Author: Mark Saldana

In 2014, director Martin Shore took audiences on a journey, exploring the rich musical culture of Memphis, Tennessee. Seven years later, Shore has returned with another damn fine musical documentary which honors and celebrates the also rich musical tradition of New Orleans, Louisiana. Narrated by New Orleans resident, John Goodman, the film not only serves… Continue reading TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: NEW ORLEANS

The casting of the wrong actor in the lead role will most definitely affect the overall quality of a movie, regardless of how compelling or intriguing the story’s premise or concept is. Now, I know that might seem like an obvious fact, but in the case of the crime drama Memory, the casting of actor… Continue reading MEMORY

From Robert Eggers, the incredible filmmaker behind The Witch and The Lighthouse, comes a different kind of movie that displays more of what makes Eggers an impressive auteur. Based on the Viking tale of Amleth, a story which later inspired Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, The Northman is definitely a theatrical experience that goes to dark places… Continue reading THE NORTHMAN

Based on the popular children’s book series of the same name, Dreamworks’ adaptation of The Bad Guys is guaranteed to entertain audiences of all ages, regardless of their familiarity with the source material. With a mix of classic cartoonish silliness, physical gags, smartly written comedy, and thrilling action, this movie delivers laughs and excitement galore.… Continue reading THE BAD GUYS

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, movie audiences would have to wait four years for this sequel to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. While I am not a massive fan of the “Wizarding World” franchise, I feel that I actually benefitted greatly from this longer-than-expected break for this next installment. With its flaws and problems,… Continue reading FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE

Based on the true story of Catholic priest Father Stuart Long (portrayed in the movie by Mark Wahlberg), this biopic definitely has a firm foundation, with an inspiring spiritual story of redemption. During Long’s youth and young adult years, he endured heartbreak through the loss of his brother, and the subsequent divorce of his parents… Continue reading FATHER STU

The Sonic the Hedgehog saga continues. I have to admit that I totally missed the first movie went it was released in 2020. I don’t remember the exact details as to why I didn’t screen the film, but eventually, the COVID-19 pandemic pretty much shut down most public activities. I, therefore, never, ever caught up… Continue reading SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2