Why Cats is a fascinating failure...Brief thoughts.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats has been a staple of the Broadway musical scene for decades, debuting in 1981 to a mixed reception, but has garnered a massive following in the years since. It remains one of the most popular musicals of all time, standing as the fourth longest running Broadway show, and garnering $3.5 billion dollars in sales. It's those reasons why a film adaptation felt obvious, but through several failed attempts, including from Amblimation before the studio's closure, it isn't until now that we finally get it, brought to us by Les Miserables director Tom Hooper... and it's a trainwreck. Simple as that. There's no graceful way of putting that.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie review.

When Disney bought out Lucasfilm in 2012, their first major move was to greenlight an upcoming Episode VII, which resulted in the J.J. Abrams directed The Force Awakens, pleasing both critics and Star Wars devotees still burned by the prequels, crafting a sweeping story that felt both familiar and fresh, brought to life by stellar new characters and an abundance of spectacle.

Cut to two years later for The Last Jedi from director Rian Johnson, a movie I also loved, even if it was and still is a polarizing movie for how much it tinkered with the fabric of Star Wars, leading to a vindictive outcry from the most toxic of Wars fans.

And so, cut once more to two years later, where this new Star Wars trilogy comes to an end, coaxing J.J. Abrams back for one more adventure, to close off the epic Skywalker saga. It doesn't help, for The Rise of Skywalker is a crushing disappointment as a final chapter.

Also, potential spoilers are to follow in this review, so for those wishing to go in blind, read at your own risk.

2019 Catch-up reviews.

I haven't felt like writing much as I used to do. In what I assume is a natural ebb and flow, I've felt less compelled to trace down my thoughts on *every* new movie I get a chance to check out, certainly not helped by an ever-hectic personal life, and in the future, I may feel less compelled to give as many movies an essay like examination. However, just because I'm writing less doesn't mean I'm seeing less, and I do have a number of films to offer thoughts on. So before the conclusion to the galaxy far, far away eats up my attention, I'm going to do some catch up on some films I've checked out over the year, which you should see if you get the chance. Enjoy, everyone!