Well, everyone, today, we review one of DreamWorks’ earlier animated films that is lesser known, yet known for a few things. One, of course, being that it was the first animated film from the company to star celebrity voices like Brad Pitt (this was before he would go on to voice another character in the 2010 DreamWorks film, Megamind), and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yet, there is something else that this animated film is known, and, sadly, infamous for as well. That being that this particular animated film was the last DreamWorks traditionally 2D animated film before the company decided to move into making completely computer animated 3D films from there on out, including classics like Shrek 2, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How To Train Your Dragon, and more. So, without further ado, we now review the one, and only Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas.

Plot: After the Eris (Michelle Pfeiffer), the Goddess Of Chaos, frames a pirate named Sinbad (Brad Pitt) for the theft of an important artifact by the name of the Book Of Peace, he then is sentenced to prison, and death. However, Sinbad’s childhood friend, Proteus (Joseph Fiennes), the Prince of the fictional city of Syracuse, offers to take Sinbad’s place in exchange for Sinbad’s freedom, and that Sinbad go retrieve the Book. Now, with the help of his crew, and French ambassador Marina, who is Proteus’ fiancee, can Sinbad successfully retrieve the legendary Book Of Peace from Eris’ realm of Tartarus within the allotted time of ten days?

So, now that we’re talking about this animated film, the question remains, did this film suffer at the box-office back in summer 2003 because of some fierce competition with hits like Legally Blond 2, Pirates Of The Caribbean 1, Finding Nemo, and the like, or was this film just not that great overall? Well, though this film may have some flaws, Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas definitely did deserve more attention overall.

That being said, let’s start with the negatives. First of all, we obviously have a Goddess Of Chaos. But why do we not have a God of Peace in this mythical world? Was the Book Of Peace supposed to serve as a substitute for that? I don’t know, somehow, that probably could have been explained a little better. Additionally, some of Sinbad’s crew could have most likely been a little more fleshed out than they were in the end. Thankfully, a couple of them were, especially Sinbad’s first mate, Kale, and an Italian lookout named Rat. Still, aside from them, there may have been potential to make the rest more memorable. Oh, and there is the main character, Sinbad. Okay, don’t get me wrong! It was nice to see some growth in him throughout the course of this film. But the way that it was handled, let’s just say that it could have definitely been done a little differently. Finally, there were some situations throughout the film that could have either been developed better, or at least been handled better.

And now, for the positive aspects of this particular DreamWorks animated film. First of all, there’s the casting. To start, even if Brad Pitt may sound sort of the same as in many other roles that he’s in, he does a great job as the role of Sinbad himself. Then, there’s of course Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joseph Fiennes, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Marina, Proteus, and The Goddess, Eris, respectively. Then, you have additional roles like Dennis Haysbert, Jim Cummings, and some other voice actors. All of them were really great in their individual, and rather unique roles. Then, there’s the score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Wow, what an amazing score he provided here. I mean he truly did help capture the art, and essence of an adventure type of story with the music that he composed throughout the course of this movie. Truly, he did help capture the mood of nearly every scene that occurred here. In addition to all of this, the character development, aside from some of the side characters, is really good. Granted, when it’s come to some of the relationships, especially the ones that Marina had with both Proteus, and Sinbad, could have maybe been developed, and or handled better in some ways. In most ways, however, even that is well-handled. There’s the villain/villainess, Eris. To begin, talk about a really great, and overall well-developed villain. She’s also well-designed with her art, her realm of Tartarus, and her motives, along with her deviousness, are really great as well. Oh, and did I forget to mention Sinbad’s dog, Spike? He was a fun, and lovable character too. Man, got to love some of his facial expressions at certain points in this film. In addition to these, there’s the animation itself. Well, even if some of the CGI didn’t mesh quite nearly as well with the 2D animation, the 2D animation itself was out of this world. Honestly, it’s because of the beautiful animation here, and the other 2D films that came before this film, that 2D films shall be missed in the DreamWorks company (and many other companies as well). And now, there’s the story itself. Let me tell you, Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas probably may yet be one of the most mature films in the DreamWorks library, and maybe even in mainstream animation period. Honestly, had it not been for aspects such as having facial expressions for animals, or having CGI monsters in this film, this is one of those animated movies that most likely could have been a live-action one. Considering that this came out the same summer as the first Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, while Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas may not be quite as good as that film, the story is definitely really good to the point that it should have made way more than the $26 million that it made domestically. I mean maybe somewhere between $100-200 million if not more. Why? Because not only is this one of the more mature Dreamworks animated films out there, but it also breaks some cliches in quite a few aspects, particularly with a situation that may be considered a twist, and occurs near the end the end of the film. Now, am I saying that kids won’t enjoy this film? Absolutely not! Like many animated films, especially those that come from companies like DreamWorks, and Disney, all demographics, be it kids, teens, and/or adults, are bound to love this film from beginning to end. And plus, if people loved Pirates Of The Caribbean, chances are people would probably love Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas, if they gave it a chance as well. Finally, the script is mostly, if not fully brilliant as well.

