With every new entry in the MCU, the questions about how to understand and interact with the franchise grow. Are we now at the point where the barrier to entry is too high? Or, maybe because the MCU is everywhere… Read More ›
lassismore
Mending the “Elden Ring” and our Hearts
I sunk an incredible number of hours into the game “Elden Ring,” so many that I hesitate to actually offer up the number. It is, unquestionably, one of the best games I’ve ever played and I am now quite sad… Read More ›
Chasing an “Ambulance”
Michael Bay’s latest film, “Ambulance,” may be the Michael Bay-iest yet. It is this perfect distillation of what you expect (and want) from such an endeavor — chases and explosions and shootouts and yelling. We can’t help but wonder though… Read More ›
With Apologies, we do not Enjoy “Grease 2”
A very wise TV show theme song once taught us that people don’t move to the beat of just one drum, that what might be right for you, may not be right for some. There is certainly no denying that… Read More ›
Grasping at “The Untouchables”
We have on this podcast found ourselves talking in recent weeks about engaging with films, the difficulties sometimes inherent therein, and the need to not be a passive viewer. Well, one of this week’s new 4K releases is the perfect… Read More ›
On Writing Less and Enjoying More
Although there have been fewer reviews written here of late, that ought not imply in any way that there has been less watching taking place. Curiously, I’ve also had the sense that I’ve been enjoying watching movies more and that… Read More ›
Turning red over “Turning Red”
There is always the new outrage, the latest threat, the thing people are getting upset about now. This week, with the streaming and blu-ray release of “Turning Red,” we’re looking at one of the dumber things that folks got upset… Read More ›
Timelessness and “West Side Story”
You can’t necessarily control your initial reaction to something — there’s a level of programming/instinct in there you can’t always instantaneously short circuit. What you can do, however, is reassess after that knee-jerk response. On this week’s podcast, we talk… Read More ›
“Marry Me” may not be Deep, but it Succeeds
There is a certain inescapable affability to the Jennifer Lopez-Owen Wilson film, “Marry Me.” The whole thing is a tale of two people who lead very different lives falling in love, and though love is undeniably important, the stakes in… Read More ›
The Beauty of Branagh’s High Gloss Hercule Poirot
It may have been delayed by Covid, but Kenneth Branagh’s second Hercule Poirot film, “Death on the Nile,” was in theaters earlier this year and is out today on Blu-ray and streaming. That makes this this the perfect moment to… Read More ›
“Ordinary People” and Three-Dimensional Characters
I read or heard or was told a while back something that struck me. Essentially it’s that we see ourselves in shades of gray that we fail to recognize in others. We understand better than anyone else (even if not… Read More ›
The Beautiful Dream that is “Nightmare Alley”
I do not love everything that Guillermo del Toro touches. I’ll admit that. There is something in the way so many of his tales unfold that does not work for me. What I will tell though is this, he is… Read More ›
“The King’s Man” and How I’m the Problem
The third entry in the “Kingsman” franchise, “The King’s Man,” is now out on Blu-ray and digital. To say that I’m disappointed by it is both true and yet somehow misses the mark. Yes, what we have here is another example… Read More ›
“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” and Never Just Being Happy
Gone is the Paul W.S. Anderson version of “Resident Evil,” or at the very least, it’s been relegated to the shadows as the Johannes Roberts directed “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” has now reinvigorated the franchise. Out now on… Read More ›
“Summer of Soul” and Winters of Discomfort
The Oscar nominated documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, “Summer of Soul,” is currently available on digital and DVD. It is a film which looks at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and the world in which the concert series took place…. Read More ›
“Wayne’s Word” Parties on 30 Years Later
“Wayne’s World,” that “Saturday Night Live” sketch turned feature film series is celebrating an anniversary this year. Yes, the first of the two movies featuring Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar is now 30 years old. Naturally, there’s a new Blu-ray… Read More ›
The Indie Family Drama that is Marvel’s “Eternals”
It is all too easy to sit there and get angry at the superhero genre for taking over the box office. It is all too easy to shake your fist at what the MCU has done to the world. But,… Read More ›
Singing the Praises of “Encanto”
There is so much to love about “Encanto.” This is a film filled with great performances and tremendous songs. It is fun and funny. But, at its core, this is a movie that explores what it means to truly reveal… Read More ›
Loving “Juice” but Struggling for Podcast Ideas
Normally when I sit down to watch a movie for a podcast, the idea of what that episode is going to be about strikes me as I watch. It hits like a bolt of lightning. However, that doesn’t always occur… Read More ›
“The Last Duel” and the (Continued) Rise of Streaming
While it was always true that great movies didn’t necessarily find the appropriate reception at the box office, now, with the rise of streaming and a seemingly unending pandemic, we believe that we’re seeing a growing shift in how movies… Read More ›
The TV and Film Guy's Reviews 