New Gods: Yang Jian (2022) - Movie Review

Time to take a trip back into Light Chaser Animation’s universe of steampunk mysticism with a new New Gods feature. And this one actually made it into cinemas over here, instead of going straight to Netflix, and with the kind of visual aesthetics Light Chaser are chasing after here, that is one hell of a good move on their part.

Dynasty Warriors (2021) - Movie Review

So I’ve been getting back into the Dynasty Warriors games recently. I’ve been playing them on and off since I was a kid, but over the last couple weeks, whenever I find any scrap of spare time in-between getting these reviews written up, I’ve been delving back in the world of Chinese military politics and fundamentally ridiculous weaponry. I love the hell out of these games (even if the more recent entries haven’t done much for me), and while the average for video game adaptations is still in the red despite recent efforts, I was quite looking forward to this film in particular. And sure enough, it delivers on all the bombast and astonishingly hammy fun that makes the franchise what it is.

Boonie Bears: The Wild Life (2021) - Movie Review

The Boonie Bears franchise has been going strong since 2012, with ten separate TV series totalling up to 676 episodes, and eight films with The Wild Life serving as the ninth. And up until I saw this film listed at my local cinema, I had no idea this even existed. I went into this about as blind as any other talking animal movie I’ve reviewed on here, and considering that sub-genre has basically become my nemesis over this blog’s lifespan, I can’t say I was expecting much. I don’t know if this has more to do with lowered expectations, lack of other options with the constant schedule shuffling, or if this film is genuinely good but… yeah, I had way more fun with this than I ever could have anticipated.

The Farewell (2019) - Movie Review

I’ve gotten into this a fair bit in past reviews, but suffice to say, I really can’t stand Liar Revealed plots. The ones where the entire story hinges on characters intentionally keeping secrets from each other, mainly for the sake of giving the third act a chance to engage through breaking the artificial tension created. It’s incredibly distracting to see in pretty much any movie, as it turns whatever comes after the deceptive moment into a prolonged waiting game. It’s tedious, and the kind of narrative nonsense that can turn me right off from properly enjoying a work of fiction. Enter this film, where none of the usual gripes apply.

Guardians Of The Tomb (2018) - Movie Review

 

Creature features are relatively easy stories to get right. Mainly, because there isn’t much to get right in the first place. Either make a giant-sized version of a regular creature like a snake or a shark, or let the imagination run wild and create a whole new species like with Tremors. Add some likeable characters and a basic plot to make the two meet, and there you go; job done. Of course, as is the case with any sub-genre, there is always room for error and in the age where Sharknado is a thing, the worst thing a creature feature can do is be dull. No points for guessing how this one turns out.

Outcast (2014) - Movie Review

After you spend long enough time on film sets, the thought of becoming a director yourself seems like the next logical step. Actors, writers, cinematographers; people originally from these fields have taken up the big chair with varying success. However, especially in recent years, we’ve started seeing a new group join those ranks: Stunt choreographers. And I’m not talking about co-directing films like The Transporter because their role is so crucial to the overall production; I mean going it alone. We’ve had Scott Waugh direct and edit that stupid Need For Speed movie, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch gave us the surprisingly awesome John Wick and Vic Armstrong brought the Left Behind remake upon us. Well, time for a stuntman-cum-director and Nicolas Cage to team up once again as we look at today’s subject.