And that’s my review for Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas. Despite some flaws, this movie most definitely deserves more recognition than it has been getting for these past 20+ years. The characters are mostly great, it’s funny, and the animation is gorgeous, the music is great, and it is kore mature than your typical kids/family film. It’s just a shame that because this film flopped, along with 2000’s The Road To El Dorado, and, to a degree, Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron (though that one at least was a modest success), DreamWorks decided to move entirely into making computer-animated films. Truthfully, it’s films like Sinbad, and the other two, along with The Prince Of Egypt, that also deserve just as much recognition, if not more so than those like Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, and the like. If you want a fun adventure film that’s put in in the form of animation, some fun characters, and a film that clearly had plenty of heart put into it, then all the more reason to see Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas. I’m sure you’ll be impressed, and surprised in the end. Heck, you might find yourself wanting to rewatch it a little more than many other 2D animated films. But you just be the judge of that, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 8/10

Ladies, and gentlemen, for this review, and the one after this one, we will be discussing a film from the world of DreamWorks Animation. Starting with this one, we will talk about the latest one in the library. So, without further ado, let’s discuss Dog Man.

Plot: After a dog’s head is down on the body of a human being following an explosion, it is up to whom they now call Dog Man to stop an evil cat named Petey (Pete Davidson) from bringing ruin, and destruction on the fictional Okay City.

Well, Dog Man is a very funny film, I’ll give it that. However, I’m not sure that it’s quite one of DreamWorks’ best films. It’s still good, make no mistake. I mean, for one, you can tell that a lot of heart went into the film. I mean with the relationships that main character Dog Man has with characters like Lil’ Petey, who is Petey’s son, and some of the officers, for instance, those are handled really well. It was also cool to have a DreamWorks come out with a film that had comic book style of animation, the first to do so since 2017’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. Speaking of the animation, the animation is also really nice, and pretty at times, especially when there’s water, particularly at night time, the blue sky, the moon shining on the river, and things like that. There was also some really cool action involved as well. It’s almost like you have a Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin, Venom, or any other villain type of story, but with regular cops, and criminals being involved. There was also a nice score by Tom Howe as well. Then, there are some of the characters. You got Dog Man, Petey the cat villain, a fish villain, and the Police Chief, who was probably the funniest of them all. Oh, and Petey, let’s just say that you might find yourself interested to see the kinds of things that his character goes through.

In spite of all these good things, the film also suffers from having a few cliches. Okay, I get that a lot of films do have cliches. But here, for some reason, the ones that this film had kind of felt out of place, and almost like they were added in at the last minute. There were also some additional things like maybe additional characters, and things like that probably made the movie feel a little too weird. Finally, it wouldn’t be surprising that even if the man-dog hybrid was supposed to be a creative element for this film, there would still be people that might take issue with that aspect of this movie as well, especially with how Dog Man came about in the first place.

And that’s my review for Dog Man. It is still a very good film, make no mistake. Though this movie does suffer from cliches that feel out of place, certain concepts for this film, and more, the pros for this movie most certainly outweigh the bad. This is most definitely the case with all the comedic moments that come about in this film. And trust me, there are quite a few of those, and it’ll make you enjoy this film all the more. If you’re wanting an animated film from DreamWorks that’s really funny, and fun overall, I would say definitely give this film a shot. Even if this film may not be quite one of DreamWorks’ best films, it is still worth seeing for things like the comedy, the heartfelt moments, and more. So go see it, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 8.5/10

And now, everyone, today, we review a film that was based on true events. It is the one, and only, The Unbreakable Boy!

