Great film that combines nostalgia with new elements to recapture the magic of the earlier Star Wars films. The movie relies heavily on the story structure of the previous opening chapters of the first film in a trilogy. While this has worked well in the past and works here, there is a line they come… Read More »
While not deviating much from the standard boxing movie formula made popular by “Rocky,” this film does a good job of making a name for itself. Michael B. Jordan is strong in the lead role, although at times he keeps things a bit too close to the vest. It’s only late in the movie does… Read More »
After a slow start, some late suspense and action save this film from ending the “Hunger Games” franchise on a boring and drab note. I have never read any of the “Hunger Games” novels and have only seen each of the previous films once, so this review will reflect that. The film starts off a… Read More »
Another solid entry to the Bond franchise, but it never manages to elevate itself enough to become something more memorable. As it has been with the other more recent films, Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond is what carries the movie. And once again, it succeeds. His Bond has a quiet strength mixed with a… Read More »
Entertaining film (especially to fans of N.W.A, which I am) that loses its focus for much of the final act. The creation of N.W.A and their rise to superstardom is fascinating to watch, particularly as the seeds for their eventual downfall are sown. Unfortunately, the movie loses its voice after the group falls apart and… Read More »
A fairly strong beginning is thrown off course by an odd middle-section, and then finally completely derailed by a weak climax. Early on in the film, we‘re introduced to a nuanced Reed Richards. His friendship with Ben Grimm continues to move the plot along, and then unfortunately Ben is suddenly dropped out of the film… Read More »
The over-the-top stunts and likable characters are back, and although they really do nothing to add to the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, they do give us an enjoyable movie. Tom Cruise is entertaining once again as Ethan Hunt, and puts both himself and his character at risk throughout the film. With the exception of Simon Pegg,… Read More »
An entertaining film, but not the strongest of Marvel’s Avengers-related franchises. This is probably the closest Marvel’s come to doing a flat-out action-comedy. There’s more humor here than even “The Guardians of the Galaxy.” Much of the comedy comes from Michael Pena’s Luis character, who almost steals the show from the rest of the cast.… Read More »
With a fresh spin on the beginnings of the franchise, the newest “Terminator” film ends up coming up short of its legendary heritage. This film is a bit of both a sequel and a reboot, similar to the recent “Star Trek” films and the ninth Mortal Kombat video game. With a bit of time travel,… Read More »
Similar to the first film, hit-or-miss jokes tend to force the plot to take a backseat. The plot itself is fine, and is more interesting than the original’s love story. However, the execution is flawed. Too much is focused on throwing as many vulgar jokes out there and hoping that at least some of them… Read More »