Jess Kroll

Jess Kroll
Jess Kroll is a novelist and university professor born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and based in Daegu, South Korea. He has been writing film reviews since 2004 and has been exclusive to Pop Mythology since 2012. His novels include 'Land of Smiles' from Monsoon Books and young adult series 'The One' and 'Werewolf Council' from Epic Press.

Gravity │ Review

gravity-movie

'Gravity' is one of the single most beautiful films ever made and the closest approximation most people will get to experiencing a space walk. After 90 minutes of weightless drifting the air in your lungs and the floor at your feet will feel wonderful.

Read More »

And justice for none: ‘Prisoners’ and the anxiety over justice in America

prisoners-movie-3

This post examines how the movie 'Prisoners' brushes upon topics of law and justice in the United States beyond its most obvious one. It’s a story, and stories seldom provide answers. Stories raise doubt and ask questions which generate discussions. That’s where answers begin.

Read More »

Prisoners │ Review

prisoners-hugh-jackman

If one is capable of suspending both disgust and disbelief, 'Prisoners' becomes an intense, masterfully acted suspense-thriller which mentions but never pontificates on numerous larger issues within modern American life.

Read More »

Hiroshi Yamauchi and the Nintendo ethos of beautiful simplicity

super nintendo

Under Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo proved that it takes vision to strip down a product rather than dress it up. It’s much more lasting and, pun intended, game-changing to focus on the basics. It’s also a lot more difficult. The line between refreshing and shallow, or exploitatively nostalgic, is thin. When simple goes wrong, game over. When simple goes right, game on.

Read More »

Riddick │ Review

riddick-vin-diesel

In terms of B-movie essentials 'Riddick' delivers nasty deaths, turn-off-your-brain plot, neat technology, bad CGI and gratuitous nudity, yet the gaps between action scenes are too long and too stationary to carry through. The best creature features know how to play silence as terror; 'Riddick' treats silence as empty.

Read More »

The Grandmaster │ Review

the-grandmaster-tony-leung

The overall effect of 'The Grandmaster' is like that of an 800-page novel in rich, luxurious, numbing prose. The surface is gorgeous and expansive, but the substance beneath can be summarized in a single paragraph.

Read More »

Kick-Ass 2 │ Review

kick-ass-2

There is some good material here and Hit Girl remains great, but often 'Kick-Ass 2' sets up for something outrageous and then cowers from it. “Have fun. That’s what it’s all about,” says Jim Carrey's character. Sadly, 'Kick-Ass 2' doesn't listen.

Read More »

Elysium │ Review

elysium

There is even greatness somewhere beneath the surface of 'Elysium.' But the film doesn’t do the needed digging to bring out its potential. It definitely packs a punch. It just doesn’t know where to aim.

Read More »

Fruitvale Station │ Review

fruitvale-station

There were very few people in attendance when I saw 'Fruitvale Station,' but every one of us sat in shocked silence as the credits rolled. This is a film that deserves open and thoughtful discussion about why young men like Oscar Grant wind up in such situations and how we as a society can prevent this from happening again.

Read More »