Plot: The movie revolves around a boy named Austin LeRette (Jacob Laval), who is on the Autism spectrum, and has a brittle bone disease. In spite of conditions like these, can people like his father (Zachary Levi), and stepmother (Meghan Fahy), and the rest of his family, and friends help him succeed in life?

Wow, what a remarkable movie! First of all, to have a chance to journey with Austin, and his family is really remarkable in this case. I mean with the hardships that Austin had to face due to both his autism, as well as the frequent hospital visits as a result of him having the condition of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, but him continuing to have joy in the midst of all of that, wow, I think most of us could learn something from Austin, and the rest of his family. Additionally, though it may be a family film, there are quite a few heavy moments in this film as well. In fact, there are some moments that might fly over those of younger kids. And that’s okay, those kids can ask about those when they’re older. The characters are also really well done. I was surprised by how much Austin himself really stood out in this film. And what’s more is how having autism can have both its negatives, and positives at the same time. Then, of course, there’s the acting. I mean Zachary Levi as Scott, Austin’s dad, he may have a very similar personality to other characters that Levi may play in other films like Shazam, or even Flynn in Tangled. At the same time, however, Levi also knows how to have a more somber, and serious side for any moments that require that as well. However, probationer of the biggest standouts of this film is how the son, Austin, still remains joyful, and hardly ever cares about what anyone thinks of him. Not to mention that Austin will show love, and compassion to those who may not deserve it. Honestly, for those of us that haven’t seen this film yet, that is one of the reasons that everyone needs to see this film. Truth be told, this film will probably help others gain a better perspective on people, and life overall. For reasons such as these, the characters, and the story overall are really well developed.

And that’s my review for The Unbreakable Boy. The movie, overall, helps teach great lessons on love, and compassion for others, faith, and other good qualities that we need more films about. Truth be told, it is films like this one that need to gain more in popularity than films like Captain America: Brave New World. No offense to superhero franchises, or even franchises that have come out over the past month, but solo films like this need to have the spotlight more so by other people as well. If you want to see a film in which the main character, and his family had to overcome so many impossible odds in life, then The Unbreakable Boy is truly a must see. It’s guaranteed that people that see this movie will most definitely take some valuable lessons after watching it. Hard to believe!?! Well, then definitely see for yourself then!

Final Rating: 10/10

Ladies, and gentlemen, today, we review the latest installment in the Paddington film series. It is the one, and only Paddington In Peru.

Plot: When Paddington Bear/Brown (Ben Winshaw) receives a letter from the Reverend Mother in Peru (Olivia Colman) that his aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) is missing in action, it is up to Paddington, and his family to head to Peru, and find her.

Well, this third installment in the Paddington franchise is definitely a fun outing. Paddington In Peru does well with balancing comedy, serious moments, and heart overall. One thing that I’m sure some will find surprising about this sequel is that the actress that played Mrs. Brown, Sally Hawkins, was replaced by Emily Mortimer this time around. Rumor has it that she felt that her time as playing that character had come to an end. Whether or not that was actually true, you got me. Anyway, Paddington In Peru does most definitely up the stakes in quite a few ways compared to the previous two films. There’s action! There’s danger! And, of course, there is excitement aplenty to be found here. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Antonio Banderas gets to play one of the villains in this film? Okay, the character that he plays isn’t exactly so much a villain, as he is more of an antihero type of character. As for who the real villain is, well, let’s just say that you may, or may not be surprised by who that turns out to be. And that, my friends, brings us to the storyline. Well, it could potentially feel a little cliche on the surface. At the same time, however, let’s also say that you also may be surprised by the ways that the story is handled in the end. I mean from some of the action sequences, to the climax itself, it is interesting the way that certain events unfold as this story progresses. Oh, and did I forget that this film has some very interesting twists as well, especially one, or two, that occur near end of this film? How interesting, especially for a family film, eh? One other thing that I would like to mention, for positives, is that the ending seems to be very surprising. Honestly, the one negative that I can think of is that the ending might have felt a little rushed. Thankfully, not by much, but still.

And that’s my review for Paddington In Peru. If you haven’t seen this sequel, I highly recommend that you. It may not quite be the masterpiece that the first film is, but definitely better than the second installment. Plus, it has the right amount of things going on. I would say that if you are interested in a sequel that at least is better than the second film, please give this one a chance. You’ll most likely love it for its humor, heartwarming moments, the action, and all else that makes this sequel really enjoyable.

