"The two I was with enjoyed it with no amount of cynicism someone older might acquire with a larger history of horror films. If they weren't exactly scared, they were creeped out. There are a few jump scares, a few inevitable stalkings, an exorcism and and other things that go bump in the night. None of these are overdone, and it makes each more effective. "
Two old friends dissect the best del Toro film and discuss the career of the great modern master.
If you like Del Toro, this is the best work he's created since Pan's Labyrinth. It's regrettable that he's not received more resources to create with, but seeing what he's done here with such seemingly limited funds, I really don't know if it matters. He just needs to bring more of his universe to ours.
Crimson Peak - 2015 Director Guillermo Del Toro Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver Screenplay Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins, Lucinda Coxson Full disclosure: I am a fan of Del Toro. I will give him the kinds of breaks that I would not grant others. For this reason, my reviews of his films should be viewed as … Continue reading Crimson Peak (**1/2): Feeding on Butterflies
The Hobbit - The Battle of Five Armies Director Peter Jackson Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Orlando Bloom, Aidan Turner, Billy Connolly, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro based on the … Continue reading The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (***1/2) – So it ends…
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 2013 Director Peter Jackson Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Orlando Bloom, Aidan Turner Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Phillippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro based on the book The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien I can remember when I first saw the movie Star Wars: Attack of the … Continue reading The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Opportunity Lost and Exhausted
Pacific Rim - 2013 Director Guillermo Del Toro Starring Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Ron Perlman Screenplay Del Toro and Travis Beacham Once Guillermo Del Toro decided to forego The Hobbit series of movies, the concept kind of lost steam for me. After I saw the first film, it was apparent why. Jackson was creative in … Continue reading Pacific Rim: Where do you want to die?
Puss In Boots - 2011 Directed by Chris Miller Starring the voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Zeus Mendoza, Constance Marie, Guillermo Del Toro, Bob Joles, Mike Mitchell Screenplay by Tom Wheeler, Will Davies, Brian Lynch Having been weary of Shrek for some time, a movie based on the Puss In … Continue reading Puss in Boots rises well above the tired Shrek dreck
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark - 2011 Directed by Troy Nixey Starring Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison, Jack Thompson Written by Guillermo Del Toro, Matthew Robbins based on the original story by Nigel McKeand Guillermo Del Toro has a fascinating sense of what makes something scary. Each of the films he has written and/or … Continue reading Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is very nearly a classic
