Spoiler-Free Review for Pixar's Onward

Onward opens with a narrative that is two-fold. On one side we learn about the world that the movie is set in. A land of magic and fantasy, where over the years the magic has been lost. And with this lost magic lies the other side of the narrative. Is it a self-reflective thought on if Pixar has lost it's own magic?

As it turns out Onward is one of the funniest films to come out of Emeryville and filled with the emotional punch that we have come to expect from Pixar. Even the subtle music over the iconic Pixar logo as Luxo Jr. comes bouncing out indicates that this is the new Pixar coming out the shadows of John Lasseter and the original Pixar team.

From the trailers, we understand that this is a quest movie. And with the very best of Pixar, this as much about the journey inward as it is about the journey outward or in this case Onward. Brothers Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) and Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt) are dealing with the loss of their father. Ian never knew his father while his older brother Barley dealt with the loss in the world of fantasy games. But their father left them a present to open when they both were at least 16 years old. He left them a spell to bring him back for one day. The spell works halfway and now it is a race against time to bring their father fully back.

Thus, begins the epic quest, out on the open road. The journey is fulled with laughs and surprises along the way. How everything pays off won't be spoiled here but the pay off is huge in typical Pixar pull at the heartstring moments while not losing any of the film's character development.

In the end, Onward shows that the world is still full of magic. It is a new era for Pixar and moves the studio forward or in this case, Onward.

Spoiler-Free Review for Solo: A Star Wars Story

It is time to return to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

You may have heard of the troubles during production of this film but I will tell  you that after watching it, I did not get any sense of a troubled production. You do not get any sense that this is the vision of several different directors. There are also no problems in any of the performances either.

The film is what you expect from a summer film and from a Star Wars film. It is a fun adventure film, filled with action and humor, a simple plot and great performances from the cast. Alden shows why he was picked to fill in the iconic shoes of Han Solo. He provides a strong performance with incredible charm as one would expect from a younger Han Solo. Thankfully Alden's performance does not mimic Harrison Ford's and Alden really makes it his own. This will be important as we get into sequel talk. Without going into spoiler territory, the events of the film literally demands a sequel.

Emilia Clarke as Qi'ra is fantastic. We are introduced to her as being part of Han's early life. While we only learn bits and pieces of her background I hope we get to learn more about her in a sequel. Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian is perfectly cast. Donald brings the swagger to this younger version of Lando. His performance opens the door for more of Lando in a sequel or a possible stand-alone Lando movie. L3-37 voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the perfect match for the egos of both Lando and Han. Her interactions with Lando are scene-stealers. Woody Harrelson plays Tobias, a bad person who sometimes does good things or a good person who does bad things. I am not entirely certain which way he leans and not quite sure he knows either. Val is played by Thandie Newton and is the most daring character of them all. She is also the least trusting of others but loyal to a fault. Chewbacca is played to perfection by Jonas Suotamo. His body language more than tells you what Chewie is feeling and going through. A wonderful introduction to one of the best friends and partners in the Star Wars Universe. Paul Bettany plays Dryden who is more or less the villain. While not in the film for long periods of time, Bettany more than takes advantage of his screen time. Last but not least is Rio voiced by Jon Favreau who provides some humor and a cool character as well.

With a solid cast and script, Ron Howard took a troubled film shoot that was already five months into filming and shot for four months to create a film that is closer to the vibe of the original trilogy. There is also the feel of a space western as I think of Han Solo as a space cowboy. There are definite nods to the western genre not including their version of the train robbery as shown in the trailers, gunfights, a gambler, soldiers fighting and more. And with the film set up for at least one sequel I am sure they will expand on this western theme.

The action is huge and intense. The one massive action piece that we know we are getting as Star Wars fans is a visual tour-de-force. You will be blown away by the visual effects!

Solo: A Star Wars Story brings more than we could have ever wanted. We get to see old friends in familiar settings that we had only heard stories or mentions about in previous films. There is a whole new story to tell and there are plenty of secrets that will hopefully be revealed in another Solo movie.

Spoiler-Free Review of Marvel's Black Panther - The Hype is Real!

