Movie Review: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is an action comedy based on a declassified World War II mission called Operation Postmaster. The purpose of this mission was to cripple the German U-boat fleet by destroying an Italian supply ship filled with carbon dioxide filters off the coast of western Africa. It’s a bit dramatized but remarkably well-made.

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 4

Thinking about the Kung Fu Panda series has always made me smile. The action is fun, the humor is good, and it lampoons the martial arts obsession pushed onto modern kids by mainstream media. The exceptional part is that it explores important themes like perseverance, body shaming, self-authenticity, and the power of positive thought. Every villain is consumed by insecurity and pride, and their defeat is always heralded by a failure to rise above these unworthy but very human feelings. Kung Fu Panda 4 comes off a bit ham-handed at the start, but much like Cars 3, it is all about aging gracefully and passing the torch.

Movie Review: Dune: Part 2

When I went in to watch Dune: Part 2, I’d already received a taste of what Denis Villeneuve was capable of. I had high expectations because the previous movie had shown me he *could* bring the Dune series to life in all its nuanced complexity. But I was still leery as to whether or not he did. I didn’t want to be disappointed.  

That said, nothing is disappointing about Dune: Part 2. It is a perfect movie.

Movie Review: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

After I watch a new movie, I’m usually left with a fairly clear idea of whether or not I liked it. Every movie has its pros and cons, and very few are overwhelmingly great or overwhelmingly terrible. This is because movies are not graded solely on one rubric. A whole lot goes into making a movie, so as a reviewer I need to give each one a fair analysis. To do anything less would be unjust. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was a lot…

Movie Review: Migration

by G. E. Uke, Reporter These days most great animated films have some sort of moral or ethic to teach. As time goes by these morals become more targeted and specific, mainly because the “mainstream” ones were covered years ago…

Movie Review: Wonka

Legacy movies are all the rage these days. This is especially true for movies that build upon famous films of decades past. This is good, in its way. They draw attention to the classics and make sure the current generation understands what came before them. Because cinema was effectively “born” in America, it can rightly be said that our young country counts film as an important element of its culture. Most other stuff we borrow, so this makes these legacy movies even more important.

Movie Review: Napoleon

One of the problems you’re always going to run into when creating a movie based upon a real life historical figure is that, unless you lie and exaggerate things a whole bunch, there will be significant periods of normalcy and drudgery which don’t interest the average action-addicted moviegoer. This means that movies like Napoleon, or Ghandi, or what have you all need to be taken with a grain of salt. Real life is seldom as exciting as fiction. Napoleon from director Ridley Scott conforms to this rule; it is not purely meant to entertain. It is meant to educate, and to show you something that hopefully you will internalize.  

Movie Review: Five Nights at Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s, based on the hit video game of the same name, capitalizes on this fear to cause anxiety in the player. The idea is that you can’t directly see the robots coming until it’s too late. Sure, you can see them in different spots. But they always freeze while you’re looking directly at them.

SDCC – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

I grew up watching Indiana Jones on my living room floor in the 80’s, and it holds a special place in my heart. So when I got the offer to interview several prominent members of the production staff of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at SDCC, I leapt at the chance. It is, after all, the last movie of its kind. And I’m very glad I did, because I learned some interesting things about the movie I’d never have known otherwise. 

Movie Review: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

ComicsOnline gives TMNT: Mutant Mayhem 4 out of 5 ninja stars. It showcases solid acting, a solid plot, great action, and lots of humor.

SDCC 2023: Justice League: Warworld

While at SDCC 2023, I had the opportunity to sit down with several members of the creative team from the next DC Universe Movie – Justice League: Warworld. Director Jeff Wamester, Executive Producer Butch Lukic, Producer Jim Krieg and Screenwriters Ernie Altbacker and Josie Campbell kindly shared their thoughts about the metaplot, the continuity of the movie, and the underlying messages the film was trying to convey.

Movie Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (Part One)

Mission: Impossible started out as a TV series airing on CBS in September of 1966. After 7 glorious years it was later revived in 88 for two more seasons on ABC, but not until Tom Cruise came along did the IP infect my generation with super-spy fever.

Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

As I write this review I am coming down from a frothing Generation X rage after a young man at the theater said something deprecating about the movie I just watched. So I must beg your indulgence for a moment, gentle reader, while I get something off my chest. On the off chance that that young man somehow reads this, I will be addressing his concerns directly.

Movie Review: Elemental

by G. E. Uke, Reporter When I set out to watch Elemental, I wasn’t expecting much. Obviously the basic premise involved a girl made of fire and a boy made of water (I saw the poster), so I assumed it…

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

by G. E. Uke, Reporter Comic book aficionados will tell you that there are a bajillion different “kinds” of comics, but that when it comes to cinema only one sort has the public recognition to justify a motion picture. Those…