CHICAGO – Love is a powerful enough force to transcend any obstacle that you may put in its path.
HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews
‘UglyDolls’ is Animated Fun For Kids and Everyone Else
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 3, 2019 - 9:03am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The animation formula, for entertaining both kids and adults, is to never make the story too serious, and “UglyDolls” gets it right. The obvious moral lesson of “accepting yourself” is covered with great animating, memorable characters, peppy songs, and a sly sense of humor. In essence, made for the whole family.
Journey to Conclusion is the Thrill of ‘Avengers: Endgame’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 24, 2019 - 10:15am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – When it comes down to this, and the creators do it right, there is no more satisfying conclusion than “Avengers: Endgame.” Admirers of this magnificent Marvel (Studios) Universe story will get everything they want. It is the “Gone with the Wind” of superhero epic films.
Vivacity and Simplicity Come Together to Perform in ‘Teen Spirit’
Submitted by JonHC on April 22, 2019 - 4:44pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For most of us, music literally becomes the soundtrack to our lives. They become a reflection of our mood, innermost thoughts, and even our fears. Sometimes they are just a pick me up, the same way Cardi B is currently soundtracking the writing of this review. Certain, well-placed songs can even tell our life story without us having to utter a single word, much like Teen Spirit.
HollywoodChicago.com ESP, En Español: 'Teen Spirit' y 'The Curse of La Llorona'
Submitted by JonHC on April 21, 2019 - 7:53pmCHICAGO – Cada semana, HollywoodChicago.com le traerá las criticas de las películas que hemos visto y que están saliendo esa semana, pero en español. HollywoodChicago.com ESP no sólo representa HollywoodChicago.com Espanol, sino también Esta Semana en Peliculas. Esta semana estamos tratando con dos tipos de espíritus muy diferentes.
Disneynature’s ‘Penguins’ in Flight with the Flightless
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 18, 2019 - 4:32amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It is the tenth anniversary of Disneynature, the arm of Walt Disney Pictures that releases a new nature doc around every Earth Day. This year the naturally visual interest of “Penguins” are their subject, and the film does a nice job on the life cycle journey of these fascinating flightless birds.
‘The Chaperone’ is Excellent Lesson in 1920s Identity
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 15, 2019 - 8:42amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Although mostly set in the early 1920s, “The Chaperone” has some pungent lessons regarding identity, and living life authentically. The story of former silent film star Louise Brooks and her first trip to New York City expresses both how we can live today and how they lived back then.
‘Little’ Squanders Its Comedic and Social Potential in an Attempt to Play It Safe
Submitted by JonHC on April 14, 2019 - 2:08pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – After a typical late night, deep dive of the internet, I found something terrifying. Around the 60’s, creating dinners in Jello were popular for some reason. Although I liked every individual ingredient, seeing the way they fit together was a less than appetizing. Watching “Little” reminds me of this experience except after the film, I was left with a bland, spiceless taste in my mouth.
‘Hellboy’ Maintains Energy Just by Being Hellboy
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 11, 2019 - 7:41amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The latest film reboot is “Hellboy,” and it cruises based on the viability and popularity of its title character. David Harbour takes the reins from Ron Perlman in portraying the demon, and although it’s bogged down by the story, the latest iteration works because the character is so weirdly appealing.
An Obsessive Couple’s Journey in ‘Ash is Purest White’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 9, 2019 - 9:03amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Obsessive love is a movie story staple, and “Ash is Purest White” puts a Chinese point-of-view on this strange phenomenon. This is a coupling in the background of organized crime and a changing China, and their success and failure is based on the events surrounding them as much as their devotion to each other.
Terrible Messaging in ‘The Best of Enemies’ Ruins a Serviceable Film
Submitted by JonHC on April 6, 2019 - 6:45pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – According to my YouTube history, unlikely animal friendships would likely be in my top 10 most watched videos, alongside DIY home projects and finding out if that sharp pain means I’m dying. Something as simple as a cat and dog being bffs is adorable, but unlike what “The Best of Enemies” would have you believe, two naturally opposing forces don’t always need to play nice.
HollywoodChicago.com ESP, En Español: 'Shazam!' y 'The Best of Enemies'
Submitted by JonHC on April 5, 2019 - 7:15pmCHICAGO – Cada semana, HollywoodChicago.com le traerá las criticas de las películas que hemos visto y que están saliendo esa semana, pero en español. HollywoodChicago.com ESP no sólo representa HollywoodChicago.com Espanol, sino también Esta Semana en Peliculas. Esta semana, nos sobrecargamos y canalizamos a nuestro héroe interior con “Shazam!”, y luego tomamos un viaje al pasado con una historia real que tiene un mensaje dañino con “The Best of Enemies”.
‘Shazam!’ is a Paint by Numbers Superhero Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 8:01am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The former Captain Marvel (story below) is now “Shazam!,” and has his own film in the DC Comics universe. Zachary Levi portrays the title character, now with a new origin to go along with his new name. Speaking of that, no new ground is broken in this pretty standard foster-kid-makes-good hero epic.
Historical Drama is Fortified by Technique in 'Sunset'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 11:13amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – History is made when you’re often busy making other plans. That is ardently illustrated in “Sunset,” a drama set early in the second decade of the 20th Century in the on-the-brink-of-revolution capital of Budapest, Hungary. A retail store is the town’s centerpiece, plus there is a mysterious woman associated with that store, until she isn’t.
