What starts out as a “Bug”-type science fiction film slowly transitions into something else entirely. Without spoiling what’s going on here, I’ll says “Encounter” is at its core an emotional father and son’s road trip thriller. Writer/director Michael Pearce plays with genre, starting off as a science-fictiaon-virus-type thriller that slowly morphs into an intense […]
Likely the most appropriately titled film of the year, “Chaos Walking” is just that, a lot of chaos and a lot of walking. Intended as a Spring Break box office hit, the pandemic has marginalized this visual effects-heavy film. “Chaos Walking” is based on author Patrick Ness young adult adventure novel “The Knife of Never
Rupert Wyatt delivers what one can only hope is the worst sci-fi film of the year. The mind behind “The Gambler” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” drops a big deus with “Captive State.” Its cinematic issues begin to unravel even before the movie gets started, inundating the audience with terms, information, concepts, and ideas we
“It’s a film for the fans,” a familiar phrase uttered almost weekly when discussing superhero movies, sequels or franchise fare. “Ready Player One” is the latest addition, another ambitious Steven Spielberg adaptation, this time based on Ernest Cline’s pop culture novel of the same name. Spielberg himself making a tremendous impact on cinematic culture, is
The winner of ‘sequel we needed the least’ certainly goes to Pacific Rim: Uprising. The turbulent second film in the series was originated by recent Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) and then handed off to television director Steven S. DeKnight, making his feature film debut. While Uprising isn’t the worst movie
Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all the Harrison Ford 80’s franchise reboots, Blade Runner 2049 being the latest. A sequel to the divisive 1982 Ridley Scott film that only achieved cult classic status over a long period of time. Oscar nominated director Denis Villeneuve (“Sicario”, “Arrival”) attempts the impossible, to bridge the gap
Ten years after The Fifth Element, fantasy film director Luc Besson puts together the most expensive French flick in history. Compared to his ‘97 Bruce Willis sci-fi flick, which had 188 visual effects shots, this one has 2734. It’s another case of technology overriding anything else on screen. Lead actor DeHaan (coming off another failed
There is a wall in this film but it isn’t portrayed as anything great. In fact, the title of the film falsely suggests the wall as the focal point. It’s a fantasy epic which uses legend to explain the implementation of China’s famous five-thousand-mile-long wall. While The Great Wall is the most expensive Chinese film
I’m a sucker for a director who can take a small product and make the viewer feel like it’s a big production. Director Drake Doremus (Like Crazy) achieves this with his latest film Equals, borrowing style and concepts for his story from Gattaca, Her and even A24’s 2015 hit Ex Machina. The first half of
The rebooted franchise started to slip with Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), the new had started to wear off, I believe I said. Star Trek Beyond, with new director Justin Lin of the Fast & Furious, feels more like an episode rather than a motion picture event. While Beyond certainly gives you the bang and