I’m a stranger to the Mad Max canon, but this movie looked too good to pass up.
What’s It About? In the post-apocalyptic wasteland, ultimate survivor Max joins forces with Furiosa, a war-rig driver, to evade the armies of a powerful warlord and deliver stolen cargo to a hidden “green place.”
STRAIGHT UP: The king of summer action movies. 4.5/5
In advance of my upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road review, I’d like to notify everyone of a change in my rating system moving forward. I feel like my 10-point scale has been a little inconsistent and suffered from ratings creep of late, so I’m replacing it with a more straightforward 5-point scale. An explanation of the ratings criteria is on this page if anyone wants to know the full details, but the basic idea is the same – more points equals a better movie. Previously published reviews will not be edited to reflect this new rating system.
Avengers Assemble! I couldn’t call myself a film critic if I missed out on this.
What’s It About? When Tony Stark’s latest AI creation goes rogue and constructs a homicidal robot army, only the combined efforts of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes can save the day.
STRAIGHT UP: The WrestleMania of superhero films. That’s mostly a compliment. 9/10
I decided to step out of my comfort zone again and review another new horror movie.
What’s It About? One year after the suicide of their classmate Laura, six teenagers connected to the event are haunted by a vengeful spirit… in the middle of a group chat on Skype.
STRAIGHT UP: Scary, fresh, and fun, despite some flaws. 8/10
I’m no horror aficionado, but I decided to face my fears and check out this critical darling.
What’s It About? After Jay has sex with her new boyfriend for the first time, she becomes the target of a deadly spectre that haunts her wherever she goes.
STRAIGHT UP: Expertly composed; terrifies without resorting to gimmicks. 10/10
I’ve still got Power Rangers on the brain, so I guess it’s time to revisit the official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie.
What’s It About? When intergalactic villain Ivan Ooze is accidentally released from his prison on Earth, six teenage heroes must go on a journey to acquire the power to defeat him.
STRAIGHT UP: Plot, characters, action sequences are all a mess. Oh no! 3/10
Adi Shankar and Joseph Kahn’s short film POWER/RANGERS premiered online just a few days ago. I felt like it deserved a review, but the Quick & Dirty treatment seemed unnecessary for a film that’s only 15 minutes long. Instead, I’m just going to share a few of my thoughts about it.
The video is posted below, for those who haven’t seen it. (NSFW due to graphic violence.)
Everyone I know has been seeing this, so I thought I’d add my two cents.
What’s It About? Eggsy, a street punk, is recruited by mysterious gentleman Harry Hart to join a secret English spy agency and help thwart an evil mastermind’s plan to cause a global crisis.
STRAIGHT UP: I really liked it. Stylish, funny, expertly assembled. 8.5/10
An ambitious original sci-fi project from the Wachowskis was bound to be a big hit or an entertaining failure.
What’s It About? When ordinary girl Jupiter Jones discovers that she is the heiress to the Queen of Earth, she and her new bodyguard Caine must travel across the universe and fend off deadly foes in order to claim her birthright.
STRAIGHT UP: A beautiful disaster, sure to be an ironic cult classic. 7/10
I saw this one on a whim – no fanfare, no expectations.
What’s It About? Trapped in a sunken submarine full of stolen Nazi gold, twelve men fight the elements – and each other – to survive and escape with the riches.
STRAIGHT UP: A decent thriller marred by some narrative oversights. 7.5/10
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