Everyone, today, we review the latest of Disney’s live-action remakes. But this is not just any remake. This time, it is a remake of a Disney animated film that was just released ten years ago. Yes, that is correct. Today, we review the 2026 remake of the 2016 Disney animated classic, the one, and only, Moana, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as demigod Maui, and Catherine Laga’aia as the title character.

Plot: Gramma Tala (Rena Owen), grandmother to Moana (Emma Puahi-Shapazian as 4-year-old Moana, Amaya Masoli as 8-year-old Moana, and Catherine Laga’aia as teen Moana), tells Moana, and children, about how, 1,000 years before, Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) did something so bad that it slowly, but surely, turned the world into chaos. When Moana becomes a teen, and discovers a gem that could help save the world, she, encouraged by her grandmother, and parents, decides to find Maui, and help save her island, and the world. Will she succeed in her mission in the end?

Well, as far as Disney remakes go, though the 2026 one of Moana may not be quite one of their best, it is still very good. However, you know how some people have complained about remakes like the 2017 one of Beauty & The Beast, or the 2019 one of The Lion King being shot for shot remakes of their Disney animated counterparts? Well, in a lot of ways, that may be the case. However, whereas ones like those added some things to them, be it altering scenes, adding dialogue, or things like that, Moana, though it does that to a degree, doesn’t do so quite nearly as much. In fact, this 2026 version of the story might play things a little too safe at times. No, it doesn’t keep the film from being enjoyable, especially if you were one of the many that loved the animated film from 2016. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if a lot of people, after seeing this newer version of Moana, would just be more interested in rewatching the animated film more. Anyway, the other flaw this film has is that there were one, or two, characters that weren’t quite nearly as expressive in the film as they likely should have been.

With all that said, is this film still good? As a matter of fact, yes it is. I mean seeing this film in live-action, you’ll more than likely find yourself enjoying this film as if it might be say a Broadway production of Moana, or something along those lines.

The movie also does well with remaining faithful to the animated film. Yes, again, that may likely be the case to a fault. Still, it’s likely better than changing the storyline completely, is it not? Well, just a thought there!

The visuals are also just about, if not quite, as great as they were in the animated film as well.

Then, there’s most of the CGI in this film, particularly on the characters. Now, one can admit that the design for Tamatoa, who was the giant crab villain in the animated film, and, of course, is here too, his design might have looked a little weird in this version of Moana. Still, it looks okay. With other animal characters like Pua the Pig, and Hei Hei the Chicken, their designs seem to translate exceptionally well here in this remake. Honestly, one may be surprised especially by how good the design especially of Hei Hei looks this time around.

Then, of course, there’s the story itself. Honestly, even if the film had potential to develop some of the characters more, especially Pua the Pig, the movie did well with developing the characters in general. And yeah, the comedy is also awesome too.

The acting, for the most part, was also really great. Truly, the filmmakers involved with this film truly picked some actors, and actresses, that could easily get themselves immersed in Polynesian culture for the purpose of this film. Then, there’s the characters themselves, from Moana, her family, and any other characters. But truly, it is Maui that steals the show. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the role of Maui once again. Boy, was The Rock for sure born for roles such as this one. He does just as well, maybe even a little better than when he voiced Maui in the animated film. So there’s that with the characters.

And also, for those of you that are into musicals, and/or loved the songs in 2016’s Moana, I can guarantee that you’ll find yourself glad that they keep the songs here in this newer version as well. Plus, there’s even a new song added this time around that’s played at one point in the film, and during the end credits as well. Like with the first film, it’s the music, and score, that helps drive this film, and ends up . Much like with the animated film, the music truly drives the story, and the characters. Whether it be “Where You Are”, How Far I’ll Go”, “Shiny”, the newly added song, “Along The Way”, and any others, it’s guaranteed that you’ll consider this film memorable for the music, and maybe even story, if nothing else.

Finally, Moana does well with incorporating elements such as events from the Bible, most notably that of Adam, and Eve. Also, much like the animated version, there are subtle Christian messages in this version as well, whether it be learning to take risks, and do what’s right no matter what, never giving up when it’s easy to do so, and more.

And that’s my review for the 2026 remake of Moana. Yeah, even if it may not live up to the 2016 animated film, it is still a good film on its own. The storyline is still good, the music is great, the visuals are great, and the acting, also really good. If you haven’t seen this remake yet, do so. True, it’s likely more people that enjoyed the animated film that are more than likely to enjoy this live-action remake. Still, people should give this remake a shot, and see what they think. And hey, if there are rare to few people that surprisingly never saw the animated film, then they should also see it, and see what they think!

Final Rating: 8.5/10

Well, everyone, today, we review the newest Universal/Illumination animated film that was just released shortly before the 4th of July. It is the third installment in the Minions standalone franchise, and the seventh installment in the Despicable Me/Minions franchise overall. Everyone, I give you all my review of Universal/Illumination’s Minions & Monsters.

Plot: When the Minions go through some difficult times with finding a master, and then come to the time when Hollywood was big on making silent films, the Minions end up coming up with a film of their own that involves monsters. Now, after using a spell book to raise up a creature that could help them find a monster for their monster film, will the Minions find themselves making history in Hollywood?

