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The film has its moments of eye-catching visuals and enticing drama, but when any of the attributes that actually have the potential redeem the movie all sit on a basis of unbearable pretentiousness without any semblance of cohesion or a story, the movie becomes a self-inflicted mess rife with overt victimization and contrived emotions.

I had really high hopes for this movie after seeing the second round of trailers, but unfortunately, this movie fell flat in just about every single regard. While it is undoubtedly visually captivating and a fresh take on a video game adaptation, it almost goes too far, introducing characters and plotlines that deviate so far from the original source material that fans of the original versions of the game will undoubtedly be lost, confused, or even downright bored. And while there are certainly moments in it for the younger generation, such as the "chicken jockey" meme and references to internet gamers, there is not enough to reel in those who are not as fluent in pop culture. Now, disregarding the game adaptation aspects, the movie in and of itself has nothing special. The story is lackluster, the characters and their initial coming together feels inorganic, many lines have horrible delivery, and the writing feels as though several writers came together with no one idea or voice reigning supreme. The film heavily relies on standard gaming/outcast teenager tropes as a means of propelling what little substance it has forwards. All in all, it is mindless entertainment if you take it at face value, and that's at best. If you are looking at it as an actual Minecraft movie and taking technicalities into account, the movie is bland, boring, and straight-up unenjoyable.

I haven't walked out of a movie in over a decade. This movie ended that streak for me. From terrible writing to no chemistry across actors to no story, hardly anything about this movie works. Now, I've seen plenty of bad movies over the past decade, and I've almost always been able to find the good in them, but this movie somehow makes recent flops look like masterpieces.

I was not sure what to expect going into this…my expectations were a bit low, but man, was I completely BLOWN away. From the visual to the score to the editing, this movie is a masterpiece and nothing shy of cinematic perfection. Its sheer beauty, emotional arc, and pure nostalgia will make you sing, laugh, and leave your local theater with either the biggest smile, tear stains, or if you’re like me, both, giving you the ride of a lifetime.

Oppenheimer NEEDS two watches. During my first showing, I actually dozed off for a minute because a lot of the dialogue went over my head. But I decided to give it another chance, and I’m glad I did. It meant that I was able to more fully digest everything while having a greater understanding of each character. The film could definitely use a bit more intense sequences, sure, but overall, it’s a work of art. But yes, it is a BIT long.

Is it for everyone? No. It’s not necessarily a comedy, nor is it a horror movie. That being said, it’s a near-perfect love letter to the ride. Though it does lull a bit at times, its overall tone is one that feels like a two-hour journey through the iconic attraction. And with some truly insightful outlooks on grief with plenty of heartwarming moments, this movie is MADE for the archetypal Disney fan.

One of, if not Disney's best, live-action remakes to date. Not only does the film beautifully pay homage to its predecessor, but it improves it. From jaw-dropping vocal performances to stunning cinematography, this movie packs it all. And Rob Marshall's near-flawless direction and attention to detail lead this film to take you on a tidal wave of emotions.

Barbie has excellent creative vision, set design, costuming, and actor performances. It’s definitely a good time with lots of laughs, regardless of your stance on the doll. Where it falls a BIT short is that it tries to pack a LOT into under two hours, leading to some messages not hitting as hard as they could and some plot points that just don’t make sense or add up. Plus some of the non-principle characters/scenes feel a bit monotone compared to their technicolor world, and the film relies a bit upon overused tropes to drive its humor. There were many moments where I kept telling myself that the joke I was hearing felt familiar, but perhaps that is because the marketing team practically left nothing to be surprised by at the movie’s release. Overall, if you have even remote interest, see it! But if the trailers didn’t do it for you, the movie doesn’t have a whole lot more to offer.

Striking, moving, and bold, "Chevalier" is one of the best-acted and best-directed films to hit theaters in recent years. From its cinematography to its writing to its editing, the movie is a nearly impeccable work that is just as gorgeous and memorable as the story it depicts.

Cocaine Bear undoubtedly has its moments of hilarity and absurdity, but there just are not nearly enough of them to live up to the image it presents itself as. Throughout the film’s 90 minute runtime, we see an ungodly amount of characters introduced just to be killed off, making it difficult to concentrate on any of the several storylines or figure out what the main one is. This leads to a general ambivalence towards the characters, with muddled performances supplemented by mediocre writing.

