The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review.

Thirty years after Nintendo's miserable first jump to the silver screen, Shigeru Miyamoto's Mario made his triumphant return to cinemas in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Brought to life by Despicable Me creators Illumination, it was a smash hit, pleasing die-hard Nintendo fans, and became the highest-grossing animated feature ever upon release. Even if it was lightweight with a bare bones narrative, it accomplished its crowd-pleasing ambitions, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a fun movie.

However, I knew then that it was a stepping stone to wilder stories within Mario's universe, even teasing the appearance of Yoshi in its post-credits clip. Three years later and with its creative crew back in full force, the promise of that wilder sequel is here, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Unfortunately, wilder isn't better, as despite many a fan-pleasing beat for Nintendo lovers, it is once again the story that lets this pipe dream down.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny movie review.

Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford's rugged adventurer with a Boy Scout complex, has captivated audiences for decades, as brought to life by director Steven Spielberg and creator George Lucas. I'm a huge fan of this series, and Raiders of the Lost Ark remains one of my favorite films. Period. Last we left our hero in 2008, he hotly divided audiences with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a rebirth that left many feeling underwhelmed by its finale to his story.

But following Disney's 2012 buyout of Lucasfilm, and the rebirth of Star Wars, it seemed inevitable that Indy would return as well, here with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This time directed not by Steven Spielberg, but by Logan director James Mangold, who looks to give the aging hero the same satisfying send-off he gave to Wolverine. However, for as thrilling as the latest adventure may sound, and I'm sure will entertain audiences, I ultimately leave this treasure hunt not wanting more, but wondering whether the journey itself made that reward worth it.

The Little Mermaid movie review.

The Little Mermaid was a landmark Disney film. After a string of underperformers, it ushered in a new age of films recalling the glory of the company's golden age, beginning what we now know as the Disney Renaissance. Thanks to its stunning animation, lovable characters, and the first of three unforgettable Howard Ashman/Alan Menken soundtracks, it's remained a classic for decades, even if its lead character has been a hotly debated one, often through bad faith criticism made for cynical jokes.

In the midst of Disney remaking their animated classics in live-action, it seemed like a natural fit with the stars aligned. Director Rob Marshall, fresh off of Mary Poppins Returns, Lin-Manuel Miranda as both producer and song lyricist, and the breakthrough casting of singer Halle Bailey as the title character. The ingredients seemed to be there... but who cares? No big deal. I wanted more.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie review.

There's probably not a single person who doesn't know Mario, the most popular video game character ever. Along with his brother Luigi, the two have spent decades headlining numerous terrific games across Nintendo's consoles, helping cement them as the Disney of video gaming. So popular were they, the duo got their own film adaptation in 1993, Super Mario Bros. Unfortunately, that film was a disaster, suffering from a famously hellish production, and burned audiences so thoroughly, Nintendo never set foot in Hollywood again. Since then, that film has become synonymous with the video game adaptation curse.

But a lot has changed in 30 years. Not only are video game adaptations making greater strides, but Nintendo felt an itch again. What if they could take a stab at another film, made by people who love and respect the series? Enter Chris Meledandri, whose animation company Illumination - best known for the Despicable Me series - impressed Nintendo so much, they've dusted off the overalls for a new Super Mario Bros. Movie, and likely the first of a new franchise.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie review.

In the much broader MCU, the Ant-Man films have been some of the lighter, more niche titles in their lineup, usually as a pallet cleanser after the studio's much bigger Avengers titles. The original 2015 film was a lean, entertaining heist movie, owed to original director Edgar Wright's template, and the ever-reliable charisma of star Paul Rudd. It was then followed up in 2018 by Ant-Man and the Wasp, which while lesser than the original, was still entertaining in its own right, and gave co-star Evangeline Lilly her own meaty material to savor.

Fast forward five years, Ant-Man and the Wasp go from pallet cleanser, to the starting dish for Marvel's fifth phase, and second chapter in the Multiverse Saga. While Marvel has had some strong showings recently, its fourth phase was a decidedly mixed bag, with Marvel itself course correcting and reconfiguring projects to prevent burnout, and with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the studio is set to introduce the saga's overarching villain Kang... It's just a shame that this set up had to feel so exhausting. No exaggeration, Quantumania might just be the worst film Marvel has ever put forth.

Brief thoughts on The Son.

In 2020, French playwright Florian Zeller made his film directorial debut with The Father, a psychological chamber piece based on his play of the same name. Not only do I consider it the best movie of its year, particularly thanks to a career best Anthony Hopkins in the starring role, but one of the greatest film debuts ever made. Naturally, one would be justified for their excitement to see Zeller continue on, as I'm sure many of us were with The Son, the second in a trilogy of plays by Zeller. I was very eager to see this movie, which is why it's heartbreaking for me to say that I really didn't like it. But why exactly? For one, I felt very disappointed as I left the theater... and then as it processed, I became quite angry with it. The Son has some deeply rooted issues to unearth.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever review

Before Infinity War in 2018, Marvel Studios debuted their film adaptation of Black Panther, directed by a fresh off of Creed Ryan Coogler. Starring Chadwick Boseman as the title character's altar ego T'Challa, it was a thoughtful, exciting, and progressive step forward for the MCU driven by its mostly black cast. A cultural milestone, that even severed from the larger universe was still a great movie. It's no surprise then why it was a massive hit with audiences, who gravitated to its characters, as well as the sweeping world of Wakanda. It's also not a surprise that Marvel courted Coogler back for an inevitable sequel with the cast returning.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck before the movie was able to roll cameras. In August of 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away after his battle with colon cancer, at the far too young age of 43. It was a devastating loss, and amidst the grief, many began to wonder "what becomes of Black Panther then?" Choosing not to recast the role and reconfiguring the sequel from scratch, Marvel and Coogler unveil the sequel, Wakanda Forever, to not only move the world forward, but act as tribute to their late friend. And while understandably a step down from its predecessor, that makes it no less a worthy and strong follow-up with genuine heft.