Review by Steve Barton II

Review by Chadd Clubine

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a genuine surprise, building on the first film while smoothing over many of its shortcomings. Though the sequel isn’t without its flaws, they’re far less noticeable this time around. At a brisk 90 minutes, the film moves at a lively pace, making it easy to stay fully engaged from start to finish. With the world already established, the sequel confidently dives deeper, delivering more of what fans have been hoping to see. While the original succeeded by occasionally embracing that spirit, this installment commits to it completely, resulting in a more consistent and satisfying experience.

The film takes a while to get going, but once it does, it never slows down. When it comes to a sequel, it should be a continuation, but still feel like its own thing. That’s how this film feels. Much like the first film, this one still has its cliches in the way it tries to invest viewers emotionally and in how it tries to remind you of what happened in the prior film. On top of that, there does seem to be some new added lore that makes it a bit confusing to start off with, and understanding where the film will go from there. Fortunately, it not only makes sense later on, but it gives the characters more to do.

The film juggles two parallel storylines: Mario and Luigi team up with the newly introduced Yoshi on one path, while Princess Peach and Toad take on another. This split gives each character more room to shine, naturally setting the stage for their stories to converge later on. Yoshi easily steals the show—while his introduction feels a bit tacked on and raises a few plot holes, his presence brings a lot of energy and fun to the adventure. Meanwhile, Princess Peach is given more depth and agency, with her actions playing a crucial role in the story and offering a stronger point of connection, especially through both her combat abilities and her narrative importance.

The animation is just as strong as in the first film, but this time it stands out even more thanks to the dynamic camerawork. The movie frequently pushes into what feels like extended, one-take sequences, adding a sense of momentum and immersion. Rather than relying on a single standout action set piece, it delivers several, each helping to keep the energy high throughout. Combined with vibrant animation, it reinforces why this franchise works so well in animated form. That said, the format occasionally leans too heavily into childish humor that doesn’t always land. But when the film pulls back and embraces jokes that resonate with both kids and adults, it finds a sweet spot that makes it feel like a genuinely all-ages experience.

While the sequel may not deliver as many iconic moments as the first film, it makes up for it with a more consistent level of entertainment and stronger thematic depth. Bowser, in particular, is given meaningful growth, as the story challenges him both as a leader and as a father. Through his relationship with Bowser Jr., the film explores what it means to be a parent and how his choices shape his son’s perspective. At the same time, the developing romance between Mario and Princess Peach is clear without feeling overbearing, adding a light emotional thread that never comes across as forced.
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Overall, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like a sequel that genuinely took the first film’s criticisms to heart, delivering something more refined and truer to the spirit of the games. It stands well on its own, making it easy for newcomers to jump in without needing to revisit the original. Yoshi emerges as the clear MVP, while Princess Peach is given far more depth and agency, making her an even more engaging and relatable presence. Even when the humor doesn’t always land, the film more than compensates with its stunning animation, dynamic action, and stronger thematic focus, cementing it as one of the year’s most surprising standouts so far.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in theaters April 1st!

Review by Chadd Clubine

Anytime Zazie Beetz appears in a project, it instantly feels worth watching. She remains one of the most underrated actresses working today, consistently stealing the spotlight regardless of the size of her role. Thankfully, this time she’s been given a true leading part—one that fully showcases her range and charisma—and hopefully opens the door to many more opportunities at the forefront.

The film’s opening initially feels like a familiar cliché we’ve seen many times before. Given the true direction of the story, starting this way not only stretches the runtime, but momentarily pulls focus from the central plot. While its purpose becomes clearer later, the film might have been stronger had it jumped straight into the core narrative. That said, it eventually circles back to the opening in a way that justifies its inclusion—one of the rare instances where a flashback feels necessary without relying on forced exposition.
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The film’s marketing does an excellent job of making it feel like a must-see, largely because of how much it holds back. But stripped of that mystery, the simplest way to describe it is this: imagine if Quentin Tarantino directed The Raid. The result is absolute chaos—in the best way. From its inventive camerawork to its unflinching violence, the film feels wildly unrestrained. Director Kirill Sokolov emerges as a bold new voice in the action genre, one who never settles for anything less than his vision. The camera transforms tight, confined spaces into something dynamic and expansive, while the brutality is so sharp and surprising that it feeds directly into the film’s dark, offbeat humor. The film is packed with inventive action set pieces that push the genre forward, carving out something fresh and distinctly its own within the action landscape.

