Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls: You’ve seen quirky Tim Burton movies. You’ve probably seen wacky Tim Burton movies. You may have even seen a great Tim Burton movie. But you’ve probably never seen a strange Tim Burton movie… quite like “Dumbo”. Yes, strange is a word frequently used to describe Burton movies. But there […]
“Storm Boy” is based on a beloved 1963 Australian children’s novella. That story, set in the 1950s, was actually made into a movie in 1976. This version takes the original and wraps it inside a modern tale with similar themes. The combination makes for a moving and memorable film. Geoffrey Rush stars as Michael Kingley, […]
THIS is how you end a trilogy. DreamWorks Animation wraps-up their fourth franchise with “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”. It’s also the studio’s first film under new distribution partner, Universal. Interestingly, the first “Dragon” (released in 2010) was distributed by Paramount. 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” was released by 20th […]
Considering the amazingly effective (live-action) revelation at the end of “The LEGO Movie”, it was going to be tough to construct a sequel that proved the spirit, energy and innocence of the original. I just didn’t think it would be this hard. Safe to say, not everything is awesome with “The LEGO Movie 2: The […]
After more than a half century, the magical flying nanny is returning to Cherry Tree Lane (and movie theaters). It was a major risk for Disney to make a sequel to 1964’s Oscar-winning “Mary Poppins”. Who would be trusted to direct? What would the storyline be? Who could play the iconic Ms. Poppins? Disney chose […]
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is Sony Pictures Animation’s highly-anticipated CGI Spidey movie. It features an ambitious story combined with equally enthusiastic visuals. Diehard fans of the Spider-Man comics will find this film enthralling and highly entertaining. But it’s a much tougher sell for everyone else. Miles Morales (voiced by “Dope”’s Shameik Moore) is a 13-year-old, […]
Laurel & Hardy… a comedy duo whose heyday was the 1930s and 40s. That’s over 75 years ago. To be brutally honest, not many people who would truly appreciate a movie about the final years of Laurel & Hardy are still alive to see it. That’s one of the biggest challenges facing “Stan & Ollie”. […]
For the past six years, whenever I heard the title “Wreck-It Ralph”, I cringed. Those words would immediately trigger a flashback to November 2, 2012. That was the day I saw that film – that mean-spirited, flat, stuffed wall-to-wall, overly cute mess, jammed with pop culture references and characters – and little else. “Wreck-It Ralph” […]
“Mirai” is a fantastical, surprising and deeply moving anime feature from Japan’s Studio Chizu. It’s directed by Mamoru Hosoda, of 2015 Annie Awards nominee “The Boy and the Beast”. 4-year-old Kun must adjust to life with a new baby sister. His parents name her Mirai, which means “future”. Things aren’t easy for Kun or his […]
You’ve made me a mean one, Mr. Grinch. The book is iconic. The holiday special is a classic. We all know this story by heart. And it makes ours grow three sizes this time of year. Illumination Entertainment, the makers of “Despicable Me”, took a major risk in making a feature-length, CGI animated version of […]