the darkest and most mature film so far.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Like 2006’s “Borat,” “Brüno” is based on a character from British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s TV comedy “Da Ali G Show.” Like “Borat,” “Brüno” uses real people’s reactions to the title character’s antics as a source of comedy and embarrassing revelations. Like “Borat,” “Brüno” is crude and offensive. Unlike “Borat,” “Brüno” isn’t clever or subtle.

CASEY PHILLIPS: "Away We Go" is the best movie I've seen all year.

CASEY PHILLIPS: Disney's "Bolt" spoiled this movie for me. It's hard to buy someone's intent to kill when you're reminded of a cute animated puppy every time they laugh. Travolta did such a good job as the voice actor in that movie last year that it's hard for me to buy him as a killer so soon.

CASEY PHILLIPS: If someone had asked me six months ago, “Hey, how’d you like to see a director combine elements of ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Memento?’ ”

CASEY PHILLIPS: I am a huge Pixar fan, and as such, my expectations for “Up” were — forgive the pun — sky high.