film criticism by maryann johanson | handcrafted since 1997
Much of what might have made it appealing to true devotees of science fiction and cinema, like how it’s a pastiche of 1950s B-movies, is lost when its parodying of the paranoia and xenophobia of those films is so relentlessly trite and obvious…
Take a break from work: watch a trailer… I love the idea of the humans as the aliens — nice about face of the usual. Of course, the aliens aren’t really alien; culturally, they’re not alien at all. But we can expect but baby steps in the evolution of big-budget cinematic science fiction. This could … more…
It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to remake an 80s classic TV show or movie with an all-new cast. This week we’re fantasizing about the once-promised, soon forgotten sequel to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension — Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League. (If you have a suggestion for an … more…
Aliens rule, superheroes drool: 1. Race to Witch Mountain: $24.4 million 2. Watchmen: $17.8 million (2nd week; drops 68%) 3. The Last House on the Left: $14 million (NEW) 4. Taken: $6.6 million 5. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail: $5.1 million (4th week; drops 40%) actual numbers, not estimates Ouch, but that drop for … more…
Don’t bother with the film at all if you’re not a fan of The Rock…
Take a break from work: watch a trailer… Someone pitched this as The Rock Versus Area 51, I’m thinking. Or maybe Last Taxi to the End of the World? I wanted to be able to like this, because I have fond memories of the 1975 flick Escape to Witch Mountain, but after seeing this trailer, … more…