Final Rating: 9.5/10

And now, it’s time to review Paddington 2!

Plot: When Paddington Bear (Ben Winshaw) gets framed for the theft of a special pop-up book, it is up to his adoptive family to find the real culprit, and get him out of jail.

So, is this sequel as good as the first Paddington film? Well, let me put it to you all this way! Paddington 2 may have some elements in this film that people will probably find better here than in the first movie. However, overall, though the sequel is definitely really good, is not quite on par with the first one. First of all, there was a character from the first film that, though he seemed to have a good arc in the first movie, that seemed to go out the window in this second movie, as he seemed a little too quick to jump to conclusions, most notably when he was wrongly judged Paddington Bear on certain actions. In addition to that, what was with some of the main characters going to consult a fortune teller at a special carnival event that was taking place? I mean yeah, I do at least get that it was a way to help move the story along. Still, I’m not sure that it was the best way to do so. So there you have that!

But now, let’s discuss the positives in Paddington 2. Well, for one, it was an interesting premise to see Paddington framed for a crime, but doing the best that he can to make the most of it while in jail. There was also a lot of creativity to this sequel as well. It also did well with showing how characters like Paddington can be a little gullible, and naive about the world around them. Seeing as even adults have been guilty of that from time to time, it was good to see that portrayed here in this film. And, like I said before, there are at least some elements that may have made this sequel somewhat superior. For one, there’s the villain. The one from the first film seemed a little one note, and not all too interesting as a result. In this sequel, however, this one, who was played by Hugh Jackman, was a much more interesting character. I mean he was fun, charismatic, and had so many other great qualities to go along with his character, especially for a villain. Paddington’s relationship with his family was developed even stronger this time around as well. Oh, and if you want a really good sequel, not only do the things that I just mentioned make it great, but there is a surprise at the very end as well. I won’t say what happens, but let’s just say that it’s because of moments like it, and certain other moments in this sequel as well, that I wouldn’t be surprised if at least some people considered Paddington 2 superior to it’s predecessor. Finally, make sure that you stay during part of the end credits. You’ll be glad that you did, as an additional scene occurs during the rolling of the credits.

And that’s my review for Paddington 2. Though maybe not overall on par with the first film, there are moments that people may like the second film even a little better. Either way, because this sequel is still really good, it’s worth seeing. The score is nice, the villain is excellent, the characters are overall really great, and there are some nice surprises here and there. It is for these reasons that I highly suggest that you see Paddington 2. I can guarantee that you’ll be glad that you did in the end.

Final Rating: 9/10

Well, everyone, today, in honor of a third Paddington film being released here very soon, we go through the first two films, starting with this one. So, here you go, the one, and only Paddington!

Plot: When an unknown species of bear comes to London, England from Peru, following the death of his uncle, he finds a human family that consists of the parents, and their son, and daughter, and decide to keep him for the time being. Now, will the family be able to find him a proper home, or will Paddington their new family companion in the end?

Well, as I’m sure many of us know, a lot of live-action family films that have had humans, and talking animals in them have been hit, or miss. Well, in the case of this film, Paddington, it is most definitely a hit. What we have here is a film with plenty of heart, soul, and humor. Paddington is a very heartwarming film. I mean one of the main things to love about the film is, first of all, how much they capture the life of places like Peru, and London, the two places that this film take place in, especially the latter one. Second of all, Paddington also does great with showing how change, whether it’s having a new child, getting adopted, or whatever else, can change a person’s life, more so for the better. Additionally, as mentioned before, there is such a great deal of comedy in this film. Honestly, the kinds of funny scenes that occur throughout this film, they are so genius. I mean no crude humor, no crude remarks, or anything else that could make the humor dirty, and/or crude. Considering that even in family films, filmmakers have had a tendency to put the more dirty kind of humor in, it is most definitely nice to see that films like Paddington didn’t have to rely on that, and/or have to force comedy in period. And what’s more is that even if Paddington may be technically be in the category of children’s entertainment, the film does have a lot even for teens, and adults to enjoy as well. Honestly, it’s one of those family live-action family films that, like films such as Stuart Little, and maybe even ones like the more recent Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, for instance, might go on to be such a heartwarming film with heart, and story, that could go on to potentially be a classic in the future, if not now. In addition to all of this, the acting is great. I mean you got High Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Peter Capaldi, and even Nicole Kidman in this film. Still, it is Ben Winshaw, who voices Paddington himself, that really steals the show. As for the story itself, well, though it may be simple, it is also surprisingly creative. That is another aspect that makes Paddington worthwhile. What’s more is that the way that the beginning, and even other scenes are structured in this film is really creative, and well-done overall as well. Finally, Paddington is great at teaching valuable lessons such as the true meaning of family, that you don’t always know what you got until it’s gone, that having a family can change a person, even for the better, and lessons like those.

