Film Review - "The Wild Robot"

Lot of animated films about robots coming out lately...

The Wild Robot
Directed by Chris Sanders

Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor

Based on the book by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot tells the story of a service robot, ROZZUM Unit #7134, or "Roz" for short (Nyong'o) who becomes stranded on an island devoid of humanity. Roz stumbles across the egg of an orphaned baby goose. The baby, a runt, hatches and imprints on the robot, seeing her as his mother. Roz is built to serve and assist, and makes it her mission to raise this goose, later named Brightbill (Connor) and teach him to survive in the wild.

That's the basis of this beautiful, deeply-layered film from Writer-Director Chris Sanders, who has previously brought us the likes of Lilo & Stitch and How To Train Your Dragon. There's so much to take away here, for both kids and adults. The Wild Robot is rich with themes of nature vs nurture, overcoming adversity, blood family, found family, parenting, community, and acceptance. It's a film that audiences are able to walk away with something new after every viewing. 

The film also has a lot of dark humor which I got a kick of, and apparently a lot of the young kids in my theater did too. It's nice to see animated films not play down to children. The film gives off vibes of a Don Bluth film or classic Disney works, which isn't surprising since Sanders got his start with the latter. The visuals and aesthetic can drum up memories of Bambi or The Fox & The Hound, and it's easy to draw comparisons to Wall-E or Big Hero Six. However The Wild Robot is so much more than that...like if 

Bambi and Wall-E had a baby, and that baby was raised by Baymax from Big Hero 6.

All that being said, the film has its own unique look and is absolutely gorgeous. The scenery and background almost look hand-painted. The way they play with colors and lighting is stunning. There is so much iconic imagery that made me go "I want to try and draw that shot." Roz's design is very sleek and simplistic, but how the lighting plays into her programming is what takes it to the next level. All the animals have a very classic "Dreamworks" look to them but their textures and movements make them deceptively look hand-drawn at times.

This is a very personal sidetone, but when the first trailer for this film dropped, I was very intrigued because it had no dialogue, and the idea of a mainstream animated film with minimal dialogue excited me. I should've realized that wasn't the case right away, because they list all the famous voice actors at the end of that exact trailer. As more marketing for the film came out, they naturally started to show the animal characters talking, which I have no problem with. That's a trait hundreds of animated films share, many of which I love. The idea of one that deviated from the norm just intrigued me. Hell, I think not having the animal characters talk was one of Pocahontas's greatest strengths.

Regardless, I think the way this film allows the animals to talk is very clever, and the film is all the better for the fact that they talk. Not an animal in the film, but Lupita Nyong'o is perfect as Roz, balancing the technological and the emotional aspects of the character. Pedro Pascal disappears into Fink and gives a very charming performance as only he can. Kit Connor is a real standout as Brightbill, capturing the true essence of a young man (or goose) going through growing pains. It's just as much his film as it is Nyong'o's/Roz's.

The supporting cast is delightful. Catherine O'Hara is per usual both sweet and sassy as a mother opossum, and her babies steal a lot of scenes. Matt Berry has some fun moments as a beaver named Paddler. Ving Rhames pops up for a brief but delightful scene as a falcon who helps teach Brightbill to fly (If I had a nickel for every time Ving Rhames showed up unexpectedly in a 2024 animated film...) Bill Nighy is recognizable but nonetheless iconic as Longneck, an elder goose. I won't spoil Mark Hamill's character as I was waiting the whole film for him to show up, but when he does...it's great.

Composer Kris Bowers knocks it out of the park with the score. The music is so powerful, and reminiscent of John Powell's work in How To Train Your Dragon. I want this film to be nominated (and maybe win) Best Animated Feature at the Oscars this year, but I hope Bowers gets recognized too. This is a score worthing buying on vinyl.

The Wild Robot may just be one of Dreamworks Animations' best films yet. It's familiar but so powerful, and beautiful. I highly recommend seeing this one on the big screen with your families. Audiences of all ages can walk out with a smile of this one. In a year where we've already had the emotional gut-punch of Inside Out 2, the delightful surprise of Transformers One, and now this, it looks like this could be the first year in a while where there is no clear animated frontrunner come awards season...and that excites me. 

Animation. Is. Cinema...

"Hercules" - Disney's Superman

A quick Google search just told me that I am far from the first person to talk about this, but I'm going to still go for it. Maybe I can add something new to the conversation, or at least reignite it.

Sometimes you really have to sit back and admire the pipeline of Disney Animation in the nineties. The studio went from a French fairy-tale (Beauty & The Beast), to an Arabian fairy-tale (Aladdin), to Shakespeare's Hamlet with talking lions (The Lion King), to a fictitious dramatization of American history (Pocahontas), to a family-friendly but somehow still-faithful adaptation of a Victor Hugo novel (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and then...Hercules. What range.

