Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) For a festival started by a movie theater company who has a division dedicated to cinema art and posters (Mondo), I cannot think of a more appropriate movie that honors the art and discipline of movie banners.  In keeping with the Bollywood theme of this year’s… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2016 Review: ORIGINAL COPY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) My first film of Fantastic Fest 2016 was an erotic thriller by the incomparable, South Korean director Park Chan-wook.  After making his English language debut with Stoker, the acclaimed filmmaker returns to his native language with an adaptation of the novel The Fingersmith.  Though the novel… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2016 Review: THE HANDMAIDEN

By Mark Saldana Photos by Mark Saldana After eight days of film screenings, special events, parties and other fun and games, the 2016 Fantastic Fest has come to end.  This end-of-the fest piece is always bittersweet for me.  After spending a week at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar getting reacquainted with old friends and getting… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2016: END REPORT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The young adult novel which inspires Tim Burton’s newest movie seems tailor-made for Burton’s creative and imaginative mind and his artistic sensibilities for creating a visually vibrant cinematic experience.  The material also has the right amount of abberance for Fantastic Fest audiences.  I have not read… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2016 Review: MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN