Review: “Dune” (2021)

For decades, Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel “Dune” has been considered unfilmable. Perhaps that’s true; perhaps that notion is just the result of many years of productions that failed to get off the ground, like Alejandro Jodorowsky’s proposed 14 hour long adaptation, or ones that just straight up failed, like David Lynch’s 1984 movie. With […]

Review: “Reminiscence”

“The past can haunt a man. That’s what they say.” Nick Bannister’s (Hugh Jackman) opening narration in “Reminiscence,” and his voiceovers throughout the remainder of the film, calls to mind classic films noir in which the hardened protagonist wearily dictates his thoughts, feelings, and ruminations on morality. But “Reminiscence” never does more than remind us […]

Review: “Settlers”

The western and science fiction genres share several similar themes, particularly when the subject of the latter is exploration into the unknown, essentially transporting the frontier from the American West to the edges of outer space. It can be exciting and fascinating and introspective when done right. Unfortunately, writer and director Wyatt Rockefeller’s film “Settlers” […]

Review: “Sputnik”

When most people hear the word “sputnik,” they likely think of the name of the first satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union. But the word itself roughly translates to “fellow traveler,” making it the perfect title for director Egor Abramenko’s less-than-perfect debut feature based on his award-winning short film “The Passenger,” which continues […]

Review: “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”

3 out of 5 stars. The dinosaurs are out of the park and into the great big world, as “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” the sequel to the 2015 reboot of the “Jurassic Park” series, starts to live up to that title. The film picks up three years after the destruction of the park in “Jurassic […]

Review: “Pacific Rim Uprising”

1.5 out of 5 stars. Hey, do like watching giant monsters fight giant robots? Did you love the movie “Pacific Rim”? Then boy, is this not the movie for you. It’s like Godzilla, but it isn’t quite Godzilla. It’s also like Transformers, but it’s not quite Transformers. Its style is derived somewhat from Japanese anime, […]

Review: “A Wrinkle in Time”

2.5 out of 5 stars. Minor spoilers ahead for those unfamiliar with the story. I first read Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel “A Wrinkle in Time” when I was in elementary school. I remember not being especially thrilled by it, but decided last year, in anticipation of Disney and Ava DuVernay’s film adaptation, it was time […]

Review: “Annihilation”

4 out of 5 stars. Often, the best science fiction films are the ones that don’t give you all the answers, but rather give you more to puzzle out on your own long after leaving the theater. Such is the case with Alex Garland’s second directorial effort, “Annihilation,” based on the first book in a […]

Review: “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi”

4.5 out of 5 stars. A little ways along into “The Last Jedi,” Luke Skywalker asks Rey if she knows what the Force is. She responds that “it’s a power that Jedi have,” and “it can make things float”—which, to be fair, isn’t too far off from the sort of response most moviegoers would likely […]

Review: “Blade Runner 2049”

3.5 out of 5 stars. “Blade Runner 2049” opens with a shot that calls back to Ridley Scott’s original 1982 film: a close up of an eye, staring straight into the camera. It’s an unsettling image that sets the tone of the film, as well as one of its main themes: the perception of what […]