What is Hercules? You're probably saying "Well obviously Chris, it's an adaptation of Greek mythology." and you would be right...in a way. As I learned long ago in my high school Mythology class, Disney's Hercules is an adaptation disconnected to its source material even more so then Hunchback...but maybe not as much as Pocahontas. Seriously there's "Pocahontas & John Smith are the same age and romantically involved" inaccurate, and then there's "Zeus is a loving and loyal father figure" inaccurate...also Hades wasn't evil, Hera wasn't Hercules's mother, Hera killed Meg and Hercules' children, Hercules was born a demigod first because Zeus slept with a mortal woman, there was no Phil, the protagonist's real name isn't even Hercules. It's Heracles, but I digress...

Alright so if Hercules isn't a Greek mythology film then what is it? Easy my friends. It's a superhero film.

Obviously the film is inarguably saturated with Greek mythology. I'm not trying to do this Disney-Adult version of gaslighting on you. But when you look at the story in its base form, Hercules has more align with a classic superhero origin story. Specifically one superhero origin story in particular.

That film being Richard Donner's 1978 film, Superman, starring the late Christopher Reeve. A film that has recently come back to the forefront of my mind, thanks to a recent screening of the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story I attended (Great film by the way. Reeve really was Superman. Bring tissues.) 

It's weird how the mind works sometimes. Listening to Christopher Reeve talk in the documentary, something inside me said "His voice has a similar cadence to Tate Donovan. I think if they ever did a biopic Tate Donovan might play a good Christopher Reeve." Then I remembered Tate Donovan voiced Hercules. As Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove would say "Oh yeah. It's all coming together..."

Hercules's story starts out almost identical to Superman's. He is the descendant of these beings from another world with godlike strength, and due to unfortunate circumstances, he is left alone as a baby on Earth, and lo and behold adopted by farmers.

When Hercules and Clark Kent both start to feel like outcasts due to their extraordinary abilities, they leave home searching answers. This leads Clark to the Fortress of Solitude, and for Hercules that is the Temple of Zeus. Whereas a projection of his late father Jor-El comes to Clark/Kal-El, a projection of Zeus comes to Hercules.

Both heroes start to gain fame and notoriety through public acts of heroism, and they're is a cynical, female love-interest there to witness it all (Megara for Hercules, Lois Lane for Superman). There's not much of a comparison between Lex Luthor and Hades (They do both have cartoonishly large maps of the worlds they wish to conquer though). If anything, I'd say Pain and Panic and Otis have more in common.

The true parallel comes in the final act(s). Megara lays dying as Hercules fights to save Olympus from Hades and The Titans. Lois Lane gets trapped in her car during an earthquake, as Superman works to prevent other natural disasters. Neither hero is able to save both the world and their love...or are they?

Both Hercules and Superman defy fate to save their loves. Hercules rescues Megara from the underworld, risking his own life. Superman goes against Jor-El's teachings, and uses his powers to turn back time and save Lois. This is a critical moment for both. Hercules learns that his heart, his humanity, is what makes him a true hero. Not his godlike powers. 

Conversely, Kal-El had been instructed by his father to only inspire humans, and not to interfere with them. He even says to his son that he will be like a light to them to show them the way, almost like a God. But when the woman he loves dies, Kal-El chooses humanity over divinity, and that is what makes him a true hero. And similar to how Kal-El continues to live among humans in the guise of Clark Kent, Hercules decides to remain on Earth with Megara, declaring it's where he belongs.

Maybe it's just a bizarre coincidence that Tate Donovan was cast as Hercules, and it wasn't because the directors were looking for a "Christopher Reeve-type" to voice the character. Maybe I'm the only one who hears the similarities in the two actors' voices. But it got me here. Down this rabbit hole. A place where many others have been before. The place where we all know Hercules is Disney's Superman.

...Maybe I should do those Top Films of 2022 & 2023 now...or just go to bed...

Film Review - "Transformers One"

If I had a nickel for every time a prequel to a long defunct franchise, which I cared very little for, ended up being the best film in the series, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right?

Transformers One

Directed by Josh Cooley

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johnansson

To be clear, I haven't seen anything that says One is canon to Michael Bay's series of big-blow up Transformers films but hey, why not make the Phineas & Ferb, two-nickels joke when you can?

Transformers One takes us back to the planet of Cybertron, long before Optimus Prime became Optimus Prime, and Megatron became Megatron. Here they are buddies Orion Pax (Hemsworth) and D-16 (Henry),  who work in the Energon mines of the city of Iacon (All these names sound silly to me but I'm sure they're business as usual for you diehard fans). Pax is a rebellious, free-spirit with big dreams for himself and his home planet, while D-16 is more uptight and by-the-book.

One day the two friends come across a lost distress signal from The Primes, the long-lost Defenders of Cybertron. Together they, along with fellow miners Elita-1 (Johansson) and B-127/Bumblee (Keegan-Michael Key) go on a mission to the uncharted surface of the planet, uncovering information that will shape their future and change Cybertron forever.

