film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
With its melancholy regret and bittersweet nostalgia, this is far superior to the 1986 blockbuster. But as the sun goes down on American imperialism here, the last-gasp celebration of it unsettles.
Masterful. I had so much fun with this, often laughing out loud in relief when the tension of a breathless action scene finally broke. So why am I feeling a bit meh about it?
Works for your appreciation with gasp-inducing action sequences and an ethos that has fun with its legacy while moving in a new direction.
A witty, clever, character-driven bit of science fiction wonderfulness, full of suspense, surprise, tension, and an unexpected poignancy.
Keeps trying to fly off into potentially fascinating directions and then getting yanked back into a mushy mediocrity…
Like a midseason episode of a basic-cable detective show you’ve never heard of.
Now, don’t get me wrong: it’s not exactly a Hogan’s Heroes level of diminution, but there’s something honestly comic-book-esque about Valkyrie. I mean that in a good way…
All this weekend! 5 movies I’m psyched for in December and 5 reasons why. No. 3: Valkyrie [opens in the U.S. on December 25, and in the U.K. on January 23, 2009]. 1. Bryan Singer. He’s one of the great filmmakers of Generation X — The Usual Suspects, X-Men, Superman Returns — and I’m highly … more…
