Film Review: ‘The Other Woman’!!
Hillary T., Here…
I honestly would not have given this movie a second look. I would not have paid to see it, or rented it, if I had not been asked to screen it for Boomstick Comics. I am so glad I did! We walked in, and from the start, ‘The Other Woman’ was not what I expected. I was so pleasantly surprised. This movie’s plot line is absolutely unbelievable, for sure, but for what it is (a chick flick), it is downright fun.
read comments (0)Another ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse’ Film Review!
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the best animated movie of 2018. It is funny, charming, exciting, and carries an emotional weight I didn’t expect. Even in a year with Incredibles 2, Spider-Verse manages to reach higher highs in action and storytelling.
Read the rest of this entry »
4K UHD Review: Wonder Woman!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
THE FILM
The Warner Bros./DC Comics Cinematic Universe has been trying to get off its feet for a while now with no success, besides some decent box office money. However, most people would tell you that the new DC Comics‘ films are just not up to par with their rivals over at Marvel for many reasons. These people would be right. Perhaps one of the best moments of Batman v Superman was in fact Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. It was just a shame she only had a few minutes of screen time in that film. The rest was mostly trash. Luckily, Warner Bros. and DC Comics decided to finally make a Wonder Woman movie, which is the first superhero film to feature a female superhero as its main protagonist, as well with a female director with Patty Jenkins. The result is satisfying, making Wonder Woman a damn good film with a few flaws.
Film Review: mother!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
It’s been proven over the last two decades that filmmaker Darren Aronofsky makes movies his own way. He doesn’t bow down to Hollywood execs and never makes movies for the masses. Most people would fail with this tactic, but with Aronofsky, he wins awards and is met with critical acclaim. With films like Pi, Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, and The Wrestler (I won’t mention Noah) – you can tell that Aronofsky doesn’t make tightly wrapped, happy movies with pretty little bows on them. I commend him for this, because he’s doing something that nobody else is doing.
Wonder Woman 4K UHD and Blu-ray Announced!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
Perhaps the biggest movie of the summer and the one film to get DC and Warner Bros. back on track with their superhero films – WONDER WOMAN, is coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, and DVD. Warner is sure milking this for all its worth, since they are also releasing a 3D version of the film, even though 3D is dead in the water. The 4K UHD is the way to go for sure here if you have the right equipment. You can own the movie digitally as soon as August 29th, and you’ll be able to purchase the Blu-ray, 4K, 3D, and DVD on September 19th. There are tons of bonus features as well, which I can’t wait to watch. Official information below.
Film Review #2: Wonder Woman!
Dan M., here….
Let’s cut to the chase, Wonder Woman is great and one of the best modern superhero origin movies ever made. It deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the original Superman, Batman Begins, Iron Man, etc. It is a nearly flawless introduction to a truly interesting character who cannot only carry her own film but will hopefully help carry future DC films the way Iron Man does with Marvel ones.
Film Review: Wonder Woman!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
The Warner Bros./DC Comics Cinematic Universe has been trying to get off its feet for a while now with no success, besides some decent box office money. However, most people would tell you that the new DC Comics‘ films are just not up to par with their rivals over at Marvel for many reasons. These people would be right. Perhaps one of the best moments of Batman v Superman was in fact Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. It was just a shame she only had a few minutes of screen time in that film. The rest was mostly trash. Luckily, Warner Bros. and DC Comics decided to finally make a Wonder Woman movie, which is the first superhero film to feature a female superhero as its main protagonist, as well with a female director with Patty Jenkins. The result is satisfying, making Wonder Woman a damn good film with a few flaws.
Film Review: ‘Woman in Gold’!!
Janet W., Here…
The Piano. Schindler’s List. I have seen films about the Holocaust and the invasion of countries by the Nazi regime. Along comes Woman in Gold a true story about one woman’s fight against Nazi-sympathizing Austria. Mrs. Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren) loses her sister and within her sister’s belongings finds a postcard of Gustav Klimt’s “Woman in Gold” painting. Shortly after this find, Austria announces their intent to restore stolen artwork to their rightful owners namely the Jewish families who were robbed by the Nazis when they invaded Austria. Randy (Ryan Reynolds) is a down on his luck attorney who failed at his solo practice.
Frances Fisher Joins Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds in ‘The Woman in Gold’!!!
Hello everyone, Jana here,
‘The Woman in Gold‘ is a fact-based drama depicting a Holocaust survivor who sets out to retrieve family possessions that were seized by the Nazis, including a valuable Gustav Klimt painting of The Lady in Gold.
Edward Norton Turns to ‘Motherless Brooklyn’!!
Jana B. here,
Edward Norton is an exceptional and compelling actor, writer and filmmaker, and has decided on his next project. Well, he decided 15 years ago, it just took time to get his vision crystal clear before it could be put to celluloid. That time is now. What is this mysterious project, you ask? The film treatment of the Jonathan Lethem novel of critical acclaim, ‘Motherless Brooklyn‘. You know how you read a book and hope someone takes that vision and puts it directly onto screen? Don’t hold your breath for that happening with this novel. While taking the source material mostly straight across there are going to be some major changes. One of those changes is Lethem’s novel takes place in 1999, or at least contemporary New York. Norton is setting his story in 1954, a time of great change in the city.
Mother Teresa Biopic To Hit The Big Screen!!
Jana B. here,
The almost-sainted Mother Teresa has inspired a lot of people to do a lot of things, take vows of poverty and selflessly give to the poor among others. Movie-making is one of the stranger things that people attribute to her influence. Keir Pearson is on deck to write a screenplay titled, ‘I Thirst‘. Pearson is making news as co-writer of ‘Cesar Chavez: An American Hero‘ set to release at the end of March of this year. “Keir’s presentation and his Oscar-nominated script of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and his sensitive script for ‘Chavez’ made him the perfect choice,” said Tony Krantz.
Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman (Bluray Review)
It’s brutally impossible to fathom The Doors’ 1971 Elektra Records masterpiece, “L.A. Woman,” is the Los Angeles quartet’s sixth and final album with singer/poet/shaman Jim Morrison, not to mention sounding as fresh and amazing as anything that has come out since, by any band. What’s equally impossible is to hear an album you’ve heard millions of times in your life for the very first time, and yet, “Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman” is a uniquely superb and insightful document chronicling the making-of the band’s storied swan song that allows you to experience this magnificent piece of work for what feels like the very first time (again.) Read the rest of this entry »
‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘Freaks and Geeks’ Director To Helm ‘Better Woman’ for Universal!!!
Hi Bryan Here….
Since Paul Feig’s ‘Bridesmaids’ has grossed almost $300 million worldwide, Universal wanted to secure Feig to do ‘Bridge Jones 3’. But Feig exited the project after he developed a draft for the script. Add to that, he is not committing to the ‘Bridesmaids’ sequel yet, because Kirstin Wiig and Annie Mumolo are currently pursuing other projects. So, it just so happens that Feig is currently available for work. Enter ‘Better Woman’, which will be Feig’s next project.
Hi Bryan Here….
