Posts tagged Mads Mikkelsen
MOVIE REVIEW: Rogue One
MOVIE REVIEW: Rogue One

Lags of preparation and mounting conflict aside, there is more than enough big-screen excitement infusing the gravitas that give way to pathos.  "Rogue One" smoothly delves into an untold narrative while providing clever and catchy callbacks and nods to the expanded universe we know is on the other side of the horizon.  Fleshing out key history, “Rogue One” instantly becomes an indispensable companion piece to “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.”  Watching this mini saga and seeing the seeds it plants makes one appreciate the fruits of the 39-year-old classic’s triumphs even more.

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2016, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanAMC River East 212016, 2016 Holiday Movies, Rogue One, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Gareth Edwards, Tony Gilroy, Chris Weitz, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Michael Giacchino, John Williams, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Star Wars, Death Star, Saw Gerrera, Jyn Erso, The Theory of Everything, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jimmy Smits, Maldives, Iceland, Greig Fraser, Alan Tudyk, life lessons from films, life lessons, Life lessons, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, Science fiction, space opera, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
MOVIE REVIEW: Doctor Strange
MOVIE REVIEW: Doctor Strange

Now in its third phase, Marvel continues to take C-level and D-list comic book characters and titles, breath cinematic life into them with top-notch talent in front of and behind the camera, and turn the obscure in newly minted household names and merchandising windfalls.  "Doctor Strange" continues the studio's blueprint of Midas Touch success while jubilantly kicking down the door for magic and mysticism in the MCU.  You may not know him yet, but Stephen Strange is a major player and huge addition to an already-loaded heroic panorama.

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2016, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, 3 STARSDon ShanahanRegal City North Stadium 14 IMAX2016, 2016 Holiday Movies, 2016 Fall Movies, Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scott Derrickson, Kevin Feige, C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts, Steve Ditko, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Marvel Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Films, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Phase 3, Marvel, Disney/Marvel, Disney, Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Ben Davis, Michael Giacchino, Kathmandu, Nepal, Kaecilius, The Ancient One, Stephen Strange, Christine Palmer, Karl Mordo, Mordo, Dormammu, Eye of Agamotto, Cloak of Levitation, film commentary, film review, movie commentary, movie review, comic book movie, comic book films, The Avengers, Infinity War, Thor, Thor: Ragonark, life lessons from films, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, life lessons, life lesson, Life lessons, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
MOVIE REVIEW: The Salvation
MOVIE REVIEW: The Salvation

American Westerns have become a lost art and a dying breed.  So much has been done that it's hard to find a fresh take.  If you have felt that loss and need a jolt, an extremely taut and good homage to the American Western has emerged in "The Salvation," playing now in limited release and Video on Demand, from Danish filmmaker Kristian Levring.  Headlined by Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Jonathan Pryce, the film moved the needle a bit during the 2014 film festival circuit, including a pair of screenings at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival last October (where yours truly caught the ride).

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2014, 2015, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on DemandDon ShanahanChicago International Film FestivalThe Salvation, Mads Mikkelsen, Kristian Levring, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Pryce, Jens Schlosser, Kasper Winding, Quentin Tarantino, Danish western, Westerns, Western genre, Hannibal, Mikael Persbrandt, 50th Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago Film Festival, film commentary, film review, movie commentary, Movie review, life lessons, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, Don Shanahan, Donald ShanahanComment