Category: Reviews

Review: ABOMINABLE

(from left) – Peng (Albert Tsai), Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) and Yi (Chloe Bennet) with Everest in DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio’s Abominable, written and directed by Jill Culton.

By Laurie Coker Rating: A- In the hit and miss world of animated features, Abominable is far more hit than miss.  In a mixed-up world of mix-ups, an unlikely buddy story evolves between a trio of teens and an abominable snowman. Universal Pictures has created a cuddly cute character in “Everest” and kids will love… Continue reading Review: ABOMINABLE

Review: JOKER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The award for the “Feel Bad Movie of the Year” goes to Joker. Writer/director Todd Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver have taken the iconic DC Comics villain and have given him his most fully realized cinematic treatment ever. The downside of this (for some audiences) is… Continue reading Review: JOKER

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: PELICAN BLOOD

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) A mother’s true love usually knows no bounds and said mothers will do whatever it takes to defend their children, even if this desperation drives them to take seemingly irrational measures. Those are the central themes of this powerful and emotionally charged film which played the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: PELICAN BLOOD

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: FIRST LOVE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Japanese filmmaker extraordinaire Takashi Mikke brought his latest movie to Fantastic Fest this year and the it’s definitely a fun, crazy and violent affair. Mikke’s latest piece presents a true romance amidst criminal power plays, serendipitous circumstances, and filters it through a slightly heightened reality where… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: FIRST LOVE

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Actor Mark Patton will forever be remembered as the male “scream queen” of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Even though he has been honored and celebrated in recent years as a trailblazer in horror cinema, his journey to this status has been a… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

By Laurie Coker Rating: C- There is a history, a deep one, behind Natalie Portman’s latest film, Lucy in the Sky. Stories and rumors flew like fireflies about the Paul McCartney, John Lennon song first performed by the Beatles for their Sgt. Pepper album in 1967.  LSD (acid, Lucy) certainly, according to tabloids, was the… Continue reading Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEATH OF DICK LONG

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer Billy Chew and director Daniel Scheinert take a relatively simple, but disturbing true story and spin it into a suspenseful and intguing yarn that is certain to shock and awe. Normally, I would reveal the true events that inspired this feature film, but to do… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEATH OF DICK LONG

Review: JUDY

By Liz Lopez Rating: A Many people of a certain age may remember watching “The Wizard of Oz” and the female lead, Judy Garland. The new film, “Judy,” starring Renee Zellweger is not set during the time of “The Wizard of Oz,” but the audience certainly will see some scenes of her youth and what… Continue reading Review: JUDY

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON

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By Liz Lopez Rating: B – “In the Shadow of the Moon” is a police drama with a Sci-Fi feel, and violence that a young Philadelphia cop, Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook, known as “Locke” to his friends and colleagues), can’t help but want to investigate although he is not a detective. As he is immersed… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON