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As with any of the Studio Ghibli release, I was extremely excited for The Boy And The Heron and after hearing that it was gonna be Hayao Miyazaki's "final film", I was hyped up thinking it would be on par with his other films like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke or maybe even better. But well it wasn't. That's not to say it's a bad film, no it's really not. So let's get into it.

The story is about a young headstrong boy named Mahito who lost his mother in a hospital fire during WWII. Few years later his father decides to remarry and Mahito moves to the countryside to stay with his new stepmother where a mischievous gray heron leads him to a forbidden mystical tower which leads Mahito to a realm shared by the living and the dead. With the gray heron as his guide, Mahito embarks on a journey of self-acceptance and to find out the truth about the world. Now the story starts off a little slow while setting up the world, characters and the theme. It really starts to get into motion after Mahito enters the fantastical realm. The story is full of symbolism and can get too complex at times making it hard to follow. The ending also felt very rushed. There are certain moments that are hard-hitting but I'm not gonna spoil them.

The film is visually stunning. The animation of the Japanese countryside is so beautifully done which evokes a sense of peace but once you enter the fantastical realm its a whole different ride of gorgeous landscapes, lavish colors and unique character designs, from the Gray Heron to the Warawara to the Parakeets. An eye candy from start to finish. The characters are quite endearing and engaging. And Joe Hisaishi's score is beautiful and soothing which fits the tone of the film.

Overall, The Boy And The Heron might not live up to the likes of previous Miyazaki films, but dazzling visuals, great characters, great musical score and a unique fantastical world more than makes up for the complex and at times a little confusing story.

There are some movies that, no matter how old they might be, just stick with you and you keep revisiting them over time and the rewatches only makes them better. One such movie is Spirited Away directed by the Legendary Hayao Miyazaki.

As with Miyazaki's previous films like Princess Mononoke, the story is fantastical, imaginative, and well written. It blends elements from Japanese Folklore with the coming-of-age set up that is just a delight to watch. The characters are charming and likeable.

The world building is absolutely brilliant. The lavish colors, the gorgeous backdrops and the unique and creative designs of the creatures, swepts away the audience into a fantastical world full of magic and wonder reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland. The music is beautiful and is just the cherry on top.

Overall, Spirited Away is a Masterclass in Animation. With stunning visuals, brilliant world building, a fantastical story and a gorgeous soundtrack, Spirited Away is a film that audiences of all ages can enjoy and appreciate.

Whether you're into Studio Ghibli films or anime, there's something in Hayao Miyazaki's movies that'll melt even the coldest of hearts. And Princess Mononoke was no different. It is so full imagination, heart and fantasy that it's hard not to be swept away.

The story is both imaginative and creative and has a pretty strong message about environmentalism which is seamlessly woven into the narrative. The world building is stunning, overflowing with fantasy and wonder. And the characters are endearing and full of depth. Though the story can get a little complicated at times but that's a minor issue.

The animation is absolutely beautiful. Everything is so meticulously designed and detailed with a painterly feel which makes the movie look like a freaking storybook come to life. The action-sequences are great as well.

Overall, Princess Mononoke is a landmark film for Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki that has something for everyone. With stunning visuals, enchanting characters, and the strong message about environmentalism, Princess Mononoke stands as a timeless classic.

Okay, so I'll admit going into this series I wasn't too excited about how it's going to turn out and thought it was going to be generic. But luckily, all my negative thoughts were blown away during the first few episodes of the first season. The story is about an Indian-American teenager named Devi Vishwakumar trying to navigate her life through the last four years of high school while also processing the sudden death of her father. It is basically another story where the protagonist is trying to rise up the social ranks at her high school but it was just so much more than that. It tackles themes of family, friendship, love, loss, grief and acceptance and how it's okay to let go of the pain that has been haunting you for a long time and move on.

The characters were extremely likeable and charming. Devi starts off as an annoying teen but as the story progresses we learn more about her past and her relationships which makes her more likeable and relatable for someone who has lost a loved one and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan gives a beautiful performance. Her relationship with her mother Nalini, played wonderfully by Poorna Jagannathan, and her besties Fabiola ( Lee Rodriguez) and Elenor ( Ramona Young ) are the heart of this series. Other characters like Devi's Boyfriends Ben ( Jaren Lewison) and Paxton (Darren Barnett) her cousin Kamala ( Richa Moorjani) and her grandmother Nirmala (Ranjita Chakravarty) are extremely fun to watch. All of these characters are very much relatable in their own ways and have their personal struggles which is showcased beautifully throughout the 4 seasons which makes them all well rounded and well developed characters. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you feel their pain and struggles and by the last season you're so emotionally invested that it's hard to say goodbye.

