Alright, now, as I’m sure many of you know, this newer Disney animated film, known simply as Wish, was just released 5-6 weeks ago. At this point, you may be wondering why I’m finally getting to reviewing this film this many weeks later, following it’s release on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023. Was it because I didn’t originally plan to see this Disney film after hearing reviews of it that leaned more towards the negative side than the positive one? Absolutely not! In fact, I still planned to see Wish, regardless of whether people were saying more good, bad, or even ambivalent things about it. However, because I was out of town during the time that it was first out around Thanksgiving time, and because I was either seeing other films afterwards, and things like that, it was more that I decided to go ahead, and just see this film closer to Christmas time. In this case, I finally did see Disney’s Wish a couple times already, once a couple weeks before Christmas Day, and another time shortly after that holiday. So now that I’ve finally seen it, let’s discuss Disney’s 62nd Animated Feature, Wish, which stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Victor Garber, and a few other actors, and actresses.

Plot: In the fictional Kingdom Of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) grants wishes to the the citizens of his kingdom once a year. But when a young teenage girl named Asha (Ariana DeBose) discovers a secret corruption in regards to the King, and his Kingdom, it is up to her, with the help of human friends of hers, a star from the sky named Star, and a goat named Valentino (Alan Tudyk) to deal with the agenda, and put Rosas in a better position than it was before.

Well, now that I’ve seen Disney’s latest animated film a few weeks after it was first released, you may be wondering, is this film as bad as a lot of people are saying it is? Well, let me put it to you all this way! Wish wasn’t exactly a horrible film, but it wasn’t one of Disney’s best works either. So, allow me to elaborate! This time around, I think I’ll have the negatives, and positives in one paragraph, simply because a lot of elements for this film, I think a lot of people that see this film will have mixed elements on. For those of you that have seen this film already, and disagree, let’s have a peaceful discussion about that. Anyway, on with the review!

First off, let’s start off with the character development. Okay, the character development could have improved. Let’s start off with the main character herself, Asha. Well, she was an alright character for the way that she was written. Don’t get me wrong. There are for sure some good qualities to her, such as the fact that she’s selfless in terms of wanting to give other people’s wishes a chance, especially those in her family. She also is willing to go to great risks to accomplish what she needs to. Also, how could we not like her solo I want song, “This Wish”? Honestly, though it may not win, hopefully it will at least get nominated. The thing about this song is that, though Asha may be singing about wanting certain goals for herself, she sings, and shows in the song that she cares more about the possible best interest of her kingdom of Rosas. Don’t believe me? Well, listen to the song, and you’ll likely know, and understand what I mean. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people would have mixed feelings about how she was written, and/or how she handled situations throughout the course of this film. As for the side characters, hardly any of them, aside from the goat, Valentino, and Asha’s best friend, Dahlia, who looks sort of like Snow White, hardly are interesting at all. So, Asha has seven human friends that are supposed to basically serve as the side characters, and/or comic relief, in addition to Valentino, and Star. Sadly, none of them seem to have that much development, again, with the exception of Dahlia, and don’t seem to shine as well as they could have. As I was watching Wish, I remember finding myself comparing them to say the Seven Dwarves from the 1937 Disney film, Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, or even the lesser known six side characters from the 2001 Disney animated film, Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Granted the side characters from Atlantis weren’t quite as memorable as at least the dwarves, but they were still memorable, and likable, which is more than can be said about these newer side characters from Wish. Oh, and one more thing! The way that some of the side characters were written, and how some character arcs were handled with some of them, it felt rushed, and kind of out of place. Then, there’s the villain, King Magnifico. Okay, Disney seemed to write him as this supposed complex villain who thinks he’s doing good, but turns out that he isn’t. Oh my gosh! His character was done so much better in older Disney films like with Frollo in 1996’s Hunchback Of Notre Dame, or even someone like Kron from 2000’s Dinosaur. But with Magnifico, as you watch this film, let’s just say that you could potentially find yourself cheering for him, and feeling sorry for him more than Asha. Yeah, when you feel more sorry for a villain than your hero, or heroine, that’s kind of tragic, wouldn’t you say? Finally, that leads to my final character, Asha. Again, she is a fun character, and one must give her credit for her compassionate nature, caring for those around her, and more. Still, her character could have probably maybe been written better, and her potentially having a better character arc than she seemed to have in the end. Next, there’s the storyline overall. Okay, I heard that in earlier drafts, both the King, and Queen were going to be a villain duo, and the star character was going to be a human, and star character named Starboy, who would basically serve as a love interest for Asha, among other things that made it sound like this film would have been stronger than it was in the end. Okay, am I saying that it’s bad that both the King, and Queen weren’t villains. Well, it was certainly a nice change to have only one of them be villains. Still, with this being a fairytale, maybe this film would have been stronger. You got me! Also, with the whole Starboy, and Asha deal, especially since one of the songs, by the name of “At All Costs” seemed to sound more like a love ballad between those two, and then changed to being used for something entirely different, and for a rather stupid reason, in the final version of this film, yeah, that’s another reason why the writing for this Disney film wasn’t all that great. Okay, the writing did have its strong points. Still, the weaker points seemed to outweigh the stronger ones in this case. And one other thing regarding the original Asha, and Starboy deal! Is Disney really afraid to have a main character have a love interest? Don’t get me wrong! It is nice that Disney is diverting from the romantic happily ever after in more recent years. Still, is it really wrong for Disney to have a love relationship between a male, and female character as of nowadays? Just wondering! With that said, what’s even more is that likely because of the fact that this Disney film was commemorating Disney’s 100th anniversary, Disney seemed to rush this film, and cared more about making callbacks, Easter eggs, and references to previous Disney films than making a good story overall. Honestly, if Disney had just cared more about making a good story than about these callbacks, references, and things like that, then that’s another reason this film could have been better than it was in the end. Well, hopefully Disney learned their lesson after this one to not rush their films, animated, or live-action, because of a special occasion, or things like that. Time will tell. Next, there’s the animation for this film. First of all, what Disney was trying to do when mixing 3D, and 2D animation, that was most definitely an intriguing move on their part. Did it work in the end? Well, yes, and no. Here’s the thing. The visuals were phenomenal, particularly during numbers like “I’m A Star”, and “Knowing What I Know Now.” And, again, the 2D, and 3D mix was a nice idea. Not to mention having callbacks to older films like with Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, or even other films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and even using the storybook to tell a story. At other times, however, like during songs such as “This Wish,” the animation kind of felt like something that could be out of a video game like one of the Mario games, or maybe one of the Zelda ones, or games like those. As a result, the animation could have been better, and improved. Next, there are the numbers for this film. Well, though they won’t be impactful like many other songs of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ features, they were still simple, and fun, including ones like “Kingdom Of Rosas”, and “At All Costs”, and ones that you might find yourself humming to like “This Wish”, “I’m A Star”, “Knowing What I Know Now”, and the villain song, “This Is The Thanks I Get.” For the last one, it was more upbeat than an actual villain song. I would say that if there was ever a time when there was a Category for Best Villain Song, and this past year was one of those years, “Good To Be King” from Journey To Bethlehem would have been the one I would have voted for. Don’t get me wrong, “This Is The Thanks I Get” was still fun, and even hilarious at times. Still, if people were to say what would be a potential more memorable, and richer song, the one from Journey To Bethlehem would probably sound cooler, and better. Still, it was nice to have a villain song from a Disney animated film in over a decade. Oh, and did I forget to mention the reprise of “This Wish” that occurs near the end of this film? I won’t go into details as to why it occurs, but let’s just say that hearing Asha sing, and nearly every other character sing it, and having it sound like an actual choir, wow, most definitely one of the major highlights when it comes to the songs in this film. Oh, and the choreography in some of the songs was really great as well. One other thing to mention in regard to the songs is that the instruments, and choreography that were used throughout this film were amazing. Finally, the messages in this film can come off as a mixed bag, and possible even convoluted. I mean it’s good to have dreams, and wishes. But seeing as this film seemed to depict the message that it could potentially be wrong for some to not be granted, that was definitely not the best part of this film. Like nearly everything else, the messages of this movie can be both good, and bad-sided at the same time.

