Articles by Paul Hall

The Marvel Universe of films expands by one with Avengers: Infinity War. It’s a difficult film to review because “Thanos demands your silence.” So how in the world am I supposed to tell you what this Avengers film is about? A historic battle is about to take place. Thanos (Josh Brolin) is not just coming; he is here, and he is after the six Infinity Stones. If he gets them, he will unleash chaos on Earth. But our favorite Avengers, both old and new alike, will try to save the day. And against the formidable opponent that is Thanos, every […]

College is a time for young minds to develop. We go to school to learn. We go to school to grow. And let’s face it, we also go to school to party. If you’re thinking, “What better way to celebrate your entire senior year than to complete it alongside your mother”, the new film Life of the Party will give you a taste of what that might look like. Maddie (Molly Gordon) is a good kid. She’s heading back to college for her senior year and her mom and dad are dropping her off. She’s excited about finishing her degree […]

As a child of the ’80s, I grew up with the content featured in Ready Player One from director Steven Spielberg. The references are fast and furious in this film that is set in the future while paying tribute to the past, and that endeared me to the project from the moment I sat down. Wade (Tye Sheridan) lives his life in relative anonymity in the Stacks. His neighborhood in Columbus consists of living quarters that would be best thought of as a glorified junkyard, with places to stay piled on top of each other. But home is not where […]

It’s time for the incredibly intelligent gorilla, George, to have his own movie, called Rampage. Based on the classic video game of the same name, this offering is bound to leave a path of destruction halfway across the United States. George is living a charmed life in a San Diego preserve under the watchful eye of primatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson). But when a mysterious canister lands within his habitat, George is transformed into a bigger, more aggressive beast, and Davis must quickly figure out what is going on. The arrival of a mystery woman brings some answers. Dr. Kate […]

Second chances don’t come every day. A second piece of pie is tasty even if you know it’s not good for you. Second dates only happen when the first date succeeds (or, of course, if the girl or guy takes pity on the poor soul who is bound to mess everything up). And sequels usually only come when the original film makes truckloads of cash, but the original Super Troopers only grossed north of $18 million at the box office. So, it was with great interest that I sat down to this unconventional sequel, Super Troopers 2, that was born […]

Prom. It’s a magical time and the most expensive date most young couples will have. In the film Blockers, that magical night serves as a backdrop for a pact between three lifelong friends. But when the girls’ parents find out about the pact, the race is on to stop them at all costs. Julie (Kathryn Newton) decides to take her relationship with her boyfriend to the next level, and before you know it, her best friends Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Sam (Gideon Adlon) are in on the agreement. Together they make #sexpact2018 their battle cry. There is one small problem, […]

Since the first Tomb Raider game launched in 1996, Lara Croft has been a recognizable character in video-game circles. She later was embodied in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 and its follow-up film two years later by Angelina Jolie, but that was then. In the new film simply titled Tomb Raider, we get a new Lara Croft and a new adventure as, much like the video game did, we relaunch this classic character. This time around, Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander) is searching for her father. Seven years have passed since Lord Richard Croft’s (Dominic West) disappearance, and Lara still […]

Imagination. It doesn’t only help us to create different worlds in theory, but imagination also allows us to unlock the power that is inside of us and break the barriers that stifle growth. In the A Wrinkle in Time, we are all transported to a new world and filled with hope and promise. Meg Murry (Storm Reid) has grown up without her father (Chris Pine). As the anniversary of her dad’s disappearance arrives, she is trying to do her best just to survive school and people who don’t understand. But life is rough for Meg and her younger brother Charles […]

Beatrix Potter’s character Peter Rabbit first appeared in an 1893 letter and became the centerpiece of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. Since then we’ve seen multiple books and countless different appearances of the lovable rabbit in the blue jacket. In Peter Rabbit, we get a film with animation and live action together. Peter (voice of James Corden) is a rebel who is all about getting the vegetables from Mr. McGregor’s farm for his family. And when the hare finally gets the elder statesman McGregor (Sam Neill) out of his hair, Peter and his wildlife friends and family celebrate. […]

Sept. 11, 2001. It is a day etched into the minds of everyone in the United States of America regardless of who you are or what you do. On Sept. 11, a very obvious strike was made against America, and in the film 12 Strong, we see America’s first strike back against those who orchestrated the events of that fateful day. Capt. Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth) had a team of men who looked up to him. But it was time for Nelson to establish life with his family, so he chose to take a desk position. When he learns of […]