'The Avengers' Review

It's here. The film that definitively shattered first-weekend box-office records. Is it all it's cracked up to be?

Of course not. Haha. read my full review of "The Avengers," now online at SouthPhilly Review.com. CLICK HERE.

'The Dark Knight Rises' Trailer

Because I just never post impromptu stuff to this poor little blog anymore, herewith is the most anticipated trailer in many a moon:



Naturally, Anne Hathaway's teasy Catwoman bits have me tingling. Ditto the Occupy Gotham swarm of prison escapees. Give it to me, Nolan.

Defending 'Green Lantern'

Extending the coverage of what, for me, will now surely be one of the more unexpectedly unforgettable films of 2011, I've written up an "In Defense of 'Green Lantern'" piece for Slant Magazine's The House Next Door, opting for the title, "Down with the Sickness." The article was published on July 4, birthday of our superhero-loving nation.

This was a very fun essay to tackle, revealing that it's not always terribly easy to stick up for something that, more than anything, appeals to your giddy -- if a bit guilty -- love for whirling, sharply cut fantasy adventures. I'd happily purchase "Green Lantern" to revisit its sensations, blithely whizzing past that which got under so much critical skin.

Read more in the essay! CLICK HERE.

'Green Lantern' Review

Yes, Yes...I really liked it. Mutant and Guilty and Proud.

Read my full review of "Green Lantern," now online at SouthPhillyReview.com. CLICK HERE.

Film & Fitness

What do "Bandits" and "Daredevil" have in common? Apart from being two fairly forgettable titles from the early '00s? They're both part of my new experimental series at TheFilmExperience, Cinema de Gym. The idea is, amidst my attempt to get fit, I write about the daily movies that play at my local gym. This is what some of those movies look like:

A fun little theme, no? These are the series's first two installments. You can read about "Bandits" HERE and "Daredevil" HERE. Expect plenty more to come, as I've got a whole queue just begging for commentary. (And yet, the pounds continue to overstay their welcome. I swear there's no popcorn at this gym.)

'X-Men: First Class' Review

Few seem to share my opinion that this X-prequel is the worst film of the year thus far, but there you have it. I'm an X-Men fan since childhood, so I tolerated -- even purchased -- Brett Ratner's "X3," if only to revel in the unbridled display of mutant powers. But even those pleasures were compromised here.

Want more wrath? Read my full review of "X-Men: First Class," now online at SouthPhillyReview.com: CLICK HERE. And come back soon for a full list of "What I Hate About 'X-Men: First Class."