★★★★ It’s that time of year again where Christmas-movie releases fly off the conveyor belt at record speed. Next up on the docket is DC’s Merry Little Batman, an energetic, holiday-centric take on a familiar tale. Taking inspiration from classics including Home Alone and The Grinch, Mike Roth’s film gives younger audiences plenty to love. … Continue reading Film Review: Merry Little Batman
Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
★★★ As the years go by, recapturing that same sense of whimsical delight once felt as a child for the Christmas holiday cinematically seems increasingly out of reach. Norwegian import Teddy’s Christmas, now dubbed to reach a wider audience, definitely encapsulates the spirit of the holiday for younger viewers to enjoy. The movie itself is … Continue reading Film Review: Teddy’s Christmas
Film Review: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
★★★★ The 23-year wait for a sequel to Aardman Animation’s smash hit, Chicken Run, is hardly the longest stretch between films. And yet, any kid who grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s will no doubt eat up this belated, adorable feature like a particularly tasty chicken dish. Kids today have such short attention spans … Continue reading Film Review: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Film Review: Genie
★★ A feel-great family movie, especially around the holidays, has the power to bring people together, and make them appreciate what they hold dear. Each and every year without fail, countless companies jump for the chance at their own new Christmas movie in the hopes that they will remain in the conversation for years to … Continue reading Film Review: Genie
Film Review: Leo
★★★★★ Lest it appears that 2023 is a little light on excellent animated movies, Netflix’s Leo comes out of nowhere to wow with its deeply rooted musicality and hilariously inspired scripting. Considering the breadth of quality genre flicks on the steamer—including Wendell & Wild, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, and Vivo—why was it such a surprise … Continue reading Film Review: Leo
Film Review: Haunted Mansion
★★★★ I will never forget the first time I rode The Haunted Mansion at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Between the eerie atmosphere waiting in line by a cemetery to the carefully constructed storyline, the immersive ghostly terrors were an instant case of love at first sight. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 2003’s … Continue reading Film Review: Haunted Mansion
Tribeca 2023: Elemental
★★★★ Any new Pixar film is cause for celebration. While many modern animation studios have tried to keep up with the consistently excellent quality of the Disney/Pixar collaborative brand, few have resulted in their staggering frequency of masterpieces. Coming on the heels of Turning Red and Lightyear, Elemental reminded me most of Inside Out—definitely a … Continue reading Tribeca 2023: Elemental
Film Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
★★★★★ Serving as the definitive Spider-Man cinematic experience, Across the Spider-Verse expands the scope of the mythology like never before, forming a deeply emotional visual extravaganza. This trio of directors (Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson) have crafted a movie that manages to transcend its complex inspirations. While the previous animated iteration, Into … Continue reading Film Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Film Review: The Little Mermaid
★★★ Love them or hate them, the live action Disney remake is here to stay. The newest, 2023’s reimagining of The Little Mermaid, seems to be one of the most divisive yet, judging by early online reactions. For me, the film was a long time coming—as a child, I would rewatch the 1989 original on … Continue reading Film Review: The Little Mermaid
Film Review: Peter Pan & Wendy
★★★ The newest cog in the Disney remake machine has arrived, this time in the form of David Lowery’s newest rendition of the timeless tale, Peter Pan & Wendy. While one’s mileage may certainly vary when it comes to these live action reimaginings, I have personally loved many more of them than I have hated. … Continue reading Film Review: Peter Pan & Wendy