REVIEW: The Jungle Book (2016)

The Jungle Book Poster
Theatrical Release Poster – Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures

The following is a review of Disney’s The Jungle Book, a Jon Favreau Film. The reviewed film was seen in IMAX 3D.

Jon Favreau is a great director that has shown his talents both with blockbusters, like Iron Man, and with smaller, personal films, like Chef, so when he was announced for the ‘live-action’ Disney remake of the famous Rudyard Kipling stories the film community was very excited. I am so happy to write here that The Jungle Book might be the very best film Favreau has ever made, as well as Disney’s best attempt at improving and updating an animated classic. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Jungle Book (2016)”

REVIEW: Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Marvel's The Avengers - Poster
Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Disney

The following is a spoiler review of Marvel’s The Avengers, a Joss Whedon film. This review was written in early 2016.

Marvel’s The Avengers was and is a very special movie. For many this film was not unlike a religious experience. You finally saw that these mega-movie events were possible, and Marvel Studios had finally proven that their cinematic universe was built on solid ground, with a fantastically entertaining team at the center of it.

But there are some very noticeable problems with one of Marvel Studios’s very best films, and some of those problems really annoyed me when I rewatched it a third or fourth time. So, in this review I will be brutally honest, and therefore the review does include some spoilers. You have been warned.

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REVIEW: The Break-In (2016)

IMDb poster

The following is a review of The Break-In, a Justin Doescher film.

I was recently approached online by filmmaker Justin Doescher, and asked to review his newest film, The Break-In. I was happy to do so, and so I sat down to watch his 72-minute long attempt at making a found-footage horror film, which takes inspiration from films like Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity.

The Break-In follows Jeff Anderson (played by Justin Doescher) and Melissa Joseph (played by Maggie Binkley), an expectant couple who lives in a townhouse complex that has been the target of numerous burglaries.  Continue reading “REVIEW: The Break-In (2016)”

REVIEW: The Invitation (2016)

The Invitation Poster
Release Poster – Drafthouse Films

The following is a review of The Invitation, available in some regions on Vimeo via Drafthouse Films. I attribute it to 2016, due to the fact that it was only released at festivals in 2015 and had its official release in 2016.

This film wasn’t anywhere on my radar until very recently. I didn’t hear about this film until a few weeks ago, when I was watching Meet the Movie Press, and The Wrap‘s Jeff Sneider brought up this suspense thriller he had just seen. I looked its trailer up on YouTube and I was instantly intrigued. The Invitation is a really neat thriller.  Continue reading “REVIEW: The Invitation (2016)”

REVIEW: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Disney

The following is a review of Iron Man 3, a Shane Black film. This review was written in early 2016.

Iron Man 3 might be the most controversial film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Most comic book fans aren’t all that pleased with the film, to say the least, but most critics enjoyed the experience. I wouldn’t really say that any crowd really loves the film, though. Now, why is that? Well, let’s just say that the marketing hurt the film, and the vision of the script wasn’t what fans were expecting.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Iron Man 3 (2013)”

RETRO REVIEW: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Paramount Pictures

The following is a retro review of Iron Man 2, a Jon Favreau film. 

Jon Favreau returned to the Iron Man-franchise, with a sequel to the critically acclaimed original film from 2008. Marvel Studios was desperate to build the universe, and chose to start building their new empire within the sequel to Iron Man. But while easter eggs can be promising and exciting, studio-mandated easter eggs can ruin a film if they dictate too much of the plot.  Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Iron Man 2 (2010)”

RETRO REVIEW: Iron Man (2008)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Paramount Pictures

The following is a retro review of Iron Man, a Jon Favreau film.

Jon Favreau’s Iron Man successfully kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008. Few had expected that the film would be great – and nobody saw the greatness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe coming. Iron Man is one of the most groundbreaking superhero films of all-time, and is still one of the best in that genre.  Continue reading “RETRO REVIEW: Iron Man (2008)”

REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Captain America: The First Avenger, a Joe Johnston film. The review was written in early 2016.

I’ll be the first to admit that I really didn’t have a lot of strong feelings for Captain America prior to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I hadn’t really been interested in the character: to me, he was just this patriotic ‘boy-scout’. I didn’t think Marvel would be able to really make me love the character. Boy, was I wrong!
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REVIEW: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios

The following is a review of Thor: The Dark World.

Thor: The Dark World is the sequel to what I believe is one of the most underrated superhero films of the 21st Century: Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. I never expected for this sequel to be as great as the first Thor (especially not when I heard that Kenneth Branagh wasn’t returning), but I expected a good movie. In the end, I was left with one of the most disappointing films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Thor: The Dark World (2013)”