James' Movie Blog

Racing could be considered an art form in the same vein as movies. And Hollywood has taken notice. Over the past century, Hollywood has managed to churn out quite a lot of films with the subject of racing being involved. And one of the newer films to feature racing in a rather addicting entertainment form, is “Ford v Ferrari”, the historical feature about how the Ford Motor Company built a car fast enough to beat Ferrari at the famous Le Mans raceway. Directed by James Mangold, and starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, the film explores the lives of two professional car enthusiasts, who want to earn that fame and glory alongside Ford. While there are some factual errors as this is a film, they are only minor, ad the rest of the film is a great and amazing thrill ride; especially for the ears. “Ford v Ferrari” is a movie that only people who enjoy cars and racing will enjoy. The story focuses on two very different individuals: Carroll Shelby (Damon), and Ken Miles (Bale). Shel...

Who doesn't love a good scary story? A scary story gives the viewer/listener something to keep them on their toes, and their heart pounding. But what if you take those scary stories and turn it into a visual medium like movies or television? That's where our feature film “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” comes into play. Based on a series of books by Alvin Schwartz and directed by André Øvredal, the film is a compilation of some of she short stories featured in the books with a tying narrative. But the big name is Guillermo Del Toro, who could be considered a master of horror in his own right, who is both co-writing and co-producing the film. While the film does have some issues, it is quite entertaining in its own right to hopefully become a horror classic. “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is a unique set of stories that will keep you up during the night with the lights on. Please note: this review is coming from someone who has not read the stories by Schwartz. ...

During the 1960s, there was a time when a new wave of directors came into existence, and forever changed cinema in ways one could possibly imagine. On the 50 th anniversary of the close of this wild and crazy decade, director and writer Quentin Tarantino decides to pay tribute to this time period by releasing “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, along a lot of other big names (too many to list), the film captures what it means to be a celebrity during this time period. While the film isn't absolute perfection, the movie is quite interesting as well as entertaining at the same time. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is a look at the last year of the 1960s and how crazy the decade was in general. The story follows Rick Dalton (DiCaprio), a former TV star and his stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth (Pitt). Together, they have formed an inseparable bond, but as the years pass, Rick thinks that his career is over. Together, both Rick an...

With superheroes, everyone imagines them to be, well, heroes. But what if the intention of the hero was to be evil? That is where the film “Brightburn” comes into focus. While it may not be a true superhero film, it combines the suspenseful nature of a thriller with that of a comic book. There is more mystery in this film rather than action, and I think that what makes this movie stand out the most. “Brightburn” is an exploration of what a being from another world could accomplish, had they gone the darker path. The story follows a couple named Toni and Kyle Breyer (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman respectively), who are trying to conceive a child. Then, a spaceship falls out of the sky, and carries a baby boy, whom the couple names Brandon. As the years progress, Brandon (Jackson A. Dunn) becomes a sweet and innocent boy. But on his twelfth birthday, things take a turn for the worst, and Brandon starts to those he finds wronged him, leaving his parents wondering if picking him...

In the 1990s, the Walt Disney Company was at the peak of success. They had just previously released several animated features that turned a huge profit (save for 1990's “The Rescuers Down Under”), and they were on the top of the world. And in 1992, they released “Aladdin”, which not only became a huge hit both critically and financially, but has gained respect in popular culture. So, what does Disney do to the beloved classic? Why, remake it, of course! And the result is... bad. This version of “Aladdin” just doesn't hold a candle to the original back from '92. Yes, the movie looks pretty, but everything else, is just bad, including its cast. This remake of “Aladdin” just doesn't have the magic to stay afloat. The story follows a young street urchin named Aladdin (Mena Massoud), living in the kingdom of Agrabah. He meets a young woman who turns out to be the princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott). Wanting to fall in love with her, Aladdin must do everything in his powe...