Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, by Cameron J. Czaja
The Multiverse. Even though the concept of it has been thought out for a while now, I haven’t really put much thought into it. Ever since watching the Disney+ shows Loki (2021) and What if. . . ? (2021), and the more recent film Everything Everywhere All at Once, however, that idea started circling in my head and had me… Read more “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Firestarter (2022), by Albert W. Vogt III
Believe it or not, there was another movie that opened this weekend. If you follow the buzz (whatever that means), or look at theater listings, you could almost fool yourself into thinking that Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness started last Friday, not the remake of one of the string of Stephen King adaptations to haunt… Read more “Firestarter (2022), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, by Albert W. Vogt III
Vampires, am I right? I have never understood the fascination with these mythical creatures. Such is the love for those of the pointy teeth that there are some who believe that they are real. Worse yet are those who want to be one to the point that they sharpen their teeth and look for willing volunteers who will… Read more “Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Shining, by Albert W. Vogt III
Not all of Stanley Kubrick’s films are as bad as A Clockwork Orange (1971), or as taboo as Lolita (1962). The majority of them are, though, twisted. Even in movies as seemingly innocuous as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), there are moments that make you question the director’s sanity, such as when the artificial intelligence HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) murders the… Read more “The Shining, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Morbius, by Albert W. Vogt III
How many more movies are left that we got previews for before COVID shut down movie theaters? The only other one I can think of is Top Gun: Maverick. I do not know whether or not I should look forward to that one. There are really only two possible outcomes with high levels of anticipation. Either something will be great,… Read more “Morbius, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Happy Death Day 2U, by Albert W. Vogt III
Shame on me for assuming that, like most sequels, Happy Death Day 2U (2019) was going to be bad. What is even more remarkable is that it is just as good as its predecessor, 2017’s Happy Death Day, while also explaining something about the first that went by the board. In the original, we never learn why it is that… Read more “Happy Death Day 2U, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Happy Death Day, by Albert W. Vogt III
Usually, fewer genres of films get me uninterested faster than slasher films. I do not understand their popularity, and my problems have been documented in my reviews of the Scream franchise. I do get the excitement of facing life-or-death situations. Actions movies are replete with scenarios that viewers imagine themselves in, wondering how they would handle it. When it comes to… Read more “Happy Death Day, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Ghostbusters II, by Albert W. Vogt III
There are few more iconic films than Ghostbusters (1984). Still, I wonder if it would have been as much of a smash-hit if John Belushi had still been alive to fill the role of the wise-cracking Peter Venkman instead of Bill Murray. Not that it would have made a huge difference to me personally as they are both Chicago… Read more “Ghostbusters II, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Jaws, by Albert W. Vogt III
When you hear the famous “duuuun dun, duuuun dun, dun dun dun dun dun dun. . . .” you immediately know to what movie it is referring. It is, of course, the 1975 classic Jaws. Few films have such recognition. You can put it into almost anything and the audience knows immediately the tone that is being sought, comically… Read more “Jaws, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Nightbooks, by Albert W. Vogt III
With some out-of-town friends staying at the house of the old man I live with, I decided halt the onslaught of Karate Kid movies in favor of giving them the choice of the evening’s entertainment. They came up with a few options, and the one that seemed most interesting (based solely on previews) was Nightbooks (2021). If you view… Read more “Nightbooks, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Zombieland, by Albert W. Vogt III
My quest for movies to review increasingly takes me into the archives of The Legionnaire. As the collection nears the 1,000 mark, I sometimes have difficulty remembering which films I covered. That is the main reason why I recently did Shaun of the Dead (2004). There are times when I think of movies and wonder what I thought about them, which… Read more “Zombieland, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Shaun of the Dead, by Albert W. Vogt III
Before there was The Walking Dead (2010-present), or even a Zombieland (2009), there was Shaun of the Dead (2004). It premiered in an era when zombie films and television shows still took the notion of reanimated corpses seriously. I cannot think of any other examples before 2004 with a light-hearted take on the sub-genre. Given the success of Shaun of the Dead, one can make… Read more “Shaun of the Dead, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Scream 4, by Albert W. Vogt III
