Home
Film Festivals
Hallmark Channel
Interviews
2022 films
2021 films
2020 films
2019 films
2018 films

“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

Categories

  • Comic Book flicks
  • essays
  • film festivals
  • film reviews
  • interviews
  • movie diary
  • movie rankings
  • tv series reviews


Authors

  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'The Marvels' film review: Fun, laser-focused female-centric space-adventure
Nov 10

Nov 10 'The Marvels' film review: Fun, laser-focused female-centric space-adventure

Paul Carlson
film reviews

One of Marvel's strongest heroes must team up with two emerging superheroes to stop a galactic threat.

'Killers of the Flower Moon' film review: Simmering reckoning of a forgotten massacre
Oct 20

Oct 20 'Killers of the Flower Moon' film review: Simmering reckoning of a forgotten massacre

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Martin Scorsese’s latest crime drama sheds light on a lethal conspiracy to that resulted in the murders of dozens of wealthy Native Americans.

'The Creator' film review:  Sci-fi spectacle powered by AI angst, tender humanity
Sep 28

Sep 28 'The Creator' film review: Sci-fi spectacle powered by AI angst, tender humanity

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Writer-director Gareth Edwards delivers one of the very strongest big screen sci-fi spectacles of the past decade.

'A Haunting in Venice' film review: Supernatural meets murder in Branagh’s latest Poirot case
Sep 14

Sep 14 'A Haunting in Venice' film review: Supernatural meets murder in Branagh’s latest Poirot case

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A delightful overlap of whodunnit and supernatural undertones as the famed detective tries to solve a murder in a haunted house.

'Gran Turismo' film review: Slick, high-octane ride (that's also a by-the-numbers biopic)
Aug 24

Aug 24 'Gran Turismo' film review: Slick, high-octane ride (that's also a by-the-numbers biopic)

Paul Carlson
film reviews

An everyday gamer gets the chance of a lifetime and realize his racing dreams.

'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' film review: This summer's cinematic spectacle
Jul 11

Jul 11 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' film review: This summer's cinematic spectacle

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Choose to accept this relentlessly intense, heart-stopping and breathtaking mission.

 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' film review: 'Dial' fails to recapture the fun of past Indy flicks
Jun 30

Jun 30 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' film review: 'Dial' fails to recapture the fun of past Indy flicks

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The iconic globe-trotting archaeologist embarks on his final adventure in the action adventure.

'The Flash' film review: Poignant, muddled but enjoyable sprint across the DC universe
Jun 16

Jun 16 'The Flash' film review: Poignant, muddled but enjoyable sprint across the DC universe

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The Scarlet Speedster’s action adventure is a celebration of all things DC that will delight fanboys.

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' film review: Bold, brilliant & bloated multiversal Spidey sequel
Jun 2

Jun 2 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' film review: Bold, brilliant & bloated multiversal Spidey sequel

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This breathtaking sequel boldly pushes the boundaries of animated storytelling as well as what it means to take up the Spider-Man mantle.

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' film review: Thrilling, harrowing swansong for Marvel's unlikeliest heroes
May 5

May 5 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' film review: Thrilling, harrowing swansong for Marvel's unlikeliest heroes

Paul Carlson
film reviews, Comic Book flicks

Marvel's band of misfit heroes get one heck of an emotionally exhausting rollercoaster of a send-off.

'Beau Is Afraid' film review: Modern Odysseus tale - if he had crippling anxiety, guilt & fear
Apr 19

Apr 19 'Beau Is Afraid' film review: Modern Odysseus tale - if he had crippling anxiety, guilt & fear

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Writer-director Ari Aster's intentionally bizarre third film is one coward's three-hour panic attack guilt trip disguised as an absurd road trip .

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' film review: Powered-up, pixel-perfect celebration of all things Nintendo
Apr 5

Apr 5 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' film review: Powered-up, pixel-perfect celebration of all things Nintendo

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Illumination wholly embraces gaming’s beloved plumber iconic in a fun, breezy romp.

'Cocaine Bear' film review: Gory, silly slasher just falls short of its ridiculous premise
Feb 24

Feb 24 'Cocaine Bear' film review: Gory, silly slasher just falls short of its ridiculous premise

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A coked-up bear tearing up nature lovers in a national park works just fine when the drug-addicted bear is front and center.

'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' film review: Wild ride, chilling debut for an evil conqueror
Feb 16

Feb 16 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' film review: Wild ride, chilling debut for an evil conqueror

Paul Carlson
film reviews, Comic Book flicks

The literal smallest Avenger finds himself thrown into a strange world ruled by a terrifying conqueror.

'Somebody I Used to Know' film review: Franco & Brie's angsty drama escapes rom-com trappings
Feb 10

Feb 10 'Somebody I Used to Know' film review: Franco & Brie's angsty drama escapes rom-com trappings

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Real-life spouses Dave Franco and Alison Brie craft the existential drama of a workaholic reconsidering the many choices her made in pursuit of her career.

'Babylon' film review: Damien Chazelle's bloated ode to old Hollywood excess & orgies
Dec 23

Dec 23 'Babylon' film review: Damien Chazelle's bloated ode to old Hollywood excess & orgies

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Think 'La La Land' - but a darker, needlessly vulgar tale of dreamers navigating old Hollywood.

'Avatar: The Way of Water' film review: Stunning CGI fails to distract from epic-scale mediocrity
Dec 15

Dec 15 'Avatar: The Way of Water' film review: Stunning CGI fails to distract from epic-scale mediocrity

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The long-delayed sci-fi flick will tests audience's palette for a sequel to a 13-year-old movie ... that doesn't radically advance the story or the characters. But the CGI is pretty (again).

'Violent Night' film review: Basically 'Die Hard' - but with drunk, bitter Santa
Dec 2

Dec 2 'Violent Night' film review: Basically 'Die Hard' - but with drunk, bitter Santa

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A drunken, cynical Santa Claus must take out hostage-taking terrorists in this gleefully bloody holiday action comedy.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' film review: MCU matures with a poignant, emotional tribute
Nov 10

Nov 10 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' film review: MCU matures with a poignant, emotional tribute

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The death of Chadwick Boseman and T'Challa looms over this soulful, heartfelt and resonant epic.

'Good Night Oppy' film review: Exhilarating tribute to a resilient, pioneering Mars mission
Nov 2

Nov 2 'Good Night Oppy' film review: Exhilarating tribute to a resilient, pioneering Mars mission

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Harrowing and inspiring Mars rover documentary reignites the irrepressible passion for exploration.

Load More
““No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.””
— "Midnight in Paris"

Hallmark Channel RSS
Home RSS