Irish Film Critic •

DVD Review: “Pan Am: The Complete Series” Misses The Mark But With Flare

The Jet Age just hit full swing and leading the way are Pan Am’s elite stewardesses who can navigate any culture and overcome any challenge. From New York City to the edge of the world, they will discover romance, natural dangers and exotic intrigue in a lush recreation of 1963 that will take your breath away. “Pan Am” aired for the first time back in 2011 but didn’t gain enough traction to earn a second season on ABC. I can see why too, and yet the show had so much potential. The rocky start t
Irish Film Critic •

Book Review: ‘The Hiding Place’ Is Intensely Amazing But The Ending Is Unsatisfactory

The thrilling second novel from the author of ‘The Chalk Man,’ about a teacher with a hidden agenda who returns to settle scores at a school he once attended, only to uncover a darker secret than he could have imagined. If you’re looking for a book to keep you up late and hold your attention completely, then ‘The Hiding Place,’ by C.J. Tudor, is for you. The same author wrote the book ‘The Chalk Man’ with fabulous reviews, I can see why. I loved everything about this book straight up until the
Irish Film Critic •

DVD Review: “Playtime With Puppy Dog Pals” Are Strange Dogs With Special Abilities Like Inspector Gadget

Adorable puppy brothers Bingo and Rolly are back! Join the doggy duo on amazing missions: deep-sea diving in the Great Barrier Reef, fetching a four-leaf clover in Ireland, running all over Down Under, and much more! The puppies Bingo and Rolly in the toddler show “Puppy Dog Pals,” are adorable with big doe eyes and tiny little bodies, like those famous stuffed animals or maybe like aliens. Trust me, these are no ordinary dogs but special ones with superpowers. Just kidding, but seriously the s
Irish Film Critic •

DVD Review: “Playtime With Puppy Dog Pals” Are Strange Dogs With Special Abilities Like Inspector Gadget

Adorable puppy brothers Bingo and Rolly are back! Join the doggy duo on amazing missions: deep-sea diving in the Great Barrier Reef, fetching a four-leaf clover in Ireland, running all over Down Under, and much more! The puppies Bingo and Rolly in the toddler show “Puppy Dog Pals,” are adorable with big doe eyes and tiny little bodies, like those famous stuffed animals or maybe like aliens. Trust me, these are no ordinary dogs but special ones with superpowers. Just kidding, but seriously the s
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “First Man” Is An Intense Step Forward For Movies

A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. From the creators of “La La Land” comes a new movie that will rock your world, “First Man.” Ryan Gosling has branched out since “The Notebook” to a musical but never has he stepped foot on the moon until now, as Neil Armstrong, an American hero who bridged the gap between Earth and outer space. Claire Foy portrays Janet Armstrong, wife t
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “The Apparition” Will Disappear As All Dreary Films Do

A journalist is sent by the Vatican to investigate a young girl claiming to be visited by the Virgin Mary. “The Apparition” is a French film following the journey of a young novitiate who claimed to be visited not once, but twice by the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. Written by Jacques Fieschi and directed by Xavier Giannoli, the film is entirely in French with subtitles in English, do not let this stop you from watching the movie if you find the supernatural aspect of the Catholic Church intere
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “All About Nina” Is Acidic And Provokes Anger

Nina Geld is a bracingly funny and blisteringly provocative stand-up comedian whose career is taking off, but whose personal life is a near-complete disaster. To escape a difficult ex and to prepare for a prospectively life-changing audition, Nina flees to Los Angeles where she meets Rafe, who challenges almost every preconception she has – including those around her own deeply troubled past. For a movie about a comedian, there is little humor in Eva Vives’ film, “All about Nina.” The premise i
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “The House With A Clock In Its Wall” Mixes Creepy With Humor For A Fun Flick

A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world. Jack Black is an acquired taste but even those who detest him will see he was a good fit for the role of Jonathan Barnavelt, a warlock trapped in a magical house and a monstrous clock stuck in the walls. Cate Blanchett oddly fits as his best friend Florence Zimmerman, so glad they did not choose her to be his love interest. Somehow, the two bring magic to the scree
Irish Film Critic •

Blu-ray Review: “Hocus Pocus” Is Still Campy And Full Of Fun

After three centuries, three witch sisters are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all. Back in 1993, when I was in middle school, “Hocus Pocus” showed up on the Disney Channel just in time for Halloween. Despite a personal distaste for Halloween, this movie is one of those necessary cutesy movies for pre-teen girls. Now, this witch movie with a talking cat is
Irish Film Critic •

Blu-ray Review: “Alex & Me” Wins The Goal For Bringing Soccer To Life

*Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of this Blu-ray I reviewed in the post. The opinions I share are my own. Alex and Me is an uplifting story of the passion and drive it takes to succeed and the power of family to help realize your dreams. Reagan Wills (Siena Agudong) dreams of becoming a famous soccer player like her favorite player Alex Morgan (played by herself) but lives in her older brother Logan’s (Matt Cornett) shadow and her family’s desire to help him get a
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “Incredibles 2” Is As Incredible And Super As The Original

Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for Jack-Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world. Pixar introduced the original “The Incredibles” movie back in 2004. Now, the long-anticipated sequel has arrived and it was worth the wait. Fourteen years is a long wait for a movie, especially for kids. All the babies that saw this are bordering on teen years now. But writer and director Brad Bird created not just a decent sequel, something rare for Disney movies, but a flick on par with t
Irish Film Critic •

DVD Review: “DuckTales Destination: Adventure” Is Full Of Imagination

An ancient tomb in Toth-Ra, the mountain peak of Mt. Neverrest, a vacation island for Greek gods…global expeditions await! Thanks to Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby, trillionaire Scrooge McDuck is back in action, leading the way to death-defying exploits stretching all the way from Duckburg to legendary destinations around the world. Let the greatest family adventures begin! A few months back I reviewed another DuckTales DVD and gave it the terrible review it deserved because it was so dark and an
Irish Film Critic •

Blu-ray Review: “Sherlock Gnomes” Will Bore The Children

Garden gnomes, Gnomeo & Juliet, recruit renowned detective Sherlock Gnomes to investigate the mysterious disappearance of other garden ornaments. The original tale of love-struck garden gnomes came out way back in 2011. Now a sequel has arrived to bore your children in the privacy of your own home. Maybe it bored me a little more than I expected. Seven years ago, “Gnomeo & Juliet” was at least mildly interesting background noise. “Sherlock Gnomes” lacks humor although it has a well thought out
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “Adrift” Rides The Storm Into Greatness

Based on the true story of survival, a young couple’s chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. Shailene Woodley (“Divergent”) is all too believable as shipwreck victim Tami Oldham. Her ability to mold to her role of a drifter in love, along with Sam Claflin, sets her apart as an actress with talent. Sam Claflin’s knack for on-screen chemistry, as he demonstrated with Emilia Clarke
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “Book Club” Is Brazen And Beautiful

Four lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading ‘50 Shades of Grey’ in their monthly book club. This feisty new movie for mature audiences housed many big names like Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, Craig T. Nelson, Don Johnson, Alicia Silverstone, Richard Dreyfuss, Ed Begley Jr., and Wallace Shawn. Quite a mouthful! What movie could garner such a fabulous cast? A flick about four best friends in their ’60s who refuse to give up on th
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “The Leisure Seeker” Is A Delightful Surprise Full Of Love And Leisure

A runaway couple goes on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker. Had I seen the trailer for this movie I would have passed but instead I went in with a blank slate. Thank goodness too because this movie was brilliant and a thousand other adjectives. The slow moving pace almost hindered the fresh plot but was necessary and keeping with the lives of the elderly Spencer couple. Even the flaw was not a flaw nor was it fatal but could cause some to lose interest
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “A Wrinkle In Time” Is Too Confusing And Off Kilter

After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him. Disney’s new movie “A Wrinkle in Time,” based on the book by Madeleine L’Engle, left much to be desired as elements failed to line up to a cohesive plot. Writers Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell, along with director Ava DuVernay, failed to bring enough relevant magic from the pages to the screen. I left the theater disappointed to the point of anger and frus
Irish Film Critic •

Blu-ray Review: “Lady And The Tramp” Is Still A Cute Movie

The romantic tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel dog and a streetwise downtown Mutt. Originally released in 1955, Disney’s favorite dogs are now available on Blu-ray. The story has not changed, but the cartoon is now digitally re-mastered for easier viewing. Christmas morning brings a puppy to a loving couple. The tiny yipping puppy lives a charmed life with the loving couple and two canine friends next door. Then the couple becomes pregnant, and the pups’ charmed life disappears. The Tr
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “Game Night” Plays With The Audience And Wins

A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights finds themselves trying to solve a murder mystery. Have you ever met someone who when they walked into the room you wanted to smack them, before they talked, before they did anything, just their very essence irritated you? For me, one of those people is Jason Bateman, as soon as he fills the screen, I want to smack him for some unknowable reason. He’s the reason I never watched “Arrested Development” and the reason I was not excited about se
Irish Film Critic •

Movie Review: “The Lodgers” Is The Right Amount Of Horror For Wimps With An Odd Plot

A family curse confines orphaned twins Rachel and Edwards to their home as punishment for their ancestors’ sins. Bound to the rules of a haunting childhood lullaby, the twins must never let any outsiders inside the house, must be in their rooms by the chime of midnight, and must never be separated from one another. Breaking any of these rules will incur the wrath of a sinister presence that inhabits the house after midnight. Old-world Ireland in the 1920s comes alive in “The Lodgers,” directed
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