Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Film Review)

To quote Emperor Palpatine: Augghhhh!!!

The Lion King: 2019 (GUEST Film Review)

Written by my special guest and close friend Joel Coppadge!

If you were a 90s kid, then The Lion King is what comes to mind when you think of great 90s Disney movies.  Not only is it apart of the Disney Renaissance, but it had something for everyone, both kids and adults.  Fantastic animation, great, catchy songs, and a compelling story that is still relevant to this day.

Dark Phoenix (GUEST Film Review)

For the first time ever on Film Reviewer Jr., I proudly present GUEST FILM REVIEW!!!  The part of the blog where a guest comes on board and writes a film review.

Introducing my special guest and close friend Joel Coppadge!

Captain Marvel (Film Review)

Captain Marvel shares many similarities with Thor.  It’s an action-drama involving extraterrestrial super-beings, planetary escapades that end up revolving around Earth, and utilizes fish-out-of-water comedy with its protagonist.  Captain Marvel stands out from Thor in two noteworthy ways—its period and its protagonist.  The film takes place in the 1990s, effectively making it a backstory for how the Avengers Initiative came to be along with other smaller details such as how Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) lost his eye (spoilers, it’s comedically…underwhelming).  The 90s setting, in general, is quite an impressive replication, though it can get a bit heavy-handed with the nostalgia. The film also uses a combination of makeup and CGI to make actors Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg look convincingly younger.

Ralph Breaks the Internet (Film Review)

No, there are no porn references in Ralph Breaks the Internet.  And no, I do not care for the film either.

Wing Commander (Film Review)

Director(s): Chris Roberts

Release Date: March 12, 1999

Wing Commander.  Last of the 1990s video game film adaptations.  Unlike the previous adaptations, I knew absolutely nothing about Wing Commander’s video game series.  I didn’t even know it was a video game series until learning about this film.  While there’s nothing wrong going into an adaptation blind (though with adaptations like Mortal Kombat, its best to know the source material) I decided to read up on the series and watch some informative let's plays.  From what I collected, the video game series (at least the early 90s ones) looks really fun and impressive—with clear effort and passion put behind it.  When learning that Wing Commander’s creator also directed its film adaptation, I grew hopeful for a positive experience, followed by my hopes crashing and burning up after seeing the finished product.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (Film Review)

Director(s): John R. Leonetti

Release Date: November 21, 1997

The 1990s video game film adaptations had a habit of ending in a similar way.  The good guys save the day and everything is at peace, yet a looming threat threatens to disrupt such harmony on their next adventure.  Super Mario Bros, Double Dragon, and Street Fighter all end this way, setting up for a theatrical sequel that would never see the light of day.  Mortal Kombat follows the same trend, ending with its victorious protagonists preparing (aka posing) for a sudden new threat.

The only difference here is Mortal Kombat got its sequel.

Mortal Kombat (Film Review)

Director(s): Paul W. S. Anderson
Date Released: August 18, 1995

The film’s CGI has not aged well at all.  Reptile looks especially bad in his creature form and…

…Oh, sorry, is me jumping into the thick of the review without a proper introduction confusing?  Because Mortal Kombat seems to believe that’s the most efficient way to start a film.

Here’s a video game film adaptation that is designed to appeal to the series’s fans, and only them because anyone new to the series will be thoroughly confused throughout.  It’s a film made for those wanting to see their favorite violent characters duke it out on the big screen with all sorts of game references—from the series's kickass theme to signature attacks to iconic phrases like “Flawless Victory” or “Get Over Here!”  Does it succeed at satisfying series fans?  Eh, somewhat.  With certain characters, the film delivers a satisfying recreation and screen time, while other characters get the short end of the stick.  Sometimes the action is fun and engaging, and other times its lackluster and bland.  It all depends on what a fan desires to see.  As a story driven film with characters and development, however, Mortal Kombat fails big time—arguably the messiest video game adaptation made at that point, and that’s including Super Mario Bros.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (Film Review)

It has been a roller-coaster lately with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  It went up with Thor: Ragnarok, down with Black Panther, up again with Avengers: Infinity War, and now back down with Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Micro Review #27: The Cloverfield Paradox & Open House (Micro Reviews)

The Cloverfield Paradox:

The Bill Murray Experience (Link Review)

Another VOD review I did for The Nerd Mentality.


THE BILL MURRAY EXPERIENCE (link to the review)

Who's Jenna? (Link Review)

Here's a VOD review I did for The Nerd Mentality.

WHO'S JENNA? (link to the review)

A Wrinkle in Time (Quick Review)

What a mess.

Double Dragon (Film Review)

Director(s): James Yukich
Date Released: November 4, 1994

So, what do you get when you take every 80s to early 90s film craze and cram them into a poorly made adaptation of a beat em’ up video game?

You get a film called Double Dragon.

Micro Reviews #24: Frank Serpico & Murder on the Orient Express

This negative episode of Micro Reviews is brought to you by the director Sidney Lumet, who connects these two films together with his previous, superior work.

Micro Reviews #23: Call Me by Your Name & Lady Bird (Micro Reviews)

Every year since the 2010s began, there’s been at least one Best Picture nominee (or winner) I give a thumbs down to.  This year, there’s two, and I just so happen to be reviewing them together right here.

Blade Runner 2049 (Film Review)

Blade Runner 2049 has beautiful cinematography, is well-acted, and is completely forgettable.

It (Film Review)

 It…is not for me.

Annabelle: Creation (Film Review)

Previously, in my The Conjuring 2 review:

The Circle (Quick Review)

How did The Circle fail so badly?  The pieces were all set up in the 2013 novel’s favor: an exceptional director who’s great at adaptations, and an all-star cast of actors such as Emma Watson and Tom Hanks.  So why did The Circle turn out so bland and generic…quite a few reasons actually.