Category: Reviews

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) There have been multiple films made about war heroes, but not too many have been made about the dogs who assist the military.  During the Iraq War, dogs trained for detecting explosives were used on a regular basis.  Often some were killed, while others were injured.… Continue reading Review: MEGAN LEAVEY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/director Trey Edward Shults made a rather impressive feature film debut with the outstanding movie Krisha.  The film won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at SXSW 2015, and after its release in 2016, ended up as one of my top six films of… Continue reading Review: IT COMES AT NIGHT

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 2 (Out of 5 Reels) Though safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella), whose destiny was unjustly taken from her, is awakened in our current day bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension (IMDB). I was cautiously… Continue reading Review: THE MUMMY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) In recent years, some independent film marketers and filmmakers have reached out to me to review their movies, as they are in much need of help with publicity and promotion.  It makes me happy to help good independent films get the attention they deserve, because they… Continue reading Local Film Review: INHUMANITY

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 4.5 (Out of 5 Reels) Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny… Continue reading Review: WONDER WOMAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) After getting a brief, but exciting cinematic introduction in Batman v. Superman, Wonder Woman returns with her own feature film entry in the DC Extended Universe, and gets a proper origin story treatment that actually rivals some of Marvel’s top hero movies.  Directed by Patty Jenkins… Continue reading Review: WONDER WOMAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) The summer movie season has arrived, and a couple of the movie franchise sequels have already hit theaters.  With the arrival of sequels comes the traditional and highly unnecessary beating of dead horses.  What I am metaphorically referring to are the new installments of movie sagas… Continue reading Review: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) With the huge critical and financial success of the Jump Street movies, other studios have quickly followed suit with more comedic film adaptations of televisions series, though most of them have yet to achieve the same levels of success and acclaim (Dark Shadows, CHiPs).  From 1989 through… Continue reading Review: BAYWATCH

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 4 (Out of 5 Reels) Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds the winds of ill fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him (IMDB). Henry Turner… Continue reading Review: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As a child growing up in a Catholic family and remaining active in the church through most of my childhood, I witnessed the different dynamics of power within my community.  I saw several pastors come and go, each bringing something different to the church, its services… Continue reading Review: THE WOMEN’S BALCONY