Everyone, today we review an animated film that was just released by the Christian-themed studio, Angel Studios. Oh, and not just any animated film. It is one that was just was just released around the time of Palm Sunday, and Easter. And wow, what a great time for this film, an adaptation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, to happen. And yes, definitely a great time to review this film because of that. So now, let’s discuss the one, and only animated film from this studio, The King Of Kings.

Plot: Charles Dickens (Kenneth Branagh), the author of stories such as A Christmas Carol, tells his son, Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) of the account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

First of all, it is definitely a perfect time for this film to be released, with Easter coming up here shortly. That being said, was this film good? Well, for apparently being the first animated film, from Angel Studios, to be released in theaters, yes, very much so, it is. Honestly, when I first saw the trailers for The King Of Kings I honestly thought that this film might have more of a feel of something like a Veggie Tales with more a TV quality type of story rather than a feel of something good even in a theater setting. However, after hearing many great things about The King Of Kings shortly before, and after this movie was released, I was looking forward to giving this film a shot even more. Well, after seeing it, here’s an example of why one should not judge a movie by its trailer. I mean, yes, this film can feel like it can be more of a kid’s movie at times. However, at other times, even adults will most definitely be glad to have seen this movie as well. First of all, one of the things to enjoy about The King Of Kings is that, even if the film takes liberties, it also does well with remaining as faithful to the account of Jesus as possible. And what’s more, not only are Charles Dickens, and the rest of his family well developed, but so are Jesus, and most of the disciples. The setup of the story was also really good, particularly with using Walter’s love for the story of King Arthur, and tying it with the life, and ministry of Jesus (apparently the story of King Arthur originated from the real account of Jesus). I’m not sure how much of this is true, and accurate with the actual life of Charles Dickens, and his family. Regardless, it was great to see Walter get invested in the life, and ministry of Jesus that his father would tell him about. I mean to see him imagining himself being present with Jesus (kind of like how in shows like Superbook, and The Greatest Adventure: Stories From The Bible, where both series had time travelers actually travel back in time to meet Biblical figures like Adam, and Eve, Moses, David, and Jesus, and witness events that occurred during the time that they each lived), the disciples, and some of the events that were depicted in this film, as well as being sad when hearing of the His Crucifixion, and more, it likely helps make this film all the more enjoyable. Additionally, even if the film doesn’t depict scenes, such as Jesus’ crucifixion, to be as brutal as it actually was (which is what more adult adaptations like The Passion Of The Christ are for), this movie is not afraid to show scenes like that in one capacity, or another. It was also great to see other scenes like Jesus feeding the five thousand, Peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water to meet Jesus, and scenes like those being shown in this film as well. It was also amazing how well this film was able to include some very important moments of Jesus’ life included in this movie. That being said, there were some points that might have felt a little glossed over, and could have maybe been done a little better. Other than that, you can truly tell that the filmmakers were doing their best to make this film well done, and as well depicted as possible. Oh, and did I forget the voice cast in this film? Well, that was really great too. You have Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, and other actors, and actresses in their respective roles for this film. I will say definitely interesting choices for voice actors, and actresses, and also really great too. Finally, for this being the first feature-length film to hit theaters, The King Of Kings is overall really well done, and has really great animation. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if, sometime in the future, the animation of this studio were to potentially rival that of other companies like Disney, and DreamWorks, for example.

And that’s my review for The King Of Kings. Overall, is it bound to be a classic like other Christian-themed films like The Ten Commandments, The Prince Of Egypt, and The Passion Of The Christ? Well, I’m not sure if it will be quite in the same league as films like those. That being said, The King Of Kings is most definitely bound to be a classic in its own right, and tier. People who see this film will not only be glad to have seen this film, but may also consider it a tradition to watch it around Easter in the years to come, or even at other times of the year. Though this film may have felt a little fast paced at one, or two points, The King Of Kings is overall well done, and proof that there are filmmakers out there who invest in their craft to make as good of a film as possible. Hearing brief parallels between King Arthur, and the life of Jesus, seeing scenes of the account of Jesus being depicted as well as possible, and seeing really good animation for this film make it all worthwhile. If you’re looking for a Christian-themed film to see either with a date, with your family as a family outing, or something along those lines, then all the more reason to see it. You will definitely be glad, and pleasantly surprised by how great this film is in the end. So, go see it if you haven’t yet. It will make for a great Easter treat, or even after if you’re not able to see it until after Easter.

Final Rating: 9.5/10

Well, everyone, today, we review a film that was based on historical events, similar to a family film by the name of My Penguin Friend (which just came out last year). Well, now, let’s discuss The Penguin Lessons!

Plot: The movie tells about how, in 1976, an English teacher by the name of Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) came yo an exclusive boy’s school by the name of St. George’s College, in Argentina, where he taught, and coached rugby, helped the students learn through the help of a penguin (whom he named Juan Salvador), and of other events that took place in this film.

So, was this film good? Well, it was definitely mostly good. I mean the film did seem to drag for around the first 20-30 minutes, if not more. In addition to that, The Penguin Lessons did seem a little slow in spots at times. What’s even more is that the film did seem a little sad, and depressing at times. Honestly, for those that have seen both The Penguin Lessons, and 2024’s My Penguin Friend (which also had a human, and Penguin as main characters, and was also based on true events), it wouldn’t be surprising if a lot of people were to say that they would probably prefer watching, or rewatching, the latter more than the former.

But enough of the negative things! Let’s talk about the positives now, shall we? Well, it was interesting to hear about some of the political unrest that occurred during this time period. The film also serves as proof as to why traveling to another country alone may not always be the best idea. The movie also serves as a reminder about how being a teacher may take creative methods from time to time. There was also the acting. Steve Coogan especially did a great performance as the English schoolteacher, Tom Michell. Same goes for everyone else in their respective roles. Additionally, it was nice to get to know, and see part of the culture of Argentina. Also, who wouldn’t want to have a penguin for a pet, or maybe even any other animal for that matter, more after watching a film like this one? Finally, the ending was very good, surprising, and, most likely, very uplifting, resulting in what may have been one of the better parts of this film.

And that’s my review for The Penguin Lessons. Though it may not be one of the best films to be based on a true story, it was still a very good film. Even if some people will find themselves wanting to find other films to watch, or even rewatch a little more than this, The Penguin Lessons still has some good things to enjoy, including learning about some of the Argentinian culture, teaching methods, and more. Definitely watch this film at least once, if not more. You’ll definitely have some enjoyment from it to be sure.

Final Rating: 8/10

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 ⭐️