One article can make all the difference. 2016’s Suicide Squad, the third installment of the extended cinematic universe of DC comics lore, was a blight on not only the superhero genre but also contemporary studio filmmaking as a whole. Gaudy, artificial and utterly incomprehensible, the film was a crippling low point for several different parties and… Continue reading DC redeems its worst movie with ‘The Suicide Squad’
Category: Reviews
‘A Quiet Place Part II’ is a powerhouse of suspense filmmaking
The excellent A Quiet Place, already a staple of high-concept horror, concluded with a sonic evocation of hope to accentuate the palpable dread that had preceded. Immediately reeling from the death of the family patriarch (John Krasinski), matriarch Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and children Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe) flee from ominous monsters that… Continue reading ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ is a powerhouse of suspense filmmaking
Summer reading: Tolkien’s ‘Silmarillion’
School is just about out and depending on when you’re reading this, you might already be feeling the sweet, sweet release of summer. Let’s assume you’re a nerd who likes to read, like me. Let’s also assume that you will have leisure time on your hands this summer, unlike me. Why should you spend any… Continue reading Summer reading: Tolkien’s ‘Silmarillion’
A sci-fi summer reading suggestion: ‘The Book of the New Sun’
For those of you who have followed my book review column for a while now, you probably have a good idea of what my taste in books is. I’m not sure I do, which is why oftentimes I rely on recommendations. My most recent recommendation was The Book of the New Sun (1980-1983) by Gene… Continue reading A sci-fi summer reading suggestion: ‘The Book of the New Sun’
The surprising depth of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’
This review and discussion of season one of Marvel’s ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ contains spoilers. Following the runaway success of WandaVision, Marvel Studios and Disney+ immediately released the inaugural season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which recently aired its spectacular finale. The topical and assured show follows superhero comrades Sam Wilson/Falcon… Continue reading The surprising depth of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’
Rock meets revolution with new Greta Van Fleet album
If you are like me and have been searching for music that is the perfect mix of 1980s rock nostalgia, with meaningful lyrics dealing in modern issues, look no further because I have the perfect album for you: The Battle of Garden’s Gate by Greta Van Fleet. Firstly, I have to address the thematic elements… Continue reading Rock meets revolution with new Greta Van Fleet album
‘Mortal Kombat’ fails to deliver on its premise
When gauging the quality of a film, it is crucial to foremostly consider if it fulfilled its intentions. Not every film is aiming to be high art, and the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat, an adaptation of the popular and graphically violent 1990s video game franchise, certainly fits that bill. From the opening frames, it… Continue reading ‘Mortal Kombat’ fails to deliver on its premise
‘The Wise Man’ ought to fear the pitfalls of the sequel
Recently, I finished the second novel in Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles, The Wise Man’s Fear. It was… a journey. I mean that in both the positive and negative senses. Having written a review of the first book in the series, The Name of the Wind, (which you can read here) I decided to have a… Continue reading ‘The Wise Man’ ought to fear the pitfalls of the sequel
Kaiju & titans & brawls, oh my! ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ review
Warner Brothers and Legendary Entertainment have had a difficult time establishing and expanding its MonsterVerse, a shared cinematic franchise that follows the exploits of famous monsters like Godzilla and Kong as they interact with humanity. Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017) prioritized focusing on human characters and the symbolism of mankind’s malicious exploitation and… Continue reading Kaiju & titans & brawls, oh my! ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ review
Rejoice, fans! ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is unabashedly his film, and that’s good
Creative freedom and credit have been a prevalent issue for almost all of the filmmaking industry’s history, especially in the modern blockbuster era. From the notorious Golden Age battles for control on the Wizard of Oz and Citizen Kane to the pervasive, intrusive studio interference on innumerable films today, studios and creators have always attempted… Continue reading Rejoice, fans! ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is unabashedly his film, and that’s good