Brief thoughts on Uncut Gems.

America is many good things, but it is also not a perfect nation. As one of its more glaring flaws, it is a country overwhelmed by competitive capitalism, where the pursuit of happiness can be warped into something more sinister. As unfiltered greed and obsession with money can send egos spiraling out of control, such dark ambitions can even destroy those unfortunate to be cursed by it. Even the most unassuming of men can be turned into husks if not careful, showcased to us through the Safdies-directed/Sandler-starring Uncut Gems, which may just be the most nail-biting movie of 2019.

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!

Frozen II movie review.

It's only been six years, but Frozen feels like a lifetime ago. Releasing in the middle of Disney Animation's ongoing Revival era, the film was another callback to Disney's storied fantasy musical heritage, and arguably its greatest since the classics of the Renaissance. At once a sweet and funny little adventure, it also served as a successful deconstruction of Disney's oldest tropes, directly subverting and course correcting some of their mixed messages of the past. Being a musical, it also helped that it had a spectacular soundtrack, with people still refusing to let it go.

Surprisingly to everyone, including Disney, it became a monumental pop culture phenomenon, inspiring a bevy of spin-offs and merchandising possibilities, that helped Disney establish their newfound position as a global superpower. And despite the rarity of seeing Disney Animation tackle a sequel, perhaps the dollar signs made Frozen all too irresistible, as we now rejoin the continuing adventures of Elsa and Anna, as they venture into the unknown in Frozen II, an ambitious follow-up that, nevertheless, is a bit of a fixer-upper.

A Disney+ double feature: Lady and the Tramp and Noelle.

I have to say I'm ashamed of myself. In my weak state of mind, I did something I promised myself I wasn't gonna do...

I tried out Disney+.

In a world where Netflix and Amazon dominate the digital streaming marketplace, the Mouse House just couldn't resist putting their names in the Goblet of Fire, launching their own service with their own content for viewers to consume. If anyone were to do it, Disney made the most sense, boasting thousands of movies and TV shows across their eight decade history. Whether it be their own in-house live-action and animation studios, or their acquisitions like Star Wars, Marvel, and the films of Fox (The Greatest Showman is officially a Disney musical now).

That said, I was always hesitant to sign up for it. Even though Disney is one of my most nostalgic childhood staples, I'm growing increasingly wary and cynical of them as a corporation. But even then, I knew my curiosity couldn't be contained, and I had to give it a try. Where else can I binge the entirety of Darkwing Duck?

And like Netflix and Amazon, Disney+ came with its own original content, including two movies on launch day. To start, I immediately turned my attention to those, so before I commit to my mass Darkwing Duck marathon, let's talk about them.

Brief thoughts on Parasite.

Several times in Parasite, a man deflects during conversations about topics he doesn't understand, using the phrase "It's so metaphorical!" Scratch beneath the pseudo-intellectualism, it's easy to pick apart his vague response, highlighting how truly out of place he is in the environment he occupies, and yet with how casually his responses are dealt out, others are so oblivious to his awkwardness, maybe because it's easier to live in simplicity than in rationality. That comprises only one chunk of the weighty ideas juggled by Parasite, the latest from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, coming in late in the year as one of 2019's greatest surprises, and easily a contender for its best film.