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CAMPBELL, CA – The PM Theater of New York City will bring a touring production of their Off-Broadway hit “A Star Without a Name” to the Starbright Theater in Campbell, California on April 13th and 14th, 2024 (click here for tickets/info) The following is a review from last weekend’s show (April 7th) in Chicago, Illinois.

“A Star Without a Name” is pure theater, as the PM stage company weaves a charmer almost cinematically, with distinct/excellent performances, clever production design and an on-stage musical accompaniment that is witty and energetic. Translated from ‘Steaua Fără Nume” by Mihail Sebastian with all of its appeal intact, the melodramatic comedy was adapted and set into English by Ilya Eckstein, and directed by Gera Sandler, also a cast member and award winning actor, featured on Netflix’s “Unorthodox” and “Transatlantic.”

April 13-14, 2024, at the Campbell, California, Starbright Theater
Photo credit: PMTheater.com

The setting of the play is a provincial town in Romania, situated along the popular train route from Bucharest to Sinaia. By sheer chance, an express train makes a quick stop a the town’s only train station, leaving behind a sole passenger … a mysterious young redhead named Mona (Anya Zicer). Her beauty strikes right through the heart of a simple school teacher (Stephen Oschner), who’s also captivated by astronomy.

The developing relationship is circumvented through the wacky Station Master (Sergey Nagorny) and Mademoiselle Cucu (Ronit Asheri-Sandler), the town busybody, not to mention Mona’s wealthy boyfriend Grig (Pavel Shatu). Will Mona and the teacher’s ardent love survive past its cosmic conception or will it combust like so many nameless stars in the sky?

The cast brings a seasoned expressiveness and humor to the proceedings, without overreaching through the melodrama. Anya Zicer is a standout as Mona, a lover’s performance for sure, but with a spice of sensuality that created a starstruck illumination for the character. This contrasted nicely with the more reluctant lover (Stephen Oschner), displaying more physical celebration than emotional.

The comic and larcenous meanderings of the Sergey Nagorny’s Station Master was jolly visual theater with twisted word play, and he was a joy to experience. Supporting cast Asheri-Sandler as Cucu was a fun comic creation, and Shatu’s Grig was exceptional in a stoic role, trying to make sense of the offbeat town.

Trailer, “A Star Without a Name” …

The rest of the townspeople, including the one-woman music and sound effects provider (Masha Vasilevskaya), are comedically diverse, popping in and out to both aid and confound the lovers. The spare-but-effective set design is visually striking and serves as a train depot and the teacher’s apartment, with minimal transition, and the direction by Gera Sandler keeps the on-stage antics electrifying and amusing.

All the sum of the parts of “A Star Without a Name” delivers a magnificent offering of consummate theater magic.

PM Theater Presents “A Star Without a Name,” Saturday April 13th (7:30pm) and Sunday April 14th (2pm) at the Starbright Theater in Campbell, California. Featuring Anya Zicer, Stephen Ochsner, Ronit Asheri-Sandler, Pavel Shatu, Sergei Nagorny, Dima Koan, Gera Sandler, Devonn Duffin and Masha Vasilevskaya. Written by Mihail Sebastian. Translated by Ilya Eckstein. Directed by Gera Sandler.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the U.S. release of “The Beast,” a science fiction film about the inherent psychological/emotional carriage within us all, co-written and directed by Bertrand Bonello. In select theaters now (see local listings). At Chicago’s Music Box Theatre on April 12th.

The film involves a woman named Gabrielle (Léa Seydoux) who in 2044 is about to embark on a “DNA cleansing” to take away the trauma her past lives had endured. While going through the process she meets Louis (George MacKay) who gives her a sense of deja vu. It turns out that this couple has been together in a 1910 sense (Belle Époque Paris) and a 2014 sense (in Los Angeles). As the story of those three encounters play out within her cellular energy, the evolution of Gabrielle seems to have something to do with her connection to Louis.

”The Beast” is in theaters now (see local listings), and at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre starting April 12th. Featuring Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Guslagie Malanda, Dasha Nekrasova and Elina Lowensohn. Written by Bertrand Bonello, Guillaume Bréaud and Benjamin Charbit. Directed by Bertrand Bonello. Not Rated.

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s audio review of “The Beast”

The Beast
Photo credit: Janus Films

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s audio review of “The Beast”

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 10th, 2024, reviewing “Arcadian,” a new horror film set during a post apocalyptic event, featuring Nicolas Cage. In theaters on April 12th.

Nicolas Cage is a Dad named Paul in this post apocalyptic world. The invasion that is leading to the destruction of the humanity is a highly mutant race of aliens that are born under the earth and attack the above ground habitants from within that position. This affects the twin boys Joseph and Thomas (Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins) and they are reluctant survivalists, with Joseph being particularly jealous of a bunkered and wealthier family down the road, where the lovely teenage Charlotte (Sadie Soverall) resides. Can the few survivors continue to exist in such a world?

“Arcadian” is in theaters on April 12th. Featuring Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins and Sadie Soverall. Written by Michael Nilon. Directed by Alex Garland. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Arcadian”

Arcadian
Photo credit: RLJE Films

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Arcadian”

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 10th, 2024, reviewing “Civil War,” a new film by writer/director Alex Garland (“28 Days Later,” “Ex Machina”). In theaters on April 12th.

The film is set through the point of view of journalists, including photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), reporters Joel (Wagner Moura) and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and just-out-of-college photographer Jessie (Cailee Spaeny). The foursome take a journey to the hot point of the battles in Washington, DC, and along the way encounter the ramifications of this second war between the states.

“Civil War” is in theaters on April 12th. Featuring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Jesse Plemons, Nick Offerman and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Written and directed by Alex Garland. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Civil War”

Civil War
Photo credit: A24

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Civil War”

CHICAGO – The 20th Century crisis that was World War II resulted in a bloodbath for virtually all of European and Allied countries … except in “neutral” Switzerland. Veteran writer and director Laurent Négre, a Swiss native, pokes the holes of truth into that overinflated neutrality in the imported feature film “A Forgotten Man.”

Set in 1945 at the final days of World War II, the story involves Heinrich Zwygart (Michael Neuenschwander) … the Swiss Ambassador to Germany … returning home to Geneva with wartime PTSD and a cache of secrets about the relationship of “neutral” Switzerland to the just-defeated Nazi regime. Thinking he would have a cakewalk in his homecoming, especially with the dirt he has on the Swiss leadership, he is greeted with indifference from his government, wife Clara (Manuela Biedermann), daughter Helene (Cléa Eden) and Helene’s boyfriend Nicolas (Yann Philipona), who pursues the truth for the “school paper.” The past is closing in on the forgotten man Zwygart.

Writer/Director Laurent Négre (inset) of ‘A Forgotten Man’
Photo credit: Sovereign Films/Bord Cadre Films

The tension is ratcheted up by the singular performance of Neuenschwander, whose every emotion rises to the surface in his portrayal of Zwygart’s trauma in trying to distance himself from the Nazis. As a history lesson, “A Forgotten Man” smashes the myth of Swiss neutrality, something that the culture has handily embraced since the war. Although the story has a a soft conclusion, the portray of a man utterly destroyed by complicity mirrors the famous aphorism – used at a crucial point in the film – “the first casualty of war is the truth.”

Writer/Director Laurent Nègre was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated in 2002 after studying cinema at the Ecole Supèrieure des Beaux Arts of Geneva. His first narrative feature as writer/director was “Fragile” (2005), starring Marthe Keller, followed by “Opération Casablanca” (2010) and “Confusion” (2015). “A Forgotten Man” is his fourth feature film.

In a Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, writer/director Laurent Négre provides context for “A Forgotten Man” …

Trailer, “A Forgotten Man” …

”A Forgotten Man” is in select theaters on April 12th, see local listings. Featuring Michael Neuenschwander, Manuela Biedermann, Cléa Eden and Yann Philipona. Written and directed by Laurent Nègre. Rated “R”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Objects are about to leap from the screen starting Friday, April 5th, and running through Thursday, April 11th, 2024. Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre will be the setting for “Triple Threat! A 3-D Series,” a showcase of old and contemporary 3-D films presented in a new digital 3-D system that has to be experienced to be believed. If you’re a fan of 3-D, this is the new frontier. For details, showtimes and ticket information, click 3RD DIMENSION.

The Music Box Theatre just installed a brand-new Digital 3D system and are launching this week-long series showcasing the magic of 3D cinema, from contemporary animation (TOY STORY 3), auteur cinema (GOODBYE TO LANGUAGE, HUGO), Hollywood classics (DIAL M FOR MURDER, TOP GUN), horror and sci-fi (CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, HOUSE OF WAX, PROMETHEUS, TRON: LEGACY, SAW 3D), and the unclassifiable (JACKASS 3D). We even threw some Three Stooges in the mix (the short SPOOKS, opening for CREATURE).

AT Chicago’s Music Box Theatre
Photo credit: MusicBoxTheater.com

Manufactured by XpanD, the 3-D system now at the Music Box is the brightest and most vibrant currently available for cinemas, using active glasses to produce superior 3D image quality without the compromises of low-contrast silver screens. I experienced the new system with Anselm and it was mind blowing.

Old Timey Trailer, 3-D “House of Wax” …

BONUS: Digital 3-D explained in an interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com of projectionist Julian Antos of the Music Box Theatre …

Music Box Theatre presents “Triple Threat! A 3-D Series” through April 11th. For more information about the Music Box Theatre, click here.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 4th, 2024, reviewing “Monkey Man,” a new film by co-writer, director and lead actor Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”). In theaters on April 5th.

Patel portrays Kat, a mysterious man who wrestles in the underground pits of Yatana (a fictional Mumbai). His wrestling character is based on the Hindu god Hanuman, a half monkey/half man protector. His weird persona is not without a plan, as he uses his underground contacts to infiltrate the VIP room in a private club, where he seeks revenge on the corrupt lawman who aided a religious leader in a takeover of his childhood home, brutally killing his mother. Kat continues to train as the Monkey Man to exact a specific revenge.

“Monkey Man” is in theaters on April 5th. Featuring Dev Patel, Pitobash, Sharito Copley, Vipin Sharma and Sikander Kherr. Written by Dev Patel, Paul Angulawela and John Collee. Directed by Dev Patel. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Monkey Man”

Monkey Man
Photo credit: Universal Pictures

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Monkey Man”

CHICAGO – One of the heralded auteur filmmakers of the recent decade is Alice Rohrwacher. The Italian director joins her cinema forebears like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Federico Fellini, both of which she’s been favorable compared to, in creating unique and personal stories that resonant beyond their narrative. Her latest, opening at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre on April 5th, is “La Chimera.”

Based on her memories as a child of Italy, the term “La Chimera” represents a pursuit that individuals have in the back of their minds and their lives that they somehow find elusive. Rohrwacher puts this in the context of a petty thief and English-speaking expatriate named Arthur (Josh O’Connor), out of jail but reverting back to his skill as a tomb raider for ancient Estrucian artifacts … in the 1980s this was a mania in Italy. His gang is looking for a quick score, but he is longing for an embrace of his lost girlfriend. The characters around him include the girlfriend’s eccentric mother Flora (Isabella Rossellini) and her music student Italia (Carol Duarte), as well as his wacky band of ne’er do wells, who are known to break out into song about his exploits.

La Chimera
Photo credit: Neon

There is such a passionate embrace of longing in the film, as each of the characters have their own “chimera” to pursue, and each come closer or farther away from it in their association with Arthur. Josh O’Connor, who is having a breakout moment with this film and the upcoming “Challengers,” imbues the artifact finder with a distinct and hangdog charm, who manages to keep finding treasures and getting rescued even when he seemingly doesn’t want it. The film has a cool fire at its core, and the hunger of the characters propel the emotional affinities to a spiritual clarity.

Alice Rohrwacher has been acclaimed since her debut narrative film “Corpo Celeste” (2011), which was nominated for a Golden Camera at the Cannes Film Festival. This was followed by “The Wonders” (2014, Cannes Grand Prix Jury Prize), “Happy as Lazzaro” (2018, Top Prize Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival) and the short film “Le Pupille” (2022, Oscar nominated Best Live Action Short). She is also well known for her association with notable cinematographer Hélène Louvart.

In Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, translated by Lilo Pino Blkouin, writer/director Alice Rohrwacher gives perspective on “La Chimera” …

In a video clip, Rohrwacher talks her own chimera …

Trailer, “La Chimera” …

”La Chimera” is in select theaters April 5th, see local listings. Featuring Josh O’Connor, Carol Duarte, Vincenzo Nemolato, Alba Rohrwacher and Isabella Rossellini. Written and directed by Alice Rohrwacher. Not Rated.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Wicked Little Letters,” a based-on-truth story featuring Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley, set in England right after World War One. In theaters on April 5th.

