The 2024 movie year hasn’t really been one of great many surprises, but director Edward Berger and his impeccable cast have somehow created a compelling and dramatic story surrounding the secretive process of anointing a new Pope. The film is staged as a microcosm of dueling ideals that resonate in a world divided along conservative… Continue reading ‘Conclave’ – Is It Possible to Wring Suspense & Drama From a Pope Vote?

It’s still hard to believe that there now exists a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 weirdo classic ‘Beetlejuice.’ It’s even harder to believe that the movie is again directed by Burton, stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara returning to their iconic roles, and that the filmmakers actually brought in Jenna Ortega as Ryder’s… Continue reading ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ – Return to Form, Blatant Cash Grab, a Little of Both?

There’s a reason the ‘Alien’ franchise is so enduring – the first two films, 1979’s ‘Alien’, and 1986’s ‘Aliens’, are true classics and the epitome of blockbuster masterpieces. Through the years there have been a few iterations of follow-ups. First were the two auteur driven continuations of the Ellen Ripley saga, 1992’s ‘Alien3’, aka David… Continue reading ‘Alien: Romulus’ – A Freaky, Slimy Return to Franchise Roots?

Anyone who was depending on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ to “save” the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Disney can claim a partial victory. Financially the film is an enormous hit – Deadpool himself proved prescient with his “Marvel Jesus” self-dub as ‘D&W’ has surpassed “The Passion of the Christ” as the highest grossing R-rated movie of all… Continue reading ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ – A Spoof of a Funeral Dirge for the FOX Marvel U?

It’s a testament to the original ‘Twister’ movie from 1996 that its conceit of a romance among the rugged world of storm chasing could be simultaneously remade and updated almost 30 years later as a big screen thrill ride in “Twisters.” The new film starring rising actors Daisy Edgar-Jones (‘Normal People’) and Glen Powell (‘Top… Continue reading ‘Twisters’ – A Throwback in the Best Way?

Starting with the immensely entertaining one-two horror punch of ‘X’ and ‘Pearl’ in 2022, writer/director Ti West and actress Mia Goth, who’s also his creative partner for this series of films, bring their saga to a close (?) with ‘MaXXXine.’ If the first two movies were their odes to grimy 70s grind house and ‘Oz’… Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ – Mia Goth & Ti West Do It Again?

The answer? A resounding YES!! ‘Furiosa’ (with its silly clarifier “A Mad Max Saga”) is the rare prequel that effectively fleshes out its main character and the world of its progenitor, “Mad Max: Fury Road”. It’s so good and so compelling to be back that the film justifies its existence even as it suffers the… Continue reading ‘Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga’ – Can George Miller Return to the Well?

Starting with “Rise of” in 2011, the current iteration of the the “Planet of the Apes” franchise has been of a consistent quality that’s hard to compare to other blockbuster series. Perhaps it’s the meticulous nature of their motion capture craft that has restricted output over the years. Those behind the scenes, from the many… Continue reading “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” – Is This the Most Consistent Current Franchise?

For many filmgoers, the prospect of a new Alex Garland movie is a tantalizing event. That the British novelist/writer/director (‘The Beach’, ‘28 Days Later’, ‘Ex Machina’) decided to make a movie about a contemporary American ‘Civil War’, is both intriguing and confounding at the same time. There’s always been a foreboding sense of controlled nihilism… Continue reading ‘Civil War’ – Purposely Provocative Premise, Purposely Not Provocative Movie?

With his new film, ‘Dune: Part Two’, writer/director Denis Villeneuve has fully realized his dream of bringing Frank Herbert’s heretofore unadaptable foundational sci-fi novel to the biggest screen. Based on the incredible work on display throughout his first foray into the world of Arrakis, 2021’s ‘Dune: Part One’, the success of this next part was… Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’ – The Subversion of the “Hero’s Journey” Fully Realized?