And that’s my review for Paddington. Truly, it is a live-action family film that works well. Honestly, if more studios made more movies like it, instead of making animated films that are full-on computer-animated all the time, we may get have a better balance of the types of family films in that regard. Paddington has well-developed characters, a story that’s well-structured, great comedy, and more that make this movie worth your while. Definitely see Paddington if you have yet to. You’ll definitely enjoy this film one way, or the other.

Final Rating: 10/10

Ladies, and gentlemen, today, we review a film that the Lion King nerd in me had long been anticipating since it was first announced back in September 2022. It is a Disney film that serves as both a sequel, and prequel to the 2019 remake of the classic 1994 Disney animated film. Oh, and it is also a Disney film to be released in December of this past year, the very first one to get a release in such a month since 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns. So now, let’s discuss the one, and only film, Mufasa: The Lion King.

Plot: Rafiki (John Kani) recounts to Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), the daughter of Simba (Donald Glover), and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles Carter), some rather key events in the life of her grandfather, Mufasa (Braelyn, and Brielle Rankins as young Mufasa, and Aaron Pierre as adult Mufasa), from his relationship with Taka/Scar (Theo Somolu as cub Taka/Scar, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as adult Taka/Scar), how he became King of the Pride Lands, and more.

Okay, first of all, I will say this, I’m glad that Disney decided to honor James Earl Jones by having a line of his from the original Lion King movie included in this film. Wow, what a great way to honor his legacy, since he played one of the most iconic roles in The Lion King in the character of Mufasa. With that said, did we need this sequel/prequel to the remake, and/or the original Lion King? Well, not necessarily. But was it good for what it was? Well, in more ways than not, yes. First of all, the visuals were most definitely spectacular, especially when it came to sunrises, and sunsets, and the scenery of any beautiful lush paradise that was portrayed in this film. Second, there was the relationship between Mufasa, and Taka, and any other relation he had in this film, be it with his biological parents, and adoptive parents, and, of course, his relationship with Sarabi. I will say that Obasi, and Eshe, the latter who especially was the one to take Mufasa in after he, let’s just say, went through really tough circumstances in the beginning of the film, seemed to be very much like gorilla parents Kerchak, and Kala from Disney’s Tarzan. Anyway, nearly all of the relationships that Mufasa has are well-established, aside from the one with Obasi, that is. Additionally, there is the deal of some elements being taken from both a New Age, and potential Christian perspective. This is where I’m sure some people, especially Christians will feel ambivalent about this film, and those elements of this film, especially with the whole thing with Milele. I mean, on the one hand, the whole deal with Milele can feel like a rough New Age element. On the other hand, the whole thing with some believing that it either exists, or it doesn’t, is a very good parallel to real life with some people believing that Heaven exists, and others believing that it may not. So, as a result, some people will likely have mixed feelings with that, along with other aspects included in this film. Next, there are the songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Well, I will say that even though not all of them will leave an impact like say the original songs of The Lion King did, be it “Just Can’t Wait To Be King”, “Be Prepared”, “Hakuna Matata”, and songs like those, there were some very fun songs in this new Lion King film. I know a lot of people seem to love “I’ve Always Wanted A Brother”. And yeah, it’s a good song, along with “We Go Together”, “Tell Me It’s You” (which seems to have the feel of songs like The Lion King’s “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”, or even a song like “Rewrite The Stars” from The Greatest Showman), and maybe even “Brother Betrayed”. The other few songs in this film, like “Ngomso”, “Milele”, and “Bye-Bye”, they were alright. Speaking of music, the score was also very good. Dave Metzger, and Nicholas Britell did the score this time around. Let me tell you, they did do great writing their own score. However, they also did well with making nods to the score of the original Lion King film, and making it work very well. Oh, and the voice acting was really great too. I mean Aaron Pierre, who voiced Mufasa, Jo doubt he had some big shoes to fill in this film. Still, for the performance he gave, he did well. Same can be said about Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka/Scar, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, John Kani as Rafiki, and even Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, who was the leader of a pride of white, and served as the villain of this film. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Keith David, and Anika Noni Rose also were in this film, voicing Mufasa’s biological parents, Masego, and Afia? Yeah, seeing them come back in another Disney film 15 years after voicing other characters in the 2009 Disney film, The Princess & The Frog, that was a very welcome treat. One other thing that I will say that people will be impressed by how humble Mufasa is throughout this film, whether it’s sacrificing for others, including his attempts to sacrifice his own happiness for those he cares about, even when it may blow in his face, and more. It’s also impressive that Mufasa will do his best to stand up for what’s right. Finally, how could you not appreciate having Kiara, Simba, and Nala’s daughter, included in this film?

