There’s a lot of pressure on Super 8, the J.J. Abrams-directed homage to the Spielberg films of his (and most of our) youth. Audiences are primed for a film that’s equal parts sweet childhood innocence, sophisticated supernatural thriller and action movie thrill ride. Adults want a movie that will remind us o [...]
Movie Reviews
X-Men: First Class Demonstrates Superior Genes
Richard Donner. Christopher Nolan. Sam Raimi. And now, Matthew Vaughn. All directors who know how to properly execute a comic book-to-motion picture superhero film. Not as twistedly cerebral as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, as colorfully choreographed as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, or as sweepingly epic as Ri [...]
The Hangover Part II: Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning
Yours truly never much cared all that much for the original Hangover film, if I’m honest. Sure, it was funny, in that puerile sort of way that characterizes so many comedies these days. And it definitely had me laughing out loud during a number of moments. But a number of moments do not an entire movie make, and wh [...]
The Man From Nowhere: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cool…
Back in the 80′s, Hong Kong used to corner the market when it came to heroic bloodshed movies. You want over-the-top characters? Ultra-cool posturing? Full-body blood squibs? They had it in spades, and nobody did it better than John Woo, whose over-the-top bullet ballets The Killer and Hardboiled, gained so much cr [...]
Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen’s Best Romantic Comedy in Years
Woody Allen’s latest is his first feature shot entirely in the City of Light, and while it may require audiences to have a sense of whimsy, it’s his funniest, most charming film in years. It opens with a montage of stationary shots that will doubtlessly draw comparisons to Manhattan, followed by what appears to [...]
A Chinese Ghost Story: The Resurrection of a Fantasy Classic
For those who know Hong Kong cinema, there are certain films that are considered such classics that no amount of explanation is needed: a handful of Jackie Chan films, John Woo’s early heroic bloodshed movies, and A Chinese Ghost Story. Released in 1987, it was an inspired example of dynamic low budget filmmaking d [...]
Stormhouse – Carpenter Laid the Foundation, but is it Structurally Sound?
Independent horror films are a hit-and-miss affair. The big budgets of studio films afford highly polished visuals, big name stars and a mass marketing machine that makes sure those films play on every screen within a two mile radius. The downside is that they are designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator [...]
Despite Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Doesn’t Set Full Sail
When the original Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, not many had high expectations for a great film. A movie based on an ancient Disney theme-park ride starring a guy known for selecting roles intentionally meant to challenge audience expectations? Please. Of course, Pirates went on to become a majo [...]
Bridesmaids: Not Just For Girls Anymore
Some women like romantic comedies — the kind that require a box of tissues and an unwilling boyfriend at your side. Some women like balls out action films that require fist pumping and borrowed testosterone to enjoy. Some girls like gross-out comedies. Some girls like historical dramas. Yet, with all of the d [...]
Paul Bettany’s Priest Needs a Confessional
Actor Paul Bettany’s flirtations with religiously-themed roles isn’t necessarily helping his career. While his portrayal of Silas in The Da Vinci Code was suitably creepy, his turn as Michael in director Scott Stewart’s Legion did little to elevate a convoluted and languid moviegoing experience. Stewart’s second [...]
