Movie Review: The Answer

I watch a lot of movies of varying levels of quality and from a variety of genres. This is not to say I know any more about judging a film than you do. All I am trying to say is that I often come across films of unfulfilled potential. Movies that while not actually good, show some potential in their execution or in the story or in some way that indicates a filmmaker to keep an eye on. With The Answer you may have one of those filmmakers. The movie is quite unpolished and the story is not fully realized, but there is something about it that would indicate there is more there than a throwaway B-movie. Or I could be grasping at straws and this is the best it will ever be.

Movie Review: The Lure

There are some movies that as soon as you see the trailer you know you have to see it. It is the feeling I get when I see a trailer for, say, a new Star Wars movie or like when I saw the preview for John Wick: Chapter 2. Well, that feeling welled up inside of me when I saw a trailer for The Lure. Now, I am sure many of you look at that title as if I were typing in a foreign language. That’s all right, sometimes I feel that way as I am typing. The Lure is the English title for Corki Dancingu, a Polish genre mashup that is definitely a unique experience. Granted, I did not love it as much as I thought I would based on the trailer, but I think it may grow on me with more viewings.

Movie Review: Fifty Shades Darker

So, I am not one who should be writing about this movie, much less seeing it. I did not see the first film, have no intentions of seeing the first film, and will hopefully be able to live up to that promise. However, with that said, I did find myself sitting in a theater watching Fifty Shades Darker play out on the big screen in front of me. It was not one of my finer moments. Still, my girlfriend wished to see it and offered to pay, who am I to say no? Spending time with her should trump what was sure to be a miserable movie experience, right? I should be glad she wasn’t upset at my making fun of the thing.

Movie Review: Me Before You

The other day I saw a movie called The Lobster. That film was fantastic, a new take on the romantic comedy that sends it spinning off into the utterly bizarre realm of an undefined future where relationship status is important and people can be turned into animals if they fail to couple. Crazy, right? Anyway, I chose to follow that up with something a bit more traditional. This past weekend saw the release of Me Before You, a romantic comedy that aims to get you right in the proverbial “feels.” I have to say, this is not a type of film that usually gets to me, but every once in awhile one is executed well enough that it cuts through and threatens my tear ducts. No. I did not cry, but the potential was there.

Movie Review: The Lobster

So, The Lobster, that is a movie that happened. It is the sort of movie that defies explanation, a nebulous slice of bizarro cinema that begs to be seen if not understood. Well, that may not exactly be true, on some levels it is perfectly understandable, perhaps even relatable, but the execution takes it to another level of odd. It is a film that challenges expectations, makes you laugh at the absurdity, cringe at some of what it shows, and in some ways touch you on an emotional level. Of course, this is not a movie for everyone, and while I would recommend it to everyone, I cannot guarantee your enjoyment.

Movie Review: Demolition (2016)

Demolition is one of those movies that I was interested in but cannot say I had terribly high expectations for it. There was something about it that just seemed different. It was something about how the trailer transitioned from a tragedy to a comedy with a death followed by an annoyance over Peanut M&Ms. There there was the introduction of another woman, via response over said candy annoyance that indicated a potential new romance on the heels of a dead wife. Beyond that, the central character seemed somewhat off. It was interesting enough to draw me in.

Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I never read the genre mashing novel when it came out a few years back. Although, now, after seeing the movie, I am curious to see if the book is any better. While I did not hate the movie, I cannot say I liked it all that much. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a movie in search of an audience, a mash that forgets it is supposed to be entertaining. It is a shame as the prospect of this type of project is quite enticing. Somewhere along the way, they forgot who this was for and what the point was, aiming somewhere in the middle, sapping away any potential it had.

Movie Review: The Age of Adaline

Who says a horror loving guy like me can't enjoy a romantic film? It is certainly possible to cross those barriers, a good movie is a good movie, and movies affect different folks in different ways. If I sound a touch defensive, I just might be because I love film in all it's forms. This is not to say I love all movies. In any case, I saw a early screening of The Age of Adaline and while it is not perfect by any stretch, large portions of it were very effective and I can honestly say I quite enjoyed it.

Blu-ray Review: Horns

Looking for something a little bit different? Something that dances on the fringe of the mainstream? Horns may be just the movie for you. Sound like a commercial, don't I? I really do not mean to, it is just that this movie is a little strange, a little odd, certainly experimental, and yet it remains wholly accessible. It is the kind of movie that should be championed on the big screen, but because it is different and not like everything else, it is left behind to find an audience on home video. This is a good film with an interesting central character and an execution that keeps the audience involved to the end.

CritCast #27: Horrible Bosses 2, Dr. Cabbie, The Theory of Everything

It's been over a year since the last CritCast appeared. Not sure if anyone cares, but thought I would take another stab at it. This was completely off the cuff, nothing was written or rehearsed beforehand. This is the only take that was done. I think it came out decently.

Movie Review: Cuban Fury

Do you ever see a movie trailer for a film that you can just tell is not trying terribly hard or covers a lot of familiar ground, but feel compelled to see it anyway? I know you have, I have to. Although, I have to admit that I am getting a little better at skipping some, there are some that slip past the guard. One of those to get though the defenses is Cuban Fury. I am sure most of you have never heard of this one before. Before a few days ago I hadn't either, it is just sneaking into a few theaters and I suspect that it will fade away just as quickly. By now, you have to be wondering if it is worth seeing. The answer is a little complicated, but not really.

Critical Capsule: Pompeii 3D

So, the other day, against better judgment, I went and saw Pompeii 3D. I had a feeling going in that it was probably going to be a mistake, but I found some reasons to justify my presence due to the director's prior work and his 3D resume, and there I was. The trailers did not look particularly interesting, plus we know how it ends. Still, there I was, front and center, opening day with maybe three or four other people in the theater. That was the total there, no fear of selling out and no fear that I would not get my preferred seat location. As you can see, I am also reaching for things to say.

Movie Review: Winter's Tale

A few months back I saw a trailer for Winter's Tale. It was not something I had heard of before, but it did look interesting, a mash of supernatural, time travel, and romance. The romance is a type of movie that is really hard to do right. More often than not the style is relegated to simple platitudes and moronic characters who do not act even remotely human. This looked to be trying to do something different, I could not exactly tell what, but different enough to catch my eye. Still, I should have been wary because of two words, Akiva Goldsman. More on that in a bit.

Movie Review: About Time (2013)

Writer/director Richard Curtis is something of an acquired taste. His movies drip with a sentimentality that can easily come off as corny and rather syrupy. Still, the man knows his way around a tale and, in my opinion, makes it work. His latest outing is a genre-bending romance that brings time travel into the mix. About Time is a movie that uses time travel as a tool to tell a tale of a lifelong love. It is a movie that held me captive to its very sentimental story, its impossible characters, and its touching relationships. It is a movie that sits with other romantic mash ups I have enjoyed such as The Lake House (yes, I liked that movie). There is something about the blending of science fiction elements with romance that draws me in.

Movie Review: Much Ado About Nothing (2013)

It was just a few weeks ago that I first learned of Joss Whedon's new film, am adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. I must say that it very much intrigued me. The movie was shot on black and white and featured a host of faces familiar to fans of Whedon's work, which definitely got my attention. It is also set on the present while retaining the old English dialogue. Still, I was not sure I wanted to make the trip to go see it.