Tag: NOC Review

Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

Rosana Maris Arias

Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh, is slated to hit theaters on October 10. The two-hour film pays tribute to Hollywood, the film industry, the movie musical, actors, and the idea of celebrity. Highlights from the film include actor Tonatiuh’s performance, Lopez’s dancing, and the use of Technicolor film processing.

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Horror, Movies, Reviews, Sports

How ‘HIM’ Exposes the Cult of Sports and the Commodification of Black Athletes

Ainsley 'LadyL' Landry

American football isn’t just a game; it’s a religion. The rituals, the chants, the stadiums packed with worshippers draped in team colors, it all mirrors a form of collective devotion. In Justin Tipping’s new psychological thriller HIM, produced by Jordan Peele, football becomes something far more literal: a site of sacrifice, worship, and horror.

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Animation, Reviews

‘LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past’ Mixes Fun and Brick-Built Chaos

Michael Lee

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past is more than just kids with a wild imagination playing “what if” with their minifigs, brick builds, and BrickHeadz. It’s a fully realized box of bricks clicking together, where one can play with iconic Star Wars moments to their heart’s content.

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Reviews, Streaming, Television

‘The Comic Shop’ Turns Traditional TV on Its Head

Nikita Francois

The Comic Shop is a new web series that delivers big laughs and dynamic characters in the world of comic book geeks. After a highly successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign, Cheyenne Ewulu’s series brings to life a workplace comedy that centers a Black female lead and a diverse group of supporting characters. 

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Movies, Reviews

‘Eenie Meanie’ Revs Up the Screen with Action, Thrills, and Humor

Nikita Francois

Eenie Meanie is a high-octane thrill ride that will take you from the edge of your seat in anticipation, to laughing hysterically. Shawn Simmons expertly weaves the intricacies of an action thriller with a heist movie, featuring dynamic characters that leave you cheering for multiple sides.

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Horror, Reviews, Streaming

Breaking Curses and Burning Bridges: The True Mystery of ‘Wednesday’ Season 2

Ainsley 'LadyL' Landry

The murders are grisly. The new headmaster is suspicious. The shadows of Nevermore stretch darker than before. But in Wednesday Season 2, Part One, the real tension doesn’t come from what’s lurking in the woods; it comes from the dining table. This is a season about family, the kind you inherit and the kind you choose, and the impossible line between protecting someone and controlling them.

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Animation, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘The Glassworker’ Masterfully Crafts its Anti-War Message

Swara Salih

Writer, director, and co-composer of The Glassworker, Usman Riaz, worked on his inaugural animated film for over a decade. And the results show vividly in the finished feature, giving us a simultaneously intimate and grand story showcasing the beauty of art against the horrors of war.

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Interview, Movies, Reviews1 Comment

‘Americana’ is a Dark Comedy About Cultural and Literal Theft, For Our Times

Dominic Mah

I got to chat with director Tony Tost and star Paul Walter Hauser about Americana, the new Western/heist/comedy opening this week from Lionsgate Films. The interviews and my review of this thoroughly enjoyable genre-mashing romp, featured below. Americana also stars Halsey (yeaaah, “Without Me,” “Closer,” “Boy With Luv,” that Halsey!), Sydney Sweeney, Zahn McClarnon, Eric Dane, and Simon Rex. 

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Movies, Reviews1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Freakier Friday’ is a Fun, Chaotic Nostalgic Charmer

Mike Manalo

From The Parent Trap to Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan’s dominance in pop culture through the late ‘90s/early ‘00s was inescapable. And with good cause, because some of those films went on to become true classics, with many getting a second life with either musical remakes (Mean Girls) or in the case of Freaky Friday, legacy sequels. Surprisingly, that’s actually a great thing, because with Freakier Friday, the movies aren’t the only things getting a second life. Welcome back, Lohan!

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Movies, Reviews, Streaming

‘The Pickup’ Blends Comedy, Chaos, and Reparative Justice — and I Was Not Ready

Ainsley 'LadyL' Landry

When I pressed play on The Pickup, I was ready for a light, laugh-filled heist romp. Keke Palmer, Pete Davidson, and Eddie Murphy in one film? Directed by Tim Story? I expected chaos. I expected jokes. I expected surface-level fun. What I didn’t expect was a film that would detour from slapstick and romance into a quiet story about Black grief, corporate neglect, and what happens when the system that takes from us decides we’re not worth the refund.

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Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘The Bad Guys 2’ Walks a Fine Line Between Redemption and Hilarious Chaos

Michael Lee

The Bad Guys 2 delivers fast-paced action, high-concept heists, and plenty of laughs as the lovable criminal crew returns. Things are different this time as they find themselves teaming up with an all-female trio of criminals while struggling to prove they’ve truly turned over a new leaf.

