‘GOAT’ is an Animated Love Letter to the Game of Basketball

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 Michael Lee

GOAT may look like one of those underdog sports movies where you can clock the protagonist and antagonist in the first five minutes, but it has more on its mind than simply winning the big game. The animated film is a love letter to basketball and everything that comes with it. This isn’t just about the score. It’s about the plays, the chemistry, the legacy a veteran fights to protect, and the way a team can become the heartbeat of a community.

Animation, Movies, Sports

‘GOAT’ Brings Basketball Culture to Life in Sony Animation’s Boldest Experiment Yet

February 3, 2026February 3, 2026 Michael Lee

GOAT looks like an underdog sports story on the surface, where a goat tries to earn his place in a league built for bigger animals, but it’s really driven by something more intimate. Family, belief, legacy, and the ache to prove you belong are what actually ground the journey.

Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Strange World’ Has Tons of Heart Despite its Few Shortcomings

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 Michael Lee

Many of today’s comics were inspired by the page-turning action-adventure pulp comics of the past. The characters leaped off the page as they ventured into uncharted territory, where all sorts of dangerous creatures awaited them. Some fearlessly took the lead, while others provided a supportive role. And while most were one-dimensional and stereotypical, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Strange World subverts what we know about the genre with its relatable characters, modern themes, and a wholly engaging story about the legacy.

Animation, Interview, Movies

‘Strange World’ Cast and Crew on Reimagining a Classic Action-Adventure Story For Today

November 16, 2022November 16, 2022 Michael Lee

Those classic action adventure stories like Journey to the Center of the Earth and King Kong took audiences to unexplored worlds unknown where danger is around every corner. But they were all a product of their times where there was a lack of diversity within its characters. Fortunately, Walt Disney Animation Studios changes that with Strange World.

Animation, Movies

‘Strange World’ Featurette Has Cast Promising an Exciting Adventure

November 3, 2022November 3, 2022 Michael Lee

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released the newest featurette for their upcoming feature Strange World. From directors Don Hall (Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon), the film is a take on the classic pulp comics of the past and centers on a family exploring a strange world that is just as crazy and bizarre just as it is mysterious, thrilling and mind-blowing.

Guest Post, Movies11 Comments

TIFF Review: The Birth of a Nation

September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 Guest N.O.C.

by Joelle Monique

In watching The Birth of a Nation I was a little destroyed. There’s so much to unpack. Nat Turner is a legendary figure in the Black community — a former slave who removed his own shackles. It’s a story I’ve wanted to see on screen for a long time. The reviews out of Sundance were huge. Then, news of Nate Parker rape charges and acquittal broke. I debated a long time about whether or not to cover the story when I came to TIFF. Eventually, I decided that a film this prominent and this culturally invested couldn’t be ignored. I have mixed feelings about what I saw. I’m going to take it slow.

Continue reading “TIFF Review: The Birth of a Nation“