Tag Archives: Sony pictures

Resident Evil Review


Terror strikes with madness when writer and director Zach Cregger tests the bounds of horror with new twists and allies. Resident Evil is compounded with sinister entertainment. At the same time, it has some witty kicks. The action plays out in scenes that are funny and creepy which is the perfect recipe for more surprises. A new era is born in Resident Evil. This time, the franchise is captured by a director who knows what he is doing.

My mind was spinning at first because the film begins in a hospital setting. It follows a medical courier who is working all hours of the night. The courier is Bryan, played by Austin Abrams. As he wraps up his shift, he’s given a new assignment.. He must deliver a package to a remote hospital. Getting to that hospital though is a challenge as evil dooms keep the chills coming throughout Bryan’s journey to deliver the package. He hits someone with his car who comes back to life. After that, he loses access to his car and soon realizes different types of creatures are following him

The atmospheric aspect of Cregger’s direction is heightened by the way he causes audiences to ask questions throughout the haunting ride. Why is Bryan going deep into the middle of nowhere? Why is there such a plague of monsters? Is he holding an item that may bring salvation to the crisis that he is facing? The evil monsters scurry in different directions, but Bryan is one man for himself. Abrams delivers one of his bravest performances. He went from the high-school nerd from Brad’s Status to the courier fighting his way through an apocalyptic masterpiece.

Sinners came to my mind while watching Resident Evil. The variety of moving parts coming together fuels the suspense in both films which Cregger directed. He continues to test the waters of what causes terror in particular environments. Sinnerstook place in evil territory with gangsters and supernatural elements. In Resident Evil, zombie creatures are mutating on a farm and in a corrupt city…Cregger creates amazing scares if audiences dare. 

I truly loved Resident Evil and kept wanting more. The suspense built around a package for medical purposes spoke to me. Since I have a sibling who works in the medical field, I kept thinking of a zombie scenario leading to a crisis. The outcome had many surreal surprises for me. Cregger’s vision is new, inspiring, daring, and scary. If audiences feel creeped out, then Cregger knows he has been successful in making this film bumpy and unforgettable. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Resident Evil.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review


The rise and fall of Spider-Man syncs up with a strong time for Tom Holland. As he is slinging webs into the world of Spider-Man, he is also starring in The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s epic which is experiencing great success at the box office. Holland is killing it in both his role as Telemachus in The Odyssey and his role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man Brand New Day. The twist given the foes in both films—are the webs effective enough to save the city in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

I have always been sold on The Spider-Man movies. However, only two of the three actors who have played Spider-Man have stood out for me the most. Tobey Maguire played the role well and so does Tom Holland.  I was never a fan of Andrew Garfield’s performance because he never  had serious spider senses. That is an element that both Maguire and Holland performed well when playing their roles in the franchise. Uncharted territory abounds in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

For Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the universe has shifted, and he must utilize the world around him to navigate his life as a normal human-being and also a superhero.. At the same time, however, his friendships with MJ (Zendaya) and Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) are on his mind. He is friends with them in one universe, and in the current one, the slate is clean. With the new enemies in Spider-Man: Brand New Day explores some unique threats. Since Jean Grey can alter the minds of many individuals, there are forces stronger than anticipated. The name might be familiar from the X-Men franchise, and she is played by Sadie Sink. The webs and technology of Peter-Parker/Spider-Man are in for new challenges. The presentation is darker than I had expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has the mode of normalcy for Peter Parker/Spider-Man which amounts to saving people and utilizing technologies to help keep the streets and the city safe. Slowly though, more rapid evolutions occur, including his friendship with his friend Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal). It is like Spider-Man has a sidekick. But, are they on the best terms? That question is a heavy one, because the universe that Spider-Man is swinging in keeps him facing plateaus with a significant impact on him. He is still able to survive and fight back. The darker alleys made the experience of Spider-Man: Brand New Day feel more intense.

Peter-Parker’s life goes on. The normal human mode keeps stirring his own emotions. When he puts on the mask and takes it back off—the agony of defeat (from the previous films) feels real in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The curiosity is whether he can continue to be the hero he was once strong enough to be. Be ready for more  moments of weakness this time around. Three out of four stars for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Anaconda Review


What makes Anaconda so entertaining is the fact that the plot revolves around characters that are true to the original franchise. This creates cleverness built upon a solid foundation. Given that the film stars Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Steve Zahn, there are plenty of twists to keep the momentum spiraling with joy. Slithers of snakes combined with devotion to a franchise takes audiences on a journey filled with laughter. Directed by Tom Gormican, this is Anaconda.

Before jumping into the plot, I want to elaborate on the fanboy status which tops this movie. With the farce surrounding Anaconda, the chemistry amongst Black, Rudd, and Zahn is electric. As friends who play a team hoping to reboot Anaconda, it takes a lot more effort and risk than they expect. There is much uncharted territory, an Amazon with unexplained animals, and treacherous environs with surprises lurking.

The main characters are Doug McCallister (Black) and Ronald Griffin Jr. (Rudd). They are two friends who have always loved movies and always dreamed of making movies. Doug has a job where he shoots wedding videos, and he wants something bigger. Ronald does as well and claims he has access to the rights to the Anaconda franchise. This sets them down a path to find the budget to make their own independent version of it. The others who are with them in the process are Kenny Trent (Zahn) and Claire Simons (played by Thandiwe Newton). However, the licensing and rights are all over the place while the jungle is sketchy too. A colorful array of moving parts creates a boisterous ride where the rollercoaster never stops.

The writing of Anaconda begins as cheesy. As the film loops into the cinema aficionado’s mode (with Black and Rudd), the story begins to gradually create the atmosphere for accomplishments to occur. The filming requires everyone to be in the Amazon with many reptiles, the majority of which are dinosaur sized. Anaconda is like Jurassic Park but more likely to have creatures which are snake sized. This film also aims for the attacks to humor the audience instead of scaring viewers.That is what I love about this movie. When snakes jumped out, boisterous laughs ensued. The characterizations of Black and Rudd are outstanding in the danger-filled jungle.

Overall, Anaconda knows how to be funny. The film keeps a steady pace and loops in studio-related material to build upon its characterizations. I felt a sense of reality despite the quirkiness. It is not an amazing movie, but it is classy due to the flow of clever elements in the writing. Anaconda is one of the most fun films that many families should take time to enjoy over Christmas. It is a snake party for the holidays. Also, for those who remember the original Anacondas movies, audiences are in for a treat with this new version. Just make sure to fasten your seat belts! Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Anaconda.