“Raya and the Last Dragon” Might be Worth the $30 After All
by Hunter Johnson
The Walt Disney Company has many subsidiary companies, but none reach the level of prestige of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Releasing only one film a year on average, Disney strives to make every film distributed under its biggest studio banner live up to the high expectations of fans.
That pattern of quality continues with their newest film, “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
Telling the story of a chief’s daughter who must unite a divided world, “Raya” follows ...
Unremarkable Series Premiere Reveals a Half-Baked World for Our Heroes
by Sam Acosta
The premiere of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” gives us a small taste of what we can expect from this six-episode series. Following the success of “WandaVision,” expectations are high for this new series. While this episode doesn’t offer the suspense and sense of mystery of that series’ premiere, it does boast some thrilling action sequences, something that many fans wish had been more prevalent in “WandaVision.”
The series opens with Sam (Anthony Mackie), ...
With a Heartfelt Story and Charming Cast, “Flora and Ulysses” Finds Wonder in the Ordinary
by Ben Hiett
Few films have pleasantly surprised me like “Flora and Ulysses,” a Disney Plus original quietly released in mid-February without much promotion. In many ways, such a humble release fits this movie well. “Flora and Ulysses” does not frantically vie for your attention with mile-a-minute jokes, frenetic plotting, and sugary, colorful characters. Instead, it is content to do what a kid’s movie should do: tell a good story with humor, heart, and, most importantly, originali...
Stiff Acting and Pretentious Screenplay Hurt “Malcolm and Marie”
by Seth Tew
Self-esteem can be a monster. Feelings of inadequacy or arrogance can make every moment in a relationship a fight for respect and recognition. In “Malcolm and Marie,” the fight goes from personal to relational and back again for its two characters: Malcolm (John David Washington), a breakout film director, and Marie (Zendaya), a former actress and Malcolm’s girlfriend.
For a film named after both its characters, its story starts and ends with the struggles of Marie, whose ...
The Broadcast Ends: Series Finale Leaves Fans with More Questions than Answers
by Sam Acosta
The end of the first Disney Plus Marvel series has finally arrived, with mixed emotions. Fans’ desires for big action sequences are finally satisfied, but at the cost of other aspects of the show, like the “Twilight Zone”-esque themes and mind-bending plot twists. This finale also gives us little closure. While I didn’t expect all the fan theories to be true, it doesn’t feel like we got any answers in their place. Rather, this episode simply leaves us wondering.
...
Discovering the Past: Eighth Episode Explores Wanda’s True Origins
by Sam Acosta
This episode of “WandaVision” is unlike any that has come before it, ditching the sitcom format for a complete focus on story. This is the Marvel we know and love, but it’s also even better. We get a look into Wanda’s past in a way we never have before, and we get a crazy preview of what might happen in the series finale. With nowhere to run and no way to fight, Wanda must face what she has been hiding from all along: her past.
We start the episode with a look into ...
The Rat in the Panther’s Den: “Judas and the Black Messiah” Tells a Poignantly Tragic Story of Betrayal
by Sam Acosta
“Judas and the Black Messiah” is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. Not only is it a beautiful piece of cinema, but it also tells a story that deserves to be heard. Specifically, it is the story of how one of the most prominent leaders of the Black Panther Party was betrayed by one of his closest supporters. More broadly, it is a story about impossible choices, government corruption, and the fight for freedom.
We follow William “Bill” O’Neil (LaKeith ...
Losing Control: Seventh Episode Delivers More Chaos, Big Reveals
by Sam Acosta
In the latest episode of “WandaVision,” we finally get answers to many of our questions as things just keep getting crazier. Opening with a theme song reminiscent of “The Office,” this episode pays homage to the cut-away interviews and mockumentary filming style of that show as well as later sitcoms like “Parks and Rec” and “Modern Family.” With the consequences of her actions finally catching up to her, Wanda finds her whole world being thrown into chaos as the ...
Super-Powered Chaos: A Spoiler Review of “WandaVision” Episode Six
by Sam Acosta
This Halloween-themed chapter of Wanda and Vision’s story is packed full of answered questions, mind-blowing reveals, and chilling discoveries. It seems like we’ve skipped over the ‘90s, as this episode mainly pays homage to later shows like “Malcolm in the Middle.” This is, by far, my favorite episode of the series so far. It feels much more like Marvel than previous entries in the series while also bringing all the nostalgic charm of an early ‘00s sitcom.
In the ...
A Power Growing: A Spoiler Review of “WandaVision” Episode Five
by Sam Acosta
Episode five of “WandaVision” brings the show to the next level, setting itself apart from previous episodes with its sheer number of dramatic twists and suspenseful confrontations. It’s clear that Wanda is in full control and that she’ll do almost anything to keep it that way. While we do get answers to some of our questions, other answers continue to elude us.
We start off with Wanda and Vision trying to parent their crying babies. Their neighbor Agnes comes in and ...