And that’s my review for Disney’s 62nd animated feature, Wish. I’m not sure if it was due to there being a change in leadership over the past few years, Disney rushing this film since the company reached it’s 100th anniversary, or even a combination of them both, and more. Either way, Wish was decent, but still had some potential to improve. I would say that since John Lasseter was let go as head of Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios a few years ago, the company slowly, but surely seemed to go downhill in their quality of storytelling. Not just Lasseter, but maybe even change in the creative team overall. With all that said, hopefully Disney will learn their lesson from what went wrong with Disney’s Wish, and will improve in quality of storytelling in the future. With Wish flopping, Disney needs to learn that rushing projects is never a good idea, being political, and/or woke is never the way to go, and lessons like those. No, Wish didn’t feel so woke aside from the messages of this film feeling rather mixed, and convoluted. Still, the messages can come off as not being the best. I would say that if you really want to see Wish, then just see it for free at the movie theater, or wait for the film to arrive on Disney+ in a few months. So now that I’ve reviewed Wish, let me tell you to go ahead, and see it, and see what you think! One more thing! When the credits roll, please do not leave the theater, or stop the movie yet. There are drawings that are scattered throughout the movie that will serve as callbacks to older Disney animated films, as well as a post credit scene that you definitely don’t want to miss for a reason that I won’t give away to avoid spoilers. So, after watching Wish, please watch the credits, and stick to the very end, when the post credit scene occurs.

Final Grade: C+

Well, everyone, today we are going to go into the genre known as historical drama. Therefore, today’s review will be based on a true story. This time, it will be a film that is set in 1936, between WWI, and WWII. So now, let’s discuss the historical drama film that was just released on Christmas Day, The Boys In The Boat.

Plot: The Boys In The Boat depicts how, in 1936, a college student from University Of Washington named Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), and seven other college students from that school became some of the best boat rowers and representatives from the US at that time.