Finally. Thank God. These are words that I am telling myself now that I have gotten to Scream 4 (2011). I am fairly certain they are also things said inside the skulls of the actors and actresses involved with Scream 3 (2000). Finally, we can walk away from these films and move on with our lives with other projects. Fortunately for me, I can… Read more “Scream 4, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Scream 3, by Albert W. Vogt III
Trilogy? Why not. I mean, I did not get a say as to whether or not they were going to make a Scream 3 (2000). Why they would have asked a young idiot such as myself at that time is beyond me. Still, nary an email (a still novel technology at that time), letter, or franchise appropriate phone call did I… Read more “Scream 3, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Scream 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
Okay, I can do this. I mean, it is perfectly understandable that they would make a sequel to what people thought was a fresh take on the slasher subgenre, right? Who cares if something is unique and complete like Scream (1996)? It does not mean that they are going to basically do the same movie all over again, but this… Read more “Scream 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Scream (1996), by Albert W. Vogt III
Now that I have taken care of the latest movie titled Scream, let us go back to where it all started in 1996. That is what was talked about in the 2022 version, anyway, that the “requel,” the made-up word for whatever that was, had to return to the original. As I mentioned in my review of the… Read more “Scream (1996), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Scream (2022), by Albert W. Vogt III
When the first movie titled Scream (1996) premiered, people marveled at its ability to be self-deprecating. Before I go any further, I need to remind myself to exercise some caution. You see, to prepare for the latest Scream, I watched all four of its forerunners. The first one was a bit of nostalgia. For whatever reason, when I was a young, impressionable… Read more “Scream (2022), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Gremlins, by Albert W. Vogt III
For whatever reason, I never thought of Gremlins (1984) as being a Christmas movie. In fact, I watched it at the end of my seasonal run thinking it would be a good movie to transition back into non-holiday fare. It had been years since I had seen it. Indeed, I cannot remember the last time I viewed it before recently. What… Read more “Gremlins, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Beetlejuice, by Albert W. Vogt III
After seeing Catherine O’Hara in so many of my favorite mockumentaries, and the Home Alone films, I began thinking about where else I had seen her. It was not long before my memory alighted on Beetlejuice (1988). She is by no means the star of this late 1980s classic. It is also the film that probably gave rise to director Tim Burton’s… Read more “Beetlejuice, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Ghostbusters: Afterlife, by Cameron J. Czaja
Huge confession, I actually have never seen the original Ghostbusters (1984), or the 1989 sequel, from beginning to end, which is something that I’m embarrassed to admit. That’s not to say that I have no clue as to what they are about thanks to watching bits and pieces of it via television airings and YouTube videos. I’m… Read more “Ghostbusters: Afterlife, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Last Night in Soho, by Albert W. Vogt III
Part of what I am about to say is motivated by my love of Last Night in Soho’s director Edgar Wright, my favorite auteur. All of his movies, from his early comedies to this most recent example, are brilliant. Only he can get me excited to see a horror film. I typically leave those to Cameron’s more practiced hand. Yet,… Read more “Last Night in Soho, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Halloween (1978), by Cameron J. Czaja
This may be an unpopular opinion for some Catholics, but I love the Halloween season and (almost) everything associated with it. Around this time of year, I’ll go to haunted houses, attend a Halloween party or two, and watch scary movies whether they are good or bad. One scary film that I’m going to be… Read more “Halloween (1978), by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Birds, by Albert W. Vogt III
Recently, my sister randomly said to me, “You need to watch The Birds (1963).” She did not also say “1963,” but I am a prisoner to convention. When I asked why, she reminded me of a time that I only vaguely recall when my mom made us watch it. She did the same thing with us for The Sound of Music (1965). I… Read more “The Birds, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Malignant, by Albert W. Vogt III
All week long, I kept hoping that when I got to Saturday, like magic there would be some other movie than Malignant for me to watch. A miniscule part of me held out an even tinnier glimmer of hope that it would not be that bad. It is directed by James Wan. As the promotional material for Malignant never seemed to tire to remind… Read more “Malignant, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sleepaway Camp, by Albert W. Vogt III
Ugh. In one of Down and Out Reviews’ recent podcasts, my broadcast partner kept talking about a slasher film called Sleepaway Camp (1983). He has decided that our cosmic reason for being is to make this poor Catholic watch and react to films where people are brutally murdered. I am willing to go along with it, not because I want to… Read more “Sleepaway Camp, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Candyman, by Albert W. Vogt III
