Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) This country fried noir of a film features a superb cast delivering remarkable performances, but has little else to offer. Well, to be fair, the movie does have some lovely tense, edge-of-the-seat moments, but the reasons why the characters are in these situations and their motivations… Continue reading Review: COLD IN JULY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Love Story, A Walk to Remember, Forrest Gump, and countless other movies feature love stories where a character dies from a terminal illness. The Fault in our Stars is the latest entry in this sort of depressing genre. I’m sure plenty of people, unfamiliar with the… Continue reading Review: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Though this movie will not score any points for originality of premise or even in the design of its futuristic tech, it does have enough going for it to make a fine entertainment piece for the movie goers who enjoy summer blockbuster fare.  Director Doug Liman… Continue reading Review: EDGE OF TOMORROW

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Two polar opposite teachers dealing with personal demons and disadvantages form a heated rivalry which fires up the passions of their students and helps the teachers deal with their personal troubles.  I know that film synopsis sounds a bit contrived.  However,  with talented actors Clive Owen… Continue reading Review: WORDS AND PICTURES

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Though it never tops the intelligent, witty, and zany western comedy classic Blazing Saddles, A Million Ways to Die in the West does offer a decent share of funny comedic moments of the raunchy variety. I emphasize raunchy, simply because I know some movie goers despise… Continue reading Review: A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” That is unless you’re Maleficent, or at least the version of the wicked fairy portrayed in this Disney update of the same name. To appeal to modern audiences, Disney producers have decided to take a clearly evil and… Continue reading Review: MALEFICENT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The newest installment of the X-Men movie franchise is more of a psychological dramatic journey and less of a comic book actioneer with themes of restoring hope and correcting mistakes from the past. That is exactly what Bryan Singer and his writers do with what I consider… Continue reading Review: X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Movies and stories about slavery and racism really sting my heart, especially those that depict violence and atrocities against people because of racial prejudice.  Based on a true story, Belle tells the story of a young mixed-race British lady raised by her late father’s wealthy family, but gets… Continue reading Review: BELLE