Forty-four minutes into Magellan, we see the eponymous Portuguese navigator at the film’s center, deftly portrayed by Gael García Bernal, sitting still inside a 16th-century tavern, his mind drifting elsewhere. He grips a walking cane on one hand, then an oversized hat on the other. Lit candles beside him quietly …
Writer-director Shahad Ameen begins her movie with the last thing you’d expect from a story set in Saudi Arabia: snow. The message of this image is clear: if stereotypes are all you know then you know nothing at all. And as we follow three people on a secret, dangerous journey, …
The Swiss director Fabrice Aragno is known for his collaborations with the cinematic genius Jean-Luc Godard. He worked as a cinematographer in Godard’s films ” Film Socialisme, Goodbye to Language, and Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars. He produced Godard’s last Cannes competition entry, The Book …
A movie can be bad and a wildly entertaining watch, as is the case here War 2. The fight scenes are so impossible that the opening night audience was laughing at them, and yet we were all riveted in our seats delighting at how each pow-bam-boom spectacle kept upping the …
KPop Demon Hunters, the latest musical adventure from Sony Pictures Animation, is, in many respects, a global hit. Released in mid-June, the title is officially the most-watched animated movie of all time on Netflix, its distributor. Currently, the film sits comfortably at No. 2 on the streaming service’s Global Top …
It feels like every movie I’ve seen at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival turns into an instant favorite, from A Grand Mockery, a hypnotic Super 8mm avant-garde trip from Sam Dixon and Adam C. Briggs, to Anything That Moves, an inventively transgressive Giallo/Bomba picture courtesy of Alex Phillips. Every …
We are now coming to the final leg of our Superman review journey. Seven years after Superman Returns, another attempt was made for the titular hero on the big screen. Directed by Zack Snyder, this was an attempt to jumpstart a new universe. As many know, that universe never came …
Superman IV: the Quest for Peace was considered a massive failure upon release. With such a poor response, it forced film studios to evaluate the need for more Superman movies. The result of which forced the franchise to remain dormant for years. Nineteen years later, another attempt was made with …
Eight years after Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, it became apparent that a sequel wasn’t going to happen. While financially profitable, neither film (including the 2005 original) was a critical success. That made the prospect of an eventual Fantastic Four remake feel inevitable. That is what intrigued everyone …
One of the neatest tricks Carême has pulled over the course of this fine first season is erasing Napoleon. He is there, when he needs to be, but he never speaks and the face of the actor playing him is rarely shown. The focus on the power games swirling around …
After all the machinations of the previous episode it’s no wonder this course of Carême chooses a different focus for all its power struggles. The episode takes place entirely within Talleyrand’s (Jérémie Renier) estate and revolves around Hortense (Lily Taieb) unexpectedly going into labour. For those of you not keeping …
With the success of 2005’s Fantastic Four, a sequel seemed like a rather obvious feat. That is, especially in an era when superhero movies were emerging. Grossing over 330 million dollars worldwide (a massive hit for the time), a sequel was inevitable. Even against lackluster reviews, audiences wanted to see …
2025’s Fantastic Four: First Steps hopes to reignite the love for The Marvel Cinematic Universe. That film aims to continue the larger story at play, while also reintroducing classic heroes into an ever-expanding framework. It’s a tall order due to the history of these characters and their previous lackluster adaptations. …
If you have children of a certain age, you’ve probably heard of the Zombies franchise. The newest installment in the series was out last week on streaming, having premiered on the Disney Channel the day before. Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires is entertaining, with catchy music and a positive …
In film criticism, talking about a bad movie is easy. For many, discussing something negative can be enjoyable and cathartic. Breaking down the “why” and “how” a film doesn’t work can be fun. Attacking those aspects can be both an entertaining and educational prospect for film critics, as it enables …
After the juggernaut films of Superman and Superman II, Superman III was inevitable. Coming three years after Superman II, Superman III had a significant challenge ahead. Unfortunately, the film failed to meet the previously established standards. With a smaller budget (and a significantly smaller profit), the results proved that the …
Superman is more than just a good comic book movie; it’s a good movie and is especially relevant in the moment we find ourselves in as a world. The newest film from James Gunn, and the opener to the renewed DC universe under the banner of the Gunn and Safran-led …
Continuing our rewatch of classic Superman films before 2025’s Superman, we have now reached Superman II. To clarify for those unaware, Superman II had a unique history. The initial theatrical version was released in the 1980s. While warmly received, the behind-the-scenes drama plagued the film with mystery. With the director …
Following up on a surprisingly entertaining origin story, The Old Guard 2 attempts to expand the universe created by Greg Rucka (writer of the original The Old Guard comic and film) and once again directed for the screen – this time under the hand of Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the …
Before James Gunn’s Superman releases in a few days , this review felt relevant. That film hopes to revolutionize the superhero genre when it’s desperately needed. As a hero, Superman has always proven to be an enigma. His powers and abilities make him such a serious opponent; it’s hard to …