Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
June 7th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Everyone was where they need to be and all of the objects were in place, and yet, when attempting to conjure up success, The Mummy did not rise. While I was wrapped up in anticipation for a new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, everything seemed to unravel rather quickly as the film shambled along. With all the mummy puns out of my system now, let me just say I can’t help but feel disappointed, as Cruise is one to fully commit and star in quality pictures, but The Mummy didn’t deliver the summer fun I was hoping for.
Continue reading ‘Cruise ‘Mummy’ Threatens Dark Universe (Movie Review)’
June 6th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
The cinematically filled 20th Annual Dances With Films Festival 2017 (taking place June 1-11 at the Chinese 6 Theaters at Hollywood and Highland – go to www.danceswithfilms.com for more details!) is in full film swing and the reels are unspooling fast and furious for film fans to enjoy. Continuing our own fest coverage, below are a massive nine feature film reviews and even that is merely a taste of the myriad of flicks that have screened so far this year. Revenge tales with super powers, father/daughter dramas, real life inspired flicks, tales of both serious and comical woe, haunted houses, deadly dogs, musicians, hackers and deadly hobos without a shotgun – it’s all dissected here for your convenience! Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of the first feature film crop via the DWFF 2017 including Eliza Sherman’s Revenge, Tomorrow, Maybe, D-Love, Grief, Inheritance, Chance, American Folk, Missing In Europe and Central Park via three different film categories below!
Continue reading ‘Dances With Films Festival 2017 – Nine Encapsulated Movie Reviews’
June 2nd, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With Wonder Woman looking to kick a little cinematic ass this weekend, it felt right to explore a past picture with equal amounts of feisty female hand-to-hand combat but for the pint size set – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Having already covered the likes of Anne Parillaud in La Femme Nikita and Melanie Griffith in Cherry 2000 as some of my favorite movie mavens with moxie, a flick about a gal who proves that big action can come in small packages from 2011 then immediately came to mind. It’s a tale of a child who has grown up and trained with a singular focus that is suddenly thrust out into the real world filled with love, hate and human monsters. Think on your feet, adapt or die and check out the action awesomeness of…Hanna.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Hanna”’
June 1st, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Huzzah or should I say tra la laaa! for another solid superhero movie this month. I have no familiarity with the Captain Underpants children’s book series, but I’m all for a film that can turn juvenile humor into an enjoyable, colorful and clever animated comedy about friendship and being yourself. That’s about as deep as it gets and while this latest DreamWorks Animation film is more expressly for kids than adults (opposed to adult-themed laughs in a kids movie), there is a rich amount of energy that makes Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie fun for all ages.
Continue reading ‘‘Captain Underpants’ Is A Mighty Tighty Whitey Delight (Movie Review)’
June 1st, 2017 by Brian White
Like George Washington once proclaimed “I cannot tell a lie.” Wonder Woman is my number one most anticipated film of the year. Say what? I’m 100% serious and no I’m not on any drugs. This is 80 plus years in the making here, folks! I would be prone to say Justice League is, but I’m weary about how ridiculous Cyborg looks thus far. Ha ha. However, I’ll reserve judgement of that until November. For now let me bask in the ever radiant light of everything Gal Gadot and the Amazonian princess she portrays, Wonder Woman. Call me a sucker, but I just love a strong female protagonist in my action movies, and it doesn’t hurt if they’re hot too. So you’ve all seen my proverbial masturbation over the three DCEU films that have come before, Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, and now it’s time to lasso up Wonder Woman. Wouldn’t that be spectacular to lasso up Wonder Woman, huh (insert dirty evil thought)? Ha ha. Come on! Let’s get started! Continue reading ‘Wonder Woman: Beauty, Brains and Brawn! (Movie Review)’
May 31st, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
It would appear that Wonder Woman is the result of studio heads and producers thinking things through a bit more and allowing for more creative freedom. Thanks to some talented filmmakers and actors, this is the film the DCEU needed to get themselves out of the hole that began with an underwhelming Man of Steel and reached the furthest possible low with Suicide Squad. And since Disney is no longer paying us reviewers to speak ill of non-Marvel Studios superhero movies (kidding), I’m happy to talk about just how entertaining Wonder Woman is. It may still have some of the standard problems found in superhero origin films and DC’s cinematic branding as of late, but it also plays to a sense of optimism, earnestness and well…wonder.
Continue reading ‘Wonder Woman Ends DC Cinematic Crisis (Movie Review)’
May 31st, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Two very full film fests are hitting hard and fast in June (comprehensive coverage is the motto!) so no time like the present to get to the weekly array the lesser known film fare for those seeking smaller cinematic selections. Examinations of former beleaguered British Prime Minsters, sisters with a desire to seek out the truth, spiritual sci-fi stories and two father/son tales – one involving vampirism – grace the themes via this weeks colorful crop of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on the five films Churchill, Past Life, Dean, 96 Souls and Aaron’s Blood below. Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Five New Indie Titles’
May 26th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Having recently watched another oldie but goodie in remembrance of the late great Powers Boothe (the previous being Extreme Prejudice!), I thought why not throw it up this week to keep the tribute going – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today’s hidden gem was the first collaboration between famed Director Walter Hill and the brilliant Boothe as the two took on the dangers of the Louisiana bayou. (Both in front and behind the camera!) Seems a gang of ill equipped National Guardsman find themselves in the crosshairs of some very sinister swamp folks after a little not-so-harmless prank and end up fighting for their very lives. Bravado and bullets, explosions and spear beds, killers and Cajun Cooder music all set the stage for a little unwelcome…Southern Comfort. Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Southern Comfort”’
May 24th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Keep in mind this review is arriving before we learn what amount of treasure Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales manages to plunder at the box office, but what could be next for this series? Disney has managed to make a multi-billion dollar franchise out of a popular amusement park ride, proving anything is possible, including turning that weirdo Johnny Depp into an international superstar. Now we are five films deep in a sub-genre that has still failed repeatedly with everyone else. There is no telling what Disney plans to do, but at the very least, Dead Men Tell No Tales manages to course correct after the disastrous On Stranger Tides and give way to a fitting finale if this film indeed is that.
Continue reading ‘‘Pirates of the Caribbean’: At Franchise’s End (Movie Review)’
May 23rd, 2017 by Brian White
If you’re of my generation, who didn’t watch television’s Baywatch growing up? I mean of course we all watched for Knight Rider‘s David Hasselhoff and beach babes like Pamela Anderson, Nicole Eggert, Yasmine Bleech and Carmen Electra were just icing on the cake. Sure (wink, wink). Baywatch is not only part of our pop culture, but like The Terminator 1 and 2 to most people, part of our beloved childhood too. So when word of a reboot surfaced regarding turning the nostalgic show into a motion picture I feared the absolute worst. Yes I feared my childhood would be butchered and erased just like 2015’s Terminator: Genisys did. Ugh! However, rest assured there was a silver lining in all of this. Baywatch would unite onscreen two of the hottest comedic stars with some pretty rad beach babes too. Of course I’m talking about involvement from the likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron to the big busted Alexandra Daddario. What? LOL. I don’t know how else to describe her besides those bright, Blu-ray eyes she has. So I was saying yeah Baywatch…. Continue reading ‘Baywatch Is Bodacious With Beaches, Babes and Blasts (Movie Review)’
May 19th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With the passing of the Powers Boothe this week a tribute to the iconic actor for any fan of great film is a movie must. But since his best work in my opinion has already been given the past picture royal treatment via former movie home (see the Forgotten Friday Flick review of John Boorman’s The Emerald Forest at Starpulse.com HERE!) time for a secondary selection to give the late great actor his due – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week were going back to 1987 for a second cinematic collaboration between legendary director Walter Hill and Boothe (the first being the harrowing thriller Southern Comfort!) involving a Texas Ranger who finds himself face-to-face with a bad guy involved in serious drug trafficking – who is also a childhood friend. Double crosses, harrowing heists, old west showdowns and thick levels of tough guy testosterone riddle a flick with…Extreme Prejudice! Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Extreme Prejudice” (In Memory of Powers Boothe)’
May 18th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Since last week saw such few releases, I held onto the reviews plus added some already out selections to make this weeks crop truly a hodgepodge movie assortment. Not to mention that there are a massive nine films covered – seven indie titles and two big budget studio flicks. (I see the big titles too, just don’t usually review them – but when in Rome!) Groups of people all deciding to live together and the consequences, brides ‘not-to-be’ taking drastic actions, old fairy tales with a new caustic comedic twists, issues of trust in a world gone mad, alien abductions from a famed forest, the effect of constant bad luck on one woman’s life, a doc on the hidden world of UFO’s and two studio pictures dealing with aliens and overbearing moms all make up the flicks covered in this weeks Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the skinny on The Commune, The Wedding Plan, The New Adventures of Aladdin, The Survivalist, Beacon Point, A Woman’s Life, Unacknowledged, Alien: Covenant and Snatched below! Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Seven Indie/Two Studio Titles’
May 17th, 2017 by Brian White
Six years ago I fell in love with the Alien franchise when I was forced to tackle the Alien Anthology Blu-ray box set in my complete review of it all here. I had never seen the third or fourth flicks before then. Two years later I became of a bonafide disciple of Ridley Scott’s franchise with the release of Prometheus (as reviewed here). No dispute here that the original four Alien films are legendary. You’d be hard pressed to find anybody trash talking those, but Prometheus well that’s a whole different ball of wax. If you want to talk about a completely divided movie, look no further than 2012’s Prometheus. Holy hell either people loved it or long time Alien fans completely loathed it. There was no middle ground whatsoever. Like it or not it made enough money for Fox to green light a sequel. That’s the reason we are all here today too, but is Alien: Covenant really a sequel to Prometheus or is something all completely different? That’s what I was most interested in learning going into last week’s press screening. Continue reading ‘‘Alien: Covenant’ Plays By Fassbender’s Rules (Movie Review)’
May 16th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
It’s a headache from hell! From Frank Henenlotter, the man behind such cult horror favorites as Basket Case and Frankenhooker, comes Brain Damage – the ultimate head-trip, now finally on Blu-ray from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment Group! Meet Elmer. He’s your local, friendly parasite with the ability to induce euphoric hallucinations in his hosts. But these LSD-like trips come with a hefty price tag. When young Brian comes under Elmer’s addictive spell, it’s not long before he finds himself scouring the city streets in search of his parasite’s preferred food source – brains! Featuring late TV horror host John Zacherley as the voice of Elmer, Brain Damage boasts some of the most astonishing bad taste gore-gags ever realized, including the notorious “brain-pulling sequence” and a blow-job that ends with a distinctly unconventional climax. Extras on this Brain Damage Limited Edition Blu-ray include an all-new full length Commentary by Frank Henenlotter, a gaggle of featurettes, Image Galleries, an Isolated Score track and much more! Thinking of not getting it? Tacky Brian, tacky!
