Watchmen (2009) is a visually stunning and complex superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, based on the groundbreaking graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The film is set in an alternate 1985, where the United States and the Soviet Union are on the brink of nuclear war, and costumed vigilantes have existed since…
“The Edge” (Russian: “Край”), directed by Alexey Uchitel, is a compelling and visually arresting Russian drama set in the aftermath of World War II. The film delves into themes of survival, redemption, and the relentless human spirit, set against the harsh and unforgiving landscape of Siberia. The story centers around Ignat (Vladimir Mashkov), a decorated…
Starship Troopers (1997), directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a military science fiction film based on Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 novel. Set in a future dominated by a militaristic federation, the film follows humanity’s ongoing war against a menacing race of giant alien insects known as the Arachnids. The story centers on Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien),…
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) is an epic historical drama directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan, set against the backdrop of the Crusades in the 12th century. The film boasts a stellar cast, including Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, and David Thewlis. The story follows Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), a…
Released in 2004, Resident Evil: Apocalypse is an action-horror film directed by Alexander Witt and written by Paul W. S. Anderson. This film serves as a direct sequel to the original Resident Evil (2002) and is the second installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. With its high-octane…
A sermon written in blood It is almost always raining in the city. Somerset, the veteran detective, wears a hat and raincoat. Mills, the kid who has just been transferred into the district, walks bare-headed in the rain as if he’ll be young forever. On their first day together, they investigate the death of a…
It’s rare to find something new in cinema. It’s rare to witness a new voice emerge, an artist bold enough to play around with cinematic language and form, as though there are no rules. It’s rare to “meet” a new artist whose work is so personal it feels like a fingerprint. Zia Anger is one…
“There are such devils.” Sean Penn‘s “The Pledge” begins when it seems his protagonist’s career is ending. Jack Nicholson plays Jerry Black, a Nevada police detective whose retirement party is interrupted by news of the brutal murder of a young girl. Across the noisy room he senses a shift in tone, and joins a conversation between his…
“Look Into My Eyes,” a portrait of mediums and their clients, is a nonfiction movie where the whole point is to watch people, listen to what they say, and think about the emotions they feel as they tell their stories. The film identifies no one onscreen with printed names and titles. There are no headlines,…
“Phone Booth,” directed by Joel Schumacher and released in 2002, is a gripping psychological thriller that unfolds almost entirely within the confines of a New York City phone booth. The film centers on Stu Shepard, played by Colin Farrell, a fast-talking publicist who becomes trapped in the booth by an unseen sniper. As Stu’s life…
