I watched 1996’s blockbuster “Independence Day” for the first time just a few weeks ago to prep myself for the “Resurgence”. When “ID” came-out 20 years ago, Will Smith was establishing himself as “The World’s Biggest Movie Star”, a career move the two-time Oscar nominee recently admitted he now regrets making. But unlike his fellow […]
For 18-35 year-old comic book, superhero, Marvel, “X-Men” and diehard Ryan Reynolds fans – “Deadpool” will likely be your movie of the year. The makers clearly set-out to make the ultimate R-rated “anti-superhero movie” superhero movie, packed with ultra-violence, raunchy humor and an unlikable lead character. And in that respect, they succeeded brilliantly. But for […]
“Point Break” is a remake of a 90s action/crime/surfer film that was directed by future Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”, “Zero Dark Thirty”) and starred Keanu Reeves and the late Patrick Swayze. It went on to earn Reeves the 1992 MTV Movie Award for “Most Desirable Male” and, for some reason, became a cult […]
Remember when Barry Levinson made great films? I don’t, specifically, because they all came-out before I was born. His latest, “Rock the Kasbah” is set, as the opening title card reads, “in the recent past”. The director of such 80s classics as “Diner”, “The Natural”, “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Rain Man” (for which he won […]
“Jupiter Ascending” is the latest sci-fi/adventure from The Wachowskis. Since their “Matrix” trilogy wrapped-up in 2003, they haven’t had much success. 2008’s “Speed Racer” was forecasted as a summer blockbuster and instead ended-up a complete car-wreck. 2012’s visionary “Cloud Atlas” was interesting, but not the Best Picture contender everyone expected, nor a box office hit […]
Four-time Golden Globe nominee Cameron Diaz is on quite a roll. “Sex Tape” is her seventh movie in a row that’s either a critical or financial bust, or both. In Jason Segel’s case, fresh-off the finale of the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”, this is a low point in his big screen career […]
“Pompeii” is exactly what I expected it to be: a disaster film that truly is a disaster. The popular Bastille song of the same name is much more upbeat than this mindless action/romance/drama. But it does offer one comparison: if you close your eyes, you will be demolished by a crumbling arena and volcanic ash. […]
“The Legend of Hercules” was one of the first, and will likely end-up being one of the worst, movies of 2014. A beefed-up Kellan Lutz, who played one of Edward Cullen’s vampire brethren in “The Twilight Saga”, stars as the title Greek hero. We witness Hercules’ rise from birth (with some electrical assistance from his […]
Tween girls, Rejoice! Yet another romantic action/fantasy book series that you so adore has made its way to the big screen. Following this year’s “Beautiful Creatures”, “The Host” (and Part 2 of the “Percy Jackson” series) comes “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”, the film version of book 1 of what will eventually be a […]
After seeing the trailer for “R.I.P.D.” the very first time I predicted it was going to be a disaster. And it turns out I was right. Combine a lame story, embarrassing performances and production problems (the film wrapped in Jan. 2012 and it wasn’t released until this July) and you end-up with a film that’s […]