Snowpiercer: Review & Analysis (A Frigid Viewing Experience)

Snowpiercer: Review & Analysis (A Frigid Viewing Experience)

Introduction

Snowpiercer left me out in the cold.

I found myself lost in a tundra of characters lacking motivation, nausea inducing shaky-cam, and a host of mediocre performances.

There are elements that I enjoy here, just not enough of them to make up for the lack of cohesion. This movie has potential, indeed, I believe it is chalked full - but in the end - the overall product still needs a certain amount of polish. 

I wanted to like this movie… it’s just that my understanding of critical analysis got in the way.

Damn.

Creed III – A Review (Two Titans Meet for a Contest of Wills) WDM’s No. 3 Top Film of 2023

Creed III – A Review (Two Titans Meet for a Contest of Wills) WDM’s No. 3 Top Film of 2023

I was down for ‘Creed III’ from the get-go.

Unlike some that had reservations about a Rocky property that’s ‘sans Sylvester Stallone’, I found myself intrigued with a film that was allowed to grow from the initial concept that spawned the franchise, a full forty-seven years ago. In other words, Rocky’s story has been told many times before, now it’s Creed’s moment to shine.

The fight scenes are all on-point, eliciting that intense feeling of watching a ‘Rocky’ movie - hyper-realism is utilized to make the boxing visceral and immersive, an essential ingredient and hallmark of the series.

21 Facts About Ryan Gosling (Canadian Icon & International Megastar) That you Need to Know

21 Facts About Ryan Gosling (Canadian Icon & International Megastar) That you Need to Know

- Ryan Gosling was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his work in the independent drama ‘Half Nelson’.

-’The Place Beyond the Pines’ was a critical success and garnered Gosling praise for his portrayal of Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider who moonlights as a bank robber to provide for his family.

-At 12 years of age Ryan Gosling attended an open audition for Disney Channel’s revival of ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ and received a two year contract to become a ‘mouseketeer’. He starred in the Disney variety show alongside Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Christina Anguilera.

-Ryan Gosling was born in London, Ontario - Canada.

- He is in an indie-rock band with his friend Zack Shields called ‘Dead Man’s Bones’

-Ryan’s first turn as an action hero was in the 2011 film ‘Drive’. The movie is based on the noir fiction novel of the same name.

‘Why Superhero Movies are Proving to be WB-Discovery’s Kryptonite III’ – Opinion Piece

‘Why Superhero Movies are Proving to be WB-Discovery’s Kryptonite III’ – Opinion Piece

‘Why Superhero Movies are Proving to be WB-Discovery’s Kryptonite III’ - Opinion Piece

In the first part of this series, I detailed the concept of ‘sunk cost fallacy’ and illustrated how it applies to the current situation at Warner Bros. - Discovery. In addition - I focused on Warner Bros. rights acquisitions of DC film properties.

In the second part, I connected the dots when it came to David Zaslov’s financial decisions, as well as a new development in the story; a US Congressman who has decided to investigate WB’s canceling of recent projects and whether or not the tax write-offs are legally sound.

Blade Runner: A Sci-fi Masterpiece

Blade Runner: A Sci-fi Masterpiece

A neo-noir cyberpunk thriller, the first of its kind - ‘Blade Runner’ (1982) was a revolutionary motion picture due to its distinct visual style and realistic depiction of a futuristic setting.

Director Ridley Scott is credited with having invented the look and aesthetic of cyberpunk for the screen with the inception of this film.

The film ‘Blade Runner’ is an adaptation of an award winning science fiction novel by author Phillip K. Dick, first published in 1968 and titled: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

It was a nominee for the ‘1968 Nebula Award’ and it won the ‘Locus Poll for All-time Best SF Novel Before 1990’. The novel is very similar to the film - with one caveat - as suggested by the title the book deals with generic androids (robotic beings) whereas Ridley Scott made the decision to alter this trope and create a new creature for the film version: The Replicant.

‘Love Actually’ A Retrospective

‘Love Actually’ A Retrospective

Upon its release, I actually resisted liking ‘Love Actually’.

In fact, when someone close to me suggested watching it - I took a look at the cover of the DVD and said something along the lines of,

“Looks like another one of those romantic comedies. I’m not into it.”

At the time - I was young and only just beginning my journey into film. Luckily, the person decided to play the copy of ‘Love Actually’ regardless of my objections. After viewing the entirety of the feature, it dawned on me… I did enjoy the movie. It just so happens that I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Hell, upon viewing it again, a little while later - I realized I absolutely loved the film and would probably recommend it to anybody willing to listen.

50 Facts About the Film ‘The Hateful Eight’ by Quentin Tarantino

50 Facts About the Film ‘The Hateful Eight’ by Quentin Tarantino

1. "The Hateful Eight" is a western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

2. It was released in 2015.

3. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Walton Goggins, among others.

4. Tarantino initially conceived the film as a sequel to his previous film, "Django Unchained."

5. The story takes place in Wyoming during the winter of 1877.

6. The film's title refers to the eight main characters, who are all morally ambiguous and deceitful.

7. "The Hateful Eight" was shot using Ultra Panavision 70, a rare and wide aspect ratio format.

8. Tarantino used the same film format as classics like "Ben-Hur" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" to achieve a vintage look.

9. The film's runtime is approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes.

5 Unconventional Christmas Movies to Watch During the Holidays

5 Unconventional Christmas Movies to Watch During the Holidays

1. Scrooged

Scrooged is a modern day retelling of the beloved holiday classic: Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol. It stars Bill Murray as a television producer that has a lot in common with the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge. Although critics and fans agree this isn’t Bill Murray’s best work, it still manages some laugh-out-loud funny moments with that hint of sarcastic wit that’s a trademark of Murray’s style. 7/10

2. Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton is not your average mall Santa. For one - he’s crass. Secondly, he’s piss-ass drunk and not to mention the guy is just downright rude. Also, he’s constantly ‘casing the place’ because see, that's his real job; to rob the shopping-center blind the night of Christmas Eve. This film is loosely inspired by the Dr. Seuss classic ‘The Grinch That Stole Christmas’. 

Once you look past the shock-comedy and pessimistic overtones… the similarities are glaringly obvious. 9/10

8 Things The Television Series Star Trek Voyager Did Right.

8 Things The Television Series Star Trek Voyager Did Right.

1. Ensign Kim

Harry Kim is one of the most beloved characters of Star Trek: Voyager. Portrayed by Garret Wang, a relative newcomer to the screen, Ensign Kim quickly became an essential part of the show. Although a contingent of viewers wished for greater character development throughout the run of the series for ensign Kim – most die hard fans grew to love Harry's try-hard attitude and comedic naivety. His working relationship with Tom Paris was always good for a laugh and allowed episodes to take a lighthearted approach to storytelling, when needed.

Why Superhero Movies Are Proving to be WB Pictures’ Kryptonite Part II – Opinion Piece

Why Superhero Movies Are Proving to be WB Pictures’ Kryptonite Part II – Opinion Piece

Now that I've established what 'sunk cost fallacy' is – and that most of WB Pictures recent business decisions seem to stem from a wholehearted attempt to avoid this pitfall, it should be clear why the heads of the company are cancelling projects all over the place.

From the much maligned pulling of ‘The Batgirl film’ just months before it's release - to the recent controversy over cancelling a completed Looney Tunes project (flagship characters of WB Animation) that starred the extremely bankable John Cena. In total, there are 18 or more television series and movies that have been cancelled by Warner Bros. Entertainment in the last few years.