Adventure Drama – Matthew Liedke on Film

REVIEW: ‘Oak Street’ struggles in establishing right tone

It’s not a good sign when a film leaves a person asking “who is this movie for?” That’s unfortunately, a common occurrence in this dinosaur-filled movie, though.

The picture, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as suburban married couple, Denise and Greg. All is not happy in their home, though, as their marriage is on the rocks, with Denise particularly tired of the way the relationship is going.

They’re forced to put their marital issues aside, though, to protect their two children when a strange event happens. One morning, they wake up to find their entire neighborhood has been transported back in time to a dangerous age of dinosaurs. Now, the family has to band together to survive and find a way back to their own time.

REVIEW: Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ is an extraordinary cinematic experience

The word epic is sometimes thrown around loosely, but Christopher Nolan’s films usually earn the title. His latest flick once again qualifies.

“The Odyssey” is the latest from the Academy Award winning filmmaker. Based on Homer’s ancient text, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of the city state Ithaca. Following the victory by Greece at Troy, Odysseus and his army are now trying to sail back to their home, but as legend tells, their journey is a perilous one.

Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus’ son Telemachus (Tom Holland) is anxiously waiting for his father to return and deal with an escalating situation. The issue in question is the group of suitors wanting to marry Ithaca’s queen, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), as most believe Odysseus is dead leaving the throne vacant.

REVIEW: ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is a fine film about healing

The mind of Hayao Miyazaki continues to be a wonderfully mystical place.

He’s shared some more of his magical vision with his latest animated fantasy feature, “The Boy and the Heron.” The film, set during World War II, centers on a pre-teen boy, Mahito, who is struggling mentally and emotionally after the death of his mother in a fire.

The film picks up with the protagonist’s father recently getting remarried to the sister of his late wife, Mahito’s aunt Natsuko. Mahito is resistant to moving on and accepting the new reality, but when he discovers a path to a magical world, he’s thrust into an adventure where he has to learn to live and trust again, as well as embrace his family.

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