Fantasy
TV Review – Secret Invasion
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has been the supporting character in many Marvel superhero films. He came the closest to a starring role in Captain Marvel (2019) playing a younger version of himself, and the audience could see what approached the origin story for the…
READ MOREFilm Review – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) is such an explosion of kinetic energy – both in its visual design and in its storytelling – that the result borders on creative overload. Where Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) feels like a living, breathing comic book, Across the Spider-Verse acts like an amalgamation…
READ MOREFilm Review – Carmen
Director/choreographer Benjamin Millepied’s Carmen (2022) is not so much an adaptation of the famous novel/opera, but a complete re-imagining that uses the source material as a groundwork. The result is an intoxicating and vibrant sensory experience. Some viewers may be turned off by its poeticism (some might describe…
READ MOREFilm Review – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
There is an air of finality all throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Sure, when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is anything really over? I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of these misfits show up again in some form or another down the road.…
READ MOREFilm Review – Peter Pan & Wendy
Writer/director David Lowery is establishing himself as one of the premiere fantasy filmmakers. Whether his work is centered around family-oriented tales (such as Pete’s Dragon (2016)) or adult centered fables (The Green Knight (2021)/A Ghost Story (2017)), Lowery has the ability to craft fantastical elements with sincerity and intelligence. He takes…
READ MOREFilm Review – Shazam! Fury of the Gods
When Shazam! (2019) was released, it felt like a breath of fresh air. After the dark and brooding Batman v Superman (2016) and Suicide Squad (2016), it appeared that Warner Brothers and DC forgot that comic book movies could actually be fun. Shazam! was earnest in its approach – tackling themes of family,…
READ MOREFilm Review – The Magician’s Elephant
The Magician’s Elephant (2023) is an animated fantasy that operates by the numbers. It’s colorful, bright, and has a strong central message about never giving up. Characters believe that anything is possible if we push beyond our comfort zones. There’s nothing egregious about the film –…
READ MORESXSW Review – Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons has long been a game played by kids who grew into adults or just adults who fell in love with the gameplay and imaginative scenarios. Personally, I never played the game; my only exposure is through films and television shows. For some…
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