Monthly Archives: November 2022

One of the bloodiest and most important struggles of World War II in the Pacific is given a loopy, ahistorical B-movie treatment with loopy, B-movie actors in “Battle for Saipan.“ It’s loosely based on the real-life “banzai charge” at the … Continue reading →

So, a fantasy parable about a world of earth, wind, fire and water, things do different as to be “Elemental,” living together, mixing and mingling and eventually getting along? Hard to get much of a bead on it based on … Continue reading →

Steven Spielberg’s semi autobiographical ode to a childhood out of the ordinary is his gift to us for the holidays. Curious to compare this sentimental and idealized — with a little edge — fantasia of a childhood making movies with … Continue reading →

The actor’s first duty in a movie that is plainly nobody’s idea of a “good choice” is to not let us know it’s her or his “only choice” or offer at the moment. Don’t embarrass yourself by looking bored or … Continue reading →

“Wakanda Forever” took a steep dive on its second weekend, but still racked up another $67 million and change. No it won’t match “Black Panther” numbers, not by quite a bit. But a blockbuster is a blockbuster, post pandemic. Disney … Continue reading →

We’ve seen decades of boot camp movies over the decades, most taking their cue from 1957’s “The D.I.,” with Jack Webb playing the titular Marine Corps drill instructor. More recently, the bar was set by R. Lee Ermey in “Full … Continue reading →

One of the best films ever made about the Armenian Genocide tells the story of one of the first survivors to make it to America. It’s titled “Aurora’s Sunrise,” and it uses different media, bending film genres to relate one … Continue reading →

Seems like every time he reminds us of how good he is, Nic Cage goes right back to doing B-or-C pictures. The wardrobe and (in one shot) fake mustache give this one away. Could be good. Maybe not. We’ll see. … Continue reading →

Apologies to anyone at the roll-your-eyes “Here he goes again” stage of reading my familiar gripe, lament and rant about where too many thrillers come up short — pacing. But here I go again. “The Pay Day” is a a … Continue reading →

This is a very gay-tolerant cinematic fall for Gabrielle Union. She plays a mother who has to come around — a little — on her gay son, who wants to become a Marine in this drama. And in Disney’s animated … Continue reading →