March 31, 2018 “Ready Player One” (***1/2 out of four) was a dazzling sci/fi adventure story in which the creator of a virtual reality game called OASIS dies and challenges all OASIS users (Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn and others) to find his Easter egg which will give the finder his massive fortune. Director Steven Spielberg floods you with imagination, creativity, and sparkling visual effects in a way that invites comparison to his earlier works of “E.T.” and “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” and is his most entertaining movie in years. Love those ’80’s songs and references also! Continue reading →
March 27, 2018 “A Wrinkle In Time” (** out of four) was a heavy-handed adaptation of Madeline Engle’s hugely popular 1962 novel about a young girl (Storm Reid) who is guided by three astral travelers (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling) on a quest to find her long-lost father (Chris Pine) who disappeared years earlier after finding a new planet. Some magical moments are enhanced by strong cast but film never gels and never fully takes off. Fans of Engle’s novel might like this better; an odd starring vehicle for Winfrey. Continue reading →
March 24, 2018 “Pacific Rim: Uprising” (*** out of four) was a sweeping sequel to the 2013 original about the son of the previous film’s hero (John Boyega) who reunites with Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) to lead a new generation of Jaeger pilots against a new Kaiju robot who threatens worldwide destruction. At times, this often feels like outtakes from the “Transformers” movies but film is packed with so much wall-to-wall action and eye candy that it’s still entertaining just the same. Boyega is strong in the lead role even though this is practically the same role he played in the recent “Star Wars” entries. Continue reading →
March 23, 2018 “Inoperable” (*1/2 out of four) was an inoperably dumb and often disgusting horror thriller about a young woman (Danielle Harris) who awakens in a seemingly abandoned hospital as a hurricane is rapidly approaching which awakens malevolent spirits inside that threaten her and her sanity. Plenty of gore for those who want it but little in the way of originality or coherence. Harris is much better than the material. Can’t someone make a good horror movie that saves her from this junk? Continue reading →
March 23, 2018 “Black Water” (**1/2 out of four) was an OK action thriller starring Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as CIA operatives on a submarine vessel that’s being overtaken by various moles and they must restore order. Serviceable reunion of Van Damme and Lundgren is nothing spectacular but moves fast enough to make it entertaining for fans. “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” remains their best pairing although this is leagues better than their Godawful last collaboration “Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning”. Continue reading →
March 17, 2018 “Tomb Raider” (** out of four) was a needless reboot of the action video-game series showing Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander) who must push herself to personal and physical limits when she finds herself on the same island where her father (Dominic West) disappeared. Vikander won’t make anyone forget anyone Angelina Jolie anytime soon although this is actually somewhat of an improvement over the last two versions in 2001 and 2003. A few decent action scenes make this watchable on a draggy night but it overall rings hollow. Continue reading →
March 13, 2018 “Annihilation” (**1/2 out of four) was a half-fascinating, half-puzzling sci/fi mend-bender (Natalie Portman) about a biologist (Natalie Portman) who recently lost her husband and signs up for a dangerous and secret expedition in which the laws of nature don’t apply and her safety and subsequently her sanity are threatened. Too audacious to be easily dismissed, as film has visual dazzle and thought-provoking ideas, yet is too arbitrary and bizarre to be fully enjoyed. You may want to judge for yourself. Best recommended for sci/fi and Portman fans who may be more tolerant of film’s shortcomings. Continue reading →
March 11, 2018 “The Strangers 2: Prey At Night” (*** out of four) was a spooky sequel to the 2008 original about another family (Christina Hendricks, Bailee Madison, Martin Henderson) staying in a secluded cabin who are visited and slaughtered by three masked psychopaths. Opening half-hour is sluggish but once it gets going, it provides plenty of scares and jolts and actually improves on the original. Strong soundtrack selections in key scenes are a real plus as well. Continue reading →
March 11, 2018 “Hurricane Heist” (*** out of four) was a spectacular action thriller about a group of thieves (Ralph Ineson, Melisssa Bolona, and others) who attempt a massive heist at the U.S. treasury mint in the midst of a rip-roaring category 5 hurricane which is destroying everything in its path. Story and characters are silly but film moves as fast as the hurricane and is packed with so much large-scale action and sensational special effects that it’s fun to watch just the same. Director Rob Cohen’s most entertaining movie in years, even if it appears he watched “Hard Rain” and “Twister” a few times before filming. Continue reading →
March 11, 2018 “Good Time” (***1/2 out of four) was a pulsating underworld drama set in NYC about a bank-robber (Robert Patttinson) who tries to save his mentally handicapped brother (Benny Safdie who also co-directed) from being sent to Rykers Island prison all the while trying to stay alive and trying to stay one step ahead of the cops and remain free himself. Searing, strikingly well-told story is visually dazzling with a hypnotic music score by Daniel Lopaldi and a real image-altering role for Pattinson. Gets to be a bit much after a while and owes an obvious debt to “Mean Streets” but is highly stylish and engrossing Continue reading →
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