Coleman is Edith, a mousey British woman who lives with her parents and espouses Christian values as her facade. Her neighborhood is disrupted when a saucy war widow named Rose (Jessie Buckley) moves in with a daughter and lover, and espouses a filterless and authentic cussing-like-a-sailor persona. When Rose begins to charm the neighborhood, it coincides with a number of poison pen letters Edith begins to receive, using swear-word language similar to the rhythms of Rose’s speech. Edith’s Dad Edward (Timothy Spall) has Rose arrested, and everyone assumes her guilt except for a handful of neighbors and a woman police officer named Gladys (Anjana Vasan). As the trial approaches, will the facades come tumbling down?

”Wicked Little Letters” is in theaters on April 5th. Featuring Olivia Coleman, Jessie Buckley, Timothy Spall and Anjana Vasan. Written by Jonny Sweet. Directed by Thea Sharrock. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s audio review of “Wicked Little Letters”

Wicked Little Letters
Photo credit: StudioCanal

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s audio review of “Wicked Little Letters”

CHICAGO – Season 18 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema moves to Week Three on April 4th and 6th with screenings in Evanston (Illinois) at the Block Museum of Art and the APUC screen headquarters at conveniently located AMC NEWCITY in Chicago. There will be a director appearance, with meet/greet opportunities and post screening Q&As. For more information and tickets, click JAPAN for tickets.

On Thursday, April 4th, first time director Yutaka Tsunermachi will appear at the Block Museum screening on behalf of (click title) ”Drifting Flowers, Flowing Days” with APUC presenting the North American Premiere. On Sunday, April 6th, a Japan double feature will take place at AMC NEWCITY, with (click) ”Takano Tofu” at 2:30pm and ”Out” at 7pm. Professor Ron Falzone of Chicago’s Columbia College will moderate the Q&A panels and post films.

Left: ‘Drifting Flowers, Flowing Days’ .. Center: ‘Takano Tofu’ .. Right: ‘Out’
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org

Season 18 screenings will “pop up” as the festival continues for India (April 10) and wraps with Hong Kong (April 15-21), as well an additional APUC Season 18 “Virtual Festival” (click link), which is available through April 15th.

The Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) is an annual Asian Film Festival, and the brainchild of Sophia Wong Boccio, founder of Sophia’s Choice. The multi-pronged mission of APUC is cultivating an interest in and understanding of Asian cultures via a diverse offering of multi-country and regional films … connecting the Asian film industry with local Chicago film professionals, educators, and students … and promoting Chicago as a destination for international visitors.

Season 18 of the Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) presents the Japan Cinema Showcase, April 4th and 6th, 2024. For a complete overview and schedule for the rest of the season, which runs through April 21st, click here.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – The heralded Off-Broadway play from 2023 is on tour and headed for Chicago. “A Star Without a Name,” a melodramatic tragicomedy translated from Mikhail Sebastian’s “Steua Fare Nume” will be performed at the Chopin Theatre on April 6th and 7th, 2024. For details and ticket information, click PM THEATER.

The setting of the play is a provincial town in Romania, situated along the popular train route from Bucharest to Sinaia. By sheer chance, an express train makes a quick stop a the town’s only train station, leaving behind a sole passenger: a mysterious young redhead named Mona. Her beauty strikes right through the heart of a simple school teacher, who’s captivated by astronomy. Will their improbable love survive past its cosmic conception or will it combust like so many nameless stars in the sky?

April 6-7, 2024, at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre
Photo credit: PMTheater.com

Presented by New York City’s PM Theater, “A Star Without A Name” is produced by Sergey Nagorny, sponsored by the Fooksman Family Foundation, commissioned by the Eckstein Family Fund, and fiscally sponsored by COJECO. The director is Gera Sandler, also an award winning actor, featured on Netflix’s “Unorthodox” and “Transatlantic.”

Trailer, “A Star Without a Name” …

PM Theater Presents “A Star Without a Name,” April 6th (7:30pm) and 7th (2pm) at the Chopin Theatre, Chicago. For more information on the PM Theater of New York City, click here.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 28th, 2024, reviewing “DogMan,” a new film by director Luc Beeson (“The Fifth Element” “Lucy”), in wide release on April 5th, see local listings.

The DogMan is Doug (Caleb Landry Jones) and as the movie begins we see him busted by New Jersey law enforcement, where they find several dogs in his truck, and he’s also in drag as Marilyn Monroe. Wanting to get into his motivations, they put their psychiatrist Evelyn (Jojo T. Gibbs) on the case, and she begins to unravel the DogMan’s life, which includes childhood abuse, paralysis and Shakespeare. He also has a psychic connection to the dogs he keeps, using them as an army to protect and do break-ins for him. Finally, because of all these circumstances, he lands a job as a drag queen, doing song renditions of famous women. Is DogMan a Sinner or a Saint?

