Predator: Badlands
When the Hunt Turns into a Battle for the Crew When Predator: Badlands hit screens, it brought fresh energy to a long-running franchise—an alien hunter’s world seen through new eyes, unexpected alliances, high-stakes action and wild visuals. But behind the roar of plasma cannons and loincloth-adorned creatures was another telling story: one of physical, emotional […]
Fair Game (1995)
Fair Game (1995): When Ambition, Action, and Controversy Collided in the 90s Each decade generates lists of What-If scenarios, and the mid-1990s is no different. It had its share of glossy Hollywood action thrillers, filled with chase sequences, entertaining explosions, and the sultry chemistry of the stars. It is during this period that Fair Game […]
The Shallows
The Shallows: A Tale of Survival, Stardom, and Stories Beneath the Surface When The Shallows hit theaters in 2016, the audience was offered an edge-of-the-seat thriller, promising to show the story of a woman’s survival against a deadly great white shark. Yet, besides the survival premise, the movie became an important Blake Lively filmography and […]
Kandahar
More Than a War Film on the Surface To fully understand the distractions advertised for Ric Roman Waugh’s Kandahar, it is worth remembering just how captivating a cinematic vision Waugh can deliver with Butler in the starring role. Before viewing the film, one might reasonably assume it is yet another ‘Butler in desert’ cinematic vision, […]
Breaking Surface
Breaking Surface: Beneath the Surface of Survival and Speculation. When Breaking Surface premiered in 2020, it was more than just a survival thriller. It became a claustrophobic study of fractured human endurance and relationships. Half-sisters Ida and Tuva take a winter diving trip in the Norway fjords. A rockslide traps Tuva underwater, and when Ida […]
The Gray Man
A Phantom in the Modern Spy World Releasing The Gray Man in 2022 surely took more than the usual effort because, in addition to the expected cinematic value, the spy movie promised Netflix’s biggest budget, the Russo brothers’ track record on blockbusters, and franchise potential thanks to the numerous stars in the cast. However, in […]
Cloverfield
Entering the Unknown Cloverfield offered something to cinematic audiences which very few films had attempted. It had accents of a monster movie combined with elements of suspense and a thriller. It was a truly a cinematic event. Held in mystery and largely anticipation, the film had surprised many. One of its elements was the advertising […]
Gemini Man
Gemini Man: A Mirror to the Self, Through the Lens of Technology When Ang Lee’s Gemini Man was announced in 2019, it was more than just another action film. The concept was defining: Will Smith, an aging assassin, faces off against a younger clone of himself. But even deeper, the film explored themes of identity, […]
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Into the Forest of Shadows The debut of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters in 2013 was accompanied by a blend of curiosity, skepticism, and excitement. Teaser trailers touted a dark and exhilarating take on the fairy tale, envisioning a transformative action-horror saga centered on the childhood tale of breadcrumbs and candy houses. Online, fans wondered […]
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back – Reel Battles and Real Lives Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was released in theatres in 2016 and had the dual burden of being the sequel to a much appreciated action thriller and being a Tom Cruise vehicle. By then, Tom Cruise’s life had become as cinematic as the roles […]