Well, I will start this review off by saying that the score in this film is amazing. I haven’t usually been one to start off the positive aspects of a movie review by saying something like that in the past. So, I figured it was time for me to start off a film review like this one by mentioning something along those lines now. That being said, in regards, Desplat has this beautiful, calm, and peaceful way of drawing the audience into the story from the start. That is thanks to a mix of piano, and some other instruments that were thrown into the mix throughout the beginning, and the rest of the film. Truthfully, Desplat should get a nomination for Best Original Score for this film. He most definitely deserves it. If he does get nominated in that category, will he win? Probably not, but one can only hope, and dream, that’s for sure. In addition to all of this, the acting is phenomenal, especially from Callun Turner (Joe Rantz), Joel Edgerton (Coach Ulbrickson), Hadley Robinson (Joyce Simdars), and others. Next, there’s the cinematography. Boy, is the scenery from the cinematography amazing in this film! What else is there!?! Well, there’s also the amazing history that goes along with this movie in particular. I mean to hear that the US competed not only with other states like California, but also with other nations around the world, including ones like Austria, and Germany, which is interesting considering that the events in which this film took place occurred just three years before WWII began. Not only that, but it was also amazing that this movie showed how different things were back then. Yes, that may be the case due to there not being Internet back then, or not as much technological advancement, and things like that. However, this movie also successfully showed how much kinder people were back then, how much more determined people during this time period were to get done what they needed to, regardless of how much work they had to go through, how much food people sometimes needed to cut out, or things like that. After I watched this film, I had a conversation with someone who also saw this movie, and made a comment that so many of the younger people in their 20s, 30s, and maybe even 40s, if not older, especially need to see The Boys In The Boat. His reason being that he’s noticed that a lot of people in today’s day, and age have seemed to act as if they’re entitled to have whatever they want, regardless of how much, or little work they do. Is he right? Very much so! In fact, when one compares people who lived during the time that this film took place, and those who in today’s society, it’s surprisingly very drastic, and I’m sure some people can guess why. So, there’s another reason for hoping that a lot of people will see this movie, and learn some very valuable lessons from the people who lived during the events in which The Boys In The Boat took place. Anyway, not only does the film show how much kinder people were back then, and sometimes how generous others were when one is asking, and praying for a miracle, but it also showed the unfair side of people as well. Seeing as that was life even back then, it was good for this film to do that as well. And there’s another thing to mention in this review. This film did a tremendous job of showing how people like Joe Rantz were to get college paid for, being successful at Olympic sports like boat rowing, and how even people like Coach Al Ulbrickson were to get his team well-trained in the sport. Because of this, this movie taught amazing lessons on the appreciation of hard work, dedication to things one can be passionate about, and learning not to give up even when potentially easy to do. Not to mention how important it is to forgive others, no matter how much one has hurt you. If none of these aren’t reasons to convince one to see this film, then there could be others that I’m not mentioning. Still, hopefully these elements will be reasons to help others take seeing this film into consideration.

And that’s my review for The Boys In The Boat. If you want a film that not only is based on a true story, but also can help one take away some valuable lessons, then this is a film that is most definitely worth your time. The characters are well developed, are likable, especially main characters like Joe Rantz, and Coach Ulbrickson, and the characters, and story, overall, will teach people some really valuable lessons. If you haven’t seen this film, then please make a point to add The Boys In The Boat to your docket of movies to see in the movie theater, if you have one, ASAP. If you liked films like Remember The Titans, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and other films of this type, then you’ll most definitely love The Boys In The Boat. So, go see it today, or some other time in the very near future. You’ll be blown away by lessons that can be taken away from this film, and the richness in history for this time period as well. So, fairwell, and see you in the next film review!

Final Grade: A+

Ladies, and gentlemen, today, we review a superhero film from the DC Universe that I surprisingly didn’t make it to the theater for when it came out back in June 2023. So, to make up for it, I finally got to borrow a copy of it from a friend of mine, and watch it this past week. So now, before 2023 comes to a close, let’s discuss the one, and only film, The Flash.

Plot: When Barry/The Flash’s (Ezra Miller) mother gets killed by an unidentified assailant, he attempts to use his powers to go back to the past, and prevent his mother from getting killed. Now, the question remains, will he succeed, or will there be negative consequences for Barry/The Flash attempting these actions?

So now, the question is, was this film good? Well, in the end, The Flash was alright. It wasn’t bad, nor was it good, but at least alright. Though the story wasn’t the best, nor was it too strong period, this film still had it’s high points. First of all, as far as negatives go, again, the story wasn’t all that interesting. Okay, not fully true. It was interesting with being creative with the whole concept of attempting to go back, and changing certain events in the past. There were also some very funny moments in some portions of the film as well. The visuals were also really good at points, especially when it came to scenes when The Flash character would move from place to place really fast, attempt to go back in the past, or things like that. Benjamin Wallfisch’ score was also good. It was also good to have some additional characters like Batman play a major role with The Flash as well. Oh, and certain shots, particularly the ones that occurred during the slow motion scenes, were really well done. I’m not sure if the technology they used, but it was really well done. Did I also forget some of the really amazing action scenes, especially during the climax near the end? Those are amazing too. In addition to these, the lessons from this film are really good, especially with the whole thing about realizing that attempting to change the past, or wishing that you could, isn’t exactly the best thing to do in life. The way that it was executed in this film is really smart, and creative.

Still, The Flash’s storyline, though thought-provoking, and creative, didn’t seem to feel as strong as it could have been. As a matter of fact, it seemed to drag on at times, and went on a little longer. At other times, it seemed like the story was a little fast-paced, and not given their due as much as they could have been. In fact, this is likely due to some scenes in this film overstaying their welcome. What’s more is the fact that a lot of these scenes, and transporting in time seemed to occur, and then, all of a sudden, the climax occurs near the end. I mean the villain of this film didn’t seem as well developed this time around, there aren’t as many scenes with him, and there isn’t a whole lot of buildup to the climax overall. Sure, there sort of is with the whole changing the past, and/or future, and things like that. It just could have probably been done better.

And that’s my review for The Flash. It was a fairly good film. Still, despite the way certain lessons were creatively executed, this film had a story that had more potential than it seemed to in the end. Again, The Flash was decent. It just could have been better, especially with how certain moments could have had more buildup, and development. Because of this, I can see why this film didn’t perform at the box office as well as it could have in the end. I would say still see The Flash if you can watch it On Demand at a fairly cheap price. Just don’t go in expecting something really, really good. On the brighter side, at least there were some good lessons to take away from this film, and there were creative ways in which those were well executed. And, of course, let’s not forget the cool action, the beautiful visuals, and things like those.