A self-made millionaire living on New York City’s Upper East Side, 39-year-old Dee Dee Ricks seemed to have it all – until she was diagnosed with aggressive stage II breast cancer. Insured and affluent, she could afford the best treatment money could buy, but was shocked to realize how difficult it is for uninsured women in the same situation, and determined to do something about it.
Bryan Finds ‘Another Earth’ Outstanding, Impressive, and Out of This World!!! (A Review)
Hi Bryan Here….
I was just blown away with ‘Another Earth’. When I first saw the trailer I expected one thing. What I got was so much more and then some. Now I am a huge fan of science fiction and space exploration. There has been many times, mostly in college, where I have had in depth conversations with friends about numerous scenarios of “what if a new planet was created that could sustain life just like Earth”. This film has that scenario, but it is much deeper and has so much more going for it than just the sci-fi factor. I can honestly say that ‘Another Earth’ is one of the better films to come out in a long time.
Another Inception Star Has Joined The Batman 3 Cast!!!
Hi Bryan Here…
Marion Cotillard has joined the cast of Batman 3 or The Dark Knight Rises as it is being called right now. You might remember Marion from Inception. She played Leonardo’s dead wife, Mal.
‘The Pact’ Snags John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Kay Cannon, writer and producer for hits like ‘30 Rock‘, ‘Pitch Perfect‘ and ‘New Girl‘, is stepping behind the camera for the first time with ‘The Pact’. The film has already got some A-list talent attached in the form of Leslie Mann (‘The Other Woman‘, ‘Vacation‘), Ike Barinholtz (‘Suicide Squad‘, ‘Sisters‘) and WWE superstar John Cena (‘Sisters’, ‘Daddy’s Home‘).
‘Fighting With My Family’ – Film Review!
“‘Fighting With My Family’ dare I say it, is my favorite film of the year so far.”
Pro-wrestling is a way of life and an escape into another universe of fun characters and storylines where it allows us to put aside real-world thoughts for a few hours and enjoy some high octane entertainment from some of the world’s best athletes and entertainers. Most of us at least one point in our lives have watched a pro-wrestling match and still vividly remember the match to a tee and who competed. After Stephen Merchant’s latest directorial effort ‘Fighting With My Family‘, you will forever remember the name Paige, a real-life woman who started wrestling at the age of 8 in England with her entire family of wrestlers, where at the age of 18, was signed to WWE and won the Women’s Championship Title, making her the youngest ever to accomplish that feat.
Film Review: ‘What Men Want’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
It has been said that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. The meaning behind this idiom is that men and women are so different that communication between the two is doomed to fail. The truth is that men and women consistently get in their own way when it comes to romance, however; that is a different conversation. (wink) Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is power without a couple. She’s strong, determined, intelligent, and fierce in both beauty and business acumen. Despite her many talents and skills, Ali is repeatedly passed over for a promotion to partner in her sports management firm. Her boss, Nick Ivers (Mr. Stone Cold Himself, Brian Bosworth, still pretty hot), claims that Ali cannot relate to men. Well, a visit with Sister the psychic (Dallas’ own Erykah Badu), a bottle of tequila, and a stage floor, and Ali becomes the translator that hears all.
‘Strait-Jacket’ Blu-ray Review!
William Castle is at it again here with the fun murderous mom movie ‘Straight-Jacket‘ from 1964. Yes, that William Castle who brought the gimmicky movies like ‘The Tingler‘, ‘13 Ghosts‘, and ‘House on Haunted Hill‘. Joan Crawford stars in this film, which came out after her resurgence from ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?‘. She went on to star in very similar roles, but with ‘Straight-Jacket‘, she stars as an ax-wielding murderer – mostly. Of course, production on this film was tense, to say the least, due to Crawford’s presence and diva-like personality. She even got some people fired from the set, but I guess that was the case if you were going to hire Crawford.
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Tingler’!
Gimmicks used to be a huge thing in horror movies back in the 1950s. They were used all the time in these low budget horror films to conjure up scares, word-of-mouth, and good publicity to sell a movie that wasn’t necessarily any good. In 1959, filmmaker William Castle (House on Haunted Hill, 13 Ghosts) was a pioneer in using these gimmicks. He was known for paying actors to attend movie screenings and scream and or faint during the film to cause a stir. In House on Haunted Hill, Castle rigged a fake skeleton to fly through actual movie theaters to scare the audience. He was a genius for sure, way ahead of his time. In 1959 though, he made a film called ‘The Tingler‘, which starred Vincent Price. His gimmick for this film was to use some of the budget to attach buzzers to theater seats to simulate scares and screams at certain moments in the movie. It worked perfectly and this is the type of movie where this gimmick succeeds.
Film Review: ‘[Night School]’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
When life hands you lemons, make lemon drops.
Night School opens with young, Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) struggling to study for his GSAT test. Right off a cool special effect, test questions pop off the page and fly about the room, makes Teddy’s challenge tangible for the audience. Teddy’s father, Gerald, portrayed by the venerable Keith David is convinced that he is dumber than a box of rocks. Coddled by his mother, Carole (Donna Biscoe), Teddy wakes to a gym filled with anxiety. As the questions yet again fly off the page, a tantrum sets in, Teddy storms out spouting claims that he will have money, a beautiful woman, and a fly ride the age-old question looms. Can a person be successful without college? Fast-forward 17 years; Teddy has Lisa, a Porsche Carrera, killer apartment, etc. However, a fiery misjudgment will change his life. With job gone, car gone, Teddy plummets into hysterical panic mode. In order to set his life to rights, he must obtain his GED. It will not come easy either. Read the rest of this entry »
Fantastic Fest Film Review: ‘Murder Me, Monster’!
Murder Me, Monster is a horror film out of Argentina that turned out to be absolutely bonkers. In the remote regions of Argentina, a woman’s body is found with no head. Cruz, an officer assigned to the crime, begins to investigate what is going on. While Cruz is looking into the death, he is also having an affair with a married woman. The woman’s husband is named David and he has gone missing again and Cruz sets off to find him. Cruz finds David in an abandoned village in the mountains.
Fantastic Fest 2018 Second Wave of Motion Pictures Announced!
Fantastic Fest is one of the events that is pure bliss for any fan of genre cinema. If you love horror, sci-fi, foreign, action, and even adult-oriented movies from the 1970s, then Fantastic Fest is the place to let that freak flag fly high and be with like-minded individuals that truly appreciate the art of movies. All of the madness and fun will take place in Austin, TX starting on September 20th and run for 10 days at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar St. This year, which is the 14th annual festival of Fantastic-ness, captures the essence of the Korean movie scene with a ton of cool films being showcased from Korea, both new and old. This is something you won’t want to miss.
The second wave of movies (1st wave can be seen here) – has been announced, including the US Premiere of the upcoming sequel ‘HALLOWEEN‘ from director David Gordon Green, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, who reprises her iconic role as Laurie Strode. In addition to that, Jeremy Saulnier‘s new film ‘HOLD THE DARK‘, will have its US Premiere at the festival. Also, Gaspar Noe’s newest movie ‘CLIMAX‘, will be shown too. This is shaping up to be an amazing festival. Below is the complete list of the second wave.