This is a well-made prequel. The story beats may seem familiar but there's so much that makes this film *sigh* more than meets the eye (The first of two times I will make that joke). First of all, the relationship between Orion and D is incredibly fleshed out. Their best friends-from-work-turned brothers relationship is the core of the film and it might not have worked if the script didn't give it the proper attention. Hemsworth and Henry also have great chemistry and completely...(I am so sorry)...transform into their respective roles.

I never knew that Transformers had so much lore, and I understand that it all sounds like very silly, almost cliche', science-fiction to the uninitiated. It did to me writing just the first few paragraphs of this review, and I've already watched the film. But One does a great job of initiating new fans into this world while also giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy. Never does the script get lost in exposition. It's short, simple, and sweet...as is the whole film, which barely clocks in under two hours.

The animation is very sleek and eye-catching. The environments aren't groundbreaking but they're perfect for a Transformers film. The world the animators built just works. Additionally, the lighting in some particular shots is very impressive. However, what really stands out is the animation of the characters, or I'll say the main characters. They're so colorful and vibrant. They look like robots but their faces are so expressive and human. These are qualities I feel like get lost in the translation to live action in the other films. A lot of the background characters and extras just fall into "generic robot" category.

(Author's Note: I feel like there were some Easter Egg appearances of other Transformer characters I didn't pick up on, because I know next to nothing about this franchise. But there were some shots that felt like "Yeah...thats somebody noteworthy.")

The voice cast is superb, many who are no strangers to animation. Hemsworth does great at making Orion Pax his own without impersonating Peter Cullen. It is very much Hemsworth's voice that you will hear but  there's a lot of passion and energy in his performance. The same goes for Brian Tyree Henry as D-16. Henry has that natural "big bro" voice and cadence about him, but he seamlessly juggles his performance between the light and the dark, as D-16 goes down a sinister path. Keegan-Micheal Key is delightful as Bumblee. He doesn't go over the top with his comedy, although some jokes run on too long. Scarlett Johansson is sweet and sassy as Elita-1, and has natural chemistry with her fellow Marvel alumnus Chris Hemsworth. Jon Hamm is a standout as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne is giving his best Lauren Fishburne as Alpha Trion.

Last thing I want to say is that film has guts. What do I mean by that? It has the guts to go dark, to not undercut serious moments with jokes, and to stay unapologetically true to its source material. These are things I just feel like we don't see much of in film adaptations of popular franchises, or animated films in general.

Transformers One did something I never thought possible. It got me to care about Transformers. This is a well-crafted, well-acted, well-animated prequel, that fans old and new can enjoy. I know a lot of people love to see life-size Transformers fight it out and destroy Chicago or whatever city the Bay films take place in, and I'm sure there are many people that would dismiss this film as inferior to them because it's animated. Regardless of the medium, what One does that sets it above those other films is that it puts. Story. First. At the heart of this film is a story of two friends, brothers, fated to become enemies.

Yeah on the surface, it's a film about alien robots that can become muscle cars, but trust me...it's more than meets the eye. Publish Review.

Film Review - "Deadpool & Wolverine"

Deadpool & Wolverine

Directed by Shawn Levy

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Emma Corrin

Deadpool has returned and he's come to save The MCU...not really though.

Deadpool & Wolverine is, quite unexpectedly, not a grand celebration of The Merc with a Mouth's entrance into the larger than life franchise, that arguably, could use a shot of Super-Solider Serum to get back on its feet. No, Deadpool & Wolverine actually is a surprisingly fun and touching buddy-adventure that earnestly pays tribute to a series of films, again, that arguably, deserve a lot more recognition than they get.

Wade Wilson (Reynolds) has fallen into a bit of a midlife crisis. He no longer suits up as Deadpool, and he desperately wishes to find meaning in his life again. On his birthday, he is whisked away to the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority, (The TVA, from Loki!) and meets Agent Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) who offers him a place on The Sacred Timeline (aka The MCU).

It's not all puppies and NSYNC dance parties for Wade however, when he discovers his universe and many others are in jeopardy. He recruits a very disgruntled and very reluctant variant of James "Logan" Howlett aka The Wolverine (Jackman) in his quest to save his world. Along the way, they run afoul of Cassandra Nova (Corrin), the twin sister of Charles Xavier.

Much like the last two Deadpool films, this one gets raunchy, rambunctious, and surprisingly heartfelt. Yes the goal of our heroes is to "save the universe" but their journey is very much a personal one. Themes of self-worth, how we see each other vs how others see us are quite cleverly interwoven throughout the narrative. Wolverine has always been such a rich character on screen, but Deadpool's journey in this film I think is truly special. Am I reading too much into a superhero comedy? Maybe, but stay tuned for the video essay.