This movie has SO much potential and some truly impressive visuals, but it falls flat as it simply just meanders from one obstacle to the next in a plot that can’t decide what it wants to be. There is hardly any thought put into transitionary moments, failing to build up tension to truly encapsulate the viewer. And while it has its moments, it gets boring and repetitive quickly, especially as its tone of panic remains constant rather than waxing and waning.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a nearly-perfect slow burn movie. While it’s not necessarily a film that will have you gripping your armrest in suspense, its sheer beauty in its cinematography, screenplay, performances, and character development will have you enticed from beginning to end. It’s definitely not explicable, but the film has a way of roping you in, following the heartbreaking yet encouraging lives of every character.

Turning Red is not a "new" story by any means. It's a coming-of-age film, of which there have been plenty over the years. However, where "Turning Red" excels is in its on-the-nose depiction of trauma, growth, acceptance, and triumph. An emotional roller coaster from beginning to end, this film is one that not only has poignant writing depicting the hardships of puberty and life itself but also moments that will leave you crying in both laughter and empathy.

"Zola" is one of those movies whose technical execution is absolutely brilliant. From a directorial standpoint, certain choices of this film are captivating and unique, with all of these scenes being heightened by truly strong acting. However, this movie' potential is cut short by its storyline. It truly reels you in and immerses you into a retro-style contemporary world, and just as you start to think, "Hey! We're really going somewhere now," it sort of just tapers off and ends, leaving plot holes and general dissatisfaction at its conclusion.

Gorgeous. Powerful. Beautiful. Disney-Pixar's "Luca" is a film whose trailers do not do it justice. From mobility to disability to chosen and given family, this film is one that tackles themes more relevant today than ever, all with breathtaking visuals which further immerse you into the story. Despite its juvenile-aimed marketing and simple plot expectations, "Luca" is a cinematic masterpiece for all ages. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll leave wishing you were along the coast of Italy with a scoop of gelato in hand.

Full of emotion, humor, power, and (well) soul, Disney/Pixar's "Soul" is easily the best film of 2020. As one of the most visually-captivating animated films combined with an even more provoking narrative, Soul presents itself with hardly anything to dislike about it. From start to end, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll want to watch it again and again, all while watching gorgeous, jaw-dropping visuals. Released at a time where social equity matters more than ever in the world, this is certainly the movie to watch this holiday season and one whose legacy will live on for years to come.

It's good, not great. "Emma." is a movie that serves as decent background content while folding laundry or cleaning the living room, but it is, by no means, anything exceptional. Though strongly acted and beautifully constructed, the film's comedic timing is far off at many points, causing there to be a lack of any emotional ties to the characters or narrative itself.

It's a typical sequel. Its predecessor was a stunning horror masterpiece, with a complex, mind-boggling plot. However, it set the bar far too high for its sequel. Although "Brahms" successfully frames itself as an epilogue, the story winds up having little to no relevance to the first movie. Predictable and with an ending that will make you go "that's it?", the movie is not a bad choice for your next horror fix. In fact, all of the horror elements are THERE and are STRONG. But as a movie in and of itself, it is just lackluster in some regards.

"The Way Back" prefaces itself as a stereotypical docudrama with a predictable ending, yet the story is nothing of the sorts. A fictional film, "The Way Back," starring Ben Affleck, tells the heartbreaking story of an alcoholic coping with recovery amid coaching a basketball team. Though the film is truly entertaining, it has a bit of an abrupt ending, leaving too much unanswered. That being said, the film is a great choice for your next family movie night.

Gripping, suspenseful, and truly badass, "The Invisible Man" makes for an excellent movie night for any drama/thriller aficionado. Is it perfect? No. There is a bit of a lackluster plotline with some odd pacing, and it's not one of those movies that makes you want to get up a cheer at the conclusion, but Elizabeth Moss's acting (along with suspense) make this film a true must-watch for all drama lovers.

Classically Pixar, "Onward" is a heartwarming film for all ages, with an emotional subplot so deep that it will make all audiences shed a tear. Through a culmination of stunning animation, bold character development, and a seemingly-one-dimensional plot that spontaneously sprawls out to reveal a multilayer ecstasy, "Onward" is yet another Disney-Pixar masterpiece and is a film not to be missed.

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" is nothing new or revolutionary. The story has graced our lives more than enough times. However, where "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" excels in its sheer sentiment, stunning cinematography, and superb writing. Though off to a bit of a slow start, the film slowly, yet abruptly, catapults its viewers into a whimsical euphoria of cinematic glory towards its final act.

