(2019—Director: Simon Kinberg) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “You’re not like the other doctors.” … “No, and you’re not like the other patients.” — Young Jean Grey (Summer Fontana) and Prof. Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) Potential spoilers below Ever since the release of the first film back in …
‘King of the Monsters’: Titan Duels Space Out Bloated Human Drama
(2019—Director: Michael Dougherty) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “You’re a monster.” “If I had the two of you as parents, I would’ve run away from home too.” — Chief Warrant Officer Jackson Barnes (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.) to Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) and Dr. Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler) …
John Wick vs. the Assassin Underworld in ‘Ch. 3—Parabellum’
(2019—Director: Chad Stahelski) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” — Winston (Ian McShane) “There are rules. They are the only thing that separate us—” “—from the animals.” — The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) and Winston (Justice Smith) Potential spoilers below In 2014, actor Keanu …
‘Long Shot’: Fair Rom-Com Chemistry Soon Gives Way to Lazy Vulgarity
(2019—Director: Jonathan Levine) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “Is he high?” … “He is wasted, and he’s also just stupid.” — U.S. Secretary of State Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), to staffer Maggie Millikin (June Diane Raphael), regarding Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) Potential spoilers below Director Jonathan Levine spent …
Confronting Loss With Kindness & Service to Others in ‘Okko’s Inn’
(2019—Director: Kitarō Kōsaka) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Hananoyu’s hot spring water rejects no one.” — Grandmother/Obā-chan Mineko Seki (Harumi Ichiryûsai, dubbed by Glynis Ellis) to granddaughter Oriko “Okko” Seki (Seiran Kobayashi, dubbed by Madigan Kacmar) Potential spoilers below In the list of directors perceived as “the next …
‘Avengers: Endgame’ Gradually Accelerates to Deliver Glorious MCU Nostalgia
(2019—Directors: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “I am…inevitable.” Potential spoilers below Wow, has it already been one year? As a matter of fact, it has been exactly one year since my Avengers: Infinity War review was published here at Impacting Culture. Back then, …
‘Missing Link’: Laika’s Near-Great Latest Is Rousing & Exquisite
(2019—Director: Chris Butler) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “The ‘word’, my dear fellow, is ‘trust’.” — Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to Mr. Link/Susan (Zach Galifianakis) Potential spoilers below 2016 was a remarkably diverse year for animation, and it culminated with Disney’s Zootopia winning the Best Animated Feature …
‘Shazam!’ Enlivens the DCEU With Jolly Abandon
(2019—Director: David F. Sandberg) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★ (out of 5 stars) “If a superhero can’t save his family, he’s not much of a hero.” — William “Billy” Batson (Asher Angel) to Frederick “Freddy” Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) and their other foster siblings Potential spoilers below When it comes to superhero …