What constitutes a great horror film? What is it about the genre that has been drawing audiences since the beginnings of celluloid storytelling? These questions are at the forefront after experiencing the abject terror of a movie like ‘Hereditary’, because it expertly utilizes well established tropes as well as challenges the viewer as to… Continue reading ‘Hereditary’ – Family Drama Gone Insane?
‘Solo’ is only the second ‘story’ film set within the Star Wars Universe, but it comes to audiences with so much baggage it begs the question of whether or not Disney/Lucasfilm can sustain its grand plans for the franchise. As understood by the industry and fans, the idea behind these ‘Star Wars Stories’ was to… Continue reading ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ – Competent Prequel Doomed to Underwelm?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a muted ‘no’. . . In February of 2016, the first ‘Deadpool’ movie was released and turned the superhero franchise game on its head. Shepherded over multiple years, in fits and starts, by star Ryan Reynolds and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film was a… Continue reading ‘Deadpool 2’ – Can Lightning Strike Twice for Ryan Reynolds?
The obviously talented filmmakers, cast, and crew of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ had an almost impossible task in realizing the most ambitious blockbuster event in cinematic history, the culmination of ten years worth of always watchable, and many times brilliant comic book movie storytelling. They were given the largest budget ever committed by a studio and they… Continue reading ‘Avengers: Infinity War – Avengers Assemble or Avengers Disassembled?
Steven Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One,’ arrives at a moment of peak nostalgia in pop culture. ‘Stranger Things’ rules on Netflix and ‘80s/‘90s revivals are popping up everywhere, most recently with the much touted ratings boon of a rebooted ‘Roseane’ on ABC. This new ‘movie’ (Spielberg himself announced that this cinematic adventure is not a… Continue reading ‘Ready Player One’ – Is it Possible to Love an Homage to all the Things You Love?
Movie adaptations have had a historically lousy run, from ‘Super Mario Bros.’ bad to ‘Assassin’s Creed’ bland. Producers and filmmakers are consistently perplexed as to how to successfully transpose the ideas, aesthetic, and feel of these insanely popular properties, but because they have built-in audiences, they will continue to churn them out. The latest is a gritty reboot of… Continue reading ‘Tomb Raider’ – What is it with Video Game Movie Adaptations?
Schlockmeister extraordinaire Eli Roth (writer/director of ‘Cabin Fever’, the first two ‘Hostel’ movies) knows how to antagonize and torture moviegoers and critics alike, not so much a provocateur as he is an instigator. Nonetheless, the arrival of a new project with his stamp on it signals the possibility for teasing the limits of taste,… Continue reading ‘Death Wish’ – A Bad Idea for a Re-Make or the Worst Idea?
