This is actually a personal request, which is a first for me. So here goes… For everyone who knows me, I am a huge Jackie Chan fan. Since I was eight years old, my family bonded over his early films such as Project A, Wheels and Meals (which has one of the best fight scenes ever), Police Story and Armour of God and as they were recorded … Continue reading An evening with Jackie Chan
Everyone dreams of their perfect partner. Romantics call them their soulmate. Cynics call them non-existent. So what do you do if you are lonely? Take a lesson from John Hughes’ Weird Science and create someone. Ruby Sparks is the second feature film project by husband-wife directorial team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, six years after their successful Sundance debut Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and is the … Continue reading Looking Back: Ruby Sparks
We all have our favorite Disney film, but for those who belong to a certain generation, the films released during the Disney Renaissance era (1989-1999) hold a special place. This era saw the company produce some of their most commercially and critically successful films in Disney’s history, by injecting its own unique brand of magic into well-known fairy tales and stories. A key feature from … Continue reading Looking Back: ‘Beauty of the Beast’ (1991)
This was amongst one of the most highly-anticipated films of 2012. It is following one of the most talked-about sequels in recent years and marks the end of an era for comic-book fans (in some ways). The Dark Knight Rises follows eight years after The Dark Knight and Gotham City has become a city of peace. Having hung up the cape, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has turned … Continue reading Looking Back: The Dark Knight Rises
One of my favourite films of all time is The Godfather and it is strange to think that legendary actor Al Pacino was almost not cast as the intimidating Michael Corleone – a role that propelled him into superstardom. So when fellow film critic and writer Mark Searby asked me to read his book, Al Pacino – The Movies Behind The Man, I was intrigued. … Continue reading REVIEW: Al Pacino – The Movies Behind The Man by Mark Searby
With one directorial feature under his belt, director and screenwriter Theodore Melfi is making his mark in Hollywood with his second feature, which celebrates diversity and scientific achievements among women. Hidden Figures focuses on three African-American mathematicians – Katherine Jackson (Taraji. P. Henson), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) – and their contributions to Nasa’s Friendship 7 space mission, which saw John … Continue reading REVIEW: Hidden Figures – 4/5 stars
When Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away in 2014 from combined drug intoxication, film fans remember his subtle genius in his performances. Even though he has been celebrated for his later roles, the performance that resonates with me the most is his turn as the late rock journalist, Lester Bangs in Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous. But, with Bangs also being a victim of an overdose … Continue reading Art imitating life: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in ‘Almost Famous’
Since Halloween has been and gone, it may seem a little late to comment on a horror film. But seeing this has been making waves in such a seemingly short period of time, it is hard to pass up a flick that is, put simply, zombies on a train. Train to Busan follows workaholic father Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) reluctantly accompany his daughter Soo-an (Kim Su-an) … Continue reading Train to Busan – 4/5 stars
Musings of Guitargalchina 