Final Grade: C+

Well, everyone, because it’s the month of December, I thought it might be fun to rewatch, and review a Christmas-themed movie. In this case, I figured it would be one that’s based off of a classic children’s story that was written by the famous children’s author, known as Dr. Seuss. Oh, and did I forget to mention that this children’s book has, thus far, been adapted into a Christmas TV special in the 1960s, a live-action version from the early 2000s, and an animated film that was released by Universal Pictures, and Illumination back in 2018? Well, in this case, we will be looking at the live-action version that was released back in 2000. So now, let’s go to the land of Whoville to review, and discuss the 2000 adaptation of this story, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey as the title character himself.

Plot: In the land of Whoville, there live a group of people called the Whos, who love Christmas to death, and do well with getting into the spirit of the holiday. That is with the exception of one child named Cindy Lou (Taylor Momsen), after feeling like Christmas should be about more, and hearing about a creature called The Grinch (voiced by Jim Carrey) who, years before, was exiled to a nearby mountainside near the town of Whoville after getting judged by the townspeople, and causing a series of mishaps. After Cindy eventually meets the Grinch, the question remains, can she help the Grinch realize what Christmas is about, as well as convince the residents of Whoville to give The Grinch a second chance?

Now, I of course remember seeing this film when it first came out in theaters back in 2000, and enjoying it a lot, followed by rewatching it a few times on video, and still enjoying it for the script, especially when it came to Jim Carrey’s hilarious performance as The Grinch. After finally rewatching Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time in a long while years later, is it as great as I remembered it back in years like 2000, and 2001, for instance? Well, it is still very good, at least aside from a couple potential issues. Let’s start off with some of the flaws that this film has, shall we? First of all, there were a couple scenes in this film that may likely be a little too inappropriate even for a PG-rated movie. Additionally, the way that the human characters in Whoville were designed may have felt a little creepy, and weird. I don’t know if that’s because this film was live-action, or some other reason. You got me. Finally, there were some characters that came off as rather mean-spirited, cruel, and not that likable overall. Okay, look, I understand that most films, even family ones are supposed to have potential so-called villains, and things like that. However, in this case with the Mayor, if you can call him a villain, the way it was executed probably wasn’t the best.

Now, for the good elements in this film. To begin, there’s the score by James Horner (God rest his soul, as he apparently passed away in 2015, and left behind a legacy of really fun films to score for such as Braveheart, Apollo 13, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, and many other films). Like many other composers, especially ones like Alan Menken, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer, for example, James Horner really seems to know how to pull at your heartstrings. How The Grinch Stole Christmas is no exception. It’s beautiful, sad at points, and things like that. There is also the cinematography in this film. Honestly, especially when there are sunrises, the visuals are astonishing. Considering that this film was released way before more recent years when 3D became a thing for regular movies that have been released in movie theaters, that’s probably saying something, wouldn’t you say? Oh, and the way that have beautiful shots of the sun coming out from behind the clouds, scenes like those make this film very much worth seeing. Oh, and, of course, there’s the acting, especially from Jim Carrey, who voices The Grinch himself. Let me tell you, if you liked other films with Jim Carrey playing a main role like The Mask, Ace Ventura, The Mask, Bruce Almighty, or films like those, you’ll most definitely love How The Grinch Stole Christmas as well. Carrey most definitely puts life humor, and a unique personality overall to the character. What’s more is that The Grinch, and actor Jim Carrey truly do steal the show for this film. I’m not sure if this film would have been as good as it was if it wasn’t for The Grinch’s banter, and maybe even Jim Carrey adding impromptu lines in the script for this film. Then, there are some rather interesting symbolic moments for this film, most notably when it comes to The Grinch’s character arc for this film. Additionally, in addition to The Grinch having a great amount of character development, the human child, Cindy Lou Who, also has a great amount of personality, and depth to her character overall as well. Due to her having love, and compassion for those who are alone at one point, especially for The Grinch, both children, and adults alike could learn some valuable lessons from her character. Finally, this film most definitely can serve as a great allegory of what Christmas is truly about. Granted, Jesus’ birth may never be mentioned in this film. Then again, this is a fantasy world, and a fantasy story. So, I guess there’s that as well. Either way, seeing as this film can serve as a good reminder that Christmas is not about gifts, parties, or things like those (though, those are still good), that could make one appreciate this film even more, you know?

And that’s my review of the live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Well, even if this film may have a couple issues, the film most definitely makes for a delightful treat to watch around the time of Thanksgiving through Christmas. With Jim Carrey bringing the laughs, and Taylor Momsen bringing about a female child character that has the character of a child, and playing one that has love, and compassion for others, this movie is most definitely a must-see. It has great lessons, some of the most beautiful shots, a good majority of characters that are likable, despite some of them not being likable in the beginning, and more. If you haven’t seen this live-action version of The Grinch, than most definitely do so. Not does it follow the original children’s story, but most definitely puts a modern twist on it that make this film worthwhile even more. Definitely see the live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and you may either see Christmas differently, and learn some valuable lessons from this movie overall.

Final Grade: B+

Well, everyone, today, we are going to be diving into a genre that is well known as historical drama. This time, we are going to be diving into a film that revolves around one of the most infamous historical figures from rhetorical time of the French Revolution. Not only that, but this film is directed by film director Ridley Scott (whose works included films like the popular Russell Crowe, and Joaquin Phoenix film, Gladiator). And now, here is another film that is directed by Ridley Scott, that at also stars at least Joaquin Phoenix. It is the one and only one about the historical figure known as Napoleon Bonaparte. So now, let’s discuss the film that revolves around that person, the one, and only, Napoleon.

