It's time to call the prequel trilogy of Planet of the Apes one of the best movie trilogies of all-time. It's time to give serious Oscar consideration to Andy Serkis as Caeser. It's time to see what is, so far, the best film of 2017. Hear those thoughts and more in my "Movie Classroom" interactive whiteboard video review for War for the Planet of the Apes as it appears published on the Every Movie Has a Lesson YouTube channel. See this film immediately.
Read MoreSpider-Man: Homecoming, starring Tom Holland as a true and proper teenage Spider-Man/Peter Parker, is a welcome and refreshing clean slate for the character. It's too bad it took three franchise attempts to get here. Filled to the brim with both easter eggs, supporting characters, swell touches of character, and zesty heart, this is the Spider-Man film you've always hoped for. Enjoy my full spoken review layered with an interactive whiteboard lesson for the latest "Movie Classroom" video review on this website's YouTube channel:
Read MoreEdgar Wright's new film Baby Driver falls in the category of sub-genre of action films that I like to call "kinetic films." Hear that genre definition, how Baby Driver fits the bill as ideal summer entertainment and more as I present the spoken form of my full review of the film accompanied by an interactive whiteboard lesson via the ShowMe app. Enjoy the latest video review in my "Movie Classroom" series on this website's YouTube channel:
Read MoreFeelin' Film host Aaron White and I hashed out our thoughts on Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled, debuting this weekend in theaters after wowing the Cannes Film Festival last month. It hit Aaron more than it hit me, but this counts as a wickedly entertaining remake from Coppola. We try to inform you so you can decide whether this seductively complex, yet simple, film is one for you.
Read MoreI'm beginning to love making this annual halfway point list. For me, 2017 has been a year for immense volume. Since January, I've reviewed 64 films, 58 of which were 2017 releases and not carryovers from a late 2016 awards season. Thanks to some film festival and advance press access, you can add 16 short films and four more feature films pending the windows to publish reviews. True to my website's hook, I present each film with its best life lesson from my review.
Read MoreThe "Pixar Punch," as I like to call it, is alive and well in the vast franchise improvement that is Cars 3. Progressive with diversity and delivered with top-shelf computer animation, Cars 3 will earn your appreciate and change your mind about the series after Cars 2. Here is my newest YouTube "Movie Classroom" video review using the ShowMe iPad app and iMovie. Enjoy!
Read MoreIn Episode 4 of the new Reel Talker podcast, fellow CIFCC director Jim Alexander and I discuss The Mummy, I, Daniel Blake, My Cousin Rachel, and It Comes at Night newly arriving to theaters. In part two, we talk about the week's new Blu-ray/DVD releases and hot topic movie trends from the week. Listen and enjoy!
Read MoreThe new "Feelin' Film+" shows on the Feelin' Film Podcast website set out to document full-throated and unfiltered reactions to film showings, spoilers and all. Feelin' Film host Aaron White and his team have me on speed dial for these hot takes and mental exercise put on the mic and recorder. Here's my therapy session with Aaron for It Comes at Night.
Read MoreThe new "Feelin' It" quick takes on the Feelin' Film Podcast website are designed to be spoiler-free impressions to help audiences make decisions of whether to see a film or not. Feelin' Film co-leader Aaron White, a fellow press credentialed critic, has enlisted me to come on for many of these reaction discussions. Here are my two most recent appearances talking Cars 3 and Alien: Covenant.
Read MoreIn returning to my "Movie Classroom" series of interactive whiteboard video reviews with new vigor, new skills, and new tools, I wanted to bring back and upload my old video attempts to my Every Movie Has a Lesson YouTube channel. In a massive file drop, I recently uploaded 29 of my past Movie Classroom videos from 2014, including winners like Whiplash and Birdman. Head over and reminisce on some fine films and commentary by yours truly.
Read MoreThis past week, the Kicking the Seat Podcast reunited a super-team of critics to discuss Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman! I was invited by the KtS host Ian Simmons to join himself, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews after an advance screening at the ShowPlace ICON X at Roosevelt Collections. As always, I'm honored to be invited by Ian, a gracious host like no other.
Read MoreFellow Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle co-founder and co-director Jim Alexander of The Movie Blog and The Young Folks recently started his own personal website dubbed Reel Talker. He has fired up a weekly podcast where he reviews current theatrical films, new Blu-ray and home media releases, and the hot movie news and trends of the week. Jim invited me to guest on his second episode.
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