Mark McPherson's Blog, page 47
April 22, 2020
“Trolls: World Tour” Review
As the first major film to forgo a theatrical release amid the COVID-19 pandemic to favor a digital release, Trolls: World Tour has a benefit to offering comfort during tough times. As the sequel to the 2016 animated fantasy, it’s a colorful mix of light and musical silliness. It has the benefit of being a new distraction from the usual animated affair on repeat with the kids. World Tour is something new during a time when we could use some fresh pep and, for the most part, it manages to be intr...
April 10, 2020
“The Invisible Man” (2020) Review
Even if the connected Dark Universe was declared dead after the dismal action reworkings of The Mummy, Universal wasnt ready to throw in the towel for remaking their monster movies. The idea of a connected universe is so last decade. Whats in now is horror with a more vocal purpose and allegory. Something that says something about the world past mere monster-movie escapism. A relatable horror. The Invisible Man delivers exactly the kind of horror desired if the Universal monsters are to...
March 30, 2020
“The Hunt” Review
In a time of political divisiveness, The Hunt more or less aims to be the South Park of social horror. It has no greater ambition to say something overt about the world in its cavalcade of gore and tension. The film would sadly rather stew in the extreme lunacy of the bitter discourse than offer anything insightful to the conversation. The result is a messy satire that has all the intelligence of an edgy teenager with all the broad strokes of an aged codger.
The film aims to make fun of both...
March 27, 2020
The Video Game Movie Curse is Dead
I think theres an odd conception about movies based on video games, that they must suffer from some curse. I wrote a book called Pixels to Premieres: A History of Video Game movie and when I sold the book the most common comment was that mustve been an agonizing book to write. In truth, it really wasnt as I was genuinely surprised how many films based on video games were not too shabby. There were dismally bad films, sure, but the ones that stuck out were more notable than the ones that were...
March 26, 2020
Revenge of the Nerds is Worse Now More Than Ever
1984s Revenge of the Nerds is a film that has not aged well. At all. This notion has been a little easier to accept shortcomings that become more obvious over time. The lead nerd of Louis having sex with a woman under a false identity is basically rape, the race and sexuality represented are stereotypes and the panty raid scene isa dated juvenile antic, to say the least. But theres more to the film being terrible than just a handful of problematic scenes that dont play well anymore.
Upon its...
March 23, 2020
“Onward” Review
Pixar once more does what they do best: a detailed sense of worldbuilding with a movingly emotional story behind it. Considering their previous films that mostly relied on aged and long-awaited sequels (worthy as they may be), Onward features an original blend of suburban fantasy amid a tale of loss and family. The most popular animation studio still strives for a little more than the manic of most kid-oriented films.
The film is set in a land of fantasy and magic. Or at least it did. Magic...
March 22, 2020
Missing the Movie Theater
The last movie I saw prior to the Coronavirus pandemic shutdown was a preview screening of Bloodshot, a routine and forgettable action picture of Vin Diesel playing a cyborg seeking revenge. I sat there in the theater with the comfy seats, the massive screen, and Dolby sound, not the least bit thrilled with the sight of a CGI Diesel punching a Doctor Octopus knock-off down an elevator shaft. I wrote my thoughts down on the comment card and left as I always did, not knowing fully that this...
February 13, 2020
“Sonic the Hedgehog” Review
Sonic the Hedgehog, personally, is a conflict of nostalgia. I grew up playing the Sega Genesis games which made the blue blur become became an icon of my childhood. I also grew up watching mindless 90s-cool media like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and still hold an affinity for which is partial nostalgia. The Sonic the Hedgehog movie embraces a little of both by never being a film of anything more than some eccentric action amid quips aplenty.
The most positive thing I can say about this film...
February 8, 2020
“Birds of Prey” Review
Birds of Prey is exactly the movie-makeover the character of Harley Quinn needed. With Margot Robbie providing the highlight performance of the abysmal Suicide Squad, she now gets to break out in a film that can better use her and free her from the tired superhero formula. No more stopping giant lasers in the sky or being pinned down in a shared universe. She now exists in a wild, gritty and neon world all her own that is all the more thrilling as the perfect hangover cure for the DCEU...
January 15, 2020
“Bad Boys For Life” Review
There’s an admirable brashness to the Bad Boys saga that takes a unique turn in Bad Boys For Life. On the surface, yes, it’s little more than a one-last-time mission for the aged cop duo. But unlike Michael Bay’s bombastic entries prior, this third film feels a little more grounded and contemplative with the return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, aside from the easy old-guy jokes. I didn’t expect this film to bring up the consideration of non-violence and faith within its characters. But,...
