Sarah Gopaul

Sarah Gopaul
Tomatometer-approved critic
Publications: Digital Journal
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Movie Reviews Only

T-Meter Title | Year
57% The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) This is a movie of moments. The overall story targets a slightly younger audience than before, but there is enough for everyone to enjoy sprinkled throughout. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jun 12, 2019
23% Dark Phoenix (2019) The first thing to get out of the way is this feels like a misguided attempt to shoehorn this amazing narrative into the "trending" women of power film movement. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jun 7, 2019
40% Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) The big improvement from the last picture is these battles are visible to audiences, rather than shrouded in darkness and quick editing... But there's not a lot more to praise in this movie. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jun 3, 2019
57% Aladdin (2019) The result is actually very close to the source material, which will please fans even if it lacks some creativity. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 25, 2019
89% John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) Where this movie lacks finesse, it replaces it with brute force. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 19, 2019
66% Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) This movie is basically a cuter, more kid-friendly version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 10, 2019
51% Tolkien (2019) While sharing with audiences the biography of a great writer and philologist, this movie is primarily an exploration of Tolkien's influences for his two greatest tales. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 10, 2019
60% War on Everyone (2017) Skarsgård and Peña have excellent chemistry, both playing their roles with the perfect balance of seriousness and irony. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 9, 2019
81% Long Shot (2019) Politics and romance don't seem like a winning combination, but this movie does an exceptional job of making it work. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted May 4, 2019
94% Avengers: Endgame (2019) [T]he Russo brothers defy expectations and give fans a movie they didn't anticipate, but will be grateful to have. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 27, 2019
30% The Curse of La Llorona (2019) Overall, director Michael Chaves' feature debut is a haunting horror movie that embraces the build-up and doesn't require jump scares at regular intervals. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 23, 2019
17% Hellboy (2019) It's difficult not to compare films - particularly when the first picture has such a loyal following - and, in doing so, the original definitely triumphs. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 20, 2019
90% Shazam! (2019) Shazam isn't as flashy as its DC counterparts, but it brings a lot of heart and laughter to the screen as a superhero movie suitable for the whole family. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 5, 2019
92% Giant Little Ones (2019) ... a thoughtful examination of the harm that comes from a need for labels and how empowering it can be to stop needing them to define one's relationships. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 31, 2019
94% Us (2019) Adelaide's constant uneasiness radiates from the screen, which is one of many accomplishments by Nyong'o in this movie. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 22, 2019
27% The Aftermath (2019) [The] choice to be conventional is the most disappointing aspect of the film, which is an otherwise standard period romance. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 21, 2019
92% Gloria Bell (2019) Gloria is an authentic representation of real women and the type of woman many aspire to be. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 15, 2019
78% Captain Marvel (2019) Rather than change the way comic book movies depict women, this picture makes a standard superhero movie with a female protagonist. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 10, 2019
60% Greta (2019) ...even though this movie isn't as sophisticated as [Neil Jordan's] other films, it's still enjoyable because of its absurdity rather than in spite of it. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 1, 2019
77% Never Look Away (2019) This movie offers a unique perspective as it examines the effects of war via art in a manner that is surprisingly engaging and moving. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 24, 2019
91% How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) This is a fitting end to an exceptional and touching film franchise, balancing tears with joy as the best goodbyes are known to do. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 22, 2019
69% Happy Death Day 2U (2019) When looking for a popcorn movie, it doesn't matter if it's predictable - but it has to be fun and this movie definitely checks that box. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 14, 2019
60% Alita: Battle Angel (2019) Every inch of the aesthetic was thought-out with painstaking detail that makes it all seem real and, in turn, helps bring its characters to life. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 13, 2019
85% The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) [The film] takes a more literal approach to its narrative that builds on its self-awareness, while still delivering an amusing caper in a fantastically imaginative world. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 8, 2019
22% Miss Bala (2019) [D]irector Catherine Hardwicke resists the Hollywood machine enough to let Gloria survive her way. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 1, 2019
73% Chef Flynn (2018) Eureka is the name Flynn gave his in-house restaurant and pop-ups, and it would seem the exclamation is an apt title for his still blossoming career. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 27, 2019
