A Month in Film: April 2025Princess Mononoke (1997)
Studio Ghibli (and most anime in general) has long been a blind spot for me. I almost feel like I’m spoiling myself in watching this one to get acquainted with the niche, but man was it ever impressive! So much creativity in the visuals and storytelling, right from the title card. I’m talking jaw dropping beauty on the big screen. Fantastic score as well! It ascends and swells at all the right moments.
Watched at the Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Limited theatrical run in IMAX. I’ve never seen an IMAX theatre this packed before; even the first rows were full. Probably speaks to just how passionate of a fanbase these movies have cultivated, and I’m sure it meant the world to these moviegoers to see a childhood favourite find new life in such a powerful format.
Watched at the Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Limited theatrical run in IMAX. I’ve never seen an IMAX theatre this packed before; even the first rows were full. Probably speaks to just how passionate of a fanbase these movies have cultivated, and I’m sure it meant the world to these moviegoers to see a childhood favourite find new life in such a powerful format.
Robin Hood (2010)
I mean, it’s Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe back at it with a historical epic, so there’s at least a baseline level of enjoyment here. While it doesn’t reach the highs of a Gladiator or Kingdom of Heaven, this is still a fantastic ride and well worth a watch. Robin Hood didn’t mean much to me as a kid, so I don’t really get those complaints that this one lacks the adventure of the classic tale.
Watched on blu-ray. I recall getting partway through it with my friends in Revelstoke last year, but I started from the beginning here.
Watched on blu-ray. I recall getting partway through it with my friends in Revelstoke last year, but I started from the beginning here.
A Minecraft Movie (2025)
This was… pretty awful? I was a Minecraft kid through and through, spending countless hours playing the game with friends throughout my pre-teen years. I had faint hopes that this would capture some sort of nostalgia in me, but this is really just a lifeless piece of corporate schlop. At least it didn’t look that bad, and Jack Black and Jason Momoa appeared to be having fun? Everyone else though… you may want to consider sticking to your day job.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver in IMAX. If anything, I can report that all hoopla surrounding this has indeed come to life. With all the clapping, jeering, and airborne popcorn, I think this was nearly the complete audience experience. Save for live chickens. I genuinely feel bad for the employees who have to clean up the paths of destruction all these kids are leaving behind; it looked like a war zone walking out of there. Don’t think it helped that it was cheap Tuesday either. It’s pretty clear that this game has been passed along to a younger generation.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver in IMAX. If anything, I can report that all hoopla surrounding this has indeed come to life. With all the clapping, jeering, and airborne popcorn, I think this was nearly the complete audience experience. Save for live chickens. I genuinely feel bad for the employees who have to clean up the paths of destruction all these kids are leaving behind; it looked like a war zone walking out of there. Don’t think it helped that it was cheap Tuesday either. It’s pretty clear that this game has been passed along to a younger generation.
The Amateur (2025)
Yes, the Jason Bourne and Mr. Robot connections are right there in plain view (and Blackhat I might add), and while those are some top tier inspirations, this was patchy at best. Give this to Michael Mann and he would kill it. But this mostly felt like a vain attempt to cobble together a film adaptation of a novel that was probably packed with a lot more nitty gritty details and coolness factor (I have not read the novel). There were enjoyable moments here, but fleeting enough that the trailers spoiled some of it. Going all John Wick club mode totally out of the blue got a good chuckle out of me. And as much as I liked Mr. Robot, I’m also afraid of revisiting it and missing the sense of wonder it initially captured for me — so Rami Malek’s performance here honestly makes me wonder if the intentional awkwardness of his characters just doesn’t work for me anymore.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver in IMAX. While this didn’t really benefit from the IMAX presentation, I’m still always glad to see more mature films get the premium treatment.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver in IMAX. While this didn’t really benefit from the IMAX presentation, I’m still always glad to see more mature films get the premium treatment.
Warfare (2025)
Impressive filmmaking on a technical level, but rings hollow when pitted against the plethora of war movies that are already out there. Especially ones that try to carve out the same lane but actually take aim at something more politically nuanced (Kubrick), or even psychologically challenging (The Hurt Locker, Platoon). Context is everything, and while this film intentionally lacks that so as to launch itself into maximum immersion as soon as possible, I find myself unmoved, even frustrated by the triviality of the presentation here. This is just an ambivalent Canadian speaking though.
Watched in IMAX at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver. Rare double IMAX release week alongside The Amateur.
Watched in IMAX at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver. Rare double IMAX release week alongside The Amateur.
Sinners (2025)
Going into this, knowing that Warner Bros had backed up the Brinks truck for it, banking on Ryan Coogler like a first overall pick, my expectations were pretty high. Somehow, this exceeded them! I was probably most curious to see how this played out as a cinematic spectacle, with it being heavily promoted for its presentation in premium formats, especially because it simply being a horror film makes it so distinct from the kind of film that normally gets this kind of buzz. Thinking films belonging to familiar IPs, or are backed by the direction of a household name like Christopher Nolan, recent examples of course being Dune: Part Two and Oppenheimer, respectively. So pleased to see that this totally warranted all the technical hype; just seeing the aspect ratio expand in real-time is so awesome.
The storytelling here is top notch -- I've always been a fan of films that take place in one day and/or night (After Hours, Collateral), and this one fits right in with that kind of sub-genre. The set-up throughout the daytime is killer. As night falls, and the film starts to settle in, there's a ten minute or so section that feels like the Coogler and co are absolutely flexing their film-making muscles. The kind of stuff that reminds you why movies are just so damn awesome. You'll know it when you see it.
While I do think it trudges along a bit when it starts to enter a kind of Knives Out-esque claustrophobic familial dispute (or more accurately, fraternal dispute). But it kicks right back up again when it goes full horror mode. Maybe it could use a bit more gore? But I get it, don't want to go full on body horror and scare away the casuals.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, in IMAX. A real shame that there's really no option for Canadians on the West Coast to see any kind of limited event 70mm run like this one had, but it was still a phenomenal experience in digital IMAX. Full house on a $5 (or like $10 in this case) Tuesday!
The storytelling here is top notch -- I've always been a fan of films that take place in one day and/or night (After Hours, Collateral), and this one fits right in with that kind of sub-genre. The set-up throughout the daytime is killer. As night falls, and the film starts to settle in, there's a ten minute or so section that feels like the Coogler and co are absolutely flexing their film-making muscles. The kind of stuff that reminds you why movies are just so damn awesome. You'll know it when you see it.
While I do think it trudges along a bit when it starts to enter a kind of Knives Out-esque claustrophobic familial dispute (or more accurately, fraternal dispute). But it kicks right back up again when it goes full horror mode. Maybe it could use a bit more gore? But I get it, don't want to go full on body horror and scare away the casuals.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, in IMAX. A real shame that there's really no option for Canadians on the West Coast to see any kind of limited event 70mm run like this one had, but it was still a phenomenal experience in digital IMAX. Full house on a $5 (or like $10 in this case) Tuesday!
The Passenger (1975)
This one goes out to anyone who has ever felt like they're running away from something or someone... truly disappearing really is just a fallacy. Loved the way it weaved itself from what appeared like a globe trotting thriller into an understated character study, chipping away at the quiet fractures of the emotional fugitive Nicholson inhabits. Fantastic framing and camera movement -- that long take near the end really is a sight to behold.
Watched at The Cinematheque in downtown Vancouver, 50th anniversary screening, DCP.
Watched at The Cinematheque in downtown Vancouver, 50th anniversary screening, DCP.
