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The Celtic Predator

I love movies, writing, and big, scary creatures.
The Celtic Predator has written 796 posts for Express Elevator to Hell

‘The Mermaid’ (2016): Generic Fantasy with Hamfisted Social Commentary

Directed by: Stephen Chow || Produced by: Stephen Chow, Y.Y. Khong, La Peikang, Yang Wei, Wang Changtian, Yang Zhenhua, Cao Pu, Liu Yang, Wei Jie, Cai Dongqing Screenplay by: Stephen Chow, Kelvin Lee, Ho Miu-kei, Lu Zhengyu, Fung Chih-chiang, Ivy Kong, Chan Hing-ka, Tsang Kan-cheung || Starring: Deng Cho, Lin Yun, Show Luo, Zhang Yuqi, Lu … Continue reading →

‘The Birth of a Nation’ (2016): History Is Written by the Victors

Directed by: Nate Parker || Produced by: Nate Parker, Kevin Turen, Jason Michael Berman, Aaron L. Gilbert, Preston L. Holmes Screenplay by: Nate Parker || Starring: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Colman Domingo, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Penelope Ann Miller, Gabrielle Union Music by: Henry Jackman || Cinematography: Elliot Davis || Edited by: Steven … Continue reading →

‘Aliens vs. Predator’ (2010): Choose Your Weapon

Developer: Rebellion || Publisher: Sega Director: Tim Jones || Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Paul W. S. Anderson’s Alien vs Predator (2004) film was, in many ways, a colossal waste of potential. Though casual fans of the series never took it seriously to begin with and hardcore fans view it as heresy, to … Continue reading →

F.E.A.R. (2005): A Ghostly Trigger Finger

Developer: Monolith Productions || Publisher: Sierra Entertainment Director: Craig Hubbard || Platform: Microsoft Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 One of the reasons Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) was such a watershed moment in gaming was how it changed the landscape of interactive entertainment’s marquee genre, the first-person shooter. Not only did it “democratize” or break out … Continue reading →

‘Blade II’ (2002): A Superior Action Sequel

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro || Produced by: Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes, Patrick Palmer, Avi Arad Screenplay by: David S. Goyer || Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Perlman, Leonor Varela, Norman Reedus, Luke Goss, Thomas Kretschmann, Matt Schulze, Danny John-Jules, Donnie Yen, Karel Roden, Marit Velle Kile, Darren Crawford, Tony Curran, Santiago Segura Music … Continue reading →

‘Cube’ (1997): The Original “Trapped-in-a-[Blank]” Movie

Directed by: Vincenzo Natali || Produced by: Mehra Meh, Betty Orr, Colin Brunton Screenplay by: Andre Bijelic, Graeme Manson, Vincenzo Natali || Starring: Nicole de Boeer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Julian Richings, Wayne Robson, Maurice Dean Wint Music by: Mark Korven || Cinematography: Derek Korven || Edited by: John Sanders || Country: Canada … Continue reading →

‘Eastern Promises’ (2007): Sins in Blood and Ink

Directed by: David Cronenberg || Produced by: Paul Webster, Robert Lantos Screenplay by: Steve Knight || Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Sinead Cusak, Mina E. Mina, Jerzy Skolimowki, Donald Sumpter Music by: Howard Shore || Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky || Edited by: Ronald Sanders || Country: United Kingdom, Canada, United States || … Continue reading →

America’s Reckoning: The Rise of Nativist Populism

My review of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 magnum opus, There Will Be Blood, interpreted that film’s thematic premise as the conquering of American social, religious conservatism by American fiscal conservatism and the American financial elite. At the risk of spoiling a fantastic film, Daniel Day-Lewis’ protagonist, Daniel Plainview, a wealthy oil baron depicted as one … Continue reading →

‘Earth’ (1998): Cinematic Sectarian Conflict

Directed by: Deepa Mehta || Produced by: Anne Masson, Deepa Mehta Screenplay by: Deepa Mehta || Starring: Aamir Khan, Nandita Das, Maia Sethna, Rahul Khanna, Shabana Azmi, Kitu Gidwani, Arif Zakaria, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Kumar Rajendra, Pavan Malhotra Music by: A. R. Rahman || Cinematography: Giles Nuttgens || Edited by: Barry Farrell || Country: Canada, India … Continue reading →

‘Drug War’ (2012): Johnnie To’s Sociopathic Crime Saga

Directed by: Johnnie To || Produced by: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai Screenplay by: Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi || Starring: Sun Honglei, Louis Koo, Huang Yi, Wallace Chung, Gao Yunxiang, Li Guangjie, Guo Tao, Li Jing, Lo Hoi-pang, Eddie Cheung Music by: Xavier Jamaux || Cinematography: Cheng Siu-Keung, To Hung-Mo || Edited … Continue reading →

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