CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Jason Momoa
‘Fast X’ is a Full Scale Assault on the Laws of Logic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 11:39pm![]() Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A lot of blockbusters require you to check your brain at the door. “Fast X” requires a full scale lobotomy. To the uninitiated, Vin Diesel’s blatant disregard for the laws of gravity and physics represents a full scale assault on the senses, reason, and logic in its effort to bring audiences down to its star’s lunkheaded level.
Despite Sandy Start and Trope Pitfalls, 'Dune' Could be the Next 'Star Wars'
Submitted by JonHC on October 24, 2021 - 3:46pm- Chang Chen
- Charlotte Rampling
- Dave Bautista
- David Dastmalchian
- Denis Villenueve
- Dune
- Film Review
- HollywoodChicago.com
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jason Momoa
- Javier Bardem
- Jon Espino
- Josh Brolin
- Movie Review
- Oscar Isaac
- Rebecca Ferguson
- Stellan Skarsgard
- Stephen McKinley Henderson
- Timothée Chalamet
- Warner Bros
- Zendaya
![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Everything has ‘potential’ and in examining that you reveal a little bit about yourself. Seeing the ‘potential’ in something is inherently an exercise in optimism because you take what you see and understand that it could do or be better. Criticism is also a key component when it comes to discussing ‘potential’ because without a critical eye you can’t see beyond what is to see what could be.
‘Aquaman’ is a Watery Sleep with the Fishes
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 20, 2018 - 9:39am![]() Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The dripping sound of water you will hear this upcoming weekend will be the tears of DC Comics fans, as they cry from frustration over the latest cinema hit job on one of the Super-Friends. The tepid and overlong “Aquaman” is another hero movie that tries to combine origin story and “first case” adventure, and fails at both.
Up Up & Away for ‘Justice League’ From DC Comics
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 15, 2017 - 8:09am![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In the America of truth, justice and comic book movies, the DC brand – featuring hero icons Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman – has lagged behind their rivals at Marvel Studios. “Justice League” fills that gap admirably, after the slam-bam summer of Wonder Woman.
Glaring Lack of Originality Handicaps ‘The Bad Batch’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 25, 2017 - 8:00pm![]() Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Dystopia has been dissed out. Mining the negative vibe future world can’t seem to touch the rich creative vein any more and the reserves seem dry. Writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour may have an element within her interpretation that is hard core, but it’s not enough to understand the overall vision of her tomorrow world, except that we’re all part of “The Bad Batch.”
No Supernatural Slam Dunks in Teen Horror ‘Wolves’
Submitted by NickHC on November 13, 2014 - 2:42pm![]() Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For the pack of horror fans who mourn the “PG-13” toothlessness of the teen wolf, the limited-release film “Wolves” tries to reclaim the character with slow-mo, WWE-with-claws fight scenes and some sprinkles of brief softcore wolf porn. If that’s all one could ask for from a werewolf movie, you probably can’t be blocked from giving this one a curious look; however if you’re trepidatious of a plainly junky, R-rated reaction to “The Twilight Saga,” perhaps you can be stopped.
Bar is Set Low in Retread of ‘Conan the Barbarian’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 19, 2011 - 7:33am![]() Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Sword and sandal epics are almost expected to have wooden acting and absurd dialogue. The new film “Conan the Barbarian” meets those expectations, and doesn’t offer any action or originality to counteract the anticipated flaws.
