2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey is a film that requires multiple viewings. At its core are themes of evolution, technology and humankind’s place in the universe, and many of the signs that point towards these themes are often ambiguous. Only mature viewers who are willing to open their minds and embrace non-definitive answers can truly appreciate…

Incredibles 2

I was quite disappointed upon hearing that Pixar was making a sequel to The Incredibles. That was a film that defined my childhood, a movie I could watch over and over again without getting tired of it. It was one of the films I held close to my heart, and it’s still possibly my favorite…

Solo: A Star Wars Story

My expectations weren’t high when I walked into Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s been less than half a year since the last Star Wars film, which meant that there wasn’t as much Star Wars hype built up in me. The other Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One, was also pretty average, and I figured…

Ready Player One

Steven Spielberg is undoubtedly a genius, having directed some of the most iconic and important films in cinematic history. However, his recent films have admittedly been hit or miss, with some being nominated for various awards while others have simply been mediocre. When I heard that Spielberg was directing a film based on Ernest Cline’s…

Avengers: Infinity War

All 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have led up to this point. After a build-up spanning 18 films, Avengers: Infinity War has finally hit theaters, promising the greatest on-screen superhero extravaganza yet. Dozens of Marvel heroes are slated to take on Thanos, the biggest, baddest villain in the series who has slowly increased…

Lady Bird

I have a soft spot for coming of age films. Since I’m a teenager, I usually find characters from these films to be the most relatable, as they are living through the same period of life and sharing the same experiences as me. We have similar conflicts with our families, and deal with the same…

Black Panther

I have to say it upfront: Black Panther is perhaps the best Marvel movie ever made. Upon seeing reviews hailing it as such I immediately became excited, as reviewers had gotten the brilliance of Thor: Ragnarok correct. Entering the theater, my expectations were sky-high, and I was a bit skeptical that the film would not…

The Shape of Water

I thought I knew what to expect when I entered my local theater to watch The Shape of Water. Having seen the posters and watched the trailers, I knew it was a romance between a mute woman and a sea monster, and thus expected the film to be a slower paced piece that developed a…

Phantom Thread

Like Paul Thomas Anderson’s other films, Phantom Thread is a challenging and intricate piece of cinema. Every frame is crafted meticulously, and every scene plays an important role in the overall plot. Though it isn’t a film that instantly grabs and hooks your attention, it is one that, through carefully crafted writing and interesting characters,…

All the Money in the World

The biggest story regarding this film before its release was the replacement of Kevin Spacey by Christopher Plummer in the role of J. Paul Getty. The change was made following the sexual assault allegations made against Spacey, and all scenes with Plummer were shot in the space of two weeks. It was a daring move…