Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Blair Witch (2016)

Release Poster - Lionsgate
Release Poster – Lionsgate

The following is a spoiler-free review of Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch.

This new Blair Witch was a pretty big surprise this year. For quite a while Adam Wingard’s 2016 horror film was titled The Woods. And – I have to admit that – I wasn’t really excited for The Woods. Not only was the Blair Witch reveal a great surprise, it also got me interested in the film immediately.

I’m not a huge fan of the original film, but I enjoy it for what it is, and I really liked the idea of making a new sequel to the horror cult ‘classic.’ I was especially excited when I heard about the plot of the film. And while I don’t think Blair Witch is an amazing found footage horror film, I had a really good time with it.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Blair Witch (2016)” →

REVIEW: ARQ (2016)

Release Poster - Netflix
Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a quick review of ARQ, a Netflix Original Film.

The newest Netflix Original Film – ARQ – is a time-loop science fiction film starring Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor, and is directed by Tony Elliott – a former story editor and writer for the excellent science fiction show Orphan Black. It sees more one than character stuck in the time loop, and explores a single location in a post-apocalyptic world. Continue reading “REVIEW: ARQ (2016)” →

REVIEW: The Light Between Oceans (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Theatrical Release Poster – Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The following is a review of The Light Between Oceans – directed by Derek Cianfrance.

The Light Between Oceans – the newest drama from director Derek Cianfrance – is based on M. L. Stedman’s debut novel of the same name from 2012, and it stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz. Cianfrance has been known to bring out some pretty remarkable performances from his cast, and he once again succeeds in The Light Between Oceans. But it doesn’t come close to being as good as his last two films. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Light Between Oceans (2016)” →

RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Release Poster - Columbia Pictures
Release Poster – Columbia Pictures

The following is a spoiler-filled retro review of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3. It was written in 2016.

I remember liking Spider-Man 3 just fine, when it was released. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, and it definitely wasn’t as good as the first two Raimi Spider-Man films. But it was fine, right? Then, when I rewatched it when it was released on home video, I realized that maybe I had been too easy on the film.

Today, after having rewatched it nine years after its theatrical release, I can safely say that Spider-Man 3 is as bad as people say. But I still like it more than both of Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man films. Let’s talk about the film that made Sony reboot their Spider-Man franchise. Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man 3 (2007)” →

RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Theatrical Release Poster - Columbia Pictures
Theatrical Release Poster – Columbia Pictures

The following is a spoiler-filled retro review of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2. It was written in 2016.

I vividly remember watching this film with my mom when it was first released. We both loved the film, and I just remember talking about it for hours. Talking about it when we were walking to the car, talking about it inside the car on the way home, and talking about it when we got home.

It’s not that Spider-Man 2 blew my mind. It isn’t one of those films that changed everything, not like I think the first Raimi Spider-Man did, or like The Dark Knight or Iron Man did. But it was just so much fun. It was everything a Spider-Man movie could and should be. It did what you want a superhero movie to do. It entertained people of all ages, and, in my opinion, it has aged really well over the years. Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man 2 (2004)” →

REVIEW: The Night Of (2016 – Mini-Series)

The Night Of Reviewed

The following review of HBO’s Limited Series ‘The Night Of’ contains spoilers for the entire series.

The Night Of is about the murder of a young woman named Andrea Cornish (played by Sofia Black D’Elia). Andrea was killed on an October night, after having slept with Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan (played by Riz Ahmed), a Pakistani-American college student, who took her for a ride in a ‘stolen’ cab car, before returning to her home to spend the night.

Naz flees from the scene of the crime, but is apprehended later the same night. The protagonist of The Night Of soon makes an appearance, as John Stone (played by John Turturro), a lawyer, decides to take on Naz’s case. Soon Stone and Khan must prove that Naz didn’t murder Andrea Cornish, while the show highlights what is wrong with the system.
Continue reading “REVIEW: The Night Of (2016 – Mini-Series)” →

RETRO REVIEW: Blue Valentine (2010)

Theatrical Release Poster - The Weinstein Company
Theatrical Release Poster – The Weinstein Company

The following is a quick spoiler-filled retro review of Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine.

“You always hurt the one you love,” Ryan Gosling’s character sings in Derek Cianfrance’s ‘love story’ Blue Valentine from 2010. That line tells you everything you need to know about this film, which tells a story about two people (played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) falling in love, starting a family, and how they become victims of complacency and expectations for their spouse.  Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Blue Valentine (2010)” →

REVIEW: XOXO (2016)

Release Poster - Netflix
Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a quick review of XOXO, a Netflix original film.

“Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat.” – Let me preface this review by saying that I didn’t want to dislike it, when I pressed play on Netflix. I like Sarah Hyland, and she was why I wanted to watch this film. It looked like We Are Your Friends, which I haven’t heard a lot of good things about, but I kept an open mind. But, no, this definitely wasn’t made for me. Continue reading “REVIEW: XOXO (2016)” →

RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man (2002)

Release Poster - Columbia Pictures
Release Poster – Columbia Pictures

The following is a quick spoiler-filled retro review of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man.

Great directors like James Cameron and David Fincher had been interested in making a film about Marvel’s famous wall-crawler, but it was up to the famous horror-director Sam Raimi to show the world just how special this character was, and he really did. Spider-Man is one of the most important superhero films ever made. Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Spider-Man (2002)” →

REVIEW: Preacher – Season One (2016)

Preacher Review Outline

The following is a quick review of the first season of Preacher. There are spoilers here.

Preacher takes place in a small town in Texas, where Jesse Custer has returned to be the preacher of his father’s church. Out of the blue, one day, a powerful entity shoots itself into Jesse Custer and gives him the power to force the listener to do exactly what he says. Custer quickly chooses to use his newfound power for his job, but people are coming to stop him from using the power. What is ‘Genesis’? Continue reading “REVIEW: Preacher – Season One (2016)” →