One of the strongest aspects, aside from the story, cast and characters, which really elevates this series for me is the representation of Indian Culture. Hollywood media usually undermines minority cultures but Never Have I Ever proudly showcases Indian Culture in a way that's never before seen in other Hollywood media. It felt less stereotypical and more authentic. As an Indian myself, I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel seeing so many Indian/ Indian-American actors on the screen getting recognition in American media.

Now considering this is also a teen rom-com, it did feel a little cheesy and cringey at some points but that isn't a huge problem.

Overall, Never Have I Ever is a light-hearted comedy series filled with emotions, likeable characters, heart and humour topped off with a beautiful portrayal of friendship, grief and acceptance and an overall positive message about moving on. Highly recommend it.

Poor Things directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, is a really unusual movie to begin with. The concept of this movie about inserting a baby's brain into a full grown woman to revive her is pretty weird and something you don't see as much and dare I say is kinda........unique. Now this is Yorgos Lanthimos we're talking about, if you've seen his previous works this should come as no surprise. But Poor Things might just be his most weirdest creation to date.

Emma Stone as Bella Baxter is phenomenal and rightfully deserved the Oscar. Her performance feels so natural and is the heart and soul of this movie. Her character in general definitely had the most growth in the entire movie and was the most interesting. Willem Dafoe as Godwin Baxter and Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn gave some compelling performances as well.

Visually, the film looked mesmerizing. From the unique costumes to the immaculate production design to the stunning cinematography, everything was perfect. The atmosphere of this film was extremely eerie from starting to end thanks to it's score and some camera angles.

Now, the biggest issue with this film is it's length and pacing. There are too many sex scenes and some of them could've been cut easily. The film also gets a little boring at times. The pacing too is a little weird.

Overall, Poor Things is an unusual movie that may not resonate with a lot of people (as evident by the many negative ratings) but if you love movies like this then this one might just be for you. For me it was a mixed experience, where I did like it but some of the issues are way too glaring for me to look past.

Animal directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga is a mediocre mess. Now the technical aspects of this movie are really well done from the background score to the production design to the cinematography. The fight scenes are adrenaline boosters and despite being 3 1/2 hours long it is very engaging thanks to it's action.

Aside from some good elements the movie largely falters in many aspects. The movie tries too hard to tell a story about the love between a father and a son however it all gets lost amidst the yelling, shooting, slashing and slicing. It feels like the story is trying to juggle too many plot points at once with a lot of it feeling underdeveloped. The pacing is atrocious. It goes from being a fast-paced story in the first act and then slows down so heavily during the second-act with some character interactions being too lengthy and could've been easily cut.

Speaking of the characters, Ranbir Kapoor gives a phenomenal performance as Vijay however his character goes through abrupt shifts without much of a context. His father Balbir Singh, played fabulously by Anil Kapoor, is the only other character that gets some character development. Aside from the two Kapoors, all the other characters are boring and one-dimensional. Rashmika Mandanna gives a very weak performance as Gitanjali, whose only purpose is to get yelled yet by her husband without having much importance to the story. The villain or the villains aren't threatening enough and Tripti Dimri was boring but atleast she served somewhat of a purpose in the story.

The emotional core of this movie is the relationship between Vijay and his father Balbir which only comes towards the end of the movie. The movie does a pretty good job at setting up their relationship in the beginning but then it all narrows down to constant yelling in which the real motive of the story is drowned out.

Even though the action is pretty good it is overly violent with some scenes being extremely unsettling and distrubing to look at. Plus the protagonist is shown to be really misogynistic at some points.

Overall Animal shines through it's technical achievements and some great performances from Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor, but falters heavily when it comes to telling a cohesive story. And if you're someone who cannot handle violence and gore, pls refrain from watching it.

After 2 back to back hits, SRK is back to end the year with a final bang and paired with Rajkumar Hirani as director there was no doubt this duo would deliver another hit. And I'm happy to report that Dunki lives up to the hype.

Dunki is about a group of friends who want to go to London for varying reasons but they have one major problem. None of them have visas. Therefore they decide to take the dunki route to reach their destination and what follows is a roller coaster of emotions.

