Movie Going

HOLLYWOOD—I must say I am pleasantly surprised for the first time in a long time; we’ve seen a decent number of horror flicks invade theaters during the summer months. Usually, we’re lucky if we see 1-2 horror flicks during the summer, but in 2016, I can say we’ve seen at least 2-3 thrillers each month and there is more...

HOLLYWOOD—There were plenty of new movies vying for the top spot at the box-office this weekend, hoping to knockout “The Secret Life of Pets” from the top spot. In the end, it was the sequel “Star Trek Beyond” that won over moviegoers with an impressive $59.6 million to rise to #1. While those numbers are reasonable, they still fall...

HOLLYWOOD—Ever since “Bridesmaids” arrived in theaters, there has been this trend of comedies attempting to match that magic that was captured by Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and the rest of the gang. The latest flick to jump into that realm is “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” starring Zac Efron, Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick and Aubry Plaza. Before we get...

HOLLYWOOD—It’s a lot more “Donnie Brasco” than it is “The Departed,” and it’s never going to be a canonical cop or gangster movie. Despite this there are things to like about “The Infiltrator.” The film stars everyone’s favorite blacklisted screenwriter/neurotic father/meth cook Bryan Cranston as U.S. Customs Agent Robert Mazur. Mazur and his higher ups in southern Florida come up...

HOLLYWOOD—You have to give things a chance. We all have high expectations when an American favorite like “Ghostbusters” gets remade. Stories take on lives of their own though. When they are remade they are often reimagined. Just look at Shakespeare’s plays, fairy tales, and Disney characters if you don’t believe me. The new “Ghostbusters” isn’t the 1984 version, and...

HOLLYWOOD—It was a battle of the paranormal vs. a bunch of pets at the box-office over the weekend. Any guesses as to who came out on top. Well, for the second consecutive weekend, “The Secret Life of Pets” maintained the top spot taking in $50.6 million to bring its domestic total over the $200 million mark. I made the argument...

HOLLYWOOD—There have been plenty of adaptations chronicling the great legend that many Americans have come to know as Tarzan; a child raised in a jungle, who exhibits a livelihood similar to that of the animals around him. No people, I’m not referring to “The Jungle Book” that invaded theaters earlier this year, I’m talking about Warner Bros. “The Legend...

HOLLYWOOD—We are in the midst of a sort of golden age of animated films. How can we not count ourselves lucky that we live in a time where the intellectual, surrealist sci-fi of “The Congress” exists alongside the stunning beauty of Hayao Miyazaki and the wonderful charm of Pixar. It’s to this high standard that “The Secret Life of...

HOLLYWOOD—Let’s just be honest, it has been quite some time since audiences have been treated to a thrill-a-minute shark flick in the essence of the great classic “Jaws.” While no flick will ever live-up to the direction and the suspense-laced blockbuster that Steven Spielberg helmed, the film “The Shallows" will indeed make Americans question yet again rather it’s safe...

HOLLYWOOD—Man, was I a fan of the 2013 thriller “The Purge” which introduced audiences to an idea that left so many people speechless. Could you imagine a government that allowed its citizens one-time during the year to commit murder and get away with it, without facing any consequences? Yes, this was the premise of the flick, and it was...