With all of these good things that I mentioned, are there cons to Mufasa: The Lion King? Well, yes, there are a few, actually. First of all, there’s the deal with not all of these songs being memorable. Yes, a majority of them were good. But I’m not sure that some of them were needed. Additionally, there were a couple plot holes in this film as well. Also, as I mentioned before, the film may a little bit too much of New Age stuff. Yes, that may have been the case for the original Lion King. Still, it seemed maybe a little more so this time around. Also, why did the villains end up being white lions, and lionesses this time around? Okay, don’t get me wrong, it was nice that some people might learn of a new species of lion this time around, especially if maybe you were a young kid. Still, considering the political climate that America especially has been experiencing in recent years, it kind of makes you wonder, was the white lion species a reference to say the old anime show, Kimba The White Lion, or did Disney intend to include subtle racism in this film? I don’t know, it just didn’t seem like having white lions as the villains was the best idea, you know? But hey, just a thought! Additionally, even if most of the relationships in this film were done very well, there were a few, like the one with Mufasa, and his stepfather, Obasi, that could have maybe been handled better. Speaking of Obasi, even if he did have one, or two redeeming qualities, overall, he was definitely not the best role model for a father, especially not to his biological son, Taka/Scar. There were also one, or two questions that could have been answered, but seemed to be left just the opposite way. Finally, some of the beginning did seem to drag before we got to the main meat of the story.

And that’s my review for Mufasa: The Lion King. Well, even if we didn’t necessarily need this film, this was definitely a very good film. Still, in some ways, it may have felt obvious that Disney was trying to rush to get this film released sometime during the year that the original Lion King film had reached its 30th anniversary. Honestly, had Disney not been trying so hard to do so, gone through one, or two rewrites, and maybe waited another year, or two, Mufasa: The Lion King might have likely been a better film than it was in the end. As it is, it’s still good. It just could have been better. Even so, definitely do still make it a point to see it if you’re a fan of The Lion King, love Disney, are a big movie buff period, or something like that, still make a point to see Mufasa: The Lion King. I can guarantee that you’ll still enjoy it.

Final Rating: 8/10

Everyone, today, we review the latest film that was released by the Christian film, and TV company, Angel Studios. Released around Christmas time, the film is Homestead.

Plot: After a nuclear bomb is detonated in Los Angeles, a group of evacuees evacuate to a safe haven called Homestead in the mountains of California. As the group encounters threats, and some other dangers in the process, the owner, and the refugees must wonder if they can stay safe there, or if they have to go somewhere else.

So, how was this latest film from Angel Studios? Well, for the most part, really good. It was definitely great to see a film that showed how to learn to survive during a time when a nuclear bomb goes off, or some such scenario like that. Next, the acting was excellent. One most noteworthy role was Neal McDonough as Ian Ross, the head of the fictional Homestead in the mountains in this film. Additionally, there are the characters in this film. Man, a great majority of them are very interesting. I mean you have characters that range from ones that think things from a mostly logical point of view, as well as those that see things from both a logical, but also faith-based point of view as well. Most of the characters themselves were very interesting as well. This movie also does well with tackling some interesting issues like when to make the right decisions, experiencing forgiveness, having faith that miracles, and the impossible can happen from time to time, and more. And yes, though a serious movie more often than not, Homestead does have some comedic moments here and there as well. And what’s more this may yet be one of the more mature films that Angel Studios has seemed to have, besides maybe Sound Of Freedom.

