Movie Review - Frankenstein (2025 Netflix and Guillermo del Toro)

I loved the original novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelly. I thought it was an excellent story well told. I always wondered why adaptions strayed so far from the source. None of the changes improved upon the story or even came close to equaling it.

Frankenstein is a 2025 gothic romance monster movie directed by Guillermo del Toro. It is rated R for violence, mild gore, nudity, and is appropriate for older teens and up.

Analysis

Story. Film is a different medium than prose, so a direct adaption is not going to be as good as a translation, and the filmmakers did an amazing job translating the book. This film was very true to the original novel. Several changes were made, but they were all for the best. The story was solid, had a great pace, and never dragged or felt rushed except for one small part (but it was probably best to get it over with and move onto the main story).

Visuals. This film was gorgeous to look at! Everything from the costumes to the sets to the cinematography was well thought out and fit together perfectly to create a truly unique vision very appropriate for the story told. I loved the way the Creature was portrayed--very close to the book version while being horrifying and beautiful at the same time.

Sounds. The music and sound effects very perfectly crafted to convey the emotion of the story and action. I didn't even notice it most of the time, and yet I felt what I was supposed to feel the entire film, which is the highest praise you can give the score and sound effects.

Acting and Casting. Oscar Issac and Jacob Elordi were perfectly cast for this film. Both delivered masterful performances. Both truly carried the movie. The other cast members were all very well cast and delivered great performances that also added to the story.

Overall

Frankenstein is a 2025 gothic romance monster movie directed by Guillermo del Toro, and is a perfect film. This film was very true to the original novel. Several changes were made, but they were all for the best. The story was solid and had a great pace. This film was gorgeous to look at! Everything from the costumes to the sets to the cinematography was well thought out and fit together perfectly to create a truly unique vision very appropriate for the story told. I loved the way the Creature was portrayed--very close to the book version while being horrifying and beautiful at the same time. The music and sound effects very perfectly crafted to convey the emotion of the story and action. Oscar Issac and Jacob Elordi were perfectly cast for this film, and both delivered masterful performances. I highly recommend this film and give it 5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn. 

    

Movie Review - Tron: Ares

I remember being awed by the visuals of the first Tron movie and astounded by the visuals and sounds of the second. 

Tron: Ares is the a 2025 science fiction action movie. It is appropriate for most ages.

My Thoughts

Story: The story was okay. It's basically a chase for a McGuffin trying to beat the clock. The first half was way too much exposition and explanation. Seriously, Disney, your audience isn't that stupid (okay, maybe those in college and recent graduates are). It would have been much better to begin with less dialogue and narration and start with Ares emerging from the grid and going on a mission and follow him as the world and stakes are revealed. The second half was a fun chase, but nothing we haven't seen before and weren't expecting.

Characters: The characters were little more than plot devices and generic caricatures. They had great actors that occasionally acted. But no one stood out or made me care that much for them.

Visuals: This movie felt like a medium budget direct-to-video sequel. The visuals were good, but not as groundbreaking as the first two films. Tron: Legacy hit perfection and still looks breathtaking to this day.

Music: The music by Nine Inch Nails was really good, fit the movie, and sounded like Tron while still being its own original thing.

Overall

This movie is entertaining to watch, but won't be beloved like the first two. This movie felt like a medium budget direct-to-video sequel. The visuals were good, but not as groundbreaking as the first two films. Tron: Legacy hit perfection and still looks breathtaking to this day. The story was okay. It's basically a chase for a McGuffin trying to beat the clock. The first half was way too much exposition and explanation. Seriously, Disney, your audience isn't that stupid (okay, maybe those in college and recent graduates are). The second half was a fun chase, but nothing we haven't seen before and weren't expecting. The characters were little more than plot devices and generic caricatures. They had great actors that occasionally acted. But no one stood out or made me care that much for them. The music by Nine Inch Nails was really good, fit the movie, and sounded like Tron while still being its own original thing. I give it 3.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

     

Movie Review - Superman (2025 film) by James Gunn

I love Superman, and I have my entire life. He is one of my favorite superheroes. I love his Golden Age comic book and comic strip appearances and the John Byrne Post-Crisis run. I love the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons and the Hanna Barbera SuperFriends version. I love the Old Time Radio version and the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman version. And the Christopher Reeve films are still classics.

