Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – Film Review

It’s been a long time coming, but we now have finally got Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the third and final movie written and directed by James Gunn for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, before he moves on as head of the DC Entertainment Universe, and it is quite an emotional ride. Being the final part of a trilogy means more stakes, answered questions, and a fitting send-off to our favorite characters, which, thankfully, Gunn knows how to deliver, and the results are more than satisfying, if this is truly the end for the Guardians. Better yet, let’s just stop where we are at and not milk it for what it is worth.

A Look Back at Super Mario Bros (1993) – Is it Really That Bad?

When people think of bad video game adaptations, 1993’s Super Mario Bros. is likely to come to mind. While it is notable for being the first live-action adaptation of a video game, it was clear that audiences and critics did not buy into it upon release, eventually becoming one of the worst films of all time, and failing to make an impact at the box-office. Though, in recent years, it has gained a cult following for its status and some say it is misunderstood for its efforts. The real question is: Is 1993’s Super Mario Bros. movie really that bad, or is it truly a misunderstood gem that didn’t get the love it deserved until years later?

The Super Mario Bros. Movie – Film Review

Thirty years after their first outing, The Super Mario Bros. are back, albeit in animated form, which is how it should have been done in the first place. Gone is the gritty science-fiction dystopia of Dinohattan from the ’93 film, and in comes the familiar, bright and colorful Mushroom Kingdom you know and love from the games. Everything about what made the franchise so fun is translated to near perfection here, brought to life by Illumination Studios. While it does have that same style of animation that the studio behind the Despicable Me and Sing franchises going for it, a lot of what is on display looks to be barely tainted; the only update is a crisp, clear tone fit for an animated film. Needless to say that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a lot of fun, as short as it may be.

Confessions of a Charlotte Fan

I’m Sorry, I have a Confession to Make…

Charlotte, the anime that promised to be the next big thing from Jun Maeda, the mastermind behind many popular anime series, such as Clannad and Angel Beats! While some fans were skeptical about whether the show could live up to the hype, others were excited to see what Maeda had in store for them.

Cocaine Bear – Film Review

Any movie with a title like Cocaine Bear is expected to be insane. What is insane is the story that inspired Elizabeth Banks’ horror-comedy. In September of 1985, a drug smuggler named Andrew C. Thornton III dropped a load of cocaine from a plane into the wilderness, as a way to lighten the load of the plane he was in, and ended up flying out, only for his parachute to fail, causing his death. What happened next was stranger than fiction, as four months later, a 175-lb black bear was found dead in the wilderness with its insides discovered to have been filled with the cocaine that fell from the plane. The bear ended up stuffed and dubbed “Cocaine Bear” or “Pablo Eskobear”, named cleverly after notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. Someone must have thought that this story would have made for a good movie idea, only instead of the bear up-and-dying, it became a monster on a coked-up rampage in a horror movie. Of course, a straight horror idea would not be taken this seriously, so why not make it a comedy, and have Elizabeth Banks direct it?

A Look Back on Oliver & Company – Oliver Twist, but with Strays

My introduction to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist was Disney’s Oliver & Company, though I was unaware of the source at the time. I saw it as a fun little musical about a cat and some dogs (with one being voiced by none other than Billy Joel). Yet as I got older, I noticed that it was a much darker story than I was led to believe. Underneath its jazzy musical numbers, singing dogs, and New York atmosphere lied a story of crime and survival. The story of Oliver Twist was never really lighthearted to begin with, yet the slums of London are replaced with the streets of New York City as people hustle about getting from one place to the next, while the lowest live in the slums. Also, put in a mafia boss setting a race against time, and you have a recipe for what may be Disney’s grittiest film in animation history.

Fate/stay night Movie: Heaven’s Feel (1-3) Route 2 – The Best Mainline Fate Since Zero

Sakura DID Something!!!!

Here we are at the end of the mainline Fate reviews. I thought about breaking each film out into its own review, but let’s be realistic, you aren’t going to watch just one of these randomly as that would make no sense. Instead, we are talking about the Heaven’s Feel films as a set. By the title, I hope you could guess that these are well worth watching. If all you wanted was a quick recommendation, well there you go! For those of you who want a little bit more though (and if you have read my Fate retrospective up until now, let’s not kid ourselves, you do), join me as we talk about why I enjoyed these films.

Jacob’s Top 10 Movies of 2022

It’s that time of year again where I talk about the best films the previous year had to offer, and 2022 had plenty of good films, ranging from multiverses to fine dining, and even a murder mystery or two. With that being said, here are what I think are the best films of 2022!

Saying Goodbye to the Jon’s Creator Showcase

Thank You for 5 Great Years!

Today I am writing to both thank everyone who has ever participated in the Jon’s Creator Showcase as well as bring this era of my community content to a formal close. If you somehow haven’t heard about #TheJCS, you can read about it here. For those of you who have, I am sure this news is somewhat sad but know that in spite of my ending the program, it was well worth starting and something that everyone should be proud to have participated in. This program lasted longer than I ever expected it to, and by no means am I disappointed with it when all’s said and done.

Avatar: The Way of Water – Film Review

When the first Avatar came out, it was an experience like no other. Becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time with over $2 billion worldwide in ticket sales, dethroning director James Cameron’s 1997 juggernaut Titanic from the top. Over 13 years later, and it is time to return to Pandora with The Way of Water, the second in a planned franchise. While it may not be as groundbreaking as the first Avatar with its visually-arresting atmosphere, The Way of Water is an intense ride once again worth seeing just for the experience, if not for the 3-D. I went with my fiancee and her mom for Christmas and, as expected, they loved it. While I was just along for the ride, just sitting, trying to take in the world I never thought that we would come back to.