As mentioned earlier, this is not a "Welcome To The MCU, Deadpool" Party. No doubt you all remember when Disney bought 20th Century Fox a few years ago. Through that purchase, Marvel got the theatrical rights back to many characters they had once sold off, such as X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool. For many years Fox made a lot of Marvel films on their own featuring these characters in a clunky, fluctuating in quality, universe. Avoiding all the spoilers, but Deadpool & Wolverine pays sincere tribute to this era of superhero films, and in a way, this film is its swan song. There are plenty of cameos and moments that will garner cheers and applause from longtime fans, but it never comes off like cheap fan-service, akin to 

dangling shiny keys in front of a baby. The film also gets delightfully meta in its commentary, but again, maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Both Reynolds and Jackman slip perfectly back into their roles. Reynolds was born to be Deadpool. What else is there to say? Jackman, who quite notably ended his tenure as Wolverine in 2017's Logan, gives it his all (Again this is a variant of Wolverine so Logan's ending is not undercut). There is so much passion in his performance here, he could've easily phoned it in considering he was well and truly done, but he delivers. The two of them also have amazing chemistry. It's so amazing to finally see them onscreen together (properly). The film would not work so well if not for these two.

Emma Corrin is delightfully wicked as Cassandra Nova. They give off huge Hela in Thor: Ragnarok vibes. However much like Hela, her character motivations are rather thin. Still, another enjoyable MCU villain. Matthew Macfadyen gives a fine performance as Paradox and he has some funny back and forth with Reynolds. Most of the supporting characters from the Deadpool films return but none of them get to shine quite like Rob Delaney's Peter. There are plenty of other performances I could talk about in this film but again, avoiding spoilers...

The action in the film is pretty good, but only one or two fight sequences really stick out after viewing the film. One between Deadpool and Wolverine mid-film is probably the best one, and the opening sequence is iconic. There's nothing really striking as far as visuals, but this isn't Eternals, and a majority of the film takes place in The Void (Where The TVA drops all the junk from discarded timelines) so what are you gonna do. The soundtrack is wild and eclectic as one would expect from previous Deadpool films, but did anyone else get Guardians vibes here?

This review is pretty barebones, because honestly much of the joy of Deadpool & Wolverine comes from witnessing it for yourself. Do yourself a favor and go see it in a big, crowded theater. It's a really fun film with plenty of moments to make you laugh and smile. Probably the most fun a superhero film has been since...maybe Deadpool 2? It's great to have Reynolds as Deadpool back on the big screen, and it's great to see Jackman as Wolverine again. But Disney don't listen to them. Don't make them do this until they're 90.

(See how I didn't scream THE MCU IS BACK? Let's keep our expectations calibrated going forward, people.)

Film Review - "A Quiet Place: Day One"

A Quiet Place: Day One

Directed by Michael Sarnoski

Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, and Alex Wolfff

I may not be a big horror film fan, but I have loved the A Quiet Place series. A unique premise combined with heartfelt storytelling and compelling characters make these films easily stand out in the genre. A prequel showing us the day "the world went quiet" could be considered unnecessary, particularly when you remember Part 2 gave us a good glimpse into that. A Quiet Place: Day One doesn't bring a lot of new material to the table, but don't let that dissuade you. It's a more than worthy prequel that delivers the same quality filmmaking you'd expect from the series while still leaving its own emotional impact. 

Sam (Nyong'o) is a terminally-ill cancer patient living in hospice. The day she reluctantly joins a group-outing in Manhattan is the day those terrifying monsters with exemplary hearing crash-land on Earth and begin terrorizing the population. 

While those that survive the initial attack shelter in silence and await military extraction, Sam makes a personal pilgrimage to Harlem for reasons I will not share here. Along the way she meets a distressed young man named Eric (Quinn) who she reluctantly allows to join her. Oh and there's also Sam's cat Frodo who you're either gonna love or hate because this is the luckiest, most chill cat in apocalypse-movie history.

(Wait...Sam...Frodo...son of a-)

Again, Day One doesn't add much to the lore of the franchise. It's still people trying to stay as silent as possible to survive, getting from one place to another. I will say though that Day One enforces the foundation the first two films laid out, specifically in how the inhabitants of this world will come to combat the monsters. There's no outright moment where someone goes "Oh you know what...we should shut up." but there's little clever moments here and there where you see how the world got from A to B.

But it's interesting to see how different characters in different environments and under different circumstances react to all this. Sam and Eric are not as fleshed out as the Krasinski-I mean Abbott Family in the first two films, frankly their motivations are little thin, but Nyong'o and Quinn's great performances help us to connect with the characters. Both of them are great at conveying so much with saying so little. Nyong'o arguably gives one of her best performances just on the fact alone. She's so expressive and so emotional. She lays it all out there on the screen for the viewer. I only watched the first season of Stranger Things, but I like this Joseph Quinn guy. He threads the line between charming and vulnerable very well. It's also nice to see Djimon Hounsou again, providing a nice connection to Part 2, although he doesn't do too much.

