film

Captain America: The First Avenger Review

If a man in a giant bat costume can be rationalized – intensely and dramatically – then so too can a man named Captain America. The name alone makes my skin crawl; it’s filled with so much camp and pomp. When I imagined what such a film would feel like I thought of Independence Day. With that as my prejudice, this movie had some challenges to overcome in the battle of authenticity versus believability. However, I am happy to report that Captain America: The First Avenger nailed it.

The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer Hits the Web

Fresh off his directorial debut, Marc Webb takes a crack at one of Marvel’s most popular characters. No simple feat. Webb has the burden of taking over from director Sam Raimi, whose first two Spider-Man films won critical praise and set impressive records in terms of numbers and total gross. However, this trailer looks spectacular and should wash the taste of Spider-Man 3 out of the mouths of any disappointed fans.

Beauty Day Review

In the St. Catherines area, he was known as local TV spirit Cap'n Video. If he saw a post, he'd climb it and then jump from it. See a wall? He'd run into it. If he saw a raw egg, he'd eat it through his nose. In Beauty Day, the audience gets a thorough profile of a semi-retired goof, long after his raid on the airwaves but still more than ready to slip back into the wacky-tight-pants.

Midnight in Paris Review

Gil and Inez are on a trip to Paris, tagging along with her parents. It's evident from the start that their personalities clash. He is a successful Hollywood screenwriter in the middle of writing his first original novel, while she scoffs at her fiancé's new occupational wishes. After a less than cordial dinner with some new acquaintances, Gil goes for a walk around the city, finally stopping at an nondescript staircase. As a nearby clocks chimes midnight, an old-fashioned car pulls up and a stranger beckons Gil inside.

The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Trailer Arrives

The first theatrical teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises has debuted online. Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) has a great track record with very non-descript but thoroughly engaging teasers for each one of his films, usually accompanied by an equally gripping poster to build anticipation.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two Review

For fans, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two has been a moment we’ve been both waiting for and dreading simultaneously. To see the end of something that, for those of my age group and level of dedication, has lasted for over a decade is obviously bittersweet. That’s a long time to have really loved and been invested in something.

Horrible Bosses Review

Horrible Bosses does a great job at being good, despite an underwhelming premise. It is one of those films that succeeds by virtue of its casting. Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, and Jason Bateman have made a living playing funny straight men: people who want to be normal but their environment won’t let them. They play three middle aged guys who have a typical complaint: they hate their bosses. These bosses, however, are not just annoying kind, but the life destroying kind.

Attack the Block Review

Having never been to London, what I know of it comes from television and film: fish and chips, strawberries and cream; a love for tennis and football. They have funny accents and use weird words like 'bobby' instead of 'policeman', 'boot' for 'trunk', and 'shag' for 'sex'. And now, after watching Attack the Block, I know not to fuck with their inner city youth - especially if you're from another planet.

Hot Docs to take over Bloor Cinema

It's the end of an era for the historic Bloor Cinema, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Annex rep theatre. Earlier today, Hot Docs announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Blue Ice Film to manage and program the theatre beginning this Fall. The group also plans to revitalize the space by making much needed upgrades to the Bloor's technical equipment; that means new projectors, a new sound system, new seating and more. A major overhaul of the lobby and the façade are also in the works.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Review

I will keep it brief since Transformers: Dark of the Moon director Michael Bay can't seem to do it himself. Do you just want to see some shit blow up? If you answered in the affirmative, then you will probably greatly enjoy this film a whole lot more than the second entry in the franchise since you will actually be able to SEE what is happening for a change. Everyone else looking for anything more than that can look elsewhere because that is all you are going to get from this astoundingly pretty, but astoundingly empty, incoherent, nonsensical and excessive film.

X-Men: First Class Review

It was a big rush when the X-Men films finally hit the screen, all my most beloved characters expanding from the page to the screen. Then X-Men: The Last Stand came along and not only did the shit hit the fan, but it was set to high, and it splattered back in our faces many times over. X-Men: First Class is a chance for redemption, and is aimed at the diehards, while also attempting to attract some new viewers.

Super 8 Review

It’s safe to say that many filmgoers will always measure newcomer sci-fi epics by the standards of the classics that came before them. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. and the now thirty-to-forty year old peers that reserve warm fuzzy spots in hearts around the globe. So it was both interesting and completely logical that Steven Spielberg, creator of these titan classics, would use the talents of J. J. Abrams, undeniably a contemporary lord of genre, to, in essence, create a new film that makes tribute to his own triumphs.

Last Night Review

We're invited into the lives of Michael and Joanna, inside their exceptional apartment. Michael is a commercial real estate agent, while Joanna is a author. These two are married. We know this because they're arguing (heh). Having recently been hitched, I've come to learn that marital spats happen for two reasons, and two reasons only: money and women. For this couple it's the latter.

June Films to See

With the passing of Memorial Day here in the States, the unofficial start to summer is upon us. We're getting into the meat and potatoes of the big budget special effects laden flicks. Sprinkled throughout are a few indie gems to keep you honest.