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Interview, Movies, Music

NOC Interview: Beatrice Grannò on ‘Daniela Forever’ and Dream Duets with Henry Golding

Dominic Mah

I got to chat with Beatrice Grannò about Daniela Forever, the new film from writer-director Nacho Vigalondo, starring Henry Golding. Grannò plays the title character Daniela and also sings on the soundtrack by Hidrogenesse, a Catalan electronic pop group. Audiences may remember Grannò as Mia in White Lotus Season 2. Here’s our interview:

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Marvel, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘The Fantastic Four’ is a Loving Tribute to the Marvel Age of Comics

Mike Manalo

There was a time, shortly after the Comics Code Authority was established, when DC Comics, after being attacked by psychiatrist Fredric Wertham and the Senate, was forced to make more campy, child-friendly stories for their most iconic heroes: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. As a result, sales plummeted, and fans of comics were looking for something more meaningful and relatable. Enter Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s The Fantastic Four!

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Movies, Reviews, Sci Fi1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Daniela Forever’ is Henry Golding’s Indie Star Turn

Dominic Mah

What a lovely film is Daniela Forever, the latest effort from Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo, starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannò as the titular character. Vigalondo’s last feature as writer-director was 2016’s Colossal, which found Anne Hathaway clairvoyantly mind-linked to a gigantic city-stomping kaiju monster. Daniela Forever operates from a science-fanciful premise that is slightly less strange, but more gracefully executed:

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DC Comics, Movies, Reviews2 Comments

NOC Review: James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ is Epic, Heartfelt, and Hopeful

Mike Manalo

Why do we love superheroes? Yes, their powers are extraordinary, their costumes are cool, and their gadgets are incredible. The adventures they go on are exciting, and they symbolize the modern mythology of our time. However, it’s more than that. Superheroes embody the best of us. They give us hope, inspire awe, and encourage us to become better. All of this began with the original and greatest superhero of all time: Superman! And now, so too does James Gunn’s new era of the DC Universe.

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Movies, Reviews

Lighthearted ‘Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado’ Ultimately Fails to be Inclusive

Rosana Maris Arias

Nickelodeon is set to release a new live-action Dora film — Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado — tonight on Paramount+. It stars Samantha Lorraine as Dora and Jacob Rodriguez as Diego, who take over the live action roles from Isabela Merced and Jeff Wahlberg, respectively.

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Animation, Movies, Reviews

Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Turns First Contact Into an Emotionally Rich Feel Trip

Michael Lee

Growing up with Pixar means growing up with stories that shape us. From Toy Story to Inside Out, the studio has built a legacy of emotionally resonant, visually stunning films that speak to audiences of all ages. Now, with Elio, Pixar introduces a brand-new original story that explores loneliness, identity, and belonging — through the eyes of a child who longs for connection and finds it in the most unlikely of places: space.

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Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Ballerina’ Heats Up the World of ‘John Wick’

Mike Manalo

In the past decade, there has probably never been a franchise that has done as much for practical stuntwork as the John Wick series. Since the first hit the screen almost 11 years ago, many have seen and began to recognize the hard work and beauty in well choreographed, fast paced practical stunts. These amazing professionals put their lives on the line and the result is always stellar entertainment. And this Friday, we’re getting more, as we return to the World of Wick with another worthy installment: Ballerina.

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Horror, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Bring Her Back’ is as Horrifying and Heartbreaking as Cinema Gets

Mike Manalo

As a critic and film fan, I find myself drawn to movies that make me smile and weep in equal measures. I’m much less accustomed to movies that make me scream and weep. However, surprisingly, those are just as effective, as I have recently discovered with The Philippou Brothers’ Bring Her Back, a modern-day horror masterpiece.

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Movies, Reviews

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is Charming Yet Predictable

Edward Hong

One thing is for sure, Wes Anderson will keep repeating the same signature formula he has honed and defined over the years and film lovers and movie stars will flock to whatever he has to offer. Such is the case for his latest, The Phoenician Scheme, which stars Benicio Del Toro and a whole cast of his usual favorites alongside some newcomers like Riz Ahmed and Mia Threapleton.

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Animation, Movies, Reviews

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Captures the Heart of Animated Original While Adding More Layers

Laura Sirikul

It has been 23 years since Disney’s animated film Lilo & Stitch premiered. And though what was considered cultural appropriation was different back then, the film was a bit ahead of its time by casting a few Asian or Pacific Islander voices for the main humans (except for Daveigh Chase as Lilo).

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Marvel, Movies, Reviews

NOC Review: ‘Thunderbolts*’ is Marvel at its Most Mature and Emotionally Complex

Mike Manalo

Superheroes have trauma. That’s not an original idea. However, what happens when these superheroes have to face something more real and unsolvable than saving the world, such as actual depression and mental health issues? You get something greater than your average superhero popcorn blockbuster. That’s where Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* truly excels.

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Reviews, Star Wars, Television

‘Andor’ Season 2 Chronicles the Humanity of a ‘Star Wars’ Revolution

Michael Lee

Star Wars prides itself on blending epic storytelling with groundbreaking visual effects while exploring timeless themes of heroism and redemption. It’s a galaxy we all know and love — populated by Jedi knights, Sith lords, dashing smugglers, greedy bounty hunters, and villainous emperors.

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