When the now infamous Cabrini Green housing project was first conceived, the word “project” did not have the same pejorative connotation it has today. In fact, it was never intended to become the crime riddled section of my beloved city of Chicago that the municipal government seemingly forgot. Instead, it was supposed to provide affordable housing for… Read more “Candyman, by Albert W. Vogt III”
An American Werewolf in London, by Albert W. Vogt III
When it comes to horror films, if I must watch them, I prefer older ones. It is a complaint of all genres in the modern era, but the special effects used to create the creatures you see in movies has gotten so life like as to seem fake, if that makes any sense. I hope that anyone… Read more “An American Werewolf in London, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Hold the Dark, by Albert W. Vogt III
I enjoy programs about Alaska. Recently I wrote a review of the film Into the Wild (2007), which is the true story of a man who goes out to what is the last remaining wild place left in our country. Maybe that is not the best example as I find that film annoying, mostly because he dies due to… Read more “Hold the Dark, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Only Lovers Left Alive, by Albert W. Vogt III
Vampires, am I right? For reasons that are beyond my grasp, other than immortality I suppose, Western culture has had a centuries’ long fascination with these mythical creatures. This is admittedly a poor reference for this point, but in my review of What We Do in the Shadows (2014), one of my complaints about vampire lore is the changeable… Read more “Only Lovers Left Alive, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Army of the Dead, by Albert W. Vogt III
Zack Snyder is a hack. If you have not gathered that this is my opinion of his work from reading my reviews of his dumb Justice League films, then let this definitive statement erase any doubts. Alright, I will confess to enjoying 300 (2006). It was original in its style. Unfortunately, Snyder seemed to have fallen in love with slow motion and sepia… Read more “Army of the Dead, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Alien, by Albert W. Vogt III
Ah, the 1970s, or at least the tail end of that decade. When Alien (1979) premiered, it was a mere two years after arguably the granddaddy of all cinematic franchises, Star Wars, made its debut. If you think cinema attendance is bad today, take a look at the numbers from the advent of television to 1977 when Star Wars: Episode IV… Read more “Alien, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Ghosts of War, by Albert W. Vogt III
In order to spare you the aggravation, I am going to spoil Ghosts of War (2020) right away: what you think is a strange combination of a World War II, er . . . epic (you cannot type high-pitched incredulity) with a straight-up horror flick, is actually a computer simulation for soldiers recovering from being wounded. Why am I doing… Read more “Ghosts of War, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, by Albert W. Vogt III
A title like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) is bound to get the attention of a Catholic like me. I love the notion of doing battle with evil, though if you read my review of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, you will know that, spiritually speaking, I do not believe such forces should be trifled… Read more “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I saw The Conjuring (2013), I recall coming away from it thinking that it was not that bad. Typically, I do not go in for horror films. Aside from the grotesque and sometimes purposely cursed images that I would rather not see, I find them to be formulaic and predictable. However, two people drew… Read more “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Spiral: From the Book of Saw, by Cameron J. Czaja
Hello readers of The Legionnaire, I want to play a game. Well, maybe not a game, but I do have a question: do you know what was one the most successful horror series to come during the 2000s that was more about gore than horror? If you thought of the Saw franchise, then you are… Read more “Spiral: From the Book of Saw, by Cameron J. Czaja”
A Quiet Place II, by Cameron J. Czaja
After I saw A Quiet Place back in 2018, I fell in love with it right away. As a movie lover, I enjoyed it for how they played with the horror genre by making a somewhat silent film in a tension filled setting. As a Catholic, however, I enjoyed it for being a pro-life and… Read more “A Quiet Place II, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Unholy, by Cameron J. Czaja
Sometimes it’s tough being a fan of cinema and a devout Catholic. I mention this because this past weekend a certain film called The Unholy was released in theaters which drew many red flags in my head. One, for example, was the Good Friday release day. The marketing department behind it was doing everything they… Read more “The Unholy, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Underwater, by Albert W. Vogt III
Ah, the heady days of the pre-COVID-19 world. It was a time when you went to the theater and, unless you already had a choice in mind, you had to actually make a decision. When Cameron came aboard, as I mentioned yesterday, it became a matter of splitting between two new releases every week. And while this was… Read more “Underwater, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Ghost and the Darkness, by Albert W. Vogt III
If you lived in the Tampa Bay area in the late 1990s like I did, then Busch Gardens Tampa was the place to be. The first time I went was for a high school field trip. Our physics teacher expected us to ride the roller coasters and record the effects of g-forces, acceleration, and other… Read more “The Ghost and the Darkness, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Little Things, by Cameron J. Czaja
