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 […]

The 5 Best Movies of the Summer

I’ve been taking a break from watching and reviewing current films for a bit, as we ease out of summer and into fall. This time of year is one of the slowest for big movie releases, but even this summer at its peak was one of the slowest ones box office-wise in recent memory. Despite […]

Review: “War for the Planet of the Apes”

5 out of 5 stars. With an abundance of computer-generated characters populating most modern movies, pushing for realism seems to be the goal of most studios. Too often are viewers taken out of a movie, however briefly, by characters and effects that are realistic, but not realistic enough to exist seamlessly with the real people […]

Review: “Alien: Covenant”

2 out of 5 stars. Director Ridley Scott is clearing trying to Say Something with “Alien: Covenant,” which, although its title doesn’t make it sound that way, is actually a sequel to 2012’s “Prometheus,” which was itself a prequel to the “Alien” franchise that originated with Scott at the helm. The adrenaline-pumping action bits that […]

Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”

4.5 out of 5 stars. Like most sequels, it’s not quite as fresh as the original, taking the endearingly quirky trademarks that made it so popular and pushing them to the point where it’s almost overkill. Almost, but not quite, because “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a stellar sci-fi adventure that holds its […]

Review: “Power Rangers” (2017)

3.5 out of 5 stars. They’re not your typical superheroes, but the Power Rangers were an indispensable aspect of almost every 90s kid’s life, beginning with the original 1993 television series. It’s rather astounding that, given the franchise’s ongoing popularity and the onslaught of nostalgia-based adaptations and reboots over the last few years, the Power […]

Review: “Passengers” (with spoilers!)

The following review contains spoilers for “Passengers.” 2 out of 5 stars. The ads for “Passengers” bill it as escapist sci-fi entertainment. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence wake up from early hibernation on a spaceship, and something goes wrong. The thing is, that “something wrong” that the marketing alludes to isn’t what you think, […]

Review: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (with spoilers)

WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for “Rogue One.” Read at your own risk. 4 out of 5 stars. With “The Force Awakens,” the first new installment of the “Star Wars” series since 2005 and the first since the Walt Disney Company acquired the franchise, the goal was to draw audiences back into that galaxy […]

Review: “Arrival”

4 out of 5 stars. What would the people of Earth do if our planet was suddenly invaded by an alien race? It’s a question that has been asked by hundreds of science fiction films, with “Arrival” now joining the bunch. But “Arrival” isn’t an action movie. It isn’t about people fighting the aliens; in fact, the story […]

Review: “Star Trek Beyond”

3.5 out of 5 stars. J.J. Abrams’ 2009 “Star Trek” reboot and its sequel, “Star Trek: Into Darkness” truly felt like a reimagining of the classic series, modernizing it while also containing multiple homages to the original source material. With Justin Lin taking the director’s chair for the third movie, “Star Trek Beyond,” it was […]