Well everyone, this is it. After today, we are three film reviews away from Movie Review # 550. For now, when we get to that time, let’s just say that you may, or may not be surprised by what I end up choosing to do for that one. Well, in the meantime, this is the 547th review in my blog, and overall movie reviewing for the past 6-7 years. It is the latest Marvel superhero film that has been out for almost eight weeks now. It is the one, and only, Thor: Love & Thunder.

Plot: Sometime after the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has begun to have a difficult life. But one day, Thor decides to get back into action after hearing news that a villain, known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) is on the prowl, and desiring to kill all the gods in the universe, following a horrible incident with one of them. With help from ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), and their friend, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), it is up to the trio, and some new Allie’s to stop Gorr, and save the universe once and for all.

Okay, first of all, I have heard some people say that this movie seems “woke” from the trailers in terms of people like Jane Foster becoming a powerful superhero like Thor. However, in a case like this, this is one of those situations where one should say “Don’t judge a movie by it’s trailer.” Why? Well, I won’t give anything away, but let’s just say that, once you actually do see this fourth installment of the Thor movie series, you’d be surprised by the circumstances that cause Jane Foster to have superhero power abilities in the first place. Anyway, though not quite one of the best sequels, Thor: Love & Thunder is definitely a very good sequel. First of all, how could we not appreciate hearing some old rock n’ roll tunes from time to time? Sure, maybe they do go a little over the top with those at times, but it’s fun when more appropriate. Anyway, most of the characters are very well-written, especially Thor, and Jane. Additionally, Thor: Love & Thunder is surprisingly really funny at times. That is especially when there is the narrator that narrates at certain points of the film. Now, I know what you might be thinking. You’re probably thinking, “How could a narrator possibly be hilarious, especially in a film like this?” . Well, let me tell you, the way that he does it is so funny. I honestly felt a little jealous of him for being able to pull that stunt at some of those points in the film. Chances are some of you might feel that way too. Oh, and there are the visuals. They are amazing. We’re talking beautiful color palettes, and CGI backgrounds that could match those of 2002’s Treasure Planet, or 2009’s Avatar, for example. It’s also nice to have a villain that’s more complex, and sympathetic than probably many villains either in the Marvel Universe, or in other films period. Yes, you still love to hate Gorr the God Butcher. Still, at the same time, you’re more than likely to understand where he’s coming from as well. In addition to all of this, the movie flows at a very good pace. In fact, it hardly, if ever drags. Oh, and it’s obvious that there was so much heart put into this film. There are also some really amazing messages in this film, ones that especially us adults could definitely learn, or even relearn. There is also the ending for this film. Again, not going to give away what happens. However, I will say that you may find yourself feeling ambivalent about certain aspects of it, as well as liking other aspect of the end of this film. Finally, there are some really well done symbolic moments in this film. If you want a good film with some really good symbolism in this film, then all the more reason to see Thor: Love & Thunder.

However, there were a few flaws in this film as well. To begin, as mentioned before, the film did seem to go a little too overboard at times with the rock n’ roll music. Again, there were times where that was fun, and more appropriate. However, there were others where that probably wasn’t the best idea, and should have gone with a musical score. Additionally, there were some of the characters from previous Marvel films that were in the film, but didn’t seem to feel quite as useful this time around. I mean some of those minor characters seemed to serve al little bit of a purpose, but could have maybe played more of a role, you know? Also, there were some moments either with characters, or at least circumstances in this film that didn’t seem to feel right. It was almost like Thor: Love & Thunder was trying to create some plot twists that didn’t seem to fit as well this time around. Oh well!

And that’s my review for Thor: Love & Thunder. Even though the film wasn’t perfect, you can tell that there was some heart put in this film. The CGI is amazing, most of the characters are well-written, and there are plenty of things that make this film very entertaining. If you haven’t seen Thor: Love & Thunder yet, I would highly recommend that you do ASAP. Again, while flawed in some aspects, this film is most definitely worth seeing.

Final Grade: B+

And now, for the third movie review for this week, we are going to be reviewing a live-action film that is, oddly considered part of the horror genre for some reason. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and some other people, the movie is Nope, made by Universal Pictures.