The hype for a solo Black Panther movie started as soon as he made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. As we get closer and closer to the film's opening date, the hype is real. I have been lucky enough to attend the World Premiere of Black Panther and just watched it last night again for a media screening at The Walt Disney Studios. My already high expectations for this movie were blown out of the water the first time and the second screening just made me love the movie even more. This is easily the best of the MCU to date!

This will be a non-spoiler review and I will do my best to keep it so.

Let's start off with director and writer Ryan Coogler, whose two previous works in Fruitvale Station and Creed are already two of my favorite movies. If you have seen either movie then you know that both films are quite remarkable in terms of character development, story and cinematography. Take that knowledge into Black Panther and you get one of the most powerful, relevant and important stories of any superhero film to date.

The film is deeply character driven and you understand each of the characters and their own particular motivations throughout the movie. The cast is amazing and they take an already solid script to a whole new level. Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya,  Letitia Wright, Forrest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman and others take on their characters and bring a reality to all of them. Their character dynamics and relationships are as complex as real relationships. The events within the movie will change all of these characters forever. There are elements of heroism and courageousness come not only in the ways we expect in a superhero film but also in the way that some of these characters have to question their own beliefs.

The country of Wakanda is created here in a spectacular fashion. It is a real, breathing place that is seen in several different lights. It is seen how others see it from the outside, how the citizens see it and how others who know of it's dark past and what may become of the country depending on the actions of the main characters in the story.

Without getting into spoiler territory, Michael B. Jordan as the villain is a standout here. One of the things lacking in many Marvel films is a true villain or antagonist. Make no mistake, his character of Killmonger has a point of view, believes his actions are justified, and for all intensive purposes believes that he is the hero. His story arc truly makes you understand why he is the way that he is and if you walked a mile in his shoes, you too might feel the same way that he does.

The action is stunning and even as each action sequence breaks out, each one is different in terms of look and style from the other. This truly creates a visual tour-de-force. Costumes and designs are some of the best for Marvel yet. And the score and soundtrack will be on my top 10 list at the end of the year for sure.

Black Panther is visually stunning and one of the smartest, action-packed movies in a long time.  It is fun, funny, relevant in a deeply emotional way. There is a new king and it is Black Panther!

Spoiler-Free Review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It has been two years since we last saw our friends and enemies in The Force Awakens. They are all back with new friends for the eighth installment of the Star Wars Saga, The Last Jedi. Just as in my review for The Force Awakens, this will be a spoiler-free review and I can tell you that the trailers and TV spots really give away nothing.

The Last Jedi takes the spirit and the energy of The Force Awakens and keeps right on running forward with it! The pacing is perfect and while listed as the longest running time of any Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi could have easily gone another hour and we would have never known it. Every shot is about moving the story forward. There is so much going on and so much to process but yet at the same time you do not feel overwhelmed. And while this is perhaps the most emotionally powerful of all the Star Wars films, I would even go out on a limb and say that it is the funniest as well. A perfect balance of emotion and humor keeps this movie rolling right along like BB-8.

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fischer shine here. This is easily both of their best performances in a Star Wars film.  But their performances are easily overshadowed by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver. As Rey and Kylo Ren, they knock it out of the galaxy.  They take their characters to places I never thought they would go and they excel every step of the way. And new comer Kellie Marie Tran as Rose is a sensation. You will fall in love with her.

While some accuse The Force Awakens of paying too much fan service to A New Hope, The Last Jedi does pay some homage to The Empire Strikes Back but this is not a rehash of that film. The Last Jedi explores each of the characters more deeply as we learn so much more about each one of them. The characters are at the forefront, pushing themselves and the story forward. And there are some emotional payoffs that were decades in the making.

Immediately, I rank this as my third favorite Star Wars film right behind The Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope. The Last Jedi is powerful, emotional, funny and just epic. There are also some of the most spectacular action and stunning visuals of the entire saga.

Rian Johnson and his team move the saga forward in powerful and stunning ways. Never afraid to take big risks and the payoff is huge. I cannot wait to see what happens in Episode 9 and I cannot wait to see what Rian Johnson has in store for us with his own Star Wars trilogy.