Superman is a 2025 superhero action movie based on the character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. It is rated PG-13 for language and violence and is appropriate for most ages.

The Good

Lois and Clark. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were perfectly cast as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane. They capture the comic book version of the characters perfectly and have great chemistry together on screen. Whenever these two are on screen together, the movie works so well and I was totally engrossed in it. And fortunately, they have a lot of screen time together.

Guy Gardner. Nathan Fillion somehow perfectly captures the misfit of the Green Lantern Corps. He looks and acts the part perfectly. If only the costume were comic book accurate I'd have nothing but praise.

The Bad

Sloppy Writing. This movie feels like a direct-to-video sequel to the 1978 Richard Donner Superman film. The story was a lot of sound and fury with little substance. Nothing had time to develop. The problems were solved too quickly and too easily. The characters were pretty shallow except for Lois & Clark. There were way too many current fads inserted into the movie (social media, politics, etc) that won't age well.

Lex Luthor. Nicholas Hoult is a great actor. Unfortunately, the way the character was written was not good. Luthor was too controlled by his ego and too short-sighted to be a real threat or accomplish anything very large.

Perry White. Perry White is the generic token minority in power every movie has. And as such, he is completely superfluous to this film. If his character were removed, I doubt anyone would noticed. This was a missed opportunity to create a memorable character.

Justice Gang. Other than Guy Gardner, the other superheroes were uninteresting and unnecessary. Mr. Terrific was used as a plot device to solve impossible problems quickly and easily. Sloppy writing.

Action and Special Effects. The action and special effects were the generic video game action and special effects you see in every movie from the past 20 years. Poor cinematography, uninteresting choreography, and nothing memorable or special. I found the scenes to be kind of boring. This is Superman--the special effects and action should be mind blowing making me go "Wow!" every five minutes. But instead it looks like just another action movie.

Overall

Superman (2025 film) feels like a direct-to-video sequel to the 1978 Richard Donner Superman film. The story was a lot of sound and fury with little substance. Nothing had time to develop. The problems were solved too quickly and too easily. The characters were pretty shallow except for Lois & Clark. There were way too many current fads inserted into the movie (social media, politics, etc) that won't age well. 

David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were perfectly cast as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane. They capture the comic book version of the characters perfectly and have great chemistry together on screen. Whenever these two are on screen together, the movie works so well and I was totally engrossed in it. And fortunately, they have a lot of screen time together.

The action and special effects were the generic video game action and special effects you see in every movie from the past 20 years. Poor cinematography, uninteresting choreography, and nothing memorable or special. I found the scenes to be kind of boring. This is Superman--the special effects and action should be mind blowing making me go "Wow!" every five minutes. But instead it looks like just another action movie.

This movie is entertaining to watch, but won't be a classic. I give it 3.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

     

The Fall Guy (2024 Film) Review

I never watched The Fall Guy tv series in the 80s, but I was aware it existed. So I didn't have any expectations for the film and went in expecting nothing more than an entertaining flick. And the movie delivered and then some.

The Fall Guy is a 2024 action romantic comedy based on the 1980s tv series of the same name. It is rated PG-13 for language and is appropriate for most ages.

Analysis

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. These two were cast perfectly. They have such great chemistry and each play their parts perfectly.

Comedy. This movie is genuinely funny. I found myself laughing out loud several times. The filmmakers didn't waste time on the obvious, usual humor other movies rely on. There were truly hilarious moments and lines of dialogue.

Meta. This film is very meta. It opens with the star and director telling you it is a love letter to stuntmen, and then throughout the film analyses the film and film in general. It again was very insightful and not the usual, obvious fourth-wall breaking.

Stunts and Action. Every ten minutes the film goes into an elaborately staged action scene that is beautifully choreographed and so much fun. And each stunt is different so I never felt bored.

Recommendation

This movie is so good! It is pure entertainment, something I haven't seen in a long time. I highly recommend this film and give it 5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

    

Movie Review - Godzilla Minus One

 

I loved the original Gojira movie and wished they'd come up with something that serious and well scripted.

They finally did.

Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 action monster movie. It is rated PG-13 for fantasy violence and is appropriate for teens and up.