CLICK HERE for an interview with lead actors Caleb Landry Jones and Jojo T. Gibbs of “DogMan” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.

“DogMan” is in salect theaters (including Chicago) on March 29th, opening wider on April 5th. See local listings. Featuring Caleb Landry Jones, Jojo T. Gibbs, Christopher Denham, Clemens Schick and John Charles Aguilar. Written and directed by Luc Beeson. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “DogMan”

Jojo T. Gibbs and Caleb Landry Jones in ‘DogMan’
Photo credit: Briarcliff Entertainment

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “DogMan”

CHICAGO – Chicago is acknowledged as one of the great comedy cities in the world mostly for The Second City influence. However like other cities, there is an ebb and flow regarding stand-up comedy, and during the late 1980s/early 1990s there was a stand-up boom in the Windy City, chronicled in the film “Out of the Loop.” Producer Scott Perlman provides the context behind the documentary, now available for free on PLEX and TUBI, and for download on various platforms.

“Out of the Loop” is familiar documentary form, but there are several twists in the story that occur, exposing the uniqueness of Chicago … one of the main ones being the great divide between Black and White comics, also divided geographically between South and North sides. The truth, in this case, set several comics free and emphasized the lost legend of the late Bernie Mac. Featuring well know and lesser known comic talents including goddess Judy Tenuda (who recently passed away), Jeff Garlin, T,J Miller, Megan Gailey, Hannibal Buress, Deon Cole, Dwayne Kennedy, Marsha Warfield, Lil Rei Howery and SNL-er Chris Redd, among others.

Out of the Loop
Photo credit: Gravitas Ventures

Scott Perlman began in Chicago stand-up, as he relates in the Podtalk below, and went onto the film business as an editor and production crew member, as well as a producer on various projects, including narrative (“Andover”), TV (“Art Confidential”) and “Out of the Loop” (also editor). The doc was directed by Michael Alexander.

In a Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Producer Scott Perlman talks about the background of “Out of the Loop” …

In a video clip, Scott provides more context…

Audio Film Review of “Out of the Loop” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com …

Trailer, “Out of the Loop” …

”Out of the Loop” is currently available for digital download on various platforms, and free on TUBI and PLEX apps/online. Featuring interviews with Jeff Garlin, T.J. Miller, Hannibal Burress, Deon Cole, Dwayne Kennedy, Marsha Warfield, Lil Real Howery, Chris Redd and Erica Clark. Directed by Michael Alexander. Not Rated.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 28th, 2024, reviewing “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces,” a history of the Wild & Crazy Guy in Then and Now. Streaming on Apple TV+ on March 29th.

The two part doc is split into two sides of his career. In Part One (“Then”), the development and story of how Steve Martin took comedy to the rock and roll level from the mid-1970s to his abrupt “walking away” from his act in 1980 … at the height of his fame. In Part Two (“Now”), it’s the rest of the story, mostly his film career, but also a unique glimpse of an icon looking backwards through a prism of – given his admittedly shy personality – true satisfaction.

“Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces” is streaming on Apple TV+ beginning March 29th. Featuring Steve Martin. Directed by Morgan Neville. Rated “PG-13”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces”

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces
Photo credit: Apple TV+

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces”

CHICAGO – The key to the rapidly expanding Warner Bros. “Mosterverse” of films, now on its fifth installment, is the enduring pleasure of watching giant creatures laying waste to entire cities. Godzilla and Kong are entirely digital creations, but they have all the personality we need in a movie like this.

When we last left the big ape, he was learning to adapt to his new habitat in hollow earth, a natural world located deep inside the earth, while Godzilla is back up on the surface battling other titans and occasionally causing some major collateral property damage. But as they say, there is a disturbance in the force. Turns out a mysterious distress signal from an ancient civilization still keeping the peace in a secret settlement in hollow earth is sending those monitors vibrating and giving visions to Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the displaced teen who telepathically communicates with Kong.

“Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” is in theaters March 29th. Featuring Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Brian Tyree Henry, Alex Ferns and Kaylee Hottle. Written by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett and Jeremy Slater. Directed by Adam Wingard. Rated “PG-13”

Continue reading for Spike Walter’s full review of “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire”

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Continue reading for Spike Walter’s full review of “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire”