MovieRankingReviews

  I am not big on Idol anime series. However, Zombie Land Saga was one of the few idol series that I actually thoroughly enjoyed! It was a hilarious comedy on girls who died and got turned into zombies to become idols. Despite the wacky premise, it explored deep themes of death, regret and second chances that made it more than just a generic idol anime. This sequel movie isn’t really any of that… It’s a straight-up alien invasion film and less about the idol group singing or overcoming past regrets. It’s an incredibly weird and tonally different sequel but the ludicrous nature of the premise does result in the film being a lot of fun. Plus, the biggest incentive to this film is seeing an awakened Tae! The film is a bit long at 2 hours with some pacing issues, we don’t get much on Tae’s past despite her awakening, the ending is a little disappointing and there are still tons of loose plot threads. I hope we do get a proper and more authentic season 3 though.

  When Toy Story 5 was announced, I was very concerned. The first three films are easily one of the best trilogy out there with a beautiful and satisfying ending in the 3rd film. The 4th film, while not as good as the original three, it did still have a strong and emotional ending that felt like a nice wrap up for the whole series. Yet, here we are with a 5th entry that threatens to damage the whole poignant ending. Is this a necessary entry or is this a story not worth telling? What this new entry tackles is something incredibly relatable to our current times. What if kids stop believing in playing with toys and started being more interested in tech? It’s an interesting dilemma and is something that the director, Andrew Stanton, takes a genuine deep dive into. The film doesn’t just portray the new tech, Lilypad, as a straight-up villain and there is a layered exploration of toys and tech. At the heart of this new story is Jessie. She struggles with what feels like h...

  It was basically 90 minutes of the “Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme” for the whole runtime. No character development for any of the characters, unfocused and minimal story, unimaginative writing with no depth. At least they used more songs from the Mario games instead of pop songs so at least there is one improvement!

  I was worried when they announced a Zootopia sequel. Judy and Nick already felt like they had a complete character arc in the first film. Those concerns turned out to be unfounded, as the sequel really delivers on their relationship. Even though they had become a solid team and close friends by the end of the previous film, relationships always have bumps and cracks. Judy and Nick care about different things, which leads to meaningful conflict and growth between them. Additionally, the film continues its social commentary on race, introducing reptiles into the mix in a way that works very well within the Zootopia universe. An excellent sequel that feels like a natural evolution of the franchise!

  Scarlet is the next animated film from the acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, who is notable for films such as Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and Belle. This new film is an alternate retelling of the classic Hamlet. Unfortunately, Scarlet has got to be Mamoru Hosoda’s worst film so far. The story never does anything interesting or new with the material it is inspired by. The writing is bland, the characters are underdeveloped, and the pacing is very uneven. The male lead, Hijiri, is rather irritating and takes screen time away from the titular character. There are also random music and dance set pieces that do not really add anything, aside from being incredibly odd. Additionally, the message of war and forgiveness is constantly and relentlessly shoved in the audience’s face. The 3D CG is also quite wonky and can look visually odd at times. Despite that, I do appreciate the ambition. There are some great visuals, the musical score is wonderful, and there are a few genu...

  I thoroughly enjoyed Chainsaw Man Season 1. As an avid reader of the Chainsaw Man manga, I found the adaptation to be terrific. However, I do understand why some people had problems with it. The more Hollywood-style cinematography, muted colours, and slower moments weren’t exactly the tone many people expected from the series. All of that is remedied in this sequel film! The chaotic, fast-paced energy, phenomenal visuals, vibrant colours, stunning musical score, and some of the best action set pieces in an animated film make it an absolute thrill to watch. Not only that, but the story also features great character moments, wonderful emotional beats, and engaging drama. This film is a phenomenal sequel, and I hope the next season retains the style shown here!

  Marvel Zombies is an ambitious attempt at bringing an R-rated edge to Marvel’s animated lineup. One of the highlights is seeing characters who’ve never crossed paths in the movies or shows finally share the screen here. The return of heroes we haven’t seen in a while, like Shang-Chi, was a real treat. But the biggest standout is easily Blade, or rather “Blade Knight,” who steals the spotlight. If the series accomplished anything, it’s making me want a live-action Blade in the MCU as soon as possible, he’s that cool here. That said, there are several questionable plot choices that hold the series back. The ending feels especially abrupt and jarring. The humour also misses the mark more often than not, coming across as forced and undermining the darker tone the show seems to be aiming for. Overall, Marvel Zombies delivers on gore and spectacle, but it’s held back by uneven storytelling and tonal inconsistencies. It won’t leave a lasting impression, but for fans of Marv...