Analysis

Story. Unlike most of the Godzilla films (or monster movies in general) this film is a serious take on the genre and really examines what would happen if Godzilla were real. The movie also follows a small cast of characters from the end of World War II through the months following showing the steps they take to rebuild their lives. This human element helps raise the stakes and make Godzilla's attack seem even more devastating.

Special Effects. This film has amazing special effects. Unlike most movies in the last twenty years that look like video games, everything looks real. I'm impressed with what they managed to do with less than $15 million.

Plot & Pacing. The first half of the movie is a little slow, but once Godzilla attacks Tokyo I was on the edge of my seat.

Overall

Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 action monster movie. It is rated PG-13 for fantasy violence and is appropriate for teens and up. Unlike most of the Godzilla films (or monster movies in general) this film is a serious take on the genre and really examines what would happen if Godzilla were real. The movie also follows a small cast of characters from the end of World War II through the months following showing the steps they take to rebuild their lives. This human element helps raise the stakes and make Godzilla's attack seem even more devastating. This film has amazing special effects. Unlike most movies in the last twenty years that look like video games, everything looks real. I'm impressed with what they managed to do with less than $15 million. The first half of the movie is a little slow, but once Godzilla attacks Tokyo I was on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this film and give it 4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn. 

   

Movie Review - Wonka

I am not a Ronald Dahl fan and have yet to enjoy any movies based on his stories. But the trailer for this latest try actually looked good, and Timothée Chalamet looked like Willy Wonka should. So I thought I'd give it a chance. 

Wonka is a 2023 musical children's film inspired by a story by Ronald Dahl. It is rated PG and is appropriate for most ages.

Analysis

Timothée Chalamet. Timothée Chalamet made the movie. He looked the part and exuded the innocence, wackiness, and excitement of the character. I was surprised at how well he sang and danced.

Songs and Dancing. Almost all of the songs were really good. The dancing was fun and helped the movie move forward.

Art Direction. The visual look of the film was exactly what I expected it to be. It looked very much like a storybook.

Story. The story was weak with a lot of on-the-nose writing, heavy handed theme explaining, and goofy plot devices.

Cleverness. There were a lot of clever moments in the film that I just loved.

Silliness. There was a lot of silliness in the film that made it boring for adults and moved it from the family movie realm to a kids' film. It wasn't necessary to talk down to the audience and would have been a stronger film if they hadn't done that.

Overall

Wonka is a 2023 musical children's film inspired by a story by Ronald Dahl. It is rated PG and is appropriate for most ages. Timothée Chalamet made the movie. He looked the part and exuded the innocence, wackiness, and excitement of the character. I was surprised at how well he sang and danced. Almost all of the songs were really good. The dancing was fun and helped the movie move forward. The visual look of the film was exactly what I expected it to be. It looked very much like a storybook. The story was weak with a lot of on-the-nose writing, heavy handed theme explaining, and goofy plot devices. There were a lot of clever moments in the film that I just loved. There was a lot of silliness in the film that made it boring for adults and moved it from the family movie realm to a kids' film. It wasn't necessary to talk down to the audience and would have been a stronger film if they hadn't done that. The film is overall entertaining with the good moments worth sitting thru the not-so-good moments. I give this film 3.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn. 

     

Merry and Bright - A 2023 Christmas Card

 

Merry Christmas, one and all. Here's hoping the year ends merry and bright for you!

This card was drawn with a Brush Pen and colored in Adobe Photoshop.

Movie Review - A Haunting in Venice

I've enjoyed the previous two Hercule Poroit films, but thought they could be better. They were just a little too bland and played out exactly as I expected. I wasn't going to see this film in theaters, but reviews on YouTube made it sound like they put a little something extra in it, so I decided to give it a shot.

A Haunting in Venice is a 2023 horror mystery film based on the Agatha Christie book Hallowe'en Party. It is rated PG-13 for scary imagery and is appropriate for teens and up.

Analysis

Horror. This film is a horror film, and the kind of horror film I really like. It was spooky, mysterious, and not at all gory.

Mystery. This film is also a mystery, but the mystery doesn't take over until halfway thru the film which helps to keep the film engaging and entertaining. The solution to the mystery is not obvious like the other two films.

Characters. The characters were all very interesting and well developed. The actors and actresses all did a great job playing their various roles. I found myself caring about what happened to them.

