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A Kid Critic Reviews Now You See Me 2
Now You See Me 2 is a great movie. It is about the Horsemen and how they are forced to steal something. There are many familiar faces from the first Now You See Me (2013), but also some new ones that you really grow to love or hate, depending on the character. This movie has amazing tricks, some which have never been seen before and others that have been performed for centuries. Even though the mo...[Read More]
Movie Review: Warcraft
First, it was a bestselling series of real-time strategy games. Then, it became one of the hottest online role-playing games in history. It was further immortalized in an episode of South Park. Now, the story of Warcraft hits the big screen, in a CG-fueled extravaganza of hammer-smashing, sword-swinging, and magic a-blazing. And how does it fare? Well, as someone who (shockingly, I’ll admit)...[Read More]
The Preview Reel: Spooks, Magicians, and Orcs
Welcome to a new installment of “The Preview Reel” where we look at the week’s upcoming wide release movies. This summer has seen its fair share of sequels, and while there are plenty more on the way, this weekend features two from a couple of 2013’s surprise hits. The Conjuring 2 brings back stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, along with director James Wan, for another spooky adventure from th...[Read More]
Movie Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
FULL DISCLOSURE: I grew up a product of the 1980s and 1990s, which means I was a big fan of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books from Eastman & Laird, the original cartoon, and the first batch of live action Turtles flicks. I still have fond memories of riding my bike to the Fox Village Theater to see the original live action flick multiple times. Hell, I even had the movie no...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: Mutants Lose Box Office to Mutants?
Last week, the Marvel mutants ruled the roost. But, in its second week, X-Men: Apocalypse slipped to second with an estimated $22.3 million, though worldwide the film has done decent, if not explosive, business. First place went to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which pulled in an estimated $35.3 million. Unfortunately, at $135 million to make and only $69.3 million earned world...[Read More]
Movie Review: Weiner
At one time, Anthony Weiner was one of the up and coming faces in the Democratic Party – an idealistic young voice not afraid to stand up to the Republican status quo. Not only was he gaining influence and power within his party, but he was married to Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Clinton’s top aides. Then, in the blink of an eye and a flash of his underwear, Anthony Weiner went from hero to z...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: The Enterprise Crew Returns in the Second Star Trek Beyond Trailer
Hello again, dear readers, and I hope you all had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. We’re in June now, and the summer movie season is chugging along with the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows this weekend. This week’s Trailer Trashin’ column examines the new trailer for another big summer release, Star Trek Beyond. Premise: The crew of the USS Enterprise, halfway into th...[Read More]
Movie Review: Me Before You
It should probably be noted that, before going to see this film, the trailer and the fact that it was based on a best-selling novel brought up images of seeing The Fault in Our Stars (2014). While that film was fine on its own merits (and certainly atearjerker in its own right), it struck me that another film should be only two years on its heels, ready to steal the same general plot and rehash it...[Read More]
The Preview Reel: Will Turtles Rule the Pond?
Welcome to the fifth week of CinemaNerdz’s “Preview Reel,” where we look at the week’s upcoming wide release movies. As the calendar turns from May to June, we have three very different films aiming for different demographics. The younger/nostalgic crowd will get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the romantics have Me Before You, and the comedy fans have Popstar: Never Stop Never S...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: Apocalypse at the Box Office
Memorial Day weekend is usually the kick-off of the summer blockbuster season, but considering the hype leading up to it, X-Men: Apocalypse did not draw the crowds that have been appearing for other Marvel-based ventures. At an estimated $80 million, it brought in less than X-Men: Days of Future Past did Memorial Day weekend of 2014 (in fact, its four-day total was less than the three-day total of...[Read More]
Movie Review: Love & Friendship
About halfway through the latest Jane Austen film adaptation, Love & Friendship, I realized this film was not made for me. As I listened to audience members chuckle at lines that seemed too cheesy or dated to me, I knew this would be an example of others enjoying a film much more than I did. There were certainly moments of Love & Friendship I enjoyed, but it just felt like I was stuck in a...[Read More]
Movie Review: The Lobster
Having not seen Greek writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos’ critically lauded 2009 film Dogtooth, I legitimately had no expectations going into his latest film. Upon leaving the theater I was glad I knew nothing, because it only enhanced the strange and hypnotic, fever-dream-like viewing experience that was The Lobster. The film is set not so far in the future, where everyone without a partner is forc...[Read More]