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Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

www.ddmcd.com Research & writing about data, technology, movies, media, and books
Mamoru Oshii's “ASSAULT GIRLS”
Jan 10

Jan 10 Mamoru Oshii's “ASSAULT GIRLS”

Dennis D. McDonald
Japanese, Oshii, Post-apocalyptic, Science Fiction
This is sort of a sequel to Avalon. We have, again, a post apocalyptic society where immersive multiplayer videogame warfare seems to have evolved into a major societal and economic force.
Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN
Jan 8

Jan 8 Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN

Dennis D. McDonald
Another Time & Place, Biography, Drama, History, Intelligent, Spielberg, War
My first reaction, walking out of the theater after the credits, was to ask my wife, “How is it possible that the same guy who directed a terrifying movie like War of the Worlds could then go on to do something like LIncoln?”
Sam Mendes' SKYFALL
Dec 12

Dec 12 Sam Mendes' SKYFALL

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Disappointing, Ridiculous, Thriller
I’m not a big fan of James Bond movies. I enjoyed Skyfall but I admit to having been bored at times. Why? A couple of reasons:
Paul W.S. Anderson's RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION
Sep 23

Sep 23 Paul W.S. Anderson's RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Fantasy, Popcorn, Post-apocalyptic, War, Zombies
I really enjoyed the previous Resident Evil movie so I looked forward to this one. I decided to see it in the theater and spent the extra $4 for a 3D ticket. Was it worth it?
Gareth Evans' THE RAID: REDEMPTION
Sep 11

Sep 11 Gareth Evans' THE RAID: REDEMPTION

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Boring
In the Jakarta slums a derelict apartment building looms.
 Hey-jun Lee's CASTAWAY ON THE MOON
Aug 31

Aug 31 Hey-jun Lee's CASTAWAY ON THE MOON

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Drama, Emotional, Korean
A young man, depressed, tries to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. Instead he washes up onto a small island in the middle of the river and is cut off from the city.
Len Wiseman's TOTAL RECALL
Aug 13

Aug 13 Len Wiseman's TOTAL RECALL

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Popcorn, Robots, Science Fiction
The new TOTAL RECALL is a fun movie. It’s nowhere near as gratuitously gory and twisted as Paul Verhoeven’s great Arnold Schwartzenneger version, but it makes up for that with performances, visuals, and pacing that match and in some cases surpass the original.
Israel Adrián Caetano's A RED BEAR (Un Oso Rojo)
Jul 31

Jul 31 Israel Adrián Caetano's A RED BEAR (Un Oso Rojo)

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Emotional
Director Caetano makes a beautiful gem of a movie out of worn out concepts:
David Twohy's CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
Jun 29

Jun 29 David Twohy's CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Science Fiction, Riddick
But the real star of this movie is the look.
Hayao Miyazaki's LUPIN THE 3RD: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO
Jun 13

Jun 13 Hayao Miyazaki's LUPIN THE 3RD: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Animated, Comedy, Japanese, Miyazaki, Anime, Heist
This is Miyazaki’s first feature films. It portends a lot of what’s to come in his career: dizzying action, vibrant color, clever stories, strong females, and humor.
Ridley Scott's “PROMETHEUS”
Jun 11

Jun 11 Ridley Scott's “PROMETHEUS”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Horror, Scary, Science Fiction, Space Travel, Thriller
Is it Scott’s fault that all interstellar spacecraft now come equipped with handheld flamethrowers?
Álex de la Iglesia's THE LAST CIRCUS
Jun 2

Jun 2 Álex de la Iglesia's THE LAST CIRCUS

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Fantasy, One of a Kind, Quirky
Some of the words come to my mind while watching this film include:
Joss Whedon's THE AVENGERS
May 7

May 7 Joss Whedon's THE AVENGERS

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Fantasy, Marvel, Popcorn
THE AVENGERS is an OK piece of entertainment, I guess. Several times during the first hour I started to doze off.
The Weitz Brothers' ABOUT A BOY
May 3

May 3 The Weitz Brothers' ABOUT A BOY

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Quirky
Refreshing. Oddball. Quirky.
Akiyuki Shinbo's LE PORTRAIT DE PETITE COSSETTE
Apr 30

Apr 30 Akiyuki Shinbo's LE PORTRAIT DE PETITE COSSETTE

Dennis D. McDonald
Animated, Fantasy, Ghosts, Japanese, Anime
A young man becomes obsessed with the spirit of a murdered girl he finds entrapped in a glass in the antique shop where he works.
Kang Woo-suk's MOSS
Apr 26

Apr 26 Kang Woo-suk's MOSS

Dennis D. McDonald
Crime, Korean, Mystery, Thriller
This is the review I posted on Netflix after watching this streamed Korean mystery/thriller:
Brad Bird's MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL
Apr 23

Apr 23 Brad Bird's MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Cruise, Popcorn
What a big, fun, goofy, and exciting film this is!
Lena Dunham's TINY FURNITURE
Apr 17

Apr 17 Lena Dunham's TINY FURNITURE

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Drama, One of a Kind
As a parent of two twenty-somethings I watched this film with a growing sense of horror and wanted to reach out and slap some sense into the main character.
Tae-kyung Kim's MUOI: THE LEGEND OF A PORTRAIT
Apr 4

Apr 4 Tae-kyung Kim's MUOI: THE LEGEND OF A PORTRAIT

Dennis D. McDonald
Ghosts, Horror, Korean, Weird
This atmospheric and competent horror film follows a young Korean author as she travels to Vietnam to investigate the legend of a haunted portrait.
Daniel Espinosa's SAFE HOUSE
Feb 22

Feb 22 Daniel Espinosa's SAFE HOUSE

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Disappointing
This formulaic spy thriller has one too many ridiculous shoot-outs and car chases to be credible.
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Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.