LEAPS & MISSTEPS TO A PROMISING NEW SUPERHERO ERA   The DCEU was a cinematic universe built around the shared stories of DC Comics superheroes, establishing origin tales, interconnected character arcs, crossover events, and a consistent ensemble of settings and cast members. It all began in 2013 with Man ofContinue Reading

A TRUE “DISNEY” PRINCESS PROBLEM   Back in 1937, Walt Disney Studios released its very first animated feature film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Inspired by the 1812 German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, the film—supervised by David Hand and directed by a team of five sequence directorsContinue Reading

A BLOCKBUSTER SPECTACLE OF CINEMATIC EXCELLENCE   In 2022, Navy Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell soared back into the spotlight with Top Gun: Maverick, the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film starred Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, andContinue Reading

A FRANCHISE RUNNING ON FOSSIL FUMES   In 2022, Universal Pictures released Jurassic World: Dominion, the sixth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise and the third entry in the Jurassic World saga. Directed by Colin Trevorrow and starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill,Continue Reading

A PIXAR JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF, GROWTH, AND GALAXIES   In 2024, Pixar Animation Studios brought audiences back into the mind of Riley with Inside Out 2, the highly anticipated sequel to their 2015 hit. Directed by Kelsey Mann and featuring the voice talents of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black,Continue Reading

WICK’S WORLD, HER WAR   In 2023, the legendary Baba Yaga returned to the cinematic battlefield with the release of John Wick: Chapter 4. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film starred Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Clancy Brown, and Ian McShane, following John Wick as he soughtContinue Reading

WHOLESOME PADDINGTON FUN, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE   In 2017, StudioCanal released Paddington 2, the follow-up to 2014’s beloved Paddington. Directed by Paul King, the sequel starred Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, and Hugh Grant. The story followed Paddington Bear as he was wronglyContinue Reading

A LEGACY REFORGED: HICCUP AND TOOTHLESS TAKE FLIGHT AGAIN   Back at the start of the 2010s, DreamWorks Animation released How to Train Your Dragon, a new animated feature based on the popular young readers series by author Cressida Cowell. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the film followedContinue Reading

OLD MOVES, NEW SPIRIT   The Karate Kid franchise has long thrived on cinematic purpose and nostalgic charm, revolving around the central theme of young protagonists trained in martial arts by seasoned mentors, enabling them to confront bullies or assert themselves in challenging circumstances. Originating with the iconic 1984 film,Continue Reading