How do you make a typical haunting horror movie seem original? Director Mike Flanagan believes this is done by playing with the minds of the audience and having them not understand anything that’s going on. He demonstrates this in “Oculus,” a film about a haunted mirror that seems to have no way of being defeated. The film thrives on...
When attempting to review a filmmaker such as Wes Anderson, it is difficult to know where to begin. Anderson’s unique directorial touch is recognizable anywhere — and often, it is beloved or hated. The difficulty lies in comparing his films against themselves, or as films on their own. Those who dislike the style will continue to dislike it, but...
One of the first things that came to my mind after watching “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (besides “Whoa, what an awesome movie!”) was “Don’t retire, Chris Evans!” This movie packs a punch in more ways than one, as this is the best post-Avengers film that Marvel has created.
Out of all Marvel’s “Phase 2” titles, this movie does the...
If you found yourself pondering your childhood Bible studies after watching this film, then you probably had the right reaction.
In “Noah,” Darren Aronofsky’s modern retelling of one of the most popular biblical tales from the book of Genesis, Noah (Russell Crowe) is chosen by God to build an ark before an apocalyptic flood is sent to cleanse the Earth...
On a warm day in March, while indie bands were playing and films were competing for the attention of judges at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival. For an hour, Edward Snowden, the United States’ biggest tattle-tale, came through on seven proxies to deliver a PSA via Google Hangout. To take even more precaution, he even included a U.S...
What comes to mind when you think of the number 300? Is it slow motion? What about overly saturated CGI? Or maybe a super kick that sent a Persian messenger plunging to his death?
If you answered “Yes,” to any of these questions, then you have come to the right place. “300: Rise of an Empire” is the sequel to...
I just love it when a movie delivers on its premise. “Gravity” promised moviegoers the chance to watch Sandra Bullock float through a green-screened outer space, and that’s what they got. “Pacific Rim” promised giant robots fighting Godzilla-sized space aliens, and it did not disappoint. With “Non-Stop,” the premise is one that has become a yearly routine for Hollywood,...
I think the biggest problem with movie remakes is they seem oblivious to the fact that the reason their source material worked so well back in the day was because they perfectly fit the cultural zeitgeist of their time. The original 1987 “Robocop” was such a smash hit not just because of its fun and bold action, but also...
From “The Notebook” to “Sweet Home Alabama,” romance films have always been predictable. The romance is the same, the pursuit is the same and the lovers always seem to have the same personality. Nothing is complex, and everything is straightforward. “Winter’s Tale” is the exact opposite. Based on the 700-page bestseller by Mark Helprin, Martin Scorsese even said that...
When I first saw “The Lego Movie” had received a 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, I just couldn’t fathom how it had happened to earn such rave reviews. Hollywood hasn’t had the best track record when it comes to turning children’s toys and board games into feature-length films. Whether it’s the action-packed and plotless “Transformers” movies or the...