The characters are all very engaging and entertaining and have great chemistry, be it the romance between SRK as Hardy and Tapsee Pannu as Manu or the little cameo of Vicky Kaushal as Sukhee who, with the little amount of screentime provided, made a huge emotional impact in the story. The performances were wonderful. The comedy is spot on and legit makes you laugh out loud. The music is beautiful and also provides a patriotic feeling. The emotions of this movie hits you hard. And the messaging of love and patriotism is very poignant.

However, I did feel that the narrative didn't flow as smoothly as intended to mainly because of the abrupt dance sequences which felt out of place and some tonal issues.

Even with some of the issues I found, the movie was largely very much enjoyable and is definitely a family entertainer. You won't be disappointed.

Here are my thoughts on Wish. Starting with

THE POSITIVES

THE ANIMATION- Since Wish is supposed to be the celebration of Disney's 100 years of animation it makes more sense that it would blend 2D and 3D animation as a way to pay tribute to both their older and modern day movies. And it looks BEAUTIFUL. The soft watercolor backgrounds gives a dreamy and fairytale feel to it. It all looks especially stunning when you're watching it in 3D.

THE VOICE ACTING- Ariana DeBose brings the house down as Asha, our protagonist. She breathes so much life and emotion into her character with her enchanting singing being the cherry on top. Chris Pine as King Magnifico was so fun to watch. The rest of the cast does a decent job as well.

THE EASTER EGGS- One of the things that Wish does right is paying homage to Disney Animation with the many Easter Eggs you'll spot in this movie. While some of it might be too on the nose with the characters literally talking about it, but it helps to give away a nostalgic feel. Definitely had a fun time spotting them throughout the movie.

THE MIXED

THE MUSIC- Aside from some good songs like "This Wish" and "At All Costs" the soundtrack is mostly forgettable with tunes like "This Is The Thanks I Get?!" and "I'm A Star" being absolutely cringey and bland.

THE NEGATIVES

THE STORY- Aside from the beautiful visuals, the overall story feels really formulaic and predictable. They took all of the elements from the previous ( better ) Disney movies to craft a storyline which has no voice of it's own and thus feels unoriginal and uninspired not to mention how awful the pacing is. The concept of the story is pretty great but it faltered in execution.

THE CHARACTERS- The characters, though cute and likeable, are all imitations of previous characters from different movies. Even though Asha is a fine protagonist I couldn't help but feel that she's way too much like Anna and Mirabel with her "adorkable" personality which is a trope that is being overused by Disney. Asha's seven friends are a reference to the seven dwarfs but are very one dimensional. And King Magnifico, I'm sorry to say, doesn't live up to the hype and the way he was been marketed as the next great Disney Villain. He comes off as kinda bland as his motivations are pretty unclear as to what he wants to achieve compared to other villains like Ursula, Jafar and Scar who had clear motivations and goals. There is an abrupt shift in his character as he goes from being arrogant to being ruthlessly evil in a matter of a few minutes which just comes out of nowhere. However, Star is really cute and is practically the Star of the show. Valentino is annoying as hell.

FINAL VERDICT-

Aside from the basic and predictable story and a mostly forgettable soundtrack, Wish still has things to offer like the beautiful animation, the easter eggs and some genuinely heartfelt moments but all of it can't compensate for the storytelling which completely lacks the Disney magic. It's a rather passable watch that doesn't feel like it was meant to celebrate Disney's Centennial.

Animation and Voice Acting- 9/10 Music- 5/10 Story and Pacing- 3/10 Characters- 4/10

Final Score- 5/10.

Now I'll admit that I'm more of a casual listener rather than a huge Taylor Swift fan like my friends but this concert film left me speechless. It was something so magical. From the moment the title card appears on screen to the final bow, the energy of the audience was unimaginable.

Taylor Swift's an absolute goddamn star. Not only is her singing gorgeous but the way she graces the audience with her out of this world style and energy is fantastic. Plus the whole show was so visually striking. From the stage layouts to the beautiful lighting to the breathtaking cinematography to Taylor's many firey costume changes and to the backup dancers everything was perfect. Her little speeches in between added even more to the already immaculate show. People were dancing, singing, cheering and all in all just having a great time.

If you're a Taylor Swift Fan or likes to listen to her then this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should not miss.

I'm so overwhelmed with emotions as I write this review just after watching this short. What a beautiful way to pay to tribute to Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney in general. Seeing all the characters from Snow White to Asha holding hands and singing together, interacting with one another and by the time the short ends I was moved to tears. Every frame contains Nostalgia and all those beautiful memories we had watching these beloved characters on screen. The fact that most of the original voice actors came back to record their respective lines is so amazing. It's just one BIG happy family which makes everyone smile and create sweet memories that are going to be cherished forever. Thank you so much Walt Disney for such a precious gift.

