I didn’t know what to expect from this movie, but I’m a sucker for indie sci-fi movies. I think sci-fi concepts open up a huge realm of storytelling — it’s a great way to explore dramatic and philosophical questions. Anyway, in this case, Another Earth is mostly a human drama about a teenage girl, Rhoda,…
Category: 50 Movies 1 Summer
Movie #25: Cowboys & Aliens
I’ve never been a fan of westerns (they are my second-least favourite genre, next to mob movies). However, when I heard about this western-sci-fi mash-up, I was intrigued. When I learned that Daniel Craig was going to star as the mysterious lead character, I was downright excited. Like many westerns (not that I’m any kind…
Movie #24: Conan the Barbarian
In light of all the “reboot” controversies over the last couple of years, it’s interesting that no one seems to care about Conan the Barbarian coming back to theatres. This time, the title character is played by Jason Momoa. It’s kind of odd casting, since he was quite memorable in a very similar role as…
Movie #23: The Expendables
I’m not quite sure why I watched this movie. Even though I was not really a fan of those old testosterone-fueled movies from the 80s and 90s, I guess there’s something intriguing about gathering together Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Steve Austin into a single movie. Add to that minor roles for…
Movie #22: Skyline
Skyline really brings home the idea of alien invasion, since it’s set entirely within a high-rise condo — Hey, that’s how I live! Unfortunately, I don’t live in a super-deluxe modern condo in L.A. with sleek modern styling and automated blinds — but then again, those blinds didn’t save these residents from being sucked away…
Movie #21: Friends With Benefits
Every time I watch a rom-com, I wonder why. It’s not that I don’t like them (I used to claim that), but more because they’re so formulaic that it’s almost like watching the same movie again. From the start, I knew that Friends With Benefits would follow the formula. Even though young, successful, big-city hotties…
Movie #20: Trollhunter
At first I was growing tired of the “found footage” sub-genre of movies, but recent TV series like the now-cancelled The River, movies like Chronicle and now this movie continue to expand possibilities. The title of this Norwegian film, Trollhunter (Trolljegeren), sounds like a cheesy Syfy channel B-movie, but actually it’s pulled off with a…
Movie #19: Tucker and Dale vs Evil
Ever since Scream, there’s been almost a sub-class of horror movies that play with the expectations and stereotypes of the genre. Recently I really enjoyed the Joss-Whedon-produced Cabin in the Woods, and Tucker and Dale vs Evil actually has a lot in common with that movie (except in those parts where they are completely opposite)….
Movie #18: The Young Victoria
Even though I enjoy movies about British royalty, and I studied some history in university, I can’t say that I know much about Queen Victoria’s life. Unfortunately, after watching The Young Victoria, I still don’t. It wasn’t that there were historical details missing, but it was difficult to follow who the characters were, or what…
Alvin's Adventures in Pop Culture 