Now that we’re almost into a year of getting used to watching movies almost exclusively on streaming, I have to say that I’ve gotten quite used to it. Don’t get me wrong, if have the opportunity to watch a movie in the theater I’ll take advantage of it. However that hasn’t really been the case… Read more “The Little Things, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Night of the Living Dead, by Albert W. Vogt
Like our review of The Ring (2002), apologies for this seasonally mistimed review of the film that launched George Romero’s zombie franchise: Night of the Living Dead (1968). Not that I am complaining. For months I cast about trying to choose which movie to watch. I soon realized that my tastes are somewhat eclectic, but… Read more “Night of the Living Dead, by Albert W. Vogt”
The Ring, by Albert W. Vogt III
Although we are well into the so-called Christmas season, when last I asked for movie suggestions it was around Halloween. Hence somebody asked for a review of The Ring (2002). I hate this movie, and thought I had left it safely behind when I first saw it in the movie theaters. On the other hand,… Read more “The Ring, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Train to Busan, by Albert W. Vogt III
Today is Thanksgiving, and at Mass this morning during the homily the priest reminded us of how it is “right and just,” as the prayer goes, to give thanks. It is a call to reverence God in all situations, no matter how terrible. With 2020 going the way it has, it is even more important… Read more “Train to Busan, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Freaky, by Albert W. Vogt III
With life getting back to some semblance of order, I was able to make it to the movies to see Freaky, which I meant to see last weekend but Tropical Storm Eta had other plans. Those who know me best, and pay attention to new releases, probably would have expected to me see The Last… Read more “Freaky, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sinister, by Cameron J. Czaja
I’ve mentioned in a previous review (It: Chapter 2 maybe?) that I became more of a fan of horror films during the 2010s. One film in particular that unintentionally grew my interest in the genre is the 2012 film Sinister. That reason I was interested in that film is because of one person in particular, writer C.… Read more “Sinister, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Spell, by Albert W. Vogt III
My usual theater day is Saturday, and this past one just happened to coincide with Halloween. On my way to the cinema I had been talking on the phone (hands-free, of course) with one of my best friends from high school. In pulling into the parking lot, I noted to him the presence of a… Read more “Spell, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Abyss, by Albert W. Vogt III
James Cameron is an interesting guy, I suppose. I have never met him. He seems kind of vain when watching him in interviews. He does have some genuine interests, though. He appears to be quite dedicated to his craft. Think about some of the classic films of recent decades, not of the Star Wars variety,… Read more “The Abyss, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), by Albert W. Vogt III
There was a time in my teaching career when I taught a course on Film and Twentieth Century America. I loved teaching it. As you can probably surmise just by the existence of this blog, I have a love for movies. You may have also noticed that I have a passion for history. Thus when… Read more “Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The New Mutants, by Albert W. Vogt III
After nearly six months of not having set foot in a movie theater, I finally made it back. I suppose I could have gone sooner, but it did not seem like they were releasing anything major. It almost came to naught, as well, when the manager approached and said the projector could break down at… Read more “The New Mutants, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Nightingale, by Cameron J. Czaja
Before I started writing for The Legionnaire, the last film that I saw in the movie theater was a small Australian film called The Nightingale. Even though I was invited to start writing for The Legionnaire a week before I saw this film, I chose to not review The Nightingale because I wanted my first review to be a major film… Read more “The Nightingale, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Parasite, by Albert W. Vogt III
I have been thinking about Parasite (2019) for some time. I began hearing about this Korean film that had been gaining attention from various quarters. Curiosity piqued, I managed to catch a showing at the legendary Tampa theater. What a waste of a trip to this palace of the performing arts. To say the least,… Read more “Parasite, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Lighthouse, by Cameron J. Czaja
Unlike most films that I’ve reviewed this past month, The Lighthouse (2019) was one that I didn’t watch recently but rather back in October last year (specifically Halloween). It’s something that I wanted to review when I first saw it, but I had writer’s block because I couldn’t figure out how to approach it through a Catholic… Read more “The Lighthouse, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Vast of Night, by Cameron J. Czaja
With movie theaters still closed due to COVID-19 and me looking for new movies to watch, I decided to go to Amazon Prime and scout out what new films they had to offer. One film that I was able to find was one called The Vast of Night. I honestly had no idea what this was… Read more “The Vast of Night, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Velocipastor, by Cameron J. Czaja