Once again the use of sound in a Quiet Place film does not disappoint. Simple, mundane noises like the crunching of concrete beneath sneakers, or the dropping of a briefcase, hit the ears like a tone of bricks. Not just because of the sound editing but because the films have conditioned us to know that silence is golden.

I don't think I've ever praised a Quiet Place film for its music, but the soundtrack in this one resonates just a bit more. The piano plays a significant part in Sam's backstory, and its use in the score help strike an emotional chord (Heh.) Also, this film features one of my absolute favorite needle-drop moments in cinematic history. You'll know it when you see it.

A Quiet Place: Day One is a delightful prequel that lives up to its predecessors. It may not be as suspenseful or as groundbreaking, but it's got heart, and it's got thrills. It's part I Am Legend, and part Seeking A Friend for The End of the World. A true summer blockbuster in an age where blockbusters are fighting to survive.

Speaking of fighting to survive, there's no way I would stay alive in these movies. I mean, with my seasonal allergies, and the way I sneeze? God help me...

Film Review - "The Garfield Movie"

I don't write a review for every film I see, clearly. Sometimes life and time just get in the way, but regardless of wether I enjoyed the film or not, sometimes I just feel like I don't have enough to say about it to warrant a written piece.

However, oddly enough, I feel like I have enough about this one...

The Garfield Movie

Directed by Mark Dindal

Starring Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, etc.

I low-key enjoy the character of Garfield, and frankly as I grow older, crankier, and more cynical I relate to him a lot more. Who doesn't hate Mondays? I haven't touched those live-action films with Bill Murray in ages but I saw them in theaters. The DVD's are around here somewhere. It's a little surprising that it took until 2024 for Garfield to get a fully-animated, theatrical film. I was probably going to see it no matter what, or no matter who voiced the titular character (I think we all thought it was a prank since it was announced not too long after the Mario casting.)

The Garfield Movie came to theaters on Memorial Day weekend, and was met with less than favorable reviews. Many viewers, myself included, expected this film to be laughably bad. After having seen it for myself though, I think it's a flawed but enjoyable animated adventure.

The film finds Garfield (Pratt) reunited with his long-lost father Vic (Jackson) and roped into his life of crime. One of Vic's former partners, Jinx (Waddingham) wants revenge after he left her to rot in prison after a heist went south. Jinx will let bygones be bygones if Vic, Garfield, and Odie (Harvey Gullièn, but don't worry, Odie doesn't talk) can steal a large quantity of milk from the same dairy farm where she was caught all those years ago. Obviously, during all this Garfield is very reluctant to help and reconnect with his father.

So yeah. The Garfield Movie is a heist film. Not exactly the kind of caper you would expect a lazy, lasagna obsessed cat to be involved with. Honestly, maybe they just had a script about a generic father and son cat reuniting on some adventure, but were afraid it wouldn't have much draw without it being attached to a well-known IP, so they went "...Make it Garfield." That's at least the sense I get.

It's fun, though. There were a few moments I genuinely laughed out loud, and surprisingly there were also a lot of heartfelt moments that damnit, got me right in the feels. However, despite being just under two hours, there were times where the film dragged. Also there's a weird bit of product placement. I'm not saying there's a lot of it, but when it's there, there's no effort put into hiding it. It was almost like it was an afterthought, and they just went back and edited the PNG file of the product logo somewhere into the scene.

The animation is very charming, and the Jim Davis style translates to CGI seamlessly. The new characters lik Vic, Jinx and others also feel like they could've fit into one those classic animated television specials or the Garfield & Friends series. The voice acting is fine. No one really stands among the cast, except for Ving Rhames as Otto the Bull. He is the true MVP of the film. Hannah Waddingham is clearly having fun playing Jinx. Brett Goldstein and Bowen Yang have some funny moments as her henchman. I really want to know what the thought process was in getting Nicholas Hoult to show up and do his best American accent for the less than ten minutes Jon Arbuckle is in this film. There wasn't a thousand other white boys stateside that could've sufficied? It's not as egregious as getting Snoop Dogg to show up as a cat for literally five seconds I suppose...

Okay let's talk about Chris Pratt now. He's not putting as much effort (and I use the word "effort" lightly) into disguising his voice as he did in The Super Mario Bros but it works, but it would only work for this specific version of Garfield. He was casted because of his star-power, not because he was the best for the part. Everything I say about Pratt could also be said about Samuel L. Jackson as Vic, Garfield's father. A fine performance...but it just doesn't fit Garfield. For a portion of the film I was listing all the actors in my head who would've been a better fit, not just for Garfield, but Garfield's father (Nick Offerman, H. Jon Benjamin, Beck Bennett, maybe we could've convinced Bill Murray to come back for a third round? Actually that would be pretty clever if he was the dad in this film. I digress.)

