One of the smartest and most handsomely produced B-movies I’ve seen in quite some time. Logan Marshall-Green gives a good performance with some interesting physical ticks to give off his newly transformed vibe, the gore is top-notch nastiness, it shows really creativity with the action (the camera movements and depth of field experimentation really stand out), it’s got a sharp script and the music compliments it all quite well; but, wow, does it end on one shockingly dark high note. Imagine if you crossed 6 Million Dollar Man, RoboCop, Death Wish, and a little bit of Black Mirror together, you’d get this awesome ride of a film. If this playing near you, absolutely check it out!
[RATING: 4.5 Bionically Enhanced Quadriplegics out of 5]
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Modern day Broadway lyricism synched up to classical Hollywood production values. In theory, I should love this movie. Hugh Jackman makes it all sing, some of the songs are nice, and it all looks & sounds incredibly lavish; yet, all that clashes with hokey dialogue, predictable story turns, shockingly bad lip-syncing and the elephant-in-the-room that is lionizing a man who was in reality little more than an exploitative con artist. Divorced from historical context, this is perfectly fine (albeit still questionable nonetheless) I suppose; but, I still can’t help but feel like I was right on the money when I said this picture is like the kid in class who you know is giving it all he’s got even if the best he can end up with is a C-.
[RATING: 2.5 Ham-Fisted Morals out of 5]
BLACK DYNAMITE
Without a doubt, this is the only good parody movie to be released since Mel Brooks made Robin Hood: Men in Tights in the early-90s. Adam from YMS once said anyone who doesn’t like this picture has no soul and he’s correct in that assertion. It’s consistently entertaining, lovingly satirical of the blaxploitation genre (come to think of it, this may be a better grindhouse pastiche than Grindhouse considering how much the film is committed to its vintage aesthetic) and never overstays it’s welcome. No wonder this spawned an Adult Swim cartoon.
[RATING: 4.5 Film Grain Filters out of 5]
TERMINAL
Yeah well, I’m just going to put this alongside Mute in the list of “Neon Noirs That I’m I Like But Everyone Else Hates”. Is it an amiable mess that values style over substance? Sure, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. Plus, if your movie looks this spectacular, I don’t see the point in complaining when just kicking back and letting it all wash over you is a much more desirable option.
[RATING: 3 Gleefully Insane Margot Robbies out of 5]
SCOUT'S GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
Ceaselessly juvenile and braindead jokes aside, this is still a decently entertaining horror comedy that has no pretenses of seeming smarter than it actually is (provided you can stomach the whole dudebro vibes). Tye Sheridan is a nice lead as well as a good counterbalance to his bumbling friends, the gore is fun and it occasionally gets a few modest chuckles. Also, as an Eagle Scout myself, it’s nice to see Scouts portrayed as something other than your usual wonderbread, alarmingly chipper goodie-two-shoes schtick. If nothing else, that poster is awesome and has more thought put into it than this sort of nonsense deserves. I just wish it made me laugh a bit more. Had this undergone a few more rewrites, this could’ve been something far more special.
[RATING: 3 Battle Prepping Montages out of 5]
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