Review by Robert T. Trate Starring: James Stewart, Walter Huston Directed by: John Huston Running time: 281 minutes Year of release: 1942-1946 Rating: NR World War II documentaries are certainly nothing new. The era has been examined over and over again as a turning point in not just the American Culture, but in shaping the world. There are so many now, that …
Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 3
Review by Rob Vaux Starring the Voices of: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, JK Simmons, James Hong, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Dustin Hoffman, Randall Duk Kim, Kate Hudson, and Jackie Chan Directed by: Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh Running time: 95 Minutes Year of release: 2016 It’s easy to overpraise a movie like Kung Fu Panda 3, largely because it’s …
Gilda Blu-Ray Review
Review by Robert T. Trate Starring: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready Directed by: Charles Vidor Running time: 110 minutes Year of release: 1946 Spine #795 “Gilda, are you decent?” Rita Hayworth then tosses her hair back and says “Me?” This was my first introduction to Hayworth, but it was not in her star turning performance as Gilda. In fact, it …
Movie Review: The Big Short
Review by Rob Vaux Starring: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Steve Carrell, Melissa Leo and Marisa Tomei Directed by: Adam McKay Running time: 130 Minutes Year of release: 2015 The best comedy comes from real life. Ask Mel Brooks, whose greatest film, The Producers, came from his own experiences on Broadway. Ask Ivan Reitman, who drew upon years in a college …
Downhill Racer Blu-Ray Review
Review by Robert T. Trate Starring: Robert Redford and Gene Hackman Directed by: Michael Rithci Running time: 102 minutes Year of release: 1969 I feel as if Criterion Collection films represent the fine wine selection of cinema. These films are chosen for their place or significance in film history. With that being said, I’m not quite sure as to why Michael Bay’s …
Blu-ray Review: Cooties
Review by Rob Vaux Starring: Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, Jack McBrayer, Leigh Whannell, Nasim Petrad, Ian Brennan, Jorge Garcia and Cooper Roth Directed by: Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion Running time: 88 Minutes Year of release: 2015 More than anything else Cooties represents a cathartic scream for anyone who’s ever had to teach elementary school. Obviously every teacher needs to be fair …
Movie Review: The Peanuts Movie
Review by Rob Vaux Starring the Voices of: Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, Alexander Garfin, Mariel Sheets and Noah Johnston Directed by: Steve Martino Running time: 92 Minutes Year of release: 2015 Few phrases set critics’ teeth on edge like “bold reimagining.” With Hollywood busy devouring its own tail, not a single existing property is safe from some form of 21st …
Halloween Review: The Innkeepers
Review by Rob Vaux Starring: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Lena Dunham and Kelly McGillis Directed by: Ti West Running time: 101 Minutes Year of release: 2011 (Note: This review originally appeared on Mania.com. With the demise of that site, I’m reposting it here for general edification and amusement.) I had another look at director Ti West’s The House of the …
Bone Tomahawk Movie Review
Review by Rob Vaux Starring: Kurt Russell, Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmons and David Arquette Directed by: S. Craig Zahler Running time: 132 Minutes Year of release: 2015 Westerns have taken a turn for the grim of late, with today’s batch of prairie oaters pushing the bleak and unforgiving realities of frontier life in ways that bear little resemblance …
Halloween Review: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
Review by Rob Vaux Starring: Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss and Philip Granger Directed by: Eli Craig Running time: 101 Minutes Year of release: 2010 (Note: This review originally appeared on Mania.com. With the demise of that site, I’m reposting it here for general edification and amusement.) How far can you take a single joke? At first glance not …