That all being said, this was a film from Angel Studios that did have a few issues as well. First of all, some of the beginning did seem to drag for maybe around the first 20-25 minutes, if not more. There was morning that, but Homestead might have focused on one too many characters at times. Yes, a lot of them were very well developed, make no mistake about that! However, there were others that probably could have been fleshed out a little more.

And that’s my review for Homestead. If you haven’t seen this faith-based film yet, I suggest you do. Honestly, though a lot of Christians are probably going to enjoy this movie, I wouldn’t be surprised if even some non-Christians found the items I listed, or other reasons to enjoy this film as well. It’s well-done, thought-provoking, and has other really great qualities that make it enjoyable. So, definitely go see it, if you haven’t, yet. I’m sure you’ll definitely enjoy it.

Final Rating: 9/10 ⭐️

Ladies, and gentlemen, on Christmas Day of this past year, we received yet another movie biopic of a musical artist like with Bohemian Rhapsody, and Rocket Man, which were about Queen, and Elton John respectively. This time, we got one that revolves around the one, and only Bob Dylan. So now, let’s discuss the film about him, A Complete Unknown.

Plot: The film revolves around Bob Dylan (portrayed by Timothee Chalamet), and how he rose to fame in the music industry.

Well, even though this film, like some of the other previous biopics, had some sad, and depressing moments at times, A Complete Unknown did seem to feel more uplifting this time around. I mean, come on, this is a biopic about someone who made big hits like “Serve Somebody”, for crying out loud. And if you don’t remember how that song goes, well, just go, and listen to it. Anyway, I will also say that this movie did great with showing a lot of Bob Dylan’s life. Again, I won’t say much about that, so that more people will want to see this film. Anyway, this movie does a great job portraying Bob Dylan’s life, from some of the music that he began writing, his, let’s just say, interesting love life, his struggles, and more. Also, there was also the casting. Wow, the casting was awesome, with Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, and Timothee Chalamet as the main character himself, Bob Dylan. Man, seeing him cast as Bob Dylan was most definitely genius. I mean seeing him in more serious films like the action Dune series, as well as letting himself be in more fairly lighthearted roles like the character of Wonka in last year’s Wonka, and now this film where he sings once again, wow, that is actually cool, wouldn’t you say? There is also some really great comedy at unexpected moments in this film too. Honestly, the one thing that definitely could have made this film a little better would be that A Complete Unknown probably could have benefited a little more by showing more of Bob Dylan’s childhood before he became an adult, and became a famous name in the music industry.

And that’s my review for A Complete Unknown. If you haven’t seen this film, I would highly recommend that you do. I think that people who have enjoyed movies with Timothee Chalamet will love this film, as will those who love biopics with music, and enjoy comedies, and people like them. This film is also more of a fun biopic film than some of the previous ones that we’ve had in recent years. All said, definitely see A Complete Unknown, if you haven’t yet. Definitely guaranteed that you’ll enjoy it!

Final Rating: 9.5/10 ⭐️

Well, everyone, today, we review a film that is part of a fantasy film franchise trilogy that was just released over twenty years ago. This time however, though Peter Jackson was not the director of this film in the Lord Of The Rings lore, he was said to be involved in it somehow, and some way. Oh, and that’s not all. Instead of this Lord Of The Rings being live-action, new film director Kenji Kamiyama decided to give this film the animation treatment, making it anime to be specific. So now, let’s discuss this latest installment in the Lord Of The Rings series, the one, and only Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim!

Plot: Set nearly 200 years before the War Of The Ring, an older tale occurred in Middle Earth in which a tragic event would spark war between King Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), the King Of Rohan, and Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), the leader of a tribe called the Dunlendings. Was Rohan saved by Helm, his children, and the rest of his kingdom, or did Wulf successfully conquer that kingdom in the end?

