recent product reviews
Migration (2023)
Animation is nice, but there’s nothing particularly funny or touching or clever about this one.
Full Review
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
The beautiful Miyazaki animation and Hisaishi score that we’ve come to know and love, but this one was totally weird. Many moments during the story when I had no idea what was going on.
Full Review
Leave the World Behind (2023)
A slow, creepy, suspenseful build that feels like a Shyamalan or Peele production. But the reveal is excruciatingly slow, and despite the promise early on, the payoff is not there in the end. Great cast. Roberts exudes tension and discomfort beautifully. How has Ethan Hawke never been pressured to fix…
Full Review
The Occupation of the American Mind (2016)
The film is neatly set up by the steady and surprisingly articulate voice of Roger Waters, but it does not fairly explore complicated history and motivations from both sides. The one-sided arguments are manipulative and dangerous, and overlaying everything with a eerie, droning score in a minor key makes me…
Full Review
Napoleon (2023)
It’s really hard to care about Napoleon or anything he does when he has no redeeming qualities. He’s selfish, egotistical, and pursues unhealthy relationships with broken people. A main character you don’t want to root for is going to be the biggest flaw of any film. Phoenix has turned in…
Full Review
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Decent. Most impressive is the animation. Blows me away how they achieve this semi-realistic but totally animated effect. Chan and Ice Cube’s voices are the most distinctive and enjoyable. Everyone else’s voice performances are ordinary.
Full Review
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
A romantic tale told in flashback, capturing the hearts of America the same way The Notebook would a generation later. Streep and Eastwood do have an undeniable chemistry. Streep pulls off a remarkably sexual performance, perhaps the only time I’ve ever seen her take on a role like this. Her…
Full Review
Close (2022)
Is this story about two young boys who are simply good friends? Is there an implication of early homosexuality? Is the line between those things blurred? Or is that exactly the message, that the line is often blurred? This to me is the most interesting question of the film. It’s…
Full Review
Carl’s Date (2023)
Cute and faithful to the Up story, but I would have liked to get a hint of how the date played out.
Full Review
Elemental (2023)
It’s not getting great ratings, but I thought it was a quality Pixar release. Surprisingly good, with funny moments and a few sweet, tearjerking scenes. The fire family is clearly based on a real-life, ethnic backstory. It’s not too on-the nose and successfully makes the film a little more personal.…
Full ReviewAbout Me
I'm a photographer, web developer, travel enthusiast, and movie buff living in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.In the summer of 1993, I started writing reviews for every movie I saw and haven't looked back. I'm up to 2,319 reviews now. This makes me cool or a complete dork, depending on your perspective.
Some of these reviews contain spoilers, so if that bothers you, don't read!
Recent Comments