September 04, 2020

Mulan (2020) - SPOILER-FREE Review

September 04, 2020/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Niki Caro

Written by: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin

Starring: Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Gong Li, Jet Li

Runtime: 115 min

Synopsis: When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan (Liu Yifei), the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation... and a proud father.

August 21, 2020

The One and Only Ivan (2020) - SPOILER-FREE Review

August 21, 2020/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Thea Sharrock

Written by: Mike White

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan, Ron Funches, Phillipa Soo, Mike White, Ramón Rodríguez, Ariana Greenblatt, Bryan Cranston

Runtime: 93 min

Synopsis: While trapped in a cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, a gorilla named Ivan (Sam Rockwell) teams up with a caring elephant named Stella (Angelina Jolie) to piece together his mysterious past and hatch a cunning escape from their shared captivity.

March 05, 2020

Onward (2020) - SPOILER-FREE Review

March 05, 2020/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Dan Scanlon

Written by: Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin

Starring: Chris Pratt, Tom HollandJulia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer

Runtime: 103 min

Synopsis: Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney-Pixar's Onward introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.

December 19, 2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) - SPOILER-FREE Review

December 19, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: J.J. Abrams

Written by: Chris Terrio, J.J. Abrams

Starring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams

Runtime: 142 min

Synopsis: When it's discovered that the evil Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) did not die at the hands of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones), the rebels must race against the clock to find out his whereabouts. Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) lead the Resistance to put a stop to the First Order's plans to form a new Empire, while Rey (Daisy Ridley) anticipates her inevitable confrontation with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

The Rise of Skywalker serves as the conclusion to the Skywalker Saga, following the events of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

July 18, 2019

The Lion King (2019) - SPOILER-FREE Review

July 18, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Written by: Jeff Nathanson

Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, James Earl Jones, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Runtime: 110 min

Synopsis: From Disney, director Jon Favreau's all-new The Lion King journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba (JD McCrary / Donald Glover) idolizes his father, king Mufasa (James Earl Jones), and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Mufasa's brother (and former heir to the throne) has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy, and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

July 17, 2019

The Lion King (1994) - Review

July 17, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Written by: Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton

Starring: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, Robert Guillaume, Madge Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings

Runtime: 87 min

Synopsis: One of the most popular Disney animated musicals, The Lion King presents the story of a lion cub's journey to adulthood and acceptance of his royal destiny. Simba (voiced first by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, then by Matthew Broderick) begins life as an honored prince, the son of the powerful King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones). The cub's happy childhood turns tragic when his evil uncle, Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons), usurps the throne and drives Simba away from the kingdom. In exile, the young lion befriends the comically bumbling pair of Pumbaa (voiced by Ernie Sabella) and Timon (voiced by Nathan Lane), living a carefree jungle life. As he approaches adulthood, however, he is influenced to go back and reclaim his rightful throne.

May 23, 2019

Aladdin (2019) - SPOILER-FREE Review

May 23, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Written by: John August, Guy Ritchie

Starring: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen

Runtime: 128 min

Synopsis: A street rat frees a genie from a lamp, granting all of his wishes and transforming himself into a charming prince in order to marry a beautiful princess. But soon, an evil sorcerer becomes hell-bent on securing the lamp for his own sinister purposes. This is Disney‘s 11th live-action remake of an original animated film and the 9th since the beginning of the new decade. Now, it’s time for the remake of Aladdin (1992)!

May 22, 2019

Aladdin (1992) - SPOILER-FREE Review

May 22, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker

Written by: Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

Starring: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale

Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis: After a sultan (Douglas Seale) gives his daughter, Jasmine (Linda Larkin), three days to find a husband, she escapes the palace and encounters the street-savvy urchin Aladdin (Scott Weinger), who charms his way into her heart. While the sultan's Vizier, Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), weaves a spell so that he may marry Jasmine and become sultan himself, Aladdin discovers Genie's (Robin Williams) lamp in a cave, rubs it, and sets the mystical entity free, so beginning his quest to defeat Jafar and win the hand of the princess.

March 28, 2019

Dumbo (2019) - SPOILER-FREE Review

March 28, 2019/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Tim Burton

Written by: Ehren Kruger

Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin

Runtime: 130 min

Synopsis: Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

March 02, 2018

Coco (2017) - SPOILER-FREE Review

March 02, 2018/ MSB Reviews

Directed by: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Written by: Matthew Aldrich, Adrian Molina

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt, Renée Victor

Runtime: 105 min

The most recent Disney-Pixar movie was released late in 2017 and it tells the story of Miguel's (Anthony Gonzalez) dream of becoming a famous musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt).

His family has an old ban on music but Miguel wants to follow his dream and he ends up on the Land of the Dead, after a mysterious occurrence. There, he meets the con artist Hector (Gael García Bernal) and they both go on a meaningful journey to discover the secrets of the youngest's family history.

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