Review: The Purge

They say that big things start with one simple thing – a good idea.  The premise of The Purge is exactly that - an interesting foundation upon which to build a suspenseful narrative.  That the film has done $61M domestically thus far against a reported $3M production budget reinforces that notion.  Sadly though, The Purge lacks the proper execution to take the film from a good idea and turn it into the taut edge-of-your-seat narrative...

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Review: Playing for Keeps

One of the best things about a buffet is that you get a little bit of everything - prime rib, king crab, lasagna, shrimp cocktail all piled sky high on an overpopulated plate.  One of the worst things about a buffet is that while you can a little big of everything, none of it is done particularly well.  That more or less sums up the biggest problem plaguing Playing for Keeps starring Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel.  There are a...

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Review: Bullet to the Head

Ten minutes into Bullet to the Head, I started to think this was a textbook B-level action movie straight out of the late 80’s/early 90’s.  Twenty minutes later I was sure this would have been more like a C-level movie had it been made back in that era.  Thus, it amazes me that this movie received any sort of theatrical release, even though it was in January, the month where bad theatrical releases go to die.  It’s...

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Review: Man of Steel

Bringing a movie about one of the most recognized characters worldwide is a daunting task.  It’s akin to writing a new Star Wars movie, only more difficult.  The reason for this is because everyone has a stake in the character and everyone has an idea of what kind of story it should be, even the most casual of fans.  And after seventy-five years, there are a lot of versions of the world’s most famous alien.  Some...

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Review: This is the End

I think we’ve all had a moment where we look at our friends sitting around the apartment drinking beers and talking smack about anything and everything and come to the brilliant realization that making a movie about our regular interactions would be pure cinematic gold.  Because of course every single thing we say is incredibly witty and every punch line completely hilarious.  Yet somehow, despite this obvious wealth of entertainment...

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Review: Side Effects

Before I launch into this interview, let me put this on the table.  I think Steven Soderbergh is incredibly overrated in both his own mind and in the minds of those kids getting their expensive film degrees.  To me he has produced more misses (Ocean’s Twelve, Solaris, The Informant, et al) than hits (Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic, Out of Sight).  Where I think he particularly gets into trouble is when he...

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Superman and Lois Lane: Through the Years

Over the past 55 years, Superman and Lois Lane have appeared on the big and small screen in a number of incarnations that very much reflected the times in which they were set.  With the upcoming release of Man of Steel, here’s a look at DC’s most iconic superhero and most recognizable intrepid reporter through the years. KIRK ALYN – Superman (1948) GEORGE REEVES – Adventures of Superman (1952 – 1958) CHRISTOPHER...

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