Plot: Set in Aqua Dulce, California, a ranch owner named Otis (aka OJ) Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) notices strange activity around his ranch that causes some of the horses to disappear from the Earth. Now, it is up to OJ, his sister Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer), a tech guy named Angel Torres (Brandon Perea), and some other people to discover the mystery behind the disappearance of their horses, and other farm animals before they get screwed over for good.

Unlike with Black Phone, I was very excited to see this film. Does Nope seem like a horror film? Well, apparently it’s classified as such. However, Nope feels much like one of those films that is said to be a “horror” film, but feels more like a suspense thriller, or something along those lines. Anyway, Nope is also very thought-provoking, and intriguing at times. OJ, and his sister, Emerald, are also very likable. Additionally, especially when tense moments come around, Nope can feel really suspenseful throughout the film. The score, which is composed by Michael Abel, definitely helps those moments be even more epic. Finally, it was definitely nice to have the captors be much more mysterious this time around.

Still, Nope was a decent film. First of all there were some characters that could have easily come off as potential creepers. Also, while the brother and sister duo are likable, and possibly the most memorable in this film, the same cannot be said entirely about the rest of the cast. I mean even when something terrible is about to happen to any of them, you don’t seem to feel, or care all that much when it does happen. Yeah, that might sound a little cruel, and harsh, but still. Additionally, the climax could have probably been handled a little better than it was in the end. There were also some things that felt like they were left unexplained. Oh well.

And that’s my review for Nope. Honestly, even though it’s classified as a horror film, it’s nice to see that this film seemed to feel more like a suspense thriller than horror one. Honestly, I wonder if, due to the fact that it was made by Universal Pictures, the company might have a policy about making films like this more of a suspense thriller, and less like an actual one. I mean seeing as the Mummy films were considered horror, but felt more like action adventure than anything else, that may be saying something for the company overall, and for films like the Mummy movies, Nope, and films like those. I would say that if you want to see Nope, definitely consider it. Honestly, seeing as I found myself having more enjoyment than with a film like Black Phone recently, I’m sure that most, if not all of you, might say the same. But we shall see. Again, see Nope, and see what you think!

Hi everyone! Welcome to another session of movie reviewing! Today, we are going to be reviewing the latest film that stars Brad Pitt in it, and in which he had a bigger role than he did with a film like The Lost City earlier this year. And of course Brad Pitt stars in yet another action movie this time around. So now, let’s discuss Bullet Train.

Plot: A former assassin, and mercenary nicknamed “Ladybug” is hired to recover a briefcase that’s on a bullet train in Japan. Can he recover it before getting caught by “twins” “Lemon” (Brian Tyree Henry), and “Tangerine” (Aaron Taylor-Johnson)?

Alright, so, was this one of Brad Pitt’s better roles in an action film? Well, in some ways yes, and others, not as much. First of all, it was great to see Brad Pitt be in a better role, especially when you compare Bullet Train to another action film like The Lost City (which came out earlier this year), and think about how Pitt was a minor character who was there, and then just randomly out of the picture all of a sudden. Thankfully not the case this time around! Anyway, the action in this film is stunning, and well-choreographed. There are also quite a few funny moments that are spontaneously scattered throughout the course of the film. Some of the characters are really funny as well. I mean this film may not quite be an action comedy, but one could say that it sometimes could come close to something along those lines. The cinematography is also amazing at times, especially when it comes to either sunrises, or sunsets. Yeah, for a movie that takes place mostly on a train, that seems to be saying something. It’s also fun to hear some epic music whenever we get introduced to new characters in this film. And finally, the acting is also really good, especially from Brad Pitt, Joey King, Hiroyuki Sanada.

Still, the film does have some flaws as well. First of all, the story feels rather underdeveloped. Honestly, I’m not sure that a running time of one hour, and thirty-three minutes. Bullet Train might have needed an extra thirty minutes, if not more to flesh things out more than they were in the end. The characters didn’t necessarily seem interesting entirely. Some of them aren’t poorly written, but they could have been better.

And that’s my review for Bullet Train. It’s not the best action film, but definitely a decent one for sure. Definitely one to watch if you have the chance to see it for free through AMC Stubs, or something along those lines. Definitely check out this film, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B-

Good morning everyone, and welcome to another session of movie reviewing! Today, we are going to be reviewing the sequel to the 2015 animated film, Minions, which of course was the prequel to the Despicable Me franchise. So, let’s see what new adventures Gru, and the Minions have now in between the events of Minions, and the very first Despicable Me film, shall we?

