Movie Reviews
Movie Review: Downton Abby – A New Era
By Bob Garver It might not be the epitome of blockbuster entertainment, but I do understand the appeal of “Downton Abbey.” The British television series, which ran from 2010-2015, is recognized as the most acclaimed “international” series in Emmy history. And of course, it developed a fandom based on its impeccable 1920’s costumes…
Read MoreMovie Review: Firestarter
By Bob Garver It’s the week after a big blockbuster in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and you know that means: I’m going to review a movie that got absolutely stomped at the box office. There can be respectable runners-up in busy holiday seasons, but very rarely does something worthwhile open right…
Read MoreMovie Review: Doctor Strange 2
By Bob Garver After “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” I was a little apprehensive about the Marvel Cinematic Universe exploring more of the Multiverse. Sure, seeing guest stars from two other universes was great and all, but I was (and still am) worried that the MCU will use the Multiverse as an excuse to…
Read MoreTwenty-Five years of James Cameron’s Titanic
2022 is the year that James Cameron’s epic, award-winning film Titanic is 25 years old. A story that everyone thought they knew the end of, drew enormous box office numbers and phenomenal ticket sales revenue. It grossed $2.202 billion worldwide, making it considerably more successful than the unsinkable luxury liner that foundered when it hit…
Read MoreMovie Review: The Bad Guys
By Bob Garver The animated comedy “The Bad Guys” has very quietly been the #1 movie at the domestic box office for the past two weekends. The film follows a group of supposedly unlikeable animals as they do bad, do bad while they pretend to want to do good, then grapple with the decision…
Read MoreMovie Review: Fantastic Beasts 3 – The Secrets of Dumbledore
By Bob Garver Unlike the 8-movie “Harry Potter” series, the “Fantastic Beasts” sector of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World has never been able to quite get off the ground. Maybe it’s because audiences find it hard to get behind skittish protagonist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as a hero. Maybe it’s because of all the bad…
Read MoreMovie Review: Sonic The Hedgehog 2
By Bob Garver Last week I reviewed “Morbius,” a film whose constant delays in release turned it into a punchline. Next week I’ll review the new “Fantastic Beasts,” part of a franchise whose behind-the-scenes scandals have turned it into a punchline. Sandwiched between the two is “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” an agreeable, lighthearted affair…
Read MoreMovie Review: “Morbius”
By Bob Garver I have probably seen more trailers for “Morbius” than any other movie in my entire life. I definitely remember seeing a few before the 2020 lockdown, but it isn’t just a matter of how far back they go. No, I’ve seen them pretty consistently since then, from theaters reopening in August…
Read MoreMovie Review: The Lost City
By Bob Garver “The Lost City” is the kind of movie that looks like it was a lot more fun for the actors to film than it is for the audience to watch. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum got to spend time in each other’s company, goofing around in a comedy in the jungle…
Read MoreMovie Review: “Jujutsu Kaisen 0”
By Bob Garver Last year, the Japanese anime “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” racked up an impressive $49.5 million at the domestic box office. It even accomplished the rare feat of climbing to the #1 spot in its second weekend after opening at #2 (because “Mortal Kombat” was terrible and fell like a rock). Similarly,…
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