Well, though the Minions standalone franchise seemed to have kind of a rough start story wise, the films have started to get better over the years. For one, the way that the premise is set up seems to be really clever. Yes, kids could like many of the Minions films, might find themselves enjoying this one more than teens, and/or adults. However, that being said, older people will still enjoy things like the jokes, the good animation, of course times with the Minions themselves, and so much more. There will also be some cameos that people, especially adults, and likely even teens, will come to appreciate. In addition to this, there are hilarious moments from the Minions themselves, as well as some additional characters themselves. Speaking of additional characters, there are some fun new characters like the villain, and villain sidekicks, a futuristic robot named Dort, and others that help make this film even more enjoyable. Honestly, because Dort is probably one of the most hilarious characters, maybe next to the Minions themselves, he helps steal the show, thanks to his hilarious humor, hilarious movements that he makes, and more. He’s almost like the Baymax, if you will if at least Minions & Monsters. There are some other additional fun characters, older, and newer ones, as well. With that being said, there are are also some ways in which Minions & Monsters could potentially feel like a Disney animated film at times. Whether that be because the villain is hilarious, the magical elements that appear this time around, or reasons like those, you got me. The score by John Powell is also really good. Speaking of the villain, that character is really cool too. He’s hilarious, and either may come off as a twist villain, or one that you can predict from the start might become a villain. There are also a lot of clever scenes in this film too. Whether it’s with the Minions, jokes that land, a surprisingly really good climax, and more, this Minions film may yet be the most memorable of the three thus far. The movie also captures the ambiance of the time period of the early to mid-1900s, when films were often made the way that they were.

But are there any negatives. Well, one negative thing about this film is that having good characters use a spell book to get something done, or help save the day, could potentially set a bad example for younger children that see this movie. Yes, this is just a movie, but still. The other thing would be that there are a couple times when the movie might feel a little repetitive of the first Minions film (which, of course, came out in 2015).

And that’s my review for Minions & Monsters. Though there could be a couple potential issues with the movie, this film seems to serve as proof that the filmmakers have gotten better with making the Minions sequels over the years. Because of the cleverness of this third installment, the new fun characters, the premise, and more, this movie most definitely serves as proof of that overall. With all that said, even though this film is not perfect, definitely go see this movie anyway, especially if you’ve loved Despicable Me, the Minions movies, or both. I can guarantee you’ll have a really fun time either way. So, again, see this film, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 9/10

Well, everyone, today, for this month’s episode of Flight Into The World Of Walt Disney Animation Studios & Disney/Pixar, we review the newest feature in the Disney/Pixar library, as well as the fifth installment in one of the most popular franchises of the studio. Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you all my review of the one, and only, Toy Story 5. Oh, and just so you all know, yes, I do plan on reviewing the previous four films. I just didn’t want to do so this year, since there were already four films, and I thought it might be nice to review some other films of either library up to this point. Again, Toy Story 1-4 is still on the docket for sometime over the course of this segment. Anyway, just thought you all should know that. Anyway, let’s dive into Toy Story 5, shall we?

Plot: After Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) receives an iPad by the name of Lilypad (Greta Lee), Bonnie starts to ignore the toys that she grew up playing with. But with the help of toys Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the gang, along with a potential new friend named Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris), can Bonnie somehow get back to having a connection with her toys again?

Well, after seven years of being absent from the Toy Story franchise, Disney/Pixar obviously wanted to dive back into the franchise once again with this fifth installment. Now that Toy Story 5 is out, did we need this fifth film? Well, not necessarily! I mean granted, we probably didn’t necessarily any of the Toy Story sequels. Of course, same can be said about the Cars, or even the one Finding Nemo sequel, for example. And yeah, I’m sure that many would agree that Toy Story 3, if not 2, was the perfect conclusion to the franchise. And yet, we ended up getting a fourth, and fifth installment in the franchise in 2019, and in this year, 2026, respectively. And yeah, both probably didn’t need to have Toy Story continue. However, while Toy Story 4 may not have been all that great (though all the more reason that I plan to rewatch the film, along with 1-3, to be sure), it surprisingly ends up being a completely different story for Toy Story 5.

First of all, the storyline for this installment ends up being rather unique this time around. For one, in past films, most of the Toy Story films have revolved around mostly toys Woody, and Buzz, yes? Well, this time around, yes, Woody, and Buzz do get to have some time onscreen. However, it’s really Buzz, and Jessie the cowgirl (the latter, who, of course, we first got introduced to in Toy Story 2), that seem to have more light for this installment, especially Jessie. I won’t go into spoilers as to how that is the case. However, let’s just say that you’d be surprised as why that happens here in Toy Story 5. The newer characters are also very interesting, including LilyPad (voiced by Greta Lee), who, let’s just say seems to be a more complex character than most of the trailers for this sequel seemed to make her out to be. As for other newer characters like Smarty Pants, Blaze, and others, they’re all likable too. And, again, how could you not enjoy the old gang like Woody, Buzz, Slinky Dog, Mr. Potato Head, and others being back for another adventure as well? As for the storyline itself, it was really interesting this time around, maybe even more so than at least 4, if not the first through the third film as well. Andrew Stanton, who directed a few other Disney/Pixar films in the past like WALL-E, as well as both Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory, seemed to put his unique spin on the Toy Story franchise this time around. Now, yes, like many of Disney/Pixar’s films, those three in particular have comedy, heart, and emotion. However, Andrew Stanton seemed to have a particular type of especially heartfelt emotion in those three films that he directed previously. In directing Toy Story 5, he has seemed to have brought that particular aspect to the table even here as well. Because of that, if you liked Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, or WALL-E a whole lot, chances are, people may find themselves truly loving Toy Story 5 as well, and both the older, and newer characters that go with it.