Plot: Set in 1976, and after the events of the first Minions movie, 11-year-old Gru, and the Minions gang discover an artifact called the Chinese Zodiac, an object known to cause people, and creatures to develop special powers. Now, once the Zodiac goes missing, it is up to Gru, and the gang to the location of the Zodiac before it falls into the wrong hands.

Now, as some of you know, I gave the first Minions movie a mediocre review when I rewatched, and reviewed that film about a month, or two, ago. Again, it wasn’t a bad film, but could’ve likely been better. That being said, was Minions: The Rise Of Gru any better? Well, I’m delighted to say that, though this sequel had some flaws, Minions: The Rise Of Gru was definitely an improvement, and proof that sequels can sometimes be better than their respective predecessors. First of all, sure, we already knew the Minions origin story from the first film. However, because of that, at least we have a better idea of where they’re coming from when difficult times strike them, and their master, Gru. Additionally, yes, there were some running gags just like there were in the first film. And with the main characters including the popular Minions, that’s expected. Here’s the difference between this sequel, and the first film. While the first film focused way too much on the running gag, having too crude of humor at times, and things like that, it’s a different story here. Yes, some of the humor might have been crude in the sequel. However, the audience will be surprised to find that the jokes, and overall humor, are much cleaner, and funnier this time around as well. Not only that, but the story seems to feel a little stronger, and much more engaging this time around. You can tell that the writers were obviously trying to improve on this sequel in every way, either because not nearly as many people seemed to like the first film, or some other reason like that. The characters are also improvements, for the most part, as well, even Gru, and the Minions. There are also some good newer characters as well. Oh, and there rare also the villains, consisting mostly of the Vicious 6. Now, even if not all of the members of the Vicious 6 were entirely fleshed out, they were really cool, and most definitely seemed to have more depth to them. Yeah, that’s more than one could say about Scarlett Overkill in the first Minions film. Additionally, there’s some really fun creativity for this film, especially when it comes to around the middle, and near the end of Minions: The Rise Of Gru. This is especially true when it comes to the climax of this film. I won’t give away what happens at this point of the film. However, I will say this, the climax makes the movie a little darker, and more exciting at the same time. Finally, the animation is really good for this film, especially when it comes to designs of the characters, or even water, and other objects.

Still, Minions: The Rise Of Gru is not without flaws. First of all, when it comes to the villains, most notably those of the Vicious 6, even though they’re more developed than Scarlett Overkill, and you love to hate them even more as a result, some of them could have still been fleshed out more, and had more depth to them. Additionally, there were some major plot holes throughout the film as well. Finally, what was with one of the people in the Vicious 6 villain organization being a nun? Oh, not just that, but that nun also sometimes saying “Hallelujah” before getting ready to do some evil deeds with the other members of the Vicious 6 at times? I’m sorry, but that seems to feel rather too random in this case. I understand that there are corrupt leaders in the church even today. However, that doesn’t stop this deal with the nun character in this film feeling out of place for this film, you know? That being said, I would like to take a moment to make a comparison between Minions: The Rise Of Gru, and the 1996 Disney film, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. Now, for those of us who saw that film, we may know that there was another corrupt leader in the villain of that film, Judge Clause Frollo. Still, in that case, it worked much better for a couple reasons. One being that that film was set during the Middle Ages. For those of us who are brushed up on history, especially when it comes to the history of the church back in that time period, we should know that there were way more corrupt leaders in the church back in that time period than there seem to be today. So it works much better. The other reason being that while Frollo represented the hypocritical, and Pharisee side of the church, the Archdeacon basically showed the loving, caring, and compassionate side that showed what loving God, and others was truly about. All to say that while it worked better with that situation in Hunchback Of Notre Dame, it feels more random, and out of place with Minions: The Rise Of Gru.

