Category: Reviews

The MCU’s Savior Arrives with a Resounding “Meh” – Captain Marvel

"Am I the only one who's confused here?" asks the offscreen voice of an alien probing the thoughts and memories of Carol Danvers, aka Vers, aka the eventual titular Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), trying to find crucial information in the pausing, jumping, reversing, and replaying of a few scenes of her past. But really, he's … Continue reading The MCU’s Savior Arrives with a Resounding “Meh” – Captain Marvel →

Isabelle Huppert is One Bad Mother–SHUT YO MOUTH! – Greta

Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Neil Jordan, Greta treads some well-worn paths in the subgenre of stalker thrillers. However, thanks to some utterly committed performances from its leads, the Crying Game and Michael Collins director has created an intriguing character study and a downright giddy romp that registers to me as the first great film of 2019. … Continue reading Isabelle Huppert is One Bad Mother–SHUT YO MOUTH! – Greta →

It’s Time to Let Go – How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

I've been a fan of the How to Train Your Dragon series since the very first film. It's by far the best animated franchise from Dreamworks. Not only is the quality of the animation itself breathtaking, but the storylines are much more relatable than the Shrek series, which is fine, but largely a string of pop culture … Continue reading It’s Time to Let Go – How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World →

Still No, But That’s the Point – Isn’t it Romantic

For those who don't get the headline reference, a bit of film trivia. In 1948, a movie musical was released called Isn't it Romantic? It's fairly unremarkable, but it has one major bit of notoriety. In the 1980s, renowned film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film what is considered by the Guinness Book of World Records … Continue reading Still No, But That’s the Point – Isn’t it Romantic →

Throw it Back in the Scrap Heap – Alita: Battle Angel

Robert Rodriguez hardly ever misfires. He's a master of genre, with hits like Sin City, Planet Terror, and Machete. He's a frequent collaborator with Quentin Tarantino, and has a visual eye many filmmakers would kill for. That said, his latest film, Alita: Battle Angel, just flat out sucks. The film languished in Development Hell for over a decade because … Continue reading Throw it Back in the Scrap Heap – Alita: Battle Angel →

Everything is Not Quite Awesome, But Still Pretty Fun – The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

The first Lego Movie was one of the most unique moments in modern cinema history. It was an absolutely shameless bit of corporate synergy that at the same time was a visual marvel filled with laughs, amazing animation, and an emotional gut punch of an ending that was surprisingly profound, taking us out of the animated … Continue reading Everything is Not Quite Awesome, But Still Pretty Fun – The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part →

Tween Knights Reign Over an Undeserved Flop – The Kid Who Would Be King

There's a building visible from the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, as you're heading south towards LAX airport. It's the tallest building in the area, as heights are limited due to air traffic. The north facing side of the building is always draped in giant billboards for movies. Typically, it's for movies that aren't particularly … Continue reading Tween Knights Reign Over an Undeserved Flop – The Kid Who Would Be King →

I’m Campy, Thanks for Asking! – Glass

M. Night Shyamalan has come full circle over the last 20 years. He was an instant success with The Sixth Sense, a solid box office machine with Unbreakable and Signs, a Hollywood in-joke after The Village, then poison for a decade with horrible film after horrible film. Then he started to evolve and get his mojo back with The Visit, … Continue reading I’m Campy, Thanks for Asking! – Glass →