The Ultimate Guide to SummerSlam 2018 – Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch vs Carmella!
The big summer blockbuster is almost here. I’m not talking about dinosaurs trying to survive an eruptive volcano either. I’m talking about WWE’s 31st annual SummerSlam PPV of entertainment and pro-wrestling, which is set to take place on August 19th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn New York and can be watched live in HD on the WWE Network for $9.99 a month or for free if you’re a new subscriber. Over the next few days, our writer Angi and I will be conjuring up some entertaining pieces about each match at SummerSlam 2018. We’ll cover each WWE Superstar, the background of the match, the odds of winning, and what to look out for in each match.
Fantastic Fest 2018 First Wave of Motion Pictures Announced!
Fantastic Fest is one of the events that is pure bliss for any fan of genre cinema. If you love horror, sci-fi, foreign, action, and even adult-oriented movies from the 1970s, then Fantastic Fest is the place to let that freak flag fly high and be with like-minded individuals that truly appreciate the art of movies. All of the madness and fun will take place in Austin, TX starting on September 20th and run for 10 days at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar St. This year, which is the 14th annual festival of Fantastic-ness, captures the essence of the Korean movie scene with a ton of cool films being showcased from Korea, both new and old. This is something you won’t want to miss.
The first wave of movies has been announced, including the World Premiere of the WWII horror movie called ‘OVERLORD‘ from J.J. Abrams. In addition to that film, Fantastic Fest will host Gareth Evans‘ horror movie ‘APOSTLE‘. Gareth gave us the amazing films ‘THE RAID‘ AND ‘THE RAID 2‘, so you can expect some insane fight scenes and horrific imagery. Alos, a film called ‘THE NIGHT COMES FOR US‘, which stars the badass from those ‘RAID‘ movies will be shown, meaning Iko Uwais will stun us once again with his amazing physical skills. If you were a fan of ‘THE GREASY STRANGLER‘, the director of that movie Jim Hosking has a new film called ‘AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN‘, which is being described as a David Lynch meets John Waters type of movie. You had me at Greasy Strangler.
Lastly, there are some vintage films coming through from AGFA (American Genre Film Archive), one of which has peaked my interest from the title alone – ‘MARY JANE’S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE‘. I have high hopes for this one. Below is the list of films with cast and crew info, along with a brief synopsis. Enjoy and hope to see you all there.
Why you need Need ‘Texas Star Burlesque’ in your life!
I believe Axl Rose said it best back in 1987 – “Take me down to Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.” This is what I think of when a burlesque shows heads into town. However, you receive so much more, especially with the brand new show ‘Texas Star Burlesque‘ had their first extravaganza in the historic Deep Ellum neighborhood of Downtown Dallas on July Saturday the 14th at Trees. Not only are the people devastatingly beautiful, and while there wasn’t green grass inside of Trees, you can sense the paradise and glistening stage and lights that amplified these talented performers. When the music hit the sold-out crowd, the cheers were turned up to 11, and the lights were as bright as they could be, you could feel the sense of joy wonder and excitement between everyone in attendance. It was truly a Paradise City.
A Reconstruction of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’!
Reconstruction of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
By Tuesday Shank
(Find Tuesday Shank on Twitter and Instagram!)
There are three types of movies in this world for me; bad movies (which I may or may not enjoy because of or despite of their badness), good movies, and movies that annoy me. Movies that annoy me are the ones I obsess over.
Movies that annoy me tend to be “close but no cigar” to a good movie. They annoy me, because I wish the film had gotten the cigar. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a movie that annoys the crap out of me.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was intended to be a soft reboot of the series. It was supposed to introduce new characters in a similar environment and allow the series to have a “fresh start.” The film had absolutely everything it needed to accomplish this task. Instead, the movie is a jammed pack, convoluted, dragging two-hour film.
Justifying the Female Villain: An Essay by Tuesday Shank!
Justifying the Female Villain
By Tuesday Shank
(Find Tuesday Shank on Twitter and Instagram!)
I stumbled through my college career. After the better part of six years, I began my work on my senior thesis. I undertook the easiest thesis I could think for myself to do: analyze a television show. My advisor’s academic expertise was gender studies. As a fan of Joss Whedon, I knew of Joss Whedon’s reputation for feminist characters and decided to use my thesis to sing Whedon’s praises.
Thus, I began my work on “Careful Jayne, You’ll Scare the Women: An Analysis of Gender Representations in the Television Show, Firefly”. I watched Firefly enough that I’m still not eager to see it again. Halfway through the semester, I just wanted to watch anything else.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Ninja III: The Domination’!
THE FILM
Back in 1984, the world was given a movie by the name of ‘Ninja III: The Domination‘, which was the third film in a trilogy. If you were to go back and watch all three Ninja films, you’d be hard pressed to find a similar tone or continuity throughout each of them, minus a small ninja aspect. After the first two ‘Ninja‘ films, it was time to throw everything in the bag, including the kitchen sink, which eventually became ‘Ninja III: The Domination‘. The movie plays out like Hunter S. Thompson wrote it over a drug-induced bender in Vegas, but only had a few dollars to make the film that is a mix between ‘Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo‘, a horror film, and the wackiest Kung-Fu movie this side of the Mississippi. In fact, the star and director of ‘Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo‘ also star and direct ‘Ninja III‘, which makes perfect sense when you think about it. This is a film that I imagine had fantastic intentions and thought it was going to be the biggest blockbuster ever made, but the results gave us something much more. It gave us a movie that was so beyond weird and insane, that cult audiences around the world fell in love with it and keep it alive still to this day.
Blu-ray Review: ‘A Wrinkle In Time’!
THE FILM
(This film portion was written by Beka Perlstein!)
I really wanted to like A Wrinkle in Time more than I did. I gave it my best shot, but in the end, the only thing I can honestly say was that it had lots of great colors. Perhaps it was my high expectations for a Disney film, plus Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling that set me up for disappointment, but regardless, I was left feeling let down in a film that I knew practically nothing about. I have never read the 1962 Madeleine L’Engle novel, so I honestly had no clue what the plot was but whatever, it’s Disney, it’s gonna be good. Well…
Film Review: ‘Sequence Break’!
I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and say that Graham Skipper watched a lot of horror movies in the 80’s and played “tempest” at the arcades one too many times. And good for him. The end result of years of B movie horror and old school cabinet games led to his writing, directing, and producing of “Sequence Break.”
Oak Cliff Film Festival 2018 is Upon Us!
Mark your calendars for June 14-17, because the 7th annual OAK CLIFF FILM FESTIVAL will be in town, showing some of the best new films we can all look forward to. Every film and event will be shown at the Texas Theatre, along with a few special events in and around the Dallas area. There are 25 films to be shown along with 40 short films. There will also be a ton of live music, parties, and filmmaking workshops if you want to learn more about the filmmaking process. This year’s slate looks magnificent with a documentary about Joan Jett, a hilarious comedy, and more. Legendary filmmaker Penelope Spheeris will even be in attendance too. Spheeris is most known for directing ‘Wayne’s World‘ and the amazing documentary ‘The Decline of Western Civilization‘. Below is all the information you will need, along with some links to purchase tickets and passes.