And that’s my review for Minions: The Rise Of Gru. While it was mostly an improvement from 2025’s Minions, there were still one, or two ways in which the first Minions movie was a little better. Apart from those, Minions: The Rise Of Gru is better in almost every way. It’s more solid, fun, engaging, and has more heart to it than the first film seemed to. In all honesty, I can see why it has done well at the box office. I would say that if you haven’t seen Minions: The Rise Of Gru, but want to, definitely go see it, and hopefully have a good time with it!

Final Grade: B

Good morning everyone! Today, we are going to be diving into the DC realm of superheroes. But there’s a twist this time. Instead of having a full-on adult themed version like Batman Begins, Wonder Woman, or something like that, this film is going to surprisingly be an animated film that is more family friendly, and features Clark Kent (aka Superman) having a dog named Krypto, who also has super powers, and there being a new cast of animals as well. Made by Warner Bros. animation department, Warner Bros. Animation Group, and released on July 29th, 2022, movie is DC League Of Super Pets. Was this film any better than the last animated film that I just reviewed, or worse? Well, we shall find out momentarily.

Plot: Clark Kent (aka Superman, and voiced by John Krasinki), and his white Labrador Retriever, Krypto (aka Super Dog/Bark Kent, and voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) are living the good life in New York City. Clark is a reporter, and journalist at a newspaper company called Daily Planet, and dating a journalist named Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). But one day, Kent/Superman’s archenemy, Lex Luthor (Marc Maron), and Lulu (Kate McKinnon), a hairless Guinea pig with special abilities following a science experiment, succeed in retrieving a piece of Krypto bite, and beginning to unleash chaos on New York, and the world. Now, with help from Wonder Woman (Jameela Jamil), Batman (Keanu Reeves), and some new pet friends, including a bill dog named Ace (Kevin Hart), a pot-bellied pig named PB (Vanessa Bauer), and a whole diverse cast of humans, and animals, will they be able to put a stop to Lex Luthor, and Lulu’s evil scheme once and for all?

Let me start this review off by saying that ever since I saw this trailer around the beginning of this year, or near the end of last year, DC League Of Super Pets was surprisingly one of my more highly anticipated films to see for this year. Why? Maybe because I have started to warm up to the superhero genre for the past decade, or two? Maybe because I thought it exciting to see some of our superhero buddies in a theatrical film debut? Or maybe it was seeing some of the superheroes like Clark Kent/Superman having a pet that had cool abilities like flying around. Or maybe it was all of those. One way, or another, I had been stoked for DC League Of Super Pets for the past several months? So was it worth the wait in the end? Yes, without question it was. First of all, for a computer animated film that wasn’t made by Disney, or even DreamWorks, for example, the animation felt mostly, if not fully top notch. Not since movies like Happy Feet, or even Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole, for example, have we had such great animation, especially on the animal characters. Imagine if say Warner Bros., and Disney/Pixar had worked together to make a film. Well, obviously the two companies didn’t. However, DC League Of Super Pets almost makes it feel like the two animation companies could have easily done so. Next, there are the characters. Oh man, when it comes to well-known celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Kevin Hart, for example, they bring so much life, and personality to these characters. Same goes for John Krasinki as Clark Kent, and even for lesser known celebrities like Kate McKinnon as the female villain, Lulu. And for the characters overall, they are definitely well-written, and developed from beginning to end. I mean if you liked films that have involved the DC Super team together, or even the Marvel films with all of the Avengers, chances are you’d most definitely love it when these new Super Per characters are together. They each get fleshed out really well, and you’ll enjoy every moment that they are onscreen as a result. Not to mention that there are a couple of them that get interesting backstories. Additionally, there’s the storyline for this film. Yes, there are a few predictable moments here and there. However, the plot twists that are scattered throughout this film outweigh those predictable moments. For an animated film, that’s saying something. Because of that, the writing for this film ends up being really clever. Why this film hasn’t performed better than it has in theaters is baffling because of that. It is sad to hear that this film might become underrated in the long run. I hope I’m wrong, but still. Oh, and the film also has some funny moments, and really hilarious lines, thanks in particular to comedians like The Rock, and Kevin Hart, and some of the other voice actors. Finally, the film incorporates some good lessons in greed, power, and even jealousy. The only downside side is there being a snippet of a gay couple. Sure, it didn’t last as long, not even close to as king as Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear, but still, definitely not the best idea to incorporate that in this movie.

