CHICAGO – It began with a boy and his dream (nightmare?). John LaFlamboy, to be exact, as he took an idea he had in college and made it his life’s work. He owns and operates the HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport (Illinois), which was designed, built and put together by Haunted House experts expressly for the spookiest month of the year. For info on how to purchase tickets, click HellsGate.
Warner Bros.
They’ll Follow the Son! On-Air Review of ‘Blue Beetle’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 20, 2023 - 9:03am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 17th, reviewing “Blue Beetle,” the latest superhero film from the DC Comic Universe. In theaters since August 18th.
Living the Dream House! Audio Review of ‘Barbie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 18, 2023 - 11:53pm Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Barbie,” the highly anticipated film adaptation of America’s favorite toy doll, co-written and directed by Greta Gerwig, and featuring Margot Robbie as the title character. In theaters beginning July 21st.
‘The Flash’ Makes a Splash with a Literal Dash
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 16, 2023 - 12:25am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It amazes me to say it but with “The Flash” the DC cinematic universe has managed to actually make a movie that’s fun, for at least a little while. Even previously heralded DC movies like “Wonder Woman” left me cold with their incessant insistence on bludgeoning the audience with digital destruction.
‘Evil Dead Rise’ Rambles Along Until Doomed to Fall
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 20, 2023 - 4:29pm Rating: 0.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Watching “Evil Dead Rise,” i was reminded of Roger Ebert’s one and only review of “Friday the 13th Part 2.” In that review Ebert found little to stir him on the screen and instead lamented the audience that would willingly go to see the latest in a string of dead teenager movies.
I Wanna Be Like Mike … Super Rich! On-Air Review of ‘Air’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2023 - 10:36am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “Air,” the origin story of Michael Jordan’s shoe contract with Nike, resulting in the iconic Air Jordan. In theaters since April 5th.
For Love! On-Air Film Review of ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 9, 2023 - 10:25pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 9th, 2023, reviewing “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” the third of the male dancer films featuring Channing Tatum. In theaters on February 10th.
Fra-gee-lee! On-Air Film Review of ‘A Christmas Story Christmas’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 18, 2022 - 12:15pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 17th, 2022, reviewing “A Christmas Story Christmas,” a sequel to the holiday classic set 30 years after the original, currently streaming on HBO Max.
Dwayne Johnson Like a Rock as Star of ‘Black Adam’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2022 - 12:49pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Once again Dwayne Johnson finds himself in a vehicle unworthy of his considerable charms and talents. Johnson stars as “Black Adam,” a demigod from a mythical middle eastern country who was given power from a counsel of wizards to protect his homeland from injustice. He’s woken from a 5000 year sleep to protect the country again from foreign interlopers.
Dynamic Florence Pugh Captivates in ‘Don’t Worry Darling’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 22, 2022 - 4:39amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A sure hand behind the camera and a dynamic performance from Florence Pugh help “Don’t Worry Darling” pull off an extremely difficult balancing act. This isn’t a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it inspires the kind of impressions and ideas that you will still be talking about a week later.
Law-Abiding ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 14, 2022 - 11:22am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The elements of the Fantastic Beasts franchise that work at all are the ones most closely connected to the larger world of Harry Potter that enchanted the hearts and minds of millions in the first place. In “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” it’s ostensible main character Newt Scamander demoted to supporting character while Dumbledore is front and center.