Overall

A Haunting in Venice is a 2023 horror mystery film based on the Agatha Christie book Hallowe'en Party. It's half horror movie and half mystery which helps keep the film engaging and interesting. This is the kind of horror film I really like--it was spooky, mysterious, and not at all gory. The mystery doesn't take over until halfway thru the film which helps to keep the film engaging and entertaining. The solution to the mystery is not obvious like the other two films. The characters were all very interesting and well developed. The actors and actresses all did a great job playing their various roles; I found myself caring about what happened to them. Overall this was a very enjoyable movie, and I'm glad I saw it. I recommend this film and give it 4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn. 

   

Movie Review - Hunted Mansion (2023)

I'm a big fan of the Hunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. I always thought a good movie based on that would be really cool. I never thought we'd see the "good" part, though.

Haunted Mansion is a 2023 spooky comedy film based on the Disneyland attraction. It is rated PG-13 and is appropriate for teens and up.

Analysis

Story. The story is a pretty typical spooky tale and plays out about how you expect it to. It's not bad, but nothing special. The opening has two false starts that were completely necessary and boring. The filmmakers should have started with scene 3. It would have been much stronger. 

Spooky. This film was pretty spooky and even had a few genuine scary moments that probably pushed it as far as you can for a family film.

Comedy. The movie was so funny and so clever. I laughed several times from start to finish.

Pacing. The pacing was decent but did drag in a few spots.

Overall

Haunted Mansion is a 2023 spooky comedy film based on the DisneyLand attraction. The story is a pretty typical spooky tale and plays out about how you expect it to. It's not bad, but nothing special. The opening has two false starts that were completely necessary and boring. The filmmakers should have started with scene 3. It would have been much stronger. This film was pretty spooky and even had a few genuine scary moments that probably pushed it as far as you can for a family film. The movie was so funny and so clever. I laughed several times from start to finish. The pacing was decent but did drag in a few spots. Overall this was a very enjoyable movie, and I'm glad I saw it. I recommend this film and give it 4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn. 

   

Movie Review - Sound of Freedom

I wasn't sure if I could sit thru Sound of Freedom. The subject matter seemed pretty heavy and hard to watch. But after reading and watching so many positive reviews I decided to try it, and am I glad I did.

Sound of Freedom is a 2023 drama film based on a true story. It is rated PG-13 and is appropriate for teens and up.

Analysis

The story behind the movie is excellent, but the filmmakers didn't rest on their laurels. Every other aspect of this film was top notch. You could use this film as a semester in film school about how to make a movie.

Story. The story was solid. Everything was well explained and laid out, but nothing was over explained. One scene led to the next leaving me at the edge of my seat. The message was clearly and movingly presented.

Cinematography. This film was beautifully shot. Each and every frame was carefully thought out and designed.

Set & Costume Design. Just as much care was put into the set and costume design transporting you to the various locations and defining the various characters in the film without them needing to say a word.

Acting. Everyone brought their A game to this film. You believed you were watching a documentary being filmed and not a scripted show. What impressed me was how much of the film was silent. So much was conveyed thru facial expressions and actions.

Pacing. The film had a very deliberate pace that was just right. It delivered several powerful emotional punches but never felt slow or dragging.

Overall

I wasn't sure if I could sit thru Sound of Freedom. The subject matter seemed pretty heavy and hard to watch. But after reading and watching so many positive reviews I decided to try it, and am I glad I did. The story behind the movie is excellent, but the filmmakers didn't rest on their laurels. Every other aspect of this film was top notch. You could use this film as a semester in film school about how to make a movie. The story was solid. Everything was well explained and laid out, but nothing was over explained. One scene led to the next leaving me at the edge of my seat. The message was clearly and movingly presented. This film was beautifully shot. Each and every frame was carefully thought out and designed. Just as much care was put into the set and costume design transporting you to the various locations and defining the various characters in the film without them needing to say a word. Everyone brought their A game to this film. You believed you were watching a documentary being filmed and not a scripted show. What impressed me was how much of the film was silent. So much was conveyed thru facial expressions and actions. The film had a very deliberate pace that was just right. It delivered several powerful emotional punches but never felt slow or dragging. I highly recommend this film and give it 5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.