Filmlosophers

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, re-enter the drift - and lose a few brain cells in the process - with this week’s review of Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018). Set ten years after the Guillermo del Toro-directed first film, this installment stars John Boyega as the son of the late Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Elba) and features only a few returning performers (Charlie Day, Burn Gorman and Rinko Kikuchi). The bulk of the film is devoted to a new group of Jaeger pilot recruits and a small fortune spent on digital effects.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, head to the OASIS for this week’s review of Ready Player One (2018). Adapted from Ernest Cline’s popular novel by none other than Steven Spielberg, the film follows Wade Watts and his avatar, Parzival, on a quest to complete a series of challenges and keep the multi-world digital space out of the hands of IOI, an evil corporation looking to lock down and commodify the OASIS.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, welcome VideoGameBANG host David Webb for a little wave riding and cave diving in this week’s review of the reinvented Tomb Raider (2018). Adapted from the most recent video game from which the franchise gets its name (and fame), the film stars Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins and Daniel Wu. Vikander reimagines the role originally brought to the silver screen by Angelina Jolie, prompting many skeptical fans to wonder whether this new interpretation will face the same creative challenges of the previous two films.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, journey across the multiverse with this week’s review of A Wrinkle in Time (2018), the first child-focused feature film from acclaimed director Ava DuVernay. Starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and newcomers Storm Reid, Levi Miller and Deric McCabe, the film is a live-action adaptation of the popular children’s novel of the same name. While much of the underlying storyline of the film remains faithful to the source material, a number of elements have been updated and reinterpreted for a modern audience.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, host their annual Oscars after party with a recap of this year’s major wins, upsets, inspiring moments and awkward wardrobe selections. Recap the 90th annual Academy Awards and relive the triumph of winners such as Guillermo del Toro, Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, Jordan Peele and others representing some of the previous year’s most critically acclaimed movies. From The Shape of Water (2017) to Coco (2017), and everything in between, the night was full of ups and downs...and no mislabeled envelopes.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, keep things in their hometown with this week’s review of Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017). Set in Sacramento, the film chronicles a high school senior’s turbulent relationship with family and friends as she prepares to end her final year in private school and move on to a college of her own choosing. Filmed almost entirely in Sacramento, Lady Bird has received numerous critical and popular accolades since it first debuted on the film festival circuit in 2017.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, screw up time and space with this week’s review of The Cloverfield Paradox (2018). The surprise third installment of JJ Abrams’ Cloverfield-verse, which dropped on Super Bowl Sunday on Netflix, is a cautionary tale that somewhat ties together the previous films in the series, Cloverfield (2008) and 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016). Even against a backdrop that includes a global energy crisis and tinkering with the multiverse with an out-of-this-world particle accelerator, the film’s strength lies in its impressive cast and diverse characters.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams The Filmlosophers travel to the mythical African nation of Wakanda in this week’s review of Black Panther (2018). New from Marvel Studios, the film is directed by Ryan Coogler and unites an expansive cast of performers to tell the story of the rise of Prince T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, to power as the warrior-priest-king known as the Black Panther. First seen on screen in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther is one of the newest superheroes to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe pantheon. He is also one of its most relatable heroes, and this new solo film enlarges the audience’s view of his homeland, family and philosophy.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, prep for next week’s Black Panther (2018) review with a tour of director Ryan Coogler’s filmography including Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed (2015). How has Coogler’s presence behind the lens shaped those stories, and what can we expect from the superhero film on the horizon? Moreover, in a culture that is still reeling from racially motivated tensions and conflict, we discuss the value of sharing stories that champion the influence and impact of black performers and creators on an international stage.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams blaze a new trail through the dystopic future with this week’s review of The Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). Directed by Wes Ball, the film brings the three-part series to a close with explosive special effects, heavy-handed exposition and a multitude of questionable plot twists that diverge from the source material in James Dashner’s popular young adult book series. The film, which faced production delays after a stunt involving lead actor Dylan O’Brien went wrong, clocks in at a massive two hours and twenty minutes.