2017

Review – Bad Genius (2017) Fantasia International Film Festival!

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by Vincent Leblanc

On Day 4 of the Fantasia Festival, I had one screening in the afternoon. This film tempted me very much after reading about it and watching the trailer. And it seems I was not the only one to be interested because it was the first of two sold out screenings (ed.: they’ve now added a third screening). A guy even offered me $40 for my ticket that I paid $9 for while I was waiting in the line to enter the theater! This was the Canadian Premiere of the Thai film Bad Genius (Chalard Games Goeng or Chalat Kem Kong, the latter of which is, apparently, the transliteration of it’s original title ฉลาดเกมส์โกง in Thai script).

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Killing Ground (2017) – Interview with Harriet Dyer

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Anatomy of Salvation: A Conversation with Harriet Dyer

by Christopher M. Rzigalinski

Attending Catholic school for half my life taught me that salvation meant being saved from damnation by Jesus Christ. The contours of that salvation were difficult to define, though. The very thought that I, an ordinary person, was empowered enough to save myself, let alone others, was overwhelming. Since becoming an adult, however, I’ve been thrust into the role of protector several times. No discrediting Christian doctrine, but it’s equally as important to validate the agency of individual human beings.

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This Summer Go Ape Sh!t For ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’!

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by Nile Fortner

A few years ago, 20th Century Fox decided to do what a majority of movie production companies were doing and already invested in, dusting off old, famous properties, names, and recognition by doing prequels for the big-screen. I’ve always been a fan of ‘The Planet of the Apes’ films. Back in 2011, I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the prequel ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’. Even more unexpectedly, the sequel to the prequel, ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’, I absolutely loved, and consider it to be the best ‘Planet of the Apes’ film since the 1968 original classic. Now we have the third entry to the prequels, ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’, and is officially a trilogy. The best trilogy we have gotten in years!

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 15 (Interview with Mathieu Ratthe)

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Following Passion : A Conversation with Mathieu Ratthe

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

What scares you most? For me, it’s the unknown. If Freddie Kruger, Jason Vorhees, or Chucky showed up at my door, I’d have to check my underwear. But at least I’d know how to defend myself. The first step to conquering a fear is facing it. But what about terror you can’t see?

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Review – The Villainess (2017) Fantasia International Film Festival!

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by Vincent Leblanc

The time is finally here for the 21st edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival to begin in downtown Montreal, Quebec. It started on July 13th and runs until August 2nd. This year’s opening film was the North American premiere of the South Korean film The Villainess (Ak-Nyeo). It was my first of twenty-four screenings I’ll attend this year.  

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Review – The Big Sick (2017)

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by Kevin Muller

There is a saying that goes, “write what you know.” This advice is given to writers who try too hard to change the world with a unique idea. While a unique idea is great, sometimes it fails hard when it is overly complicated or not expanded upon to really give it a proper representation. The Big Sick takes this advice and creates something incredibly heartfelt and funny. Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen and this one is definitely one that sticks out among the pack.

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Review – War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

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by Old King Clancy

There should have never been a Planet Of The Apes reboot, a prequel series chronicling the events that led to the destruction of humanity and the rise of the apes. It was a ridiculous concept that should’ve never made it passed the conception, but it did make it. Through this whole trilogy, from Rise to Dawn to War, this franchise has proven itself one of the greatest sci-fi trilogies of the modern age. With War For The Planet Of The Apes, they end this series in the perfect way to create one of the most personal and morally complex blockbusters out there today.

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