Category Archives: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes review

Directed by Matt Reeves, Written by Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, from a novel by Pierre Boulle I enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes, released back in 2011. It seemed an unlikely prequel to a 43-year-old film, but as a slab of b-movie entertainment I thought it worked. My biggest beef with…Read More

How To Train Your Dragon 2 review

Directed by Don DeBlois, adapted by DeBlois from a book series by Cressida Cowell Steering clear of all things Transformers this week—does anyone really need another one of these Michael Bay monstrosities?—I decided to catch a friendlier looking sequel. I do have to say, there's something kind of shameless when a sequel comes out with…Read More

Edge of Tomorrow review

Directed by Doug Liman | Written by Christopher McQuarrie, and Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, adapting Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel All You Need Is Kill. Things I've learned about the source material for Edge of Tomorrow since I experienced — no, was assaulted by — the film last night at the Bayer's Lake IMAX: Author Sakurazaka named…Read More

More thoughts on Under The Skin

I'm going to guess all you keeners out there who are into quality science fiction and fantasy will have sought out your local cinema showing Jonathan Glazer's Under The Skin.  And I figure since it's opened in Halifax, it's pretty much playing everywhere. Here are a few of my random musings/observations on the film since…Read More

Under The Skin review

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, written by Glazer and Walter Campbell, from a novel by Michel Faber | 108 min | On Demand Imagine Scarlett Johansson dropped in the middle of busy Glasgow, Scotland. She's known all over the world for her role in those Marvel Studios superhero movies, so she has an unlikely, de-glammed brunette…Read More

X-Men: Days Of Future Past review

Directed by Bryan Singer, written by Simon Kinburg from a story by Kinburg, Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn I never really understood why 20th Century Fox chose to prematurely conclude the X-Men franchise.  Fox officially called it quits as a trilogy, with Brent Ratner's limp X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2006. Yes, Singer's beneath-the-skin understanding…Read More

Only Lovers Left Alive review

Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch Ah, the welcome return of the godfather of American indie film. It's a real delight to see something new from Jarmusch.  For those who don't know his stuff, he's best known for languid, atmospheric features low on plot but high on characters skirting the margins of society. His films include Stranger Than…Read More

Godzilla (2014) review

Directed by Gareth Edwards , written by Max Borenstein, from a story by David Callaham. Well, folks, Godzilla is here. The beloved gigantic radioactive lizard with the fiery breath is the star of his own American movie once again. Those of you with fond memories of the Toho Studios movies going back to the 1950s…Read More

Transcendence review

Directed by Wally Pfister / Written by Jack Paglen   I'm writing this on the first Saturday night since Transcendence opened. I've taken in the deluge of scathing reviews the Johnny Depp movie has earned, along with the reports few are bothering to see it in the cinema. A bad combination. But I'm here to tell you while the…Read More

Noah review

Directed by Darren Aronofsky Written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel This isn't your daddy's Biblical epic. That was my first thought as I waded into Noah, the $125 million blockbuster from the indie director of Black Swan, The Wrestler, The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream. For awhile Aronofsky was attached to The Wolverine—imagine what that…Read More