musical

KPop Demon Hunters – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film KPop Demon Hunters.

Story

The story, like everything in this movie, is a clever combination of tropes, story structures, and character archetypes. It does something that most animation targeting children doesn’t: it creates a world with loose ends that can be explored later or just by the fans.

Score: 1

Characters

The characters take a lot of influence from Kpop personalities with a dash of fantasy archetypes and some mythological references. The design, the costumes, the movements, everything is intentional and recognizable to multiple different audiences.

I do wish we’d found out a little more about the other boys in the band, but I understand that would have bogged down the story.

Score: 1

Dialogue

So quipy and irreverent it was great. The dialogue that is said for drama purposes hits so much harder because of the humour in the rest of the movie.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Seen as a whole, the movie was stunning. There were a few times where they went lower resolution and the characters looked like claymation from adult swim. I’m not a fan of that style, but the rest of it is absolutely gorgeous.

The music was spectacular and is playing on repeat in our house.

Score: 1

Fun

My first time watching it, I was stressed for the characters and loved all the little twists. It’s a movie with a lot of layers. The second watch really showed how much detail they put into everything.

Jen and the kids are obsessed (as are a lot of other people). It’s a fun and heartwarming movie that doesn’t shy away from the dark.

Score: 1

Overall

Every detail matters and the movie has rich storytelling and fantastic music. The worst part of the movie is how epic a world they built and how we have to wait for more.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 1997 film Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Story

It’s one of many Cinderella movies and the second remake of this particular story. Interestingly, it’s the only Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical to be written for television; the original starring Julie Andrews in 1957.

There are some parts that drag, a lot of singing about what they just did, which slows down the story.

Score: 0.5

Characters

I like the spin each actor put on their characters, making them unique but still recognizable. I really appreciate that the prince has more than a cookie-cut out personality.

Score: 1

Dialogue

I’m really glad I had the subtitles on because the tone and volume of voice varied wildly. The kind mumbled Cinderella was very soft spoken, and half of the cast used Broadway projection while the rest spoke regularly.

The words themselves were good but often spent more time recapping or connecting the songs than actually telling the story.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The set design is okay, the costumes are gorgeous, and the choreography very well done. The movement in this movie was timed, precise, and excellent.

The music was okay, but the powerhouse Brandi sounded meek and soft, and it didn’t meld well with the prince. I’m not sure who decided she shouldn’t use her full power, but it was a bad choice.

Beyond that, the songs were very similar and often didn’t advance the plot.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I’ve been really tired and this wouldn’t have kept me awake if I didn’t have a big bowl of popcorn. I loved the diversity and the cast was fantastic, but for a short movie they filled so much time with repetition and not enough with the main characters.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A classic take on Cinderella with a fantastic cast and some wonderful moments. It has it’s issues but overall a fun film.

Final Score: 3 Stars out of 5

Descendants: The Rise of Red – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Story

It’s very Back to the Future meets Monster High. They take a lot of time with the set up and the ending feels rushed and unfinished.

Score: 0

Characters

The two main characters are great and have wonderful chemistry as a grumpy/sunshine style odd couple. They also grow and learn throughout the movie.

The villains were superbly cast and are amazing. I hope to see more of that group in future movies.

Seeing the cast from the 1997 Cinderella was fun, although it’s important to note that the backstory is different.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue is cutesy and does a great job at sounding young while still being understandable to older people. There are some very interesting conversations about ethics, rules, and doing what’s right.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

They colourful villain aesthetic of the first three movies carries through into this one but with upgraded camera equipment and camera work. The choreography is superb.

The songs are extremely catchy and weave elements from classic Disney and the first three movies.

Score: 1

Fun

The story is weak and there are a lot of weird choices on the part of the characters, but overall it’s a lot of fun and everyone in the family loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

An overdone story that is more than made up for with excellent acting, singing, dancing, and set design. If you enjoyed the others in the series, you’ll enjoy this one.

Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5

Monster High 2 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2023 film Monster High 2.

Story

The tone of this one is much younger then the first. The story is simplistic; the twist is so obvious that I couldn’t believe it was the actual twist.

Score: 0

Characters

The characters were fairly consistent from the first one, but the movie didn’t give their cast much time to develop. The characters were there, but mostly ignored to make more time for forced drama.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue is delightfully silly. Filled with puns and fun tidbits of monster lore. I wish there were more deep character moments, but overall the dialogue is okay.

There’s a lot of forced borderline toddler-level talk about friendship that got tedious quick.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The visuel style is extra poignant with the contrast to the human world. They did a great job building a colourful, dynamic, and interesting world. Unfortunately a good half of the movie is set in our world and is the weaker for it.

