Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
April 12th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Franchise evolution is what keeps gas in the tank for a blockbuster film series. Superhero movies can ideally rely on a diverse set of characters that lend themselves to other subgenres, while James Bond generally works with what’s most popular in action cinema. Fast & Furious, a franchise I’ve unabashedly enjoyed and stuck by during the best and worst of times, has been forced to change multiple times. What started as a series of films about street racing has morphed into over-the-top adventures that place the balance of the world in the hands of cool former criminals and muscle-bound jokesters. The Fate of the Furious is the start of the next evolution and while very entertaining in its own ridiculous way, does it fit in with the rest of this film family?
Continue reading ‘No ‘F8te’ But What We Make ‘Furious’ (Movie Review)’
April 12th, 2017 by Brian White
As I sit down to work on this movie review prior to seeing the actual movie itself I think to myself what a wonderful world. LOL. I am kidding. I ponder about what they can do in this outing that hasn’t been done in the previous seven ones. While watching the trailers for The Fate of the Furious on television and having recently taken in parts 6 and 7 on 4K Ultra HD I hear lines of dialogue repeated. It makes me a bit nervous, but the one thing I always manage to do is have fun with this franchise. Therefore, I wasn’t expecting anything less than a good time with this eighth episode in the franchise. Much like attending a Posion concert back in the late 80s you can always count on the Fast & Furious franchise to deliver nothing but a good time. You don’t even need to know about cars. All you need to do is come equipped with the ability to laugh, giggle and excite from the larger-than-life action pieces and humorous one-liners. I think the majority of us can at least do that. What say you? Continue reading ‘The Fate of the Furious IS SERIOUS F-U-N! (Movie Review)’
April 10th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Based on the look of this film, it would be no surprise to learn how difficult it was to make The Lost City of Z. I’m not speaking just to the shots of a wooden raft traveling down the Amazon River. No, it’s the look on the faces of these actors, which displays more than what makeup can accomplish. With echoes of David Lean and John Huston, writer/director James Gray (The Immigrant) certainly took on an ambitious project this time around, outshining his previous films in terms of scope. The result is a solid adventure story, divided into parts that explore just what it is that can drive someone to head into danger for the sake of possible discovery.
Continue reading ‘Take An Absorbing Journey To ‘The Lost City Of Z’ (Movie Review)’
April 7th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Last week fellow WhySoBlu.com critic and a movie man I admire Aaron Neuwirth suggested that my inclusion of the iconic film Apocalypse Now might not be an outing that’s all that forgotten. (In fairness I was basing the pick on that fact that my older son had never heard of the film and we had recently watched it together – gotta school the next generation!) So this week I’m doing my colleague proud by digging deep and doubling down with a scarce savory cinematic selection that I’m willing to bet he and my fellow cohorts have not only not seen, but may never have even heard of – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re dissecting a past picture that even the director of the film doesn’t want you to see. A quirky and controversial little gem that not only got the ire of the MPAA ratings board at the time of its 1990 release, but is a movie that the filmmaker has tried to make disappear. An English speaking Asian courier, a soothsaying street urchin, a mysterious dark dame and a briefcase with questionable contents are just a few of the odd elements used to prove that…Life Is Cheap…But Toilet Paper Is Expensive! Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Life Is Cheap…But Toilet Paper Is Expensive”’
April 7th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
The problems that come from losing control can be intense. Substance abuse, namely alcohol in the case of Colossal, can both lead to problems and unmask deeper issues from within. That sounds pretty heavy, but fortunately for genre director Nacho Vigalondo, he’s embedded these themes within one of the more creative giant monster movies to come along recently. If Cloverfield was a romance a matched with a disaster movie, Colossal plays as a rom-com deconstruction featuring kaiju action. The results are quite enjoyable, even as the film grows darker and other questions begin to emerge.
a Continue reading ‘‘Colossal’: Destroy All Inner-Monsters (Movie Review)’
April 6th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Indie flicks all but dominate the amount of studio fare this week (and mostly every other week too!), so film fans have continual opportunity to get their film fix on. Below is just a fraction of the myriad of releases out now that cover the gamut of subjects and genres for the ardent cinefile to seek out. Two by the Herzog (way to go Werner!), more beautiful Dree Hemingway movies (I’m a fan!), monsters manned by woman, blind sights restored, dealing with loss and death and youth party docs (supposedly!) all make up the seven films dissected via this weeks Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the opinions on Salt and Fire, Live Cargo, Queen of the Desert, Colossal, The Ticket, Aftermath and All These Sleepless Nights below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Seven New Indie Titles’
April 6th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Gifted is the kind of film where an emotional courtroom scene plays out, with rain seen just outside the window to emphasize the drama, but you don’t mind because the main characters involved still spend relaxed moments with each other minutes later. This is a film that traffics in ideas expected from stories dealing with legal guardianship over precocious children, but is still quite likable thanks to the rapport shared between the cast members. It’s not sly enough to suggest a level of self-awareness and the way it plays out is certainly in line with your average tearjerker. It’s just a good thing I didn’t mind spending time with these people.
