Monthly Archives: July 2017

Dunkirk (2017) Review: The Greatest Story Never Told 'Dunkirk' is a movie about the 400,000 British and French soldiers trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, beset on all sides by German opposition. Any attempt to escape is not treated kindly. Even standing still can be a precarious option, as any given moment could be met with a fatal encounter with the enemy. Trapped in a small location with an enemy that controls the land, sea, and skies. Sounds too incredible to be true, which is why it's the subject of Christopher Nolan's latest picture, 'Dunkirk'.Although set in World War II, 'Dunkirk' is a war film that doesn't adhere to the cliches and tropes that plague movies of this type. Typically, you expect to follow one character in particular, perhaps with a wife and child waiting at home, and watch as he and his companions struggle for survival. That method is fine and all, but after being done so many times, it feels very old hat. Here, there are characters in the film, but the focus is on the event itself, not their individual stories.For doing away with such cliches, I praise the movie. However, there's a reason those cliches exist. It's a shorthand for the audience to have a genuine connection with what happens on screen. 'Dunkirk's biggest flaw is that it can be difficult to connect with the faces that react to the horrors of war. You get the general sense…

War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017) Review Despite being prequels to a well-known movie franchise, the recent Planet of the Apes films have had unprecedented success. Both critically and commercially. The third film chronicling the beginning of the saga 'War for the Planet of the Apes', takes place 5 years after the events of its predecessor, 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'. After being forced into conflict, Caesar and his people are struggling. In order to survive, and for the ape revolution to succeed, these smart apes must be smarter than ever, as the war for the planet wages on.To be frank, 'War for the Planet of the Apes' is exactly what most have come to expect. The visuals throughout the movie are mindblowing. The attention to detail given to the apes & the environment is remarkable. The series continues to be one of the best-looking franchises of its time. The performances by Andy Serkis and company behind each ape are nothing short of breathtaking. Having the technology to capture said performances is extremely gratifying, as 'War for the Planet of the Apes' gives a legitimacy to a season otherwise known for less intelligent films.Having said that, the movie did not entirely thrill me. I spent most of the first half feeling underwhelmed by the film as it went on. I felt as though there were one too many moments that were either entirely predictable or simply uninspired. At…

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) Review: The Best Spider-Man Movie In Years Picking up right after his debut in 'Captain America: Civil War', 'Spider-Man Homecoming' opens with a Peter in conflict. He's had a taste of an amazing fantasy, and suddenly, regular old high school life just doesn't do it anymore. Seeing Captain America on an exercise video just doesn't match up to stealing his shield. While he dreams of joining The Avengers in their world-saving quests, he's stuck stopping bike robberies and helping old ladies cross the street.That personal conflict is an incredibly entertaining part of the film. Peter Parker is reflective of every teenager too rebellious for their own good. Eager to start the next phase of their life. As Peter awkwardly fumbles his way between his double life, it no doubt provides the laughs, but only because it's so relatable. Every situation Peter gets in has about as much tension as the life or death moments.Those moments are thanks to the villain of the picture Adrian Toomes, aka, The Vulture, played by Michael Keaton. Keaton is one of the more memorable villains of the superhero genre and is almost as relatable as Peter Parker himself. He plays a disgruntled salvage operator who makes his living building and selling weaponry forged from the superhero battles waged in this universe over the years. Clearly, the movie puts function over fashion, as the Vulture has traded in his traditional feathers for giant winged blades…