Fantasy
Film Review – Avatar: The Way of Water
If there’s one thing James Cameron cannot be accused of, it’s taking the easy route. Whether it’s killer aliens, cyborgs from the future, or the sinking of an unsinkable ship, Cameron has always strived to push the limits of movie showmanship. But it’s not just the special…
READ MOREFilm Review – Disenchanted
Enchanted (2007) came as a surprise in how it balanced a traditional fairytale with a modern sensibility. It worked to undermine the familiar tropes of princesses, dashing heroes, and evil witches – and yet it had such an earnest sensibility that it can win over the…
READ MOREFilm Review – My Father’s Dragon
Cartoon Saloon, the studio responsible for the acclaimed animated features Song of the Sea (2014) and The Secret of Kells (2009) has returned with yet another marvel in My Father’s Dragon (2022). The film is reminiscent of the best Studio Ghibli efforts, in how it mixes fantasy and adventure with real life themes.…
READ MOREFilm Review – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Growing up, Weird Al Yankovic existed in a strange place in my memory, which he would probably take as a compliment. With his curly hair, mustache, and accordion, I always knew him as the musician who made those funny parodies of popular songs. As I got older,…
READ MOREFilm Review – Hellraiser (2022)
This is one of those situations where you have characters in a horror movie doing the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time. Find a spooky puzzle box that people warn you to stay away from? Let’s try opening it! A scary house filled…
READ MOREFilm Review – Hocus Pocus 2
I should get this out of the way: I am not as enamored with Hocus Pocus (1993) as others of my generation. For many kids that grew up in the ‘90s, it has become a touchtone of nostalgia – required viewing every Halloween as It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)…
READ MOREFilm Review – Choose or Die
Choose or Die (2022) wears its influences so blatantly on its sleeve that it basically does the cinematic version of a cover song. It’s so invested in the horror films of the 1980s and ‘90s that it suffers from an identity crisis. We see this early…
READ MOREFilm Review – Belle
The Japanese film Belle (2021) exemplifies how animation can be utilized to transport us into fantasy worlds. Because we are fully aware that those are not real people or places shown on screen, we’re given more flexibility to accept what we see and immerse ourselves deeper into…
READ MORE