My Bloody Podcast #3 – ‘Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives’!
Here is the 3rd episode of the newest podcast under the MULTI-MEDIA MEN banner called ‘My Bloody Podcast‘, where the show is related to all things HORROR! Here on this new show, Preston Barta from Fresh Fiction and the Denton Record Chronicle and myself talk about everything we love about horror movies, tv shows, and horror themed music. In our third episode, our topics include discussions about a new horror movie called ‘Crawl‘ from Sam Raimi and Alexandre Aja, the upcoming Texas Frightmare Weekend Horror Convention, My Pet Monster possibly getting another live-action film, and give you “Bloody Recommendations” of two vintage horror films, being ‘Wolfen‘ and ‘Werewolf Woman‘. Our big topic is of course ‘Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives‘, where we discuss the film and its soundtrack, which features a ton of Alice Cooper. It was so much fun. This episode is guaranteed to thrill you, chill you, and fulfill you.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Molly’s Game’!
THE FILM
(This film portion was written by Beka Perlstein)
Do you have a girl crush on Jessica Chastain? Do you have a man crush on Idris Elba? If you have any combination of the two, Molly’s Game is going to make you have all the feels. This is a well done film with all the right players and script that packs a punch. Aaron Sorkin (screenplay and first time director) has taken the novel Molly’s Game and turned it into a film that at a run time of two hours and twenty minutes seems fast paced and doesn’t waste your time. While I know literally nothing about poker, this movie kept me entertained and engaged because the story wasn’t the game-it was the players.
4K UHD Review: ‘Justice League’!
THE FILM
(This film portion was written by Dan Moran)
There are several things about Justice League that are good. I think the cast is terrific. Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, and Ezra Miller are great in their roles. They each have a character moment (earned or not) that makes me interested in seeing their next solo adventure. DC/WB has put some talented filmmakers in charge of the next slate of movies. Justin Lin doing Aquaman sounds great, Patty Jenkins taking Wonder Woman on her next adventure, and Matt Reeves writing and directing The Batman. These are world-class filmmakers who have a great actor in the title role and hopefully that leads to some great story telling. I have no idea who is directing The Flash but I did enjoy him as the comic relief character in Justice League and would like to see if he is more than that in the future. Even Henry Cavill’s “new” Superman was delightful as he is reborn in this film and is no longer a whiney douchebag with terrible parents. Man of Steel 2 is actually on my radar now! But those are the nicest things I can say about Justice League. I loved the cast and I look forward to their solo adventures because having them all together in whatever Justice League was/is/supposed to be was a horrific insult to the fans of DC and moviegoers in general.
Beka’s Film Review: ‘Gringo’!
Gringo is a really fun film that wasn’t on my radar until I saw Joel Edgerton on a late night show and I’m so glad I did. Fresh off Red Sparrow, I saw him on Colbert and discovered he is hotter than you imagine, because he is Australian and also he has this other film, Gringo, which p.s., his brother Nash Edgerton directed. The cast is brimming with stars that are A listers and people that shine despite their lack of name recognition. Edgerton plays corporate dick, Richard Rusk, who is sleeping with everyone and has a general disregard for everything unless it benefits him. Charlize Theron plays Elaine Markinson, a rough woman “working” her way to the top who knows how to get what she wants. The standout however is David Oyelowo, who plays Harold Soyinka, a middle-management nobody whose life is crumbling at the hands of the two players above.
Film Review: ‘A Wrinkle in Time’!
I really wanted to like A Wrinkle in Time more than I did. I gave it my best shot, but in the end, the only thing I can honestly say was that it had lots of great colors. Perhaps it was my high expectations for a Disney film, plus Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling that set me up for disappointment, but regardless, I was left feeling let down in a film that I knew practically nothing about. I have never read the 1962 Madeleine L’Engle novel, so I honestly had no clue what the plot was but whatever, it’s Disney, it’s gonna be good. Well…
4K UHD Review: ‘Thor: Ragnarok’!
THE FILM
Thor is starring in his third stand-alone film called ‘Thor: Ragnarok‘ and brings a much needed change to the character in the best possibly way. Thor now has a fun personality and great comedic timing, mostly due to Chris Hemsworth amazing acting chops here. In addition to that, the film is steeped in a hypnotic, yet hyper-active color scheme that looks like Willy Wonka and Andy Warhol got together and decorated a city. In fact, Wonka’s theme ‘Pure Imagination’ is a song that plays in the film. It’s not all cold and stiff dialogue here anymore with brown or earth toned aliens and robots that Thor has to use his hammer to fight. Everyone and everything is covered in bright primary and pastel colors that creates a breath of fresh air in this stale universe. That’s all thanks to filmmaker Taika Waititi for giving his unique vision on this big budget film ($180 million). In previous Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, particularly with Thor, things have been sour and gloomy.
Film Review: ‘Flower’!
Sometimes you get a film that seems so good on paper, but after you watch it, you can’t help but be sorely disappointed in just about everything you’ve witnessed. ‘Flower‘ is that kind of movie that had a lot of potential, but just couldn’t get it together for anyone to really relate to, even though it tried to be realistic. The film was directed by Max Winkler who hasn’t really done anything before this, and was written by three male writers, which is weird, because the main characters are female, which causes some strange dialogue for sure.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Cook Off!’
THE FILM
There might be a few hundred reality shows based on cooking competitions. Some involve chefs, while others involve children trying to cook five star meals. It’s all terrible. More than 10 years ago, a woman named Cathryn Michon made a film in the style of a Christopher Guest Mockumentary (Best in Show), called ‘Cook Off!‘, which showed us some whacky characters in a cooking competition. Again, this film was made more than 10 years ago and has been sitting on a shelf for the right time. Turns out, it was never the right time and for some reason, we have this horrible movie in front of us.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Drag Me To Hell’ Collector’s Edition!
THE FILM
Back in 2009, the brilliant filmmaker Sam Raimi journeyed back to his horror roots and made a fun-as-hell horror-comedy film called ‘Drag Me To Hell‘. For those of you who don’t remember who Sam Raimi is, movies like ‘Evil Dead II‘, ‘Army of Darkness‘, ‘The Spider-Man Trilogy‘, and ‘Darkman‘ are some of his accomplishments. Raimi and his brother and frequent collaborator Ivan Raimi had an idea for a horror film called ‘The Curse‘, but when Raimi booked the ‘Spider-Man‘ gig, that film was put on hold for the next decade. After ‘Spider-Man 3‘ was released, Sam and Ivan went quickly back to their idea to work on a low budget horror film again, which turned into ‘Drag Me To Hell’.
Criterion Blu-ray Review: ‘I, Daniel Blake’!
THE FILM
For more than 50 years, Ken Loach (KES) has been making films that cause us to think about our current political and social climates, no matter what race your are or where you come from, because a lot of us suffer from the same overall issues, whether it be medically, financially, or a corrupt government. Loach has never been shy to show any of these topics in his films over the years as well as in real life interviews. If you’ve ever attended a screening a film festival or movie where Loach is the director behind the movie, you will immediately know what you’re in for, which is usually a story of someone being beat by the system, despite all of the honest and good things they do. His film I, Daniel Blake is no different, which isn’t a bad thing.
