Posts From Mark Pacis
Kick-Ass – 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Blu-ray Review
When I originally reviewed Kick-Ass in 2017, I gave it a favorable review by calling it “ahead of its time.” Upon watching it again, my thoughts on the film have stayed the
AFI FEST 2020: Under the Open Sky (Subarashiki Sekai) Review – What a Wonderful Life
A former gangster wants to leave the life of crime is a story we’ve seen time and time again. Yet writer/director Miwa Nishikawa upends these expectations to paint a much
AFI FEST 2020: Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds Review – A Herzogian Meteor Shower
With Into the Inferno, Werner Herzog is probably the only man who would look at a volcano and think of its impact on the origins of humankind. So it’s no surprise
AFI FEST 2020: Shadow in the Cloud Review – A Nightmare on the Senses
It’s easy to describe Shadow in the Cloud is an insane film. It’s also best described as a mixture between The Twilight Zone‘s “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” and Ridley Scott’s Alien. Unfortunately, as
AFI FEST 2020: The Father Review – The Tragic Truth About Dementia
Dementia is a delicate subject matter that affects a lot of families. It just so happens that it’s also the subject matter of one of the most well-acted films of
AFI FEST 2020: Sound of Metal Review – Silence is Golden
Imagine living out your dreams, only for it to derail in a blink of an eye. It’s a concept that’s not that difficult to imagine. It’s this idea that’s the
AFI FEST 2020: Belushi Review – Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
R.J. Cutler’s Belushi approaches his subject matter with such a love for him and his wild comedic talent. Although the film doesn’t have many surprise revelations in store for you, Cutler’s
Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Back to the Future Back to the Future is one of those pop-culture films that is so beloved by so many people that it feels like a warm blanket whenever you
The Trial of the Chicago 7 Review – A Timely History Lesson
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This quote from George Santayana is something Aaron Sorkin took to heart as he was creating his new film, The
AFI FEST 2020: The Boy Behind the Door Review – Leave No Boy Behind
The less known about The Boy Behind the Door going in, the better it is for you. The film is an anxiety-fueled, wild spin on the home invasion genre. The Boy Behind the
The Haunting – Blu-ray Review
Unbeknownst to anyone but Hollywood executives, the 90s were full of remakes. Some were great (1991’s Cape Fear), and some were not so great (1998’s Psycho). Jan de Bont’s Haunting of Hill House remake
Over the Moon Review – When You Wish Upon a Moon
Over the Moon isn’t the first time that an animated film has adapted a Chinese fable for the masses. Last year, we saw the release of Amp Wong and Ji
Yellow Rose Review – A Country Musical Remix
In the world of creating music, sampling is “the reuse of a portion of a sound recording in another recording.” Yellow Rose is similar to a musician sampling from a tried and
Black Box Review – All Problems are Illusions of the Mind
Frightmaster Jason Blum has teamed up with Amazon Studios to produce an anthology of films titled, Welcome to the Blumhouse. One of the first to be released is Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour’s Black Box.
Charm City Kings Review – Growing Up is Just Dreams and Nightmares
Taking a lot of inspiration from Lotfy Nathan’s 12 O’Clock Boys documentary, Charm City Kings showcases the different sides of growing up as a poor African-American teenager in America. These kids either rise
Rick and Morty: Season 4 – Blu-ray Review
Rick and Morty is the kind of animated show that’s both one-of-a-kind and hard to describe. Other than the Council of Rick storyline, the adventures of Rick Sanchez and Morty
Little Monsters (Vestron Video Collector’s Series) – Blu-ray Review
Like most 80s movies, Little Monsters relies heavily on nostalgia than being an actual good movie. Of course, I’m one of those people with fond memories of watching Little Monsters as a kid.
Stephen King 5-Movie Collection – Blu-ray Review
The Dead Zone Although The Dead Zone sounds like a scary supernatural thriller, the film is not that at all. As you watch it, you tend to forget that it’s a supernatural
The Eight Hundred Review
Guan Hu’s The Eight Hundred has gone through a myriad of problems on its way to its August release this year. The film was mysteriously yanked from its opening-night slot at last
The King of Staten Island – Blu-ray Review
Judd Apatow has built a career on creating films about broken people or loveable stoners. His latest creation, The King of Staten Island, is a culmination of all of the films
