Animation, Movies, TrailersLeave a comment

‘Hexed’ Trailer Sends Hailee Steinfeld into a Magical New Realm

June 16, 2026June 17, 2026 Michael Lee

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released the first trailer for Hexed. The film features the voice talents of Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones in a coming-of-age animated feature that follows what happens when impulsive and unconventional teenage girl unleashes ecret magical abilities, she’s hurtled out of suburbia and into a magical realm called Hexe.

Animation, Movies, TrailersLeave a comment

‘Shrek 5’ Takes Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and the Kids to Jail

June 16, 2026June 17, 2026 Michael Lee

Universal pictures and DreamWorks animation has dropped the first trailer for Shrek 5. Mike Myers Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz all returned to reprise their roles as the titular Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona, all the while weaving in meta humor into the wild and crazy world of fairy tales

Animation, Movies, ReviewsLeave a comment

Jessie-Centric Story in ‘Toy Story 5’ Proves These Toys Still Matter

June 16, 2026June 16, 2026 Michael Lee

Toy Story is one of those animated franchises that has stood the test of time. Across three decades, multiple shorts, made-for-television specials, and Disneyland attractions, the series has continued expanding, now reaching its fifth feature film. It would be easy to assume that the franchise has finally run its course, but Toy Story 5‘s Jessie-centric story proves that every time these characters appear ready to take their final bow, Pixar finds a new way to justify bringing them back.

Interview, Martial Arts, MoviesLeave a comment

‘The Furious’ Director and Cast on Translating Fighting into Emotional Storytelling

June 12, 2026June 15, 2026 Michael Lee

Action films are cinema, pure and simple. Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious not only embraces this truth, it elevates it. Although the dialogue is sparse and often serves only to advance the exposition, the film’s real storytelling unfolds through exhilarating action. Every punch, kick, and movement drives the narrative forward, proving that action can be as eloquent as words. Tanigaki, along with Joe Taslim and Joey Iwanaga, shares their thoughts on the process, rehearsals, and what it took to make all those fights feel emotional.

Animation, Movies, TrailersLeave a comment

Pixar’s ‘Gatto’ Teaser Plays With The Criminal Feline Underbelly

June 11, 2026June 11, 2026 Michael Lee

Pixar is returning to original storytelling with Gatto. The studio has released a short teaser trailer offering the first glimpse at its criminal feline underworld, where Nero, voiced by Mark Ruffalo, is a small black cat serving as a lieutenant to mob boss Rocco, voiced by Laurence Fishburne.

Martial Arts, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘The Furious’ Proves Pure Action Spectacle Speaks Louder Than Words

June 10, 2026June 10, 2026 Michael Lee

Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious is the kind of action film that demands to be experienced in a theater, where the fight choreography explodes on the screen. After earning strong festival buzz at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section and playing Beyond Fest as a sold-out U.S. premiere, Tanigaki’s latest makes good on its reputation as a bruising, crowd-pleasing showcase for practical martial arts filmmaking.

Star Wars, Theme ParksLeave a comment

Disneyland’s “Kids Rule Summer” Turns Up the Fun for Families

May 29, 2026May 29, 2026 Michael Lee

Summer is about to be in full swing, which means there will be plenty of reasons for everyone to play under the sun. And Disneyland Park is giving guests plenty of reasons to visit the Happiest Place on Earth with new seasonal offerings that include a dangerous new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Bluey’s Best Day Ever!, and the final weeks of Disneyland Resort’s 70th Celebration.

Star Wars, Theme Parks

Disneyland’s “Kids Rule The Summer” Kicks Off with ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

May 20, 2026May 21, 2026 Michael Lee

School’s out, summer is here, and Disneyland is handing the magic over to its youngest guests with the “Kids Rule the Summer” celebration, a season of family-friendly experiences, favorite attractions, and memory-making moments across the resort.

Animation, Interview, Streaming

‘Swapped’ Star Justina Machado on Empathy and Magic

May 10, 2026 Michael Lee

In the new animated film Swapped, Justina Machado lends her voice to Calli, a fiercely protective mother who would rather keep her son safely tucked away than let him explore a dangerous world. In our conversation, Machado reflects on her own immigrant upbringing of “lay low, get in no trouble,” how that connects to Calli’s “hide today, alive tomorrow” philosophy, and how fear-filled love shapes the character’s journey toward empathy, unity, and letting go.

Movies, Reviews, Video Games

‘Mortal Kombat II’ Finally Gives Fans the Tournament They’ve Been Waiting For

May 6, 2026May 6, 2026 Michael Lee

For a Mortal Kombat movie to truly feel like Mortal Kombat, there needs to be a tournament. Simon McQuoid’s 2021 reboot of the popular video game franchise noticeably lacked one, but it also gave the series the springboard it needed to finally enter the arena. And Mortal Kombat II certainly delivers as it is an upgrade where fights hit harder, the fatalities are more fun, the tournament stakes finally feel tangible, and the character dynamics give the carnage more momentum than its predecessor ever had.

Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘Swapped’ Uses a Familiar Story to Deliver Timely Lessons on Empathy

May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 Michael Lee

Nathan Greno’s Swapped may not reinvent the body swap formula, but it uses it effectively to remind audiences of the importance of seeing the world through someone else’s perspective. Backed by a terrific cast led by Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple, Netflix’s latest animated film turns a familiar premise into a funny, heartfelt story about empathy, identity, and our relationship with the natural world.

