Category Archives: Pop! Goes the Culture
Movie Review: World War Z
I pretty much knew what this would be going in. Still, though it shared many of the traits of films I liked less (cynical brand exploitation of Evil Dead, the inept, often senseless plotting of Prometheus, etc.), I came away … Continue reading
Movie Review: This Is the End
My expectations were lukewarm. My experience was wasabi hot! (No, the food metaphor really has no connection to the movie.) Still, here’s my review of This Is the End, written for Paste
Movie Review: Man of Steel
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a loud, depressing mangling of the core mythos of an iconic superhero! (And it’s all done using a hack-flavored script!) My review of the Meh. of Steel. Up until this movie, I was … Continue reading
Movie Review: Star Trek Into Darkness
Abrams’ Star Trek films remain fascinating for how their many flaws patiently wait until after the film ends to distract and bother. During the film? Fun. First step out of the row of seats toward the lobby? “Wait a minute…” … Continue reading
Movie Review: Iron Man 3
Downey Jr. is an unprecedented occurrence in the admittedly still somewhat young comic book film genre—a movie-carrying force of nature whose signature patter and charisma has redefined a core Marvel character and carried the movies to the land of box … Continue reading
Movie Review: Oblivion
Tom Cruise is a pretty compelling sci-fi hero, all things considered. (And granted, for some, there are lots of other things to consider.) As my review of Oblivion points out, I would have enjoyed more time with him and his … Continue reading
Movie Review: Evil Dead
A financial can’t-miss exploitation of a horror-humor classic by the people responsible for the original. It’s hard to begrudge the effort, and tempting to salute the savvy of the calculation that went into cashing in on the brand even as … Continue reading
Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful
In his review for Deadspin, Will Leitch makes some good points on how Franco’s a bad fit for the role of a silver-tongued con artist, but ultimately, despite the title, I don’t think this prequel really needed more from Franco … Continue reading
Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The domino trees at the conclusion of this film will join the irradiated tree poodle of Ang Lee’s Hulk on my list of least favorite, least necessary and most stupid moments in fantasy film efforts of the last decade or … Continue reading
Movie Review: Much Ado About Nothing
As a long time lover of all things Bard, and a pretty consistent admirer of most things Whedonesque, I went into this film predisposed to enjoy it. Still, my familiarity with the play could have made it painful had the … Continue reading →