"Opus" Is Fun But Doesn't Know Its Own Motivation
Mark Anthony Green was unable to connect all of the pieces in his debut feature film, leaving Opus as a middling entry in an already oversaturated genre.

One of the most insane full motion video games from the 90's edited into one NINETY MINUTE MOVIE! Written and designed by horror writer Lorelei Shannon, Phantasmagoria 2: A PUZZLE OF FLESH is a narratively unrelated follow-up to the best-selling title by graphical adventure pioneer Roberta WIlliams (King's Quest). Notorious for its "obscene content" that saw the game heavily censored or outright banned in several countries, Puzzle of Flesh had the player help the introverted Curtis Craig navigate a psychological breakdown while working at a predictably sinister pharmaceutical company. Dark secrets, sexual exploration and inter-dimensional twists abound! Experience much of the game's craziest moments and outrageous gore condensed into a coherent*, freaky and funny narrative. *Well, as coherent as the actual plot of the game.
Mark Anthony Green was unable to connect all of the pieces in his debut feature film, leaving Opus as a middling entry in an already oversaturated genre.
Desi’s “straight man” to Lucy’s playful exuberance subverted people’s expectations of what a Latino man could be and added respect and nuance to the way onscreen marriages between men and women were portrayed.
There’s been a longstanding criticism of sci-fi films about its lack of Black characters. For the past few years, Anthony Mackie has been successfully representing Black masculinity in the otherwise homogenous genre and I am here for it.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes on the heels of its billion-dollar grossing predecessor, and seeks to do absolutely nothing other than repeat its success. In this, the film is eminently effective. If you have seen the previous film, you can expect something extremely similar in this package. That is, a barrage of references to Nintendo intellectual property wrapped in a plot that provides the thinnest layer of emotional payoff for the characters.
The more biting satire is reserved for those on top of the power structure, such as the police, while those occupying lower levels are given more nuance and likability, even if they operate on the wrong side of the law. This principle gives Deep Cover its heart.
The external threat invaded the domestic environment at the most valuable moment: grieving.