Writer/director Nia DaCosta updates the Candyman story, by making a direct sequel to the classic 1992 film, and giving the narrative a new spin as it expands on the legend of Candyman, and ties it into the continuing cycle of prejudice and racial violence. The whole film is about reflections, perspective, and narrative, as up-and-coming…
Tag: director
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 1: Water (2005) – The Deserter, The Northern Air Temple, and The Waterbending Master
Tim Hendrick wrote The Deserter, which first aired on 21 October, 2005. Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), Katara (Mae Whitman) and Sokka (Jack De Sena) find themselves near a Fire Nation village which is hosting a celebration, something Aang would like to take a look at as he will have to learn firebending soon. The visit…
Polite Society (2023) – Nida Manzoor
Polite Society is an enjoyable action comedy with strong female characters involved in a wonderfully melodramatic tale. The story follows a young Pakistani woman, Ria (Priya Kansara) who dreams of being a stuntwoman, and who idolizes her older sister, Lena (Ritu Arya), who is experiencing a tough time after leaving art school because she she…
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) – Ghosts of Illyria, and Memento Mori
Leslie Hope directs Ghosts of Illyria. Written by Akela Cooper and Bill Wolkoff this episode first debuted on 19 May, 2022. While Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck) are trapped by an ion storm on a deserted Illyrian colony, the returning landing party, led by Una Chin-Rilly (Rebecca Romijn) come back infected with a…
Whiplash (2014) – Damien Chazelle
I am well aware that I’m playing catch-up on this title, but I knew this one would have to be one that I was ready and in the mood for, and wow, a fantastic film. The first half of the film is a huge stress-watch for me, but what an amazing ride and one that…
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) – Strange New Worlds, and Children of the Comet
Akiva Goldsman wrote and directed the series opener for Strange New Worlds, which was first broadcast on 5 May, 2022. It had to tie in with the established canon of The Original Series, and what had happened in Star Trek: Discovery during season two. It also riffs on The Day The Earth Stood Still, which…
Star Trek: Picard (2023) – Vox, and The Last Generation
Showrunner Terry Matalas slips into the director’s chair to give us a powerful penultimate episode, Vox. Written by Sean Tretta and Kiley Rossetter, this episode was first broadcast on 13 April, 2023. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest learn that the symptoms of Irumodic Syndrome were simply a side effect of what was really wrong…
Allan Quatermain & The Lost City of Gold (1986) – Gary Nelson
Gary Nelson, who directed my beloved The Black Hole, directed the sequel to 1985’s King Solomon’s Mines, Allan Quatermain & The Lost City of Gold, which was filmed back to back with the first film. In fact, it steals a large portion of Jerry Goldsmith’s score for the first film as a way to save…
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (2023) – Zack Snyder
I’ll say this. Snyder can create some great visual images, but as a director, I often find myself disappointed by his work. Sadly, the first installment in his Rebel Moon series leaves me unimpressed with what he’s created. Playing as a cross between Star Wars: A New Hope (apparently Rebel Moon was originally going to…
Insidious: The Red Door (2023) – Patrick Wilson
Patrick Wilson makes his directorial debut with the fifth (and final?) Insidious film that takes us back to the Lambert family, checking in on them nine years after the events of Insidious 2, which was the last time the family was featured as the main characters in the series. There are some fun ideas here,…
The Mind Reels 