Elio — Movie Review

When a boy named Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) discovers the Voyager Golden Record at a space exhibit, a wild idea occurs to him: maybe aliens exist.

Elio is a sad and lonely boy. His parents have died, and he now lives with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña). But she doesn’t seem to want him around. She is always busy, always scolding him, and worst of all, she is sending him to a youth camp.

Elio just wants to belong somewhere. Somewhere he is needed or wanted. He believes that place might be far from Earth. That is why he dreams of being abducted by aliens.

Then, one day, it actually happens.

Because of the Golden Record and a signal sent from Earth, a group of aliens arrives and abducts Elio. The problem is, they mistake him for the leader of the planet.

The aliens want Elio to represent Earth in the Communiverse, a council of alien civilizations. But first, he has to prove himself. Afraid of going back to his old life, Elio plays along. He must now convince Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), one of the most powerful creatures in the universe, not to destroy the Communiverse just because they rejected him.

Along the way, Elio meets Glordon (Remy Edgerly), Lord Grigon’s son. Glordon is cheerful and carefree. He is nothing like his father, who is obsessed with blasters, power, and destruction. Glordon does not want to hurt anyone, but he is scared to stand up to his father.

Elio and Glordon form an unlikely friendship, a friendship that could change the future of the universe and both of their lives forever.

KPop Demon Hunter — Movie Review

Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) are the stars of Huntrix, a wildly popular Korean girl group. Fans around the world adore them. Their songs, style, and energy can easily light up every stage.

But behind all the fame and glamor, the world doesn’t know their biggest secret.

They’re not just pop stars. They’re demon hunters.

For a long time, demons have roamed the Earth. They hide in the shadows and steal souls to feed their king, Gwi-Ma (Byung-hun Lee). Rumi, Mira, and Zoey were born with voices that carry a special power. When they sing, their music fills people with hope and courage. And when people are feeling fulfilled, the energy they give strengthens an ancient force called the Honmoon.

The Honmoon is what protects the world from Gwi-Ma’s evil. The more people believe in Huntrix and feel inspired by their songs, the stronger the Honmoon becomes. If enough hearts are awakened, they can create the Golden Honmoon, a shield so powerful that no darkness can break through it.

Meanwhile, in the demon world, Gwi-Ma is growing restless. His attacks have all failed and Huntrix is stronger than ever. That’s when a clever demon named Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) comes up with a new idea. Instead of fighting the group directly, why not destroy their fanbase?

Jinu believes that if people stop listening, the Honmoon will grow weak. Perhaps, it will fade away.

As pressure builds for Huntrix to unlock the Golden Honmoon, Rumi faces a personal struggle. She is hiding a terrible secret to her group.

Rumi is part demon.

Every day, it gets harder to keep the truth from Mira and Zoey. She’s afraid that if they find out, it will break their bond and weaken the group’s power.

Rumi’s fear grows as Gwi-Ma and Jinu draw closer to victory. If she loses her friends’ trust, Huntrix might fall apart. And if they do, the world could fall with them.

Lost in Starlight — Movie Review

In the not-so-distant future, humans have achieved what was once only dreamed of: travelling to Mars.

Nan-young’s mother was one of the early astronauts sent to the red planet on a pioneering mission. But something went terribly wrong. Her father, unable to cope with the grief, lost his grip on reality.

Years later, Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri) follows in her mother’s footsteps. Now an astronaut herself, she carries the burden of legacy and longing. Her mission is to continue her mother’s work by cultivating life on Mars using a flower known as Amur Adonis, a symbol of hope and survival in even the harshest environments.

Despite her intelligence and training, Nan-young struggles with grief herself. Flashbacks of her mother paralyze her in crucial moments, raising concerns among her superiors about her mental readiness for such a high-stakes mission. Still, no door is ever truly closed. She may still have a shot if she can gather herself. A short break back in Korea might be just what she needs.

While in Korea, Nan-young meets Jay (Hong Kyung), a former band member who once wrote a song he assumed would never be heard again. One day, Nan-young plays the song, to his surprise. Nan-young reveals it is one of her favorites, a track close to her heart.

As they spend more time together, they begin to help each other face their deepest fears. Nan-young finds comfort and calm in Jay. Jay, on the other hand, finds a new reason to revisit his career as a musician. Their bond becomes healing.

