Category: Reviews

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) The title of this movie promises a much darker tone than the first installment of the series. However, after watching it, I can definitely say that Fifty Shades Darker is a misnomer.  If anything, this sequel offers an attempt at something more romantic, poignant, dramatic and… Continue reading Review: FIFTY SHADES DARKER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) With Batman becoming such a delightfully comedic, breakout character from The Lego Movie, it makes perfect sense that the Warner Animation Group gave him his own spin-off movie.  And with actor Will Arnett delivering an exceptional voice performance as the Dark Knight in The Lego Movie,… Continue reading Review: THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) In 2014, John Wick hit theaters and offered audiences incendiary action sequences with outstanding stunt work, along with imaginative and exciting world building.  This formula makes the first installment a cool and badass action flick that earned a gleeful fan base.  More of these same elements that make… Continue reading Review: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Taylor Hackford’s newest film is a bewildering and sometimes frustrating mess that does have some hilarious moments, but also has some painfully unfunny moments and poor development of its main character.  Robert De Niro stars as a one-time comic superstar barely hanging on to the remains… Continue reading Review: THE COMEDIAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As far as teen romance movies go, this one, which incorporates a prominent sci fi element, is sweet, often adorable and has a lot of heart.  Now, regarding the science fiction portion of the film, that’s where things get a tad silly, and the melodrama that… Continue reading Review: THE SPACE BETWEEN US

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The controversy surrounding this movie does raise questions about both the ethical treatment of animals on movie sets and the sensationalism that often comes with scandalous stories broken by notorious tabloid journalism.  However, I am not here to address either issue within the controversy.  Though I… Continue reading Review: A DOG’S PURPOSE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The best thing about this latest, “Based on Actual Events,” movie is the earnest and passionate performance Matthew McConaughey gives in it.  The worst thing, however, is the somewhat lackluster way that director Stephen Gaghan presents the story.  Thankfully, Gold isn’t another Scorsese clone like American Hustle,… Continue reading Review: GOLD

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Jim Jarmusch’s latest film tells the story of a humble artist who creates his work on his own terms, and seems to relish his struggle to create it regularly.  I cannot think of another filmmaker more appropriate for telling this story than Jarmusch, an artist known… Continue reading Review: PATERSON