Remember back when Peter Parker was a ‘friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’? His stories were intimate, personal and tied to his New York City roots. Despite their faults, the two previous series captured that element of the character very well. The MCU has taken Spidey in a different direction. They are much more interested in Spider-Man the … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Midsommar”
Ari Aster earned a lot of well-deserved attention with his 2018 feature film debut “Hereditary”. It was a dark and unsettling bit of psychological horror that he wrote and directed. The film was greeted with high praise from critics, a little more mixed reactions from audiences, yet most were anxious to see what he would … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Booksmart”
I’ve steadily grown more and more convinced that most of Hollywood is only interested in one particular depiction of the teenaged experience. You know, the one featuring a collection of dense, potty-mouthed teens marked by obsessions with sex, booze, and and endless supply of dumb decision-making. We get these movies all of the time. Some … Continue reading
First Glance: “Midway”
I’ll always remember the star-studded 1976 film “Midway” as my father’s all-time favorite war movie. It looks like Hollywood is heading back to the Pacific Theater with a new take on the most decisive naval battle of World War II. The new trailer offers plenty of reasons to believe a new “Midway” could work. It … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Annabelle Comes Home”
The very idea that a Conjuring universe exists makes me smile. Not because it’s some groundbreaking cinematic accomplishment. But because it’s a tightly focused, modestly budgeted, interconnected horror franchise built around two fantastic central movies. The spin-off films have been hit-or-miss but at least they have offered some interesting layers to the franchise as a … Continue reading
First Glance: “Charlie’s Angels”
Add this one to the ever-growing list of Hollywood reboots/remakes that no one asked for. I certainly never expected to see “Charlie’s Angels” back on the big screen following the two ridiculously bad movies from the early 2000s. Yet here we are with a new cast, new director, but (judging from the first trailer) much … Continue reading