Author: Diego Crespo

Still Believing with The Lost Boys 30 Years Later

Still Believing with The Lost Boys 30 Years Later

Posted by | Jul 31, 2017 |

It’s classic vampire storytelling for vampires to seduce their victims. Innocents are entranced by an inescapable aura, swept up in the vampire’s desire. There’s a formalist sense to vampire horror, that they’ll take the time to handle murders with class so as not to ruin their favorite suits. With Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys,  that formalist horror unfolds in an unbridled 1980s. Gritty punk aesthetics, rebellious teens and an inescapable sense of constant entertainment. Even during the day, there’s a feeling that the nightlife never truly stops in Santa Clara. Not while the underbelly of the beach-side town is...

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We Are Who We Choose To Be: Heroes and Villains in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

We Are Who We Choose To Be: Heroes and Villains in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

Posted by | Jul 3, 2017 |

“We are who we choose to be, Spider-Man. Now, choose!” Spider-Man as a character has always been about choice. Peter choosing to let the bank robber escape the wrestling match made him responsible for his Uncle’s death. After his high during the discovery of his new abilities, it’s beyond sobering to have a kid screw up so monumentally. It’s world-altering and will always drive the character. If he has the ability to help people, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t. Actions have consequences. With great power, comes great responsibility. The abilities imbue him with confidence but put everyone he...

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Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is as Sincere as it is Witty

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is as Sincere as it is Witty

Posted by | Jun 2, 2017 | , |

Overview: Best friends George and Harold accidentally brainwash their grumpy school principal into believing he is one of their own creations come to life. 20th Century Fox; 2017; Rated PG; 89 minutes. Tra-la-la!: Based off a series of books of the same title, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is just as clever as it is funny. It doesn’t contain the meme-worthy escapades of The Boss Baby but how Captain Underpants functions as a whole is far more impressive than its title would have you assume. If The Boss Baby was a modern Hannah Barbara cartoon with plastique sheen,...

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Ranking the Fast & Furious Franchise

Ranking the Fast & Furious Franchise

Posted by | Apr 19, 2017 |

The Fast and the Furious franchise is ever-evolving. No movie is comparable to the series’ basic structure or to its excellently choreographed action. They’re loud and a little dumb, but they stay true to themselves with heart and bombastic action. To celebrate the ongoing saga that continues to pave the way for world peace, here is a ranking of the explosively lovable Fast family adventures. 8. The Fate of the Furious BETRAYAL. It’s the foremost feeling of The Fate of the Furious. While the set pieces are all radically fun in their own vacuums, they don’t feel related to the progression of familial...

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Power Rangers Is Sloppy But Sincere Entertainment

Power Rangers Is Sloppy But Sincere Entertainment

Posted by | Mar 24, 2017 | , |

Overview: A group of wayward teens comes together to become the mighty morphing Power Rangers. 2017; PG-13; Lionsgate; 124 minutes. Full Disclosure: I missed the boat on Power Rangers when I was growing up. I was the right age to become enthralled by its goofy wonders. References made their way into my personal pop culture zeitgeist perspective enough for me to recognize the resurgence of Ivan Ooze during another blockbuster’s promotional run, but I never dove in headfirst.  In some ways, Power Rangers always seemed to me to be the perfect property to reboot. From my understanding, the series was...

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Technical Proficiency & Emotional Agency In John Wick

Technical Proficiency & Emotional Agency In John Wick

Posted by | Feb 16, 2017 | |

I reviewed John Wick back when it was released in 2014 and gave it a positive review. Several years on, my love has only grown for the genre-specific action flick. I’d go as far as calling John Wick a near perfect movie. Among the many elements executed as precisely and efficiently as John Wick executes headshots, John Wick is peppered with world building better implemented than most major franchises. It’s added flavor, both unique and essential to the stylings of this underworld of assassins. Visually while not only appealing with uses of color and production design, the world of Wick...

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Evolving Evils & Identities In Resident Evil

Evolving Evils & Identities In Resident Evil

Posted by | Feb 9, 2017 | |

Back in 2002, post-Matrix black leather and slo-mo aesthetics were the defining traits of the next wannabe blockbusters. One of these, Resident Evil was a relatively tame video game adaptation, borrowing ideas more so than plot (something that has never been a strong suit for the series in any iteration): A group of soldiers enter a facility run by the Umbrella corporation called The Hive. It’s a simple premise that grows in scale with each entry, propelling itself through ever-evolving scenarios. Marco Beltrami and Marilyn Manson’s score influences the techno-horror vibe writer Paul W.S. Anderson is going for. Resident Evil...

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