REVIEW: ‘The Circle’ makes a fuzzy argument for Internet privacy…then against it

The urge to decode our relationship with technology is a powerful one. We want to know why we invest so much time in our online presence. We wonder whether it’s a good idea for tech companies to step in when governments or other institutions let us down. We worry if part of what makes us human is getting stripped away.

So along comes The Circle, directed by James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, Smashed) a movie that joins a burgeoning line of releases that caution against taking our online connectedness too far. The Circle’s worried about our privacy, or so it says.

REVIEW: 'Power Rangers' morphs into a new take on an established franchise

With Power Rangers drawing better-than-expected reviews and surprising everyone with a $40 million opening weekend gross, 2017 is shaping up to be a really good year. (If you don’t believe me, check out this list compiled by a Redditor.) Despite its promising opening, I’ve found that there is a large segment of people who steadfastly refuse to give it a chance – that’s understandable, given the Power Rangers’ target demographic, but part of the fun in seeing a movie is to be taken in directions that amaze or surprise.

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenMarch 29, 2017power rangers, zyuranger, saban, superhero, film, cinema, movies, action, zords, martial artsComment

REVIEW: ‘Kong: Skull Island’ puts a lush coat of paint on a classic creature feature

Several decades ago, a movie like Kong: Skull Island would unashamedly be a true B-movie. It’s got a giant ape, a remote island full of monsters, and some good-looking people trying to escape. But in our current age of geeky properties getting blessed with $200 million budgets, it can be tricky to figure out what we’re getting with Skull Island. Is the movie too pretty, too well assembled and too stocked with talent (like Oscar winner Brie Larson) to embrace its grungy roots?

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowMarch 12, 2017king kong, kong skull island, tom hiddleston, brie larson, john goodman, samuel l jackson, godzilla, film, movies, reviewComment

REVIEW: 'Logan' is a violent, focused character study

Am I crazy in thinking that Logan is good enough to start stirring up some conversation when awards season hits? James Mangold’s long-awaited, much-ballyhooed, R-rated entry in the final chapter of Wolverine’s trilogy still manages to be a surprising delight despite all the hype.

Film, New ReleasesJason ChenMarch 6, 2017logan, wolverine, hugh jackman, movies, film, x-men, patrick stewart, reviewComment

REVIEW: ‘Get Out’ embeds social commentary into an eerily plausible horror

Any movie that wades into a complex and divisive political discussion like race relations has to toe a fine line. Play things too safe, and the film will feel like a waste of time. Conversely, take too strident of a position and audiences may rebel. This is why movies like Get Out – the new horror-comedy from Jordan Peele – feels like such an achievement.

Film, New ReleasesRobert SnowMarch 4, 2017horror, race, comedy, jordan peele, daniel kaluuya, allison williams, movies, film, social, thriller, get outComment

REVIEW: 'The Lego Batman Movie' - KAPOW! - pulls no punches

The Lego Batman Movie is another vehicle for The Lego Group – a.k.a. Danish corporation Lego A/S, worth approximately $15 billion – to sell more of its (admittedly excellent) building block toys, but unlike other previous film franchises that were made solely to sell ancillary products, it’s not clumsy. It’s a clever film that has earned the rare distinction of being both a cash cow and a genuinely entertaining 106-minute commercial.