A major reason why I'm no fan of remakes in general is that they're often marketed as if they're meant to be the newly definitive version of the original film, a full-on replacement for what existed before, and one you're intended to pay for. This is a particularly glaring issue for Disney's slew of remakes … Continue reading NO-hana – Lilo & Stitch
The Marvel Cinematic Universe post-Endgame has been, at best, a mixed bag. Between Phases Four and Five, there have been 13 films released, with the range of quality so extreme that graphing it out would basically resemble a heartbeat monitor, every peak followed by a devastating valley, to the point where you legitimately wonder when … Continue reading What About Bob? – Thunderbolts*
I've always been kind of fascinated with the concept of grief. That might sound a bit morbid, or like a leftover from an emo kid's journal, but it's true. How people deal with loss, setbacks, or whatever form of sadness, and find a way to carry on, is something that innately intrigues me, probably because … Continue reading The Cover-up – The Shrouds
Oh the things I do for love... at least, the love of animation. As previously mentioned, I'm taking a super aggressive stance this year in seeing as many animated films as possible, so that come November/December, when the Academy releases its list of Animated Feature candidates, I can clear the entire thing for the first … Continue reading Bobos – Sneaks
We're a third of the way through 2025, and I can safely say that we're on track to have a much better year than the last two as far as cinematic quality is concerned. There are still myriad problems like the continued push for AI-generated content despite two labor strikes that halted the entire industry, … Continue reading This Film Is Not Yet Watchable – May 2025
One of the main premises of Ryan Coogler's Sinners is that music is a deeply-rooted source of power and identity that can transcend generations. It's a feeling that a lot of us have experienced, when a particular song, lyric, or performance resonates so much that it's almost out of body. Even for someone as non-religious … Continue reading Let the White One In – Sinners
As a writer and director, Alex Garland's work is largely about trying to find the humanity in the inhumane. From Ex Machina to Men to Annihilation to the 28... Later series (the third installment of which debuts later this summer), the creative center of Garland's career has been about people doing their best in the … Continue reading Exit Strategy – Warfare
The old adage about ignorance being bliss is sometimes quite accurate. I've been through far too many experiences where not knowing something crucial allowed me a modicum of extra pleasure, and conversely, on occasion knowing too much spoiled the fun. This is why, way back when I established my "Remake Rule" on this blog (though … Continue reading Revenge of the Nerd – The Amateur
It's been just over two years since my mother passed away, and the world hasn't been the same since. I know that's patently obvious, as any major loss will alter one's perspective and worldview, but it's hard to put into words until you experience it for yourself. I jumped to the "Acceptance" phase of my … Continue reading Apollo’s Creed – The Friend
It's the middle of April, so why in God's name am I already doing batch reviews of animated films? Well, there are a few reasons. First is that I'm already super stoked for next year's Oscars. The Academy will be debuting its new category for Casting, and just to keep aficionados like me super hyped, … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Animation Mythologization
I Actually Paid To See This 