Tag Archives: cult

FILM REVIEW: ‘Shazam!’ is a Standalone Family Comedy Superhero Film. And That’s Weirdly Refreshing.

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As we see comic book blockbuster tentpoles break records, it’s easy to forget that Hollywood was afraid of superheroes for long time. We would get one occasionally, and they were often great (Donner’s ‘Superman’ films, Burton’s ‘Batmans’) which made it

FILM REVIEW: Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ is Almost a Masterpiece

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This review is broken into non-spoiler and spoiler portions.  Jordan Peele’s second film after the critical and box-office success of ‘Get Out’ is a fiendish screamer with a fair amount of imperfection. It is a total blast and seeing it with a

FILM REVIEW: ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ is a Cyberpunk Techno-Marvel with Real Heart

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‘Alita: Battle Angel’ does something remarkable. It is an eye-popping showcase for cutting-edge special effects without falling into the trap of dodgy writing and sub-par acting. Its biggest success however is finally showing the powerful potential of Anime and Manga being

REVIEW: ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’ is a Breathtaking Monument to Practical Stunts

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‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’ marks a departure for the franchise. Previous to this installment, every ‘Mission’ has had a different director and feel. The films often felt like they were not in the same genre. From De Palma’s 70s conspiracy-thriller meets 90s blockbuster,

REVIEW: ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ is Violent, Problematic and one of the Most Satisfying Sequels in Years

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Despite a deeply morose tone and overly simplistic worldview that is likely to offend many, ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ is an expertly realized thriller that largely echoes the quality of the first film and is more satisfying in many ways. ‘Soldado’ is

Review: ‘It’ (2017) – Even the Losers Get Lucky Sometimes

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The newest adaptation of Stephen King’s seminal 1986 novel ‘It’ is a remarkable achievement. This film never forgets what makes this story special: the loveable losers at its center. It is joyful and laugh-out-loud funny and never becomes too dour. Set

‘Dunkirk’ is the most Viscerally Harrowing Thrill Ride of the Summer

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Christopher Nolan seems like a serious fellow. As an interview subject his words are measured and spoken quietly. He creates powerful images and sweeping stories. For all their occasional dreary over-seriousness, Nolan’s films demand attention. They have become a sort

Review: War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

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‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ is a striking, immaculately-realized and challenging film, a stunning technical achievement that took my breath away more than once, and a moderately disappointing ending to this remarkable trilogy. Rupert Wyatt’s 2011 ‘Rise of the

Review: The Exhausting, Weaponized Stupidity of ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ (2017)

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Two hours into a ‘Transformers’ movie, something happens to me. It’s like this every time. Sometime after the fifth giant action sequence and before Optimus Prime makes his speech to the Autobots I start to question everything. Is it hot

‘Get Out’ – Secrets, Easter eggs and References from Jordan Peele’s Commentary

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We are currently halfway through 2017 and ‘Get Out’ is still my favorite film of the year. It has remained consistently fascinating and re-watchable. I saw it four times in theaters. I love it. Judging from the 99% fresh rating

Review: The Wall (2017)

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One of the most interesting films of the year is an Iraq war movie starring John Cena. I know… I’m as surprised as you are.

Review: The Void (2017)

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The Void Directed by Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski From the Great White North enclave known as Astron-6 (“Manborg,” “Father’s Day”) and an extremely successful IndieGoGo campaign is born a horror that is equal parts homage and homegrown madness and

REVIEW: Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

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Whatever one’s view of sequels may be, especially in horror and its related subsets which are well known for a glut of garbage, Blumhouse may have finally found the formula for cinematic cold fusion, mainlining into their many franchises, including

Review: The Purge: Election Year (2016)

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The Purge: Election Year (2016) Within three years (one shy of a full, traditional US presidential term), “The Purge” franchise has finally found it’s voice and vote with “Election Year.” It’s the finale of a series that started as a