2011’s “Gnomeo & Juliet” is charming, sweet, emotional and genuine. I told lead voice actress Emily Blunt “it’s a terrific animated movie” on “The Tonight Show”. I can’t believe that was more than 7 years ago. Now, after seeing the new sorta-sequel, sorta-spinoff, follow-up – “Sherlock Gnomes”, I kinda feel bad for Blunt, whose Juliet […]
The mega sci-fi creatures vs. robots extravaganza “Pacific Rim” opened in theaters July 2013. A lot’s taken place in the movie world over the past four and a half years, including that film’s director, Guillermo del Toro making the best decision of his career, choosing to direct a different creature in “The Shape of Water” […]
As I was watching the new “Tomb Raider”, which is based on the Lara Croft video games, and, of course, is a reboot of the ‘01 & ‘03 films starring Angelina Jolie, I couldn’t help but think that this is the kind of movie normally released in the summertime, not in mid-March. That’s because “Tomb […]
“Love, Simon” is based on the 2015 YA novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. 20th Century Fox, the studio distributing the film, is declaring this film the first-ever mainstream rom-com with a gay teen protagonist. Nick Robinson (from last year’s “Everything, Everything” – also based on a YA romance novel) gives a breakthrough, star-making […]
“A Wrinkle in Time” is based on the Award-winning 1962 novel of the same name that’s a fixture in most grade school classrooms. I’ve been familiar with the book for a long time, but didn’t read it growing-up. After seeing Disney’s film adaptation, I consider that a blessing. Ava DuVernay is the talented director of […]
“Meet the remarkable Emperor Penguin… again.” That is narrator Morgan Freeman’s opening line from “March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step”, the follow-up to 2005’s groundbreaking, Oscar-winning nature documentary. This is a sequel we never knew we needed. I saw the original “March” at a crowded theater during the height of its theatrical run […]
“Red Sparrow” is being marketed as a sexy spy thriller in which Jennifer Lawrence shows a lot of skin. The truth is – while Lawrence is naked in a few scenes, not only is this misguided and often vile film NOT sexy, but it doesn’t contain a single thrill. In a time when Hollywood is […]
“Hollywood Game Night”, which debuted in 2013, is the fun NBC competition show, hosted by the always entertaining Jane Lynch. “Game Night”, the new Hollywood comedy, is neither fun nor entertaining. The minute you buy a ticket to this misguided misadventure, you’ve already lost. Husband and wife Max and Annie (they met years ago at […]
“Annihilation” is writer/director Alex Garland’s follow-up to 2015’s fascinating, visionary Oscar-winning drama “Ex Machina”. This time he adapts Book One of the popular sci-fi Southern Reach Trilogy, creating the most riveting and thought-provoking film of the year so far. Natalie Portman is excellent as Lena, a biologist and Johns Hopkins professor who specializes in cell […]
The Black Panther character was first introduced to the Cinematic Universe in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War”, with “42” and “Get On Up” actor Chadwick Boseman in the role of Marvel’s prominent African American superhero. This new solo movie, which picks-up just days after the events of “Civil War“, has a distinct feel and style […]