That's all I have to say about Once Upon a Studio. This is not just a short but nostalgia and emotions all coming together to create a beautiful 9 minutes tribute. If you're a Disney fan then you'll definitely cry watching it.

After hearing a lot of good reviews and the ultimate craze for this movie I decided to hop on the train as well and check it out. I'll admit that I wasn't a very big fan of Pathaan so I was kinda anxious about Jawan as well but I was proven wrong during the first 5 minutes. SRK's grand entry was so strong and intense that my jaw dropped to the floor. The action, the background score, the direction, the atmosphere everything was intense and bombastic.

Speaking of the performances, this is SRK's movie and he chews up his dual role of Vikram Rathore and Azad Rathore. Aside from SRK Nayanthara as Narmada was easily the best part about the movie. Vijay Sethupathi as Kalie was great and Deepika Padukone with the limited amount of screentime she had delivered a heartbreaking performance as Aishwarya. There's one more suprise cameo towards the end of the movie which I'm not going to spoil for anyone.

The story was very well-written and despite being nearly 3 hours long the movie didn't dragged or got boring even for a second thanks to its faced paced screenplay. The subject matter is really strong and depicts the faults in our political system with some really gut-wrenching scenes. On top of the that the portrayal of women empowerment in this movie is amazing. However the musical numbers aren't as great with Zinda Banda being the only one song that's catchy enough but the rest are pretty forgettable.

Overall, Jawan is a goddamn spectacle that celebrates the grand return of King Khan (Aside from Pathaan ofcourse). The action is fantastic, the story is great and the social commentary is spot on. Atlee has created something really special.

Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig introduces us to Stereotypical Barbie played by Margot Robbie having yet another perfect day in Barbieland an utopia where all its inhabitants are dolls, living in their pink dreamhouses with no exterior walls. Each day in Barbieland is a perfect day. However one day Barbie shows signs of being a human and is asked to go to the human world to figure out who's playing with her and fix everything. Along the way she discovers the joys and perils of living amongst humans and where she's truly meant to be.

In this day and age when a lot of the movies rely on being ultra realistic and dark Barbie comes off as a surprise. It's escapism from reality and lots of entertainment is what audiences are craving right now. Barbie is such a fun and gorgeous movie that is filled with humour, heart, emotions and a lot of good messages. The production design and costumes are fantastic to look at and are absolute eye candies. The story is about self discovery and the evaluation of life however some might be caught off guard with the risks that Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach take with thier storytelling and social commentary.

Speaking of the performances, Margot Robbie is perfect as Stereotypical Barbie but its Ryan Gosling's Ken that shines the most. He provides most of the comedic relief and is absolutely hilarious. The rest of cast does a pretty good job. Plus the monologue given by America Ferrera is something that everybody should listen to. It's so touching and talks about the challenges a woman has to go through in the society.

Overall Barbie is a vibrant, bold and delightful movie that is fuelled by its star studded cast and flawlessly incorporated humour and though some of the creative choices might not always stick the landing, the good stuff largely overpowers the bad ones to create an immersive experience for the audience. Greta Gerwig has done it yet again.

Like everyone else I was pretty hyped up for Oppenheimer, the latest flick from Christopher Nolan based on the 2005 biography ''American Prometheus'' by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. And after watching it, I think it's safe to say it met almost all of my expectations. From a technical perspective, the film is brilliantly well made. The sound design, production design and the breathtaking cinematography are all top notch. On top of that it also has one of the best scores of the year from Ludwig Görranson.

Speaking of the performances, Cillian Murphy IS Oppenheimer. His line delivery, acting and chemistry with the other actors felt so real and natural. Not to mention how identical he looks to the real J. Robert Oppenheimer. But the real star is Robert Downey Jr. As Lewis Strauss. Aside from the lead actor he gets most of the screentime and boy did he chewed it up. His expressions, line delivery and particularly the third act meltdown are brilliant. The rest of the cast does a pretty good job especially Benny Safdie as Edward Teller. Just like the title the movie primarily focuses on J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in developing the atomic bomb. The movie gives him a proper structure and development and is fully fleshed out.

Even though the film is brilliantly well made with fantastic performances from the cast, I couldn't help but feel like it dragged on. Now I was really invested in the first 2 hours but as the final hour approaches I was starting to somewhat lose my interest. If only it was trimmed a little then it could've been perfect. Another issue I have with the film is that it completely sidelines the female characters ( just like other movies from Nolan ) Kitty Katherine Oppenheimer, played by Emily Blunt and Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh. They are being setup in the beginning and then are almost completely forgotten until the final hour kicks in. Especially Blunt who should've gotten more screentime as she's supposed to play Oppenheimer's mistress. They could've easily explored more about Oppenheimer's personal life as well. This felt like a missed opportunity

Overall, Oppenheimer is a brilliantly well crafted film from Christopher Nolan that depicts one of the most eerie, intense, haunting and terrifying events in the history of mankind and is easily one of the best biopics/historical movies of all time. Even though the movie is 3 hours long and might test your patience it is a chilling experience nonetheless. You do not want to miss this.

Man what an adrenaline rush of a movie this was. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One proves why this is one of best franchises to have ever graced the silver screen and the 7th installment in this franchise was no exception. The story is exhilarating, faced paced and full of unpredictable twist and turns and the stakes are always high. The action and stunt work, as you'd expect is mind-blowing and intense. It has set the bar so high for future action flicks that it wouldn't be easy to surpass it. On top of that the gorgeous Cinematography and the fantastic direction makes it even better.

Tom Cruise is perfect as Ethan Hunt, jumping off a cliff with a motorbike and fighting on the roof of a moving train. The movie also explores his relationship with his teammates and Ilsa. The best new addition to the series, Hayley Atwell as Grace is one of the greatest aspect of the movie. She gets most of the screentime and is absolutely fantastic. Her chemistry with Ethan, from the moment they meet, is electric and the movie gets more and more exciting whenever they're on screen. Though some of the side characters lacked development and were provided with very little screentime.

Overall, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is a really enjoyable action flick that breathes new life into the franchise. With exhilarating action, great performances and a solid story, this a must-see. Tom Cruise once again proves why he's one of the greatest action stars of our time. Highly recommend it.

I've watched Tangled a couple of times since it's release but didn't review it up until now. Yeah ik I'm 13 years late to reviewing it but who cares. So here it goes

Tangled, the movie that kicked off the Disney Revival Era and ended the period of Dark Age for Disney, is also one of their best creations to date that easily holds up to the magic of the Disney Renaissance. This movie is the pinnacle of Disney's Modern Day Fairytales and features loveable characters, catchy music, a menacing villain and one of the best romance stories in Disney History.

The story is kinda similar to the previous Disney Princess movies but the smart writing makes the story and the world its own while still keeping the magic of Disney's previous Princess movies though some aspects of it can feel a little cliche at times but it's not that big of a problem. Rapunzel is easily one of the most likable, charming and hilarious Disney protagonist. She has this warm energy that makes you fall in love with the character the moment she appears on screen. Flynn Rider aka Eugene Fitzherbert was one of the best parts of the movie. He's funny and cunning but has a soft side which he let's out after he meets Rapunzel. He practically carries the whole film with his perfect comedic timings. Mother Gothel is a great Disney villain. She has all the qualities of the previous Disney villains. She's manipulative, cunning, wicked and a little bit of sassy. Her solo number Mother Knows Best shows how manipulative she is to Rapunzel feeding her with all the lies about the human world. Maximus is great. He's expressions and chemistry with Flynn Rider is really hilarious to watch. Pascal was just there. The romance between Rapunzel and Flynn is electric. You really buy their love for each other and I like how this isn't a love at first sight kind of a situation. Their bond grows more and more with each conversation and crazy adventures.

The animation is beautiful as always. The movie has a warm and storybook feel to it, from Rapunzel's Tower to the environments, which really makes it stands out from a lot of Disney movies from the same time period. Though it is not as detailed as some of the more recent Disney Princess movies but that's not really a problem when you've got a whole cast of such expressive and entertaining characters.

The music by Alan Menken is good however some songs aren't memorable. I See The Light is the standout. The vocals, the visuals, the lyrics they all sell it perfectly. When Will My Life Begin is a lively song that introduces us to Rapunzel. Mother Knows Best and I've Got a Dream are good in their own ways but are somewhat forgettable nonetheless.

That's my review of Tangled. It's a funny, heartwarming, beautiful, witty and enchanting movie that audiences of all ages can enjoy.

Aladdin, the live action remake of the 1992 Disney animated classic of the same name was incredibly frustrating. There are so many weird decisions made that it drags the movie down so heavily.