92% Cold War (Zimna wojna) (2018) This unconventional love story captivates audiences with its nearly square frame and conflicted romance that is amazingly contained to less than 90 minutes without missing a beat or feeling rushed. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 25, 2019
19% Serenity (2019) Serenity starts off as a solid neo-noir before turning into something completely different, which runs the risk of derailing the narrative and alienating audiences. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 25, 2019
37% Glass (2019) The most exciting part of this type of trilogy is getting everyone into the same room, so Shyamalan doesn't waste a lot of time getting to at least one of the more anticipated meetings. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 18, 2019
74% Destroyer (2018) The script creates a blend of timelines that engages viewers with equal fervour and challenges them to be evenly present in both stories. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 11, 2019
89% Lifechanger (2018) The movie is a solid genre picture that combines sci-fi and some twisted form of romance, but it's truly made by the ending that calls into question everything that preceded it and gives the title an additional meaning. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 3, 2019
33% Welcome to Marwen (2018) [I]n spite of the connection between the real and imaginary storylines, they feel like they are competing for the audience's attention. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 31, 2018
73% On the Basis of Sex (2019) Ginsburg is smart as a whip, and Jones conveys her strength and intelligence with poise and humour. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 24, 2018
95% If Beale Street Could Talk (2019) The film is unrushed, often making poetry in motion, as viewers are meant to spend time with these people to better understand where they're coming from, creating a subtle yet striking statement that resonates long after the credits. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 24, 2018
65% Aquaman (2018) Director James Wan is not concerned with shoehorning his film into the greater DCEU, which gives him the freedom to make a film that rolls Aquaman's origin story and an exciting plot into a movie that surpasses most of the studio's other efforts. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 22, 2018
79% Mary Poppins Returns (2018) It's not often one can recapture the hope of their youth via a charming follow-up to a family favourite, but this is unquestionably one of those rare occasions that should be lovingly embraced. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 20, 2018
57% The House That Jack Built (2018) [A]s is typical, the filmmaker's arguments are thought-provoking, even when they are wrapped in indecency. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 16, 2018
84% The Quake (Skjelvet) (2018) [S]omewhat expectedly, this film doesn't measure up to its predecessor, but still passes for a popcorn action blockbuster. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 16, 2018
27% Mortal Engines (2018) If it was tighter and focused on hitting the (obvious) beats to propel the story forward, it'd be a much-improved picture. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 14, 2018
63% Mary Queen of Scots (2018) Obviously, this is a simplified and likely exaggerated representation of history, but the difficulties these women faced should not be dismissed or underestimated. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 14, 2018
51% Once Upon a Deadpool (2018) "Family is not an F-word," but Deadpool isn't the same without it. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 12, 2018
66% Suspiria (2018) At 152 minutes, one's appreciation for Guadagnino's approach has a lot of time to waver and those moments of brilliance can become overshadowed by the self-indulgent, art house elements that appeal to a more niche audience. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 1, 2018
78% Green Book (2018) The comedy woven through the entire script is surprising, but completely natural. The friendship that develops between these two dissimilar men is heartwarming and the fact that it's based on a true story ... makes it even more so. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 23, 2018
88% Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) It's vibrant and everything moves very quickly, which is great for Vanellope but really discombobulates Ralph. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 22, 2018
84% Creed II (2018) ... its understanding of the franchise's history is evident and a significant contributor to creating a movie that long-time fans will enjoy. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 22, 2018
91% Widows (2018) [McQueen and Flynn] create a thrilling picture that offsets its one element of predictability with a compelling narrative that keeps everyone on their toes. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 17, 2018
37% Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) ... nothing negates the fact that the crux of the film is located in a handful of key scenes and the last 30 minutes of the movie, making more than two-thirds of the picture noticeably superfluous. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 16, 2018
81% Boy Erased (2018) This film is somewhat understated, but it fits the subject matter well ... [it] uses sincerity and realism to deliver its meaning. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 11, 2018
59% The Grinch (2018) Unlike the live-action version, this newly animated edition shares a lot of similarities with the original, which makes it more palatable. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 9, 2018
32% The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) The tale is enchanting, though the lack of music is conspicuous and the ending is a little underwhelming. - Digital Journal EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 3, 2018