In a time where sequels, prequels, and legacy-quels run rampant, one hopes — even begs — for something different. A prequel to the live action The Lion King (2019) that revolves around Mufasa and his humbling, noble rise to power… Read More ›
family
Narrative hybrid “Brother Verses Brother” is a life-affirming, soul-crushing, musical journey that reminds us how art can save our lives. [SXSW]
“Art can save your life … Entertainment will never be your salvation … .” – Comedian Josh Jackson. In 2020, as COVID-19 resulted in lockdowns around the world, twin siblings Ari and Ethan Gold began corresponding with their father, Herbert,… Read More ›
“Moana 2” is a satisfactory sequel with solid bonus features worth exploring in the home release edition.
Trigger Warning: There are several sequences involving flashing lights (especially in the climax) which may be difficult for photosensitive viewers. One cannot deny the infectious nature of co-director John Musker and Ron Clements’s 2016 animated adventure Moana. Between the culturally-specific-yet-universal… Read More ›
Co-directors Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s compelling fantasy dramedy “Ghost Cat Anzu” arrives on home video with a barebones edition.
Published from 2006 – 2007, manga creator Imashiro Takashi’s series Bakeneko Anzu-chan followed a ghost cat, a bakeneko type of kaibyō (a cat with supernatural properties), and its relationship with the people who lived in the town surrounding the temple… Read More ›
“Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters” now does housecalls on Blu-ray thanks to Warner Archive.
The great thing about classic Looney Tunes is exactly that, they’re classics. There is no denying the longevity of these stories or their place in the cultural zeitgeist, and one of the best compilation movies that they made, Daffy Duck’s… Read More ›
“Back in Action” is a comfortingly dependable family action comedy that will warm your January doldrums.
January is often viewed by those who track film releases as a doldrums period. Either theaters are filled with awards-hopefuls or the titles that studios/distributors dump in hopes of recouping some of their investment. Yes, this even applies to digital… Read More ›
Have the touch and the power with “Transformers One” on 4K UHD home video.
August 8th, 1986, is a big day for Transformers fans. It’s the date that the fully-animated The Transformers: The Movie would release in theaters, beckoning its many young fans to come see its Autobot hero Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter… Read More ›
Aardman’s signature duo Wallace and Gromit return in family comedy “Vengeance Most Fowl.”
In the world of animation, most know names like Walt Disney, DreamWorks, Illumination, and Studio Ghibli. Either in hand-drawn or CG animation, they have created stories that move audiences by stirring their emotion. But there’re also studios like LAIKA and… Read More ›
“The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” is a grade-A atomic-age blast.
Based on evidence over the last few years, it seems pretty clear that Warner Bros. Discovery Entertainment CEO David Zaslav either hates being a success, doesn’t understand the industry he’s involved in, or merely wants to ensure he gets a… Read More ›
Animated adventure fable “Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds” envelopes for a pleasant sensory experience.
There are fables that challenge children (The NeverEnding Story), that push children (Labyrinth), and that are not safe for children (Pan’s Labyrinth). In each instance, no matter their differences, the perspective of the child is the focal point through their… Read More ›
Family dramedy “Removal of the Eye” highlights the difficult of parenting, especially across generations. [NOFF]
It requires a specific dedication and abdication of self to become a guardian of another person. To that end, the truest lesson I’ve learned as a parent is that it’s not for the weak. In the days where a “village”… Read More ›
“Addams Family Values” dons the brightness of the Camp Chippewa veneers and sharpness of Debbie’s blades in 4K.
As though itself inhuman, cartoonist Charles Addams’s creation, The Addams Family, rises into popularity, disappears, and then rises again. It’s never far from fans’ memories, but the wider general populace occasionally needs a reminder that being macabre doesn’t mean being… Read More ›
First-time feature filmmaker Robie Flores explores the liminal spaces and mundane moments of life in experimental doc “The In Between.”[NOFF]
“And so he told me his secret formula for happiness. Part one of the two-part plan was that I should just get on with ordinary life, living it day by day, like anyone else. But then came part two of… Read More ›
Live-action family adventure “Harold and the Purple Crayon” has drawn its way to home video.
Board book, hard cover, or soft — chances are, at some point in your life, you encountered author Crockett Johnson’s children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon. A tale of wonder, the brief adventure features a toddler/little kid-aged boy in… Read More ›
“The Wild Robot” continues writer/director Chris Sanders’s run on delivering animated magic for all-ages.
The landscape of animated movies has been ever-changing. Over the years, animation has managed to pack a punch with audiences. Film franchises like The Lego Movie, Inside Out, and How to Train Your Dragon have emotionally stirred viewers to their… Read More ›
Road trip dramedy “Bookworm” rewards the strong of heart and spirit with adventure. [Fantastic Fest]
Odd couple stories are the bread-and-butter of comedy. Putting mismatched people in situations (regular or irregular) is a breeding ground for hilarity as the two’s friction slowly grinds until it flares up. Add in estranged parentage with a little bit… Read More ›
Upconverted Blu-ray features of “Scooby-Doo! and the Alien Invaders” and “Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost” deliver the “awe” with the “argh!”
Being a child in the ‘90s (fully aware I’m dating myself here) and being a product of my generation and growing up with a home theatre, satellite tv, not being athletic, and spending more time in a movie theatre or… Read More ›
“Inside Out 2” arrives on home video to provide an opportunity for audiences of all ages to recognize their best senses of self.
No matter what age you are, there’s never a bad time to pick up a new skill to help you engage with your emotions or guide someone else’s. By learning to regulate, each of us is more capable of dealing… Read More ›
Is “The Garfield Movie” the Nermal of “Garfield” films? Only one way to find out and that’s on home video.
“I hate Mondays.” As a child of the 1980s, I felt this phrase deep in my bones, which is likely why I owned several of the Jim Davis-created Garfield book collections so that I could revisit the three-to-four panel adventures… Read More ›
Lee Cipolla’s adaptation of “Rally Caps” will have you donning your own.
Truth is a matter of perspective. We know this, but we tend to forget it during the daily moments of our lives. What we see, what we hear, and how we react is all sifted through our experience, so, often,… Read More ›