Next, there is Randy Newman’s music. As usual, his music is beautiful, and amazing. However, it seems to shine even more in this case. There’s also a new song that Taylor Swift contributes to the film, and is featured during the end credits, by the name of “I Knew It, I Knew You”. So if you want to stick around to hear that song, definitely. Plus, since there’s a mid-credit scene, and post-credit one as well, then all the more reason that it will be worthwhile to do so. One more thing to mention is that the score makes callbacks to previous Toy Story films for reasons that I won’t go into to, well, avoid spoilers.

Then, there’s the animation in this film. I mentioned in my review for Hoppers earlier this year that that film had beautiful animation, and very interesting character designs, yes? Well, first of all, the animation is gorgeous here in Toy Story 5. However, it’s really the design on the characters that makes the animation great, especially on the animals. I’m not sure how to explain it properly. However, Toy Story 5 was really great with animating even animals like pigs, and horses, while also making them look real, but also animated as well. It is most likely surprising how it works beautifully.

Finally, there are valuable lessons to be gained from Toy Story 5, especially about how we need to be careful of not letting technology control our lives. There’s also good lessons to be gained such as not being afraid of what others think of you, and being careful to choose who you have, or don’t have, as friends in your life.

And that’s my review for Toy Story 5. Is this film likely better than say Hoppers. Well, though Hoppers had a little more originality in it, Toy Story 5 ends up being more emotional, and heartfelt. Could one see either Disney/Pixar winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature? Very much so, as both had heart, and comedy in it. Honestly, it’s a close call, but Toy Story 5 ends up surprisingly having a little more magic, comedy, and heart in it. Nevertheless, it will be good if either Disney/Pixar films wins the Oscar come next year. Toy Story 5 has gorgeous animation, a heartfelt story, incorporates valuable lessons, and, overall, is a very worthy sequel in spite of not being needed. If you still have yet to see Toy Story 5, definitely make a point to. You’ll be glad that you saw both this, and Hoppers, if you saw that one earlier this year too. So, again, go see Toy Story 5, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 10/10

Well, everyone, today, we review a comedy film that was released by Sony, and Tristar as of recently. Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you all my review of the film that includes stars such as Nate Bargatze, and Mandy Moore, the one, and only, The Breadwinner.

Plot: Nate Wilcox (Nate Bargatze) is a successful car salesman, while his wife, Kate (Mandy Moore) is a stay-at-home mom. But one day, Katie ends up being brought on by the reality TV show, Shark Tank. In the process, she is able to land a deal with the people of the show for her invention, the “Star Minder”, an invention that she created for her, and Nate’s daughters. This deal gives her the opportunity to go to South Korea for two weeks, which will require Nate to take time off of work to help out with the kids while Kate’s gone. Now, can Nate successfully accept this new responsibility even for the time being, and will he be able to have his job as a car salesman back in the end?

Well, from the sounds of it, you may find yourself thinking that The Breadwinner may have a premise similar to that of a comedy like say, Cheaper By The Dozen, yes? Well, while that might be true to a degree, this film is truly its own story. First of all, there is heart to this story. I mean at first glance, might feel a little cliched, especially if maybe you saw a trailer for this movie before it came to theaters. However, as you get to watch this film, you’d definitely be surprised how different the premises actually are from each other. Anyway, there’s plenty to like about The Breadwinner. First of all, the acting is really great. It’s really stars Nate, and Mandy, that are the stars of this film, especially the former. Anyway, one of the biggest highlights is the comedy. Although there may not be quite as much comedy as one would like, it still ends up being a major highlight. Plus, since the humor is pretty much clean, or cleaner, something like that, that is something to appreciate for those that prefer that type of humor. What’s even more is that the way that the comedy is executed, it makes this film more relatable to the audience. Speaking of relatability, that’s another thing to love about this film. Be it adults like parents like Nate, and Kate, or kids like Gracie, Hadley, or Charlotte, they’re definitely likable, and will serve as major highlights as far as characters go. Truth be told, if you’re a big fan of comedy, first of all, and, second of all, enjoyed comedies like 2003’s Cheaper By The Dozen, or 2006’s RV, chances are, you’re most definitely bound to enjoy The Breadwinner as well. Finally, The Breadwinner does well with incorporating some really valuable lessons, especially when it comes to topics about priorities in terms of whether career is more important than family, or vice versa, and some other lessons like that as well.

Honestly, the one flaw that this film does have is that it has some similar tropes/cliches, that occur around the middle to end of the movie. Honestly, this film probably had the potential to break the fourth wall, so to speak, or go in a slightly different direction than it did in the end. So, because of that, it may be understandable as to why some people might not like that aspect of The Breadwinner.

And that’s my review for The Breadwinner. Overall, despite a familiar cliche being in this film, this movie is really enjoyable. It has great acting, and is a great representation of life overall. If you haven’t seen this film, but want to, especially if you’re interested in a movie that is one of the better films to come out of Hollywood in more recent years, then all the more reason that I would highly recommend that you give The Breadwinner a chance. That is especially if you want a movie with a good storyline, really clean humor, great acting, and things like that. So all to say, see The Breadwinner, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 9.5/10

Hey, everyone! Welcome to yet another episode of not only movie reviewing, but also another episode of Flight Into The World Of Walt Disney Animation Studios & Disney/Pixar. Today, we are going to be reviewing a rather popular Disney animated film that basically took the world by storm both literally, and figuratively, over a decade ago. It has also been significant for having quite a few firsts. The first Disney animated film since 1994’s The Lion King to make over $300 million, the first animated film from Walt Disney Animation Studios to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the first one to be based on a fairytale that handled some cliches in a rather unique way, and some things like that. Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you all my review of Disney’s 53rd animated feature, Frozen.

