When The Lights Go Down: Movie and TV Reviews by Sam Tarter
Naturally Curious
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All 15 Upcoming MCU Movies Ranked By Anticipation and Excitement
On Friday, July 9th, 2021, the Marvel Cinematic Universe made its long-awaited and heavily delayed return to the big screen, with Kate...

"Zack Snyder's Justice League": Professional artist reflects on vision, direction, and significance
Author’s Note: With the continuing decline of new and interesting movies being released in theaters due to the pandemic, I have currently...

On the Importance of "The Snyder Cut"
This is not a movie review. In fact, this piece isn't even about a movie; it's about a filmmaker’s tarnished vision, a studio that took...

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney Plus Series/Special ranked by my level of excitement
This Friday, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will make its long delayed return, but not on the massive movie screen that we are so used to....

"The New Mutants" ends the X-Men franchise with a unique, albeit average, horror-infused finale.
On Friday, October 13th, 2017, I watched the first official trailer for “The New Mutants,” and I was blown away by the trailer’s tone,...

"Bill and Ted Face the Music" is a most excellent conclusion to the trilogy; a fun ride for any fan
As the 2020 year has continued, new movies have been few and far between. Few studios are willing to sacrifice their profit on “At Home...

"Doom Patrol": The best superhero show on TV brings a necessary breath of fresh air to DC Comics
In my pre-teen years, I was entranced and enthralled by the multitude of superhero shows on television. Shows like “Arrow” and “The...

"The Umbrella Academy": Why it works, where it fails, and where can it go for Season 2?
In early 2019, Netflix released their most unique and ambitious streaming series yet with “The Umbrella Academy,” inspired by the Dark...

A Ranking/Review of all 7 films in Kevin Smith's "View Askewniverse"
Long before Sam Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. were appearing at the end of Marvel movies, Kevin Smith was sowing the seeds of the future...

"I Am Not Okay With This" adds a funny, relatable story of teen-angst and telekinesis to Netflix.
If puberty, poverty, sexuality, grief, and everyday teen angst weren’t already difficult enough to deal with, imagine discovering you...

"Birds of Prey": Super-Heroines soar with vibrant action scenes in a fresh, bold all-female flick
If this movie succeeds at doing one thing, it’s showing the world how the comic book movie genre is far from dead; it’s just been revived...

“1917” is a cinematic masterpiece; an artistic genius and suspenseful thriller in a 'single shot'
If you were to search cinematography in a dictionary, you may come across this definition: “the art of making motion pictures.” Without a...

"Little Women" proves director Greta Gerwig's prowess w/ modern, sophisticated telling of a classic
After six previous adaptations on the big screen, the iconic story of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” may be seen as rehashed and...

Rian Johnson makes a comeback with a great cast, original story, and amazing sets in "Knives Out"
Following his divisive inclusion in the Star Wars saga with 2018’s “The Last Jedi”, director Rian Johnson was under the magnifying glass...

"Jumanji" series goes bigger, but not much better, with "The Next Level"
With the unexpected smash hit “Welcome to the Jungle” breaking the box office at Christmas in 2017, another addition in the “Jumanji” ...

“Uncut Gems” gives a career best from Sandler and proves the presence of a talented director duo
Following their 2017 thriller “Good Time”, the Safdie brothers (Josh and Benny) needed to successfully make a film just as unique,...

“The Lighthouse” is a comedic but tension-filled story of cabin fever; a black-and-white masterpiece
Black-and-white films: when brought to the attention of most everyday people, they think decades old, Charlie Chaplin-esque silent films,...

“Joker” is one of the year’s best film; DC's best movie to date
If three years ago you would have told me that the director of “The Hangover” had made the best movie of 2019, I would have laughed in...

“Scary Stories”: Best horror movie of the summer; Gives the style of John Carpenter for a new era
As the film opens upon 1968, in small town Pennsylvania, the lyrics of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” hints towards the film’s plot, as...

























