Tag: Movies

By Sydney Stokoe

Take a kid in a wetsuit, team him up with a faux-Batman, a purple-wigged preteen and a dude with too much eye makeup and you have the recipe for one very interesting superhero movie. Taking the classic superhero story — a socially conscious nerd sees an opportunity to do good in society and works unrelentingly… Continue reading Cursing eleven-year-olds Kick-Ass

By Jordyn Marcellus

Mystery films haven’t been consistently enjoyable since the days of film noir. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo offers a modern re-interpretation of the genre, keeping the red herrings and fake-outs that make it so great but give it a much-needed update. Unfortunately, the film may leave a sour taste in many audiences’ mouths due… Continue reading Crackerjack mystery potentially marred

By Jordyn Marcellus

Outside a few moments of rock’n’roll brilliance, nothing can stop the tidal wave of overwhelming music biopic cliches that makes watching The Runaways an eye-rolling chore. The Joan Jett produced flick is the premiere effort for Canadian music video veteran/photographer Floria Sigismondi, whose past work includes Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People.” The Runaways is Sigismondi’s… Continue reading Runaways doesn’t run from cliches

By Ben Rowe

In the next 12 months, 114 films are scheduled for wide release. Of those, 69 will be remakes, reboots, re-imaginings, sequels, prequels and adaptations of all variety of source material. In other words, wholly unoriginal cinematic re-hashes, asking you for a good 20 bucks to watch a story you already know. Most of them, thanks… Continue reading The upcoming Hollywood dreck

By Amy Badry

What Are We Doing Here is a documentary filmed and produced by three brothers and a cousin after a six-month jaunt to Africa. The quartet set off to Africa to explore the role of foreign aid and impact of western development agencies on the continent. “Too often the same stories are recycled about Africa,” says… Continue reading Doc offers new perspective on foreign aid

By Savannah Hall

Noah Baumbach’s Greenberg causes a lot of simultaneous reactions, including refreshment, boredom and dissimulation. It is refreshing to not have to don 3D glasses and actually watch people act on screen. Greenberg has no fancy gimmicks or brooding vampires, just people interacting the old-fashioned way. A short cunnilingus act kicks off the romance between Roger… Continue reading Stiller shines in otherwise dull Greenberg

By Ben Rowe

Since 1992, the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers has hosted the $100 Film Festival, an opportunity and contest for low-budget films and the artists behind them to receive community recognition and support. Held every March at the Plaza Theatre, the $100 Film Festival was originally a challenge to create short films for $100 or less.… Continue reading Local filmmakers get their shot at $100 Film Festival

By Ben Rowe

Best Actress in a Supporting Role BR: Vera Faminga, Up in the Air It’s going to go to Faminga. Both Nine and Crazy Heart were terrible movies, and there’s two solid choices from Up in the Air. I’d like to hope that the woman who melts George Clooney’s character’s twisted heart gets the statue. RP:… Continue reading Gauntlet Oscar picks: always right

By Natascia Karen Vervena

For those who have read a Nicholas Sparks novel or seen a movie based on one of his tearjerkers, get ready to fall in love again with Dear John. Director Lasse Hallstrom and screenwriter Jamie Linden adapt Sparks’ novel into a movie to bring us Dear John. Like Message in a Bottle, A Walk to… Continue reading Channing Tatum finds love in Notebook writer’s Dear John

By Ben Rowe

From Paris With Love sneaks its way into theatres this Friday underneath everyone’s radar — except those taking potshots at the ignominious downfall of John Travolta. And while it is true that Travolta’s main concern in From Paris With Love appears to be reclaiming his lost cool, the most shocking thing about the movie is… Continue reading Shockingly, Travolta returns to badass form in From Paris With Love