Plot: When Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) accidentally sets the Kingdom of Arendelle in an eternal winter while fleeing to the mountains following a party that goes awry, Elsa’s sister, Princess Anna (Kristen Bell), decides to go after her, and bring her back. With the help of new friends like mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer, Sven, and a snowman that Elsa built named Olaf (Josh Gad), can Anna succeed in her mission?

Now, first of all, I bet some, if not all, of you are wondering why I’m reviewing this film as opposed to say Toy Story 5, or even Moana, with a remake of the latter film being released here shortly. Well, first of all, I plan to have Toy Story 5 reviewed come next month. As for Moana, let’s just say that I’m saving that one for maybe another time. Plus, since there’s a third Frozen film coming out next year, I thought it might be nice to get a review at least for the first one out of the way for this year before revisiting the second one come next year, if not this year, you know?

Now, with that out of the way, is Frozen really that great? Does it deserve to be given comments like that it’s “Disney’s best since The Lion King”? Well, though Frozen is undoubtedly a great film, I’m not sure that it would quite be a full 10/10. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s still great, and most definitely deserved Oscars such as the award for Best Animated Feature, or the song, “Let It Go” winning Best Original Song, despite that song most likely being overplayed way too much for the next many months to follow. Still, there were some things such as the reveal of who the villain was, that probably could have been handled a little better. Yes, the twist villain was great, and I suppose maybe that’s what they were going for, especially when Disney was newer to making twist villains at the time. However, when it comes to say other characters that maybe you could potentially suspect as the villain, or just how some of the secondary characters were handled, there was just something that might have been lacking in a sense. But hey, at least it helped make Frozen feel less predictable.

But is this Disney film’s popularity justified? Well, yes, very much so. First of all, yes, this Disney film is based on a fairy tale, in this case, The Snow Queen. However, directors Chris Buck, and Jennifer Lee did well with creating a twist on this particular Disney animated film that was based on that particular type of story. Yes, there were some typical cliches that Frozen followed along the way, like one of the main characters wanting more in life, and singing something about it, and things like that. However, whereas many of Disney’s other entries, like Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and Disney films like those ended up following certain formulas very closely more often than not, Frozen ends up changing the game in quite a few ways. For one, you have two princesses, and them being sisters. Yeah, up to this point, how often has that been the case? You also have some other elements like the true love deal, and things like that, handled in a very surprising, and unique way, especially at the time.

As for the characters, again, yes, there were a couple that could have likely been handled better. Even so, a great majority of them are really, really well-written. How could you especially not like the bond, and well-developed relationship between sisters, Anna, and Elsa, you know?

The storyline, overall, was very clever, and well-done. Sure, when it comes to some foreshadowing of certain events to come in this film, or how some characters ending up turning out the way that they do, and more, that could more than likely fly over the heads of some younger children. However, adults, and maybe even teens could more than likely foreshadow some things to come in Frozen fairly easily.

Additionally, there is the animation. Now, the animation in earlier computer animated films like Toy Story, Shrek, or even Chicken Little, when Walt Disney Animation Studios went all in to making CGI movies for the most part, the animation in films like those was very good. However, especially in 2009, or 2010, as Walt Disney Animation Studios continued with their animated films, when their were in the Disney Revival period at this point, they started to make their animation way better. The animation here in Frozen is a perfect example of that. Whether you see mountains, the the water in the moat surrounding Arrendelle, Queen Elsa using her ice powers for tasks such as building an ice castle, you name it, the animation is almost really crisp in this Disney animated film. Truth be told, besides factors such as there being depth with most of the characters, or even the mostly memorable music (more on that in a bit), it wouldn’t be surprising if the gorgeous animation was an additional reason as to why many people loved Frozen so much. Yeah, for anyone who saw this film in 3D when this Disney film was first released in theaters, I bet that certain animated scenes in this movie made Frozen even more of a wonder to behold.

But one of the major highlights of Disney’s Frozen is the music, with the score by Christophe Beck, and the songs by husband, and wife duo Robert Lopez, and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Wow, the songs, aside from maybe “Fixer Upper”, are phenomenal. Songs like “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”, “For The First Time In Forever”, “In Summer”, and, of course, the songs that won the Oscar for Best Original Song, “Let It Go”, they are definitely memorable. Any of these songs could have probably been put in a live-action musical, and they probably would have still ended up being memorable. Yeah, when original Broadway style songs carry that kind of an impact, that is likely saying something. I still remember seeing the Sing-Along version with a couple friends in theaters, and singing along with most of the songs then. I’m sure many other people felt the same way for those that also saw the sing-along version of this film too. What’s more is that original songs being in films like Frozen, or even Tangled (which was released three years before, in 2010), most definitely showed that no matter if an animated film is 2D hand-drawn, or 3D computer-animated, if they have things like great music, a good, or great storyline, and more, it doesn’t matter, either type of animated film can leave an impact on audiences. If people don’t like the comedy, or storyline, or any other elements of Frozen as much, they will probably love the songs the most in this film.

Finally, there are some unique things about Frozen that make it all the more memorable. For one, the film addresses issues like “How well can you truly know someone overtime?”, or “What if you dislike how a person eats, or does this, or that?”, or questions like those. Another thing that makes Frozen unique in the Walt Disney Animation Studios canon is how it handles cliches like the true love deal, and more. I won’t give away how. However, if you’ve basically lived under a rock, and not seen Frozen, let’s just say that you’d be surprised how the true love deal is handled. There are also some additional lessons to take away from Frozen, such as learning to overcome fear, having love for others, self-sacrifice, and more. For reasons such as these, it is definitely understandable as to why Disney’s Frozen ended up being as popular as it did in the end.

And that’s my review for Disney’s Frozen. Yeah, it’s definitely understandable as to why this film still has the popularity that it does even over a decade later. It has many things to like such as being less predictable than many other animated films, having mostly memorable music, characters that are memorable, gorgeous animation, and some valuable lessons to take away. Yeah, I asked this question once, and will ask again, if you haven’t seen Frozen yet, then where have you been? Definitely seen Frozen if you still have yet to. Truly, whether you’re a fan of especially animation, and musicals, or not, you may yet be surprised by how much this particular Disney film would surprise you in the end. Hard to believe? Well, then all the more reason to see for yourself!

Final Rating: 9.5/10

Everyone, today, we review a biopic that not only is the latest one, but also said to be the highest grossing one thus far. It is the one, and only, Michael, which has the late Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, playing the role of the late music artist.

Plot: The movie first takes place in 1966, when Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson), and his family, lived in the small town of Gary, Indiana, Michael’s journey being part of the Jackson 5 family band, Michael eventually going on to be a solo artist, and more.

Okay, I’ll admit that I have complicated feelings about many of these biopics that center around these music artists over these past few years. Whether it be Rocketman, which centered around Elton John, Bohemian Rhapsody centering around Queen, you name it, some of them seemed somewhat of a downer. I mean, yes, those films were still fun, and enjoyable for the music, knowing what their lives were like and things like that, but still. Well, why I’ve still allowed myself to watch them? Well, maybe out of curiosity to see what their lives were like. Well, after seeing Michael recently, that one might have felt a little depressing at points too. However, it’s understandable as to why Michael has grossed more than previous biopics that were released before it. First of all, it may focus on negative aspects of Michael Jackson’s life at points. However, whereas films like Rocketman, Elvis, Bohemian Rhapsody, and the like ended up focusing on more negative aspects of the lives of artists like those that those films centered around, Michael ends up focusing on more of the more positive aspects of Michael’s life. Yes, Michael had a rough go especially in his earlier years. However, it was great to show how Michael’s life turned out in his later years, whether it was him having to learn to stand up to others, be it anyone in his family, any friends of his, you name it. Honestly, even if this isn’t a Christian film, or isn’t a faith-based film, this is one biopic in which people could more than likely take some valuable lessons from. For reasons such as what I mentioned just now. One other thing to mention is that the acting was really great too. The filmmakers of the biopic, Michael, did well with the casting, especially casting Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the role of Michael Jackson. He played the part well, and you can almost tell that the actor almost seems to be very identical to Michael Jackson, almost as if they could have been twins, or something like that.

Still, Michael does fall short a little bit. The reason being is that there were some aspects of Michael’s life that were left out in this biopic. I won’t go into details for those of you that still have yet to see this film. However, I will say that because they were critical points in his life that weren’t covered, that will be a little disappointing, especially for those that are fans of Michael Jackson’s music. Whether it was because this film was long enough already, or some other factors, Michael doesn’t end being quite the better film that it could have been. Also, it’s rather sad what Michael was put through in his life that this film didn’t cover.

And that’s my review for Michael. Though it falls somewhat short, it is still a very solid film. Honestly, considering that there’s more to like about this biopic than other ones released especially in recent years prior to this one, that helps make Michael more worthwhile. Personally, I’d probably rewatch Michael multiple times more than I would say Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, and the like. It wouldn’t be surprising if many other people felt that way as well. So all to say, definitely see Michael, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 8/10

Well, everyone, today, we review a faith-based film that will apparently be reaching its 5-year anniversary come next year. Huh! Not sure how a film like this got under the radar for me back in 2022. Well, somehow, it did, either because of it not being advertised enough, or some other reason. Go figure! Anyway, let’s discuss Running The Bases, released evidently back in the fall of 2022, shall we?

Plot: When baseball coach Luke Brooks (Brett Varvel), and his family move from Missouri to Texas, his faith is tested when he becomes coach of the Parkwood Lions in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Now, even if he is told not to speak about Jesus to his team, or the town that he, and his family have moved to, will Luke be willing to stand up for his faith anyway?

Okay, first of all, how in the world I accidentally let this film fly under the radar when it was first released, I feel that’s beyond my understanding. That is, especially since I’ve usually been one to hear of films not advertised too well. Well, hey, better late than never, right? Anyway, is this film’s surprisingly low box office performance justified, or is Running The Bases going to likely go down as an underrated faith-based movie? Well, I’m happy to tell you guys that Running The Bases will likely go down as an underrated film of this category likely for a long while to come. So what makes this film worthwhile. Well, for one, the movie ends up being a coming of age kind of story, and with Christian elements incorporated into it. Anyway, there’s also some great ingredients that help make a great story. There’s comedy, tragedy, people who need to learn to trust God in difficult situations, and more all rolled into one. This film also has an excellent script, consisting of some really memorable lines to take away from this film. What’s even more is that there some really great metaphors incorporated into this film as well. The characters are also really well done. Yeah, some of them might be a little cliche, like one guy being bitter towards God because He didn’t heal certain people, or answer certain prayers the way that a person wanted Him to, and some things like that. Even so, the way that those characters are handled, and developed is done very well. Because of most of the characters being very memorable in this film, it helps make this movie even more enjoyable. Additionally, this film performs exceptionally well in making the characters relatable. Definitely a good sign of a good film, I’ll say. Finally, Running The Bases does well with teaching great lessons such as learning to have faith when it’s really hard to do so, the reminder that God can use people even in unusual circumstances, that God can use difficult situations, and turn them for good, and so much more.

