Review: Man of Steel

Review: <em>Man of Steel</em>

Comic book movies have had such a successful run over the last number of years. The sub genre has become mainstream and is beginning to feel like a genre all its own. In 1978, Richard Donner’s Superman was unprecedented, but since then we have seen three direct sequels and a fourth unsuccessful pseudo followup in 2006. Superman is by far the most well known comic book character around the world. Even people who have never read a comic know his basic origin story. Being such a known character has made his onscreen adaptations difficult to tackle. Director Zack Snyder attempts such a task with this year’s Man of Steel.

Review: The Purge

Review: <em>The Purge</em>

The James DeMonaco directed action thriller The Purge takes an interesting look at morality, human nature, and classism. For a movie that is just ripped for violence and over the top deaths The Purge has a lot of things to say. Merging the notions of morality with societal divisions is great in concept however, The Purge fails to deliver on all these wonderful promises.

Review: Now You See Me

Review: <em>Now You See Me</em>

I have a few guilty pleasures when it comes to movies sub-genres. Two of them are covered, magic and heists, in Louis Leterrier’s Now You See Me. I am a sucker for those damn Ocean’s movies, and I could watch movies like The Prestige over and over. Something about learning the big secret, or not, in the end is very appealing in a day and age of everything being spoiled before you walk in the theater.

Review: After Earth

Review: <em>After Earth</em>

I’ve always had a weird relationship with M. Night Shyamalan movies. For every one movie I think is pretty good, there is another I don’t like. For every Sixth Sense and Unbreakable there is The Happening and The Last Airbender. Two steps forward, two steps backward. In the case of After Earth, there isn’t a step at all. It’s not good but not horrible, just there.

Review: Fast & Furious 6

Review: <em>Fast & Furious 6</em>

When you go to watch the 6th iteration of a franchise, your first thought is probably to expect a terrible mess of a movie. I’m here to tell you that with this particular movie it not only destroys that notion but ends up being if not the best or one of best movies in the franchise.

Review: Star Trek into Darkness

Review: <em>Star Trek into Darkness</em>

Star Trek Into Darkness keeps with the practice established in the 2009 Star Trek of remixing things from previous Star Trek films and television shows many long time Trek fans will remember while still being accessible to new fans of the franchise. It continues to hit that balance action, drama, and comedy, a recipe for any fun summer blockbuster.

Review: Iron Man 3

Review: <em>Iron Man 3</em>

The latest installment in the series that kicked off a phenomenon in modern movie history has arrived. Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 is the first real leap for that summer blockbuster brass ring. The hype for everything Marvel after last year’s juggernaut, The Avengers, has put this movie on everyone’s radar. The general rehashing of past films won’t cut it. So how does Marvel take on the Herculean task of matching the hype?

Review: Pain & Gain

Review: <em>Pain & Gain</em>

The true story of criminal bodybuilders in mid 90s Miami is a match made in heaven for a director like Michael Bay. He couldn’t have come up with a better piece of fiction himself. Based on the crimes of the so called “Sun Gym Gang” the movies follows Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg), Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie), and Paul Doyle (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) as they decide to kidnap, murder, and steal to live the lives they have always wanted for themselves.

Review: Oblivion

Review: <em>Oblivion</em>

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise, Oblivion is the first major movie this season. Nothing like the pure star power of Tom Cruise to kick off the spring/summer movie season. Oblivion tells the story of Jack Harper, a drone service tech on the ravaged planet Earth. How it gets ravaged and why are revealed in standard fashion within the first 10 minutes. Jack Harper’s world will soon be turned up side down (Cue menacing music).