“Avatar: The Way of Water,” the much-anticipated sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar,” is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant masterpiece that builds upon the themes and world-building of its predecessor.The story, set several years after the first film’s events, follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family, who have settled into a peaceful […]
Sweet, syrupy, pure fantasy—I loved this movie! The joke’s on me, because it’s not the kind of film that I usually take to at all—in fact, I’m often averse to this kind of thing. Yet, there was something about it that moved me and sustained my interest the whole time. It’s basically a tension between ultra-realism and pragmatics
The strides Disney made with the original “Maleficent” (2014) are lost and forgotten in the sequel that reunites Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie with those squared cheekbones and devilish horns. The opening sequence is a conglomeration of over-saturated and mediocre CGI, reacquainting audiences with the fairytale land of The Moors and creatures therein. The narration informs us that
The trailer for this film falsely states that this time around, “Pokemon” isn’t just for young kids. Despite casting Ryan Reynolds, whose most famous role to date is as a foul-mouthed superhero, “Detective Pikachu” is solely for children, 10 and under. From the director of “Goosebumps,” this is more of a pacifying adventure for young minds than
The long-awaited sequel to the “Avengers Infinity War” cliffhanger has arrived and one of two opening sequences, begin with something rarely seen in Marvel movie, consequences. The three-hour epic, again directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, have touted this finale as something that will change the genre forever. The irony for the Avengers franchise is
The opening of this film set me up for disappointment with an extended battle in dim light in which the characters are not recognizable. Suddenly, there looms a glorious, colorful view of the island of Berk, and things began to look up. What follows, however, is the least interesting story of the three Dragon movies. Here, the challenge for
This one might wow you with its special effects, but James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez are two filmmakers who always focus on the senses more than the intellectual or the emotional. “Alita” joins the list of other futuristic flicks released in recent months: “Mortal Engines,” “Ready Player One,” “Valerian,” and others seeking to be the
Written and directed by Joe Cornish (Attack the Block, Ant-Man, Hot Fuzz), The Kid Who Would Be King is an entertaining mix of fantasy and reality, weaving together tales from King Arthur’s Court and contemporary life at Dungate Academy, where the main four young characters attend school. It starts out with two fast friends, Alex (Ashbourne)
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is just as enchanting as it should be, and involves a twist. In this case, the traditional hero’s journey is undertaken by a girl named Clara, the girl in Tchaikovsky’s popular “Nutcracker” ballet. The script is based on E. T. A. Hoffman’s 1816 story (“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”), in which
Director Ava DuVernay’s fourth feature film is based on the beloved children’s book of the same name. Debuting at a time where diverse directors are making their mark, “A Wrinkle in Time” comes to the screen on the heels of Disney’s groundbreaking “Black Panther”. DuVernay’s snub in the best director category for “Selma” a few