War drama “Danger Close” is an astounding testament the power of sacrifice, brotherhood, and dedicated cooperation.

War movies have been around since the days of silent cinema. There is something about this brutally intense human experience that, despite its horrific nature, always produces intriguing stories that can be massively impactful when told in an effective fashion. Some of the greatest films to speak of along this line of thinking include Francis […]

Lawrence of Arabia – They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore

It was pretty awesome to have my first experience with Lawrence of Arabia be on the big screen, thanks to a bring-back event. Wow, this film is the true definition of a sprawling epic. Director David Lean is a mastermind, adapting the remarkable true story of British war hero Thomas Edward Lawrence with stroke after […]

Spider-Man is Far From Home, but the MCU is Right Where it Needs to be

There is quite a lot to unpack in this review. It took me two viewings to decide exactly how I felt about this film. Nevertheless, here we are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 23rd film, and it does not show signs of slowing down anytime soon. ———————————————————————————————————————- After the universe-shattering events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Peter Parker […]

Disney’s Aladdin (2019) – A Magic Carpet Thrill Ride

Director: Guy Ritchie Writers: John August and Guy Ritchie Producers: Ivan Atkinson, Kevin De La Noy, Jonathan Eirich, Max Keene, Dan Lin, Karl McMillan, Mark Mostyn, and Marc Platt Starring: Mena Massoud, Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, and Nasim Pedrad ————————————————————————————————————————————– Despite some narrative bloat, one too many climaxes, and a slightly […]

Charlie Says – The Story of the Manson Family Women

Director: Mary Harron Writer: Guinevere Turner *Adapted from Karlene Faith’s book “The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten: Life Beyond the Cult.” Also adapted from Ed Sanders’ book “The Family.” Producers: Paige Barnett, Dana Guerin, Michael Guerin, David Hillary, Matthew Rhodes, Cindi Rice, Jeremy M. Rosen, John Frank Rosenblum, Ed Sanders, and Guinevere Turner —————————————————————————————————————————————- Simply […]

Mary Magdalene: Challenging, Thought-Provoking, and Eye-Opening

The story of Jesus of Nazareth may very well be the most famous biblical narrative of all time. Billions of people throughout the generations, across a wide array of races, religions, and cultural backgrounds are familiar with the essential elements of Jesus’s life. The belief in His sacrifice for humanity and subsequent resurrection from the […]

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Moving Directorial Debut

Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor makes his screenwriting and directorial debut with “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” based on the autobiographical book from William Kamkwamba. Detailing the remarkable story of a young man in an extremely poverty-stricken region of Malawi on the continent of Africa, this narrative follows William (Maxwell Simba) as he overcomes starvation, […]

Captain Marvel: Yet another Marvel from Marvel Studios

Captain Marvel is a wild thrill-ride full of twists and turns, with an emotional punch to provide some balance to the fun factor. The vision of directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck resulted in a smart, daring, and satisfying prequel story. Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel) and Samuel L. Jackson’s (Nick Fury) chemistry and interactions […]

Blindspotting: We Can Not Afford to Turn a Blind Eye to These Issues

Director Carlos López Estrada brings forth this deep-cutting, gut-wrenching, socially-convicting, yet heartfelt, side-splittingly hilarious, and charming narrative about two best friends in inner-city Oakland who have known each other for their entire lives. Collin (Daveed Diggs) and Miles (Rafael Casal) come from similar backgrounds, upbringings, and cultures; yet, there is one significant difference separating them: […]

Black Panther: Culturally-Impactful, Cinematically-Riveting

Director Ryan Coogler finally brings the legendary Black Panther hero to the big screen, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first solo film with an African-American lead. Placing heavy emphasis on the contrast between the African tribal culture of Wakanda and this nation’s futuristic technological advancements ensures a rich, thematic narrative that does not shy away from […]