Luca (2021)

Pixar is widely known for its originality and beautiful animation. With that being said, this new film is flawless. It is unique in every way imaginable. Audiences expect nothing less of the films from Pixar and this is an absolute delight throughout the whole film. Beautifully animated and a heartfelt and comedic story, this film is yet another spectacular entry from the beloved studio. 

Making his directorial debut, Pixar short film director Enrico Casarosa, crafts an utterly amazing feature. It is heartwarming, comedic and very memorable. The film is one of the most unique of the Pixar filmography so far and this film is worth watching. His direction is unique in every sense of the word. I have no doubt that this film will rank high among my favorite films from the studio so far. 

Starring as the title character is Jacob Tremblay (Wonder, Room). Tremblay's performance as the lead character is fun and emotional with comedic effort. He is able to bring to life such an amazing film with an exciting and upbeat voice talent. Costarring alongside him are Jack Dylan Grazer (IT, Shazam), Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan. Grazer plays the friend of Luca. The two have a chemistry that is very magnetic and undoubtedly memorable. Gaffigan and Rudolph play the main characters sea monster parents in a comedic fashion throughout the whole film. 

One of the most surprising moments of the film, is that one of the characters has a physical disability. This character is missing his arm and is one of the few characters portrayed as having a disability. This is a major win for inclusion of disability in film and I couldn't be anymore thrilled that this was included as part of the film. 

As I have said, the animation is spectacular. With that being said, the animation style in the film reminds me of the animation style of the British animated studio "Aardman". The character design reminds me of the characters seen in their films and I think that is unintentional but it is a comparison I am making.

The films music is also very bright and jovial. The music blends into the entire film. Composer Dan Romer makes the score just as beautiful as the film itself and it adds to the excitement. 

One of the best things about films from "Pixar" is the imagination. Their films are always so original and unique. Same goes for this beautifully crafted film. It is a sight to see and audiences will no doubt fall in awe over the films spectacular animation. The film I think is one of the best films from the studio so far. 

Poster courtesy of Pixar and Disney

Rate: A 

Director: Enrico Casarosa

Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan

MPAA Rating: PG (for Some Thematic Elements, Brief Violence, Rude Humor, Language)

Runtime: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Synopsis: Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar's original feature film "Luca" is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca (voice of Jacob Tremblay) shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer), but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water's surface.

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A Quiet Place Part 2 (2021)

One of the most anticipated films of the year is finally in theaters. The sequel to the smash-hit horror film is a phenomenal film.  It is more less of a horror film but rather a suspense thriller movie. We have been wait for over a year for this film and it was definitely worth the wait. What makes this film so unique is its thrill factor and over suspense of the whole thing. It is truly one of the most suspenseful films of the year. It is even more suspenseful than the first movie. 

John Krasinski comes back to direct the sequel and it is even better than the first film. It is way more suspenseful and adds to the thrill factor. He adds to the scare factor too with the sound sensitive monsters wrecking havoc on the world. The depth of this film is much bigger and the intensity of this film shows that it is. 

The film stars Emily Blunt and Krasinski as the couple in the film that tries to evade the dangers of the monsters that hunt those who create sound. Co-starring are: Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. Their performances (with the new addition of Murphy in the film) are all thrilling throughout the entire film. 

Another very important part of the film is the integration of sign language in the film. This was also a huge part in the first film as well, so this is just a continuation of that. It's really unique because Simmonds is deaf in real life so I thing that is a great part of the movie to include sign language while also casting an actor with a disability in the film as well. 

To keep the thrill and suspense factors going, Marco Beltrami returns to craft yet another thrilling score. It keeps the thrill alive throughout the entire film. While accompanying the film, it is yet another exciting part of the film altogether. 

Audiences have waited for over a year to see the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 horror suspense film. The sequel lives up to the hype and is one of the best films of the year. This film has upped the level of suspense with this film and it was undoubtedly worth the year long wait to see the amazing film. 

Poster courtesy of Paramount

Rate: A 

Director: John Krasinski 

Starring: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe

MPAA Rating: PG-13 ( (Terror|Bloody/Disturbing Images|Violence)

Runtime: 1 Hour and 35 Minutes

Cruella (2021)

One of the most iconic Disney villains gets the big-screen treatment in this highly anticipated origin film. The film is the second live-action film based off of one of Disney's most villainous foes. 2014's Maleficient starring Angelina Jolie played the iconic "Sleeping Beauty" villain ever so fierce. Now it's Emma Stone's role of the infamous Cruella De Vil. The cool thing about this film is that it gives viewers an origin into how our favorite Disney baddies turned evil. This new film is honestly my favorite live-action Disney film to date. This film is stylish, sexy, and fierce, it's entertaining from start to finish. 

I can't think of anyone who would be better than Emma Stone in this role. She is a tour de force and is electric and sassy. Her performance is amazing and her portrayal of the title role. Her chemistry opposite Emma Thompson is also fantastic and exciting throughout the entire film. 

Thompsons supporting role as the main rival to the character is very similar to that of Meryl Streeps' "The Devil Wears Prada" character in which she plays a bossy fashion designer. Her role is just as exciting and devilish as the title character is.

Director Craig Gillespie brings the classic iconic villain to life in a spectacular way. The ambiance of the film is delightfully dreary and the overall appeal of the time period of the film 1970's England is stunning because it fits into the personality of the character and the story altogether. This film is unique in every sense of the word. 

To complement such a devilishly entertaining film, a score by Nicholas Britell makes this film as charming as it can be. It's sophisticated enough for the film to give off the punk like attitude it gives off. In addition to the score, a mix of iconic songs from the 70's and 80's make this film even more entertaining. 

It is the best live-action "Disney" film to date. With so much to offer with its fantastic cast, stunning costumes, action packed fun and the delightfully crafted score, this film demands to be seen. It's the most unique of any live-action film from the studio to date. It's an irresistable ride and it can't be missed. 

Poster courtesy of Disney+

Rate: A

Director: Craig Gillespie 

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Paul Walter-Hauser, Joel Fry and Mark Strong

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for Thematic elements and some violence) 

Runtime: 2 Hours and 16 Minutes