The Crow-A Revenge Film with Pure Gothic Atmosphere
The gothic atmosphere imbued within every minute of The Crow is unmatched. The rundown-looking sets, the practical miniatures shot in sweeping establishing shots, ultra-dramatic lighting, and rain-filled cinematography. Each piece of filmmaking gives The Crow a Gothic, almost operatic atmosphere unmatched by few other movies save for Tim Burton's Batman films.
Spider-Man: Far From Home-A Fun Superhero European Vacation Bet Than it’s Online Reputation
Spider-Man: Far From Home still has its merits, and I think it's a better film than people online make it out to be. The film does capture the fundamental conflict at the core of the character, that of Peter struggling to balance being a teenager and a superhero, in a way that I find pretty compelling and, in a way, feels like a solid continuation from Homecoming. The European vacation feel of a lot of the film is admittedly quite enjoyable, with a lot of scenic shots of European locales.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - A Nostalgic and Formative Cinematic Experience
Each time I watch or even think about The Force Awakens, my mind instantly jumps back to the memories leading up to and during its release in 2015.
Return of the Jedi-A Satisfying Finale for the Original Star Wars Trilogy
Return of the Jedi is an incredibly satisfying finale in that every character gets a chance to shine. Every character, minor to major, has a general purpose in the plot, and the most significant characters get satisfactory character arcs.
Speed Racer-A High-Octane Blockbuster that’s Aged Far Better Than I Remember
In an era of IP-Blockbusters that feel safe and made by committee, Speed Racer ages far better with each viewing due to how unabashedly unique it feels. No film released before or after it looks or feels like Speed Racer.
Hundreds of Beavers-Pure Live-action Cartoon Insanity
Hundreds of Beavers is the closest anyone has ever gotten to making a genuine live-action cartoon, especially at this relatively small scale. The sheer variety of silent visual gags the filmmakers manage to capture with this relatively small budget is awe-inspiring.
Spider-Man: Homecoming-Pure Highschool Superhero Vibes
What Spider-Man: Homecoming accomplishes, more than anything, is portraying that sense of teenage superhero escapism inherent to the character. Much of my enjoyment of the film stems from watching Peter or Ned fanboying over the heroic, extravagant things that happen to Peter. The general high-school vibes of the film add to the film's charm, from the enjoyably awkward conversations to the hilariously dry, monotone demeanor of the teachers.
The Empire Strikes Back-My Favorite Star Wars Movie
What makes The Empire Strikes Back such a phenomenal movie is that, compared to most other Star Wars movies, its story feels the most character-focused. The arcs of Luke, Han, and Leia directly drive the plot. Luke has to learn the values of being a Jedi, such as patience and control, and Han and Leia learn to value and trust each other.
The Last Waltz-The Pure Collaborative Power of Music Captured in a Glorious Concert Film
The Last Waltz shows the pure collaborative power of music. It's a concert film that celebrates the pure power of music and performing through its large band and dozens upon dozens of guest performances.
Star Wars-Simple Pop Entertainment
When Re-watching the original Star Wars, I attempted to look at it beyond its now iconic status. And in doing that, I was surprised by how charming so much of the film is.
The Amazing Spider-Man-Has its Merits, But is Mostly a Dull Mess
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a film that looks good, sounds good, and has some decent scenes involving Spider-Man. But it also has a horrible script that juggles too many storylines at once that aren't very interesting.
Amy-A profoundly Moving, Intimate Portrait of Amy Winehouse
Amy crafts a profoundly intimate, moving portrait of Amy Winehouse. The film avoids any of the artificial traits of your standard music documentary. There are no talking head interviews or an overly stylized presentation. Instead, the film presents an authentic glimpse into the life of Amy Winehouse through archival footage and audio interviews.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith-A Successful Attempt at the Aspirations of the Prequel Trilogy
Revenge of the Sith seems most successfully attuned to the operatic, Shakespearean aspirations George Lucas wanted out of the prequel trilogy.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones-A Failed Attempt at Turning Star Wars into a Shakespearean Drama
Episode II has its merits, but for me, it's mostly George Lucas's failed attempt at turning Star Wars into a Shakespearean drama.
The Amazing Spiderman-A Lot of Good Wrapped around a Lot of Dullness
The Amazing Spider-Man has always been a film that I've always found featured a lot of good wrapped around a lot of dullness.
Steel Magnolias-A Film That Grew On Me
Steel Magnolias wasn’t doing much for me early on, but it soon grew on me.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace-George Lucas’s Occasionally Fun, But Mostly Dull Live-Action Saturday Morning Cartoon
Revisiting The Phantom Menace in the theater, the film clicked with me slightly more than on previous viewings. I've grown to appreciate the almost Saturday Morning Cartoon energy of so much of the film. Through its over-the-top comedic supporting characters and melodrama, so much of the film, tonally speaking, reminded me of the cartoons I grew up on.
Aliens-A Sequel That Shifts Genres With the Essence of the ORiginal
Aliens is often regarded as a complete genre shift from the original, leaning more towards action than horror. While it features more action-packed scenes with gunfights and explosions, what's so brilliant about James Cameron's sequel is how it shifts towards action while keeping to the original's horror roots.
Alien-A Masterclass in Atmospheric Horror and Realistic Characters
On my previous viewing many years ago, my tired state didn't allow me to fully appreciate Alien's effectiveness in providing a terrifying sense of atmospheric dread. Right from the opening moments, with those slow, methodical tracking shots through the ship's interiors, the film brilliantly builds up this internalized tension that permeates the entire movie.
Spider-Man 3-A Flawed Film I’ve Slightly Warmed-up to
I've warmed up to Spider-Man 3 slightly. While the film is incredibly flawed and messy, I've grown to look past those flaws and see the good parts that occasionally shine throughout the film.