And that’s my review for DC League Of Super Pets. After seeing this film, it is surprising to see this film underperform at the box office. Especially when compared to Paws Of Fury, and likely even Minions 2: The Rise Of Gru, DC League Of Super Pets could potentially feel like a masterpiece. This is one of those animated films that should get an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Will that happen? Not sure, but this film should. The cast is great, the story is genius, and hardly has any cliches at all, and has some really great animation for a non-Disney film. I would say that if you haven’t seen this film, definitely go see it if it’s still playing at a theater near you. You will be pleasantly surprised, and creative this film with it’s great writing, fun characters, excellent animation, going for it.

Final Grade: A

Hi everyone! Welcome to another session here on my blog! Today, we are going to be getting our big game faces on, as we get into some samurai fighting. Oh, but it’s not with humans. This time, we have anthropomorphic animals that pick up swords that will be involved in some samurai training, and fighting. That being said, let’s discuss Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank.

Plot: In a Japanese like land that is famous for samurai fighting, a dog named Hank (Michael Cera) is sent to the fictional city of Kakamucho, a city that’s populated by cats. Though not well received by the cats at first, due to him being a dog, the cats eventually learn to warm up to him. But when Hank discovers that a coup that could threaten Kakamucho forever, it is up Hank to learn the ways of samurai from a reluctant, but humble cat named Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson), and hopefully save Kakamucho from certain doom once, and for all.

Well, this film, which was made by Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon Movies, isn’t exactly one of the worst films out there. However, Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank isn’t one of the best out there either. First of all, there’s the animation. Alright, the animation was okay. However, when compared to animation of other animated films that was made by this company (i.e. 2011’s Rango), the animation isn’t exactly the best in this film. Putting that aside, the storyline wasn’t the best either. I mean the film probably might have been a little too short. The film might have needed a longer running time than 85 minutes, maybe more like 110-120 minutes, if not more. But hey, at least there was a short film attached to Paws Of Fury by the name of Big Nate. There’s also the characters. Alright, alright, the major standouts as far as characters go we’re probably Hank the dog, Jimbo the samurai training cat, and the villain car Ika Chu. The rest of the characters were just decent. They’re not bad, but they could have maybe been given their due more. Additionally, there were some elements that didn’t seem to mesh well in this film, such as ancient practices, and modern times being out together. Yeah, there were points where this film seemed to imply that the movie was set in modern times. However, more often than not, the film seems to act as if it’s set in more ancient Japan, you know? Also, there were quite a few cliches that didn’t seem to be well executed, especially when it came to certain moments that occurred near the end of the movie.

But was this film completely horrible? Absolutely not. There are still some good things that would make Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank worth watching at least once, if not more. To begin, like I said, Hank, Jimbo, and Ika Chu were the major highlights of this film. Ika Chu especially was a great villain in this film. Not to mention that it was nice to finally have a villain in an animated film period that wasn’t even a twist villain like Disney has at least had in the more recent animated films. If companies like Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies, Universal/Illumination, and even DreamWorks continue to take the more traditional route when it comes to creating villains, hopefully Disney will follow suit. Anyway, some of the action was really good too. I mean even if the climax felt a little short-lived, at least the samurai fighting at that moment was still well choreographed, along with all the other action scenes, namely the ones that involved samurai fighting. Oh, and did I forget o mention that Samuel L. Jackson does the voice of the samurai cat trainer Jimbo? Let me tell you, he is hilarious even in that role. Samuel L. Jackson is always great in any role that he does, be it Nick Fury in The Avengers, the cop dude in Pulp Fiction, Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and films like those. Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank is surprisingly no exception. Finally, it was great to have some surprisingly clever jokes over the course of this film.

And that’s my review for Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank. Although not quite one of the best works of animation, the movie is a decent T watch with fun jokes, a somewhat mature story at times, and some good action. Still, I because this film was just okay, I can see why the film hasn’t performed all that well in theaters. If you want to see it, I would say wait until the movie comes to Paramount+, or On Demand, or somewhere like that. That, or if you have a deal at either Regal, or AMC theaters, where you can see a certain amount of movies a week for free, then see Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank in theaters for free without having to pay money. And hey, at least there have been worse films out there in comparison to this one.