My advice is to avoid spoilers at all costs!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters December 15.

Spoiler-Free Review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Let me start by saying that The Empire Strikes Back was my favorite of all the Star Wars films. That's right, "was" my favorite of all the Star Wars films. Rogue One easily is my favorite Star Wars film. It is easily better than The Force Awakens. This is an original story set in the Star Wars mythos that is plot-driven and not character-driven.

This will be a spoiler-free review of Rogue One.

We know that the film is about the group of rebels who steal the plans to the Death Star. Make no mistake, this is a war film, the darkest of all the Star Wars films. A film in the trenches that shows the horrors of war when a small band of rebels is up against the galactic might of the Empire. You will feel the desperation of the Rebels. You will understand what it feels like to live in this universe under the impression of the Empire. Rogue One skillfully combines both the war-weariness of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the sense of what one person can do from Star Wars Rebels.

Vader is just one of the familiar faces we see and he is absolutely menacing. Plus, it is fantastic to hear James Earl Jones voicing Vader again. The new characters remind me in many ways of The Dirty Dozen. Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso and Diego Luna as Cassian are fantastic together. The story arcs for these two are very well done. You completely understand what is motivating Jyn and Cassian throughout the movie. My two favorite characters are the droid K-2SO and Donnie Yen's Chirrut. K-2SO's sense of humor and Chirrut's belief in The Force are standouts. The rest of the ensemble is great as well. We get wonderful performances and they will quickly become fan favorites.

Rogue One puts the "War" in Star Wars. It stands out from the episodic films. The battle scenes are epic. The story is dark and takes us to new places within the Star Wars Universe. It blends perfectly into Episode 4, not just the end of Rogue One but throughout its entirety.

The Force Is With Us as the first stand-alone Star Wars film sets a high standard for the rest of the stand-alone films that will follow.

Spoiler-Free Review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

It's been a little over three years since Disney announced they were purchasing Lucasfilm and making more Star Wars films. After years of hype and speculation, the first Star Wars film without George Lucas, is finally here. This will be a spoiler-free review. However, I must tell you that the trailers and TV spots have given away absolutely nothing!

Star Wars is simply back! Forget the awkwardness of the prequels and trying to bring The Force into the scientific world, this is the return to the spirit of the original trilogy! While there is nothing better than seeing old friends from the original trilogy back on the big screen, it is truly the action, the humor as well as the energy that has been recaptured here.

The Force Awakens introduces to us a whole new group of actors who will move the franchise forward. The new cast will impress you. The dynamic between John Boyega's Finn and Daisy Ridley's Rey is wonderful. It feels warmly familiar and yet different all at the same time. They seemlessly blend in with the established cast of Han Solo, Leia and Chewbacca. But the real strength is Adam Driver's performance as Kylo Ren. Kylo is powerful, cruel and angry. BB-8 is a complete joy and if you haven't fallen in love with him yet, you will.

The Force Awakens also recaptures the feeling of A New Hope. That feeling that just in front of you is adventure and greatness. These things were definitely missing in the prequels. The same sense of hope and wonder from the original trilogy is here in The Force Awakens.

The familiarity here has as much to do with the dialogue as it does with the use of both practical and computer effects. Lawrence Kasdan brought that level of familiarity to The Force Awakens. Having rewritten The Empire Strikes Back and co-writing Return of The Jedi, no one understands the characters of Han Solo, Leia and Chewbacca better and it shows here. J.J. Abrams brings with him his clear understanding of tightly controlled storytelling, with a fantastic ability of setting things up and paying them off and a real feel for action. The lightsaber battles feel more fluid and realistic than even the ones we witnessed in the prequel trilogy. Even the X-Wing and TIE fighter battles have a real sense of physicality that not even the prequels could come close to.

J.J. Abrams and his team have created a film that lives up to not only the Star Wars name, but to fan expectations as well. But perhaps the films greatest achievement is that the film can be enjoyed without having seen the original trilogy. I cannot wait to see what both Rian Johnson and Colin Tevorrow have planned for the following sequels.