‘Justice League’ is flying onto 4K UHD and Blu-ray!
Warner Bros. and DC Comics are bringing the big action superhero film ‘Justice League‘ to 4K UHD and Blu-ray very soon. In fact, you’ll be able to watch the film digitally on February 13th, then you’ll be able to purchase the 4K UHD and Blu-ray with an option of 3D on March 13th. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos are all included on this release, along with a plethora (What is a plethora?) of bonus features, including behind-the scenes and deleted scenes not watched in theaters.
Additions Coming To The Criterion Collection in April 2018!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
If you’re ready to add to your own personal film collection, check out what The Criterion Collection will be releasing in April 2018 as they add to their own ranks.
Film Review: ‘Phantom Thread’!
It was a gloomy day when Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting in 2017, and watching the curtain close over his final film was bittersweet. But in staying steadfast to his trademark of eloquent and emotional performances, he established once more that he’s a masterful artist. ‘Phantom Thread‘ is a stylishly sophisticated picture interlaced with darkness. Director Paul Thomas Anderson has capsuled the allure of a post-war decade and produced a motion picture any exiting actor would be proud to call their last.
‘Drag Me To Hell’ is getting the Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Treatment on Blu-ray!
After Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead Trilogy) got done filming ‘Spider-Man‘ movies and a variety of other non-horror projects, the master filmmaker returned to his roots with a fun-as-hell film called ‘Drag Me To Hell‘, which mixed his unique style of silly humor and ultimate terror. The film was released in 2009 and was a return to form for Raimi, before he got on board with revamping ‘The Evil Dead‘ in TV series form. The new collector’s Edition Blu-ray will be available on February 13th and have theatrical and unrated cuts of the film, a new transfer, and new interviews with the cast. Prior bonus features will also be available here too. I can’t wait for this one.
Dan Moran’s Top 12 Movies of 2017 Plus Extras!
I saw 75 movies this year and I still have 3-4 left to finish up over the next few weeks. I haven’t seen The Post, Call Me By Your Name, or Phantom Thread yet. Phantom Thread is the only regret I have but it doesn’t come out until mid-January and I like to finish my list before first week of January ends. A few special awards before my top 12.
4K UHD Review: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’!
THE FILM
The threats of terrorism, war, chaos, and financial ruin are all too real these days. ’The Dark Knight Rises’ dives into these issues on a massive scale, which makes any film in the Marvel universe look like mere “child’s play” (no reference to a knife-wielding murderous doll). Compared with the other Batman movies, everything is bigger in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and there is so much more at stake. Not one second of this film is wasted, the writing and direction is straight to the point, cohesive, and comes across as totally fulfilling in its 164 minute run-time.
Jana’s Best of 2017!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
I know these “Best of 2017” lists should technically be published in 2017, but why would I start 2018 any differently than I lived the majority of my adult life: Procrastinating and underachieving. What can I say? That’s my wheelhouse.
For a year that put a spotlight on some of the shittiest behavior by some of the Hollywood elite, it was actually a good year for TV and movies. I didn’t limit myself in number because as I moved on with the brackets, I felt like I was making ‘Sophie’s Choice‘ on some of these, so they’re all getting in! I’m feeling my inner-Oprah here, You’ve made the list! You made the list! EVERYBODY made the list!! In order to spare myself any arguments, I’m stating up front that my picks for the “Best of 2017” are not edited in regards to scandal or hideous human behavior.
Dan Moran’s Favorite Movie Moments from 2017!
This isn’t a Top 10 List. I have a few more movies to check off before I can make that list but I wanted to share some of the moments that wowed me on screen this year.
BEWARE OF SPOILERS!
Film Review: ‘Molly’s Game’!
Do you have a girl crush on Jessica Chastain? Do you have a man crush on Idris Elba? If you have any combination of the two, Molly’s Game is going to make you have all the feels. This is a well done film with all the right players and script that packs a punch. Aaron Sorkin (screenplay and first time director) has taken the novel Molly’s Game and turned it into a film that at a run time of two hours and twenty minutes seems fast paced and doesn’t waste your time. While I know literally nothing about poker, this movie kept me entertained and engaged because the story wasn’t the game-it was the players.
Film Review: ‘Somebody’s Darling’!
If you paid me $1 million, I wouldn’t be able to tell you why this movie is named Somebody’s Darling. I had no clue what this movie was about going into it, and after it ended, the title still made no sense. Somebody’s Darling isn’t a 1950s romp or a story about a lovable shelter dog named Darling just looking for a home. Instead, it’s a horror movie about a fraternity. The head of a fraternity named Christian (on the nose) falls for a young college girl named Sarah and the supernatural secrets about his fraternity start to show.
‘Blade Runner 2049’ is coming to 4K UHD!
‘Blade Runner 2049‘ is coming to all formats soon. You’ll be able to get the film digitally, on 4K UHD, 3D Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVD. Watch it digitally as early as December 26th, or wait for 4K UHD and Blu-ray on January 16th. There will be many bonus features included to watch and the sound will come with Dolby Atmos. Also, there will be an HDR encode, but no Dolby Vision as of now. This is going to be a great release. More info below.
Movies We’re Thankful For!
Tis the season to be thankful for many things. Family, friends, food, jobs, and Bruce Campbell. It’s Thanksgiving time and we here at Boomstick Comics just love movies. We love everything about them. Even the bad ones. While you’re eating those delicious bites of Turkey, watching ‘Charlie Brown Thanksgiving‘ or the Dallas Cowboys Game, we want to share with you some movies that we are thankful for. These movies have touched us in some way and have helped shaped our creative lives. Maybe this list will inspire you to make your own list and share it with us. These are the movies we are thankful for and dearly love.
A Deeper look into the ‘The Holiday’!
In 2006 a little movie by the name of ‘The Holiday’ was released unto the world from the place where all darkness flows. It now signifies the start of “Holiday Movie Season” for countless women across the globe. I believe it is solely responsible for the Hallmark Channel’s holiday film slate every November-December. However, the imitators don’t even come close to the unique mess this film is. I actually don’t think I’ve seen the movie in one full sitting the past 5 years but it has been in such a rotation in my home that I’ve caught it in enough chunks to have seen it at least 10-12 full times since it came out in 2006. I really want to break down the absurdity of this movie to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Film Review: ‘Justice League’!
There are several things about Justice League that are good. I think the cast is terrific. Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, and Ezra Miller are great in their roles. They each have a character moment (earned or not) that makes me interested in seeing their next solo adventure. DC/WB has put some talented filmmakers in charge of the next slate of movies. Justin Lin doing Aquaman sounds great, Patty Jenkins taking Wonder Woman on her next adventure, and Matt Reeves writing and directing The Batman. These are world-class filmmakers who have a great actor in the title role and hopefully that leads to some great story telling. I have no idea who is directing The Flash but I did enjoy him as the comic relief character in Justice League and would like to see if he is more than that in the future. Even Henry Cavill’s “new” Superman was delightful as he is reborn in this film and is no longer a whiney douchebag with terrible parents. Man of Steel 2 is actually on my radar now! But those are the nicest things I can say about Justice League. I loved the cast and I look forward to their solo adventures because having them all together in whatever Justice League was/is/supposed to be was a horrific insult to the fans of DC and moviegoers in general.