THE CAST- Will Smith as Genie actually turned out to be really amazing and is easily the best part of the movie. He doesn't try to be like Robin Williams's Genie instead adds his own flare and goofiness to the character which, for me, worked well. Mena Massoud as Aladdin is charismatic and sweet even though the guy isn't really as good when it comes to singing. Naomi Scott's Jasmine was passable though her singing is gorgeous. But Marwan Kenzari as Jafar is woefully miscast. He felt more quiet, straightforward and whinny rather than sinister and scary and is far inferior to his animated counterpart.

THE CGI- Visually, the movie is a mixed bag. There are times when it matches the dazzling spectacle of the original especially during Prince Ali, the scenes with the flying magical carpet and the introduction of Agrabah but there are times when the CGI falls flat like during Friend Like Me or the Cave of Wonders. The Genie looked fine. The CGI on the animals can be a hit or miss. Rajah looks great, Abu is kind of meh and Iago doesn't look good at all. The backgrounds looked fine as well nothing too extravagant.

THE STORY- The story is exactly the same with a few changes thrown in. The movie tries to over explain everything rather than giving the characters any personality. Jasmine is given more screentime and is made more empowering. She wants to be the Sultan of Agrabah. She gets her own solo number, "Speechless", which serves as a nice power ballad for the character. There's a new character Dalia, Jasmine's handmaiden, who didn't serve much of a purpose and felt unnecessary. The over explanation of all the stuff in the movie doesn't help the characters as most of them lack any personality whatsoever. The rom-com between Aladdin and Jasmine felt bland and was missing the spark of the original.

FINAL VERDICT- Aladdin tries too hard to match the dazzling splendor of the animated original and while it matches it a few times, its largely a bland and soulless remake which completely lacks the magic of the original and doesn't do much to justify it's existence.

Maleficent or as you might know as the vengeful fairy from Disney's 1959 animated classic The Sleeping Beauty who puts a curse on Princess Aurora who, on her 16th birthday , shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel fall into a deep slumber only to be awaken by a true love's kiss. However there are two sides to every story and we get to hear it from Maleficent's perspective this time around in this live action adaptation.

The story suffers from a lot of tonal inconsistencies and rushes to each new plot point without much of a context. The world building is stunning but feels like there's a lot to explore with a lot of potentially interesting characters. The story winds up feeling very uneven as it tries to tell both Maleficent and Aurora's stories with a few new changes which were kinda questionable.

Speaking of the performances, Angelina Jolie is fantastic as Maleficent. She brings out the menacing nature of the character while also bringing out her softer side. It's easy to see she was having a lot of fun with her character. Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora is sweet and the rest of the cast is decent enough. The three fairies, at times, can be annoying though.

The cinematography is pretty good and the locations, production design and costume design are stunning. But some of the special effects doesn't blend well with the performances and seem mostly fake.

At the end of the day it's Jolie's movie and despite having many flaws, the movie is enchanting enough to cast a spell over fans of Jolie and the fans of the original classic.

Cinderella is an absolute gem. It sticks to it's original source material but adds more depth and emotion to the story, the first half in particular is extremely emotional. Yeah, at times it may feel too devoted to the original but that doesn't take away it's charm. We get to see Cinderella's backstory and her relationship with her parents before the untimely death of her mother. We see her relationship with her father grow stronger with each passing year and it makes it all the more tragic when her father, the only family she had, dies and all the torture from her evil step-mother and step-sisters begin. The movie also explains the reason behind the name Cinderella which I thought was a great idea. And the prince is a fully fleshed out character here. We get to see him interact with Cinderella in more than one occasion and his relationship with his dying father, The King, is really emotional.

Speaking of the performances, Lily James as Cinderella couldn't have been more perfect. She makes the character her own and displays enough kindness and charm for the audience to fall in love with her character. Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine was a pleasant surprise. Not only is she extremely wicked but at times can be scary with how far she can go with her plans. And Richard Madden as Prince Kit Charming was really nice to watch.

Visually, the movie looked beautiful. From the gorgeous costume designs to the intricate design and detail of the palace to the scenary, everything looked absolutely stunning. It also has a very positive message for both children and adults- "Be Kind and have Courage". Highly recommend it.

The 13th installment in the DCEU, The Flash is here and it is disappointing. The story like any other contemporary superhero movie is filled with humour and lots of action. It tries to balance the dark and dramatic moments along with the comedy but is largely unsuccessful which results in this movie suffering from a vast array of tonal inconsistencies. The humour felt a little too much at times. Not to mention the movie drags on for too long thanks to some problems with the screenplay and the wildly uneven pacing.

