movie review
Reviews of new and classic family-friendly films; the perfect picks for movie night.
Why I Don't Hate Abuela from Encanto
Warning - This article includes spoilers of Disney's Encanto. Disney's Encanto has become an obsession in my house. We watch the movie and or listen to the soundtrack at least once a day. The catchy tunes and relatable storyline provide fun for the whole family. We all love Mirabel, Antonio, and who could forget Uncle Bruno. We sympathize with Isabella and Luisa, who are dealing with the pressures of appearing strong and perfect when the reality is quite the opposite. Both of Mirabel’s parents are amazing. We love the healing power of Julieta and the goofy yet authentic support of Agustin. The passionate relationship between a Pepa and Felix captivated us. Their older children, Dolores and Camilo stole the show, even with minimal screen time. The only bone of contention within our home and the general audience at large is with Abuela.
By Misses Educator4 years ago in Families
Why Did I Wait So Long To Watch Love and Monsters?
If you appreciate post-apocalyptic comedies, then Love and Monsters is a must watch. I admit, this was one of those titles that I scrolled right on past every single time I saw it. I don’t know why, I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic movies, so this should have been right up my alley to begin with. I mean, the cover image is fantastic and I absolutely adore Dylan O’Brian.
By Jennifer Wright4 years ago in Families
COMING 2 AMERICA
I want to thank Eddie Murphy for making the sequel to one of my all time favorite films. Now that I am an adult, I can understand his vision more clearly, and how important he is for the culture. Murphy makes movies about the black experience using comedic situations. I have been entertained my entire by his brilliance. Some of my other favorites include "Harlem Nights", "Boomerang", “Trading Places”and "Norbit". The important part about his films that I appreciate, you can learn a life lesson, and laugh at the same time. I can go on and on about my love for his creativity. I have been a fan since I saw him on "Saturday Night Live" as kid. I know I'm telling my age, but that was one of my mom's favorite shows, and if I were up, I got to watch him live! Hate him or love him, Murphy is a cinematic genius who knows how to entertain.
By Jocelyn Whaley4 years ago in Families
Holiday Movies And Treats To Get You In The Mood For The Season
Tips, Tricks, Drinks, And Movies To Get Into The Holiday Mood The holidays are fast upon us, and as I struggle to take any steps toward feeling festive, I remember my holiday preparations list. All the things that I need to start doing to find the holiday spirit, before turning into "Scrooge," preferably. There are reasons that the holidays are rough on people. I'm one of those people that suffer from what I call "Holiday Baggage." But why should it win?
By Jason Ray Morton 4 years ago in Families
The Films I Love Because Of Nina
My grandmother was someone that never particularly cared for taking a trip to the movie theater to go see the newest movie that came to theaters or anything. But on the days that my mother worked her long hours at her job at quest diagnostics, my grandmother would sit down with me and we would split a can of Diet Coke and we would watch a movie together while we waited for my mother to come pick me up. We didn’t do it often because my grandmother did not like how much I was into movies and television shows. On those weekdays, they were very precious to me just to relax and get to show her something that interested me and then to get the reaction from her is something that I’ll always remember.
By Samantha Parrish4 years ago in Families
Movie Review-Disney
I brought my 12-year-old Little Sister (from the Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program) to see a movie. It’s sad to realize that the only talking bear that today’s generation of kids are familiar with is the raunchy Ted or possible some naughty puppets from Avenue Q. Marc Forster’s Christopher Robin refreshes the A.A. Milne classic and brings us to the future of Christopher, which still leaves us in the late 1940s. This is a departure from the annoying habit of modernizing fairy tales by immersing them in current-day scenarios like Enchanted or Hook. Instead, we get a mesmerizing period piece of post-war London in stunning detail as the tale unwinds.
By Barb Dukeman5 years ago in Families
The Father Review – Is The Movie Useful for Caregivers?
Have you heard about The Father? There have been some amazing The Father reviews, focusing on the film’s portrayal of dementia and family relationships. It follows the character of Anthony (played by Anthony Hopkins) and his daughter Anne (played by Olivia Colman). Anthony Hopkins won an Academy Award for his role, while Olivia Colman was nominated as Best Supporting Actress. That should give you some idea of the quality of acting involved.