Pratt (and Jackson's) performance is pretty symbolic of the film as a whole. It's fine, but it's just not Garfield. I loved the original animated series and the television specials, and the hijinks Garfield got into there are not the same here. I know it's weird to get critical about a Garfield movie but when you slap that name on it, that comes with a certain set of expectations. I do think if the filmmakers actually were more concerned with the father-son relationship, exploring Garfield's origins, and what makes Garfield who he is, this could've reached the same heights as say, The Peanuts Movie. I'm not saying Garfield can't go on crazy adventures, but those adventures should at least make some sense. 

Despite its flaws, The Garfield Movie is an enjoyable film with some heart, laughs, and quality animation. There's clear effort on the screen, albeit effort that's a bit misguided. Families will enjoy it, die-hard Garfield fans (??) maybe not so much. But I would happily revisit this one again.

The question now remains...which obscure character will Chris Pratt voice next? My vote? Ziggy.

Top 10 Films of 2021

That's right, kids! It's time for another very, very, very belated Top 10 Films of *Insert Year Here* List!!!

I think it's kind of expected that these come from me far too late. But the way the 2020's have started out, I hopefully I can get a little more slack for the first few years of this decade.

As the world opened up more in 2021, the number of new releases started to tick up again. The market wasn't completely back yet, but there were still plenty of films for audiences to enjoy. Personally, the year was filled with a lot of ups and downs, and escaping into some of these films definitely helped me get through it. These are my Top 10 Films of 2021.

10. Last Night in Soho

Directed by Edgar Wright

Starring Thomasin Mackenzie, Anya-Taylor Joy, and Matt Smith

I've never been big on horror so it's an achievement when anything from the genre can get a positive reaction out of me, let alone get in my top ten of the year. Edgar Wright is a master of the craft the way he can transition so seamless from something like Scott Pilgrim, to Baby Driver, and this. Last Night in Soho is a suspenseful mindf**k that fully immerses you into the mystery and will have you leaning on the edge of your seat. Thomas Mackenzie and Anya-Taylor Joy give remarkable performances, but Mackenzie is the one that stands out, and Matt Smith is devilishly wicked. The film also just looks stunning with the way it manipulates light and color to bring the time period(s) to life. There's apparently some debate on wether the twist at the end was earned. I think it brings the picture together very nicely. Last Night in Soho was definitely one of my more memorable theater experiences in 2021, and it's now become part of my annual Halloween watchlist.

As of writing this piece, Last Night in Soho is available now to stream on Prime Video.

9. Encanto

Directed by Jared Bush & Byron Howard

Starring Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, and John Leguizamo

It shouldn't come as a shock that this showed up here. But now that the film is two years old, was Encanto worth all they hype? I think so. For the most part. Mirabel is an incredibly relatable and empathetic lead and it is hard not to root for her, especially when she has one of the worst onscreen families since The McCallisters in Home Alone. 

The animation is top-notch as one would expect from Disney, and yes the songs are great. Yes we've probably gotten too much Lin-Manuel Miranda in our Disney films these days but you can't deny this is a great soundtrack. Hot take? "Surface Pressure" and "Dos Orugitas" are better songs than "We Don't Talk About Bruno"...also what the hell was that Oscar performance?

It took me some time to warm up to it, but Encanto has rightfully earned its place as a modern Disney classic.

As of writing this piece, Encanto is available now to stream on Disney Plus.

8. West Side Story

Directed by Stephen Spielberg

Starring Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno

Confession time. I've never seen the original 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story. But, can Stephen Spielberg direct more musicals please (I know he's produced the new Color Purple film)? The story of West Side is just as relevant today as it was when Sondheim first put it to the stage in 1957. Spielberg brings it to new heights with his style of filmmaking. The singing and dancing is great, but the cinematography is pure cinematic bliss. The set design is so incredibly detailed. It's colorful but it's edgy. It's whimsical but it's unpolished. It's like Spielberg went back in time to film this. It looks like old-school cinema. 

One specific thing I have to point out is the build-up to the big Rumble and the Rumble scene itself. To me it's one of the most striking and memorable scenes of the year. However, the film is not perfect. There are times where you definitely feel that two and-a-half hour runtime. I don't think Ansel Engort is bad in this film but his performance is inconsistent, and I was never completely sold on his chemistry with Rachel Zegler, who by contrast, is amazing here. Again, I never saw the original film so I'd be interested to see how it compares, but I found the 2021 West Side Story to be a true musical delight.

As of writing this piece, West Side Story is available now to stream on Disney Plus.

7. Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton 

Starring Simu Liu, Akwafina, and Tony Leung

I really wish I had a better theater experience when I saw Shang-Chi. Not fifteen minutes in did a mouse scurry out from the aisle in front of me, completely throwing off my groove for a good portion of the film. Regardless, rewatches at home on Disney Plus have helped me see that Shang-Chi is one of the most unique entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The fight choreography in this film is next level and far beyond anything that's come in the franchise before. There's some really beautiful visuals that help to bring the culture of the world to life. What elevates the film beyond all that though is that family is at the heart of the story. Shang-Chi and Wenwu (Leung) have such an incredible dynamic. It's not just hero and villain, or protagonist and antagonist. It's father and son, both grieving, and in pain. 

