James Gunn has already proven he has a knack for taking obscure or bizarre comic book characters and making them work on the big screen. He made most of us cry like babies over a CGI Racoon and his pals in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3." He breathed life back into the suicide squad [...]
A notable phenomenon has emerged within director Joseph Kosinski’s filmography. Yes, you’ll get an adrenaline rush. Yes, your senses will get pushed to their edges, and hopefully beyond. You’ll be wowed and impressed with the camera’s vantage point, which is his art. From Tron: Legacy through Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski is a storyteller whose senses [...]
"Bloodlines" is the sixth film in the "Final Destination" franchise. It's hard to believe that it's been nearly fourteen years since the last. The series started trending downwards after the first two entries, with terrible effects and dull characters. Thankfully, this break has given the writing team some fresh ideas, making "Bloodlines" one of the [...]
"Sinners" is writer/director Ryan Coogler's fifth feature film, but his first original screenplay. His previous films are either based on true events ("Fruitful Station") or existing IP ("Creed" & "Black Panther"). This is the first time we've seen what he can craft with his unbridled creativity. Packed with culture, music, history, and lore, "Sinners" is [...]
Film has often provided a unique canvas for creatives to explore culture. Dramatic fare frequently takes center stage; however, occasionally, a rewarding, cathartic experience is had when the central theme is death, such is the dark comedy behind Shula’s (Susan Chardy) journey in Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. Shula is not the decedent, [...]
It's been six years since Bong Joon Ho's critically acclaimed "Parasite." A mix of sci-fi, politics, and pitch-black humor, "Mickey 17" reminds us that few directors can weave such layered satires as Bong Joon Ho. "Mickey 17" isn't the latest in a long franchise no one has heard of, instead the title refers to the [...]
Introduction It’s been 7 years since the release of my favorite film of 2018, Paddington 2. It is, in my opinion, one of the best films of the 2010s and leaves a daunting task in following it up. It has a lot going against it, unfortunately. A sequel that comes out 7 years after the [...]
Introduction Turning pre-teen graphic novels into films has certainly been a mixed bag. One of my daughters is in the perfect age range for these, having gone through phases for both Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Both of those theatrical adaptations were hard for me to watch (although I think Captain Underpants [...]
Universal has been trying to breathe life back into their "Universal Monsters" IP unsuccessfully for years. In 2020 Blumhouse produced a reimagining of "The Invisible Man" by writer/director Leigh Whannell. This unique take on the story won over audiences and critics with its modernization and switching the perspective from the villain to the victim. This [...]
Let’s face it: 2024 has been a GREAT year for movies. Every time I saw a great movie, I thought to myself, “the movies are back, baby!” Of course, we are still approximately 15% lower in total box office revenue than last year. But I think the worst of is behind us as the studios [...]
