‘Glass’ Film Review

Grade: C+

M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero trilogy is complete with ‘Glass’; a sequel/crossover that combines elements of ‘Unbreakable’ and ‘Split’. When audiences first saw ‘Split’ back in January of 2017, they were shocked to learn that *SPOILER ALERT* it was a secret sequel to ‘Unbreakable’ with a cameo by Bruce Willis’ David Dunn showing up at the end. *SPOILER END* Who knew that Shyamalan was planning this universe all along? With the rise of extended film universes, such as Marvel and DC making bank, it seems plausible for this once acclaimed director to follow suit.

‘Sherlock Gnomes’ Film Review

Grade: C

There really is not that much to say about ‘Sherlock Gnomes’, except that its animation, when compared to its predecessor ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’, is a breath of fresh air. That is saying something for an animated feature that could be passed off as something that feels more like a Direct-To-DVD movie than something meant for theaters. I did not hate ‘Sherlock Gnomes’, but I cannot stamp it off as great either. It is what it is.

‘Atomic Blonde’ Film Review

Grade: B-

With ‘John Wick’, and now ‘Atomic Blonde’, director David Leitch (who was a stuntman for actor Brad Pitt) has proven himself to be skilled at directing action. Don’t believe me? Look at the way the action sequences in this action-thriller are choreographed. Charlize Theron manages to give and take every blow to and from her adversaries with a Bing! Bang! Boom! Making you feel every hit; injecting you with an adrenaline rush fit for an action movie. In one scene, that takes place in an apartment in West Berlin, MI6 agent, Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is escorting a man named Spyglass (Eddie Marsan) to safety, when she is confronted by KGB agents, who come one by one as if they are re-spawning video game characters. She starts offing them in a long drawn-out sequence not set to music (almost all action sequences are stylishly set to 80’s New Wave, such as ‘Father Figure’ by the late George Michael, or ’99 Luftballons’ by Nena), albeit not as intense as the church shooting in ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’, there is still a quiet intensity while watching people get stabbed, bloodied, punched, even kicked down the stairs; making it one of the greatest, and well-filmed action sequences.

‘Split’ Film Review

Grade: B+

M. Night Shyamalan has gone through a rough patch in his filmmaking career, with flops like ‘The Happening’ and ‘The Last Airbender’ under his belt. Thankfully, the man has officially come back to form with last year’s ‘The Visit’, and ‘Split’; his newest film. Whenever we get the news of a new M. Night Shyamalan film, we have one of two reactions. One being of joy and anticipation of his newest twist ending, or disappointment and regret at how awful some of his executions are. Thankfully, ‘Split’ is more entertaining than terrible. This is a film that has a decent buildup with an amazing Oscar-worthy performance by James McAvoy.