1. “Men in Black III (2012)” movie review.

    Posted by
    /
    It's been years since I saw "Men In Black" or its much maligned sequel, so perhaps I'd feel differently if I saw then now. What I liked about the first movie was that it never got lost in spectacle. It was less about the special effects and more about our reactions to them. It would often be scary, dramatic, funny, intense, adventurous and action packed, all at once. It was the full cinematic experience. It's sequel was a hollow shell of that. Honestly, the only thing I remember about "Men in Black 2" was the (certainly impressive) special effects, which were flashy but seemed to lack substance. "Men in Black III" is trapped somewhere in between. It did leave an impression other than "it's pretty", but so much about it seems underdeveloped.
  2. “Dark Shadows (2012)” movie review.

    Posted by
    /
    Tim Burton was another great filmmaker who has lost sight of what made him good in the first place. Oh sure, his trademarks are still present, but they don't seem to mean anything anymore. His earlier- and best- efforts were noted for their high octane Gothic imagery, their quirky, morbid sense of humor and their ability to have heart amidst its visual style. The movies were about people who felt (or were) isolated from the rest of the world. They had substance, damn it! But eventually Burton's efforts started being less eccentric and more mainstream. While the visual style was still there, the humor became stale and the loner protagonist was reduced to a cog in a big machine. "Dark Shadows" is pretty much the embodiment of a true Tim Burton film these days. His touches are here, but they're underutilized.