Here

Grade: A

Here based on the magazine strip turned graphic novel by Richard McGuire is shot from the exact same angle and follows a spot of land and the house that is eventually built on it throughout history with emphasis on said house and the marriage of occupants Richard (played by Tom Hanks) and Margaret (Robin Wright). 

In recent years, Zemeckis' films have been more hit or miss and the last few in particular haven't been well accepted, but I felt this was a real return to form. It honestly feels like an old-school feel-good drama. Admittedly, some may feel the movie to be a bit maudlin, especially by today's more cynical standards, and the main sources of conflicts in Richard and Margaret's stories respectively may not feel quite like how these circumstances would play out in real life, but honestly this was still an entertaining slice-of-life film.

The slipping between timelines and the various vignettes is what really makes it work. You ever seen an educational video or animatronic performance at Disney World (World of Tomorrow is the best example)? It has that kinda feel, with sort of a lets have fun with the presentation kind of way. The stories work, heck most of the shorter ones are actually more interesting than the main story.

Zemeckis' does a solid job of transitioning between time periods, often in a way where things don't all change at once, and incorporates panels, being reminiscent of the format of the original comics. Hearing the basic description of this, you wouldn't think this would be fancy-looking giving the limited locations, but a lot of effort was put into making the background look like the appropriate time periods. The set design and props are also pretty effective at selling the era.

The deaging technology works really well and usually only seems odd if you're  specifically focusing on it. Zemeckis makes the wise choice of avoiding having the characters close up to the camera too often. I wished the movie had used makeup for old age instead of digital effects. There is a couple usages of that where it feels the most fake.

Hanks and Wright, not surprisingly, are solid. Yeah, Hanks does sound a little old if you listen to him long enough, but I did feel he intentionally put more energy into his younger performance. Wright manages to not sound old when playing her younger self. Honestly, some of the supporting actors here are even more entertaining. Paul Bettany as Richard's father gives a particularly lively and multifaceted performance.

The music didn't work for me. It was too 90's light-hearted and didn't feel like it appropriately fitted certain scenes.

Recommended. I know a lot of critics don't like this, and not to say there are no valid criticisms about the main story, but I thought this was a sincerely emotional, impressive, entertaining, and unique work.

Sing: Thriller

5.5/10

In this new short on Netflix, from the Sing franchise and featuring the popular Michael Jackson song Thriller, Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) and company head to a party, only for the guests of said party to be infected by a strange goo and transformed into zombies. 

This has a pretty good opening, but the rest is unimpressive. Stuff happens, but plot is minimal, and the short doesn't feel fun or visually interesting enough to keep one's attention.

This does manage to maintain several of the big name stars (and their impressive singing voices) from the original films, but no Reese Witherspoon, sadly.

Not recommended. I mean if your kids liked the movies, there's a good chance they'll like this. However, this won't have much of an affect on adults.

Monster High- Season 2

8/10

Continues to follow the exploits of Clawdeen Wolf (voiced by Gabrielle Nevaeh), Frankie Stein (the West Side Story remake's Iris Menas), Draculaura (Courtney Lin) and the other monsters at Monster High. Also, Clawdeen has to deal with being the new Were Ruler.

MH continues to do a solid job of being both entertaining and teaching kids lessons. I also admire this as one of the more progressive shows out there. Characters are still fun, and they do a surprisingly decent job of giving a large cast (due to this being made to sell all the toys) distinct personalities (mostly, I don't think the writers really decided on how to write the ghost Spectra (Valeria Rodriguez)). 

Ongoing plot isn't as strong as the last season, which was kind of impressive in that it had more going on than you'd expect, however the storyline ain't half bad.

Animation is still nice: colorful with distinct character and building design. For a computer animated show, they manage to include more background characters than some others do; really makes Monster High feel populated.

Recommended for kids. Doesn't have strong grown-up crossover (though, I think many will appreciate how modern some of the lessons are). I think kids, particularly the main demographic of young girls, will like this.

One Piece Fan Letter

10/10

One Piece Fan Letter is a special created in honor of the 25th anniversary of One Piece, one of the longest running anime of all time and, is lossely based on the novel Osaki Tomohito (Straw Hat Stories). It takes place at the Seabody Archipelago a while back in the storyline where the characters begin the second half of their journey. Rather than focus on the leads, Fan Letter follows average Joes and their reactions and feelings about the Straw Hat Pirates, including a girl who idolizes Nami, the crew's navigator, and wants to give her a letter, a group of Navy officers, and the owner of a bookstore.

What has contributed to the success of One Piece is its sheer world building with a healthy emphasis on characterization and a message of seeking hope in a hard world. It is how detailed the island-based of One Piece has gotten that a special focused on the little people of this world who aren't part of the main action feels so real and defined. The special does a remarkable job of introducing its moderately sized cast in its twenty-five minute run time. Fan Letter truly embodies the heart of One Piece as we truly get the characters dreams and motivations, and the way the script manages to tie in how the Straw Hat Pirates have influenced them without directly meeting them is so well done. 

