Author: Ian D.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is unique for many reasons. It finds new and interesting ways to contribute to the Star Wars canon while simultaneously indulging in deeply satisfying fan service. It’s by far the most diverse cast ever assembled in the galaxy with a cast that includes a woman, Asian, Mexican, Muslim and a disabled person. Even with those wonderful attributes the most freeing aspect of Rogue One is it’s the first movie ever that is (nearly) completely removed from the Skywalker family.

A movie called Office Christmas Party doesn’t have to accomplish a whole lot. It has to, at a base level, feature a party…preferably in an office. If it can clear that incredibly high bar it should probably be funny, or at the very least amusing. Office Christmas Party accomplishes one of those things. The point is, to even be a passable comedy that gets a decent annual run on TNT it doesn’t have to accomplish a lot.

Over the last decade Brad Pitt has slain a lot of Nazi’s. Whether it was as Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds or Wardaddy Collier in Fury – the man has done his fair share in WWII. Now he’s back as Max Vatan in Allied – a handsome Canadian-fly boy with a penchant for undercover Nazi murderin. If Pitt keeps this run up he may have to switch wars.

Twelve 1,500 foot alien hockey pucks appear in seemingly random locations across the globe. The collective population descends into panic – evacuating businesses and schools while scrambling a swift military response. It’s an eerily resonant response that doesn’t feel a bit outside of what we might expect. Earth’s first visitors have arrived.

Anyone who knows me knows I have a bit of a problem with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s not that it hasn’t produced entertaining films or interesting characters, in fact they’re littered through the MCU. It’s simply that it’s so familiar, the formula so cut and dry that no risks are ever taken. At this point the MCU is the McDonald’s of the Cineplex – satisfying in the moment but ultimately just a fleeting memory and an upsetting dump before work.