Ezra Miller's performance was okay. He might be overacting at times but overall he does an okay job. It's Michael Keaton as Batman who steals every scene he's in making the movie somewhat interesting.

The direction, however, is quite amazing. The different use of angles and lenses felt really interesting to watch. The score is perfect and knows how to deal with the story while still having the sense of nostalgia.

Now being a superhero movie it has extensive use of CGI and oh boy was it not good. Half of it was extremely terrible. It all looked so incredibly fake and cartoony that it took out of the movie more than once. This was easily one of the worst uses of CGI I've ever seen in any superhero movie.

Overall, the cast does a decent job and the direction and score is really good but all of it can't makeup for the poor CGI quality and the screenplay which drags the movie down.

Here we are, another year, another Pixar movie. So after watching Elemental, I have quite mixed feelings about it. Let's start off with the positives. The animation. It is phenomenal. Every location be it Fire Town or Element City or the designs of the residents, from the realistic looking flames to the boiling water, all look beautiful and especially the date night scene between Wade and Ember which was one of the most beautiful animated sequence I've ever seen. Speaking of, Ember and Wade are really charming protagonists. I'll admit they start off a little annoying but gradually as you get to know them you start to like them more and more. You feel their love for each other and the struggles they both go through. And the World Building is absolutely stunning.

Speaking of the actual story, it more less might end up feeling somewhat familiar with Zootopia. Both tackles the theme of intercultural relationships, racial discrimination and how opposites attract but Zootopia excels in doing so. Not saying Elemental can't handle it but it is done in a way that feels too repetitive with a typical rebellion story about our protagonist and how she wants to do what she desires for and break free of the expectations. The romance between Wade and Ember is really cute and works for the most part. It does get a little cheesy at times as with every rom-com movie. The immigration part of the story could've been handled with a bit more nuance but it's okay. The father-daughter relationship between Ember and her dad, Bernie, is what works really well amidst all the other drama that's going on. Now just like what Pixar is known for, Elemental does provide some tear-inducing moments even if its not on the scale of Inside Out, Up or WALL E.

Overall, Elemental is a decent Pixar movie that shines through it's dazzling visuals and sweet character moments even if it never quite reaches the heights of Pixar's Masterpieces.

Animation and Voice Acting- 10/10 Characters- 8/10 Story and Pacing- 6.5/10 World Building- 7/10

Final Score-7.5/10.

I didn't think anything could possibly top the first film since it set the bar so high for superhero movies going forward. Tbh I wasn't expecting the sequel to be on the same level as the first one but boy was I proven wrong. Across The Spider Verse is Brilliant!!! The animation is phenomenal and every single frame is so overwhelmingly gorgeous. The story is pretty well written and the way it manages to combine it's emotional and humours moments with the insanity of the Multiverse and the themes of family and friendship so flawlessly is mind-blowing. The stakes are always high which is made even more intense by the musical score. The action is simply fantastic. Every shot of it and the way it's been choreographed keeps the audience at the edge of their seats. The new characters they introduced are all amazing with their fierce character designs. Gwen's backstory works perfectly with the story and the struggle she's facing. The romantic tension between Miles and Gwen felt really cute which is only elevated by the top notch voice acting. However some of the snippets of the other Spider Man films kinda felt a little off to me at times.

This isn't just some superhero kids movie. It's easily the best Spider Man movie in years and one of the best films I've ever seen. It is more intense, dark, and mature with jaw dropping action and out of this world animation that is made to be seen on the big screen.

Now that I've watched The Little Mermaid I have quite a lot to say about the movie. Let's start off with

THE POSITIVES

THE CAST- The casting for The Little Mermaid couldn't have been more perfect. Halle Bailey's breathtaking performance as Ariel is hands down the greatest aspect of the movie. Her singing, her charm and her line delivery is almost identical to Jodi Benson's Ariel while adding a little bit of her own style to the character. Mellisa McCarthy as Ursula is deliciously evil and her rendition of Poor Unfortunate Souls freaking slaps. Jonah-Hauer King does a pretty great job as Prince Eric. He really brings out the character's adventure spirit. Jessica Alexander as Venessa was a scene stealer. And Daveed Diggs as Sebastian and Awkwafina as Scuttle provide solid comedic relief.

