Brandon Benarba, Author at The Statesman

“Avengers: Age Of Ultron” leaves viewers entertained, but wanting more from Marvel

Brandon BenarbaArts Top StoryMay 4, 2015May 4, 2015

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a beautiful mess. A film that is bigger, flashier and bolder than the original, but that also never reaches the heights of the original.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is more like fifty shades of bad

Brandon BenarbaArts FeaturedFebruary 16, 2015February 17, 2015

As a film, “Fifty Shades” works as a strong examination of cultural and cinema as a medium, but it is a shame the movie itself is terrible.

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” is the best of the movie franchise thus far

Brandon BenarbaArts FeaturedNovember 24, 2014December 30, 2014

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” is not a complete movie. It is the first half of the film adaptation of the final book in the trilogy of novels that has now been spread into four movies.

Gary Shore’s telling of Dracula’s backstory is one better left untold

Brandon BenarbaArts Top StoryOctober 13, 2014

Vampires have become one of the most frequently adapted monsters of all time, so it is odd that the main marketing point of “Dracula Untold” is that the film tells the untold story of Dracula.

“The Maze Runner” gives viewers the runaround

Brandon BenarbaArts Top StorySeptember 22, 2014

“The Maze Runner” is riddled with various characters, plot points and moments that lead to nothing, but ultimately come together as a charming, if not a bit messy, film.

Spider-Man 2: an insult to 21st century movies

Brandon BenarbaArts FeaturedMay 5, 2014May 5, 2014

In 2009, Sony made the hasty decision to unnecessarily reboot the “Spider-Man” franchise in a desperate effort to keep the right to the franchise.

Aronofsky’s “Noah” drowns under its cinematic potential

Brandon BenarbaArtsMarch 31, 2014

When director Darren Aronofsky, a documented atheist, was hired to direct and co-write a big-budget adaptation of the tale of Noah’s Ark, there was a huge backlash. In an open quote, Aronofsky stated that “Noah” would be “the least biblical film ever made,” which is ironic considering it is one of the best to come out in a long time.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” marks a new high for Marvel

Brandon BenarbaArts FeaturedMarch 24, 2014March 24, 2014

Out of the three main Marvel series, Captain America seemed like it would be the least likely to succeed. While Iron Man and Thor were allowed to roam free in action and sci-fi set pieces, Captain America was rooted as a more realistic character. Ironically, it is this exact realism and darker tone that make “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” the best Marvel film yet.

Just because Athens surrendered, doesn’t mean “300: Rise of an Empire” had to

Brandon BenarbaArtsMarch 12, 2014

“300: Rise of an Empire” is probably one of the strangest approaches to sequel making to come out of Hollywood in some time. Serving both as a prequel, sequel and a side story to the original movie, it also seems to take everything the original film stands for and out right parodies it. This is not to say that “300: Rise of an Empire” is a good film, it is a completely mind-numbingly stupid action flick, but it is better then it has any right to be.

“The Wind Rises” shows the realistic side of an animation legend

Brandon BenarbaArts Featured Top StoryMarch 3, 2014March 3, 2014

For his final film, legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and his animation studio, Studio Ghibli, have decided to favor reality. Building off of a career of wandering princesses, a hotel for wood spirits and a dancing Totoro, Miyazaki could have entered retirement with one last imaginative vision, but instead his swan song dances between the creative and haunted legacy of World War II.