a Continue reading ‘‘Gifted’ Is Smart Enough To Work (Movie Review)’
March 31st, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Been sharing some quality adult movie time with my ever-growing son (who is of course named after a movie character himself!) and decided to highlight one of our recently viewed selections here for the uninitiated…and those who need a firm film reminder – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we delve right into “the horror” of war for a journey into movie madness. An iconic flick about an empty man trying to fill his inner void with his job – and gets more than he bargained for. Long boat trips, high-ranking gurus, hidden tigers, playboy playmates and napalm in the morning…it’s Apocalypse Now!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Apocalypse Now”’
March 30th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Yet another genre spanning hodgepodge of flicks this week satisfying the movie geek need for smaller film fare. Romance and espionage in the midst of the Cold War, zombies in a strip club, docs on damned jazz trumpeters and terror tales with a demonic slant all make up the films in this weeks edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critic skinny on Despite The Falling Snow, Peelers, I Called Him Morgan and The Blackcoat’s Daughter below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Four New Indie Titles’
March 30th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
For a new potential blockbuster so rich with ideas and visual imagination, it’s a shame to be left feeling so little for those involved in this story. Problematic casting issues aside (more on that later), this adaptation of the Japanese manga and anime film certainly felt like it was striving to deliver an intelligent look at exploring one’s self-identity in a world defined by technological advancements. The added bonus should be how Ghost in the Shell frames these thematics within the confines of an action film. There is great value in this film’s overall presentation, but it sadly fails to explore its own self-identity, let alone update its familiar ideas.
Continue reading ‘The Visually Stunning ‘Ghost In The Shell’ Has A Major Problem (Movie Review)’
March 28th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
He’s a boss and a baby. He’s a Boss Baby. The Boss Baby pitch meeting could not have been much simpler than that, but I guess that wouldn’t give credit to the original children’s picture book by Marla Frazee. Of course, that book is only 36 pages (and I’m sure The Bossier Baby isn’t much longer), where this DreamWorks computer-animated movie needs to fill at least 90 minutes. That was apparently a struggle and it shows. While the novelty of the premise is one thing, sitting through this entire feature didn’t exactly have me wishing for a promotion to sit even higher among the other boss babies of the world.
a Continue reading ‘‘The Boss Baby’ Deserves A Time Out (Movie Review)’
March 26th, 2017 by Jordan Grout
“Power Rangers” is one of the most bizarre action films to be released in some time. Scenes are so visually and tonally inconsistent that they seem to have been directed and edited by completely different people. Sequences are repeated so often that the story never truly seems to get off the ground. The cast is likable enough, but they’re never given much to do besides look frustrated in a film that is not necessarily at war with itself, but oddly unaware of itself.
Continue reading ‘Power Rangers (Movie Review)’
March 25th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With the 80’s and fine films ala John Carpenter going hand-in-hand, there’s more than enough past picture work to hail. So let’s get to it – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week we’re getting a little more romantic and melancholy as we step to the side of the terror tales via the master of horror and visit a story with some surprisingly sweet sentiments in spades. It’s a fish out of water journey that fully explores what it is to be human…even if you’re an alien. Loss, love and learning all rolled into one out of this world adventure about a few days on earth through the eyes of…Starman!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Starman”’
March 23rd, 2017 by Brian White
Despite loving all things sci-fi and horror Life is a movie I’ve been against ever since I saw the very first trailer on television last year. I felt like it was such a ripoff of Alien that it did not even warrant my attention. The one thing I could not deny was what an absolutely fantastic cast. I have to admit that having Rebecca Ferguson (not related to Sean Ferguson by any means) made it more manageable to get me in the door. Well that and my fiancee’s constant nagging that she was so excited for it. She does so much for me that I have to take one for the team for her every so often. Ha ha. Fifty Shades Darker comes instantly to mind in that category. LOL. But I digress. Today we’re here to talk about Sony/Columbia Picture’s new sci-fi picture, Life, not the Milton Bradley board game or the Venom movie spinoff. Continue reading ‘‘Life’ Is As Tension Filled As My Own (Movie Review)’
March 23rd, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Only a few indie outings covered this week, but the months ahead promise to be fruitful for smaller films for sure. But in the meantime tales of war woe, odd ghost stories, revenge plans and strong women with no affinity for the almighty all make up the subjects of the four flicks in this weeks edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the skinny on Frantz, Personal Shopper, Dig Two Graves and The Most Hated Woman In America below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Four New Indie Titles’
March 23rd, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
A couple weeks before seeing man tackle Life, I was able to witness the man versus nature in Kong: Skull Island. Both films feel similar in terms of their approach and inspiration. The situations presented are not unfamiliar and the filmmakers seem happier taking advantage of the means afforded to them in playing out their wildest cinematic genre movie fantasies, rather than dwell on deep character building. As a result, while I was a bigger fan of Kong, Life also functions as a condensed thriller influenced by a variety of other movies and video games. That’s the name of the game with these younger filmmakers and this sci-fi horror show is another example of seeing how branching out from familiar territory can pay off.
a Continue reading ‘‘Life’ Can Be Harsh (Movie Review)’
March 22nd, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Unsurprisingly, Power Rangers is the best film yet, as far as seeing the cinematic treatment applied to the popular kid’s action TV series. More surprising is how well this film manages to work in spite of itself. There are some terrible choices made in regards to the direction and delivery of plot. However, as a coming-of-age film that happens to end with a giant kaiju battle in broad daylight, there is something to be said for Lionsgate’s efforts to compete with the bigger studios in terms of large scale action movies.
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a Continue reading ‘‘Power Rangers’ Is A Serious And Silly Reboot With Attitude (Movie Review)’
March 17th, 2017 by Bron Anderson
This is just the kind of midnight movie I was waiting for at SXSW! Meatball Machine Kodoku has tons of ridiculous gore effects (actually 4 tons of fake blood were used on the film according to the director), an insane plot that doesn’t need to make any sense, and completely over-the-top action scenes. This is a direct sequel to 2005’s Meatball Machine from the same director, Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police), and by direct sequel I mean it shares almost the same exact plot as the original, but with better effects and a tighter plot (plot, in this case is a very loose interpretation of the term). This movie is a hilarious, blood-filled, wackily Japanese, complete crazefest of a blast! Continue reading ‘Meatball Machine Kodoku (SXSW Review)’
