“Jumanji: The Next Level” Review
To warrant one more playthrough of Jumanji in its quirkier video game format, there has to be something more than just a reason to return. Something needs to be shaken up in the game. The characters need to have more of a reason to go an adventure than merely surviving Continue Reading
The Last Jedi is Good, Actually
Early in the week of December 15th, 2017, I ventured into the theater for the preview screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It was an exciting event as there were so many burning questions desired to be answered about the next entry in the new trilogy. The lights went Continue Reading
“Parasite” Review
While Bong Joon-ho’s filmography boasts much of the fantastic, most of them carry a scathing criticism of the class structure that damages futures and society. There’s no missing that commentary in Parasite, shoving it into our faces with uncomfortable catharsis. Blindsiding the audience as a dark comedy, this story takes Continue Reading
“Knives Out” Review
Rian Johnson’s whodunnit of Knives Out is a love-letter of a murder mystery that broadcasts an affinity for the genre while still holding a sharp edge all it’s own. While it plays with the material and finds some of the dark humor within such a scenario, there’s a real sense Continue Reading
“Frozen II” Review
While 2013’s Frozen became firmly lodged in the pop-culture consciousness for its numerous merchandising and constant repetition of the soundtrack, it was also a film of great surprise and subversion. Shifting the tale from being about finding true love to staying to your sibling, the charming characters and visual splendor Continue Reading
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Review
While there are plenty of nostalgic stings for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood present within this emotional journey, there’s one moment that is exceptionally powerful. While out to lunch, Rogers recommends a break from the conversation to have a moment of silence to think of those who loved us and brought us Continue Reading
“Jojo Rabbit” Review
Compared to the more aggressive and astute Nazi satire of Look Who’s Back, Jojo Rabbit is a stroll through easy comedy. The German Nazis during the last days of the war are portrayed as easy cartoonish figures easy enough to laugh at for being so wrong. Jokes about burning literature Continue Reading
“Ford v Ferrari” Review
As the triumphant tale of how Ford won the Le Mans race, I wasn’t all that enthralled to hop into the passenger seat of such a story. This was especially concerning for a picture that runs 2 1/2 hours that I fully expected to be bogged down in its checklist Continue Reading
“Doctor Sleep” Review
Following the maddening nature of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is no easy task. But after nearly 40 years since that film, now would be the time to try to take a whack at it, given the success of numerous sequels in the past few years from films over 30 years Continue Reading
“Terminator: Dark Fate” Review
Even though the Terminator franchise seems to have been stuck in the same gear since its initial time-travel premise, Dark Fate tries desperately to switch out as many parts as it can. Instead of taking place mostly in America, the battle shifts to Mexico and the Texas border. Instead of Continue Reading