3 out of 5 stars (Average) Note: This was part of my “Making of a Movie Geek” project from when I was 15 years old. Please click the link to read up on this project. Thoughts: Stand By Me is one of the best representations of childhood I’ve ever seen. The acting, characters, and mixture… Continue Reading
1917: A Technically Impressive Yet Forgettable Exercise
2.5 out of 5 stars (Decent) Every few years, Hollywood will put out an awards-bait war film that usually does something unique with the genre. In 2017, we had Dunkirk (which I never saw), and 2019 had 1917, a World War 1-set war movie notable for appearing to be done entirely in one shot. While… Continue Reading
Just Mercy: Entertaining Legal Drama Has Strong Message
3 out of 5 stars (average) Just Mercy is a good film with the ingredients to be a great one. Taking a racially charged true to life story, the film tells a well-acted but somewhat simplistic tale elevated by its cast and direction that ends on a surprisingly perfect note. Just Mercy will entertain fans… Continue Reading
Black and Blue: Topical Premise Buried Under Generic Action
2 out of 5 stars (has some good moments, but is overall bad) Black and Blue is a frustrating kind of bad movie. It hints at exploring a hot-button topic (police brutality and corruption), but uses that topic as an excuse for repetitive chases and shoot-outs that seal its fate in Redbox machines everywhere. Black… Continue Reading
Joker: Visually Striking Horror Film Treads Familiar Ground
2.5 out of 5 stars (decent) Joker may well be the most controversial film of the year. From the moment its first trailer dropped, peoples’ reactions have varied across the board, some calling the film a masterpiece and others deeming it a dangerous film in our society. Personally, I think Joker is like a stand-up… Continue Reading
Lion King 2019: The King Has Returned in Darker, Photorealistic Remake
4.5 out of 5 stars (one of the best of the year) The original Lion King changed the game for Disney with its Shakespearean-inspired story, beautiful animation, and catchy songs that are still loved today. So naturally, Disney chose to remake it using photorealistic animation (Meaning the lions and environments look like real lions and environments). … Continue Reading