Demon Slayer finally begins its climactic arc with this film. Ufotable once again delivers a phenomenal adaptation, elevating the source material to new heights. The animation is breathtaking, and the Infinity Castle itself is mesmerizing in its design. The action set pieces are exhilarating and gripping, with stunning choreography throughout. The character-driven moments are emotional and powerful, and the soundtrack perfectly complements every scene, whether intensifying the battles or heightening the impact of quieter, dramatic moments. Overall, this is a beautifully crafted, high-production anime film. That said, the movie stumbles at times due to its repetitive structure and over-reliance on flashbacks, which slow down the pacing. The formula often goes: a battle begins, a flashback for an Upper Demon unfolds, then a flashback for a Demon Slayer character follows, before the fight resumes. This cycle repeats multiple times, with flashbacks occasionally stretching on...

  This is a beautifully animated film about self-discovery, connection, and creativity through music. The characters are super expressive, and the animation is colourful and vibrant in all the right ways. The relationships are a joy to watch, especially between our two main girls: Totsuko and Kimi. The music is great too, with a strong score and a fantastic performance at the end. What keeps it from being truly amazing is that it tries to juggle too many storylines without giving them enough time. Totsuko’s Synesthesia feels like it’s just there rather than something meaningful to her character. Kimi hiding the fact that she dropped out of school from her grandmother never really pays off, even though it builds a lot of tension. Rui, the third member of the trio, is the least developed, he barely gets screen time compared to the girls, and his conflict between music and inheriting the family clinic isn’t explored much at all. The Catholic school setting brings up an ...

  Sony Pictures Animation has delivered an outstanding original animated film, something that’s been sorely missing from Disney and Pixar lately. The movie features a stunningly beautiful animation style that seamlessly blends 2D and 3D, compelling world-building, fluid and thrilling action set pieces, and a fun, lovable main trio. To top it all off, it boasts phenomenal K-pop music! While the plot is fairly predictable and the third act feels a bit rushed, the film would have benefitted from being about 10 minutes longer. It also leaves a number of dangling plot threads that seem to be setting up a sequel. Still, this was an absolute surprise! With a title like that, I wasn’t expecting something so thoroughly enjoyable.

  A very light-hearted, sweet romance between two teens who are both self-conscious in different ways. It has a vibrant art style with colours that truly pop. The animation is quite unique, especially in the way the characters move. This is particularly noticeable in the opening mall scene, but I didn’t mind it. The OST is wonderful, and the characters are all very likeable. The story isn’t particularly memorable, as it delves into a bit of mystery involving a music record they’re trying to find. It features lots of typical anime clichés, including the ending. However, it’s a fine watch if you’re just looking for a relaxing 90-minute romance.

  It is nice to see Pokemon branch out of the normal animated series and do something new. Pokemon Concierge is a stop-motion animated series featuring our main character becoming a concierge for a Pokemon resort. Season 1 is incredibly short with only 4 episodes with a short run length of 14-20 minutes. Each episode is incredibly sweet, lovely and heartwarming to watch. The series is very slice-of-life and doesn’t have any overarching story but each episode does a nice and meaningful message to teach. It’s a good time and I am glad it is getting a second season!

  Blue Giant is an incredible film about passion and Jazz! The animation is superb with amazing use of clashing colours and vivid imagery during their performances. The music is spectacular and even if you’re not big on Jazz like me, the soundtrack will captivate you! The story is incredibly engaging, which is interesting as the director decided to cut out the entire first arc and some backstories that were present in the source material. However, you will barely notice this as what the director focuses is on the emotions and values of the character which works just as well. My only gripe with this film is the use of CG which is a bit jarring. It can go from amazing 2D animation of our characters to 3D which is not that great and mildly distracting. Nevertheless, this is a truly phenomenal anime movie that I highly recommend!

  Flow is a uniquely captivating animated movie by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis. The movie is entirely dialogue-free as our main cast is entirely animals who have to unite after a flood devastates their home. Even without dialogue, the story is straightforward to follow and the character (animal?) arcs are conveyed incredibly well. There is a wonderful theme of unity and connection. I also love all the mysteries within this world that are up to the viewers’ interpretation. The animation is a perfect blend of realism and a painting art style. There is diligent care for the animals as they move and behave like they would in real life. The fact that this was all made in Blender is astounding! The music score is also wonderful. This is an easy recommendation for everyone. It is mesmerizing and easily one of the best movies in 2024.

  I am no League of Legends fan. I played it a long time ago but I wasn’t particularly into the lore or story or anything. When I first heard of an animated project based on the game, admittedly, I wasn’t that interested. Not until I saw the first trailer that my curiosity was peaked. Firstly, the animation is phenomenal! The style has this unique hand-painted look to it that makes every frame look stunning! The characters have incredible facial animation that easily allows us to see the nuance in their feelings. The excellent mix of 2D and 3D animation is done in a way that makes the animation here so incredibly unique. I also adore the steampunk meets fantasy world of Piltover and the grimy gloom of Zaun. The show is also elevated by the amazing soundtrack. Every song choice feels purposely chosen to illustrate and elevate a scene to even greater heights. There are many action scenes in the series that are exceedingly well-choreographed and just a blast to watch! W...