Tag: Stephen King

REVIEW: IT – Chapter Two (2019)

Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros. Pictures

The following is a review of IT: Chapter Two — Directed by Andy Muschietti.

It would be an understatement to say that Andy Muschietti’s IT (2017) was a great success. Successfully building on audiences’ relationship with the 1990s mini-series, novel, or creature design, IT went on to become the highest-grossing Stephen King adaptation and the highest-grossing horror film in North American box office history (not adjusted for inflation). Therefore, naturally, expectations for the adaptation of the second ‘half’ of the 1000-page long clown-focused King novel were through the roof. Ultimately, although I don’t think the second chapter lives entirely up to the frightening but charming first film, IT: Chapter Two finds much more success in depicting the grown-up half of the novel than the mini-series did, and, even though I have notable problems with the film, I’m mostly satisfied with how this oversized crowdpleaser wrapped up the story. Continue reading “REVIEW: IT – Chapter Two (2019)” →

REVIEW: Pet Sematary (2019)

Theatrical Release Poster – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Pet Sematary — Directed by Kevin Kölsch & Dennis Widmeyer.

A couple of months ago, I decided to rewatch Mary Lambert’s 1989 adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. My father is a big fan of that film, but, I hadn’t seen it in years, and I barely remembered if I even liked it. Much to my father’s disappointment, I really didn’t enjoy rewatching Lambert’s film. This experience, I’ll be honest, actually made me more excited for this year’s remake. Perhaps I would now get the Pet Sematary film to ‘call my own.’ While I ultimately do, based on my first viewing, believe Kölsch and Widmeyer’s 2019-version is better and more effective than Lambert’s film, I was still very disappointed by what they gave us here. Continue reading “REVIEW: Pet Sematary (2019)” →

30 Things 2017 Taught Cinephiles, Critics, and the Industry – Special Features #18

In true Jedi Master-fashion, every year in film provides us with lessons and guides that form trends and a changing landscape in the filmmaking industry. 2017 was a great year for film, and today I want to talk about the lessons that I will remember 2017 for. Continue reading “30 Things 2017 Taught Cinephiles, Critics, and the Industry – Special Features #18” →

REVIEW: It (2017)

Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros.

The following is a review of It – Directed by Andy Muschietti

It, based on Stephen King’s super-sized novel of the same name, follows a group of kids, called the Losers’ Club, led by a kid named Bill Denbrough (played by Jaeden Lieberher) who had recently lost his younger brother Georgie (played by Jackson Robert Scott). Georgie disappeared into the sewers when he was met by Pennywise the dancing clown (played by Bill Skarsgård). When the dancing clown starts showing up and haunting the fearful kids of Derry, Maine, the Losers’ Club must band together to face their own demons in the form of a scary clown. Continue reading “REVIEW: It (2017)” →

Box Office Predictions – September 2017

It (Warner Bros.); Kingsman: The Golden Circle (20th Century Fox); The LEGO Ninjago Movie (Warner Bros.)

September is looking pretty, pretty good to me. We’ve got a Stephen King remake I am incredibly excited for, a sequel to a surprise hit by Matthew Vaughn, and, well, another LEGO Movie. Let’s talk about how much money these films will make in their opening weekends. Continue reading “Box Office Predictions – September 2017” →

REVIEW: The Dark Tower (2017)

Theatrical Release Poster – Columbia Pictures

The following is a review of The Dark Tower – Directed by Nikolaj Arcel.

A dark tower stands tall at the center of the universe. It protects all realities, including our reality on Earth, from powerful dark forces from the outside. In Nikolaj Arcel’s The Dark Tower, which is based on the Stephen King series of novels of the same name, the Man in Black (played by Matthew McConaughey) is trying to destroy the aforementioned tower using abducted psychic children and their powers. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Dark Tower (2017)” →

Box Office Predictions – August 2017

The Dark Tower (Columbia); Annabelle: Creation (Warner Bros.); The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Lionsgate).

A Stephen King adaptation, the creepy Annabelle doll from the Conjuring horror film universe, and Ryan Reynolds paired up with Samuel L. Jackson in an R-Rated action comedy. That lineup sounds almost too good to be true. But that is the August we’re getting into. Let’s talk about how much money these films will make.  Continue reading “Box Office Predictions – August 2017” →

REVIEW: 11.22.63 (2016 – Mini-Series)

11.22.63

The following is a quick review of 11.22.63 – a Hulu limited series based on the Stephen King novel.

Everyone knows who Stephen King is. You may not have read his novels. Maybe you’ve only watched films based on his work. But you absolutely know who Stephen King is. When I was younger, I was introduced to Stephen King’s work through films and mini-series by my father who has always been a fan of Stephen King. I was surprised to find out that I liked 11.22.63 more than my father did, though. Continue reading “REVIEW: 11.22.63 (2016 – Mini-Series)” →