Scooby Doo and Batman are coming to Blu-ray Together!
I’m gonna go ahead and say it. There won’t be a better film than this all year. On January 9th, 2018, Warner Bros. is releasing ‘Scooby-Doo & Batman: The Brave and the Bold‘ on Digital Streaming. How can Warner Bros. team up this duo? Well, the villains of the Batman universe have partnered up with the villains of the Scooby Doo universe to terrorize the city. Batman then decides to join the other detective agency of Mystery Inc with Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma to fight crime. There are so many scenarios I want to see played out here. I want to see Batman slap Fred. I want to see Velma and Daphne fight over Batman. I want to see Shaggy try to unmask Batman. I want to see Scooby wear a Bat-Dog costume. I want the Joker and Ghost Clown to torture civilians. I don’t think this is asking for too much.
The Blood In The Snow Canadian Film Festival Promises Fun and Blood!
Film Review: ‘Thor: Ragnarok’!
Thor is starring in his third stand-alone film called ‘Thor: Ragnarok‘ and brings a much needed change to the character in the best possibly way. Thor now has a fun personality and great comedic timing, mostly due to Chris Hemsworth amazing acting chops here. In addition to that, the film is steeped in a hypnotic, yet hyper-active color scheme that looks like Willy Wonka and Andy Warhol got together and decorated a city. In fact, Wonka’s theme ‘Pure Imagination’ is a song that plays in the film. It’s not all cold and stiff dialogue here anymore with brown or earth toned aliens and robots that Thor has to use his hammer to fight. Everyone and everything is covered in bright primary and pastel colors that creates a breath of fresh air in this stale universe. That’s all thanks to filmmaker Taika Waititi for giving his unique vision on this big budget film ($180 million). In previous Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, particularly with Thor, things have been sour and gloomy.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis Team Up for ‘Phantom Thread’!
Written By: Bryan Kluger
Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis are back at it again with a new film called ‘Phantom Thread‘, which is set to release on Christmas later this year. I’m quite sure the film, along with both Lewis and Anderson will be nominated for all the Oscars. Of course, Anderson brought us ‘Boogie Nights‘ all those years ago and has continued to bring us amazing films over the years. He even teamed with Daniel Day Lewis with ‘There Will Be Blood‘, which is still talked about today, milkshakes and all.
Boomstick Comics Questionnaire: In the Spotlight with Jana!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Do you ever wonder who is giving you your entertainment news, reviews and anything else in between? Do you ever catch yourself thinking “I really wish I knew more about the amazing people at Boomstick Comics?” Vanity Fair gives readers the option to get to know their favorite celebs a little bit more by offering the famous Proust Questionnaire completed by someone really successful, talented and funny. Unfortunately, y’all get me “JANA” this time.
4k UHD Review: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’!
Written By Bryan Kluger:
THE FILM
(This film review portion was written by Dan Moran.)
The fifth installment of Disney’s nearly $4 billion dollar franchise is a Pirates movie through and through. It is about 20 minutes too long, has a needlessly complex plot, fantastic action set pieces, and way too many characters. I found it to be a real roller coaster viewing experience, where some points I was loving every single second of what was on screen and others I wanted to check my phone to see how much longer was left. There were no scenes in this entire movie that I was just ‘Ok’ with. I was either loving it or tolerating it. When it was all over I was pleased with the ending and, more importantly, that it ended.
The New ‘Justice League’ Trailer is Here!
Written By Bryan Kluger:
A new ‘Justice League‘ trailer is here and shows a ton more footage. It’s just too bad that it isn’t all that great and once again, there is no Superman. Well, Supes does show up, but only in a dream walking through his home farm in Smallville like Russell Crowe meandering through the tall grass in ‘Gladiator‘, which is funny, because Crowe is Supes’ father. Other than that, Superman is not in the trailer, which furthers the stupidity of DC in trying to surprise us with a Superman appearance in ‘Justice League‘.
‘Just Getting Started’ Looks Completely Hilarious!!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
The best way for me to describe this trailer is ‘Grumpy Old Men‘ with Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones and swap out Ann-Margaret for Rene Russo. While you’re at it you can replace the snow with Palm Springs and add in some mafia intrigue and action. So it’s only like ‘Grumpy Old Men‘ in the way curmudgeonly men snipe at each other and fight over a woman, I guess.
Film Review: ‘The Mountain Between Us’!
Rebecca S., here….
In modern terms, a unicorn is a sought after item of idea that you can never have; a fabled creature and impossible to capture. The perfect date night movie is the unicorn of our times. Speaking in stereotypes, men are said to want comedy, death defying action-adventure, and it would be great if someone got shot or maimed. Women are said to want lighthearted flirting, sincere laughter and a beautiful backdrop in which a woman is swept off of her feet by a gorgeous man. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Mountain Between Us. The answer to your date night woes. A unicorn.
Blu-ray Review: The Big Sick!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
THE FILM
The Film portion is written by Beka Perlstein:
If The Big Sick isn’t on your must see movie list, do yourself a favor and rewrite the list. This film is the real life love story of how actor/comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) met his girlfriend and (spoiler alert) now wife, Emily Gordon. It’s not another Fault in Our Stars or Me Before You, it’s so much more than a love sick story. Behind the romantic comedy model is a story about a Pakistani immigrant who is struggling with identity, relationships, family, career and religion. To put it simply- he’s just trying to figure out this thing we call life.
15th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival Lineup!!!
Hey guys, Jana here, 
The 15th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival is set to run from October 18 – 22 in Wichita, KS. The weekend boasts the inaugural presentation of the L.M. “Kit” Carson Storyteller Award to Larry Gross (‘48 Hours‘), and Ad Astra Award presentation to Rose McGowan (‘Charmed‘). Among the throng of films (182!!!) the fest has to offer, there are gala events, after-parties, and enough events to keep anyone, from the most green of festival-goers to the most seasoned pros that binge-watch for a living, entertained, interested, and hell, even relaxed. One of the ticket packages includes a massage.
The festival has given us a complete lineup of films for their 2017 event and since I’m such a nice person it’s my job, I’m giving it to you.
Theatre Review: ‘Fun Home’!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
‘Fun Home‘ won Best Musical at the Tony awards in 2015 and is now on the traveling road circuit across America. With a great message, good performances, and a couple of good songs, ‘Fun Home‘ is enjoyable, sweet, and tragic, but maybe not the big award winner it was a couple of years ago. In fact, I think this story would’ve been better told in a more intimate setting, and not the big amazing theatres it’s been playing at. With a very simple set and a very intimate story, I never really felt a sense of connection. ‘Fun Home‘ is a coming-of-age story of a woman who comes out as a lesbian and her gay father who struggles with his current family and coming out of the closet.