And that’s my review for Running The Bases. If you still have yet to see this film, then make a point to do so. Along with films like say 2011’s Courageous, or 2024’s The Forge is probably one of the most mature faith-based films that we may yet have. There are mature themes, and people are bound to most likely find something in the film to relate to. It’s just a shame that this film hasn’t been more popular in the group of mainstream faith-based movies that we have seen come out even more so in recent years. Definitely see Running The Bases, if you still have yet to. By the end, you’ll likely be glad that you did.

Final Rating: 10/10

Well, everyone, today, we review the newest entry in the Star Wars franchise. It also happens to be, if I’m not mistaken, a continuation of a certain Star Wars TV show, that started airing on Disney+, as of a few years ago. Starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and a few other people, the movie is Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Plot: When Din Djarin/The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), and his assistant, Grogu, are paid, and assigned, by Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) to find a mysterious warlord named Commander Coin (Jonny Coyne), can they do so with the help of Hutt twins, as well as rescue Jamba The Hutt’s son, Rotta The Hutt (Jeremy Allen White)?

Well, let me start things by saying that Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu was a very solid film. The only criticisms that the film seemed to have were that, first of all, there were times where maybe the story could have maybe been a little stronger. Also, there were some characters, especially minor ones, that could have played a little more of a role throughout the course of this film. At points, I remember thinking at points where some characters had potential to play more of a major role in the film, and yet such an opportunity seemed to get squandered in the end. Yeah, the writing could have maybe been a little better for reasons such as that. Oh, and one more thing!?! What was with certain points where characters like The Mandalorian didn’t seem to be as attentive to his surroundings as he could have been?

But with those being the only ones, what does make Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu work? Well, for one, it ends up serving as a good follow up not only to The Mandalorian show, but also to Star Wars period. Though it may not have quite the classic appeal of many of the main Star Wars movies, it does end up being a really fun film in its own right. Yes, it could potentially be predictable in some ways. Even so, it’s surprising with the amount of twists throughout the course of this film. Oh, and there are some really great action sequences as well. I’m not sure how to best describe how great the majority of those sequences are. The only way that I will try to do so is by saying that because this is a film that is a Star Wars movie, the rules of logic don’t apply all that much, if at all. Because of this, there’s breathing room to create more suspense, incorporate more creativity in action sequences, and even have a surprisingly great climax that helps transcend the rest of the film. Hopefully that’s saying enough without hopefully spoiling anything for this film.

Then, there are the characters. Yes, I mentioned in the cons paragraph that there were some characters in the movie that had potential to play more of a role in the movie. However, there are really great characters, in addition to The Mandalorian, and Grogu, that are fun, likable memorable, whether it be fairly major characters like Ward, and Rotta The Hutt, or characters like those, they end up being likable, and fun, and help make this movie more enjoyable. Then there are some more minor characters that were surprisingly done well in creative ways, most notably an alien-like fisherman that, though he was a more minor character in this film, had a cool design, and ended up being well developed for the amount of screen time that he did have. Plus, there are these small fun alien characters that seem to resemble personalities similar to those of the Ewoks in Star Wars Episode 6: The Return Of The Jedi. Yeah, that’s another thing to like about Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu is that the movie seems to make callbacks to the show, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, as well as some of the older Star Wars movies on occasion as well. So, if you’re a big Star Wars fan, reasons like these should give you all the more reason to enjoy this film as well.

Additionally, there is the score. Ludwig Goransson does a really good job with the score. He uses his score to help make this film dramatic, uplifting, or suspenseful.

And what’s more is that if you’re interested in a Star Wars movie with comedy galore, then you will probably enjoy this movie all the more. This film has funny parts, hilarious lines, and quite a few hilarious moments. I mean this is one of those movies where you’ll find yourself enjoying an action film that has a lot of comedic moments inserted into the film. It’s like with say 2008’s Get Smart, but Star Wars, and sci-fi elements.

Finally, the storyline, though it had its issues at points, is still good, and keeps Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu as engaging as possible. Honestly the film probably sometimes feels less like a Star Wars film, and maybe more of a regular action film, but with Star Wars elements. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing in this case. Don’t get me wrong, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu does still feel like a Star Wars movie more often than not. However, it also feels like a Star Wars film that also might belong in its own league at times. And you know what, in some ways that’s probably a good thing. And if you’re okay with that, then hopefully you’ll find yourself liking, or loving this Star Wars movie all the more.

And that’s my review for Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu. If you still have yet to see this film, then definitely do so. Yes, this film did have its issues from time to time. However, whether it be the comedy, the setup of the movie, the action, you name it, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu is definitely a film that’ll have a whole lot of fun with. Yes, it has fairly mature themes, and is a fairly mature film. However, kids are still bound to enjoy it for the action, as well as some of the hilarious alien characters that are included in this film. All to say, all ages, be it kids, teens, or adults, any age group is basically bound to find something to enjoy about Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu. Honestly, it’s too bad this film hasn’t performed better than it has already. Well, hopefully, this film will break its budget even by the time it runs its course in theaters here in the U.S., and worldwide. Thankfully, it’s on its way towards that direction, but still. Anyway, definitely see Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu if you still have yet to. There’s great action, fun creativity, hilarious moments, and more, that make this film all the more fun. With all that to say, again, go see it, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 8.5/10

