There are cringe-worthy moments as well as scenes of mesmerizing beauty in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. But I’ll go against the critical grain and argue, for several small reasons, and for one big one, that it was necessary to make it.
Disney
Film Review: “Polar Bear” — A Mother’s Tale of Survival in the Arctic
The protagonist of this engrossing, and troubling, story must draw on all her accumulated knowledge in order to cope with degradations to her habitat caused by what we, the viewers, know as global warming/climate change.
Film Commentary: What Disney’s “Encanto” Says About Colombian Realities
In Colombia and Encanto, willful ignorance is the price paid for reassurance.
Music Documentary: “The Beatles: Get Back” — Back to Where They Once Belonged
Who else, but The Beatles, could command this much attention, of this many people, for that long of a time, and still be interesting, even joyous?
Film Review: “Raya and the Last Dragon” — An Animated Plea for Unity
In addition to generalizations about Asian cultures — the voice actors come from a variety of Asian, but not all Southeast Asian, backgrounds — there are other issues a grown-up viewer might object to.
Film Review: Disney’s “Cruella” — Fashionably Evil
Cruella is by far the best of the Disney reboots.
Television Review: “Howard” — Homage to One of the Greatest Artists of the 20th Century
The great lyricist behind the Disney renaissance receives a moving tribute.
Film Review: Disney’s Revamped “Jungle Book” — A Remarkable Remake
Those familiar with –and, like me, in love with — the 1967 animated Disney film, may fear (as I did) that the new version would substitute CGI for story.
Fuse Film Review: “The Finest Hours” — Enjoyable, Reliable, Predictable
The Finest Hours gives the audience two hours of fast moving, visually pleasing, easily digestible entertainment.
Movie Review: “Million Dollar Arm” — A Pleasing Baseball Movie Where Fact and Fable Meet
Given its its male-weepy genre, the “inspirational sports movie based on a true story,” Million Dollar Arm is surprisingly enjoyable.