Zhang Lei

Huang Jianming’s animated fantasy adventure “Goodbye Monster” brings home an opportunity for families to have hard conversations.

By Douglas Davidson on September 5, 2023 • ( 0 )

In August 2022, director Huang Jianming (Bobby the Hedgehog) took audiences on an adventure on the island of Kunlun wherein a banished doctor tried to make things right. It’s a colorful tale featuring a collection of characters that seem inspired… Read More ›

The fantastic spectacle of animated adventure “The Monkey King: Reborn” almost makes up for the thin script.

By Douglas Davidson on December 7, 2021 • ( 1 )

Cultural legends and myths have been fodder for storytelling (books, music, video games, movies) since the birth of each of them. Why not take something that audiences are already familiar with and either retell or reform it in a way… Read More ›

By blending traditional art styles with modern animation, the Chinese folktale “Legend of the White Snake” takes on a new life in the GKIDS release “White Snake.”

By Douglas Davidson on November 13, 2019 • ( 1 )

If you’re unfamiliar with the “Legend of the White Snake,” it’s an ancient Chinese folktale dating back centuries. Rooted in oral history, the tale has been translated into song, print, television, and film many times over. In it, a human… Read More ›

Elements of Madness

Cinematic Reviews, Recommendations, and More

Zhang Lei

Huang Jianming’s animated fantasy adventure “Goodbye Monster” brings home an opportunity for families to have hard conversations.

The fantastic spectacle of animated adventure “The Monkey King: Reborn” almost makes up for the thin script.

By blending traditional art styles with modern animation, the Chinese folktale “Legend of the White Snake” takes on a new life in the GKIDS release “White Snake.”