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It was a flawless premise in theory: an adaptation of a comic book series in which a team of low-level super-villains are pressed into going on deadly, off-the-books missions in exchange for time off for sort-of-good behavior, written and directed by the talented David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury) and starring a gaggle of A-listers, … Continue reading
Let’s get the inevitable comparison out of the way first: Captain America: Civil War and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice both feature superheroes battling one another in stories posited as the inevitable fallout of the mass destruction they sometimes leave in their wake. However, Civil War does a far better job of it, and unlike its competitor it’s … Continue reading
Big, loud, and painted in broad strokes, Batman v. Superman is comic book opera opera in every sense — and not in a good way. In fact, it’s a soulless, dreary mess. It’s an exemplar of the worst excesses of screenwriter David S. Goyer (with some needed doctoring from Chris Terrio) and director by Zack Snyder … Continue reading
Deadpool may be the comic book movie spoof to end all comic book movie spoofs. It playfully and cleverly deflates the conventions and cliches of superhero flicks — as well as its own damn self — with the snarky, sadistic glee of a stoned fanboy who’s binge-watched too many Chuck Jones-era Looney Tunes. No cow is too sacred here, and … Continue reading
Fox’s latest stab at the Fantastic Four movie franchise was hobbled early on by bad buzz, lack of fanboy interest, and rumors of behind-the-scenes conflicts. The good news is that writer-director Josh Trank’s take on Marvel’s original superteam isn’t the worst comic book movie ever made; the bad news is that it nevertheless sucks. It’s … Continue reading
It doesn’t re-invent the superhero movie or reach heights of Marvel’s top movies to date, but Ant-Man deserves its due: It’s more fun than a movie about a guy who shrinks and communicates with insects theoretically should be. That’s not intended as a backhanded compliment. Marvel’s capstone for its so-called Phase Two slate of films is well-timed, … Continue reading
The Law of Diminishing Returns hasn’t yet caught up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe — which is no mean feat given that it is It’s eleven movies in, with another eleven looming on the horizon. That said, there is some strain showing along the bulging seams of The Avengers: The Age of Ultron. Writer-director Joss … Continue reading
A smarter spoof than Austin Powers, and free of the over-seriousness the Bond movies, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a much-needed fresh take on spy fiction, one that pays homage to the genre almost as often as it rips it off, subverts it, and then gives it the finger. The movie finds writer-director Matthew Vaughn once again … Continue reading
It’s been nearly a decade since Robert Rodriguez’s stylish adaptation of Frank Miller’s Sin City comic book series shook up the megaplexes with a darkly humorous brand of pseudo-noir. Unfortunately, the long-awaited sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill doesn’t prove to be worth the wait. Whereas the first film was kitschy, ambitious schlock, its sequel is a … Continue reading
One of the most pleasant surprises of a mixed-bag movie summer, Guardians of the Galaxy is something akin to Star Wars on Quaaludes. It’s a tongue firmly in cheek throwback to cheesy ’80s-era B-grade sci-fi movies that is equal parts goofball comedy, cartoony action, and general weirdness. The movie opens with a brief prelude: A young … Continue reading
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