Simu Liu bursts onto the screen in a stellar debut performance. I know Akwafina is in everything now but here I feel she was utilized properly. Meng'er Zhang is a real standout as Shang-Chi's sister Xu Dialing, and is just as important to the story as he is. Again, Tony Leung is one of the best villains the MCU has had in forever. Sir Ben Kingsley makes a surprising but more than welcome return as Trevor Slattery. 

As unique as Shang-Chi is, it is not devoid of some typical MCU problems, like a sloppy third-act final battle, specifically in the way it's shot, and some underdeveloped and underutizilied side characters. However, those are minimal problems. Shang-Chi does a lot of good and frankly it makes you wonder if all "The MCU is in Shambles" Haters even saw it...

As of writing this piece, Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings is available now to stream on Disney Plus.

6. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Directed by Jason Reitman

Starring McKenna Grace, Carrie Coon, and Paul Rudd

I don't know what is more "peak legacy sequel" than Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the original two Ghostbusters films, directing this film. But I'm not saying Afterlife is a bad film by any means. It gave me the same feeling as Mary Poppins Returns, meaning "Yes this is probably going to feel familiar to you, but there's genuine effort and sincerity here so enjoy it". The film is a lot of fun, and does right in balancing older and newer story elements perfectly. The newer characters rightfully take the lead. McKenna Grace is amazing and Logan Kim is a real scene stealer. Paul Rudd is delightful, as one would expect.

The special effects in the film are very impressive, and while there was always some suspense mixed with the humor in the Ghostbusters film, this one definitely amped up the former, which made it a more enticing viewing experience. It's also nice to see all the returning cast members, who still clearly love this franchise (maybe not Murray) pop up, and there's one definitive moment in the climax that is sure to entice the shedding of a tear.

I don't want to knock the 2016...reboot (?) but Afterlife is a more than worthy successor to the Ghostbusters franchise and just a great blockbuster film in general. I can't wait for Frozen Empire this year.

As of writing this piece, Ghostbusters:Afterlife is available now to stream on Hulu with a Premium Subscription. Actually, just rent or buy it on DVD/Blu-Ray. Support Physical Media. Actually do that with all these-

5. Eternals

Directed by Chloe Zhao

Starring Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie

So many people owe this film an apology. I don't get where the hate comes from. Eternals is *also* one of the most unique entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)! The cast is full of such diverse, wonderful, talent and each character gets equal opportunity to shine. It would be tedious to go down the entire IMDB page, but they're all great. Even Lia McHugh as Sprite, who is an awful character. The film tells such a massive but complete story, and the stakes haven't felt this high since Avengers: Endgame. The characters' struggle is also incredibly compelling, and is something we haven't seen in the franchise before. 

I love the diverse settings throughout this globe-trotting adventure and I love how Zhao shot this on-location. Yes there is CGI because it's a modern-day superhero film, but it blends really well with the practical sets and visuals. I don't have much more to say except I love Eternals and how different and ambitious it is. And you should too. Or else.

As of writing this piece, Eternals is available now to stream on Disney Plus.

4. Luca

Directed by Enrico Cassarosa

Starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Emma Berman

Time will tell but I think Luca is one of Pixar's best of the 2020's. I love this slice-of-life, coming-of-age, literal fish-out-of-water story. Luca (Tremblay) has such a wonderful character journey, and his friendships with Alberto (Grazer) and Giulia (Berman) is so sweet. Obviously his relationship with Alberto is the focus, and I just love how real and authentic they're portrayed. None of these child actors are big A-listers. I mean you would probably recognize them if you saw them in their other films, but their voices aren't that recognizable or distracting, and their performances are near-perfect.

The animation is so colorful, vibrant, and different from the typical Pixar style. The stakes are high but they're more personal than world-ending. The humor is so simple but effective. A lot of this feels like old school Disney animation told for a new generation. But what makes Luca such a wonderful film is its powerful message of self-acceptance, self-worth, and honoring the friends that lift us up and help us become who we are. Yeah you will probably cry. Classic Pixar.

The best way to describe Luca is it's like a big, warm hug of a film. I think it can resonate with both the kid and the kid at heart. It never made it to theaters because COVID, but Disney is putting it, Soul, and Turning Red in theaters in the coming months. I might indulge and catch Luca on the big-screen. But until then, you can stream it on (You guessed it) Disney Plus.

3. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Directed by Jon Watts

Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, etc.