THE SONGS- The movie features almost all the songs from the first movie with the exception of Les Poisson and Daughters of Triton which were sadly cut from the movie. Halle Bailey's rendition of Part Of Your World gives you literal chills. Every line she delivers brings out her desperation and longing for the human world. Mellisa McCarthy, like I said, knocks it out of the park with her rendition of Poor Unfortunate Souls which brings out the devilish personality of this character. Under The Sea is a BOP as always. On top of that there are three new songs written by Lin Manuel Miranda which are all good songs ( except for one, we'll get to that later.)

THE CHEMISTRY- One of the things that I liked about the movie is the chemistry between our two leads. Their relationship here feels a little more fleshed out than in the original. We get to see them bonding over time as they both seek the passion for adventure.

PRINCE ERIC- I feel like the filmmakers did a justice to Prince Eric. They made him more fleshed out than in the original giving him a backstory and a song. We get to see more of him and his passion this time around.

THE VFX- Okay. So the trailers and the TV spots for this movie were absolutely terrible and I was a lot more worried about the VFX while going into this movie. But boy was I proven wrong. The VFX, even if not as amazing as it could've been, is beautiful to look at. The underwater world looks so colorful and vibrant that it creates an immersive experience for the audience. Though the designs of the animal sidekicks ventured into the uncanny valley territory.

THE NEGATIVES-

THE SCUTTLEBUTT- As much as I love the songs in the movie this one song was easily the worst aspect of it. It feels so forced and unnecessary and is really annoying. IDK how Lin Manuel thought a rap between Sebastian and Scuttle would be a cool idea.

THE PACING- It pretty much follows the plot of the original movie but adds some of its own story which ends up feeling a little rushed and overstuffed. The second act felt a little uneven at times but thankfully the ending neatly ties it all together.

FINAL VERDICT-

The Little Mermaid is one of the better live action adaptations from Disney that pretty much retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love. It's not perfect and definitely has it's issues but it's a beautiful and charming movie nonetheless which comes close to recapturing the magic of the animated original.

PERFORMANCES- 9/10 MUSIC- 8/10 STORY- 6/10 VISUALS- 7/10

FINAL SCORE- 8/10.

Guardians of the Galaxy VOL.3 is an almost perfect end to an incredible Marvel Trilogy even if never quite reaches the heights of the first film in the franchise but is undoubtedly better than the second installment.

The story is well written and well paced and is overflowing with humour, heart and emotions. The characters are well written and have great arcs. Rocket was the shining star. Bradley Cooper did a great job and his arc is one of the best in the MCU.

The action sequences are mostly well choreographed though much of the work was put into the story and the characters which is a great thing tbh.

Also the movie is visually stunning with bright and bold color choices and the CGI is much better than a lot of the recent Marvel releases.

Despite being 2 and a half hours long it never feels dragged or slow even for a second and at the end of the day it all feels earned. Definitely check it out.

Makoto Shinkai's back with his latest flick, Suzume. It's a sublime storytelling of the mystical and perilous adventure of Suzume. Along the way she meets up with a mysterious man named Souta with whom she must travel around Japan to close doors that are releasing disasters. There is a cute cat called Daijin, whose motivations are pretty mysterious. The story structure at times might end up feeling a bit familiar as Shinkai's previous films like Your Name and Weathering With You. It tells a story about love, loss, grief and acceptance with a lot of emotions. The humour is incorporated pretty well into the story which legit makes you laugh out loud.

The visuals and the animation are fabulous. Every location they visit just pops out of the screen and the attention to detail is mesmerizing to watch. Plus the food is so gorgeously rendered. The music by RADWIMPS and Kazuma Jinnouchi is another strong element of the film. And as always Makoto Shinkai's direction is phenomenal.

Even if it's not on the same level as Your Name, Suzume is an excellent addition to Shinkai's library of great anime classics.

Your Name is a coming of age, slice-of-life romantic fantasy film that tells a heartfelt story of love and loss. Now during the first few minutes I kinda did wonder if this was another typical gender swapping animes but this is so much more than that. The plot might not be anything new but the overall writing, pacing and character moments are so beautifully done that it becomes hard to lose interest. It also features one of the most unique love stories ever presented on screen. The movie goes through a vast array of tonal shifts from comedy to drama to melancholy which handles pretty well.

Then there's the animation. The animation and visuals in Your Name is so gorgeous, vibrant and out of this world that it creates an immersive experience for the audience. The soundtrack is just the cherry on top.

Whether your into anime or not, I promise you this is a film that'll touch your heart once you watch. One of the most greatest animated ( not just anime) films ever made. A masterpiece from Makoto Shinkai.