While the film’s opening may initially feel like a cliché, it ultimately reveals a surprisingly heartfelt story about a sister trying to make amends by saving her sibling from something far more dangerous than anything she’s faced before. By sending Beetz’s character to prison, the film cleverly equips her with the skills she’ll need for that rescue. It does take some time for Myha’la to appear as her sister, but once she does, their dynamic comes into sharp focus, grounding the emotional core of the story. Even with limited screen time, the film effectively builds their relationship, making you invest in their bond and root for Beetz to succeed—especially as the true nature of the villains begins to unfold.

The third act is still undeniably fun, but it begins to tip into excess, becoming a bit too ridiculous for its own good. While the visuals remain striking, the heightened goofiness makes it harder to stay emotionally invested in what’s unfolding. There’s also a key reveal that aims for impact, but doesn’t quite land, largely because it never feels like the outcome is truly in doubt. With a more developed villain and a greater focus on tension and genuine surprises over humor, the film could have delivered a much stronger, more satisfying finale.
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Overall, They Will Kill You delivers on its promise. The narrative can feel a bit uneven at times, but it finds its strength in the emotional throughline between Beetz and Myha’la’s characters. The action is the true standout, packed with set pieces that, while clearly inspired, still feel inventive and creatively executed. At just 90 minutes, it’s time well spent.
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They Will Kill You is now playing in theaters.

Review by Chadd Clubine

Forbidden Fruits feels like something sealed in a ’90s time capsule and only just unearthed for modern theaters. That retro quality gives it a distinct charm—one that helps smooth over some of the film’s weaker elements. Despite a large and talented cast, its look and sound can feel dated at times, but it ultimately leans into a tone that works in its favor and suits the story it’s trying to tell.

Led by an all-star cast, each performer feels fully in sync with the tone director and co-writer Meredith Alloway is aiming for. Lili Reinhart delivers one of her most memorable performances to date, navigating a character layered with misdirection that builds toward an unpredictable conclusion. While Victoria Pedretti and Alexandra Shipp bring their usual presence and deliver standout moments, it’s Lola Tung who truly breaks through, turning in a performance that’s likely to earn her wider recognition.
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There’s a lot packed into this film—arguably enough to have been better explored in a longer-form TV series. Still, having this level of talent assembled for a theatrical release feels like a small miracle, especially given how rare projects like this have become. The constantly gliding dolly shots and the stylized set design can, at times, give it the appearance of a student film. On paper, that might seem like a drawback, but it ultimately becomes part of the film’s appeal, lending it a distinct charm that many viewers will likely embrace as camp.

It’s clear how comfortable the cast is under Meredith Alloway’s direction, fully committing to the film’s offbeat tone. It weaves together elements of comedy and mystery, gradually leaning into its genre influences. With Shudder behind its distribution, the film ultimately delivers the kind of bold, unexpected turn the platform is known for. When it gets there, it lands one of the most unpredictable moments in the entire story—one that gives Final Destination a run for its money. In that instant, anything feels possible, and the film is all the better for embracing that unpredictability.

Based on where the film leaves off, it clearly has a sequel in mind. Whether that actually happens is uncertain, given the film’s smaller scale. Any continuation would likely need to take a bold, different approach to justify extending the story. The ending itself lands on a strong note, but the post-credits scene lingers a bit too long, undercutting some of that impact. That’s where a TV series could really do this story justice. There’s a wealth of untapped potential where it could go from here, with more room to explore its ideas and characters.
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Overall, Forbidden Fruits leans into a bygone era in a way that gives it a distinct, offbeat charm. The core cast delivers across the board, with Lili Reinhart turning in one of her strongest performances to date and Lola Tung further proving herself beyond The Summer I Turned Pretty. Fans of this particular blend of genres may find a new cult favorite here, while horror audiences, in particular, will likely be caught off guard by the film’s many surprises.

Forbidden Fruits in now playing in theaters.

Review by Steve Barton II