Author: Jason Zingale

With all the good press that “Bayonetta” has been getting since its debut at last year’s E3 convention, I couldn’t wait to finally get my hands on it and see what all the hoopla was about. Imagine my disappointment (and utter confusion) when I discovered that Sega’s latest action title isn’t as great as it was hyped up to be. There’s a lot to love about a game that’s so ridiculously batshit crazy that it could only be a loving homage to the kind of over-the-top beat ‘em ups that Japanese developers are known for, but while “Bayonetta” is certainly…

If there’s one thing to be said about “Ninja Gaiden II,” it’s that it’s not for the faint of heart. Combat is so bloody that you’ll feel like you’ve been teleported into the middle of the final fight sequence from “Kill Bill: Volume One” – complete with more decapitations and severed limbs than even a master ninja should be comfortable with. The game also isn’t for those with a tendency to break things when they get angry, because though the second installment isn’t quite as difficult as the original “Ninja Gaiden,” it’ll still drive you absolutely bonkers. Of course, if…

Director Stephen Sommers may have never intended for his big-budget reboot of “The Mummy” to be turned into this generation’s “Indiana Jones,” but the studio clealry had plans of its own. Quickly greenlighting a second installment following the success of the first film, “The Mummy Returns” hit theaters in the summer of 2001 with only one task in mind: to recapture the box office magic of its predecessor by resurrecting the dead more times than John Travolta’s career. Unfortunately, the movie was plagued by a nasty case of sequelitis, and while the campy fun of “The Mummy” was entertaining the…

When “The Mummy” stormed into theaters in the summer of 1999, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” was a decade old. People were obviously clamoring for another likeminded hero, but there wasn’t a studio around willing to gamble on a movie that would instantly draw comparisons to the famous archeologist. Give Universal and director Stephen Sommers credit, then, for not only having the cajones to produce such a film, but to do so while shamelessly ripping off the many adventures of Dr. Jones. The film opens in ancient Egypt where a forbidden love affair between High Priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo)…

Guy Ritchie hasn’t exactly done a great job convincing his critics that he can make something other than the hyper-stylized crime capers he’s known for, so it’s a bit surprising that a major studio would entrust to him one of the most popular literary characters of all time. With that said, however, Ritchie has done a commendable job of reviving Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective on the big screen, even if the director’s identity has been lost in the process. “Sherlock Holmes” is every bit the fun and action-packed romp we all hoped it would be, but while it’s nice…

Reviewing romantic comedies like “Did You Hear the Morgans?” becomes a bit redundant after a while, because they’re all essentially the same film. They may have different actors playing the roles (though even that’s debatable considering just how many of these movies Hugh Grant has made), but at the end of the day, they all follow the same tired formula. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if it works, but it sure makes it difficult to say anything even remotely original when there wasn’t that much to say to begin with. Though Grant remains as charming and witty as ever,…

Much like Nelson Mandela, the subject of his latest film, Clint Eastwood never seems to stop working. Most actors and directors hang it up long before they’ve reached their 70s, but not Clint, who’s actually put out some of his best work in that time. Unfortunately, while “Invictus” is certainly representative of the quality we’re used to seeing from the four-time Oscar winner, it’s not one of his stronger films. Part of that has to do with the fact that it’s just another inspirational sports drama, because although “Invictus” is better than most films in the genre as a result…

Jason Reitman may not always get the respect he deserves as a filmmaker, but there’s no denying his flawless track record. Granted, he’s only made three movies in his short career, but the fact that every one has been Oscar caliber validates his place among the elite directors of his generation. And like a good wine, he only seems to get better with age, because “Up in the Air” is his best work to date. It always helps to have a big star like George Clooney in your corner, but although he’s certainly integral to the film’s success, it’s Reitman’s…

Hollywood remakes of foreign films are rarely welcomed without prejudice – as if telling the story in a different language somehow changes its meaning. No matter how good it may be, the same tired adage always applies: it’s not as good as the original. Thankfully, I’ve never seen the 1990 Italian drama that inspired writer/director Kirk Jones’ latest film, and it’s probably for the better. “Everybody’s Fine” is one of those movies that you only need to see once, but thanks to a great cast led by a wonderfully heartfelt performance by Robert De Niro, you’ll be glad that you…

Fresh off his highly-publicized marriage to Madonna, Guy Ritchie returned to the world of cinema in 2000 with his sophomore effort, “Snatch,” a highly stylized crime caper in the same vein as “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” but with a satisfying West Coast flair thanks in part to the addition of Brad Pitt. Featuring a memorable ensemble cast of both British and American actors, the film centers on a group of reckless criminals that inadvertently become involved in a labyrinth-like plot full of two-timing back stabbers set to the tone of Ritchie’s trademark comic violence and tongue in cheek…