Plot: Set during the time of the French Revolution, the movie depicts French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, his rise as military commander, as well as becoming the King of France, and the battles that he fought over the course of his military career.

So, after making good movies like Gladiator over twenty years ago, along with others, did Ridley Scott do well with crafting yet another film? Well, in general, yes, he did. I mean yes, true, the story did feel a little too sad, and depressing at times. Still, since Napoleon was based on a true story, and this film did well with mostly, if not fully, depicting what Napoleon’s life was like, it works much better, which is more than one can say in regards to the last film that I reviewed. First of all, to have Joaquin Phoenix return as an actor, and as one of the main characters in yet another film that’s directed by Ridley Scott, that right there is really cool. Sure, it was sad to not have the presence of Russell Crowe starring aside Phoenix like in Gladiator. Still, this film is good regardless. The other performances, in addition to Joaquin Phoenix, were also really good, including Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine, who became Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife. Wow, and the battle scenes, how could you not love those battle scenes? The movie also did a really great job with showing what Napoleon’s life was like, the easy, and difficult, decisions that he made, and so much more. And what’s more is that the movie didn’t shy away from how Napoleon acted very selfishly by not always thinking of others more than himself, how greedy for power he started to become, and other things that seemed very accurate to Napoleon Bonaparte in real life. Honestly, it just comes to show that movies like Napoleon, The Patriot, Braveheart, and other historical films serve as proof that it’s really good to study other historical events, in addition to events from the Bible, so that we can truly understand the choices that people from the past made, why we should try avoiding making any of the same mistakes that some of those people made, and other reasons like those as well. Additionally, how could you not love the score by Martin Phipps? I mean to have the sound of the violin, and have French music overall playing over the course of this film? Elements like these, though they may not make the movie perfect, still help it be a better story than it likely would have been otherwise. Oh, and you know how this film is rated R? Yeah, it was probably for the best that this film was rated that, instead of PG-13, with how violent the movie was, and other reasons as well. Honestly, it’s not surprising as to how violent the movie Napoleon was, due to the fact that, in real life, with how many wars Napoleon Bonaparte actually did fight, life was obviously pretty violent for him, and his troops.

The one thing that does prevent this blood from having an A+ is that there were a couple sex scenes that kind of dragged the movie a little. Okay, I understand that couples have sex in real life. Still, and this is a complaint that I had with recent films like Oppenheimer as well, do we really need something like that thrown in our faces? If a historical film like this needs to be rated R, let it be because of say how violent a film is, and things like that. Please try not to insert sex scenes in a film just because it’s rated R, you know? Just a thought!

And that’s my review for Napoleon. It is agile that, like many historical drama movies, helps depict history around this point in time, ended up trying to follow closely to the Napoleon account, while also likely taking some liberties in the process. Honestly, if you like Joaquin Phoenix, enjoy films that directors like Ridley Scott have directed, and, of course, want to learn about Napoleon, then definitely go see this movie! Sure, you might want to learn about Napoleon, and his life after the movie. Still, the Napoleon movie is most definitely an excellent place to start. That said, go see Napoleon, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A

Alright, so a lot of people read the Hunger Games novel, and saw the movies, did they not? Well, today, we are going to be reviewing the prequel to the Hunger Games series. It stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, and a few other people. So now, I present to you all my review of The Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes.

Plot: The movie takes place with Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) in his younger years, and the events that eventually led to his rise to power in the Hunger Games championships.

So, was this prequel to the Hunger Games book, or movie series? Well, it had some high points, but it also had some low ones as well. But more on that very soon! Let’s talk about the good stuff. First of all, it did a very good job of developing some of the relationships, particularly the friendship between Coriolanus Snow, and Sejanus, and the love relationship between Snow, and Lucy Gray Baird. The rest of the cast seems to be really well established as well. And another thing! How could one not be impressed by the care, and compassion that Snow for sure had for others? That is especially for Lucy, when they were from different sides of life? Additionally, the movie does an excellent job of showing what life is like when it comes to sacrifices that have to be made from time to time, and things like that. The acting is also really well done. Oh, and another thing! It was very interesting to have a couple original songs in this film by the female love interest Lucy Gray Baird. Seeing as this prequel was called Songbirds & Snakes, I suppose it makes sense that there would be a couple original songs in this film. It’s also surprising how much tension there is throughout this film, especially in the middle through end of this movie. The acting was also really good. There was one role that some people may feel ambivalent about out, but more on that later! There were also some points that had good twists, and turns, well written moments of betrayal with certain characters, and things like those. Oh, and one other thing! Did I forget to mention that James Newton Howard composes the score for this film? Well, if you liked some of the films that he’s scored in in the past, be it Vertical Limit, the third Fantastic Beasts film, Raya & The Last Dragon, and films like those, you’ll most likely love his score in this film too.

That all being said, what are the negatives in this film? Well, for one, there’s Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good actress in the films she’s in, and here is no exception. However, part of me feels ambivalent about being a love interest due to some controversial things that she said in regards to her role as Snow White in the upcoming remake of Disney’s Snow White. I won’t go into details, but one of the most tragic things that she said in regards to the upcoming Snow White is that she thinks it’s weird that in the Disney animated version of Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, Snow White falls in love with someone like Prince Charming, and they live happily ever after. She also says that she’s glad that Prince Charming won’t be in the new Snow White remake. Huh, for her to be glad about that, and yet she’s obviously okay with being a love interest to one of the main male characters in this Hunger Games film, yeah, that kind of sounds a little hypocritical on her part, wouldn’t you say? Just saying! Anyway, the main characters are not always that nice, and likable. I get that maybe they weren’t supposed to be, but still. The movie may also be a little too dark, and violent at times. Yes, this is rated PG-13. Still, did this film need to be as dark, and violent as it was in the end? What’s even more is that the main character, Coriolanus Snow, doesn’t even seem to have any regrets for anything that he did wrong, nor does he seem to see wrong any of his actions. Snow also seems to be a little self-centered, and egocentric at points. At least with someone like Lucy Gray Baird, though I wasn’t too big of a fan of the actress that played her, at least the character seemed to have a more decent sense of morals, you know? The storyline also felt rather tragic, and convoluted a lot of the time as well. Finally, there are some potential messages in this movie seemed rather negative, and not the best ones to take away from this movie, especially with the whole thing about how violence, and killing could be a good thing, you know?

