Tag Archives: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Visual Effects

Star Wars vs. Mad Max. The action franchise duel of the year. Who will win? Do any other film stand a chance?

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In response to the latter, probably not. Some are pulling for Ex Machinaand, although the film is beautiful, it is a long long shot that it will pick up the award in this category. And The Revenant may pull an upset, but the real battle remains between Continue reading 2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Visual Effects

2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Sound Mixing

Best Sound Mixing will fall the same way of Best Sound Editing in 2016. This knocks Bridge of Spies out of the running, I’m afraid. The remaining four are a mixed bag, and each one has its shot.

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There is a stereotype that the biggest, loudest movie of the year is the shoe-in for the two sound categories. This isn’t always the case. But this year it might be.

The competition, I feel, is between  Continue reading 2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Sound Mixing

2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Sound Editing

The two sound categories at the Oscars may appear synonymous. And, yes, the two categories often go to the same film. I think this year will end up going that route, as well. But, of course, anything is possible.

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All five of the films in Best Sound Editing feature superior sound work. As a result, I feel that the award will go to Continue reading 2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Sound Editing

2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Editing

Editing was crucial to the success of some of the films in this category. In others, it was less crucial, and I feel that hurts the chances of these films.

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Mad Max: Fury Road is the Continue reading 2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Best Editing

2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Original Score

In film, a score is the mood. It is the suspense in a horror or thriller. It is the lightness of a feel-good period piece. It is the driving pulse of a drama.

The category of Best Original Score is always hard to narrow down. Similar names pop up through the years, but that doesn’t mean these usual suspects have an upper hand on any given award season. Following trends in other award shows is usually the best way to see who is going to win the Academy Award.

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This year, there is a clear favorite, and his chances have been raised by Continue reading 2016 Academy Awards Predictions – Original Score

Top Ten Movies of 2015

Lists are always difficult. I find it nearly impossible to whittle down a large body of films into a list of ten. An honorable mention addendum would be longer than the top ten itself.

Additionally, I haven’t seen all the films I want/need to see from 2015. For example, as it stands now, The Revenant is in limited release, and won’t be widely available until after the New Year. It very likely could wind up being one of my top ten favorites of the year, but it can’t show up on this list.

Here are my top ten movies of 2015.

10. Sicario

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The gritty crime drama Sicario was completely Continue reading Top Ten Movies of 2015

Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) Movie Review

Note: I’ve tried to make this review as spoiler free as possible. That said, one person’s reaction is another person’s spoiler. I can’t make this 100% devoid of spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

Star Wars – The Force Awakens is directed by J.J. Abrams, and it is the first new Star Wars film in 10 years. Easily the most anticipated movie of the year, The Force Awakens could have been the biggest disappointment since, well, The Phantom Menace. Thankfully, this is not the case.

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This part is unavoidable, but it must be mentioned. Continue reading Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) Movie Review

2015 Summer Movie Wager: A Game of Box Office Predictions

The Totally Rad Show, through rules given by TimeTravelReview’s, has this little game:

Continue reading 2015 Summer Movie Wager: A Game of Box Office Predictions