Movie Reviews — www.ddmcd.com

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.

Hark Tsui's “FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE”

Sep 11

Sep 11 Hark Tsui's “FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE”

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Chinese, Martial Arts, Popcorn, Swordplay

Hark Tsui’s FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE at times reminded me of a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s almost Tom-and-Jerry-like in its portrayal of action and violence. Yet it’s immensely entertaining if only for its exotic locations, diverse costumes, visual splendor, and fascinating facial tattoos.

I'm Giving Up On UNDER THE DOME

Sep 7

Sep 7 I'm Giving Up On UNDER THE DOME

Dennis D. McDonald

Disappointing, Mystery, Science Fiction, TV

I loved the book. To say I’m disappointed with the TV series would be an understatement. I’ve watched 5 or 6 episodes so far (via Amazon Prime) but I think I’ll stop there.

Pete Travis' DREDD

Sep 1

Sep 1 Pete Travis' DREDD

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Post-apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller

Lena Heady proves again she is well on her way to becoming the go-to actor for psychopathic female leaders. This woman does not fool around and is just plain fun to watch. I would love to see her play a character up against “Alice” in the next Resident Evil movie.

Neill Blomkamp's ELYSIUM

Aug 21

Aug 21 Neill Blomkamp's ELYSIUM

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Drama, Robots, Science Fiction, Thriller

You can enjoy it as an action thriller but the underlying stories and significance go way beyond that. I’ll take Elysium over a comic book hero movie any day.

Guillermo del Toro's “PACIFIC RIM”

Jul 28

Jul 28 Guillermo del Toro's “PACIFIC RIM”

Dennis D. McDonald

Disaster, Monsters, Popcorn, Robots, Science Fiction, War, Guilty Pleasure, Kaiju, del Toro

A few times I closed my eyes while watching Pacific Rim and — I swear — I was a little boy again watching humans and their technology duke it out on the big screen with aliens.

Don Scanlon's MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

Jul 8

Jul 8 Don Scanlon's MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

Dennis D. McDonald

Animated, Comedy, Pixar, Sweet

I enjoyed this movie immensely. Visually inventive in ways I could never imagine on my own, the characters and story are involving and potentially more sophisticated than might be appreciated by very young children.

Marc Forster's WORLD WAR Z

Jun 26

Jun 26 Marc Forster's WORLD WAR Z

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller, War, Zombies

This is an amazing and exciting film. While the storyline is a bit thin at times the viewer is rushed headlong through a series of harrowing adventures culminating in an intense cat and mouse chase in a secret research facility.

J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS

Jun 3

Jun 3 J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Disappointing, Science Fiction

Having grown up reading the science fiction of Clarke, Heinlein, and Asimov, the original Star Trek TV series always seemed unsophisticated and juvenile.

Rupert Sanders' “SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN”

May 7

May 7 Rupert Sanders' “SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN”

Dennis D. McDonald

Disappointing, Fantasy, Turkey, Kristen Stewart

The only reason I rented this Blu-ray was to see Charlize Theron. I was smitten by her in Prometheus and was really looking forward to seeing her in a turn as the Evil Stepmother. Alas, it was not to be.

Joseph Kosinski's “OBLIVION”

Apr 25

Apr 25 Joseph Kosinski's “OBLIVION”

Dennis D. McDonald

Action, Another Time & Place, Cruise, Popcorn, Post-apocalyptic, Robots, Science Fiction

Great popcorn movie. Really enjoyed it. Terrific visuals, interesting variations on familiar themes.

Benh Zeitlin's BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Mar 13

Mar 13 Benh Zeitlin's BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Dennis D. McDonald

Drama, Fantasy, One of a Kind, Spouse Approved

I’m glad I saw this film, it’s a pleasure to see something that’s grounded in reality but sufficiently fantastic to the point where the dividing line between the two becomes blurred.

Tom McCarthy's THE STATION AGENT

Feb 13

Feb 13 Tom McCarthy's THE STATION AGENT

Dennis D. McDonald

Drama, Favorites

While watching this film I said to myself, “If I could make a movie this is the kind of movie I’d make.”

Barry Sonnenfeld's MEN IN BLACK III

Jan 30

Jan 30 Barry Sonnenfeld's MEN IN BLACK III

Dennis D. McDonald

Comedy, Science Fiction, Sweet, Time Travel

To my surprise, I really enjoyed many Men in Black III. What did I like about it?

Timo Vuorensola's "IRON SKY"

Jan 17

Jan 17 Timo Vuorensola's "IRON SKY"

Dennis D. McDonald

Comedy, Disappointing, Science Fiction, Space Travel, Turkey

I was really looking forward to seeing Iron Sky after all the online hype. Actually seeing it was a major disappointment. This movie is awful.

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

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.