Eventually, everything comes down to a single decision. Nan-young must choose between staying with the person who helped her find herself or returning to the stars to chase the dream that has shaped her entire life.

Mars is dangerous. And it is far, far from Earth. Far from Jay. But it is also her and her mother’s dream.

Can Nan-young leave behind the person she now loves to pursue the dream that defines her?

Predator: Killer of Killers — Movie Review

Predator: Killer of Killers is an anthology film told in different chapters.

The first story follows Ursa (Lindsay LaVanchy), a fierce Viking warrioress leading her son Anders (Damien Haas) and their clan to destroy the Krivichs. Ursa harbors a personal vendetta against the Krivich leader, Zoran, who was responsible for her father's death.

After a brutal battle between Ursa and Zoran, a Yautja suddenly appears and slaughters what remains of both clans.

The next chapter centers on two samurai brothers, Kenji and Kiyoshi (both voiced by Louis Ozawa), sons of a powerful warlord in feudal Japan. One day, their father demands a duel between the two to determine his successor. But Kenji, unwilling to fight his own brother, runs away. Kiyoshi, bound by honor, stays behind and accepts his father's title.

Years later, the brothers reunite, and a fateful duel begins.

Unbeknownst to them, a Yautja has been watching from the shadows, studying their combat. When one brother emerges as the clear victor, the Predator steps in to face the superior warrior in a deadly one-on-one battle.

The next part is set around 1941 to 1942, during the Battle of the Atlantic. This chapter follows fighter pilot John Torres (Rick Gonzalez).

While on a mission, John realizes the enemy aircraft they are fighting isn’t from Earth. It is actually a Yautja starship. Despite orders to stay grounded, John takes to the skies to warn his squadron.

But, it’s too late.

Outgunned and outmatched, John pushes his skills to the limit in a desperate dogfight to bring the alien vessel down.

In the final segment, all surviving “fighters” find themselves captured and taken to a distant planet ruled by the Yautja.

There, they are pitted against each other in a gladiator-style deathmatch. The goal? Prove themselves worthy to face the ultimate Predator warlord. Only the strongest will survive.

Lilo and Stitch: Movie Review

Who would’ve thought that after 23 years, Lilo & Stitch would rocket back into theaters? Not for a sequel, but for a live-action remake.

Naturally, some fans are nervous (including me!). The original Lilo & Stitch is a beloved Disney classic. And let’s be honest, Disney doesn't exactly have the strongest track record when it comes to translating animated films into live-action. Their latest, which is Snow White, was received pretty badly.

From the moment I saw the news about this remake, it felt unnecessary. In fact, I feel like most of Disney’s live-action remakes are unnecessary. There’s rarely a compelling reason to retell the same story, especially when the original is already outstanding, if not perfect.

For those unfamiliar, Lilo & Stitch tells the story of a spirited Hawaiian girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha). After the tragic loss of their parents, her older sister Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong) steps up to raise her, even though she's barely an adult herself.

Nani juggles the pressures of work and caring for Lilo, all while under the watchful eye of child welfare services. If she fails to keep up with her responsibilities, she risks losing custody of her little sister.

Lilo eventually adopts a strange blue "dog" from an animal shelter; she names him Stitch. Stitch (or Experiment 626) is an alien creature genetically engineered for destruction. He has escaped from a galactic prison and landed on Earth, prompting the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham) to order his immediate capture. To retrieve Stitch, she sends down Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis), the evil genius who created him, along with Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), an expert on Earth.

Naturally, things spiral into chaos because of Stitch. But despite it, Lilo refuses to let Stitch go. To her, he’s Ohana. And Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Now, this live-action version does make a few changes that set it apart from the animated film.

The first change lies in its interpretation of Ohana. In the original, Ohana basically meant sticking together through tough times. But in the remake, it takes a more grounded approach, suggesting that sometimes, Ohana also means letting go or walking separate paths in order to grow. While it’s a thoughtful revision, it’s also a challenging concept to communicate clearly to younger audiences. And unfortunately, at least for me, the film doesn’t quite manage to explain it in a way that lands emotionally.