We’ve Got The Trailer For Vampire Flick ‘Blood Dynasty’!!!!
Hey guys, Jana here, 
Castle Films will be releasing ‘Blood Dynasty‘ the third in Chris Alexander’s “Irina” vampire film cycle on October 31, 2017. The series began with 2012’s award winning ‘Blood for Irina‘ and continued in 2014’s ‘Queen of Blood‘. The film features a cast of upcoming talented actors including Shauna Henry, Cheryl Singleton, Holly Riot, and Andre Becker. The character of Irina – inspired in part by Lina Romay’s character in Spanish filmmaker Jess Franco’s Female Vampire – is once more reborn, rising from the sea to bring madness and bloodlust to a lonely young woman living in a decaying motel.
Final Wave of Programming For Fantastic Fest Is Here!!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse is THE place to be for the avid film-lover. We’ve got the final wave of programming for Fantastic Fest which also includes world premieres of WHEELMAN and WORLD OF TOMORROW EPISODE TWO: THE BURDEN OF OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS, screenings of THOROUGHBRED, JUPITER’S MOON and PROFESSOR MARSTON & THE WONDER WOMEN, and the 10-year anniversary of the infamous Fantastic Debates… plus much more!
Look What’s coming to Blu-ray from Arrow in September!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
Arrow Video has announced their lineup for September with some excellent titles in time for Halloween. All releases come with new HD transfers and some pretty cool extras. Be sure to read all about them below and pre-order for the cheapest price. I can’t wait to watch these fun gems again.
Sammy Davis, Jr. Doc To Debut At TIFF 2017!!!
Hey guys, Jana here, 
Here is the premiere of the trailer for the new film ‘Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me‘, from legendary documentary director Sam Pollard. The film will have it’s debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. This is the first major film doc to examine Davis‘ vast talent and his journey identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress during 20th-century America.
Fantastic Fest 2017 Announces its First Wave of Programming!
Hi everyone, Bryan here…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, it’s not Christmas, but rather movie-lover Christmas, because the best film festival of all time – FANTASTIC FEST is up on us. We have the first wave of programming to get you all excited and up in arms about attending this year. If you love films more than life itself, then FANTASTIC FEST is the festival for you. It has everything you could possible want, including horror, sci-fi, action, foreign, documentary, and even adult movies. I’m looking at you X-Rated Supermarket. This year is looks incredible with some excellent films on the block right now. Below is the official press release.
Professor Marston and The Wonder Women Looks Good!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
With perfect timing since DC’s Wonder Woman film is doing outstanding both financially and critically, we are getting a film about the creation of the iconic character. The film is called Professor Marston and The Wonder Women, which is a true story of what inspired the Harvard psychologist Dr. William Moulton Marston to create Wonder Woman in the 1940s.
Favorite Movie Scene of the Day #15!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
Every time I watch this scene, I find myself wincing, shrinking in my seat and covering my eyes, as if I’m watching it for the first time. I hate to say it, but I think we’ve all been here before. Maybe not as drastic as this, but some form of this – – we’ve all done it. This might be the most awkward and painful scene to watch in movie history, which is weird because it’s just one still shot of someone calling another person on the phone.
Doctor Who News: The 13th Doctor Is…..
Hi everyone, Bryan here…..
BBC has announced the arrival of the 13th Doctor for the famed Doctor Who television series. Taking over the role from the departing Peter Capaldi is none other than Jodie Whittaker, who is the first woman to take on the Doctor role in the sci-fi series. Whittaker is in Broadchurch and was the main woman in the excellent Attack the Block movie from a few years ago.
Blu-ray Review: The Fate of the Furious!
Hi everyone, Bryan here…
THE FILM
We’re eight movies into this franchise, which would have you assume that these films would have lost steam, been remade, or have a completely new cast. That’s not the case at all with ‘Fate of the Furious‘ or the 8th installment of the ‘Fast and Furious‘ franchise, because there are no signs of this franchise slowing down, being remade, or losing any of its fun cast.
Own ‘Blade Runner: The Final Cut’ on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital on September 5!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced that to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the sci-fi classic ‘Blade Runner: The Final Cut‘ to be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital September 5, 2017.
Directed by Sir Ridley Scott (‘Gladiator‘) and starring Harrison Ford (the upcoming ‘Blade Runner 2049‘) as Rick Deckard, ‘Blade Runner‘ is widely accepted as one of the most important science-fiction movies of the 20th Century with immeasurable influence on society for its futuristic depiction of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world. The film has appeared on more ‘Top Five’ sci-fi lists than any other film.
Here’s all you need to know about HBO’s new Anthology series Room 104!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
HBO and the Duplass Brothers have come together to make an anthology series titled Room 104, which will have a brand new story each week, where the tone, theme, characters, and time period changing that all takes place in a room at a motel. Below is more information, but I can say that the trailer for this show looks quite good. I mean, it’s HBO, so what would be bad about it, right?
Top 10 Game of Thrones Episodes Thus Far!
Dan M., here….
Film Review: The Big Sick!
Beka P., here…
If The Big Sick isn’t on your must see movie list, do yourself a favor and rewrite the list. This film is the real life love story of how actor/comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) met his girlfriend and (spoiler alert) now wife, Emily Gordon. It’s not another Fault in Our Stars or Me Before You, it’s so much more than a love sick story. Behind the romantic comedy model is a story about a Pakistani immigrant who is struggling with identity, relationships, family, career and religion. To put it simply- he’s just trying to figure out this thing we call life.
Favorite Movie Scene of the Day #1!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
Here’s a new addition to the Boomstick Comics lineup – Favorite Movie Scene of the Day! If you’ve seen any of my interviews with filmmakers or actors, one questions I never forget to ask is What is your favorite scene in a movie that has always stuck with you? Everyone gives different answers and they are always caught off guard and have some fun answering this particular question. Just look how much fun Keanu Reeves had answering the question. It’s different than answering “What is your favorite movie?”, because it allows you to think to a specific moment in a film that really connected with you that you never seem to forget, quote, cry over, or laugh at. So I hope to bring some excellent scenes from movies that you’ve forgotten or haven’t seen in a long while in hopes of rekindling a relationship of passion with your favorite movies and characters. This is #1
Here’s the First Wave of Fantasia International Film Festival Offerings!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
FANTASIA’S 21st EDITION TO FEATURE NUMEROUS WORLD PREMIERES, CANNES SENSATIONS, AND NORTH AMERICAN DEBUTS!
The North American Premiere of Cannes Sensation THE VILLAINESS, World Premiere of new work from Géla Babluani, North American Premiere of Takashi Miike’s JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE, a special screening of Luc Besson’s VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, a pair of dazzling new creations from Masaaki Yuasa, and a lifetime achievement award for the legendary Larry Cohen are among the Montreal genre festival’s First Wave announcements
Film Review: ‘Megan Leavey’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
When you’re down, there is only one direction left to go. Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) is a woman who went through hell without a stable source of support and rose as a defender of our great nation. Megan Leavey, based on her story, chronicles the transformation of this amazing woman and the little furry hero that helped her. Read the rest of this entry »
Just a few of my favorite posters!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
There are several elements that go into play when a movie is prepping for their initial debut. There is an advertising campaign, and the goal is to saturate the atmosphere with the upcoming movie, all designed to get us to show up in theaters and plunk down a chunk of our hard-earned cash. One of the first type of media to invade our subconscious is the all-important movie poster. This may seem like a small thing, but each poster is carefully designed to share just enough information that will reel us a bit closer, then just like when fishing, set that hook.
