Film Reviews

A still from the movie Deep Rising. “The film features stunning cinematography of the world’s deep oceans and highlights the ongoing battle between scientists who want to preserve these unique ecosystems and corporations who want to mine the seabed for minerals to power the future,” said World Community Film Festival jury member Gord Darby.

Comox Valley’s World Community Film Fest returns for 33rd year

The World Community Film Festival is back and once again it’s live.…

  • Jan 18, 2024

 

This image released by GKIDS shows Himi, voiced by Karen Fukuhara in English and AIMYON in Japanese, left and Mahito Maki, voiced by Luca Padovan in English and Soma Santoki in Japanese, in a scene from Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy And The Heron.” (Studio Ghibli/GKIDS via AP)

Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is No. 1 at the box office

Top spot a first for the Japanese anime master

 

From left to right, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” cast members Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Josh Andres Rivera, Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer and Jason Schwartzman and singer Olivia Rodrigo pose together at the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, at the TCL Chinese Theatre. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

‘Hunger Games’ prequel tops box office

Film comes 8 years after original series was released

 

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bonnie, Freddy Fazbear and Chica in a scene from “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” (Universal Pictures via AP)

Video game adaptation ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ notches $130M global debut

Film stars Josh Hutcherson, Mary Stuart Masterson and Matthew Lillard

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bonnie, Freddy Fazbear and Chica in a scene from “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” (Universal Pictures via AP)
A fan attends the world premiere of the concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Swift bests Scorsese at box office; ‘Killers of the Flower Moon” opens strong

In a movie match-up almost as unlikely as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” Martin…

A fan attends the world premiere of the concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
A fan attends the world premiere of the concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ dances to No. 1 at the box office

Concert film could be biggest October opening ever

A fan attends the world premiere of the concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
This image released by 20th Century Studios shows John David Washington in a scene from “The Creator.” (20th Century Studios via AP)

‘PAW Patrol’ shows bark at box office while others disappoint

“The Creator” and “Dumb Money” didn’t fare as well

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows John David Washington in a scene from “The Creator.” (20th Century Studios via AP)
This image released by Lionsgate shows Dolph Lundgren, from left, Randy Couture, Curtis Jackson, Levy Tran and Jacob Scipio in a scene from “The Expend4bles.” (Lionsgate via AP)

‘Expend4bles’ opens with flop, while ‘Nun 2’ claims top spot at box office

Expendables 4 didn’t land despite star-studded cast

This image released by Lionsgate shows Dolph Lundgren, from left, Randy Couture, Curtis Jackson, Levy Tran and Jacob Scipio in a scene from “The Expend4bles.” (Lionsgate via AP)
This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, left, and and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in a scene from “A Haunting in Venice.” (20th Century Studios via AP)

Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ offers spooky period-piece fun

Third installment of Kenneth’s Branagh’s Agatha Christie franchise hits all the right notes

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, left, and and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in a scene from “A Haunting in Venice.” (20th Century Studios via AP)
Jack Black arrives at the premiere of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Regal LA Live in Los Angeles. (Photo by Allison Dinner/Invision/AP)

Wahoo! ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ is No. 1 for third week

Film rakes in close to $1 billion in box office sales in less than 3 weeks

Jack Black arrives at the premiere of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Regal LA Live in Los Angeles. (Photo by Allison Dinner/Invision/AP)
This image released by A24 shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from “Beau is Afraid.” (Takashi Seida/A24 via AP)

‘Mario’ tops charts again; ‘Beau is Afraid’ wins in limited

‘Mario’ scored the best 2nd weekend ever for an animated movie in North American theaters

This image released by A24 shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from “Beau is Afraid.” (Takashi Seida/A24 via AP)
This image released by Nintendo and Universal Studios shows Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day in Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Nintendo and Universal Studios via AP)

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ is a box office smash

Animated film is an origin story of Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi

This image released by Nintendo and Universal Studios shows Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day in Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Nintendo and Universal Studios via AP)
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows, from left, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Devyn Nekoda and Melissa Barrera in a scene from “Scream VI.” (Philippe Bossé/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Review: ‘Scream VI’ goes to the big city and strikes out

Filmmakers pick an enormous canvas and thoroughly waste it in latest chapter of gorefest franchise.

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows, from left, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Devyn Nekoda and Melissa Barrera in a scene from “Scream VI.” (Philippe Bossé/Paramount Pictures via AP)
This image released by MGM shows Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, left, and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson, right, in a scene from “Creed III.” (Eli Ade/MGM via AP)

A box office K.O.: ‘Creed III’ debuts to $58.7 million

Film handed an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, A- from CinemaScore

This image released by MGM shows Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, left, and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson, right, in a scene from “Creed III.” (Eli Ade/MGM via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Keri Russell in a scene from “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks. (Pat Redmond/Universal Pictures via AP)

‘Cocaine Bear’ gets high with $23.1M, ‘Ant-Man’ sinks fast

‘Quantumania’ still holds the No. 1 spot with $32.2M in ticket sales

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Keri Russell in a scene from “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks. (Pat Redmond/Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows O’Shea Jackson, Jr., from left, Alden Ehrenreich, Ayoola Smart and Ray Liotta in a scene from “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks. (Pat Redmond/Universal Pictures via AP)

Review: ‘Cocaine Bear,’ 100% pure, uncut junk with no high

If only this Pablo Escobear of a movie had snorted enough to stay up later and write a better plot

This image released by Universal Pictures shows O’Shea Jackson, Jr., from left, Alden Ehrenreich, Ayoola Smart and Ray Liotta in a scene from “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks. (Pat Redmond/Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kate Winslet, as Ronal, left, and Cliff Curtis, as Tonowari, in a scene from “Avatar: The Way of Water.” (20th Century Studios via AP)

‘Avatar 2,’ ‘M3GAN’ hold onto top spots at the box office

In third place is ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kate Winslet, as Ronal, left, and Cliff Curtis, as Tonowari, in a scene from “Avatar: The Way of Water.” (20th Century Studios via AP)
This cover image released by The Permanent Press shows “Dogtown” by Howard Owen. (The Permanent Press via AP)

Review: A reporter at a dying paper solves a serial murder

Willie Black takes matters into his own hands after police fail to turn up any real leads

This cover image released by The Permanent Press shows “Dogtown” by Howard Owen. (The Permanent Press via AP)
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Viola Davis in “The Woman King.” (Sony Pictures via AP)

Review: A classic battle epic in ‘The Woman King’

Viola Davis takes viewers through the West African Kingdom of Dahomey during the 19th century

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Viola Davis in “The Woman King.” (Sony Pictures via AP)
Director Loretta Sarah Todd, lead actress Grace Dove, and author Eden Robinson (L-R) behind the scenes. (VIFF Media)

‘Monkey Beach’ supernatural film adaptation premiers at VIFF

Based on Kitamaat author Eden Robinson’s debut, mystical novel

Director Loretta Sarah Todd, lead actress Grace Dove, and author Eden Robinson (L-R) behind the scenes. (VIFF Media)