The Zachtastic Movie Blog

(Poster courtesy Wikipedia ) As a precursor to this particular review, I should mention that I am primarily a Star Wars fan. While I have liked some of the Star Trek films and TV episodes that I have seen, the franchise created by George Lucas has always been my personal choice. But with being said, I do not wish to alienate or offend any Trekkies out there, especially since my parents are among that crowd. All I wish to establish is that I feel no nostalgia towards this franchise. Only since the J. J. Abrams reboot of the series have I been more on board. I enjoyed both the original 2009 film and its sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (although that one stands as a controversial film among fans), so naturally I was intrigued by the third film in this newer series as well. With Justin Lin of the Fast and the Furious franchise taking the helm, along with Simon Pegg penning the screenplay, Star Trek Beyond has some interesting but exciting prospects. The story ...

(Poster courtesy Wikipedia ) Having already been blessed with a strong financial and critical response with The Conjuring 2 , a surprisingly successful sequel to his original 2013 hit, filmmaker James Wan seems to be looking to own this year in horror films. This is evidenced by his latest effort as a producer, Lights Out . Such was adapted from a 3-minute short film of the same name on YouTube , which was written and directed by the talented David F. Sandberg. This same man returned in his feature debut to direct the big screen adaptation of said film, so naturally, prospects would be good for this situation, right? Lights Out focuses on the story of a broken, grief-stricken family whose patriarch suffered a bloody, yet mysterious death; such a tragic event occurred as he was working a late shift. In the time that has since passed, his widow Sophie (Maria Bello) begins to descend into depressive insanity, Sophie’s daughter Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) is living a wayward...

(Poster courtesy Wikipedia) I saw this film on the same day as the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters . If you read my review of said film , you will understand that I was deeply underwhelmed by my experience with it. Comedies deserve greater storylines, better editing, heart, and most importantly, creative dialogue. Considering that Paul Feig's Ghostbusters was sadly devoid of those things, my hunger was left dissatisfied. That is why I looked to Hunt for the Wilderpeople , an independent comedy from New Zealand writer-director Taika Waititi. While I am unfamiliar with his work with Flight of the Conchords and the sleeper hit What We Do in the Shadows , his latest film has intrigued me. This is partially due to a familial connection in that my dad served his mission in New Zealand, along with the fact that Waititi was hired to direct Thor: Ragnarok (which comes out November 2017). In any case, his latest cinematic effort, Hunt for the Wilderpeople , centers itse...

(Poster courtesy Wikipedia ) Before I continue writing anything else in this particular review, please take note that I went into this film without any degree of bias. I do recall appreciating the original Ghostbusters , but for me, “nostalgic” would not be how I would articulate my feelings towards the 1984 classic. Such is a very entertaining action comedy, but it was never an essential part of my childhood. Therefore, none of the misogynist backlash or fanboy hate towards this reboot/remake has come from me. The idea of reimagining classic features with new ideas is not exactly a bad one. While I prefer complete originality, times change, and so do trends in popular culture. Thus, the decision to give this particular 80s franchise a feminine facelift had some potential. But unfortunately, the opportunities for greatness were woefully wasted in what is ultimately a dull, unfunny, derivative, cheap-looking mess of an action comedy that only wishes it was as cool ...