Tag: 2024

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Kung Fu Panda 4

Kung Fu Panda 4

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In Kung Fu Panda 4, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) tells Po (Jack Black) that he must relinquish the title of Dragon Warrior and find a replacement so that he can become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley.  (You may recall that in the first movie, Master Oogway held that position and passed away after choosing Po as the Dragon Warrior.)  While Shifu insists Po needs to accept his new role in order to continue growing, Po actively resists the change.  Like anyone who has spent a long time doing things himself, he is uncomfortable with being promoted to “management”.  He loves fighting injustice and hanging with the Furious Five and doesn’t want to give either of them up for a role that he doesn’t understand.  (To its credit, the movie does a decent job explaining just what a manager–or Spiritual Leader–actually does.)

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Civil War

Civil War

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When I first saw the trailer for Civil War, I was underwhelmed.  It looked like a standard action movie, so much so that I wondered when Gerard Butler (star of the “Has Fallen” franchise) would show up to save the country from itself.  The combat footage didn’t look special, and the plot of the movie appeared to be entirely about how “America is fighting with itself”.  It wasn’t until people that I follow on social media explained the movie that I reconsidered seeing it.  While Civil War may be a nightmare scenario inspired by the Trump presidency, the movie isn’t about that at all.  For example, the movie’s Trump surrogate (a perfectly cast Nick Offerman) is barely shown in the movie.  (Not that I needed more than I got.)  And while Civil War may look like a traditional war movie at times, its primary focus is on how wars are represented by the media, specifically journalists.

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The First Omen

The First Omen

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For those keeping score, The First Omen is the third movie released this year where the Devil plays a significant role.  Previously, Late Night with the Devil and Immaculate reminded us that Old Scratch should never be underestimated.  What does this trilogy of cinematic devilness portend?  While I can’t speak for Immaculate (which I haven’t yet seen), the two movies featuring Beelzebub have been very good indeed.  Perhaps it’s time for someone to revive the Oh, God! franchise to balance things out.

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Wicked Little Letters

Wicked Little Letters

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Describing Wicked Little Letters as a throwback feels odd.  I remember when British Period Comedies would regularly appear in theaters and be seen by what would politely describe as “senior audiences” in significant numbers.  The Full Monty was a Best Picture nominee back in 1997.  (Has it already been twenty-five years since it came out?)  Helen Mirren and Judy Dench once defined this genre, but haven’t been in anything like it in years.  Many things have conspired against this once dependable genre: COVID, streaming and changing audience tastes being primary among them.  Throwback or not, the movie is incredibly funny and will delight audiences who seek it out, either in theaters or on streaming.

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Arthur the King

Arthur the King

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Everyone can relate to the idea of redemption.  I don’t mean in a religious sense, but getting another chance to succeed after failing the last time around.  Personally, if I thought about it for ten minutes, I would come up with a number of moments in my life that I wish I could do over.  But life usually doesn’t give us second chances, except when the failure involves sports.  In that case, you may get another chance simply because there’s always another season or, as is with Arthur the King, another race.

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