Perfectly horrifying, scarring, and eye-jabbing. "The Hunt" is a film that will certainly cause many to bat an eye at its gore and concept, but its execution is brilliantly-done, shedding a light on the contemporary socio-economic divide through precarious cinematic craft.

Disney meets Lord of the Flies in this captivating, glorious, and practically perfect retelling of Peter Pan. A story of identity, tragedy, development, and vivacity, Wendy (shot on 16mm film) is nothing shy of an instant modern classic. Wendy may initially give off the vibe of yet another boring Hollywood remake, but where it excels in its in cast performance, stunning semiotics, and visual seamlessness. Seeing this movie will leave anyone, no matter how strong, ready to bawl as he or she releases his or her inner child.

A tearjerking TAIL of wonder, love, and instinct, The Call of the Wild is one of the first truly memorable films of 2020. The movie will take you on a whimsical path, leaving you laughing, crying, and wanting it to carry on endlessly. Buck and John share growth and a journey that is nothing but perfect. Is the dog CGI? Yes. Is it noticeable? Somewhat. Does it detract from the film, itself? Not at all.

Not necessarily a horror film, but definitely the next great thriller. Packed with twists that you WILL NOT see coming and a genuinely fun storyline, Fantasy Island does not disappoint. It really is every adrenaline junkie's fantasy.

Sonic, one of the most beloved video game characters of all time, finally makes his cinematic debut in a somewhat anti-climactic fashion. Sonic The Hedgehog is not bad by any means, but it's nowhere near spectacular. The movie is nothing but a hodgepodge of disarray resulting from placing a video game character into an alternate reality. That's it. It's incongruous with the franchise and lacks any depth necessary for it to be considered a decent film. I give major props to Paramount for redesigning Sonic, but was the effort worth it if they could only pump out a film equal in quality to the initial character's design?

Light-hearted and good fun, Dolittle is cute, at best. Falling short of the Disney magic it seems to live up to, the movie's potential (and great cinematography and acting) is undermined by weak writing, a limited plot, and subpar visual effects. A bit overly juvenile at some points, the film feels like a bit of a waste (despite some, let's just say shocking scenes). Is it bad? Not by any means. It certainly accomplishes its goal of being a feel-good movie, but it's also the perfect movie to put on in the background while doing other (more important) things around the house.

The Turning starts out gripping and truly suspenseful, leaving you wondering what-on-earth is going on and what direction the narrative is going to swing you in next. And right when you start to think "hey, things are actually getting good," the movie just sort of...stops and gives up on itself, putting any plot points and potential character development to waste.

Birds of Prey did not make me want to flee the theatre like an actual bird, per se, but I did not want to stay perched, either. The movie, though good fun and action-packed, was nothing shy of a classic DC movie. With a majority of the plot being spoiled in the marketing, Birds of Prey does not pack the punch it is capable of delivering. Plus, the messy, time-jumping structure of the narrative is not only convoluting but also immature and unnecessary. There were certainly moments of badassery and fun, but the rest was nothing but cringe and a weak(ish) plot.

After watching this movie, the only grudge I have is against myself after having wasted 90 minutes of my life and a perfectly-good movie ticket seeing it. Overflowing with predictability, weak writing, and a virtually-nonexistent plot (if you can even call it that), The Grudge is a cauldron whose baren contents are nothing shy of a hodgepodge of mediocrity and inconsequential plot points. The entire film lacked a central conflict from which the story could branch out and evolve. Rather, the movie frivolously, senselessly, and non-chronologically, skips from timeline to timeline, with each time chunk being permeated with overly-disturbing images to both discomfort the audience and deter from the film's scariest aspect: its inability to call itself a story. It pains me to degrade Screen Gems, the studio behind this movie and many acclaimed films (such as Searching). Unfortunately, the studio entirely missed the mark, which they usually surpass with ease.

Exhilarating and genuinely horrifying, Underwater is a movie that **** expectations with one of the most uniquely-executed plotlines of any modern horror film. With stunning effects, immaculate cast performances, and true suspense, I found myself sweating while grasping my movie seat, waiting for the next jumpscare and plot twist. Horror movies are easily blundered, and Underwater is precariously curated enough to bring a fresh take to cinemas.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A heartbreaking cultural phenomenon, Just Mercy concludes 2019 and kickstarts 2020 in an astute depiction of racism. By virtue of its proper pacing, raw emotion, and stellar performances among Jordan, Foxx, and Larson, the film is a hard-hitting homerun whose pure ingeniousness makes its digestion difficult yet necessary. The well-written script further aggrandizes the film's overall sentiment, which will leave audiences spellbound when leaving the cinemas.

