Reviews / 23.08.2018

It obviously remains to be seen if 'Crazy Rich Asians' will truly mark a turning point for the industry. But with its intoxicating mix of dazzling Singaporean location filming, deliciously entertaining narrative, and one of the year's finest ensemble casts, the film is a mighty strong play to make one hell of a difference. This is one of the best times you will have in a cinema in 2018. My screening broke into spontaneous applause at its conclusion. Yep. It's just that much fun....

4 Likes
Reviews / 17.08.2018

While Disney's re-imagining of one of its most beloved icons tries admirably to reach the lofty heights set by that little bear in the blue coat, 'Christopher Robin' never quite gets there. With a tale that's unexpectedly despondent at times, there's a decidedly gloomy tone hanging over much of this film. That's not inherently a bad thing. It just may not be quite the film you're expecting. But when the clouds part and the joy shines through, it's every bit as utterly adorable and perfectly charming as you...

1 Like
Reviews / 14.08.2018

While its campy, jokey trailers and posters may portray a delicious sense of self-awareness, 'The Meg' ultimately fails to live up to its advertising. The Warner Bros. marketing team may have deemed this to be a silly film, but it doesn't seem as if anyone working on the actual production were on the same page. The film consistently takes itself so damn seriously, making it rather difficult to elicit any experience of fun from its audience. In saying that, you still get what you came for. Statham vs. megalodon....

1 Like
Awards Season, Opinion / 09.08.2018

As you're likely aware by now, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced plans for a brand new category at next year's Oscars. This vague new award (criteria and eligibility are still TBA) celebrates "outstanding achievement in popular film." If you have no idea what the hell this will mean, you're not alone. Even as an ardent Oscar-watcher of 30 years, I haven't the slightest idea how this award will be determined. Lagging ratings over the last few years have seemingly pushed the Academy to make...

2 Likes
Reviews / 30.07.2018

Over 20 years ago (!), Tom Cruise brought us the first chapter of a franchise nobody ever expected to last. After a bit of a misstep with the sequel (sorry, I know it has its supporters, but it's an overbloated mess) and disappointing box office result from the third film, many assumed it may be the last we'd seen of Ethan Hunt. Thankfully, Paramount stuck with this franchise, and thank god they did. With 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout,' the sixth film of this saga, they've delivered one of the greatest...

2 Likes
Reviews / 26.07.2018

It's been six years since we lost the greatest voice of our generation. Or perhaps any generation, for that matter. Despite knowing how this tale tragically ends, it's hard not to hope for a happy ending while watching Kevin Macdonald's brilliant but heartbreaking documentary 'Whitney.' The film is equal parts entertaining and devastating, mapping Whitney Houston's meteoric rise to fame, her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown, her continual battles with drug addiction, and the tragic downfall which led to her untimely death in a Beverly Hills Hotel bathtub at the...

0 Likes
Reviews / 19.07.2018

Most sequels exist purely on the basis of the first film making a truckload of money at the box office. You can't blame studios for wanting to cash in. Existing for no other reason than its predecessor earning over $600 million worldwide in 2008, 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again' is one of the most unnecessary films of the year. Nobody really needed to know the origins of Donna Sheridan and her young exploits which led to the failure of knowing the father of her daughter from three possible candidates....

1 Like
Reviews / 12.07.2018

Ignoring the basic laws of physics, 'Skyscraper' is the kind of nonsensical Hollywood blockbuster you could probably hate all over. It's mindless action that barely makes any sense. But this is entirely what we expect from a film about people trapped in a giant tower on fire, so you really can't complain. This movie knows what it is. You get exactly what you paid for. And, if you're somehow able to switch off your brain and let the spectacle carry you away, it can be awfully fun....

0 Likes
Opinion / 11.07.2018

There's a war raging in the pop culture world. It's an all-out battle between film fans and film critics. The simmering tensions may have always been there. Film critics have been around since the early days of the talkies. Film fans have obviously existed since movies began. But social media has given the most ardent of film fanatic direct access to those who seek to critique pieces of cinema....

4 Likes
Opinion, Reviews / 05.07.2018

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is truly one of the greatest modern-day achievements in blockbuster cinema entertainment. The 23 films have all dominated the box-office, albeit to varying degrees, and the Marvel characters have established enormous pop culture relevance, in a world formerly occupied by their DC rivals. Think back to just a decade ago, and it was all about Batman and Superman. Nowadays, Iron Man and his fellow Avengers have completely taken over. Sure, Warner Bros. has been desperately striving to change that for the past few years. Wonder...

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