Seattle Film Critics Society has been hard at work bringing attention to Pacific Northwest filmmakers and productions over the last several years. …
Author: Morgen Schuler
In Moana 2 Disney does right by their strongest “princess”
Moana 2 feels like a natural extension to the first. Better yet, the the storyline is even more focused on Moana because Maui is tied up again (literally and figuratively) in a trap keeping him from seeing his precious humans for the first half-ish of the film. While I love his personality, the charm and comedic timing he adds to the narrative, he should (and is) a supporting role to help our lead find her way.
The slow burning intesity and heartbreak of Maria swallows you whole
Maria Callas, a world-renowned opera singer, had an incredible and enduring effect on anyone who witnessed her power and talent. She was also a force to be reckoned with off stage with very little patience for the inane.
Megalopolis still has me scratching my head
Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) is a genius inventor who discovered/created a new element he dubbed Megalon. This material is incredibly durable, easily manipulated and can do any number of things in any number of ways to create stuff we need across many aspects of our lives (ie the load-bearing structure of a building or material for a dress, it can apparently run the gamut). Cesar considers this new compound the answer to many of mankind’s problems including homelessness and war. Ever the optimist, he wants to create a utopia, Megalopolis, with Megalon as its backbone both literally and metaphorically.
Local Sightings started off another stellar fest this weekend
This weekend saw the kickoff of Seattle’s 27th Local Sightings Film Festival ten-day run September 20th – September 29th. Hosted at Northwest Film Forum (and online), it showcases the best and brightest the Pacific Northwest has to offer, both new and established. Filmmakers from WA, OR, AK, ID, MT, BC, and the Yukon are all eligible to participate which adds a mix of cultures, perspectives and styles for us to enjoy. Just as in years’ past the festival includes short and feature film programs that run the gamut from documentaries to experimental films.
I Am Still followed Jungkook of BTS as he embarked on his first solo project
Jungkook (JK) may be a member of arguably one of the most famous bands that exists today, BTS, but over the last couple years he’s also been making headlines under his own name. JK set his sights on solo work last year following in the footsteps of his fellow bandmates who have all dropped at least a single of their own if not full-length work. With the pending release of his all-English album Golden and planned stint in the South Korean military looming (a requirement for all Korean men), 2023 was a chaotic time for the up-and-coming artist. Between April and November, he recorded tracks, filmed music videos, released the record and went on a quick promotional tour. No wonder “I’m tired” was a phrase he uttered throughout the film. I Am Still has him reflecting on that time both in interviews and unreleased footage as he rushed head-first through the process.
Transformers One is a lesson in history and believing in ourselves
The animated film Transformers One throws us back to a time when Optimus Prime, going by the name of Orion Pax, is but a mere miner working in the belly of Cybertron: the planet that all ‘bots call home. With the disappearance of the great Matrix of Leadership which coincided with the death of the Primes who had been protecting Cybertron from aliens who wanted to steal the precious Energon… the death of all but one: Sentinel Prime. Now Sentinel is on a mission to find the Matrix of Leadership to return the world to its former glory and peace to all Cybertronians.
Spin on a familiar story makes Twisters a stellar summer movie
A young and wild group of storm chasers lead by the enigmatic Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is on the hunt for a tornado in the famous tornado alley of Oklahoma. They aren’t just in it for the thrill, but to find a way of deconstructing the storms and in turn saving untold numbers of lives. On one of these ventures, they underestimate the power of the cyclone and Kate loses three of her best friends. Leap forward 5 years and she’s living comfortably at a desk job in NYC when the other survivor of her past life, Javi (Anthony Ramos) tries to pull her back in with the promise of taking up her mantel of saving lives once again.
Desperation and luck drive the story in Escape
From the moment we meet him, Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam (Lee Jee-hoon) is desperate to find a way out of North Korea and into a seemingly promised land to the South. Planning for what seemed like years, he has his route mapped and a thought-out plan to escape while he’s still in the military with familiar surroundings and path out, but on the cusp of action things fell apart.
Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising pulls classic Japanese sci-fi and your heartstrings
Kenji goes out on his first mission as the Ultra hero and finds himself stuck with Emi, a pint-sized Kaiju. He’s convinced by his estranged father that he has to keep Emi safe and raise her as his own.