Even though I made fun of the trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and apparently poked the bear so hard that trolls were suggesting I end myself as penance, I do dedicate myself to being as fair as I can possibly be to every movie I see. I've had a lot of gripes … Continue reading Earth Isn’t the Only Thing That’s Hollow – Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
In many ways, you can look at the Ghostbusters franchise as the comedy version of Jurassic Park. We had one groundbreaking, timeless entry that changed the way audiences look at film, followed by decades of attempting to recapture that same magic, sadly with diminishing returns for all but the most hardcore fans who dig themselves … Continue reading Breaking Containment – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The Oscar Blitz is an annual tradition I look forward to with much anticipation and excitement. However, when the ceremony is over, there's only one thing I want to do - turn my brain OFF. Usually I do that through a well-earned good night's sleep. But since I had work the next day, and because … Continue reading Dummy Bear – Imaginary
There's a rich vein of content that can be derived from the harsh realities of our economic system. The stereotype of the "American Dream" feels ever more unattainable in the 21st Century as prices go up, the wealth gap widens, and government forces are easily bribed into taking no action. My late mother and I … Continue reading The Fine Print – American Dreamer
The fundamental flaw with Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda 4 is spelled out in the first few minutes. As Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black, still enthusiastic in his voice work for the most part) arrives for a very special ceremony - the opening of a new noodle shop run by his dads, Mr. Ping (James … Continue reading Come On, Chameleon! – Kung Fu Panda 4
Every year when I do the Oscar Blitz, there are inevitably a few movies that I didn't see before the nominations were announced. Most of the time these are documentaries or foreign entries that haven't gotten a domestic release or that only had a minimal theatrical run earlier in the year. On occasion there's a … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Shortest Blitz Ever
A large part of what made Denis Villeneuve's 2021 Dune remake so special was its sense of scale. Through its amazing use of cinematography, editing, and inspired visual effects (done for about half the budget of your average Marvel movie), the film truly gave viewers a sense of what the world of Arrakis could be … Continue reading Welcome to the World – Dune: Part Two
Awards Season is almost over, and as such, I've got to wrap up all my old business from 2023. This includes the two films I had to watch after the Oscar nominations came out, as well as the final four publicly released films that got nods at the Independent Spirit Awards. It was incredible binging … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Spirit Stragglers, Part Four
The Coen Brothers are among the greatest auteurs in cinema. Their blunt, tragicomic style is second to none in the industry, and while their movies don't always work, they are always intriguing, exploring the underbelly of society in fun and unique ways that are genuinely human. They can be a bit self-serving at times (just … Continue reading A Cock and Bull Story – Drive-Away Dolls
As I sit here typing, we are three weeks out from Oscar Night, and somehow I still have 10 movies from 2023 to review. God I'm piling a lot of stuff on my plate! Eight of those 10 are Independent Spirit nominees. I successfully cast my ballot this past Monday, and I look forward to … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Spirit Stragglers, Part Three
I Actually Paid To See This 