By Rony Mahida5 years ago in Families
Minari movie review
Start writing... Stitched together in an effortlessly organic manner, Minari unfolds as a series of beautifully observed vignettes of a Korean immigrant family trying to stake their claim for a piece of the American dream.Minari is writer-director Lee Isaac-Chung's distilled version of his own childhood growing up in rural Arkansas in the 1980s. Fittingly, the film feels like flipping through a scrapbook of episodic memories and formative experiences. Stitched together in an effortlessly organic manner, it unfolds as a series of beautifully observed vignettes of a Korean immigrant family trying to stake their claim for a piece of the American dream.Hoping to run his own farm, Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) moves his wife Monica (Yeri Han) and two children, Anne (Noel Kate Cho) and David (Alan Kim), to a plot of land in Arkansas. Monica isn't too happy about living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere and makes her feelings known right away. This marital tension simmers throughout the film, and is realised in the occasional conflict.Gloating “Korean people use their heads” to his son, Jacob ploughs his own furrows. Dispensing abstract belief in God for the American Dream, he digs his own well, takes out a loan to buy a tractor, and grows Korean vegetables to sell them to the expanding Korean population in nearby cities. But as he finds himself over his head, not to mention his family's budget, Monica must take matters into her own hand to ensure the family comes before the farm. For Jacob to be a dreamer, Monica must be a realist.The family dynamics change instantly on the arrival of Monica's mother Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung). The veteran Youn is a delight to watch, especially when paired with newbie Kim, whose performance is unstudied but no less affecting. In the beginning, David's relationship with his grandma is testy in an endearing way, but it inevitably softens over their shared love for pro-wrestling, “mountain water” (Mountain Dew) and card games. Chung frames their clashes like comedic interludes, but without losing any of the film's emotional hold over us.Authenticity is built on achingly intimate details. When Soon-ja arrives all the way from South Korea, she brings with her bags packed with Korean chili flakes and dried anchovies. Overcome with emotion, Monica tears up. There is a familiarity to this routine that will resonate with anyone who has ever moved to a new city or country, and can't find the grocery essentials from back home. For Monica, it is an emotional moment because, for once, someone thought of her. The invisible workload of being a supportive wife to Jacob and mother to Anne and David has relegated her own dreams and desires to second-class status, like in most traditional Asian families. Her mother bringing her anchovies is someone recognising her existence, and thus her needs. Yeun, Youn and Kim may have attracted everyone’s attention this awards season, but it's Han's performance which lingers longer because it’s impossible to watch her and not weigh our own relationships with our mothers.Serving as the central metaphor is the herb which gives the film its title. Soon-ja takes David to plant some minari seeds near a creek on the edge of their homestead. Minari is a perennial herb known to grow on all terrains. More importantly, after it dies in the first season, it returns stronger in the second, revitalising the water and soil around it. It perfectly sums up the immigrant experience, the sacrifices made by the first generation to ensure the second thrives. As the metaphor takes root in the narrative, the Yi family too slowly find the strength and resilience to carve out their place in America.Motifs are drawn from classical elements. Fire, water and earth are a disruptive as well as productive influence, symbolising the challenges of acclimating to a new country. Jacob's plants wither without water, and the family turns to the creek, where the minari is planted, for water to run their own home. Fire destroys their barn, but also helps the Yi family hit the reset button. And what is Minari about if not taming the land to reap its rewards?David lashes out at Soon-ja for not acting like “a real grandma.” His conception is entirely American: one who bakes cookies, not one who feeds him yucky potions for his weak heart. Most certainly, not one who wears men's underwear and swears during card games. When Jacob and Monica get into a heated argument, the children fling paper planes with “Don't fight” written on them. When Soon-ja reminds David and Monica of their favourite ballad, both appear to have forgotten it entirely. It's an example of how their American future is slowly supplanting their Korean past.
By Zarinabanu Zarinabanu5 years ago in Families
Yes Day - A Netflix Movie Review
Yes Day is on Saturday! I wonder what we can talk Mom and Dad into saying yes to? Released to Netflix, Yes Day is a 2021 film. Parents of three children are challenged to having a ‘Yes Day.’ Being parents who usually say no, this day proves to be a tough one. What crazy adventures will their children get away with on this whirlwind fun adventure?
By Marielle Sabbag5 years ago in Families