Animation, Interview, Streaming

Disney’s ‘Songs in Sign Language’ Reimagines Familiar Songs Through a Deaf Lens

April 21, 2026April 22, 2026 Michael Lee

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Songs in Sign Language, debuting April 27 on Disney+, is an opportunity to bring songs to the Deaf community in ways that feel fully expressive, intentional, and culturally authentic, rather than simply translated and confined to a small box in the corner. In our interview with Disney animator and director Hyrum Osmond (Olaf Presents), Deaf West Theatre artistic director DJ Kurs, and sign language reference choreographer Catalene Sacchetti, we explore why reimagining songs from Frozen II, Moana 2, and Encanto matters.

Horror, Movies, Reviews

Lee Cronin’s ‘The Mummy’ is a Viscerally Unsettling Reinvention of a Horror Icon

April 16, 2026April 16, 2026 Michael Lee

The Mummy remains one of the most iconic figures of the classic movie monster era. For nearly 95 years, the character has been reimagined through horror, romance, and action-adventure, evolving with each generation without ever fully losing its mythic power. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy recognizes that any new take must do more than reinvent the monster. It also has to leave room to engage with the story’s cultural roots in a way that feels thoughtful, grounded, and free of the outdated stereotypes that have often shaped past depictions.

Music, Opinion

Laufey’s “Madwoman” Music Video is a Wasian Celebration

April 13, 2026April 13, 2026 Michael Lee

Hot off her Coachella performance and A Matter of Time: The Final Hour deluxe edition release, Laufey, the Chinese-Icelandic genre-defying Grammy award winner, has revealed the music video for “Madwoman.” Framed through a dreamy 1960s bossa nova-inspired aesthetic, the video feels like more than just a visual flex. It is a deliberate gathering of Wasian talent across music, film, television, and sports, turning a buzzy release into a larger statement about visibility.

Horror, Interview, Movies

Lee Cronin and James Wan Talk Bringing Authenticity to ‘The Mummy’

April 13, 2026 Michael Lee

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy re-imagines the iconic monster through a more intimate kind of horror, trading spectacle for a story rooted in grief, guilt, and family trauma. In our interview with Cronin, along with producers James Wan and Jason Blum, we talk about reshaping the legend into something more domestic, unsettling, and emotionally grounded.

Movies, Trailers

New Live-Action ‘Moana’ Trailer and Featurette Spotlight Cultural Artistry

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 Michael Lee

It was only a matter of time before Walt Disney Animation Studios set its sights on adapting its more recent classics into live-action. Now, a new trailer for Moana offers another glimpse at how the studio is reinterpreting one of its biggest hits, while a new featurette celebrates the live-action reimagining’s artistry.

Animation, Theme Parks1 Comment

‘Bluey’s Best Day Ever!’ Brings Play, Heart, and Imagination to Disneyland

March 20, 2026March 21, 2026 Michael Lee

For a show built on imagination, play, and the emotional intelligence of everyday family life, Bluey has always felt bigger than its seven-minute runtime. Now, it’s getting a stage big enough to match because “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre will be making its debut at Disneyland this weekend.

Animation, Streaming1 Comment

How Disney Animation’s Short Circuit Turns Personal Stories Into Powerful Shorts

March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 Michael Lee

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Short Circuit has been delivering creative shorts to audiences for the past ten years. The program gives anyone at the studio the chance to pitch an idea in the hopes of being selected to bring their own project to life.

Movies, Sci Fi, Trailers1 Comment

‘Dune: Part Three’ Will Be a Love Story that Explores the Consequences of Power

March 17, 2026March 17, 2026 Michael Lee

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for Dune: Part Three, the highly anticipated next chapter in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic. Packed with striking new footage and a closer look at what lies ahead for Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the trailer sets the stage for another visually stunning and emotionally charged return to Arrakis. To celebrate the release, the studio invited select journalists and influencers to a special event for an early look at the trailer, followed by a Q&A with Villeneuve and stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Javier Bardem.

Animation, Movies

Netflix Reveals New Look at Skydance Animation’s ‘Swapped’

March 11, 2026March 11, 2026 Michael Lee

A new animated adventure comedy is heading to Netflix. Swapped, directed by Nathan Greno, will feature the voices of Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, and Cedric the Entertainer when it releases later this spring. So the streaming service has released new images from the upcoming release.

Animation, Movies, Music

How SZA’s “Save The Day” Captures a Generation Trying to Change the World

March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 Michael Lee

When I joined a select group of journalists to cover Hoppers at the Pixar campus in Emeryville, CA, we did not expect to see Daniel Chong’s film in its entirety. One of the biggest surprises, though, was learning that Grammy Award-winning artist SZA would be performing the film’s end credits song, “Save The Day.”

Animation, Interview, Movies

Yvette Nicole Brown on ‘Zootopia 2’ and the Status of the ‘Community’ Movie

March 10, 2026March 11, 2026 Michael Lee

Yvette Nicole Brown is part of a special group. While some talents have earned EGOT status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, Brown has her own pop culture distinction as a DMPL, having appeared in a Disney, Marvel Studios, Pixar, and Lucasfilm project. Now the actor shares her thoughts on the recognition, being in Zootopia 2, as well as an update on the Community movie.

Theme Parks

Disney California Adventure Park’s Food & Wine Festival 2026 Serves Up New Standouts

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 Michael Lee

Disney California Adventure Park’s annual Food & Wine Festival makes its delicious return this year with new and returning flavors that celebrate the Golden State. From comforting savory bites to sweet treats and refreshing drinks, this year’s lineup offers something for every kind of foodie. After tasting several items across the festival, a few standouts proved why this event remains one of the park’s most flavorful seasonal offerings.