The Long Walk is Brutally Saddening, yet Humane

Friends Make the Walk Worthwhile I’m a Stephen King Fan. Although I’m relatively new to his works, I’ve loved just about every one of his stories. And while, yes, they are known to be horrifying and dark, there is another aspect to his writing that encourages me to continually come back to his work: his humanity. Whether it be the innocence of children overcoming societal … Continue reading The Long Walk is Brutally Saddening, yet Humane

‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ is Too Sugary Sweet

Performing to Reach Healing I’m a big softie at heart. Couple that with the fact that I love Romantic philosophy and magical realism, and the movie A Big Bold Beautiful Journey should be just the film for me. Its characters live in a world where the unexplainable happens, and they are barely phased. Their penchant for blocking themselves off from relationships is explored, and they learn to … Continue reading ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ is Too Sugary Sweet

‘One Battle After Another’ Draws the Battle Lines Clearly

P.T. Anderson filmed Magnolia, my favorite movie of all time, so seeing One Battle After Another was a non-option for me. In short, this new film from one of the greatest directors of our time impresses in every way possible. It speaks to our current political climate by making clear just what kind of a road we may be on. On top of that, it nails entertainment in a … Continue reading ‘One Battle After Another’ Draws the Battle Lines Clearly

‘Tron: Ares’ is a Solid Action Sci-Fi, Despite Shallow Characters

It’s been quite a while since Tron: Legacy premiered in theatres (15 years, to be exact).  It’s been even longer since the original Tron in 1982. To prepare for Tron: Ares, the third installment in this slow-going series, I read up on the Wikipedia synopses of the first two films. I thought that I would need a refresher on what came before. Turns out, all I really needed to know was … Continue reading ‘Tron: Ares’ is a Solid Action Sci-Fi, Despite Shallow Characters

‘Bugonia’ Stings on Conspiracies and Ecology

Mother Earth is In Trouble! Yorgos Lanthimos directs some weird kinds of films, even arguably stranger than David Lynch himself. I can’t say I am a fan of Lanthimos’ works, although I have seen a few of his movies (The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Poor Things). I have been impressed by these entries enough to make me want to watch his newest film, Bugonia. Bugonia is … Continue reading ‘Bugonia’ Stings on Conspiracies and Ecology

Wicked: For Good Dips Slightly in Quality

The Darker Half of the Story It’s already been a year since the release of Wicked: Part One, and hype is stronger than ever for the conclusion to the mega-hit two act musical. While the novel will sadly never get a direct adaptation (see my upcoming article on book vs. musical to see why), act 2 of the film should be more than enough to tide … Continue reading Wicked: For Good Dips Slightly in Quality

‘Zootopia 2’ Lays on the Drama

Zootopia is a family-friendly film, even though it deals with heavy subjects like prejudice, bullying, bias, and the like. For the most part, the movie doesn’t come across as overtly dramatic, at least not in a super dark way. However, most people are probably unaware of the film’s original script. Predators in the original Zootopia were forced to wear shock collars meant to control their primal urges.  Nick … Continue reading ‘Zootopia 2’ Lays on the Drama

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is Repetitive but Enjoyable

Old Testament Father Issues Partway through watching Avatar: Fire and Ash, a scene occurred which immediately caught my attention. Events onscreen blatantly recalled one of the oldest Biblical myths our society has: the story of Abraham and Issac. Curious, I searched online to see if others had noticed the allusion.  They definitely had, as both reviewers and critics had made note of it. Curiously enough, I discovered … Continue reading ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is Repetitive but Enjoyable

‘Marty Supreme’ Gives You No One to Root For

Everybody Wants to Rule the World In some films, you root for the hero.  With others you cheer for the anti-hero. Then, in a few, the villain becomes the hero. But what about when there isn’t a hero?  When there’s no one you can root for?  When the main character is a narcissist and never evolves past his ego driven choices? Well, you get Marty Supreme. The … Continue reading ‘Marty Supreme’ Gives You No One to Root For