Well, everyone, welcome to yet another session of movie reviewing, as well as yet another month of me taking a film from the vault of either Walt Disney Animation Studios, or Disney/Pixar, and either watching it for the first time ever, or rewatching for the first time in years. In today’s case, it is me doing the latter thing. For this month, we will be reviewing a film from Walt Disney Animation Studios that was released during the Disney Renaissance period that occurred from 1989-1999, and was the fourth film (after 1989’s The Little Mermaid, 1990’s The Rescuers Down Under, and 1991’s Beauty & The Beast) to be released during particular time period in Disney’s animation history. What’s more is that this Disney animated film is the third one to have music composed by Alan Menken, and partly by Howard Ashman before the latter died of AIDS sometime during production of this film, and got replaced by lyricist Tim Rice as a result. One other thing that I should mention is that this Disney film that was released around the beginning to middle of the Disney Renaissance period was the second of three films that was released during this time period of Disney to be directed by film directing duo John Musker, and Ron Clements (the other two films that were directed by this duo being 1989’s The Little Mermaid, and 1997’s Hercules). Ladies, and gentlemen, I now give you my review of the popular Disney film from the 1990s that featured a cast that included Scott Weinger, Jonathan Freeman, Linda Larkin, Gilbert Gottfried, and Robin Williams as the favorite character to many people for this film, the Genie. It is the one, and only, Disney’s 31st animated feature, from 1992, Aladdin.

Plot: When a street rat named Aladdin (Scott Weinger), and his pet monkey, Abu (Frank Walker), discover a magic lamp in a magical cave by the name of the Cave Of Wonders, they find out that the lamp contains a magical blue Genie (Robin Williams), who can grant anyone three wishes. Aladdin decides to use his first wish by making the Genie make him a Prince in order to impress the Princess of the mythical city of Agrabah, Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin), who, by order of her father, the Sultan (Douglas Seale). Now, as he gets to know Jasmine better, he must learn to deal with that situation, along with having to deal with an evil sorcerer named Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), and his parrot sidekick, Iago (Gilbert Gottfried). If he is to prevent Jafar, and Iago, from taking over Agrabah by defeating them, can Aladdin learn to be himself even around Jasmine, despite his status as a poor street rat?

Now, when I reviewed this film during my earlier years of movie reviewing before I got this blog made, I think I gave this film a B+. Rewatching this film again almost ten years later, is that still the case? Well, though Aladdin is not quite an A+ film, Aladdin is still a good film that is at least better than B+. Let’s at least start with the film’s issues, shall we? First of all, the way that Jasmine was designed, I’m not sure that it was probably the best clothing design for her unless that’s how females in royal society in Arab culture were dressed? I don’t know, somehow, it would seem as if Disney likely seemed to believe in over-sexualizing main females during this particular time period. If that’s the case, then Disney seemed to squander an opportunity to portray Arabic culture in this regard. The other issue that Aladdin has is that for a film that seemed to going for a comedic type of film, Jafar might have been a little too serious of a villain, and could have maybe been a little more comedic like say his bird sidekick, Iago. Honestly, it would seem as if later Disney films like 1997’s Hercules (which, again, also directed by Musker, and Clements), or 2000’s The Emperor’s New Groove (that one being directed by Mark Dindal in that case), both of which were obviously also trying to go for a comedic type of film, like Aladdin, seemed to do a better job of making the villain, and villain sidekick duo, more equally comedic.

But now, let’s talk about the positive aspects. Honestly, there are quite a few things to appreciate, including things that I don’t recall talking about last time that I reviewed this film. First of all, the music, and score by Alan Menken was great, along with most of the songs by lyricist Howard Ashman, along with lyricist Tim Rice, who stepped in after Ashman passed away. I’m not sure how much Tim Rice contributed to the songs after Ashman died. Well, however much he did, he did really good. I mean even though “One Jump Ahead” might not have been quite as memorable as the others, it was at least decent. Other than that, “Arabian Night”, “Prince Ali”, and, of course, the love song that won the Oscar for Best Original Song that year, “A Whole New World”, how could you especially not love that one?

Then, there are the characters. Starting with Jasmine. Yeah, though the animators could have done better with her clothing design, she was still a well developed character. She’s willing to stand up for herself, and willing to defy traditions. Yeah, it would seem same could be said about many Disney princesses from films that were released during this time period. She’s also willing to take risks, as well as let others into her life regardless of background, status, and more. Yeah, because of many Disney females being well developed during the time that Disney films were released in the late 1980s, and 1990s, Disney females like Jasmine, or Belle from Beauty & The Beast (which came out a year before Aladdin) really paved the way for females being done right, and having really great character development. Side characters like Abu, Genie, and even Iago, had some really great personalities in the own way. Iago was especially a great villain sidekick, and comic relief done right. It wouldn’t be surprising if characters like Iago, Panic, and Panic from Hercules, or even Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove, were considered favorites among others as far as villain sidekicks go. Abu, again, for not being a talker, still has great personality of his own. Then, there’s the Genie. First of all, how could you not love his personality? He’s fun, lovable, and more. How could you not want to jump into the screen, and give him a hug, especially when he’s working for Aladdin? Also, it’s a shame that actors Robin Williams, and Gilbert Gottfried, who voiced Genie, and Iago, respectively, passed away within almost a decade of each other. They shall both be missed. Anyway, there’s also the villainous sorcerer, Jafar. Despite likely being a little too serious of a villain in this comedic Disney film, he is still well developed, is crafty, and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Also, in addition to Jafar being the villain, and Aladdin being the hero, those two are polar opposites of each other in other ways as well. And speaking of Aladdin, that brings us to him as well. Honestly, Aladdin had some lessons to learn over the course of this film, most notably the fact that he would have to be himself even around royalty like Princess Jasmine. Still, there are other great qualities about him as well. I mean yes, he may have had to steal food to survive day to day. Still, deep down, you know that he has a heart of gold. First of all, there’s the fact that he cares about others like Abu, and Jasmine. But what’s more is that he has love, and compassion for others as well, to the point that he’s willing to give his own food to young children who don’t have food, and/or may starve to death otherwise, or would even get in the way by stopping someone like a stuck up prince from whipping children as well. Honestly, for reasons such as these, it’s easy to understand why a lot of people love this film, and why Aladdin has been considered a true classic in the Disney animation film library.