Well, now that we have this film included in the Hobbit, and Lord Of The Rings movie franchise, the question now remains, did it honor the legacy of the newer Lord Of The Rings from more than twenty years ago? Well, in more ways than one, very much so. First of all, despite the fact that there may have been some scenes that might not have worked as well, be it in animation, or live-action for a Lord Of The Rings kind of film, Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim does a fantastic job of accomplishing that task. Director Kenji Kamiyama, despite being the one to direct this new film instead of Peter Jackson, really did seem to understand how the Lord Of The Rings was suppose to work, and work well. I mean yes, because this film had an anime type of animation, this film can have the feel of an overall feel of an anime film, including those of the Studio Ghibli film library. Nevertheless, from start to finish, you can also tell that this film could have easily been made into live-action, and the storyline would have still worked in more ways than not. Yeah, with the more mature storyline, as well as how violent this movie is (and not to mention that this film has a PG-13 rating), this film, like the other films, is most definitely more for teens, and adults. In other words, this is an animated film that is NOT for kids. Speaking of the animation, it was amazing to see how well the animation worked, even for a film that was built on anime. I mean even if you have everything that comes with an anime film, whether it’s the movements of the characters, the way that the mouth of any character moves when a character speaks, you name it, there are also a few times in this movie, when the animation seems to be smoother, whether it’s certain monster creatures attacking, grass blowing in the wind, and scenes like those. As a result, some of the animation can feel Americanized at times. Next, there are also the characters. Let me tell you, most of them are really great. And emphasis on most of them! For one, Freca, despite only being in the film for a little bit, was a very well developed one. Same goes for Wulf, Freca’s son, who served as the villain for this movie. Oh, speaking of villains, that’s another rather interesting aspect of this new Lord Of The Rings film, the fact that this time around, the villain doesn’t have any magical powers, does not serve as a sorcerer, or any of those things like most of the villains in previous Lord Of The Rings movies. That is with the exception of the villains from at least the Hobbit prequel trilogy. Anyway, the other characters, like main hero Helm Hammerhand, his daughter, Princess Hera, Hera’s brothers Hama, and Haleth, her cousin Frealaf, and characters like them, are really well done too. As for the storyline, and the world building, that was also really well done. What’s more is that there are ways in which this film sets things up for the events that would later take place in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. This most notably includes a surprising appearance of a character from the original Lord Of The Rings trilogy, as well as a couple minor characters, and mention of another main character from the original trilogy. Honestly, you can tell that Kamiyama, despite having his own style of directing, and writing stories, was willing to honor the works of Tolkien’s books, and Peter Jackson’s film version of the story as much as possible. Because of this, it is tragic that a lot of people didn’t seem willing to give this film a chance. And yeah, it’s too bad, because people will most definitely be surprised by how well done things are in this film, be it the relationship between Hera, and Wulf, including the whole thing of friends turned to enemies, Helm’s relationship with his family, and subjects, the betrayal of other former friends to the main heroes, and a great many of the action, and battles that occur in this film. Oh, and one other thing! Did I forget to mention Eowyn, who was the daughter of King Theodin in Two Towers, and Return Of The King, narrates this film? That was a nice touch to this film too. Additionally, there was also the score in this film. Even though the score is composed by a different person instead of Howard Shore, Stephen Gallagher, in this case, he surprisingly does well with making it sound familiar with Shore’s score from the original trilogy. Once again, it just comes to show much respect, and honor that the filmmakers tried to give to the original Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Finally, for positive aspects, this film does well with teaching great lessons about humbleness, learning to not be eager to have power, and other lessons like those.

With all that said, does this film hit all the right marks like the original trilogy did? Well, not quite! Don’t get me wrong, it hit a lot of the right ones. However, there were a couple areas in which the film fell slightly short. For one, Hera did seem to be almost a little too perfect. Yes, she did have humble attitude, and did portray one, or two times when she seemed to have struggles. However, in more ways than not, she did seem to be a little too perfect, like a Mary Sue type of character. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Mary Sue term, feel free to look it up. Again, Hera doesn’t quite fall into that category, but, yeah, she can come fairly close. The other final thing is that Wulf, he was a fantastic villain for the most part. However, his character, in terms of how he was handled with things like his arc, and things like that, could have probably been handled a little better.

And that’s my review for Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim. Even if a couple of the characters could have been handled a little better, this Lord Of The Rings film, overall, does well with honoring, and respecting the work of the live-action trilogy. What’s more is that does well with setting up events that would later occur in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Because of all this, it’s a shame that this Lord Of The Rings film wasn’t more popular, and we may not see more Lord Of The Rings films with the anime style after this. Oh well! Well, for those of you that are open to seeing Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim, definitely go see it if you haven’t, and/or if it’s still playing at a theater near you! I can guarantee you will enjoy it more than you think!

Final Rating: 9/10 ⭐️