It’s no secret that that the home entertainment boom changed the way the audiences view going to the theater. At home, there’s better control over volume, loud chewers, slurping drinkers, and cell phone users. No matter what you do or… Read More ›
Recommendation
“Mary Poppins Returns” leans too hard into homage to create a new experience.
The original 1964 Mary Poppins tale is more remembered for its music and charm than its family-centric story. The use of animation mixed with live-action created a cinematic experience filled with incredible wonder, the likes of which were incredibly few…. Read More ›
Slow and relentless, “Burning” juxtaposes the mystery of humanity and nature.
Though it didn’t go on to the 91st Academy Awards, director Lee Chang-dong’s adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story Barn Burning still had a good year with 30 wins and 104 nominations from various global festivals and events. The opening… Read More ›
Coming To Theaters: March 2019
With the end of February comes the close to the 2018 cinematic season, but it also brings many new films to theaters! This March, you can look forward to at least 27 contenders fighting for your hard-earned dollars, so here’s… Read More ›
Fun runs “Rampant” among zombies and classism in ancient China.
When the first description of a film includes something like “from the studios which brought you [insert film title here],” it’s rarely a good sign. Rather than trying to stand on its own merit, this new property is relying heavily… Read More ›
Patient and unsettling, crime thriller “Holiday” asks unexpectedly surprising philosophical questions of morality.
First premiering at Sundance 2018, the Isabella Eklöf-directed and co-written crime thriller Holiday spent most of that year jumping from festival to festival without much in the way of a large release. Eklöf’s incredible direction, her script with co-writer Johanne… Read More ›
Ralph’s journey of self-worth continues when “Ralph Breaks the Internet”.
Walt Disney has virtually perfected the method of tapping into the consciousness of its audience to tickle those parts that bring us the most joy. Whether through animating classic stories like The Little Mermaid and Cinderella or crafting live-action iterations… Read More ›
Ariel’s adventure on land and sea gets a new coat of paint and bonus features in “The Little Mermaid” 30th Anniversary Edition.
The decision to pick up the 30th Anniversary Edition of “The Little Mermaid” really comes down to personal preference. If you already own a copy, the bonus features aren’t likely to entice you and the idea of upgrading may not appeal. However, if you don’t own “The Little Mermaid” yet or the idea of digging into the process of its creation sparks interest, heck, even if the notion of seeing the film presented in greater detail and vividness is enough, then there’s little to be disappointed by in Disney’s eighth addition to their Signature Collection.
“Iceman: The Time Traveler” is another fun Donnie Yen feature, despite being a weak sequel.
Donnie Yen is one of the most prolific actors in Chinese cinema. Though modern American audiences are most familiar with Yen from his performance as Chirrut Îmwe in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Yen’s been working in films… Read More ›
Documentary “Maria by Callas” is a movie for her, by her.
The intent of a documentary is often more than merely to inform about a subject, but to immerse the audience deep into the world of the subject to create empathy, along with understanding. The typical approach is one in which… Read More ›
Found footage horror film “Haunted Hospital: Heilstätten” offers a meta commentary on Internet culture.
When executed well, the found footage subgenre can be an incredibly immersive experience, spellbinding the audience and convincing them that everything they’re about to witness is not just real, but urgently so. The most famous of these films is 1999’s… Read More ›
“The Rising Sun” provides a glimpse into the lives of a nomadic breakdancing troupe.
The concept of a nomadic, bohemian lifestyle is undeniably alluring in its defying of conventional ideas of society regarding employment, responsibility, and family in order to create something unique and personal by throwing off the shackles of conformity to pursue… Read More ›
Coming to Theaters: February 2019
One month down, eleven to go and February is looking to blow January out of the water. It’s bringing heartfelt family dramas, comedies, psychological thrillers, suspense-filled dramas, and so much more to theaters (with a few hitting VOD/digital the same… Read More ›
Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is too dour for Christmas, too artificial to feel magical.
The Nutcracker is a famous ballet known the world over for its delicacy and grace in performance and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s music. In fact, it’s safe to say that more people are aware of the story in connection to… Read More ›
Coming To Theaters: January 2019
January is typically seen as a dumping ground for studios. Where the films that hit theaters aren’t viewed as attention-grabbers in any way shape or form, but they made the things, so why not release them after all the Awards-centric… Read More ›
Ten Films From 2018 That Stuck With Me
2018’s over, which means it’s time for the End of Year lists to come rolling out. Just like in 2016 and 2017, you won’t be hearing about my top films, but about my sticky films, the films which, after seeing… Read More ›
Make your reservations now for some “Bad Times at the El Royale”.
Writer/director Drew Goddard is no stranger to a good mystery. Having made his bones writing for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Alias, he went on to write 2008’s Cloverfield and co-write 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods,… Read More ›
Film noir “The Lightest Darkness” toys with time and memory.
There’s something truly delicious about a film which toys with your expectations; a film possessing the temerity to state its own vision, even as it identifies the areas in which it knows the audience is looking. Rather than focus the… Read More ›
Coming To Theaters: December 2018
While outlet after outlet are hitting you with their end of the year lists, don’t forget that there’s still plenty of new films coming out in December. Especially with the craziness of the holidays, it might be helpful to duck… Read More ›
From emotional moments to strings of puns, Pixar’s “Short Films Collection: Volume 3” has something for the entire family.
Slowly but surely the films of Pixar found their way into our hearts. Stemming all the way back to 1995’s Toy Story, Pixar established itself as a studio where art and inspiration combine to create stories that do entertain and… Read More ›