Movie Reviews

Dog’s Movie House: “IT” A Streamlined Masterpiece Of Horror!”

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Bill Skarsgard As Pennywise The Clown In “It”

 

 

 

As a Stephen King fan, I can tell you that this summer’s “Dark Tower” was an absolute mess and made me wonder about the upcoming adaptation of King’s mega-novel “IT.”  “IT” just happens to be my favorite novel of all time with Derry, Pennywise, and the Losers being my favorite fictitious places and people to visit.  If you could dog-ear a Kindle, my digital copy of “IT” would certainly qualify.  Fortunately,  Andy Muschietti’s (“Mama”) big screen adaptation is not only pitch perfect for the legendary novel; it may be the best horror movie in the last twenty years! Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “Hitman’s Bodyguard” Mild Fun, “Logan Lucky” A Near Comedic Masterpiece!

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Channing Tatum And Adam Driver In “Logan Lucky”

 

 

With summer winding down, two comedies are competing for the top of a decidedly dour box office.  Like so many things entertainment related, marketing often outdoes quality when it comes to getting butts in seats at the movie theaters.  The first of these is “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” which seems like a no-brainer.  Pairing Samuel L Jackson and Ryan Reynolds in an action comedy seems like surefire box office gold, but unfortunately a limp script keeps “Bodyguard” from achieving true greatness.  Fortunately we have Steven Soderbergh, returning from a five-year mini retirement to give us “Logan Lucky” a delightful heist film with a decidedly southern flavor. Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “Annabelle: Creation” Terrifying, “Dark Tower” Terrifyingly Bad!

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Talitha Bateman In “Annabelle: Creation”

 

 

 

Horror, like comedy, is a very subjective genre.  Every moviegoer has something different that trips their “fear” switch.  For me, it’s more about what’s not visible onscreen than overt displays of violence and gore.  For that reason, the various films in The Conjuring franchise are some of the creepiest I’ve ever seen.  With the exception of the very disappointing “Annabelle” I’ve very much enjoyed the James Wan- led franchise and “Annabelle: Creation” is right up there with some of the best horror films in recent memory.   The same cannot be said for the long-awaited cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s legendary Dark Tower series.  “The Dark Tower” is a overly brief, thematic mess that pays only lip service to King’s sprawling fantasy saga.  Non fans of the books will be mildly entertained, but King devotees will either walk out or throw their popcorn at the movie screen.   Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “Detroit” A Searing, Timely Drama!

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog! 

John Boyega In “Detroit”

 

 

 

There are some excellent films that are admittedly difficult to sit through due to the unflinching nature of the filmmaker’s techniques of showcasing brutal events on screen.  Kathryn Bigelow’s latest “Detroit” is one of those films.  Detailing the terrifying events that took place at the Algiers Motel during the riots in Detroit in 1967.  Along with her frequent writing collaborator Mark Boal (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”), Bigelow and her crackerjack cast puts the screws to the audience from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until the end credits roll.  This is a film that depicts a terrible time in our nation’s history and serves as a timely reminder that. although we’ve made progress in terms of racial relations, we still have along way to go.   Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “Emoji” lifeless, “Atomic Blonde” awesome showcase for Charlize Theron!

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton in “Atomic Blonde”

 

 

 

This week we’ve got two theatrical releases from opposite sides of the quality spectrum.  On one side we’ve got “The Emoji Movie” which, besides being an enormous mistake from a conceptual perspective, is in the early running for worst film of the year.  You folks know me as a fellow normally gives most movies something of a pass, but as a public service announcement I’m telling all of you to avoid this animated film like a cinematic plague.  On the other end of things, “Atomic Blonde” gives Charlize Theron a chance to flex her action heroine muscles and boy does she do an incredible job.  It helps that she’s directed by action impresario David Leitch (“John Wick”). Continue reading