Second, the focus of the story leans more heavily toward Nani. The emotional core becomes her struggle to hold everything together like her job, her relationship with Lilo, and her role as a young guardian. This angle gives Nani more depth, something the original only briefly explored. However, this shift also sidelines Stitch’s own journey of self-discovery and finding a home. So key moments like Stitch running away with the Ugly Duckling book, symbolizing his longing for belonging, are missing. That’s a big loss. Stitch’s arc of finding his own family was what gave the original its emotional pull.

Furthermore, some bold choices in this version may not sit well with fans. For instance, this version recasts Jumba as a villain. Cobra Bubbles, one of the most unique and memorable characters in the original, plays a much smaller role. And David is more of a comic relief. These changes strip the film of some of its original charm and personality.

Still, the remake isn’t without its strengths. One welcome addition is the character of Tūtū, a warm, quick-witted elder who brings both humor and wisdom to the Pelekai sisters. She adds a new dynamic that feels natural and heartwarming.

The casting also deserves praise. Maia Kealoha and Sydney Elizabeth Agudong are excellent as Lilo and Nani. They truly embody their characters and bring an authenticity that honors the original. And of course, Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch! Sanders is unrivaled. No other actor could voice Stitch than Sanders.

So, which version is better? That’s hardly a debate. The animated film wins, hands down. Nothing can replicate the beautiful watercolor backgrounds, the straightforward emotional storytelling, or the perfectly cast voice actors.

This live-action version can stay, though. I don't really hate it. Even if it has a lot of misses, you can still feel that its heart is in the right place. It’s the same story, mostly, with a few creative changes. But those decisions, as odd as they are, do give it a slightly fresher perspective.

3/5

Migration: Movie Review

It feels like 2023 is a year of breakthroughs in animation. There were so many good animated movies released last year, like TMNT: Mutant Mayhem and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Both of which defied the boundaries of the genre. But while everyone is pushing the envelope of what animation can do, we get movies like Illumination’s Migration, which is content just to be part of the flock.

Migration is about the Mallard family and their first migration from New England to Jamaica. The head of the family is the always-anxious Mack Mallard (Kumail Nanjiani), who loathes the idea of ever leaving their home. But he decided to migrate anyway after his always optimistic wife, Pam (Elizabeth Banks), and his always dopey uncle, Grand Dan (Danny DeVito), convinced him.

Upon their arrival in New York City, the film immediately shows us the impact of modernity on animals. They almost hit a crane, a car, a building, and a billboard. Their journey was impeded by this so-called progress, and now they're lost.

The Mallard family then meets a pigeon named Chump (Awkwafina). Chump shows them around the city and introduces them to Delroy (Keegan-Michael Key), a Jamaican-accented parrot. Delroy knows the way to Jamaica, but they must free him first from the clutches of an evil chef so he can help them out.

From there, it feels like we're at an impasse with the story. With no grand message about the human-animal relationship, the story heads nowhere. The overall message about family lacks the genuineness to make an everlasting impact. The only good thing that remains in the end is the voice work of Caspar Jennings, who played Dax Mallard, and Tresi Gazal, who played Gwen Mallard, and their funny banter with each other.

Migration never turns into the movie that director Benjamin Renner wants it to be. It awfully still feels like an Illumination comedy that relies on zaniness over emotions, story, and relevance.

It also didn't bring anything new to the table. The movie is a typical animated family movie meant to entertain kids and amuse adults. It's not even smart or fab. It has no splash. It's happy to just float along the ocean as the waves of bigger and better animated movies keep coming along.

2/5

Lilo & Stitch — Movie Review

This 2002 animated movie saw the resurgence of Disney as one of the top animation studios in the world.

"Lilo & Stitch" is about a troubled girl named Lilo (Daveigh Chase). She lives in Hawaii with her sister, Nani (Tia Carrere), and finds it difficult to make friends at school. Until she met Stitch (Chris Sanders), a blue alien space dog.

Stitch is an experiment, an abomination with a propensity for chaos. He is also a fugitive who happens to fall to Earth accidentally. Despite all of these, the young girl still adopted him, as she believes that there is something good inside him.

Meanwhile, the Grand Councilwoman (Zoe Caldwell) employs the mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (David Ogden Stiers) and Earth specialist Agt. Wendell Pleakley (Kevin McDonald) to re-capture Stitch. And hence, a cat and mouse chase begins.