Continue reading ‘Brain Damage Limited Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
May 11th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Director Ridley Scott is 79-years old and excited to keep making Alien movies. He first jumped back into the universe he helped create with 2012’s Prometheus. While I was among those who embraced the mix of intriguing (and sometimes puzzling) ideas and technical wizardry, the film certainly received mixed reactions overall. Prequels always tend to be tricky business, regardless of certain ambitions. Alien: Covenant seems to have wanted to rectify the problem by providing a continuation of the story that began in Prometheus and adding many of the greatest hits found in Alien and other entries in the franchise. The result makes for an overall entertaining experience, but I miss the big ideas floating around with the previously doomed crew.
Continue reading ‘‘Alien: Covenant’ Presents A New Ship But A Familiar Story (Movie Review)’
May 11th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Through thick and thin, I seem to want to stand by Guy Ritchie. Okay, so maybe Swept Away took things a bit too far, but I’ve been happy to support Ritchie from his London gangster film days into his more commercial fair. I dig the man’s style and have found his hyper-kinetic filmmaking approach to Sherlock Holmes and other recent efforts as a refreshingly exciting way to tackle familiar properties. So what to make of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword? Well, it is a shame we could not have simply started with Arthur already being King, as every attempt to do something unique is seemingly undone by trite origin story plot elements. That said, the attitude of this film, the supporting characters and overall production design made for something more interesting than any of the mediocre advertising has been selling.
Continue reading ‘A Ritchie In ‘King Arthur’s Court (Movie Review)’
May 6th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
A day late and a dollar short. Okay, it is Saturday, but sometimes life happens and things get pushed. (I’m human film fans!) But I say better late than never and since the very engaging new doc Golan A Farewell To Cinema recently had its showing at the Beverly Hills Film Festival (see review HERE!) and was given a glowing stamp of approval by yours truly it seemed only fitting to match this weeks selection with a Golan-Globus Cannon Films hidden gem – welcome to the Saturday edition of Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re digging deep into the Golan-Globus vaults for a lessor known outing (and given the B-movie Cannon catalog that’s saying something!) filled with style and on-screen sirens guaranteed to knock cinematic socks off. (Or at least entertain!) It’s a heist/humor combo flick about a gal whose boring life gets a lot more interesting – and a lot more dangerous. So follow closely as the deal is about to go down but it’s going…Down Twisted!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Down Twisted” (Saturday Edition!)’
May 5th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Wrapping up my coverage of this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival, I wanted to shine the spotlight on some of the short film programs I was able to see. Thanks to some hype created by my lovely girlfriend, I was particularly excited to see the animated and Irish short programs but was also able to see a set of horror shorts as well. There is always plenty to admire in these films, as they must tell a full story in a limited amount of time while also showing off a level of cinematic talent from newer and veteran filmmakers alike. Here are some thoughts on the short films in particular that stuck out to me in the programs I saw.
a Continue reading ‘NBFF 2017 Review: Animated, Irish & Horror Shorts’
Everyone was where they need to be and all of the objects were in place, and yet, when attempting to conjure up success, The Mummy did not rise. While I was wrapped up in anticipation for a new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, everything seemed to unravel rather quickly as the film shambled along. With all the mummy puns out of my system now, let me just say I can’t help but feel disappointed, as Cruise is one to fully commit and star in quality pictures, but The Mummy didn’t deliver the summer fun I was hoping for.
