*Spoilers* After the significant plot developments of Chapter Two, Chapter Three shifts into low gear once more. Considering how many hours are left in the season, it's not a bad idea for the writers to pace themselves. Since Chapter Three strikes me as a "bridge" episode, it may be worthwhile to share some thoughts that … Continue reading Stranger Things Season 4, Chapter 3: The Monster and the Superhero
Author: Hannam Entertainment
Stranger Things Season 4, Chapter 2: Vecna’s Curse
*spoilers* Ah yes, here's when that plot begins to thicken. With Chapter One establishing a nice foundation, Chapter Two lets the horror fly; the demonic entity introduced in "The Hellfire Club" gets ample screen time - along with the name Vecna (after the all-powerful dark wizard of Dungeons & Dungeons lore). Vecna's menace wouldn't be … Continue reading Stranger Things Season 4, Chapter 2: Vecna’s Curse
Stranger Things Season 4, Chapter 1: The Hellfire Club
*Spoilers* Stranger Things returns to Netflix with a fourth season. Doubling - er, quadrupling - down on the Dungeons & Dragons motif, episode one takes its name from the high school D&D group Dustin and Mike have joined. Thematically, hellfire also serves to describe the general devilry at work in Hawkins. While the Upside Down … Continue reading Stranger Things Season 4, Chapter 1: The Hellfire Club
Jurassic Park (1993) Movie Review
I am mad at how well-made this movie is. Everything Spielberg directed before was only a warm-up. Jurassic Park plays like a capstone thesis on how to direct a monster movie; Spielberg exquisitely blends the humor of Indiana Jones, the pacing, action, and horror of Jaws, and the childlike wonder of E.T.. Director: Steven SpielbergScreenplay: Michael … Continue reading Jurassic Park (1993) Movie Review
Duel (1971) Movie Review
Even if Duel – the second feature by then-up-and-coming director Steven Spielberg – had only its tight B-movie style to distinguish itself, that would be enough. Crafted to elicit maximum visceral impact, with ingenious shifting between POV and wide shots stitched together through razor-sharp editing, this is a breathtaking thriller in which style is substance: … Continue reading Duel (1971) Movie Review
Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) Movie Review
Godzilla vs. Megalon epitomizes the "best of times, worst of times" period of Godzilla films in the early 1970s; it exhibits the pure kaiju camp that makes these years so memorable, while also displaying the human snooze-fest that renders them equally forgettable. Jun Fukuda returns as director, having previously helmed Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Son … Continue reading Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) Movie Review
The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
There are countless cases of Hollywood producers meddling with directors' artistic vision, as the crude demands of commercialism ruin ambitious creative endeavors. But it must be admitted that, sometimes, the push-and-pull between bottom-line moneymen and iconoclastic artists results in fascinatingly rich cinematic texts. Case in point: The Curse of the Cat People, which was marketed by … Continue reading The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
Jurassic World Dominion (2022) Movie Review
The final entry of the Jurassic World series leaves the franchise hopelessly mired in the past. Despite the imaginatively strong Jurassic World (2015) and the bold risk-taking of Fallen Kingdom (2018), Dominion refuses to be remotely memorable or inspired. Director: Colin TrevorrowRuntime: 146 minutesUS Theatrical Release: June 10, 2022; Universal Pictures The movie takes place after Fallen Kingdom, … Continue reading Jurassic World Dominion (2022) Movie Review
Killdozer (1974) Movie Review
Killdozer is two things at once: an amazing portmanteau and a lackluster TV movie. Seemingly inspired by the success of 1971’s Duel, ABC tried capturing lightning-in-a-killer-vehicle twice. Like Duel, Killdozer is based on a short story by a noted author; Theodore Sturgeon penned the sci-fi tale for Astounding Science Fiction in 1944. Director: Jerry LondonRuntime: 74 minutesUS … Continue reading Killdozer (1974) Movie Review
Rubber (2010) Movie Review
Rubber is one of those monster movies that manages to defy convention. For a genre defined by tropes and expectations, Rubber offers a breath of fresh air. It does not always work, however, and will certainly not prove everyone’s cup of tea. Director: Quentin DepieuxRuntime: 85 minutesUS Theatrical Release: February 25, 2011; Magnolia Pictures Quentin Depieux’s story about a killer tire … Continue reading Rubber (2010) Movie Review
Camp Kaiju 