Tag: Movie Reviews

Categories
5 Stars Movies

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

It should be obvious, but it is nigh impossible to call oneself a cinephile and dislike the films of Martin Scorsese (or at least not appreciate them).

His name is on par with directing giants of the past: Hitchcock, Ford, Ozu, Welles, Kurosawa, Kubrick, Fellini. He has been in the twilight of his career for a little over a decade now, but has never lost his unique cinematic eye. For those like him working into his 80s (it should be noted before this film, I saw two trailers for up coming films from two octogenarian filmmakers: Michael Mann and Ridley Scott), it is not easy to bring about something fresh as well as ones old tricks. 

Continue reading “Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)”
Categories
1 1/2 Stars Movies

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

I was allowed to see most R rated movies growing up in my pre-teen/teen years, with the sole exception of 1973’s The Exorcist. My mom was so convinced she could be possessed that she was against me seeing it until she would be able to watch it with me, and pause before every scary part. 

Even after a half century of sequels and (truly) countless rip offs, The Exorcist has still retained it’s immortality on the Mt. Rushmore of horror films. It is hard to argue its impact. From that view point, it is easy to see why director David Gordon Green, who just finished a trilogy of Halloween sequels (which I have yet to see), would want to use the same approach and make a direct sequel to the late great William Friedkin directed masterpiece. The result, The Exorcist: Believer, is a true let down.

Continue reading “The Exorcist: Believer (2023)”
Categories
4 Stars Movies

The Creator (2023)

I’m not much of a proponent for AI, but I do admit it has positives I cannot deny (let us never underestimate what spell check has done for us, and iif it weren’t for a GPS, I would be disoriented on the road).

AI also has helped tremendously as a subject for film, dating back to its real starting point (in what is arguably still the greatest Sci-Fi film to date) with the HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Since then, AI has been somewhat over used in media, so one may even be excused to think some of what is shown in Gareth Edwards’ The Creator is cliche.

Continue reading “The Creator (2023)”
Categories
3 Stars

Dumb Money (2023)

As someone on the autism spectrum, I sometimes think what life would be like if my intense interest in cinema was instead in wall street.

I am not saying I wish that to be the case, but if it were, perhaps I may have had a chance at the whole GameStop issue from the start of 2021, and then clearly understand what is happening in the film based off of these events, Dumb Money.

Continue reading “Dumb Money (2023)”
Categories
4 1/2 Stars Vintage

American Graffiti (1973)

The tagline for George Lucas’ pre-Star Wars breakthrough American Graffiti reads 

“Where were you in 62?”

Simply put, I was a quarter of a century away from being born. Even so, if the film were set in 1962, 1922, or 2006 (the year I graduated), the film would still showcase human elements that apply to young adults everywhere. 

Continue reading “American Graffiti (1973)”
Categories
4 Stars

Barbie (2023)

“BARBIE! BARBIE!”

“When I say ‘Bar’, you say ‘Bie’! Bar-Bie’”

-actual young teen boys at my screening.

Continue reading “Barbie (2023)”
Categories
4 1/2 Stars Movies

Oppenheimer (2023)

With the possible exception of Tom Cruise, no entity in Hollywood today cares more about the theatrical experience more than Christopher Nolan.

His name is the first to come to mind when thinking of directors of his generation, and few have been as successful. His is one of the very few names in Hollywood that can draw an audience just by his name alone. He is one who goes big with every ingredient that makes a movie, letting everyone from the actors to the replacement sound guy to shine. In Oppenheimer, he has gotten the closest he has gotten to outdoing himself in some time, as it is easily the best he has done in years.

Continue reading “Oppenheimer (2023)”
Categories
3 1/2 Stars Movies

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Up until a few months ago, I had only seen the first two Mission Impossible films. Believe me, I know. It is somewhat sad that it took me this long to get caught up.

Perhaps I was just not yet willing to accept the mission ahead of me.

Continue reading “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)”
Categories
2 1/2 Stars

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

I know I was not alone in catching up with the other Indy films before the latest would drop.

A quick overview:

  1. Raiders of the Lost Ark: One of the very best adventure movies ever made.
  2. The Temple of Doom: Fun (thank you Short Round), despite its dark themes and cultural depictions.
  3. The Last Crusade: One of the best father-son duos in cinematic history.
  4. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Honestly, some decent moments and set pieces (despite falling completely flat at the conclusion).

Despite how you rank the films, one thing is universal: the role of Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. should only be played by Harrison Ford. To recast him would indeed seem nothing short of sacrilegious, meaning we “needed” at least one more Indy film as Ford is now an octogenarian. 

Continue reading “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)”
Categories
1 1/2 Stars

The Flash (2023)

Until recently, I had that unbearable feeling that all maestro movie goers get: that they are agreeing too much with other critics.

Nowadays, all one has to do is go to Rotten Tomatoes and/or Meta Critic and see where one stands against one’s peers. As of late, it seems I have been agreeing with most people on the taste of recent movies. Now comes The Flash, which is sitting at 67% on the tomatometer. That it gives me a chance to disagree with the tomatometer is one of the few positives of the film I can think of.

Continue reading “The Flash (2023)”