‘Dune: Part Two’ leaves its predecessor in the dust as it soars to extraordinary heights

Share: Director Denis Villeneuve is known for breathtaking visuals mixed with fantastic character work to boot, and no movie gives him more of an opportunity to show this off than the “Dune” series. After a three-year-long wait, Villeneuve has returned to his Sci-Fi epic with “Dune: Part Two.” Truthfully, it’s hard to put into words how amazing this movie is, as it takes a serious step up in every department over its predecessor.    The movie once again follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, and …

Bad bad, not good: Don’t get stuck in Madame’s Web

Share: Sony’s latest Marvel-related film “Madame Web” came to theaters just a few weeks ago, releasing on Valentine’s Day, and was met with a heap of negative reviews from Spider-Man/Marvel fans.  The build-up and overall promo were quite bizarre ranging from things like blatant false advertising, to the weird attempts from the main cast to get people to buy tickets like Dakota Johnson’s promo video where she goes on to say, “I think you’re gonna see it twice.” Aside from all this, the trailers and …

Netflix Avatarnishes new adaptation

Share: Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” remake feels like a very genuine love letter written with largely inaccurate information about the recipient. It’s really difficult to fully hate this show when it’s clear so many people tried to make something truly special. From the cast’s infectious enthusiasm in the promotional material to the emphasis on staying respectful to the various real cultures the world of “Avatar” takes influence from, it’s a shame it was all in service to a result so painfully mediocre.  The notion …

‘The Iron Claw’ delivers a takedown that pulls on your heartstrings

Share: In a time when celebrities were normally found in Hollywood, a particularly famous wrestling family thrived in Texas as world champions of the ring. Even when they were on top of the world, the Von Erich family were believed to have been cursed. Their “curse” is rooted in the entrapments of toxic masculinity that the Von Erich brothers inevitably faced. “The Iron Claw,” the recent film directed by Sean Durkin tells the tragic true story of the Von Erich brothers who climbed to success …

The Courier Presents: Our favorite entertainment of 2023

Share: Albums of the Year: Album: “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?” Artist: Lana Del Rey Why: I’m a huge Lana Del Rey fan. Her new album is some of her best work since her album “Norman Fucking Rockwell” in 2019. “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?” is filled with songs about grief, family, heartbreak, and self-discovery. It’s one of her most personal albums as she dwells on who she is and why. All year, I’ve had …

Actors don’t need to act like they enjoy their movies

Share: Recently, actor Jacob Elordi, best known for his role as Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria, has been facing backlash online for his comments regarding “The Kissing Booth” series and his comment from a red-carpet interview.  During the interview with IndieWire, Elordi was asked about what he looks for in roles to which he responded “I mean, I just play what they give me you know. I need a job.” This statement is very similar to one made by Rachel Zegler during a red-carpet interview …

‘Hunger Games’ prequel relights the franchise flame

Share: Frances Lawrence’s latest addition to “The Hunger Games” franchise is reigniting passion amongst Hunger Games fans, and rightfully so. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was released on Nov 17, and since its release, it has received high praise from its fans. In this prequel to “The Hunger Games,” viewers are sent back 64 years before the events of the first book and can finally see Panem in the days before the Hunger Games and only 10 years after the “dark …

Artistic freedom gets run off a cliff as execs ax movies

Share: On Nov 9, Warners Bros Discovery decided not to release the anticipated comedy movie “Coyote vs. Acme,” starring John Cena and featuring Wile E. Coyote. The film was supposed to be released later this year; however, the company shelved the project, preferably taking a $30 million tax write-off instead. This decision not to show the movie caused outrage among artists, animators, and fans alike.  With pressure mounting due to the backlash, the studio has since decided to let the film be shopped around with …

David Fincher’s most introspective movie reveals his inner assassin

Share: In David Fincher’s latest, he proves how valuable his filmmaking experience is for an ostensibly simple and straightforward story. “The Killer” feels like Fincher’s most introspective film in years; examining the POV of a conscientious perfectionist through the lens of a nihilistic hit-man. Notorious for his painstaking attention to detail, as seen with his penchant for an excessive number of takes, no other protagonist of his has felt as self-reflective as the titular “Killer.” Fincher reteams with writer Andrew Kevin Walker, whom he previously …

Hey! Hollywood! Leave those games alone!

Share: While by no means a new trend, recently there has been, it seems, a heavy focus of directors and producers trying to push the envelope, bringing games that should stay games into the movie realm. Enter “Five Nights at Freddy’s” specifically, the latest in a long line of video game adaptations and yet another video game brought into the real world. Despite the few rare examples that have grown to be way better than expected, it still shows that these games should stay as …