Yeah I don't think any MCU fan can have a Top 10 Films of 2021 List without including this. I think I put it best in my original review, so I'm just going to save some time and "Copy+Paste"

"Not since 2011's The Muppets has my love for a property been so reinvigorated. Spider-Man: No Way Home is peak Spider-Man. It's fun, it's heartbreaking, and it's Avengers: Endgame level-epic. It's nearly twenty years of film history culminating in something that's never been done before, while also paving the way for a bold and intriguing future for MCU Spidey. I cannot wait to watch it again (safely because you know, Big Rona) and buy my copy of the Blu-Ray. It should go down as one of the best superhero films of all time (Have I said that about an MCU film before? I don't care).

...And let's give Andrew Garfield his The Amazing Spider-Man 3...just not exactly the one they were planning in 2014 because whoa boy..."

I have no idea where you can stream this film but you know what support physical media and go to a Redbox or buy it on Blu-Ray/DVD.

Now my Top 2...is a tie! Kind of! For now at least. Before we go further, here are some honorable mentions.

Cruella: A flawed but pleasant surprise that is anchored with a wonderful lead performance from Emma Stone. Available to stream on Disney Plus.

CODA: A very heartwarming and unique feel-good family film. It definitely feels like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie that got a bigger budget, but it's hard not to love, plus it won Best Picture at the Oscars. Available to stream on Apple TV+.

Raya & The Last Dragon: ...I think I might like this more than Encanto? It might be recent bias because I just watched it, but I give Encanto a spot in the Top 10 because it tugs at my heartstrings, but Raya is a ton of fun with some top-notch animation, messages, and world-building. And again, Awkwafina is everywhere, but she's utilized well here. Available to stream on Disney Plus.

And again, even with all that pandemic down-time, and after all this time, here are some films I still haven't seen but want to:  Judas & The Black Messiah, Nobody, and Dune.

1. A Quiet Place: Part 2

Directed by John Krasinski

Starring Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Cillian Murphy

Again, I'm not big on the horror genre, but I loved the first A Quiet Place, and Part 2 is a superb sequel. It also holds a special place in my heart as it was the first film I saw back in theaters in 2021. Much like the first film, A Quiet Place: Part 2 is wonderful to experience in a dark-crowded theater. As much as the scares (and the sound design) are so effective, everything progresses to a natural place, from the story, to the characters, and the expanding of the universe. I love that the kids get more to do and pretty much take the lead this time. I love how passionate and commanding Emily Blunt is as her character. I love the additions of Cilian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. John Krasinski is a true master of the craft.

A Quiet Place: Part is arguably a perfect sequel, and it was a wonderful way to return to theaters after the dumpster fire that was 2020. I was *so* close to making it my top pick, but after rewatching this and the next film last weekend, I couldn't decide so here we are...

As of writing this piece, A Quiet Place: Part 2 is available now to stream on Paramount Plus.

1. Tick, Tick...Boom!

Directed Lin Manuel Miranda

Starring Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, and Robin de Jesus

If I had a nickel for every time Lin Manuel Miranda was involved in a story where the main character is concerned about leaving their mark on the world before their time is up I'd have two nickels (Hamiton and this). Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice...

It is an extremely bizarre coincidence that this film came out the same year I turned 30. Tick, Tick, Boom was like therapy for me. I laughed. I cried. Mostly cried. Miranda knocks it out of the park in his directorial debut, bringing the late Jonathan Larson's semi-autobiographical musical to life on film. Andrew Garfield is absolutely incredible as Larson, possibly his greatest role to date (Should've revoked Will Smith's Oscar and given it to him...). The songs "30/90" and "Why" have been stuck in my head for the better part of two-three years. The production is not a big flashy musical but it's so personal. More than anything though I love what this film has to say.

It perfectly portrays the struggle of not just creators or young people, but all people, trying to find their place, and leave their mark before the clock runs out. It's never easy, and sometimes it's downright heartbreaking. How can you follow your passions in life, when life is pushing back against you at every turn? Through all the noise how can we find our value, our voice? So much of this film really hit me right in the old ticker (Oh hey I get it lol) and by the time the credits rolled I was speechless.

Jonathan Larson's story is both powerful and bittersweet, and Lin Manuel Miranda (who starred in the stage production) brings this story to life with so much passion and ethos. He clearly cared so much about this film, and in turn has made me, the audience, care so much about this film, because like I say on my podcast (Movies That Matter) all entertainment is subjective, and that's not a bad thing.

Tick, Tick...Boom and A Quiet Place: Part 2 are two very different films, and I experienced them both very differently. The former I just watched on the couch one night with my now fiancee in the height of winter, and the other in a crowded summer movie theater. One made me cry, and the other had me on the edge of my seat. Both of them stressed me out in some way or another! But they're a symbolic pairing of the the ups and downs life was throwing at me, in some way. I think together they are the perfect "double feature" for the roller coaster that was my 2021.

Tick, Tick..Boom! is available now to stream on Netflix.

Stay tuned for my Top 10 Film of 2022, which WITHOUT QUESTION will be the very next piece I post!