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REVIEW: Con artist DeLorean framed with movie magic

The man behind some of the most innovative cars ever is documented in as much detail as possible here. John DeLorean, who worked for years at General Motors before opening his own shop, is best known for the Pontiac GTO, Firebird, and the DeLorean, which was modified to feature in film Back To The Future.…
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REVIEW: Brightburn looks a bit too faded

It’s pretty unnerving to see the highest concept of the summer flame out in a disconcerting, mediocre film. Brightburn is about a young man, who crashlanded to earth as an infant, exhibiting strange signs and symptoms years after a family secretly adopted him. Brandon is a bit of a loner, and some kids in the…
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DVD REVIEW: Disney’s dark, interesting live-action Dumbo hits store shelves

Author’s Note: This review was previously published during Dumbo’s theatrical run this spring, and is being re-run with notes about the BluRay’s visuals, audio and special features. Tim Burton’s Dumbo as an eccentric, wondrous film, with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies of its beloved director on display. It’s at once a family film and a…
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REVIEW: Octavia Spencer ignites, but can’t keep Ma aflame

The central problem with Ma isn’t the gore, violence or the unhinged nature of Octavia Spencer’s character. It’s the lack of reason. We learn — through flashbacks — that SueAnn (Ma) had a troubled, traumatic childhood and was bullied mercilessly. Like many young kids, she fell victim to the whims of the popular kids in…
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REVIEW: Shaft still has swagger, but sags a bit too much to hit high notes

Watching Samuel L. Jackson as a hard-nosed P.I. in Shaft is as special now as it was two decades ago in the 2000 remake. What gets lost in translation are the changing views on misogyny, homophobia, and what constitutes humour. After 20 years, much of Jackson’s foul-mouthed observational humour as a former cop above the…
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REVIEW: Action doesn’t get any better than John Wick sequel

In a summer of slumping sequels, Keanu Reeves’ John Wick 3: Parabellum blasts bullets across multiplexes North America-wide, proving the rare exception to the rule. This third in the trilogy that began with the death of an assassin’s dog has spun into a revenge tale for the ages, and the kills and carnage just get…
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REVIEW: Aladdin an extravagant, spectacular and flawed re-imagining

Disney’s classic Aladdin is brought to life in this live-action, breathtaking picture. Through the fantastical colours, smooth singing voices and stylish bombast, it’s a delight for the senses, even if the iconic characters sometimes falter in this remake. In the hands of Guy Ritchie — yes, the man behind Snatch and Sherlock Holmes — this…
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REVIEW: Secret Life sequel produces smiles, but can’t recapture original’s magic

The runaway animated hit Secret Life of Pets delighted adults and children alike in 2016. It imagined the motivations for the insane, hilarious things our animals do, and followed the misadventures for instantly-lovable characters. Max (now voiced by Patton Oswalt after Louis C.K.’s ouster) ambles through life protecting the humans he loves, nervously avoiding difficult…
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REVIEW: Detective Pikachu is a nostalgic thrill

Ah, if 12-year-old me could have seen my face during the screening of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu I gleefully attended. A thrill for anyone aged eight to 28, Detective Pikachu capitalized on the love and goodwill Gen X moviegoers had for their beloved TV show to make this incredible feature. Featuring the voice of Deadpool himself,…
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REVIEW: Rocketman a razzle-dazzle tour de force

Last year’s runaway Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody shone in spite of its myriad of flaws. I’m happy to report that Elton John’s journey film Rocketman succeeds by raising the camp dial to 11 and filling in the gaps Rhapsody couldn’t. Taron Egerton, of Kingsman fame, owns the screen in a captivating, surreal performance in which…