Monthly Archives: July 2025

Sushi and Cinema Thursday XXIV…from the files of “Police Squad”

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Roger Moore

Gorge on sushi, triple feature at the multiplex. That’s living. “The Bad Guys II” because who doesn’t want to see what all the eight year olds will be calling “Cool” at the pool? The Horror Pic of the week. From … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: The Animated Early Life of a Great Artist — “Hola, Frida”

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Roger Moore

“Hola, Frida” is a charming animated imagining of the early years of the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Adapted from a book by Sophie Faucher, this Canadian/Quebecois production takes the tidbit that Kahlo had an imaginary friend as a little … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: A grieving child sees her monstrous “Sketch” come to life

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Roger Moore

“Sketch” is a children’s film, a “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Where the Wild Things Are” variation about a child’s fantasy life — angry, monstrous drawings sketched in reaction to grief — invading her real world. Aspiring artist Amber (Bianca Belle) isn’t … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Damn Right “She Rides Shotgun”

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Roger Moore

“She Rides Shotgun” is a gripping A-list B-movie, a morally ambigious and illogically logical thriller for our amoral, illogical times. Based on a novel by Ben Harper, Nick Rowland’s film grabs a solid, time-proven scenario — a child, on the … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Insomnia Cure? “Invincible Swordsman”

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Roger Moore

“Invincible Swordsman” is a slick, beautifully-designed Chinese action fantasy that never escapes the trap of “time suck” that so many Wuxia thrillers fall into. That’s the period piece martial arts genre that revels in flying fighters and supernatural skills, polished … Continue reading →

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Classic Film Review: Burt, Booty, Brigands and Brigantines — “The Crimson Pirate” (1952)

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Roger Moore

“The Crimson Pirate?” Yarrrrr, there’s a pirate picture with teeth! Gore Verbinski borrowed from a parade of pirate movies when he concocted Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franhcise, none more than this jaunty romp from 1952. Warner Bros. gave star … Continue reading →

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Documentary Review: Teens ease the transition to adulthood via The Outdoors, Sled Dogs and “Folktales”

Posted on July 26, 2025 by Roger Moore

It’s billed as “the best years of your life,” the teenaged Romain complains in “Folktales,” the new documentary about teens, sled dogs and the wilderness “Folk” schools of Norway. Socially maladjusted, shy and withdrawn Romain has figured out that the … Continue reading →

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Netflixable? Sandler’s back in the Sandtrap — “Happy Gilmore 2”

Posted on July 26, 2025 by Roger Moore

Any hopes that Adam Sandler would use his Netflix contract to remake himself in movies like “Hustle” or “The Meyerowitz Stories”were dashed a couple of “Murder Mysteries” ago. But he’s still doing numbers for the streamer, as his audience aged … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: For these Gen Z daters, it’s all downhill from “Oh, Hi!”

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Roger Moore

The mating rituals, commitment phobia and communication issues of a much-maligned generation are sent up, with amusingly mixed results, in “Oh, Hi!” — a rom-com that almost goes for it and almost comes off before losing its nerve. Writer-director Sophie … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: This “Fantastic Four” take their stumbling, humorless “First Steps”

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Roger Moore

Comic book cinema goes Mid Century Marvel for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” a sleek and gorgeous looking reboot of this franchise that harks back to Fantastic 4 comic and TV cartoon’s heyday. The film’s true star is production designer … Continue reading →

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