Here are five films that I haven't written about until now. As usual, the films go from best to worst. A Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) I saw the Disney version some 40 years ago, and I didn't care for it then. I never read the original novel. This new version is set mostly in … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: del Toro’s Pinocchio ֍ Little Big Man ֍ Eating Our Way to Extinction ֍ EO & Twentieth Century
Tag: Guillermo del Toro
Best picture candidates from best to worst
Here's my opinions of the ten Oscar Best Picture nominees, from really fantastic to "Did they spend money to make this thing?" You might notice that I'm giving most of these movies very good grades. That's how it should be. These are, in theory, the best films made last year. Click the name of a … Continue reading Best picture candidates from best to worst
What’s Screening: November 22 – 28
What's on Bay Area movie screens this week? Lon Chaney and Al Pacino try a life of crime, Steve Martin and John Candy try to go home, John Wayne rides the stagecoach, and Lawrence Harvey hates his mother. We also have Guillermo del Toro, Luis Buñuel, and Mad Max (but he's just a sidekick). Festivals … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 22 – 28
What’s Screening: November 23 – 29
Gracing Bay Area screens this week: Scheming politicians, idealistic politicians, black superheroes, trouble on the road, nightmares of fascism, and a horrific film festival (that's horrific in a good way). Festivals Another Hole in the Head Film Festival opens Wednesday and will continue to frighten you for a couple of weeks. Read my preview. Preview … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 23 – 29
What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Very bad Chinese investments, Eisenstein and Brecht, two beauties and their beasts, an accidental messiah, and a comet on its way to obliterate the Earth. And all these delights will appear on Bay Area movie screens this week. And that doesn't mention one really big film festival. Festivals The big one - or at least … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Top 15 Moviegoing Experiences of 2017
Instead of listing my top ten movies of 2017, I'm giving you my top 15 moviegoing experiences of the year. What's the difference? I consider the theater, the quality of the print or digital source, the enthusiasm of the audience, and live onstage supplements such as musical accompaniment and filmmaker Q&As. I also consider the … Continue reading Top 15 Moviegoing Experiences of 2017
What’s Screening: December 8 – 14
Here are some good movies to catch before Star Wars takes over the multiplexes. And no film festivals this week. In fact, in less I've missed something, no film festivals for the rest of the year. New films opening A The Shape of Water, Embarcadero Center, Alamo Drafthouse New Mission, opens Friday Only Guillermo del … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 8 – 14
The Shape of Water: A great film comes from The Black Lagoon
A Horror thriller Written by Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor Directed by Guillermo del Toro Only Guillermo del Toro could make a grand, romantic, suspenseful, and horrifying sequel to The Creature from the Black Lagoon. And in doing so, The Shape of Water brings up issues concerning military overreach, the abuse of science, and … Continue reading The Shape of Water: A great film comes from The Black Lagoon
What’s Screening: November 24 – 30
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: Swiss activists, French martyrs, Swedish knights, Spanish rebels, British rockers, and a very American Harold Lloyd. And you know what we don't have this week? Film festivals! New films opening B+ The Divine Order, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, Rafael, opens Friday Swiss women didn't get to vote until 1971. … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 24 – 30
What’s Screening: November 3 – 9
Guillermo del Toro, Orson Welles, Billy Wilder, Sergei Eisenstein, Harry Belafonte, and nine (yes, nine) film festivals in the Bay Area this week. Festivals Doc Stories continues through Sunday Another Hole in the Head Film Festival continues through Wednesday The Alameda International Film Festival opens today So does The French Had a Name For It … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 3 – 9
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