Find Out What ‘The Fate Of the Furious’ Is When The Flick Drops To Home Video!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
The #1 action film in the world, ‘The Fate of the Furious‘, goes full-throttle on Digital HD on June 27, 2017, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on July 11, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The latest exhilarating installment of the nitro-fueled blockbuster action franchise features a gripping new storyline, the most outrageous collection of vehicles yet, and an all-star cast of fan favorites and series newcomers. From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, the close-knit crew criss-crosses the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing world chaos — and to bring home the man who made them a family. With more than an hour of never-before-seen bonus features and an Extended Director’s Cut, ‘The Fate of the Furious‘ will be the crowning glory of every fan’s collection.
Film Review: Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales!
Dan M., here….
The fifth installment of Disney’s nearly $4 billion dollar franchise is a Pirates movie through and through. It is about 20 minutes too long, has a needlessly complex plot, fantastic action set pieces, and way too many characters. I found it to be a real roller coaster viewing experience, where some points I was loving every single second of what was on screen and others I wanted to check my phone to see how much longer was left. There were no scenes in this entire movie that I was just ‘Ok’ with. I was either loving it or tolerating it. When it was all over I was pleased with the ending and, more importantly, that it ended.
Be Our Guest To Bring Home Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Disney invites you to bring home the timeless tale beloved by generations, ‘Beauty and the Beast‘, on Digital HD, Blu-ray and Disney Movies Anywhere June 6. We’re invited behind the scenes for a table read, over 10 minutes of deleted scenes, tons of featurettes and music videos.
Celebrate The Life of Powers Boothe!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
Powers Boothe
June 1, 1948 – Mar 14, 2017
When great entertainers pass away, it’s difficult to come up with the right way to mourn a life that still lives on for us in so many ways. The one way we can not just respect the life, but continue to enjoy the life they lived is with re-watching their movies that cement their presence in our lives.
Film Review: Snatched!
Beka P., here….
So, Snatched won’t be winning any Oscars, but if you go in with incredibly low expectations, you can’t be that let down. It has some pretty funny parts, it has some first class actors (Amy Schumer is not one of them), and at the end of the day it’s a film about how much you need your mom and we can generally all get on board with that.
Blu-ray Review: Orange is the New Black: Season 4!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
THE SERIES
In the past, Orange is the New Black has developed a darkly comic and often tragic story with their series over the past few seasons, and this fourth season is no different, although it would seem things are more on the comedy side this time around than unhappy faces at the women’s prison. The show’s writers and producers can certainly weave current politics and social issues in to the show with ease in each character, but with season four, it seems like certain plot points are over-the-top.
Texas Frightmare Weekend is Almost Upon Us! Here’s What to Expect!
Hey guys, Jana here,
We are closing in on Texas Frightmare Weekend for 2017 with just a little under two weeks to go. May 5 will be upon us before we know it and all the glorious events will be open and ready for us, the avid fan, rabid amateur filmmaker, the nuclear family. Whatever form you’re in, you’re going to enjoy the Southwest’s premier horror convention and film festival. If you’ve got an interest in genre film, you’re not going to want to be anywhere else but the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport May 5-7, 2017, for the 12th annual event.
Film Review: ‘The Promise’!
Audrey E., here….
If done right, who doesn’t appreciate a muscular war film decorated with a cherry of passion on top? Based on true events, ‘The Promise,’ directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Terry George (Hotel Rwanda), had the capacity to convey a burning love story intertwined with the real Armenian genocide during World War I. However, inspired thematic violence and even Christian Bale can’t guarantee your film’s success.
Dr. Vin Diesel or How I learned to Stop Caring and Love the Ride!
Dan M., Here….
I saw The Fast and The Furious when I was 14 or 15. As someone who grew up watching Point Break on VHS and other 80s/90s action movies it was right in my wheel house. I have never been a car guy but I still remember that summer talking with my friends about Honda Civics, Nos, and spoilers that we’d all be getting when we turned 16. The first movie is a step by step remake of Point Break, right down to letting the “bad guy” go at the end with “I owe you a 10 second car” instead of “Vaya Con Dios.” It stared two relatively unknowns in Paul Walker and Vin Diesel who will never be confused with Daniel Day Lewis but were born to play these parts. Ultimately was a fun summer popcorn movie that no one thought they’d hear from again, let alone turn into an almost 4 billion dollar franchise.
Contest: Win a Digital Copy of ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
Want to win a free Digital Copy of the latest ‘Star Wars’ film ‘Rogue One‘? Now you can. I was a huge fan of the film, which took place in between Ep. III and Ep. IV, and focused on a woman named Jyn Erso and a group of others who set out to steal the Death Star plans to give to a certain princess. It was a fantastic movie.
We’ve Got The Schedule For The Dallas International Film Festival 2017!!!
Hey guys, Jana here,
The upcoming 11th edition of the Dallas International Film Festival, or DIFF, opens March 30 and runs through April 9 for 2017. The festival will celebrate the year of 1967 with a salute to films from that year and we’ve got the full schedule here.
Film Review #2: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017)!
Dan M., here….
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991) is in the top 2 Disney animated movies of all-time. I’ll only allow The Lion King, which has a live action version due in 2019 or 2020, to be ranked ahead of it. This isn’t a debate. These are facts. Beauty and the Beast (animated) is a masterpiece from songs to characters, which is why I loved that this new live-action movie stayed so true to the animated version. It was an extremely enjoyable two hours with some really great moments and I look forward to seeing it again.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Moana’!
Hi everyone, Bryan here….
THE FILM
‘Moana‘ is the latest animated film from Disney, releasing a few months after their big hit ‘Zootopia’. No matter what film Disney releases, the usual messages and tone are consistent in every film. However, Disney magically manages to make each film feel very fresh, unique, and original with excellent characters, animation, and story lines that not only captivate me with each film, but to the masses as well. ‘Moana’ is no different here, as it looks visually stunning, as well as have an top notch story with excellent voice talent and songs.
Film Review: ‘The Last Word’!!
Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
At the end of her highly accomplished life journey, Harriet Lauler (Shirley MacLaine) searches for something to do in The Last Word. A wanderer in the land of denial about her clear case of OCD, Harriet makes her hairdresser watch as she cleans up the haircut she just received. Suddenly, some spilled wine and a newspaper and light dawns on Harriet’s dome…she would orchestrate her obituary. Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), an obit writer for the local newspaper, is content in mediocrity though she dreams of more. The wackiness and heartfelt joy that follows is the epitome of a female buddy film. Read the rest of this entry »
Viva Dallas Burlesque Presents Beggar's Carnivale