Author Archives
I’m a cinephile/tv junkie/podcaster who loves to watch films, write them and write ABOUT them. My film and TV reviews are posted on 8bitwaffles.com and blakcinpehilewrites.wordpress.com. I also write film musings and rants on Instagram and Twitter (@blakcinephile). I am also the co-creator/co-host of “Double Feature: Versus” (https://doublefeaturevs.com), a podcast where my co-host Brad and I clash heads on two competing films with a single connection or theme.
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Violent, spaghetti-Western-inspired “The Bounty Hunter Trilogy” gets a first time Blu-ray release by Radiance Films.
The lone wolf archetype is a figure that has lived on in many samurai and action spectacles — the man who walks alone and walks a fine line of morals and principles, fighting for the common good, and the common… Read More ›
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Blitz Bazawule’s bold, beautiful reimagining of “The Color Purple” comes home in 4K with lean features and an average presentation.
How could one describe the timeless story of The Color Purple? A story about struggles, adversities, power, love and, ultimately, forgiveness? A story about a marginalized and abused woman gaining her voice and learning to enjoy life? Three women sharing… Read More ›
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Arrow Video elevates the look and sound of “The Shaolin Plot,” now in 2K.
You gotta love ‘70s Kung-Fu cinema. Within the first 15 minutes of Huang Feng’s The Shaolin Plot, a man is killed with a chicken leg, an assassination attempt is flawlessly averted, and a disobedient guest’s head is cut off by… Read More ›
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A clearer vision with a robust list of featurettes serve as great selling points for the new “Avatar: The Way of Water Collector’s Edition” 4K release.
How do you bounce back from making the highest grossing film of all time? How do you follow up to such a film with a sequel? Do you double down or do you subvert expectations and sweep the floor out… Read More ›
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The world of Pandora has never looked more enhanced and beautiful than it does on the “Avatar: Collector’s Edition” 4K release.
One man, an uncharted world, romance, war, destiny. You could apply these five things to any big-budget adventure films that have been released over time. For this review, we’re discussing James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi adventure epic Avatar. The rundown: set… Read More ›
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Zachary Quinto and Jacob Elordi fail to find chemistry in the frustrating, incoherent road film “He Went That Way”.
The Road Movie. A film where a character, or group of characters, sets sail on an adventure, goes to visit an old friend, do a deed or just…go searching. Revelations are made, things are discovered, events in favor to the… Read More ›
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“Citizen Sleuth” is an interesting exploration of the lines between true crime investigation and exploitation. [SXSW]
True Crime podcasts are a dicey guilty pleasure: on one hand, the reinterpretation/summary of gruesome and/or strange murders can be enticing to delve into; on the other hand, you risk crashing into the space of exploiting the tragic lives in… Read More ›
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“Black Barbie: A Documentary” is a frustrating, fascinating documentary centered around the marginalized, underrepresented toy product. [SXSW]
Representation is a big pain point with many products in today’s consumer market, specifically those aimed towards kids. In walks Barbie, the iconic, independent, tall white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. The problem however lies with the young… Read More ›
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“The Long Game” falls short in its telling of an inspired by real life story. [SXSW]
To make a successful sports film, sometimes it’s better to have an exciting game in this film’s foreground. Of all the sports, golf is not the most exciting springboard to tell a story. However there have been good golf films… Read More ›
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Neither too preachy nor too dramatic, “Jesus Revolution” is a heartfelt, inspirational revolution worth joining.
In desperate, confounding times such as the times we’re living in today, the most arduous of questions begs itself to be pondered: What happens when the message of faith and hope can’t reach today’s generation of tomorrow’s future? Directors Jon… Read More ›
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Although there have been “Sharper” thrillers, this one from A24 still makes for an engaging, entertaining watch.
Every thriller about confidence men (or women) usually has two questions poised against it: How is this film going to stay one step ahead of me, as the audience? Or, How is this film going to attempt to insult my… Read More ›