And that concludes my review for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes. If you’re a die hard fan of the Hunger Games series, definitely feel free to give it a shot. However, if you’re looking for a film that’s more fun, and possibly more uplifting, I would say save your money, and go see something like upcoming films such as Aquaman 2, or Wonka, or even Disney’s Wish if that one’s not as horrible as many have made it out to be. The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes does have a few high points. Even so, there were more things about it that you probably won’t be too big of a fan of. That being said, probably skip this film, and save your money for a different film, or a really great Christmas party, or something along those lines.

Final Grade: C+

Well, everyone, today, we review the latest DreamWorks animated film in the DreamWorks animation library. It is another sequel in the Trolls film series that began in 2016, and is the third in this franchise (the second, of course, being Trolls: World Tour). So now, we proudly present my review of the third Trolls film, Trolls Band Together.

Plot: While Branch (Justin Timberlake), and Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) help out with the wedding of Bergen trolls Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), and Bridget (Zooey Deschanel), Branch’s brother, Dory (Eric Andre) arrives, and informs him that their brother, Floyd (Troye Sivan), has been captured by pop star wannabes Venner (Andrew Ranells), and Velvet (Amy Schumer), in order to use Floyd’s musical powers to help make them become betters stars. Now, after the wedding is over, Branch, Poppy, and John set out to find John, and Branch’s other two brothers, and rescue Floyd. Will they rescue Floyd, or will Veneer, and Velvet succeed in draining Floyd’s musical talents, and becoming better singers themselves?

Well, now the question remains, did we get a sequel that was as good, if not better, than either the first two films? Well, yes at least for the first film. I mean seeing as the first one wasn’t all that great when released back in 2016, the filmmakers might have noticed that themselves, and wanted to improve on any sequels that might come afterwards. Well, their one was certainly better than Trolls 1, that’s for certain. As for Trolls World Tour/Trolls 2, that one, in most ways, seemed to have a little more substance than 1, or this third one. But more on that later! So what did work with this third installment in the Trolls franchise? Well, quite a bit, actually! First of all, it was great have a little backstory for Branch, and a little bit with Princess Poppy as well. I mean getting to know that Branch had brothers, it might be somewhat understandable as to why we didn’t get to hear, or know about them until now. The brothers were well developed, and you can buy the motivation for Branch feeling the way that he does toward them at first. At the same time, it was also great to see Branch being willing to put his differences from his brothers, or anyone else around him, aside, as well as putting the needs of others before his own. Not to mention that fact that Branch was more willing to be open, honest, and upfront about certain issues he had with others around him, whether that was his siblings, or even Poppy at one point, for instance. Additionally, it was also cool to know about Poppy having a sister named Viva, who, though somewhat underdeveloped, you do get to have an understanding of her character as well, including her motivations for some of her actions, despite some of them being wrong. Same goes for some of the other good characters, or even understanding the villain duo’s motives. The animation was also very good. Sure, maybe not as great as the animation in some of DreamWorks’ other films. Still, it was very nice. Not to mention that the animation seemed to also improve from the first two movies. The musical by Theodore Shapiro was also very good. Oh, and speaking of music, the soundtrack was also very catchy, and upbeat as well. An additional thing to note is that the action was also really fun, creative, and well-coordinated. This is especially true when the climax occurs in this sequel. Finally, there were good messages about being open, and honest about things in your heart, learning not to do things for the wrong reasons, and ones like those.

With all that said, what are some of the films setbacks? Well, for one, the sequel seemed to cram in one too many unnecessary characters that were there just because they could be. Thankfully, none of them took up much screen time. Still, it sort of caused the story to drag a little much at times. Additionally, Velvet, and Veneer, the villain duo of this film, though you can understand their motivations for their actions, were kind of lame, and one note. Honestly, not as memorable as say Queen Barb, or maybe even the villain from the first Trolls film. Also, again, some of the newer characters, including Viva, could have maybe been developed a little more. Finally, the ending, though good, might have felt a little rushed, and could have maybe extended for maybe an additional 10 minutes, if not more.

And that’s my review for Trolls Band Together/Trolls 3. It is a good sequel, especially better than at least the first film. Despite not fully fleshing the story out, or even some of the newer characters, it was definitely great to see this sequel occur. It certainly helped develop some of the main characters from the first two movies more, the score, the songs were fun, the animation was great, and it had strengths in most other areas overall. I would say that if you don’t like this third film at least better than Trolls 2, you’ll at least like it more than Trolls 1. Definitely go see it, especially you liked the first two films, and see what you think. Now, can Kung Fu Panda 4 be an additional good sequel come either next year, or the year after? We shall see. Well, at least until then, we have Trolls 3 to enjoy!

