King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Epic 2005 Remake

Peter Jackson draws on the original 1933 classic in his 2005 remake of King Kong and the film is every bit the epic that one would expect. The 1933 classic is iconic for its pioneering use of stop-motion technology. It would also go onto inspire Peter Jackson to go into special effects. Lo and behold, the Oscar-winning filmmaker would tackle a remake after finishing up The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. After all, the filmmaker…

"King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Epic 2005 Remake"

The Prestige: A Magical Psychological Thriller

The Prestige is a magical psychological thriller about a pair of feuding magicians with no shortage of edge-of-your-seat suspense. Christopher Nolan reteams with a number of his usual department heads as he reunites with his Batman Begins stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine for an adaptation of Christopher Priest’s (not to be confused with the comic book writer) 1995 novel. Nolan would adapt the script with his brother, Jonathan, for a number of years before…

"The Prestige: A Magical Psychological Thriller"

Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert – CSO at the Movies

David Newman is conducting Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert over the course of three nights at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This was my first time getting to see a film at the CSO, let alone watch the CSO in action. It was a fun experience–anytime I get to watch a Star Wars film on the big screen is always a good time. The last time I saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens on…

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert – CSO at the Movies"

Andor Changes Star Wars As We Know It

Taking place five years before Rogue One and the Battle of Yavin, the first season of Andor changes Star Wars as we know it. Through the years, the Star Wars canon has opened up in ways that audiences could not have imagined. George Lucas certainly could not have dreamed it up even if he tried. We know that Lucas is a great world builder but it’s taken many people to expand on what Star Wars…

"Andor Changes Star Wars As We Know It"

The Batman Arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD

Following its theatrical release, The Batman is now available for audiences to bring home on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD. The film is already available on Digital and streaming on HBO Max. Robert Pattinson stars as The Dark Knight as Matt Reeves takes on The Batman in a new epic masterpiece to grace the big screen. Let’s start with the most important thing first. There is not a mid-credits scene. However, the film contains…

"The Batman Arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD"

The Batman Is An Epic Masterpiece

Robert Pattinson stars as The Dark Knight as Matt Reeves takes on The Batman in a new epic masterpiece to grace the big screen. Let’s start with the most important thing first. There is not a mid-credits scene. However, the film contains an end-credits tag. Pattinson crushes it in the role. I know that many people weren’t sure what to make of his casting given the Twilight background. If you’ve seen Good Time, Damsel, and…

"The Batman Is An Epic Masterpiece"

The Adventures of Tintin Marks 10 Years

The Adventures of Tintin marks its tenth anniversary since the Steven Spielberg-directed animated film opened in theaters in 2011. In watching The Adventures of Tintin, one gets this sense of an Indiana Jones vibe going on. The main difference is that Tintin (Jamie Bell) is a journalist and not an archeologist. It’s the aforementioned Indiana Jones spirit that makes Spielberg the perfect director for the what is supposed to be the first installment of a…

"The Adventures of Tintin Marks 10 Years"

What If…?: Animated Series Depicts A Different MCU

Marvel Studios’ What If…? takes what we know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but delivers the animated action with a twist. The series draws on the Marvel Comics anthology series of the same name. Like the comic series, this is also an anthology series. We revisit key moments of the MCU through the eyes of Marvel newcomer Jeffrey Wright, who voices The Watcher, and see what would happen had characters done A instead of…

"What If…?: Animated Series Depicts A Different MCU"

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Road to IX

Star Wars: The Last Jedi may or may not be the best film in the franchise but writer-director Rian Johnson delivers the goods in the eighth installment. What follows below the asterisks is the bulk of my original review–first published in 2017.  My feelings on this film have not changed in two years.  In fact, the film only improves with time.  Rian Johnson would turn out to be the perfect filmmaker to take on the…

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Road to IX"

Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Road to IX

Star Wars: The Force Awakens features the long-awaited return of fan favorites while introducing us to a new generation of characters. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) are back but Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has gone missing.  The Resistance has a new band of heroes leading the way for a younger generation.  Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), and BB-8 are certain to take Star Wars into the…

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Road to IX"