Setting the film in 1984 was just an excuse to cut a synth-heavy trailer (music we never got in the film, by the way) and let Pine make stupid jokes about fanny packs. Even if we forgive Diana – who’s supposedly the embodiment of moral good – for overlooking the fact that her wish temporarily traps a living soul in limbo and other such ramifications in a Freaky Friday swap, it’s debatable how much Steve’s character moves Diana or the story forward.
Read MoreRobert always makes fun of me for saying “this year hasn’t been great for movies,” but he’s right, every year there are always a bunch of films worth watching. So, I’ll gladly eat my words and spit out a few as well. Here are my most anticipated films for 2020.
Read MoreTrue North Streaming is a semi-regular column highlighting some of the best new additions to Netflix’s Canadian service. Like many of you, every so often I get a pleasant surprise when I discover a cool movie or TV show that’s just popped up on Netflix’s often-maligned sister platform. These posts will help you filter through the often quirky mix of Netflix Canada’s offerings and find the most valuable ways to waste some time.
Read MoreSet against the rage-inducing structure, annoying performances and embarrassing scripting of Batman v Superman, Justice League initially feels like a major step forward from its predecessor. At the very least, the new film has some internal logic and the ability to sustain a train of thought about a character or a plot point. But this is a limp improvement – being mostly functional doesn’t create a lot of thrills.
Read MoreHappily (despite persistent rumours to the contrary) Patty Jenkins’ picture is a sturdy, involving piece of work on its own merits. It uses the broader DC universe as a stage for a reflection on the causes of war – is it something inherent in human nature, or something we can struggle to avoid? And it does so from the unique perspective of a woman being introduced to real combat (and the 20th century) for the first time. While Wonder Woman isn’t immune to the usual genre tropes (uninspiring villains, a messy climax), it’s still a great place to start; not just for female-led comic-book movies, but for the DC franchise as a whole.
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