Review: FIRST MAN

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ryan Gosling in a scene from "First Man." (Universal Pictures via AP)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Most people know that Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon, but don’t ever consider how stressful and emotionally trying it was for him and his family to get there.  The new film from acclaimed director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La… Continue reading Review: FIRST MAN

Fantastic Fest 2018 Review: BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

DF-06712_KF_R – Chris Hemsworth stars in Twentieth Century Fox’s BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYAL. Photo Credit: Kimberley French.

Closing Night featured Drew Goddard’s “Bad Times at the El Royale   By Liz Lopez Rating: B- Six years after writer-director Drew Goddard’s big-screen debut (“The Cabin in the Woods”) comes his follow up film, “Bad Times at the El Royale,” featuring a retro-looking resort hotel and casino as a prominent character. It has a… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2018 Review: BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

Review: GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

(l to r) Caleel Harris, Madison Iseman, Slappy and Jeremy Ray Taylor in Columbia Pictures' GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN.

By Laurie Coker Rating: C- A sure-fire way to measure the quality of a kid’s movie is to attend with a seven-year-old and a fourteen-year-old. I attended the screening with my granddaughter and her older brother. At first, the little one (her nickname is Chiquita or Little), did not want to go. I had taken… Continue reading Review: GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

Review: A STAR IS BORN (2018)

“A Star Is Born” Shines through with Excellent Filmmaking and Music   By Liz Lopez Rating: A I recall the 1976 version of “A Star is Born,” starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, but I don’t recall the entire story to be able to compare it to director Bradley Cooper’s new feature film, based on… Continue reading Review: A STAR IS BORN (2018)

Review: VENOM

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) With Sony Pictures having to share the Spider-Man character with Marvel Studios, the company remains undaunted in their desire to maintain their own comuc movie universe.  Because of this deal, Sony has decided to reinvent the Venom character without any current ties to Spidey.  Now I… Continue reading Review: VENOM

Review and Interview: SHINE

David Zayas stars in Forgiven Films Release “Shine”   By Liz Lopez Rating: B – The new drama, “Shine,” is directed by Anthony Nardolillo (“Mano,” “We Are All Latino”) who co-wrote the script with Corey Deshon (“To Police”). This story set in New York is focused on two of Spanish Harlem’s best Salsa dancers, Puerto… Continue reading Review and Interview: SHINE

Fantastic Fest 2018 Review: HALLOWEEN (2018)

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This year’s Fantastic Fest kicked off with a wickedly delightful treat of a horror flick which serves as a direct sequel to John Carpenter’s original 1978 film.  Now I know this was already attempted with 1981’s Halloween II, but Blumhouse, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-writers… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2018 Review: HALLOWEEN (2018)