REVIEW: Divergent [2014]

“Faction before blood” Like it or not, the twenty-first century has brought cultural alterations. For instance, the conversation about futuristic dystopias and/or social upheaval no longer includes 1984, Brave New World, or Fahrenheit 451. Our contemporary equivalents are now The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent. They may not be at the same reading level, target the same demographic, or prove as smart and prophetic as the former trio, but that doesnā€™t mean they arenā€™t relevant or effective. All except for one thing impossible to ignore: their delivery method.…

Read More

REVIEW: Dolphin Tale [2011]

\ “You could have drowned or gotten stabbed by a swordfish for god sakes” People who have seen the trailer love to call it Free Willy 2011. While the subject of a kid doing all he can to save a marine animal from death does eventually come up in Dolphin Tale, it isnā€™t an issue until weā€™re well into the film. No, at the start itā€™s all about young Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble), lost and trying to find a place in the world. A quiet kid with little to no…

Read More

REVIEW: Frida [2002]

“Alone in pain” Iā€™ve said it many times; I am not a fan of biopics. They always overextend themselves to the point of unbelievability because of the same actors playing everyone from 20-80 years old. The ones that work are those that take a slice of life rather than the entirety of it, like The Queen and Capote. Letā€™s say I was very surprised to find out how much I enjoyed Frida. From her college years until her death, this film never feels like we are learning about her lifeā€”it…

Read More