There’s so much to love in all three of the How To Train Your Dragon films from writer/director Dean DeBlois. The first introduced us to the village of Berk and its quirky inhabitants, brought chieftain’s son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) together with his brother from another species, Toothless, who was the only surviving Night Fury dragon …
Tagged Cinema Siren
TRUMBO Review: Does Cranston’s Dalton Trumbo Delight?
No one should be able to tell Americans how to think or what not to say. A shameful yet surprisingly topical chapter in American history, TRUMBO tells the story of perhaps the most boisterous member of the Hollywood Ten. Flamboyant and prolific writing genius that he was, he found himself embroiled in the political cesspool …
Middleburg Film Fest: MACBETH Video Review- “Out, Damned Plot!”
Full Transcript of the MACBETH Review: Though I saw the upcoming release Macbeth at the Middleburg Film Festival, it arrives just in time for the holidays and awards seasons in the US on December 4th. Nothing is so frustrating as a film or play that dances on the edge of greatness but yet fails miserably. …
ROOM Review and Brie Larson Interview
It is always a formidable task to bring a beloved book to the screen, and do it well. Emma Donoghue’s novel ROOM garnered enough glowing reviews, accolades, and awards to fill not only a room, but a gymnasium. Fortunately for fans of the book, she is the one who translated the novel for the screen, …
Steve Jobs Video Review: Will It Have you at “HELLO”?
Full transcript of the review: Steve Jobs is not your usual bio-pic. Directed by Danny Boyle, using Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay and starring Michael Fassbender as Jobs, it focuses, in three acts, on three events in the life of the iconoclast. With all the movies vying for Oscar attention this time of year, will …
Crimson Peak Review: As Plush as it is Predictable
Guillermo Del Toro has been touting his gorgeously dark haunted period film for over a year now, and his fans are readying themselves to swoop down into theaters this weekend to finally see it from start to finish. We’ve seen costumes, environments, and a few creepy scenes, but is Crimson Peak going to be a …
THE MARTIAN Video Review: Making Science Sexy, and Ridley Scott Successful Again
THE MARTIAN, this week’s release, is directed by Ridley Scott, who has had a less than stellar recent cinematic record, and stars Matt Damon, who, conversely seems to be in every great movie being released. Will THE MARTIAN make science sexy again, and bring Ridley Scott success again? THE MARTIAN is the ultimate story of …
Black Mass Vid Review: Criminally Good or Another Depp disaster?
Transcript: There is no disputing Johnny Depp is one of the great actors of his generation, though it feels like his recent films have put that, as well as his choices in choosing roles, into question. Will Black Mass reaffirm him as the worthiest of global A-listers and save him from the brink of box …
Z for Zachariah Video Review: A Simple, Raw Chamber Drama Dressed in a Radiation Suit
With three hot actors, Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine playing the only characters in the film, it’s no wonder it was garnering such buzz at this year’s Sundance Festival. But is this post-apocalyptic character suspense-drama the living end? Watch: Here is the written transcript: British screenwriter Nissar Modi adapted Z FOR ZACHARIAH from …
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Looking Undead and Delightful at SDCC 2015
The storied beginnings of the novel ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ has been relayed many times. Seth Grahame-Smith got a call from his editor, who said he had only a few words to describe an idea, and he’d either love it or hate it, and then said the title. Clearly Grahame-Smith loved the idea, because at that moment a …