Dog’s Movie House: “Kraven The Hunter” Competent Comic Movie With Little Reason To Exist!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at Sony’s new Marvel movie titled “Kraven The Hunter.” Kraven is one of the more notoble villains in Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery, mainly because despite his desire to kill the wall crawler, Kraven has a rather staunch moral code. Kraven’s Last Hunt is one of the most respected comic book stories in the history of Marvel and it would have been fascinating to see that story told onscreen. But that’s not what we get here. Instead we get an origin story dealing with Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the relationship with his criminal father Nickolai (Russell Crowe) and half-brother Dmitri (Fred Heshinger) and the events that lead him to becoming the legendary hunter. It’s a competently told story yet there is an overwhelming sense of “why?”
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “The Exorcism” Intriguing But Extremely Flawed Take On The Possession Genre!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here and I’m reviewing yet another Exorcism film. Over the years it’s been almost impossible to replicate the success or originality of 1973’s “The Exorcist.” One of the reasons that “The Exorcist” is so good is that the film plays more like a serious drama with horrific elements added. It’s a slow burn masterpiece that earns the fear through sympathy for the characters, all of which are three dimensional and well-written. (It helps that the novel’s author, William Peter Blatty, also penned the script.) The latest attempt to add to the possession craze is called “The Exorcism,” starring Russell Crowe as a washed up actor playing a priest in a loose modern interpretation of “The Exorcist.” When his own recently conquered personal demons begin showing up, the question is raised whether he’s relaspsing or under the sway of something more sinister. An interesting idea but it gets bogged down in the usual horror tropes that bury the film during its second half!
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “Unhinged” elevated by Russell Crowe’s Committed Performance!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at one of the first movie’s coming back to the slowly opening land of the multiplex. (I myself caught a screener at home as the theaters here have no time table of opening.) A portly Russell Crowe is the main reason to see “Unhinged” which is essentially a chase picture involving a psychotic man (Crowe) who wishes to punish a young woman (Caren Pistorious) for having the temerity to honk at him on the highway. This thriller is a bit half-baked but Crowe’s committed performance and a couple of decent car chases make this one worth watching.
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