Final Grade: C

Alright, today, we are going to be reviewing a film that seemed to be both a mix of story, and documentary. Interesting choice, I’ll say. Not only that, but just as there were films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit that combined hand-drawn animation, and live-action together, or Happy Feet that did that, but with 3D animation, and live-action together, today’s review is one that combines stop-motion animation, and live-action together. Presenting the one, and only, Marcel: The Shell With Shoes On, released by a newer independent film company called A24.

Plot: A divorced documentary filmmaker named Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp) discovers that two talking shells, Marcel (Jenny Slate), and his grandmother Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini) live in an abandoned home. While conversing especially with Marcel, Dean discovers that Marcel wants to see if he can find other talking shells like him, and his grandmother. By working together, will Marcel be able to accomplish his mission?

Even though I thought this film was out of theaters, I’m glad that I looked again. Even though not quite one of the best films, it was still very fun. First of all, yes, the concept of finding others of your kind has likely been done quite a few times before. However, the way that it’s done here is actually quite clever. Here you have clever things like a talking shell rolling about in a tennis ball just to get around the house quicker when need be, and just seeing how determined Marcel is to accomplish his dreams. It was also great that Marcel at least has a grandmother that encourages him to not be afraid of going after something, despite sometimes feeling tempting to do so. Additionally, how could you not like stop motion animation, and live-action being blended together? I mean yeah, we’ve seen that happen with other types of animation, but what about this particular type, you know? As for the score, it’s pretty good too. One of the main highlights of the score is that it is slow at times, but it can also feel rather calm, and peaceful at others, especially when the movie takes us outdoors. Oh, and it’s cool how we have a female actress like Jenny Slate voicing a male character like Marcel. Besides cases like a female voicing Christopher Peeper in the Superbook kid’s TV show, or a young female playing Andy on a Toy Story play on a Disney cruise line, how often can we hear of that being the case, and the female actress pulling it off surprisingly well? Next, the film also has this really cool creativity in it’s own way with how the story goes. Another thing to mention is how could I not mention how you’d be surprised with how things are handled in this film, especially near the end? Finally, the messages of not giving up, and not letting things like fear, or other factors preventing one from achieving goals, and dreams, are very well done. The only downside is that Marcel: The Shell With Shoes does seem to drag at least for the first 15-30 minutes before getting more of a move on with it’s story. Also, did we really need to have the film documentarian, Dean, get a divorce? I guess if it’s life, maybe, but still.

And that’s my review for Marcel: The Shell With Shoes. Despite the film not being quite as engaging, especially in the beginning, it’s still very good. It was especially nice to have a lesser known independent movie company like A24 make a film like this. Nit to mention that it was cool to have a film with a storyline similar to that of films like Charlotte’s Web, or The Adventures Of Milo & Otis, or films like those, you know? And again, you can’t go wrong with the messages of this film. I would say that if you have a theater near you that has this film playing, I would say see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-

Alright, well, I hope you all have been enjoying going through a string of movie reviews with me, especially since this is the last one that I do at least for this week. Today, we are going to review a film that is based on a mystery novel from apparently a few years ago that was written by author Delia Owens. Well, director Olivia Newman apparently decided to to adapt this film into a screenplay, and release this film just last month. So now, let’s talk about the film version that is based on the 2018 novel, Where The Crawdads Sing.

Plot: When a young adult female named Kya Clark (aka The Marsh Girl by the townspeople, and played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) is accused by the townspeople of murdering ex-boyfriend Chase Andrews (Harris Dickenson), she is forced to stand trial before the court to testify. Now, with the help of a lawyer named Tom Milton (David Strathairn), and friends, and family members of hers, will she be able to prove herself not guilty, or will she be proven guilty, and be forced to spend the rest of her life in prison?

