Brian’s Spoiler-Free ‘The Avengers’ Review

Deadline estimates that the returns from Friday’s showing of “The Avengers” will be somewhere between $70-74 million*, and after seeing it, I can understand all the hype because it’s the best time I had in the movies in quite awhile. It’s fun, action-packed, has some terrific visuals though most importantly, it has characters that it’s […]

Brian’s ‘Cabin In The Woods’ Review

“If you don’t go into “Cabin In The Woods” expecting the best thing since “The Exorcist,” then you’ll definitely enjoy yourself.” Vulture says that Drew Goddard’s “Cabin In The Woods,” is a “teen slasher movie that redefines the horror genre.” It’s not necessarily what I would call a teen slasher flick, since none of the […]

Brian’s ‘Hellraiser: Revelations’ Review

“The only revelation that “Hellraiser: Revelations” offers is that someone either needs to take this franchise seriously, or let it die. “ I was browsing though Netflix, as I often do, looking for a decent horror flick.  There’s are some classics, like William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist,” or Michael Winner’s “The Sentinel,” though for every classic, […]

Brian’s ‘John Carter’ Review

 “”John Carter’s” greatest problem rests less with actors, than with a studio that entertains the excesses of a director in matters relating to budget.” When you think about Andrew Stanton’s “John Carter,” it’s hard to get beyond its monstrous budget.  That’s a pity because, despite beginning somewhat awkwardly, it’s actually pretty entertaining. “John Carter” looks […]

The Walking Dead – “18 Miles Out”

Spoiler below: THEY KILLED DALE!!!!! End spoiler. “18 Miles Out,” last week’s episode of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” was directed by the typically reliable Ernest Dickerson, though I still had a problem with the episode. It had nothing to do with Dickerson or his directoral chops; those were always top-notch.  No, what bothered me was […]

Brian’s ‘Safe House’ Review

“Frost is a man on fire, and God help anyone who gets in his way.”   Denzel Washington has to be one of the most versatile leading men in Hollywood.  In fact, I can recall no other actor in recent memory who’s so effortlessly able to move from corrupt–as Det. Alonzo Harris in “Training Day,” […]

Brian’s ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ Review

“Tintin,” while perhaps not for everyone, is so well-done that the occasional misstep is easily forgotten.  I must admit that I went into “The Adventures of Tintin” with somewhat low expectatations, due less to the input of Steven Spielberg, (director) Peter Jackson (producer)  and Steven Moffat (Dr. Who, Sherlock), Edgar Wright (Shawn of the Dead, […]

‘The Thing’ Review

If John Carpenter’s version of “The Thing” had not existed, then Matthijs van Heijningen, Jr’s film would have been much better received because, while it isn’t bad, it is not nearly as effective as Carpenter’s film

‘Contagion’ Review

“This “Contagion” may be hard on the system, but it’s well worth catching.” “Contagion” is a scary film, though it didn’t get that way by accident.  Part of why it is so effective is because the scenario it presents is a very realistic one, as anyone who has even remotely paid attention to the scourge […]