Finally, not only do we have fun songs, along with memorable characters, great animation, a great score by Alan Menken, along with songs by Menken, and Tim Rice, but there are some great lessons to take away from this movie. One obviously being the lesson about learning to be yourself. But I think the other lesson that not nearly as many people talk about is the whole deal about being willing to put the needs of others above your own more often than not. Case in point, Aladdin being willing to give his own meal to children, or other people period that might not have had food otherwise, saving Jasmine from certain danger at one, or two points, and more. Honestly, because of this, whether you watched this film as an adult for the first time, or even watched it once as a young kid, and then again as an adult years later, you’ll probably find even more things to appreciate about this movie as you get older. Truly, it’s very understandable as to why Aladdin was one of the Disney films released in the 1990s to be very popular, and remains that way even today.

And that’s my review for Aladdin. Yeah, rewatching this well-known Disney film again years later, it’s understandable as to why many people love this Disney film, along with The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, and The Lion King. It has fun songs, great animation, likable characters, great lessons to take away, and more. If you still have yet to see it, get on with it. This film has many things from comedy, emotion, and more that most people will love about it. So yeah, see Aladdin, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 9/10

Alright, everyone! Today, we review the newest film from Universal & Illumination. Not only that, but, apparently, it is, thus far, the highest grossing film of 2026. Oh, and it is the sequel to the 2023 hit, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Presenting to you all my review of the animated film that was made by Universal, Illumination, and Nintendo, it is the one, and only, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, starring Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and newcomer to this film series, Glen Powell, to name a few in the cast.

Plot: When Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), the long lost sister of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), gets captured by Bowser’s son, Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), one of Rosalina’s friends, a creature called the Luma (Michael Jelenic), circumstances cause Peach, and Toad (Keegan Michael-Key), and later, Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and newcomer Yoshi (Donald Glover), to get back into action. Now, can they stop Bowser Jr. from carrying out his evil plans against Princess Rosalina, and the galaxy?

Well, though this new Super Mario sequel did somewhat improve from some of the flaws of the 2023 hit, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie still does end up having flaws of its own. First of all, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie might have still had a little too much going on for it. Granted, not quite as much as the first film, but still. Also, there were times when The Super Mario Galaxy might have been a little too dark for an animated film, especially for young kids. To the surprise of some of the audience, there was some CGI that probably didn’t quite blend in with some of the rest of the animation in this film. I know it might be hard to explain unless you’ve seen this film already. Still, let’s just say that some of it was weird at times. Oh, and this film doesn’t seem to provide the best example of lessons. There are some good lessons incorporated in. It’s just that there are some potential lessons that maybe don’t seem to set the best examples for kids in the process. Finally, and this is probably the biggest flaw of them all, some of the writing for this film didn’t work as well, most notably with how some of the characters were written, and/or handled in this sequel. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say that there were one, or two, of the famous Nintendo characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie that especially could have been handled better.

Still, in the midst of these flaws, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie does have more high points. First of all, the story, though still somewhat scattered, does also feel stronger. Seeing as there is less going on, and there are less things thrown in, that is most definitely saying a lot. In addition to all of this, though there were one, or two characters that felt a little underdeveloped, the rest of them definitely seemed more fleshed out this time around. Seeing as character development didn’t seem quite as strong in the first film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, that helped this sequel improve from the first, and was one way in which this sequel ended up being even better than the first film. One of the ways in which this ended up being the case was that, let’s just say that there were some unanswered questions from the first film that seemed to be clarified this time, especially when it came to how certain things happened with some of these characters. What’s more is that the world building not only felt expanded upon more, but also felt more strong as well. Then, there is the voice acting. Yes, we have Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Chris Pratt, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin Michael Richardson, and, of course, Jack Black, to name a few. This time, we have newer cast members such as Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson, and Glen Powell, to name a few, joining this animated film franchise. Let me tell you, it is definitely a great cast, especially Glen Powell. I won’t say who he voices for those of you that have yet to see this film. However, let’s just say that you’ll likely find it shocking for who he does voice. In addition to all of this, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie boasts of some really great animation, including some 2D anime-like animation at one point. Pretty cool, if you ask me! Finally, even if there were some lessons that weren’t the best for a family film like this, there were one, or two good lessons to take away from this film.

And that’s my review for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Even though neither this one, or the first film, may be the best films to come out of Universal, Illumination, and Nintendo, it does have some very good things to go along with it. Still, it did have the potential to be a better sequel. Yes, it still was better than the first film. It’s just that it could have been a better sequel even more if the filmmakers might not have seemed to try too hard to stick as closely to the games, but maybe could have taken liberties a little more than they did. But hey, for what we got, it’s a film, and sequel, that’s worth seeing, for the fairly better character development, good animation, good action, and more. Definitely see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie if you’re into either movies, or video games, or even both, and/or if you’re okay with not necessarily great, but at least good film!

Final Rating: 8.5/10