Final Grade : B+

Well, everyone, hope you all are doing well. Today, we review a live-action musical film that was just released a couple weeks ago. Not only that, but this musical revolves around an event that occurred many, many centuries ago, as well as the reason why we have come to celebrate a famous holiday near the end of every year. Yes, the film that we are reviewing today is based on the birth of our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the events that occurred around that time. So now, let’s discuss the new musical film by the name of Journey To Bethlehem, which stars Milo Manheim as Joseph, Fiona Paloma as Mary, Antonio Banderas as King Herod, and more.

Plot: The movie is a retelling of Joseph, and Mary, their journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus Christ, and the events that occurred during this process.

First of all, wow, what an excellent film! In all truth, part of me wonders why this film hasn’t outdone The Marvels like how Sound Of Freedom apparently outdid the newer Indiana Jones movie when those two films were released close to each other just this past summer. First of all, even though Journey To Bethlehem does take a few liberties like the 2006 adaptation did, along with 1998’s The Prince Of Egypt that was based on part of the Biblical account of Moses, this films, like those ones that I just mentioned, remains as faithful to the source material as possible. I mean the movie may add layers to some of the characters, including Joseph, and Mary, and, of course, King Herod especially. Still, the movie does do well with depicting what those people were like in the actual Biblical account of this event. There was also some really good cinematography in this film, from the beautiful layout of the desert, the houses that were depicted in the movie, and more. But probably one of the biggest highlights of this movie was the music. Yes, we did have classic songs in this film like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. Even so, we are treated with some really good original music, with songs like “Mary’s Getting Married”, “Journey To Bethlehem”, “Can We Make This Work”, “Three Wise Guys”, “In My Blood”, and songs like those. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the major standout songs for many of those that see this film would end up being the villain song, “Good To Be King.” Wow, first of all, since this movie is live-action, and not animated, it was really cool to incorporate a villain song in this musical, especially one that’s not even a remake of an animated musical Disney film for once, you know? Second, even for “Good To Be King” being in a live-action musical film, this song will still give you vibes of villain songs that have been in Disney animated musical films of the past, especially the one that Scar sung in 1994’s The Lion King, “Be Prepared.” I will say that I was rather surprised by how well Antonio Banderas delivered not only in his impressive acting for this character, but also in this song that he sang for the film. He truly delivered. Same with the other actors, and actresses in their respective roles for this film. In addition to that being the case, the rest of the songs are also really good, and truly help develop the rest of the characters, and the story overall, like songs in a good musical are supposed to do. They truly do show a human side to each of the characters, both the heroes, and main villains, as well as supporting villains. It’s just a shame that none of the songs are likely to be nominated at the Oscars for Best Original Song come next year. That is since the songs are mostly really good, and should be nominated, you know? Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, and one, or two of the songs will be? We shall see, come the Oscar ceremony in 2024. Oh, and there is another thing that should be noted in regards to the songs. Some of you have heard of Luke, and Joel Smallbone of the Christian duo band For King & Country, have you not? Well, the latter also plays a character in this film, the one called Antipater, the son of King Herod. Let me tell you guys, not only does he do a great job as this character, but also sings his songs in this film just as well, if not better than when he has sung Christian songs of the past such as “Shoulders”, “For God Is With Us”, “What Are We Waiting For?”, and songs like those. Finally, one other thing to mention about the songs is that the other actors, and actresses do well in their respective roles, as well as their singing. I mean Milo Manheim does great as Joseph, as well as the songs that he sings. Same with Fiona Palomo as Mary, and all the others. In addition to all of these, there was also some really good symbolism throughout this film, especially around the middle to end of this movie. Finally, as for the story, overall, like I mentioned before, it does take some liberties. Still, it also does well with remaining as true to the Gospel of the birth of Jesus Christ as possible. Even so, it was cool to see a really big human side to each of the characters that were most likely, for the most part, actually accurate to the actual people in real life.

That all being said, if there were any downsides to Journey To Bethlehem, it would be that one, though most of the costume designs were great for the film, there were a couple times when the costume design might have felt a little off, and something that was more fit for a high school production, or something along those lines. Another thing is that, I’m not sure that the casting choice for the Angel, Gabriel, was the best. Don’t get me wrong! Lecrae is a good singer, and was a great actor for this role. Still, it might have been better if the casting people had made the role for maybe someone with white, or blonde hair, and lighter skin, you know someone who would have had a much closer depiction of what Angels most likely actually look like, you know? Thankfully, these things don’t bog this movie’s enjoyment by much, but still.

And that’s my review for Journey To Bethlehem. Even though there were a couple elements that could have been tweaked a little more in this film, Journey To Bethlehem is still really enjoyable overall. The movie fleshes out the characters by showing their human side, does a mostly great job of remaining true to the Gospel of the Birth of Jesus Christ, while, of course, taking liberties in the process, and has some really great songs that may likely become underrated due to this film not performing as well at the box office as it should. Considering that this movie is made by Affirm Films, which also made really good films in the past like 2011’s Soul Surfer, 2019’s Overcomer, which were also great films, and more over the years, Journey To Bethlehem definitely deserves more recognition than it has been getting in the end. If you haven’t seen Journey To Bethlehem, then you should. Even if a couple items may have kept it from being the best film that it could be, it does well with accurately depicting what the actual people in this film were like in real life, despite it probably not being entirely correct for some of them, and the songs were big standouts for this movie. If you haven’t seen Journey To Bethlehem, please, please do give this one a chance. Even if it could have been slightly better, people will still appreciate how much heart was put into this film, and probably even consider the Gospel of the Birth of Jesus Christ from both a Biblical perspective, and, probably even a newer perspective as well. So, definitely go see Journey To Bethlehem when you can, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-

Alright, everyone, today, we are reviewing the latest Marvel superhero film, or as they likely call it, the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise. It is a film in which Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, returns, and team up with a couple other superheroes. Also, it was just released earlier this month. So now, let’s discuss the one, and only, The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, Teyonnah Parris, Iman Vellani, and more.

