★★ Disney's latest live-action remake arrives in theaters just ten years after the original Moana, making it one of the studio's most baffling reduxes yet. With countless animated classics still waiting for the live-action treatment—including Hercules and Tangled—why was Moana deemed worthy? Where is Aladdin 2? The original isn't old enough to inspire much nostalgia. … Continue reading Film Review: Moana (2026)
TV Review: The Vampire Lestat
Absence certainly makes the (undead) heart grow fonder, as our favorite gay vampire romance series rises from the dead nearly two years since last season concluded. Billed as The Vampire Lestat rather than Interview With the Vampire III, this explosive evolution of Anne Rice's iconic Vampire Chronicles douses Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) in glam-rock … Continue reading TV Review: The Vampire Lestat
Film Review: Masters of the Universe
★★★★★ Masters of the Universe is exactly the kind of big, crowd-pleasing blockbuster that Hollywood has shied away from in recent years. Despite appearing on surface level to be a cookie cutter action flick based on a pre-existing property, the truth could not be any further from the concept. Colorful and unapologetically silly, this meta-actioner … Continue reading Film Review: Masters of the Universe
Berlinale 2026: Chimney Town: Frozen in Time
★★★★ Poupelle of Chimney Town was sweet and delightful, a 2021 delight that flew under the radar with its sweet celebration of Halloween and... trash. Telling the story of chimney sweep Lubicchi and his magical garbage-made best friend, Poupelle, that first film had some heartwarming, Ghibli-esque magic. When I heard there was a sequel produced, … Continue reading Berlinale 2026: Chimney Town: Frozen in Time
Film Review: Wicked: For Good
★★★★★ The magical land of Oz has been a vital part of my life since I was in diapers. My mom used to sing me to sleep as a newborn with smooth croonings of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” When I was old enough to watch, The Wizard of Oz was on a permanent loop in … Continue reading Film Review: Wicked: For Good
Film Review: The Carpenter’s Son
★★ Depending on one's familiarity with religious texts, perhaps the claims of The Carpenter's Son being based on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas will be significant. For this viewer, that meant very little; however, following the storyline comes relatively easy when pared down to the basic elements. This is a version of the traditional story … Continue reading Film Review: The Carpenter’s Son
Blu-Ray Film Review: The Life of Chuck
★★★★★ At this point in time, the names Stephen King and Mike Flanagan are synonymous with quality. At the very minimal, King's name attached to a property denotes a fascinating concept; at an even bolder extreme, King on cinema has delivered some of the best movies of all time. The Life of Chuck brings together … Continue reading Blu-Ray Film Review: The Life of Chuck
4K Blu-Ray Film Review: Small Soldiers
★★★★★ Far more than just a Gremlins clone from director Joe Dante, Small Soldiers left an indelible mark on the millennials who obsessively rewatched it. Its brand of dark humor and violent action with touches of horror certainly took some cues from Child's Play. Whether you were Team Commando Elite or Team Gorgonites, there was … Continue reading 4K Blu-Ray Film Review: Small Soldiers
Fantasia 2025: Hi-Five
★★★★★ The best movie screening at 2025's Fantasia International Film Festival is... a slapstick Korean superhero flick? Color me surprised, but Hi-Five truly delivers the goods in a way that many modern superhero origin stories simply do not. Of course, it all starts from the ground up. A ridiculous script from writer/director Kang Hyung-chul lampoons … Continue reading Fantasia 2025: Hi-Five
Fantasia 2025: ChaO
★★★★ Japanese animation is in an entirely different realm than what we see over here from the Western branches. ChaO further proves that originality and bold storytelling come first, with creative visuals following soon after. Its unconventional mermaid romance makes a perfect venue to explore themes of ecological impacts as well as relationship power dynamics. … Continue reading Fantasia 2025: ChaO