Well, much like the last film that I reviewed, there is that element of suspense in Where The Crawdads Sing. However, unlike Black Phone, Where The Crawdads Sing at least doesn’t have music that could potentially feel creepy, and scary, and does end up acting more realistic this time around. Anyway, I just wanted to get that out of the way. That all being said, Where The Crawdads Sing is a really good film. First of all, the movie almost feels like one of those movie adaptations of one of those novels that was written by author Nicholas Sparks. I mean, be it movies like Message In A Bottle, The Last Song, A Walk To Remember, Where The Crawdads Sing, despite being based on a novel that was written by Delia Owens, instead of Nicholas Sparks, definitely has that feel of those movies that were based on his works. And definitely a good feeling too! Anyway, the film also does a fantastic job of portraying life in a realistic manner. The characters are also good, whether it be the main ones that are kindhearted people, or even the ones that end up being jerks from time to time. The way the story is structured is also clever. With there being flashbacks of the main character’s life from her childhood to when she’s an adult, it helps to not only develop her, as well as some of the other characters, but also help us have a better understanding of where she’s coming from, and sometimes some of the other characters too. Additionally, even if there are times where you might not always like some of the decisions that main character Kya Clark makes, at least you do have a better underdog where she’s coming from. Mychael Danna also does a fun job with the score. Be it the suspenseful moments, or even the more calm, and peaceful moments, Danna’s music is also really good. Speaking of music, if you want to stay for the end credits for at least a little bit, definitely do so, as there is an original song sung by Taylor Swift by the name of “Carolina.” Now even if that song doesn’t win an Oscar for Best Original Song, hopefully it will at least get an Oscar nomination for that song, as it is a very fun song. Finally, Where The Crawdads Sing is really well-paced with it’s story. Yeah, for being a little over two hours long, that is definitely a good thing, you know? The only potential flaw for this film is that some people might find themselves asking

And that’s my review for Where The Crawdads Sing. It is such a heartwarming film with well-developed characters, a well-paced story, and an overall good film that you may find yourself wanting to rewatch over, and over again. If you want to see a film with a good representation of life and does that in the right way, then all the more reason to see this film. How much the film follows the book, I’m not sure. Still, definitely go see it, and I’m sure you will enjoy it a lot.

Final Grade: A

Alright, now we shall review one of the newer films that was released in theaters just a few weeks ago, and is currently still in movie theaters. I will confess that I had not originally intended to see this film since it is a “horror film,” which I don’t normally watch that genre. However, since a friend of mine really loved it enough to see it again, I went ahead and saw it with him. So now, let’s review Black Phone.

Plot: When a young boy named Finney (Mason Thames) gets kidnapped by a child kidnapper, and serial killer called the Grabber (Ethan Hawke), it is up to Finney to try to find a way out of his new prison before he becomes one of the fewer children to eventually end up dead like the other kids that have died in the past. Now, with his brains, and his sister Gwen’s (Madeleine McGraw) ability to see visions of situations like this, can these two work together for Finney to escape from the Grabber once and for all?

Well, though not exactly one of the best films, Black Phone at least has a few things to enjoy about it. For one, it does a good job of showing how there are in fact serial killers in the world, and how kidnappings, and things like that happen all the time. It was also good to have a main character praying to God from time to time, even if there were one, or two times where those moments felt a little convoluted.

However, even if this film received mostly positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, that doesn’t make Black Phone one of their best films. Even if it wasn’t for some of the potential horror elements that occur in this film, the film doesn’t feel all too pleasant. For one, some of the family members in this film act very abusive at times. Okay, I understand that that’s common in real life especially nowadays. But come on, do we really need to have movies, and media like that to throw that in our faces? Also, is it really necessary to have a character throw cuss words at God while praying? Again, it’s understandable that maybe the filmmakers might have possibly had the character be honest about her struggles, and anger with God, but still. Also, what was with the supernatural element at different points when the main character is in prison? Okay, I understand that maybe the main character kid needs motivation to try to escape, but still. And yes, it was good to have this film be suspenseful. However, either with the scary, and creepy music that plays throughout this film, or maybe the serial killer wearing a creepy mask, or things like those, Black Phone seems to go a little to over the top with the suspense element. You can have suspense, but there’s a way to do so in a more pleasant way like with L.A. Ambulance, or some film like that, you know? Oh, and the kids in this film are not always pleasant to watch onscreen.

And that’s my review for Black Phone. Yeah, after watching films like Black Phone, I think I remember why horror films aren’t exactly the best genre of film to watch. The movie is way too creepy at times, a lot of characters are mean-spirited, and it has some elements that seemed to be a little unrealistic for this type of film. I would say that if you want to see a more pleasant, and suspenseful film like L.A. Ambulance, a 007 James Bond film, or movies like those. Any of those might be more fun than a film like Black Phone any day.

