Category: Reviews

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1990, Yukito Kushiro introduced his cyberpunk universe through the pages of manga and to this day, the 51 year-old artist continues to tell these stories. Well, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood filmmakers would decide to adapt this rich and inventive universe… Continue reading Review: ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

By Renee’ C. Rating: 2 (Out of 5 Reels) A young woman named Natalie (Rebel Wilson), disenchanted with love mysteriously finds herself trapped inside a romantic comedy (IMDB). Wilson carries this film admirably and the supporting cast does a good job as well. I believe this is the first film in which Wilson has been… Continue reading Review: ISN’T IT ROMANTIC

By Jan Hamilton Capernaum means chaos in Lebanese, and our movie is a perfect representation of the word, but it is not without humanity, goodness and hope. We first see Zain, a small twelve year old boy, in court.  The judge asks why Zain wants to sue his parents, he says “Because they gave me… Continue reading Review: CAPERNAUM

By Liz Lopez Rating B+ Director Joe Cornish (2011 cult favorite “Attack the Block”) returns with “The Kid Who Would Be King” a contemporary King Arthur legend screenplay he wrote featuring pre/young teens saving England from complete doom by someone who wants the sword after it is pulled from the stone. The story is pretty… Continue reading Review: THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING

By Liz Lopez Rating A   Pawel Pawlikowski (the Polish auteur of the 2015 Oscar-winning “Ida”) returns with the black-and-white film, “Cold War” (original title: “Zimna wojna”), that was competing in the Cannes Film Festival last May. Director Pawlikowski co-wrote the screenplay with Janusz Glowacki and the collaboration of Piotr Borkowski. Pawlikowski’s jazz-infused romantic drama received… Continue reading Review: COLD WAR

“Serenity” stars McConaughey, Hathaway and other Great Cast, but the Story Spins. By Liz Lopez Rating B-/C+ Although all efforts will be made to not reveal all there is to writer/director Steven Knight’s latest film, “Serenity” starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane and Djimon Hounsou. Several other reviews online spill so much… Continue reading Review: SERENITY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) For my second film, I selected one that has a more serious tone and explores a different culture in Iran. Hendi & Hormoz takes place on the Iranian island of Hormuz where a very impoverished, third world group of people struggle to thrive. The film follows… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: HENDI & HORMOZ

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From January 10 through 15, the first annual Iranian Film Festival New York took place. Though I was unable to attend the event, I was given the opportunity to cover some of the films which screened during the festival. The first of which was a delightful… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: I WANT TO DANCE

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Redemption takes many forms, and like the protagonist of the neo-noir film Destroyer, sometimes one has to get downright dirty to accomplish it.  The new film from director Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) is a prime example of this nasty, regressive process.  Nicole Kidman’s character, Erin Bell,… Continue reading Review: DESTROYER

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After France’s The Intouchables received acclaim from both critics and the general public, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would make an American version, and after eight years, The Intouchables redo is finally seeing the light of day.  Dubbed, The Upside, the US… Continue reading Review: THE UPSIDE