Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
The Rise of Skywalker is a bit like the final season of “Game of Thrones”: it restlessly tries to tie up all of its loose ends in its finale without allowing for the proper...
The Rise of Skywalker is a bit like the final season of “Game of Thrones”: it restlessly tries to tie up all of its loose ends in its finale without allowing for the proper...
1980s / Action / Comedy / Musical
by Vincent Leo · Published January 12, 2019 · Last modified January 14, 2019
The Blues Brothers ranks among my favorite films of all time — not the best, just a favorite. With inspiration that never remotely comes close to ceasing, John Landis’ wildly over-budget film is more an experience...
2010s / Action / Fantasy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published December 21, 2017 · Last modified July 13, 2018
Rian Johnson (Looper, The Brothers Bloom) takes over the reigns of the venerable franchise for one film in between the two helmed by J.J. Abrams and crafts a successful outing, continuing from the last moment...
2010s / Action / Fantasy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published December 18, 2015 · Last modified July 4, 2018
J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Into Darkness) strips away the lumbering effect of the Star Wars prequels and gets back to the golly-gee-whiz action-fantasy we’ve all come to know and love from the original Star Wars (aka A New Hope), and while...
1980s / Comedy / Drama / Romance
by Vincent Leo · Published July 10, 2013 · Last modified December 27, 2018
One of Woody Allen’s (The Purple Rose of Cairo, Broadway Danny Rose) finest films, Hannah and Her Sisters sees the esteemed filmmaker return to Manhattan to deliver one of his most insightfully satisfying stories yet. At its...
1980s / Comedy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published May 26, 2012 · Last modified January 16, 2019
Filmed in 1985, this 1987 comedy is an omnibus of sporadic concepts, most of them revolving around the worlds of pop culture, utilizing a common theme of the kinds of things one might see...
Lots of independent filmmakers have taken to the “mockumentary” route for making their movies, mostly because they are relatively inexpensive, utilizing real-life locales and situations, as well as employing a good deal of improvisation...
1980s / Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published February 10, 2003 · Last modified April 17, 2019
Although it’s the weaker of the three entries in the Star Wars episode 4-6 story arc, Return of the Jedi is still as thoroughly entertaining a final chapter as anyone could have reason to hope for. Lucas decides...
For all of Joe Dante’s talent, I think he needs to get someone else to direct the final half hour of his films. Like Gremlins, Innerspace and Small Soldiers, Dante delivers expertly in the set-up for The ‘burbs, only...
1980s / Action / Fantasy / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published February 4, 1997 · Last modified December 27, 2018
The Empire Strikes Back continues the Star Wars saga in exciting fashion, with the Empire now having driven the Rebels from their secret base to another on an ice world called Hoth. The Empire eventually finds them...
Reviews from film writer Vince Leo, covering all eras and genres of films from classics to the latest releases.
Film reviews from Vince Leo, from classics to new releases, since 1996.