BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE is a ramshackle effort trading on goodwill and nostalgia. What made the original so disarming and anarchic 36 years ago burbles to the surface from time to time, but as a whole, it is a mawkish thing following formulas that that original eschewed with raucous glee. We find Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) older… Read More »
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR is a sad excuse for an action/adventure flick. Seeking box office gold with pretty good special effects and third-rate writing and failing spectacularly, that failure is in fact, the only spectacular thing happening on screen. This third installment of what was once an entertaining if fluffy franchise attempts to… Read More »
I AM NUMBER FOUR
For a film focused on teenage angst and invaders from other planets, I AM NUMBER FOUR shows a curious tameness. Based on the book by Pittacus Lore, directed by D.J Caruso, who made EAGLE EYE and DISTURBIA so much fun, co-scripted by Marti Noxon of Buffy fame, co-produced by Michael Bey of blowing things up… Read More »
SHANGHAI KNIGHTS
It is always with a mixture of trepidation and resignation that yours truly approaches the cinematic sequel. Sure, there was GODFATHER II and THE WRATH OF KHAN, but for the ones that hit, there are a gazillion that miss so big that one’s faith in the filmmaking community is sorely tested. I’m pleased to say… Read More »
SPIDERMAN 2
I so want to like SPIDERMAN 2 with the unreserved satisfaction that I found with the original. Here is a franchise that is unafraid to tackle serious, real-life issues such as the stickiness of human interaction and dwindling bank accounts, while still pursuing serious reel-life fun. Alas, where the original SPIDERMAN dealt metaphorically and with… Read More »