While the sheeple of Earth may never truly know if life outside our own has made first contact, I’ve always pondered over how the scenario would play out on a global scale. And in the crazy times we live in, that thought has crossed my mind more frequently than ever. Thankfully, Arrival has made first contact. Continue reading
Category Archives: Movie Reviews
Review: ‘Slow West’
As far as Westerns are concerned, until this week, I thought I’d seen it all. With such films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Dances with Wolves, Unforgiven, High Noon, and Once Upon a Time in the West among others, what more could filmmakers draw from this genre that hasn’t been said already? Enter Slow West. What I would consider more of a dark, comedic tragedy, the movie embarks on an original story that has little to say, but presents itself in such a manner that leaves you forgetting you’re watching a Western. Continue reading
Review: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’
Pitch Perfect will always hold a special place in my heart. It proves that something so terribly marketed can overcome even the lowest of expectations. It came across as a mashup between Stomp the Yard and Glee. I wouldn’t be wrong in thinking this as for the most part it is, but Kay Cannon’s (30 Rock; New Girl) incredibly slick script and Jason Moore’s (Dawson’s Creek; One Tree Hill) keen direction pulled together one of the most entertaining movies of 2012, in my opinion. Pitch Perfect 2 delivers a few good surprises, but comes off slightly disjointed within a familiar routine. Thankfully the film maintains the franchise’s quick-witted dialogue and provides exciting new performances with its delightful cast. Continue reading
Review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
Thirty years after George Miller’s last romp in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of future Australia, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ delivers on all cylinders. Read my review of one of the most insane action films of recent years. Continue reading
Review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
Have we reached a superhero movie plateau? That’s a question I’ve been struggling over since I left Avengers: Age of Ultron with deeply polarizing thoughts on the film. Writer-director Joss Whedon has spent an impressive amount of time shaping the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to culminate to this very moment that I would consider to be the biggest nerdgasm cinema has ever achieved thus far. It’s a spectacular ballet of many moving parts. And as breathtaking as the movie may be, Age of Ultron definitely has the feeling that this marvelous house of cards producer Kevin Feige has built could come crashing down at any second. Continue reading
SDAFF 2014 Review: Hayao Miyazaki Documentary ‘The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness’
Much like Willy Wonka, opening his chocolate factory to five golden ticket claimers, Oscar-winning Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away; Howl’s Moving Castle; Princess Mononoke) has given audiences an in-depth look within the halls of Studio Ghibli in the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. Offering incredible insights into one of the most celebrated animation studios in the world, fans will be overjoyed to see not only the animation process, but also gain a unique perspective of Miyazaki himself. Continue reading
SDAFF 2014 Review: ‘Revenge of the Green Dragons’
Rarely have gangsters been depicted in cinema beyond Italian or Irish lineage. When the mob is brought into the conversation, more than likely such classics as The Godfather or Goodfellas come to mind. The Martin Scorsese produced Revenge of the Green Dragons pulls the curtain back on the lesser known Chinese gangsters that ruled Queens in the 1980s. Unfortunately, however, lack of focus and ugly storytelling does little to bring the subject matter into exciting territory. Continue reading
Movie Review: ‘Big Hero 6’ Radiates Colorful, Heartfelt Action Within the Marvel Superhero Formula
It’s been 10 years since Pixar’s The Incredibles made their big screen debut, and now Walt Disney Animation Studios has taken a crack at the superhero genre with their acquired Marvel Entertainment property Big Hero 6. Loosely adapted from the comic source material, this animated feature infuses that heartfelt Disney sensibility with Marvel‘s action-oriented storytelling. But as the influx of superhero films plague cinemas, Big Hero 6 presents little to differentiate itself from other superhero origin stories. Continue reading
SDFF 2014 Review: ‘Whiplash’ Runs on Raw Emotion and Powerful Energy
Whether it’s concerning the state of jazz or the film industry, there has been a certain lack of vitality within both camps. They just don’t make ’em like they use to. But in this particular case, Whiplash radiates such remarkable, raw energy that it sticks with you well after the last cymbal crash. A movie so intoxicating that you’ll forget you’re watching actors and not the real thing. Continue reading
SDFF 2014 Review: ‘Laggies’ is Uncomfortably Genuine, Funny, and Simple
It’s been said that your twenties are about self-discovery as well as finding your people and place in the world. That’s pretty overwhelming if you think about it: placing the fate of your existence on a single decade of your life. Embarking on an adventure to punch existentialism in the face, Laggies fails to push past conventional storytelling, but does so with a very delightful cast and off-the-wall attitude. Continue reading
Turn The Right Corner 