Final Grade: D

Well everyone, welcome to another session of movie reviewing! Today, we are going back to even old, old school, even earlier than we did with the last film that I reviewed. This time, we will be going back to the late 1970s, when Paramount Pictures released a musical film that addressed high school characters, the whole deal with cliques, and other topics like those. Oh, and need I mention some rather fun music as well? This film, if I’m not mistaken, was one of John Travolta’s biggest debuts in his acting career, if not also Olivia Newton-John’s as well. So, without further ado, let’s discuss the 1978 musical, Grease.

Plot: When an American greaser named Danny Zuko (John Travolta), and an Australian named Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) meet at the beach in the summertime, they begin to fall for each other. But when Sandy’s family decides to stay in America, and enroll her at Rydell High School, where Danny also attends, the question remains, will Danny, and Sandy stay in love, or will their love for each other turn out to only be a summer fling?

I definitely remember having fond memories of this film, from seeing the Broadway version of this film at Country Dinner Playhouse as a teenager, to performing in a couple numbers like “Hand Jive,” and “We Go Together” in a couple musical theater classes in high school, and things like those. Now, years later, I decided to revisit the film, and see what I think of it now. Well, first of all, the words “people are complicated” can be applied to this film. I mean especially when it comes to the main characters of this film, you have them making really dumb choices, and acting a certain way because of being afraid of what others around them may think. As a result, you have people that are very complex more often than not, especially when it comes to characters like Danny Zuko, or even Sandy Olsson, for instance. In addition to all of this, most of the songs are really catchy. For one, the songs help develop most of the characters, even if there were a couple that may have sidetracked from the main plot of the film. I mean who wouldn’t want to sing along with, or even reenact songs like “Hand Jive,” “Grease Lightning,” “”You’re The One That I Want,” or songs like those in this film? And yes, the people in this film song really well, especially main leads John Travolta, and Olivia Newton-John. Definitely interesting how thirty years later, the former would voice a dog in the 2008 Disney film, Bolt, as well as sing a duet with Miley Cyrus for one of the songs for that film, eh? As for the choreography, man is it fantastic. I’m not sure how long it took for this cast to get their steps down. Man, did it pay off one way, or the other. Grease also does a great job of portraying real life in a really fun, and creative way. Honestly, had it not been for the songs in this film, would this film have been just as fun? Maybe not. But hopefully it would have still been good. Finally, Grease is great at teaching very good lessons like not being afraid of what others think, being willing to spread your wings no matter what that may mean, and being willing to think of others more than yourself.

Now, all of these things sound great, do they not? Still, I have to admit to you all, Grease could have maybe been a little better in a couple regards. First off, some of the side characters may seems. Little one note at times. This isn’t the case for all of them, but some of them seem to feel a little underdeveloped at times. Not only that, but there were times where this film tried to develop them, and it didn’t seem to work as well as they hoped. That being said, Grease did seem to have some side plots going on that seemed to work better in films like 2014’s God’s Not Dead, for example, but for some reason not as well here. Because of that, this musical film should have been a little longer than say one hour, and fifty minutes. Now, an U saying that Grease should have been three hours long like a film such as 1971’s Fiddler On The Roof, or some film like that? No! Still, Grease should have had a little bit longer of a running time just to help flesh out the side characters a little more than they did in the end, you know? Also, as most of you know, Grease is rated PG. Yeah, definitely a good thing this film was rated that, and not something lower like G. The reason being is because there are some moments that could potentially make this film a little too adult even for a PG-rated film. Yeah, I understand that some things will go over some kid’s heads, but how do we know that some kids might not ask questions about some moments in this film that they shouldn’t know about quite yet, you know?

And that’s my review for the 1978 musical film, Grease. Even though there were a couple areas that could have improved for this film, Grease still makes up for those with providing good lessons, having a lot of fun songs, great lead characters, despite some of the side ones feeling a little bland at times, and an overall fun, and creative story. If you haven’t seen Grease yet, I would highly recommend that you see it at least once, if not multiple times after that. You may yet be surprised by how enjoyable Grease is in the end with all the great things that I mentioned before. Again, definitely see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-