Month: June 2016
The Shallows: MacGyver in a bikini
by Matt Ward
Blake Lively going toe-to-toe with a great white might sound more like the next installment of the “Sharknado” franchise than a surprise summer smash. But somehow, someway, “The Shallows” manages to defy the expectations and provide frightening, largely enjoyable material and the best shark movie since Steven Spielberg scared people out of the water for decades with 1975’s “Jaws.” The concept is simple. Lively … Read More The Shallows: MacGyver in a bikini
Finding Dory: Get lost once again
by Matt Ward
Rarely does a film sequel exceed high expectations, let alone surpass the original movie it is based on. “Finding Dory” is one of those sequels. More than a decade after the release of Pixar’s Oscar-winning “Finding Nemo,” the Disney-owned company returns with a nearly flawless follow-up and prove that oftentimes the best sequels are the ones that studios take the extra time to get … Read More Finding Dory: Get lost once again
All The Way: Capturing LBJ’s legacy
by Matt Ward
High level cinema isn’t being produced by only major Hollywood studios anymore. Internet based companies like Amazon and Netflix have both made major strides in creating and developing their own award-worthy films. Now HBO has re-entered the cinematic landscape as a producer of original film content with the transcendent docudrama “All The Way,” featuring a likely Emmy-winning effort from Bryan Cranston as legendary president … Read More All The Way: Capturing LBJ’s legacy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Half-shelled heroes
by Matt Ward
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” was made for the 12-year-old boy in all of us. The one who loves gooey cheese pizza and ninja stars and beating up bad guys just because. After a recent film reboot, the self-proclaimed “heroes in a half-shell” from late 80s and early 90s Saturday morning cartoon lore are back to save New York City once … Read More Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Half-shelled heroes
X-Men Apocalypse: As the world ends
by Matt Ward
Superheroes once again battle to save the world from the end of days in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” sure to be one of the summer’s biggest films. Ripped straight out of one of Marvel Comics’ most celebrated storylines, the ninth film in the X-Men franchise follows a team of mutants as they battle Apocalypse, the world’s first mutant returned to Earth after centuries underground seeking to … Read More X-Men Apocalypse: As the world ends
Cinematic Considerations 