Trying to duplicate something that worked so well because it defied genre borders is exactly why the “Sicario” sequel sets itself up to fail. “Day of the Soldado” isn’t a bad movie, it certainly has its moments of suspense, but lacks the artistic vision of auteur Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) and the cinematic touch of Roger […]
You can officially stop wondering or hoping if the modern “Jurassic Park” franchise will ever re-capture what audiences felt in 1993. These desperate sequels will never have the effect on a current generation that Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster did on ours. That said, Colin Trevorrow’s 2015 “Jurassic World” came close. “Fallen Kingdom” unfortunately lives up to
I am always partial to Brad Bird, and think that his production of Incredibles 2i s just that—impressive enough to be regarded as incredible, and a film that is likely to appeal to all ages. One of Bird’s strengths is in mixing lavish visual and special effects with an entertaining story of substance. Beyond the entertainment, values come
The next time you are in your local theater, stop, take a look around. Pay attention to the posters that are currently displayed and how nearly every one of them are sequels, prequels, reincarnations or re-boots. Director Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit) has always been a dependable director, turning the usual into the unexpected.
The winner of ‘sequel we needed the least’ certainly goes to Pacific Rim: Uprising. The turbulent second film in the series was originated by recent Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) and then handed off to television director Steven S. DeKnight, making his feature film debut. While Uprising isn’t the worst movie
I was just thinking the other day, you know what we really need, a sequel to that forgettable 2008 horror film starring Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler. The Strangers: Prey at Night has a new cast, director, and filmmakers. This sequel (feels more like a reboot) is about as hollow a film as you might
The final installment of E.L. James popular but equally despised stories land back on the big screen with little to no fanfare. ‘Freed’ seems to refer more to the audience who closes out the trilogy in obligation, rather than support. Director James Foley who picked up the second film, offers us more of the same
This adventure centers around an antique book about London which Paddington (Wishaw) discovers in Mr. Gruber’s (Broadbent) shop, and wants to send to his Aunt Lucy, who has always longed to see London. When Paddington learns that it is valuable, and he’s going to need lots of money to buy it, he immediately looks for
Let’s not pretend this po’boy Conjuring knockoff was ever a sturdy or cinematically inclined franchise. Insidious 4: The Last Key, like so many of it’s fellow horror genre flicks, works backwards through origin stories and prequels. The same rag-tag team of psychic paranormal investigators are on the scene, walking very slowly through doors and turning
The 9th “Star Wars” film boasts not only one of the largest casts in the franchise history but also the longest running time (152 minutes). Fanboy director Rian Johnson (“Looper”) takes the reigns from JJ Abrams, delivering an entry that is categorically for the die-hard fan. The story picks up right where 2015’s “The Force