Brilliantly directed/written/edited, and beautifully acted. 2019's Little Women is undoubtedly one that should not be missed. However, to fully relish in the film's beauty, one must watch it more than once (as I did) in order to fully comprehend the story, which is told in a non-linear fashion. Yet it is the nonchronological fashion of the plot's progression that truly underlines the film's beauty. Starting from the future and past, the film slowly merges to form the present, which then guides the film back towards the future. Being able to stitch all the events together, however, can be a bit strenuous and frustrating when too much information is presented far too quickly. Despite that, the cinematography (in spite of some white flecks on the screen) and acting (among all castmembers) were both stellar.

Black Christmas is nothing more or less than the archetypal modern thriller. With a wildly predictive plotline, expected jump scares, and mediocre acting, Black Christmas lacks the foundation necessary to instill some true scares in its audience. It has the fun, upbeat pacing and progression of any other Blumhouse film but is one of the studio's less successful attempts at bringing modern horror to cinemas.

Classically Will Smith, Spies in Disguise is an action-packed, humor-filled journey laced with adult innuendos and a substantive plot. Genuinely funny with a unique animation style, the movie provides a fresh and unique take on the classic spy/sidekick adventure, keeping the viewer engaged from start to end.

Though erring on the side of too long with a runtime of just under three hours, A Hidden Life is one of the most impeccably-crafted films to recently hit cinemas. With breathtaking cinematography/visuals, raw acting/sentiment, and one of the most film-suiting soundtracks I have ever heard, A Hidden Life will transport its viewers on a three-hour emotional whirlwind. However, the three-hour runtime felt a bit excessive, with the content of the film having a gravity so strong it weighs the viewer down after the first ninety minutes.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Beautiful, groundbreaking, and astute. Frozen II absolutely nails it not only in its technical aspects but also in its subtle yet poignant undertones. With absolutely STUNNING animation, catchy music, and a rich plot, Frozen II touches upon the sensitive subjects of grief, loss, pain, and identity, making the film so much more than just any other family-oriented movie.

The artistic visuals and mis en scene established by The Lighthouse are washed away in what feels like blatant Oscar-bait. With an advanced-vocabulary-laced screenplay and overly confounding semiotics, The Lighthouse circumvents the presence of a remotely clear plotline in favor of shoving ambiguity at its audience in what, honestly, feels voyeuristic. A journey filled with unintelligible dialogue and obscure images (whose signification can be interpreted quite literally or quite extremely with no middle ground), The Lighthouse is one of A24's less poignant works, appearing to be aimed at the pretentious film lover who lacks the take-it-as-you-see-it realist outlook.

It is a rare occurrence for a sequel to top the original; this is one of those occasions. With a rich plot packed with twist after twist, impeccable cinematography that is visually stunning, and effects that are utterly captivating, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is one of the year's best films and one of Disney's best live-action adaptations to date.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Though mystifying and intriguing at times, the movie, due to its convolution, slow progression, and ambiguity deters from the from its potential. The unnamed/unidentified characters at critical scenes make the deeper meanings difficult to process, while other scenes did not match the film's premise nor preconceived horror feel.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I personally don't get what the negativity is all about. Sequels-they are never quite as good as the original. Is this an exception? Yes. Granted, both are very different and don't focus on remotely the same plot, but this is a movie that will sure give you the feels, focusing on family bondage and what is truly inseparable in life.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Heading into this movie, I had high expectations, since it is Disney/Pixar, but I also thought that I wouldn't thoroughly enjoy it, for it would be too juvenile. But I was wrong. This movie had tons of adult humor from beginning to end, in addition to several teary moments which will warm anyones heart. I strongly recommend this for all families to see together at some point--and bring the tissues!

Ok, I honestly do not get what the mixed and negative comments are all about-because this movie was breathtaking. This movie not only left you on your edge of your seat through Arlo's wild journey, but it also warmed your heart, and made you cry your eyes out. Every single time I walk out of a Disney movie, I always say the same thing: "I knew it would be good, but not that good", and let me tell you, this time was certainly no exception. I get easily moved by movies, but hardly ever cry. In this movie, I actually cried at the beauty, symbolism, and heart-warming feels which Disney and Pixar surely delivered on. Honestly, this is a great movie for kids and adults to see, as there is something for everyone, and surely a movie which will leave you wanting more.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]