Filmmaker Zack Snyder’s profoundly unfortunate “Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire,” a turgid, ostentatiously vacant space opera, was, to put it politely, a dire film and hollow regurgitation of familiar sci-fi tropes. But it at least had a story with three bare acts, however tedious. “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver,” the sequel, however— continuing the already unexceptional story of the ragtag group of warrior misfits defending a peaceful farming community on an off-world moon—is somehow even worse and barely justifies its existence on a fundamental level.

Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon: Scargiver’ Review: Zack Snyder’s Excruciatingly Slight Sequel Barely Justifies A ‘Part 2’ at The Playlist.

Zack Snyder’s fantasy sci-fi epic “Rebel Moon,” once a “Star Wars” pitch reconfigured to be an original project, wasn’t exactly well-received upon its release last December (read our review). Trounced by critics, the film has a dismal 21% Rotten Tomatoes score, and even the generally more lenient audience score is negative. Still, the show must go on as the sequel, ‘The Scargiver,’ is already in the can and ready for imminent release.

Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon—Part Two: The Scargiver’ Trailer: Zack Snyder’s Sequel Goes To War In April at The Playlist.

It’s Christmas day and Zack Snyder and Netflix have decided to give you a treat: the new teaser for his next upcoming film, “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver,” the follow up to his
‘Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire.”

It’s a generous move given that “A Child Of Fire, the first installment in his space opera was hit with scathing reviews when it debuted earlier this month (read our review), but one supposes, Snyder is no grinch, doesn’t mind and wants to keep the drum beating for his new series (it’s on our list of the 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2024, so let’s hope the ‘Scargiver’ is much better.

Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver’ Trailer: Zack Snyder Revels The The Rebels vs. The Motherworld War at The Playlist.

Having already made a sizeable TV mark with popular franchises like “Stranger Things” and “Squid Games,” Netflix obviously wants its own in-house epic “Avatar” or “Dune” sci-fi blockbuster franchise for the cinema (irony not lost here). Having made a home for director Zack Snyder, post-short-lived DC Universe, with “Army Of The Dead,” they’re clearly banking on the filmmaker’s latest effort, “Rebel Moon”—a big blustery and fabulist space opera in the vein of “Star Wars”— and to be the next big thing.

Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon’ Review: Zack Snyder’s Overwrought Space Opera Is Exhaustingly Turgid at The Playlist.

Originally pitched as a new “Star Wars” tale in the days when Disney was taking new Lucasfilm pitches, Zack Snyder took a no or a maybe, and made it his own with his upcoming film, “Rebel Moon.” From those nascent beginnings, seeing if Kathleen Kennedy was interested, Snyder crafted a big space opera of his own and took it to his new home at Netflix where he’s already set up shop with his zombie franchise, “Army Of The Dead.”

Snyder’s ethos seems to be go big or go home so for “Rebel Moon” he did just that, taking one big movie and splitting it into two, “Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire,” which comes out this year in December and “Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver” which is now set to arrive in April 2024.

Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon’ Trailer: Zack Snyder’s New Space Opera Epic Arrives December 22 at The Playlist.

There are plenty of down-on-his-luck musician stories in films and TV series. However, the new Netflix film, “I Used to Be Famous,” hopes that there’s still a little more fuel in the tank as the film subgenre gets explored one more time. 

READ MORE: ‘Do Revenge’ Trailer: Maya Hawke And Camila Mendes Star In A Hitchcock-ian High School Revenge Dark Comedy

As seen in the trailer for “I Used to Be Famous,” the film follows the story of Vince, a former member of a world-famous boy band, who now finds himself older and trying to hold on to any shred of fame he can.

Continue reading ‘I Used To Be Famous’ Trailer: Ed Skrein Stars As A Former Boy Band Member Trying To Hit It Big Again In Netflix’s Feel-Good Drama at The Playlist.

Like finding a grubby, balled-up bill in your spangly g-string and uncrumpling it to discover doughy old Ben Franklin staring benignly back at you, Ana Lily Amirpour‘s third feature is a sweet, scuzzy surprise made all the sweeter/scuzzier because you don’t know quite what you did to deserve it. Certainly, at the Venice Film Festival –where “Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon” snuck into competition – giggling into one’s mask at its garish but gladhearted genre excesses felt like getting away with something naughty.