Naturally, this appeals more to those who are fans or are at least able to keep up with the basic plot of One Piece. It'll feel natural to them, but this might not be the best fit for newbies. However, one could kinda get the main characters' actions here even if one is unfamiliar with the world.

The animation in here is really fluid. I particularly enjoyed the look of the compact town of Seabody and the general, can-only-happen-in-an-animated-fantasy-world, look of the island.

Highly recommended. This is brimming with sentiment and love for the show and has a tight script. Really, just an enjoyable, pure time.

Mr. Crocket

6/10 

In this Hulu full-length adaptation of the short Bite Size Halloween episode of the same name, the newly widowed Summer (played by Grey's Anatomy/Hunters' Jerrika Hinton), finds an old VHS copy of a kids' show starring Mr. Crocket (Godfather of Harlem's Elvis Nolasco). However, there's something not quite right about the show and its host and the grasp they have on Summer's son Major (Ayden Gavin). 

The best part of this is the titular Mr. Crocket. Nolasco delivers quite a performance and brings us an unsettling character. It's hard to put into words what makes Crocket scary. I guess it is sort of the fact that he feels like someone who has a figurative mask on over what he really is, but the mask has partially slipped off, and he's not putting it back on; often never playing the character as full psychotic or full his show persona. Crocket feels like that person you met in real life that had some red flag issues if they had the power to do whatever they wanted.

Crockett's playhouse and his "pals" are distinct-looking and pretty freaky. The pals in particular are straight up nightmare-fuel.

However, the script never feels like it reaches its full potential, making decisions that don't quite work. (Also, doesn't help that due to the, I assume, low budget, that there are not a lot of extras around making the world feel desolate.) 

The biggest issue here being the relationship between Summer and her son. Yeah, the mother and her child having difficulty dealing with the loss of a loved one storyline is well known and tried, but this oddly fails the formula. One could give the movie props for not being cookie cutter, but the storyline does not work. Major is portrayed as just too unlikable. Yeah, he just lost his dad, but the movie never shows like he was what before hand or any positive qualities whatsoever. Major feels more like a damaged child in real life that requires a fair amount of therapy. One could credit the movie for treating the topic more seriously, but this feels more like a topic that should've been in an A24 atmospheric horror movie, not one with an over-the-top murderous kids' show host.

Partially recommended. Lots of people will be into Crocket and his world, but others will just be bummed by the story.

English Teacher- Season 1

7.5/10

In this new comedy on FX, gay English teacher Evan Marquez (played by Brian Jordan Alvarez) has to deal with the trials and tribulations of teaching high school in the modern era. 

This is naturally going to get comparisons to Abbott Elementary, but I would say this differs in that, besides being about a high school instead of an elementary one, in that it's more cynical and perhaps a bit more adult in its humor (although I wouldn't say it's too cynical or mature, mature.) This is a fairly good satire of American education and has fun poking at both the liberal and conservative sides of matters. Also, I love the students' often disinterested or overreactions to Evan's adult sensibilities and passions. (You see less of them in the last few episodes that focus more on Evan, and I hope they'll correct this if there is a second season.)

I'd say the show's one major down point is its focus on Evan's life. Honestly, he's kind of a selfish guy and sorta a wreck. (This is another thing I hope could be corrected in another season.) Also, episode 6 felt a bit broad when compared to the other episodes.

Fine cast in this. Just Shoot Me/Veronica Mars/Flashpoint's Enrico Colantoni plays Principal Grant Moretti. He's always good, but I think this might be his best performance here. He plays the often pragmatic-type of principal, who is trying to survive until retirement, and he probably gives the funniest performance in this. Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge, the school's center-conservative coach and Evan's friend, is also a lot of fun. Guy nails his delivery and may be the most likable character in this.

Recommended. Despite my grumblings about the main character, this is still a smart comedy.

Family Guy: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater

6.5/10

In this Hulu exclusive special, Peter Griffin (voiced by show creator Seth McFarlane) and friends try to help Joe Swanson (Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton) win a in a pumpkin competition against his rival Patrick McCloskey (Glenn Powell). Meanwhile, Stewie Griffin (also Seth McFarlane) decides to bring his teddy bear Rupert to life with unforeseen consequences.

Yeah, this was clearly a regular Halloween episode that the executives decided to dub a special. There is nothing notable about it, and there was no attempt to give it anything of a kick to it involving the holiday (unlike that hour-long Christmas special they did a while back that intentionally had that extra oomph.) 

The stories themselves are just kinda there. However, this is fairly funny with decent jokes in it. 

Yeah, anyone could've voiced Powell's character, but he is good at doing a cocky guy. Also, I liked McCloskey's over-the-top douchey pumpkin-themed attire. Some people may be annoyed that Rupert isn't voiced by the usual guy who occasionally does Rupert in Stewie's imagination. I won't spoil who does it, but it made me think "Huh? That was a surprise choice."

Kinda recommended. It's nothing outstanding, but it has its moments and makes for an alright episode of Family Guy.