Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the novel Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland, this movie adaptation examines the way teenagers respond to different kinds of heartbreak and how this sorrow forces them to take leaps away from naive innocence. It is a subject dealt with in other, nearly countless… Continue reading CHEMICAL HEARTS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Russell Crowe, the person, has been known to lose his temper quite infamously. So, it came as no surprise to me that he was cast in a movie about a furious and deranged villain who victimizes someone who crosses him in an unfavorable situation. Now, to… Continue reading UNHINGED

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, who made a huge splash with his zombie flick Train To Busan, is back with a new installment, Peninsula. Yeon actually takes a page out of the career of zombie master George Romero and has created a sequel with different characters… Continue reading TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the novel of the same name by Julia Walton, director Thor Freudenthal’s and screenwriter Nick Naveda’s film adaptation offers a mostly moving portrait of a teen struggling with mental illness and the people who love him that are determined to see him persevere. Actor… Continue reading WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From IFC Midnight comes what quite obviously is the Russian counterpart of Ridley Scott’s Alien. And even though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is a plot/concept homaged or blantantly stolen by several other movies. To its benefit, the filmmakers behind Sputnik offer some fresh… Continue reading SPUTNIK

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Now available for viewing via AppleTV + is a film that gives its audiences an astute, critical look at U.S. politics through the ambitious eyes of our youth. The documentary focuses on a long-running program run by The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary. In… Continue reading BOYS STATE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1958, photographer Bert Stein filmed segments of The Newport Jazz Festival, some footage behind the scenes, along with some coverage of the 1958 America’s Cup Yacht Races. The resulting feature, Jazz On A Summer’s Day, premiered at the 1959 Venice Film Festival and has been… Continue reading JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) To be completely honest and transparent, I feel the need to preface this review. I have known the film’s writer/director, Daniel Tucker, for several years now. He is a good friend and overall great person. Before pursuing a career as a filmmaker, Daniel used to review… Continue reading NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD