Knowing (reviewed in 100 words or less)

I recently saw a short amateur film in which the characters were played by children's toys. The puppeteers would scarcely attempt to hide their hands as they gripped GI Joe's feet. Wobbling his stiff, plastic body back and forth, they delivered the improvised dialogue and occasionally cut the shot to present their toy stars in one dramatic pose or another.

Not dissimilar, then, to Nicholas Cage's performance in 'Knowing', an action-speckled slow-season release with religious overtones. Nevertheless, some military-grade special effects keep this movie's chin above the bar, just, and keep me from feeling it was a total waste of time.