Reviews
Reviews
"4 out of 5 stars, Directors Christopher Folino (who wrote the comic book this was based on) and Todd Burrows have made a remarkable film. It is unlike any other current comic book-inspired feature, and that’s a good thing."
Doug Brunell - Film Threat
"Sparks" shows plenty of cinematic muscle. It deserves a place among the legion of superhero movies."
Rick Bentley - Miami Herald & The Fresno Bee
"4 out of 5 stars"
"Sparks is one of the most refreshing entries into the Superhero marketplace. Even the traditional superheroes who resist their superpowers or are referred to as anti-heroes (Batman, Ironman) are nothing compared to the depths Sparks falls."
Lesley Coffin - Filmoria.co.uk
"Curio of the week is this ingenious low-budget adaptation of Christopher Folino’s graphic novel about a Forties do-goody superhero. One for Sin City fanboys."
Steve Morrissey - The London Evening Standard
"Sparks is one of the most astonishing pieces of work we’ve seen in a while. If this sounds like we’re gushing, you better believe it – aesthetically this is a thing of beauty, making a mockery of its DIY, Credit Card-sponsored production, while the rich and layered screenplay benefits from some astounding performances. We genuinely can’t recall the last time a film came from left-field that blew us away in such a fashion."
Peyton Westlake - Dragondark.co.uk
"Sparks a Remarkable Superhero movie"
"4 out of 5 stars"
James McDonald - Redcarpetcrash.com
"I was surprised at how much road is travelled in SPARKS and how fulfilling a film it really was, as SPARKS packs a punch few superhero films with ten times its budget possess. Seek out SPARKS, a smartly written and reasonably rendered depiction of heroes worth looking up for facing horrors that really are scary."
Mark Miller - Ain't It Cool News
"With a well-delivered, intriguing story combined with multi-layered characters and a tone that makes Gotham City’s gargoyles look like singing angels, Sparks is the superhero genre’s dirty little secret."
Andrew Pollard - Starburstmagazine.com
"9 out of 10"
"Review-Talk about a surprise let me rephrase this comment. Talk about a fu*king shock. Sparks from start to finish is such a welcome treat. Writer, director and co-director Christopher Folino has brought to life a hope that I feel other up-and-coming directors get inspired by. There is so much to this film to recommend, I loved how the director and actors showed patience and really built a very well told story that I feel people will feel like they are turning the pages of a graphic novel more than watching a film unfold. "
James Damon - Wickedchannel.com
“Sparks: The Origin of Ian Sparks” is a real surprise, a period piece of incredible authenticity, put on with a kind of care and diligence that makes it one to really enjoy."
Steve Anderson - Technology Tell
"Bolder than Kick-Ass, smarter than The Watchmen, it's a graphic novel, it's a film, it's a hit; I'm talking about Sparks."
William Powell - Examiner.com
" I really hope they continue with this because the possibilities are endless. I would welcome a second and even third film with open arms."
Patrick Ricketts - Videoviews.org
"Surprisingly good, the film Sparks offers crime drama mixed with comedy and a superhero script. The special effects are good and do the job nicely when needed. They bring back a bit of nostalgia as well presenting their film like the crime noir stories of old similar to “The Maltese Falcon”, “Dick Tracy” and “Chinatown”.
John Delia - Acedmagazine.com
"Sparks is a phenomenal new period superhero movie co-directed by Christopher Folino and Todd Burrows. Sparks is an extremely ambitious period film that plays like a cross between Double Indemnity and Watchmen."
Mike Everleth - Undergroundfilmjournal.com
"Just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes a film like ‘Sparks’ to prove you wrong. Delivering a first rate, fist pounding action thriller that proves beyond a doubt that there’s still a whole lot of life left in the world of the pulp heroes and their twenty first century descendants. Long live the Golden Age"
Tim Mass - Mass Movement Magazine
"Sparks can not be compared to other super-films because It's To Damn Good! Take the badassness of Sin City,the coolness of Spider-Man Noir, the grit of Watchmen,sprinkle in the powers of the X-Men and you're still only half way to Sparks."
Rich Stile - The Devils Eyes
"SPARKS is the origin story of Ian Sparks and is actually a pretty damn solid comic book movie."
Seth Poulin - Celluloid Terror
“Sparks” is a fine example of low budget film making at its highest caliber... what Christopher Folino & company have pulled off here is near miraculous!"
Mike Bohatch - Horrornews.net
"A solid story and a splendid cast make 'Sparks' a surprisingly entertaining superhero alternative to summertime Cineplex fare."
Ian Sedensky - Culture Crypt
"You'll definitely be engaged with the multiple-plot twists, if not the slam-bang fighting action (Ashley Bell's character should have her OWN movie) - for a film without the highest budget available, "Sparks" still delivers the goods"
Matt Boiselle - Killerreviews.com
"Sparks is a very original and unique indie and spin on the superhero film."
Felix Vasquez Jr. - Cinema Crazed
"Sparks has become my new 2013 favorite. Folino and the others did an outstanding job with this super hero thriller that I believe to be filmmaking’s rare gem."
P.J. Costa - Examiner.com
"The film had everything going for it: an amazing cast, awesome special effects, great story with nice twist and turns, tragedy and redemption."
Phillip Castor - Philsfilmadventures.com
"With Sparks, the film's writer and co-director Chris Folino has [a] potential hit.."
Vaneta Roger - Newsarama.com
"What happens when you take Watchmen, mix it with Sin City, and then throw in a little Casablanca for good measure? Hopefully something sparks. And in this particular case—you do indeed get Sparks."
Joe Vanourney - Fanboy Planet
"A solid story, full of style, grace and some fun performances, SPARKS is a super hero movies that bigger studios should take notice of, as it's one of the most original feeling heroe tales in a good while. "
Jerry Smith - The Martyrcycle
"Sparks is a unique superhero film with a twist, a great sense of humor and an expansive imaginative scope. "The ambition of this film goes far beyond what its budget should rightfully provide. Folino has constructed a faithful adaptation of his book with a stellar cast of indie darlings and ended up with what could well become a cult film for superhero fans. "
Bill Howard - Fountainpop.com
“Sparks” Is Engaging And A Visually Fulfilling Independent Film. In today’s world of $50 to $150 million plus budget films, even the ones with the smallest casts, there comes a film once in a while - on a low budget – that comes out with a sharp sense of style, intrigue and uniqueness that while watching the film, you know there was a lot of heart and passion that was put into making it. “Sparks” is definitely one of those films."
Lorenzo Marchessi - The Geek Authority
"Sparks a remarkable superhero movie"
"4 out of 5 stars"
James McDonald - Redcarpetcrash.com
"The film really captures the spirit of film noir and mixes it with the origin of a superhero, and it's 1940s setting helps to set it apart from a lot of the other stories we generally see."
Jeff Konopka - Genrewatch.com
"Sparks delivers high action, twists, excitement and brilliant, well thought out directing."
Sherrie Perkovich - Washington Times
"[Sparks has] amazingly pulled together a cast of both familiar character actors and up and comers and pulled off unbelievable CG effects."
Jason Tabrys - Comic Book Resources