Author: Mark Saldana

After premiering and frightening their audiences at this year’s SXSW, Damian McCarthy’s Hokum is now playing in theaters. Though I was definitely intrigued by the movie’s synopsis and the casting of lead actor, Adam Scott, I was unable to enjoy the film at the fest. Still, the positive buzz was undeniable, and a few of… Continue reading HOKUM: Supernatural Ghosts And Personal Demons Make A Compelling Combo

When it comes to movies by writer/director David Lowery, it is definitely difficult to predict what to expect. In fact, one should expect the unexpected when entering one of his films. His utterly fascinating and undeniably affecting work in his previous movies, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Pete’s Dragon (2016), A Ghost Story, The Old Man… Continue reading MOTHER MARY: A Strikingly Beautiful And Haunting Tale

I won’t lie: I had qualms going into Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic. As soon as I heard a biopic was in the works, I wondered how it would turn out. Would it simply celebrate his tremendous talents, address MJ’s unusual behavior and history of parental abuse, or explore the controversies surrounding the molestation allegations… Continue reading MICHAEL: An Example Of Post-Production Issues And Poor Choices

Auteur Steven Soderbergh is back with a new film in theaters after last year’s double treats of Presence and Black Bag. Since 2017, Soderbergh has released at least one movie a year, most of which have had theatrical runs. Soderbergh obviously knows how to churn them out, and churn them out well! So, a little… Continue reading THE CHRISTOPHERS: A Mostly Self-Contained Tribute to Art and Artists

Written and directed by Genki Kawamura, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kentaro Hirase, Exit 8 is a Japanese psychological thriller based on the video game by Kotake Create. The story of both the game and the movie follows a “Lost Man” as he navigates major changes in his life. He receives a call from his… Continue reading EXIT 8 Has Some Great Ideas And Concepts, But Needs More To Hit Its Landing

When a lot of people are heading into the Easter holiday weekend, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters, and it just happens, to have its share of Easter eggs. Now, I don’t mean the traditional variety, but those of the metaphorical kind. Much like the first installment, this sequel has loads of visual… Continue reading THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE Gives Video Game Fans An Easter Basket of Nintendo References