Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) From Costa Rica comes a provocative and shocking film that addresses the issues of women’s rights, sexism, and society’s complacency in addressing these issues. Writer/director Alexandra Latishev takes a realistic, slice-of-life approach to her presentation, but still pulls no punches when it comes to her messages.… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 22 Review: MEDEA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the Pokemon franchise and on the video game of the same name, this film adaptation does offer some entertaining comedy, mostly courtesy of the hilarious voice work by star Ryan Reynolds. Fans of the pop culture franchise are sure to find much enjoyment in… Continue reading Review: POKEMON: DETECTIVE PIKACHU

By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) I sincerely hate to be the bad guy when it comes to tearing down movies about underdogs trying to overcome adversity, but this movie just doesn’t have much good to offer in terms of storytelling and character development. I am sure the filmmakers who conceived this… Continue reading Review: POMS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) On the second night of Cine Las Americas, Edward James Olmos and his son, director Michael D. Olmos presented this film which offers a fictional, but honest portrait of immigrant life in the United States amidst the backdrop of the 9-11 atracks in 2001. The movie… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 22 Review: WINDOWS ON THE WORLD

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) The 22nd annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival began with a wondrous, beautiful and heartbreaking documentary which details the life and career of Chicano artist and activist Carlos Almaraz. During the early nineteen sixties, Almaraz left his home in Los Angeles to study art and… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 22 Review: CARLOS ALMARAZ: PLAYING WITH FIRE