There are certain pros and cons when you tell people that you review films. The pros is that they will ask your opinion on movies and you can offer them great recommendations. The cons, however, are that when there’s no major releases you start getting requests to review older films. I was recently asked to… Read more “The Velocipastor, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Aliens, by Albert W. Vogt III
Yes, I am reviewing Aliens and not Alien. No, that is not typo (other than me just using a double negative). It has been a long time since I saw the original 1979 horror classic. That one is of the slow-moving variety, and I remember watching it when I was younger and finding it difficult… Read more “Aliens, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Get Out, by Albert W. Vogt III
Get Out (2017) was the far superior Jordan Peele film, so far. This young, seemingly promising director followed up the success of his first movie with the disturbing, much more overt Us in 2019, and you can find The Legionnaire‘s review of that one here. Peele’s first foray into feature length directing was creepy without… Read more “Get Out, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Bird Box, by Albert W. Vogt III
I am somewhat hesitant to put out this review right now with the current COVID-19 situation, but Bird Box (2018) is a good movie worth a view. I do not wish to add to the panic at the moment, and some of the scenes in this film might seem a little too real for some.… Read more “Bird Box, by Albert W. Vogt III”
A Quiet Place, by Albert W. Vogt III
A Quiet Place is a good movie. It just is. But I will not stop here with my review. There is a richness to this film that is remarkable to behold given its ninety minute run time. If there was nothing else to praise about it, it would be that it simply does not mess… Read more “A Quiet Place, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Fantasy Island, by Albert W. Vogt III
I do not care if I ruin Fantasy Island for you. It is awful. I must admit to a moment of confusion, though, as I entered the theater. When watching the preview for this film, I was aware of the old television show of the same name but did not think this iteration of it… Read more “Fantasy Island, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Gretel & Hansel, by Cameron J. Czaja
Before I saw Gretel & Hansel, I didn’t know anything about it. I hadn’t seen any trailer or any advertisements for this whatsoever. Usually I like going into a movie not knowing anything, but there were a couple of factors that made me very skeptical. One of them was the fact that Hollywood had already… Read more “Gretel & Hansel, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Turning, by Albert W. Vogt III
The Turning is a confusing mess. I am jumping straight into this one because, really, there is no need to spend much time on it. One of the moments in this movie that symbolizes the jarring disjointed-ness of it was towards the end. The main character, Kate Mendell (Mackenzie Davis, and honestly, the film was… Read more “The Turning, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Doctor Sleep, by Albert W. Vogt III
I am not a fan of horror films, usually. Of all movie genres, I find them to be the most formulaic and thus the most predictable. Typically they resort to jump scares, and they are usually about as subtle as an elephant on roller skates at a crowded cocktail party. In other words, not scary,… Read more “Doctor Sleep, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Countdown, by Cameron J. Czaja
If I had to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure if Countdown, the horror that I’m to talk about, was going to be a theatrical release film. The reason I say that is because when I first saw the trailer randomly on Facebook I immediately went on Wikipedia to check it out, but for some… Read more “Countdown, by Cameron J. Czaja”
It: Chapter Two, by Cameron J. Czaja
If you were to ask me over ten years ago if I was a fan of the horror genre, I probably would have said “sort of.” Recently however, we’ve been getting films that I like to call “smart horror” as they are films that attempt a clever and/or creative approach to the genre. Some recent… Read more “It: Chapter Two, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Brightburn
Look, when I am writing a review of a movie, expect spoilers ahead. I am going to leave this here so that I do not have to constantly repeat myself in future entries. Brightburn is a movie about a sort of alternate reality Superman. I could almost end the review there as the Superman story… Read more “Brightburn”
Us
Given the success of Jordan Peele’s Get Out, I looked forward to Us with a certain amount of anticipation. Pardon me for a moment, but I am going to sound like a huge nerd. Whether anyone realized it or not, Get Out was brilliant because it tapped into a very old idea in this country:… Read more “Us”
Captive State
Perhaps I should have seen Five Feet Apart this past weekend, but I am a sucker for movies set in Chicago, which provided the backdrop for Captive State. Coming off the high of Captain Marvel last weekend, I guess I was in the mood for another action movie. So I saw Captive State. I learned… Read more “Captive State”
Greta
This past weekend was a busy one for me, so I did not get to go to the theater when I normally would have gone. I also did not pay attention to what was coming out this weekend. Thus, when I looked and saw the only new movie was something called Greta, I said “What????”… Read more “Greta”
The Legionnaire 