Author Archives: Sam S-P

About Sam S-P

Writer and film fanatic fond of black comedies, sci-fi, animation and films about dysfunctional families.

Penny Dreadful’s Frankenstein: Faithful and Thoughtful

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Sam S-P

The following article contains spoilers for Episodes 1 and 2 of Showtime’s new television series PENNY DREADFUL, and for a 196-year-old novel. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for slightly trashy pseudo-historical romps on TV – THE TUDORS, DRACULA and now … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Feature, Television | Tagged Alex Price, Billie Piper, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Dracula, Eva Green, Film, Frankenstein, Gladiator, Hammer Horror, Harry Treadaway, Horror, John Logan, Mary Shelley, Movies, Penny Dreadful, Reeve Carney, Robert DeNiro, Rory Kinnear, Skyfall, The Exorcist, The Last Samurai, The Tudors, Timothy Dalton, TV, Universal | 1 Comment

Playing Catchup

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Sam S-P

I’ve loved films for a long time. All my life really. I try and see as many, and as varied movies as I possibly can. But you can only watch so much in a year, and there are still a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Action, Cult Film, Face/Off, Film, H.P. Lovecraft, Horror, Ichi the Killer, Jeffrey Combs, John Travolta, John Woo, Kathryn Bigelow, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty, Mary Shelley, Movies, Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Peter Jackson, Point Break, Re-Animator, Sam Raimi, The Crow, The Hurt Locker, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, W. Peter Iliff | Leave a comment

Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Sam S-P

It was a tall order for Bryan Singer – who returned to helm the film franchise he fathered after a decade’s absence – to bring together two ensemble movie casts in an ambitious (and perhaps foolhardy) time travel story that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Adan Canto, Blockbuster, Booboo Stewart, Bryan Singer, Daniel Cudmore, Ellen Page, Evan Peters, Fan Bingbing, Film, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, JJ Abrams, John Ottman, Michael Fassbender, Movies, Nicholas Hoult, Omar Sy, Patrick Stewart, Peter Dinklage, Shawn Ashmore, Simon Kinberg, Star Trek, Superhero Movie, The Avengers, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, X-Men, X-Men 2, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: First Class | 1 Comment

Superhero Movies Before They Were Cool

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Sam S-P

Once upon a time, superhero movies were not the norm. They didn’t dominate. They certainly weren’t the most popular and profitable film genre on the planet. Hollywood had had dalliances with comic book adaptations, for sure – Christopher Reeve’s SUPERMAN … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Feature | Tagged Alex Proyas, Batman, Blade, Brandon Lee, Christopher Reeve, Dark City, Darkman, Evil Dead, Film, Frankenstein, Ghost Rider, Heath Ledger, Hellboy, John Leguizamo, Liam Neeson, Martin Sheen, Michael Jai White, Michael Keaton, Michael Wincott, Movies, Night Watch, Phantom of the Opera, Rochelle Davis, Sam Raimi, Spawn, Spider-Man, Superhero Movie, Superman, The Crow, The Dark Knight, The Invisible Man, The Matrix, The Mummy, The Shadow, Tim Burton, Universal Horror | Leave a comment

Review: Godzilla (2014)

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Sam S-P

60 years ago, film studio Toho burst onto the international stage with GODZILLA, an astonishing fantasy analogy for the Japanese nightmares of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 2014, a new version of the tale has emerged from MONSTERS director Gareth Edwards. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alexandre Desplat, Blockbuster, Bryan Cranston, Carson Bolde, Cloverfield, Elizabeth Olsen, Film, Gareth Edwards, Godzilla, Guillermo del Toro, Ishiro Honda, Juliette Binoche, Jurassic Park, Ken Watanabe, Monster Movie, Monsters, Movies, Pacific Rim, Roland Emmerich, Sally Hawkins, Starship Troopers, Steven Spielberg, Toho, Warner Brothers | 5 Comments

Is it Wrong to Have it in for a Movie?

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Sam S-P

It’s always a tough one to discuss, the subject of critical objectivity. In an ideal world every film critic, every viewer even, would be completely objective when watching a film. But alas, there are always external forces working against us, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Feature | Tagged Apocalypse Now, Brad Pitt, Disney, Film, Gore Verbinski, JJ Abrams, Johnny Depp, Marc Forster, Marc Webb, Movies, Sony, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Lone Ranger, World War Z | 1 Comment

Review: Calvary (2014)

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Sam S-P

Being the ignorant atheist I am, I had no idea what the word Calvary meant. In fact, when John Michael McDonagh’s follow-up to THE GUARD was first announced, I thought it was called Cavalry. Calvary is actually the name given … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Aidan Gillen, Black Comedy, Brendan Gleeson, Calvary, Domhnall Gleeson, Drama, Dylan Moran, Film, Gary Lydon, John Michael McDonagh, Kelly Reilly, Movies, Muder-Mystery, The Guard | 2 Comments

Review: The Raid 2 (2014)

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Sam S-P

Sometimes bigger is indeed better. Whereas Gareth Evans’ breakout film THE RAID astounded audiences and critics alike by giving them a visceral and pulse-pounding experience that made up for its modest budget with ingenious filming techniques and clever scripting. THE … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Action, Alex Abbad, Arifin Putra, Cecep Arif Rahman, Cok Simbara, Crime, Fikha Effendi, Film, Gareth Evans, Hardboiled, Iko Uwais, Infernal Affairs, James Bond, Julie Estelle, Martial Arts, Movies, The Godfather, The Raid, The Raid 2, The Raid 3, Thriller, Tio Pakusadewo, Very Tri Yulisman, World Cinema, Yayan Ruhian | 5 Comments

The First Step into a Larger-er World

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Sam S-P

At long last the cast for JJ Abrams’ STAR WARS EPISODE VII been revealed to the world, and I’m extremely excited about seeing this particular ensemble in action. Aside from the expected return appearances of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Comment | Tagged Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Attack the Block, Ben Burtt, Billy Dee Williams, Blockbuster, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Disney, Domhnall Gleeson, Fantasty, Film, George Lucas, Girls, Harrison Ford, JJ Abrams, John Boyega, John Williams, Kathleen Kennedy, Kenny Baker, Lawrence Kasdan, Lucasfilm, Mark Hamill, Max von Sydow, Movies, Oscar Isaac, Peter Mayhew, Pinewood Studios, Sci-fi, Star Wars, Star Wars Episode VII | Leave a comment

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Sam S-P

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 opens with a thrilling, emotional action sequence. Peter Parker’s (Andrew Garfield) parents, who left him on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle when he was a child before vanishing without a trace, attempt to flee … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Film Review | Tagged Alex Kurtzman, Andrew Garfield, Campbell Scott, Chris Cooper, Dane DeHaan, Embeth Davidtz, Emma Stone, Film, Jamie Foxx, Marc Webb, Marvel, Movies, Paul Giamatti, Return of the King, Roberto Orci, Sally Field, Sinister Six, Sony, Spider-Man 3, Superhero Movie, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Warner Brothers, Watchmen, Zack Snyder | 12 Comments

Author Archives: Sam S-P

About Sam S-P

Penny Dreadful’s Frankenstein: Faithful and Thoughtful

Playing Catchup

Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Superhero Movies Before They Were Cool

Review: Godzilla (2014)

Is it Wrong to Have it in for a Movie?

Review: Calvary (2014)

Review: The Raid 2 (2014)

The First Step into a Larger-er World

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

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