If the Latin title isn't a big enough clue, "Ad Astra" lands squarely in the cerebral and philosophical sub-genre of science fiction films. While the trailer does hint at a little action and mystery, they are simply window dressing to a film that somberly addresses depression, abandonment, and other existential questions. The film opens with [...]
"Everyone loves your books, but they hate the endings" is a running joke in the movie that pokes fun at criticism author Stephen King has often endured. Whether it's meant to be reassuring or an excuse is difficult to ascertain. "IT Chapter Two" is competently made, but lacks the sincerity of the first. And the [...]
Taking a cue from Disney's playbook, Nickelodeon Kids has produced its first live-action adaptation of an animated series. But unlike the house of mouse, this adaptation isn't just a rehash of its source material. "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" adds a decade to the title character's age and utilizes the wit of comedic [...]
Eugenio Derbes has been a staple in Mexican pop culture for years. Besides his numerous tv and film roles, he’s done the Spanish dubbing for Donkey in the Shrek films, voices Glen in both Angry Birds movies, and is attached to voice the lead character in the upcoming Speedy Gonzales movie. Earlier this week, in [...]
Ari Aster, writer, and director of last year's gothic family drama "Hereditary" is back with another disturbing tale of humanity versus horror. Though "Midsommar" shares a common pagan thread, it weaves a very different story, with far more beauty, depth, and gore. The film follows a familiar premise: A group of young Americans travels to [...]
It has been eight years since "X-Men: First Class" was released, but nearly thirty years have passed when "Dark Phoenix" picks up. It's the second super-hero film in three months that takes place in the '90s, but while "Captain Marvel" reveled in nostalgia this conclusion to the First Class series wallows in melodrama. The story [...]
"Rocketman" is an odd film, but in a world of by-the-numbers music biopics, that's a good thing. It seems the most talented musicians and artists all suffer from similar maladies. Either unloved or misunderstood by their parents, their art is fueled by pain. Success places them on a pedestal where it's even more lonely. Surrounded [...]
It's nice to occasionally shut off your brain and just enjoy a pure popcorn flick. A few plot holes and inconsistencies here and there are excusable, as long as the film plays by its own rules and doesn't insult the intelligence of its audience. The John Wick and Mission Impossible franchises are great examples of [...]
The word "Parabellum" is derived from the Latin phrase "If you want peace, prepare for war." It's also the name given to the most widely used 9mm rounds used. Both sides of this double entendre fit John Wick's third chapter perfectly, teasing the glorified action-porn that follows. For those new to the series, "John Wick" [...]
It's time for yet another gender-swapping remake! It's no secret that "The Hustle" is a remake of Frank Oz's 1988 "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," which is itself a remake of Ralph Levy's 1964 "Bedtime Story." Screenwriters Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning receive writing credits on all three films. The plot structure of these three films is [...]
