Category: Reviews

No Need to Wonder How He Got the Scars – Avengement

After the well-orchestrated carnage of the latest John Wick film, I thought it might be nice to take in a less hyped action film from a still reliable source of entertainment. Frequent collaborators overseas, director Jesse V. Johnson and stunt actor Scott Adkins reunite for their latest project, the action-packed but unfortunately titled Avengment. Seriously, Sterling Archer … Continue reading No Need to Wonder How He Got the Scars – Avengement →

A Springfield Joke Becomes an Almost Great Horror Movie – Brightburn

Just over nine years ago, one of the better episodes of The Simpsons in its latter-day form aired. The 18th episode of Season 21, dubbed "Chief of Hearts," is a decently funny episode where Homer, forced into community service, bonds with Chief Clancy Wiggum, forming a friendship and giving Springfield's rotund Chief of Police a bit … Continue reading A Springfield Joke Becomes an Almost Great Horror Movie – Brightburn →

P-A-R-T-Why? ‘Cause I GOTTA! – Booksmart

As I've made abundantly clear on this blog over the past year-plus, I am not in favor of rebooting or remaking established movie franchises with gender-swapped leads in general, mostly because there's rarely any reason for it beyond, "Hey, let's do it with LADIES this time!" In most cases the entire gimmick is little more … Continue reading P-A-R-T-Why? ‘Cause I GOTTA! – Booksmart →

Take a Breath and Reload – John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum

Spring and summer blockbuster audiences tend to be quite fickle these days. The biggest case in point right now is Avengers: Endgame, which had the single biggest opening weekend in movie history, and is all but sure to be the top-grossing film of the year worldwide (and probably domestically as well). However, it's already been dethroned … Continue reading Take a Breath and Reload – John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum →

It’s Always Been About the Journey and the Companions – Tolkien

This is a review I've been waiting to write for a long time. In a weird way it makes a sort of logical sense. Tolkien, the Fox Searchlight biopic about the author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" among others (and incidentally the first Searchlight release since the Disney acquisition), is not just … Continue reading It’s Always Been About the Journey and the Companions – Tolkien →

Video Game Movies Finally Get a Clue – Pokémon: Detective Pikachu

I'll say right upfront that this review has to be taken in a very specific context. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith (last seen screaming like Dakota Fanning in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Warner Bros. brings what may be the very first truly successful video game adaptation to film with Pokémon: Detective Pikachu. Set inside the pocket monster … Continue reading Video Game Movies Finally Get a Clue – Pokémon: Detective Pikachu →

The Devil On Your Shoulder May Be the Better Angel – Hail Satan?

The last weekend of movie-going I've experienced has been one of running against archetype. First I saw The Intruder, and later I saw another film where the lead is well against the characters they normally play. I'll review that one in a couple of weeks, as I saw an advance screening and am bound by NDA … Continue reading The Devil On Your Shoulder May Be the Better Angel – Hail Satan? →