Tag: James Marsden

Superman Returns (2006) | RETRO REVIEW

Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth in SUPERMAN RETURNS — PHOTO: Warner Bros. Pictures (Still image from trailers).

Directed by Bryan Singer — Screenplay by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris.

It seems crazy when you put it like this, but after Superman IV in 1987, we didn’t get to see the Man of Steel on the big screen until 19 years later. In that waiting period, several projects were tinkered with and abandoned, including a fifth Reeve-led Superman film, a Tim Burton-directed and Nicolas Cage-led film titled Superman Lives, and Superman: Flyby, which had people like J.J. Abrams, Brett Ratner, McQ, and various actors attached before it was eventually let go. But in 2006, we finally got a new big-screen Superman with X-Men director Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, which received a decent-enough critical reception despite the fact that Roger Ebert gave it a negative review. I’ve always been quite underwhelmed by the film, and I had hoped that my latest rewatch could change my stance on the film, but, unfortunately, I still think this film is a little bit of a dud.

Continue reading “Superman Returns (2006) | RETRO REVIEW” →

‘Hijack,’ ‘The Crowded Room,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Silo,’ ‘Jury Duty,’ and ‘Black Mirror’ (2023) | Bite-Sized Reviews

(L-R) Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Idris Elba in Hijack (Apple TV+), Rebecca Ferguson in Silo (Apple TV+), Tom Holland in The Crowded Room (Apple TV+), Ronald Gladden in Jury Duty (Amazon Studios), and Aaron Paul in Black Mirror (Netflix).

In this edition of Additional Bite-Sized Reviews, I take a look at six series or seasons that I recently finished, four of which are Apple TV+ releases. The outliers are Netflix’s latest season of Black Mirror and the Amazon surprise hit of the year titled Jury Duty, but the remaining four series do a good job of showcasing how Apple’s series library is growing rapidly. Are any of these worth your time? Well, let’s have a look.

Continue reading “‘Hijack,’ ‘The Crowded Room,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Silo,’ ‘Jury Duty,’ and ‘Black Mirror’ (2023) | Bite-Sized Reviews” →

REVIEW: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Theatrical Release Poster – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Sonic the Hedgehog — Directed by Jeff Fowler.

Jeff Fowler’s Sonic the Hedgehog is based on the popular iconic video game franchise of the same name, which is about an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog that can run extremely fast. At the outset of the film, the aforementioned blue hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is just a fast young hedgehog without a care in the world, but, when it becomes too dangerous to stay on his homeworld, Longclaw the Owl (voiced by Donna Jay Fulks), Sonic’s guardian, gives Sonic a small bag full of magical rings that can help him travel to different worlds in the universe. Sonic the Hedgehog needs to find a safe and new home. Continue reading “REVIEW: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “The Passenger”

The following is a spoiler-filled recap and review of the tenth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy.

In the final episode of the second season of Westworld (“The Passenger”), Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) makes her escape, Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) runs into an old friend, and Bernard (played by Jeffrey Wright) makes a life-affirming decision. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “The Passenger”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Vanishing Point”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled recap and review of the ninth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the penultimate episode of the second season of Westworld (“Vanishing Point”), we learn what exactly drove William’s wife to commit suicide, William (played by Ed Harris) becomes increasingly more paranoid, and Teddy (played by James Marsden) rethinks his relationship with Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood). Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Vanishing Point”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Kiksuya”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled review of the eighth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the eighth episode of the second season of Westworld (“Kiksuya”), Akecheta (played by Zahn McClarnon) — the leader of the Ghost Nation — tells us his story as the fates of William (played by Ed Harris) and Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) are still up in the air. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Kiksuya”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Les Écorchés”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled recap and review of the seventh episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the seventh episode of the second season of Westworld (“Les Écorchés”), Dolores’ train arrives at the Mesa Hub complex, Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) and William (played by Ed Harris) meet, and the illusion of free will is explored both inside and outside of the Cradle. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Les Écorchés”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Phase Space”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled recap and review of the sixth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the sixth episode of the second season of Westworld (“Phase Space”), Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) leaves Shogun World to find her daughter, Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) struggles with the newly rewritten Teddy (played by James Marsden), and Bernard (played by Jeffrey Wright) explores the Cradle. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Phase Space”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Akane no Mai”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled review of the fifth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the fifth episode of the second season of Westworld (“Akane no Mai”), Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) and the rest of her group meet the hosts of Shogun World and participate in a not entirely unique storyline. Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) and Teddy (played by James Marsden) discuss their relationship. And two weeks later, Strand (played by Gustaf Skarsgård) gets new information about what has happened to the hosts found in the flooded valley. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Akane no Mai”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “The Riddle of the Sphinx”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler-filled review of the fourth episode of Westworld: Season Two – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the fourth episode of the second season of Westworld (“The Riddle of the Sphinx”), William (played by Jimmi Simpson) tests Jim Delos (played by Peter Mullan), Bernard (played by Jeffrey Wright) somehow comes across an old friend, and we find out who ‘Grace’ (played by Katja Herbers) actually is. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “The Riddle of the Sphinx”” →