Plot: After discovering that a planet called Hala is ruled by a tyrannical ruler named Dar-Benn ((Zane Ashton), and that the place has been under darkness for a long while, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and superheroes Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) must team up to help bring the planet’s sun back to shine, and save the rest of the universe from destruction. Will they succeed, or will Dar-Benn’s tyranny prevail?

Well, I’ll begin this review by saying this, at least there were no gay elements that seemed somewhat thrown in your face line with say 2021’s The Eternals, or 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. Yes, it may have felt somewhat woke for other reasons, but it definitely could have been much worse, especially in comparison to those two in particular. Anyway, there was also some very good action in this film. Additionally, the storyline, though at least decent, still had some heart to it. There were also some very creative characters in this film, most notably some cats that, let’s just say could do some really creative things. Oh, and speaking of characters, having Samuel Jackson in this film as Nick Fury, how could one not like his character as usual? I mean like in so many other Marvel films, he knows how to come out with with some of the funniest lines that one could think of. The alien race, known as the Kree, was also really cool. Oh, and the female villain, Dar-Benn, man was she a great villain. She knew how to have power, and control, and do everything in her power to keep others from getting in the way of her mission. In addition to these elements, the climax was also well thought out. One might be surprised by how things turn out once the climax is finished up. As for the comedy, though it may have been somewhat lacking in that department, it still had some very good comedic moments. And hey, at least none of the comedy was forced in this film.

And now, what are negatives for The Marvels? Well, this film seems to feel very woke in terms of how there ends up mainly being female superheroes, but no male ones. Sure, we had Nick Fury, but he’s more an executive, and not a superhero, you know? Also, this film suffers from lack of good storytelling. Sure, there was some heart. Even then, the film could have been better, and the film could have either been less woke, or, better yet, not woke at all. The villain, though fairly well developed, probably could have had fairly better development, and depth to her as well. There were also some character arcs that occurred around the middle to end of the film, and could have had better buildup. Finally, there were certain aspects of the world in this film that could have likely been explain a little better, as well as the world building having potential to better than it was in the end.

And that’s my review for the latest MCU film, The Marvels. While not exactly horrible, it could have definitely been better in plenty of ways. Honestly, if anything, Disney, and MCU, need to focus less on politics, woke agendas, and those things, and more on good storytelling. Movies like The Marvels most definitely serve as proof that we need better writers at Disney, other movie companies, and in Hollywood overall. Will movies like Journey To Bethlehem, which was released on the same weekend as this film, be any better? Let’s hope so! That all being said, probably see The Marvels, but only if you can either see it for free, or at a fairly cheap movie price!

Final Grade: C+

Hi, everyone! Sorry it’s been a long while since my last movie review! Still, better late than never, is it not? Well, anyway, today, we dive back into the world of Studio Ghibli for the first time in a long while. In this case, it is a film that was first released in Japan in 1989, and then made worldwide releases in places like the US sometime later. Presenting to you all my review of Kiki’s Delivery Service!

Plot: When a thirteen-year-old witch in training named Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) leaves her hometown with her black cat, Jiji, for the port city of Koriko, not only does she train for flying on her broom, but also accepts a job that a female of that town offers her to deliver food by broom to other places in the area. As she continues her training, and becomes more familiar with the area around her, the question remains, will she feel more comfortable in her own skin, and the new people, and town around her, or will she regret leaving the family, and friends that she had before?

Well, first of all, the animation in this Studio Ghibli film is beautiful. From the green grass, the wind blowing in the trees, and more, this film most definitely did a phenomenal job when it came to the great animation, and the details that were involved in the animation. The storyline was also very good. I mean yes, it can sometimes feel very simple. On the other hand, the storyline also has a way of being complex, and imaginative at other points as well. I mean to have Kiki deliver food, or just gifts, to other people’s places by flying on her broom was very clever on the writer’s parts. Also, you know how many Studio Ghibli films had very complex, and really, really imaginative stories to tell? Well, Kiki’s Delivery Service is no exception. What’s more was for the movie to have Kiki learn some valuable lessons on her journey as well. Now, yes, as a Christian I know that witchcraft is wrong. Still, since this is a movie that’s based in the fictional world, why let that be bothersome in this case with the whole deal with a female being a witch, flying around on a broom, and things like that? I mean that would be like saying that even if Fantasia was fantasy, it would be wrong to like this film, or same with Lord Of The Rings having a wizard like Gandalf, or something along those lines, you know? Besides, again, you’d be surprised by some of the lessons that Kiki had to learn along the way, and some of the plot twists that end up occurring over the course of this film. The characters are also great, and likable. I mean even Kiki’s cat, Jiji, was great, and even had some funny lines for this movie. The rest of the characters, again, were really likable as well. The music was also beautiful, and soothing as well. The movie is also overall really strong, funny, and, sometimes even very dramatic at times.

So, are there any elements that big the film down? Well, there were some aspects of the ending that might have felt slightly unresolved. Thankfully, not by much, but still. Don’t get me wrong, the ending is still very good. It just probably could have improved by a little bit.

And that’s my review for Kiki’s Delivery Service. It has a fun, and creative, premise, likable characters, good lessons to be taken from this movie, and more. If you haven’t seen this Studio Ghibli film, definitely do so. It may not be quite as memorable as some of Studio Ghibli’s other works. Still, it is most definitely a must see. So, see Kiki’s Delivery Service whenever you can, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A