Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Poster – Universal Pictures

The following is a short updated review (2022) of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016).

Mockumentaries can be absolutely hilarious. I love the general idea behind that entire genre, in that it can lampoon the level of gravitas that documentaries can sometimes have. The excellent original Borat film managed to be both outright funny, but also revealing about the reaction real people have to their jokes and characters. So when I found out that the brilliant The Lonely Island guys were doing a mockumentary somewhat inspired by Justin Bieber’s musical documentary and concert film Never Say Never, I was as excited as I could possibly be. This felt like a great kind of documentary to have fun with. For some reason, when I first saw the film, it didn’t really click for me, and so my original review indicated that it was merely ‘okay.’ However, on subsequent viewings, it has improved significantly for me. I think it’s brilliant. Continue reading “REVIEW: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)” →

REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Warner Bros.
Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros.

The following is a review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Five years after the end of the Harry Potter film series, Warner Bros. is ready to bring you another story in the wizarding world of the Rowlingverse: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Make no mistake, this film does not feature Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, or Ron Weasley. In fact, Fantastic Beasts takes place in the 1920s – a very long time before Hagrid told Harry that he was a wizard. Continue reading “REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Trompe L’Oeil”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler review of the seventh episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the seventh episode of Westworld, Theresa (played by Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Charlotte (played by Tessa Thompson) meet to discuss a presentation, William (played by Jimmi Simpson), Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood), and El Lazo (played by Clifton Collins, Jr.) are attacked by Confederados, and Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) looks for Clementine (played by Angela Sarafyan).
Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Trompe L’Oeil”” →

REVIEW: The Crown – Season One (2016)

Release Poster - Netflix
Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a full season review of the first season of Peter Morgan’s The Crown.

I’m not exactly what you might call a royalist or a ‘royalophile.’ My mother loves following multiple different Royal Families, but it has never been something I’ve been particularly drawn to. Therefore I’m pretty sure some people who know of my interests were confused when I said how excited I was about The Crown. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Crown – Season One (2016)” →

REVIEW: True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016)

Release Poster - Netflix
Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a quick review of True Memoirs of an International Assassin, a Netflix Original Film.

True Memoirs of an International Assassin follows Sam Larson – an unpublished author who also work as an accountant – as he is trying to finish a story about an assassin. When the story is finally finished, however, he has a tough time getting it published, until he meets an unconventional publicist who makes his book available online.

However, Larson is shocked when he finds out that she altered the title and published it as a non-fiction book. Dangerous people now believe Larson is an infamous assassin known only as ‘the Ghost,’ and now Larson must live as if he is the star of his book. Continue reading “REVIEW: True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016)” →

REVIEW: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Summit Entertainment
Theatrical Release Poster – Summit Entertainment

The following is a film review of Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge.

The rather controversial Mel Gibson, a gifted actor and a sublime director, has directed another film for us to enjoy. Hacksaw Ridge is his first film as a director since 2006’s Apocalypto. Let’s just get this out of the way, though. Mel Gibson – as a person – isn’t as beloved as he once was, but I have absolutely no interest in discussing his actions outside of filmmaking in this review.

Instead, I want to focus on this excellent film that Gibson – who will always be Martin Riggs, to me – has directed. And while I enjoy his previous work as a director, I have to say that this film – Hacksaw Ridge – might actually be my favorite film directed by the man who once played Max Rockatansky and William Wallace. Continue reading “REVIEW: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “The Adversary”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler recap/review of the sixth episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the sixth episode of Westworld, the Man in Black (played by Ed Harris) and Teddy (played by James Marsden) travel towards the border, Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) gets a guided tour of what’s going on behind the scenes, and Elsie (played by Shannon Woodward) and Bernard (played by Jeffrey Wright) hunt for answers.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “The Adversary”” →

REVIEW: Green Room (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - A24
Theatrical Release Poster – A24

The following is a quick review of Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room follows a punk band called ‘Ain’t Rights,’ which is nearing the end of their tour. In Oregon, they meet a local radio host who arranges a gig at a neo-Nazi bar. After the show, the band goes back to the green room, and they see a girl who has been stabbed to death. When the band’s bassist (played by Anton Yelchin) tries to call the police, the bouncers and the bar owners freak out and hold them at gunpoint inside the green room.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Green Room (2016)” →

RETRO REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Drew Struzan’s Release Poster – 20th Century Fox
Drew Struzan’s Release Poster – 20th Century Fox

The following is a retro review of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, a George Lucas film.

While I don’t love every film in the franchise, I clearly love Star Wars. I write about the franchise all the time. So while it is pretty obvious, it pains me to admit that The Phantom Menace wasn’t a good movie. I tried not to tear that film apart in my review of it.

I wanted to review this film right after reviewing The Phantom Menace, but, for some reason, it took me a very long time to finally muster up enough strength to write about this film. This review has been delayed for way too long. Let’s finally talk about the worst Star Wars film. Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Contrapasso”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler review of the fifth episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the fifth episode of Westworld, the Man in Black (played by Ed Harris) says goodbye to one of his companions, Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) and the boys – William (played by Jimmi Simpson) and Logan (played by Ben Barnes) – go on a mission for someone called ‘El Lazo,’ and Dr. Robert Ford (played by Sir Anthony Hopkins) meets with one of his guests. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Contrapasso”” →