Continue reading Ana Lily Amirpour’s ‘Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon’ is a Sweet, Scuzzy Blast of Pure Escapism [Venice Review] at The Playlist.

Japanese auteur Sion Sono has been Japanese cinema’s most subversive filmmaker for 30 years now. Now, the man behind the likes of 2001’s “Suicide Club” and 2010’s “Cold Fish” makes his English-language debut with a leading man who can match his provocative style: Nic Cage.

READ MORE: ‘Prisoners Of The Ghostland’: No Brains, But Big TesticaaAARRRGHLs [Sundance Review]

For those familiar with Sono’s filmography, “Prisoners Of The Ghostland” will feel right at home alongside the likes of “Tokyo Gore Police” and others.

Continue reading ‘Prisoners Of The Ghostland’ Trailer: Nic Cage Stars In Sion Sono’s English-Language Debuting In September at The Playlist.

At its core, “Naked Singularity” embodies the traits of an inventive, or at the very least, entertaining, film. But, as social commentary, solid casting choices and science-fiction swirl together in Chase Palmer’s debut feature film, the result is a startlingly confused piece of kitschy, clunky neo-noir.

READ MORE: Summer 2021 Preview: Over 50 Movies To Watch

Casi (John Boyega) is out of his element.

Continue reading ‘Naked Singularity’: John Boyega’s All-Star Talent & Criminal Justice Commentary Collide In A Cosmic Mess [Review] at The Playlist.

John Boyega might be known for big franchises these days, “Star Wars,” “Pacific Rim,” etc., but as something like Steve McQueen‘s recent “Small Axe” will sharply put into focus, he hasn’t forgotten his indie roots and stories of real human empathy. Boyega was outstanding in “Red, White & Blue,” that Small Axe film he starred in, and in that spirit, he looks like he’s chasing another story full of human truth and honesty in the courtroom drama, “A Naked Singularity,” but with a genre twist.

Continue reading ‘Naked Singularity’ Trailer: John Boyega Stars In A Courtroom Drama With A Genre Heist Twist at The Playlist.

Director Roland Emmerich’s war epic “Midway” takes audiences into one of the most decisive battles of World War II. Despite initial production delays due to a failed deal with Sony, Emmerich is finally able to make his “Midway” movie, featuring a star-studded cast and a $100 million budget.

This is definitely not the first film about the Battle of Midway, a pivotal naval battle in World War II.

Continue reading ‘Midway’ Trailer: Roland Emmerich’s Enlists A Jonas Brother As A Fighter Pilot To Help Win WWII at The Playlist.

When we think of mindnumbing explosions, noisy battle scenes and gratuitous, overblown, ridiculous action, our mind immediately turns to Michael Bay. But that’s grossly unfair and really relegate his contemporary, “Independence Day,” “2012,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” filmmaker Roland Emmerich to the margins and he’s equally adept in creating this kind of nonsense.

READ MORE: The Best Films Of 2019… So Far

While Emmerich’s last film a failed return to past glories in “Independence Day: Resurgence,” his latest, “Midway” is another attempt at epic action filmmaking, but this time through the lens of history.

Continue reading ‘Midway’ Trailer: Roland Emmerich Tries To Dial Back Bombastic Tendencies With WWII Pacific Theater Battles Featuring Mandy Moore, Nick Jonas & More at The Playlist.

Review: 'The Transporter Refueled' Starring Ed Skrein

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Watch: New Trailer And Clip For 'The Transporter Refueled' Promises Dad-Saving Action

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Watch: Put On Your Seatbelt For The New Trailer For 'The Transporter Refueled'

Continue reading Watch: Put On Your Seatbelt For The New Trailer For ‘The Transporter Refueled’ at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For Luc Besson’s ‘The Transporter Refueled’ Starring Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson & More

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For Luc Besson’s ‘The Transporter Refueled’ Starring Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson & More at The Playlist.

Elle Fanning Is Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Neon Demon' & T.J. Miller & Ed Skrein Join 'Deadpool'

Continue reading Elle Fanning Is Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Neon Demon’ & T.J. Miller & Ed Skrein Join ‘Deadpool’ at The Playlist.