By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) M. Night Shyamalan is back with another horror thriller that explores people’s reactions to rapid aging in addition to some pre-existing problems that already trouble them. The interesting, but sometimes bewildering, filmmaker has plenty of great horror ideas in store for audiences, but is nevertheless predictable… Continue reading OLD
Category: MAIN
VAL
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Since 1984, Val Kilmer made a name for himself in Hollywood as one of America’s more talented actors. Through the years, he earned much respect and admiration from movie audiences, critics, and some filmmakers. Throughout his career, he also developed a bad reputation as a difficult… Continue reading VAL
SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Twenty five years after the first Space Jam entertained families and received a mixed response from critics, the producers at Warner Bros. hope to strike gold once again a similar premise, but with some modern ideas and innovations. While the first installment stars Michael Jordan, the… Continue reading SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY
BLACK WIDOW
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After a year delay thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marvel Studios’ Black Widow is finally in theaters. The movie serves as both an origin story for the beloved MCU character Natasha Romanoff, but also fills in a gap that takes place between Captain America: Civil War… Continue reading BLACK WIDOW
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1969, during the same exact summer that the legendary Woodstock Music Festival made its mark on human history, another music festival was already taking place in New York and had an indelible impact on the culture of Black America. That was the Harlem Cultural Festival,… Continue reading SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
THE TOMORROW WAR
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As I watched this screener at home, I couldn’t help, but think that the visuals in this, originally intended for theatrical release, feature probably looks fantastic on a massive movie screen. Well, anyone who has been anticipating this science fiction action film is already feeling disappointment… Continue reading THE TOMORROW WAR
@ZOLA
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) In 2015, Aziah “Zola” King hit Twitter with a 148-tweet post recounting a wild story about her experiences on a trip with a stripper named Stefani. This massive post caught the attention of Rolling Stone’s David Kushner whose subsequent piece gained further notoriety and attention from… Continue reading @ZOLA
Cine Las Americas 23: THE LAST MATINEE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This festival entry is the only horror film I watched from CLAIFF this year. From Uruguay, director Maximiliano Contenti has obviously studied the work of great Giallo filmmakers such as Dario Argento, because he definitely has a great eye for visuals, particularly in his use of… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 23: THE LAST MATINEE
Cine Las Americas 23 Review: MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Another documentary that focuses on the issues and problems with the immigration system in the United States is the Hecho En Tejas spotlight film Missing In Brooks County. The Hecho En Tejas category highlights films made in Texas, and this particular film is probably the best… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 23 Review: MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY
Cine Las Americas 23 Review: AT THE READY
By Mark Saldana Rating 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This engrossing and affecting documentary officially kicked of my virtual Cine Las Americas 23. Just from reading the premise, I had a strong feeling that the timely themes and issues it addresses would make for a very compelling and revelatory film. Director Maisie Crow follows a… Continue reading Cine Las Americas 23 Review: AT THE READY