Author: Morgen Schuler

Reviews

I Am Still followed Jungkook of BTS as he embarked on his first solo project

by Morgen Schuler

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.

Reviews

Transformers One is a lesson in history and believing in ourselves

by Morgen Schuler

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.

Reviews

Spin on a familiar story makes Twisters a stellar summer movie

by Morgen Schuler

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.

Reviews

Desperation and luck drive the story in Escape

by Morgen Schuler

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.

Reviews

Inside Out 2 isn’t just for teens

by Morgen Schuler

Inside Out 2 finds us once again in the head of Riley, the young girl we grew with and cried for in Inside Out. This time, she’s just just a girl, she’s hit puberty and with it a whole host of new emotions. Riley hasn’t just grown up, she’s a star hockey player with two best friends and fantastic grades… so she’s on top of the world. Overnight, her emotional buddies (Joy, Anger, Disgust, Sadness and Fear) find their world crashing around them as “construction” is doing a complete overhaul of her emotional stability.

Reviews

Suga’s ‘D-Day’ Tour the Movie offers a small oasis in the extended BTS drought

by Morgen Schuler

Even though the film has a confusingly long name and almost zero promotion outside of BTS’ fanbase, it has become the second highest-grossing movie at the US Box Office in 2024. Suga | August D along with director Jun-Soo Park creates an experience that’s larger than life. Starting with some simple words from Suga to build am intimate world for viewers to escape to with him, the bulk of the movie is a concert, a replaying of each and every song he performed on the very short run D-Day tour.

Reviews

Tótem is a close up view of loss and love

by Morgen Schuler

Sol (Naíma Sentíes), a young girl of 7, is quiet and polite as she arrives at her grandfather’s home with her mother who’s dropping her off in anticipation of her father, Tonatiuh’s (Mateo Garcia), birthday party that night. Unsure of herself and her place in the house she floats from one family member to the next, aunts, uncles and cousins, treated sweetly but aloof as they prep themselves for the night’s festivities. An air of anxiety and impending loss threatens to suffocate all those in the house.