The music is catchy but very similar to the first and again feels better than the plot of the movie.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I’ll be honest, I was bored by the halfway mark. It’s colourful with good music, but not particularly fun to watch. The kids loved it and it wasn’t bad, just meh.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A lackluster sequel which forgets what made the first entertaining and spends way too much time in the human world. The characters and music are great, but don’t make up for the pre-school dialogue and storyline.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

Anna and the Apocalypse – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2017 film Anna and the Apocalypse.

Story

I have a massive soft spot for musicals and I’m not a huge fan of zombie movies, so this was interesting. The story itself is cookie cutter zombie genre with nothing new to add other than the music.

Score: 0

Characters

The final girl, the best friend, the overbearing dad, the bad boy, the lesbian, the smoochie couple, and the maniacal . It’s a buffet of zombie, YA, and horror tropes.

They might be tropes, but the actors and writers did a great job and managed to balance the psychological horror of zombie with the almost sillness of a musical.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Vacillating from corny to deep and touching, the dialogue does a great job in understanding the characters. There’s more than a few good quips too.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The cinematography in general was okay, the choreography was acceptable, and the gore was well done. My favourite scene happens when the main character doesn’t know there’s been a full apocalypse and is dancing and singing on her way to school with total carnage happening behind her.

The music is excellent and I’ll be humming, “Hollywood Ending” for a long time. Great harmonies, fun numbers, and they work both for a zombie movie or just a high school movie.

Score: 1

Fun

I loved the music, the characters were great, and I enjoyed the movie, but there’s a nihilism to zombie films that just isn’t fun. Nailing the ending to have a little hope but still be dour is hard. There was no hope left in this one.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A fun film with some excellent musical numbers and great acting, but in the end it’s just another zombie movie with nothing new to add.

Final Score: 3 Stars out of 5

Matilda the Musical – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Matilda the Musical.

Story

The story is very similar to the older movie, but with some interesting changes. I’ll admit I don’t know the book. It’s heartbreaking and tries really hard to lessen the pain with exaggerated characters. The story elements don’t always land well, parts were slow and others overdone.

I do like the message that no matter how small you are, you can still write your own story… although it is undercut by her needing superpowers.

Score: 0.5

Characters

I’m pretty done with the ugly and/or fat character is the villain, while the petite pretty person is the good guy. I know it’s the book, but it’s an overdone and lazy stereotype.

Matilda herself is fantastic. She has a strong sense of right and wrong along with enough strength of character to push back.

The librarian was amazing and the kids were okay.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Lots of repeated phrases and messages. It had some excellent dialogue from Matilda, especially when she told her stories. Beyond that, it oscillated between saccharin and melodrama.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The camera work and framing were great. The costumes and sets were perfect. The dancing was excellent.

The music and score were fun, but heavily repetitive. This isn’t a soundtrack that I’d want to own.

My biggest problem was that the musical aspects were underused and, other than a few songs, underwhelming.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I wouldn’t call this a feel good movie. It had all the “Hell Yeah!” it needed, but the path there was really sad and painful.

The 6 year old loved it, the 3 year old was entranced but nonplussed. The adults were split between not liking it and finding it pretty good.

I found myself looking forward to the music and disappointed at the same time.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A musical version of Matilda with all the baggage of the original story with a few fun songs. Although I love the message that you can write your own story, the movie doesn’t really back it up very well.

Final Score: 2.5 Stars out of 5

A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2019 film A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish.

Story

I’ve reviewed more Cinderella movies than any other archetype. This one managed to make it modern and Christmassy without losing the heart of the story.

The major deviations in this were mostly losing the whole secret identity and shoe thing. I like when the prince meets Cinderella before the ball.

Score: 0.5

Characters

I have never had so much cringe or secondhand embarrassment from the step sisters. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing though.

The protagonists were loveable and cute. There was some good flirting and the best friend was amazing.

My credulity was strained when the “king” character was a super nice billionaire.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

This had all the cheese needed and a lot of decent flirting. The wordplay was pretty good.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The choreography was fun and the camera work was clean. Everything screamed Christmas.

The music was nice. I was impressed by the catchyness of the songs.

Score: 1

Fun

This was fun. The family seems to have a fondness for Cinderellas. We all enjoyed it and other than the sisters, it wasn’t awkward or angsty.

Score: 1

Overall

If you enjoy modern takes on Cinderella and like Christmas romances, this is a cheesy no brainer. Lots of fun and good music.

Final Score: 3.5 Stars out of 5

Monster High – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Monster High.

Story

The story started really cliché but had some great moments. It’s not ridiculously great for the story, but it was competent.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The characters are completely different from the source material. That being said, the characters are both entertaining and diverse in a way that I wasn’t expecting.

I like the overall feel of the characters trying to find themselves and the drama of high school. I also appreciate the ND representation along with the gender-neutral character Frankie.

I have to say, I did not guess the villain and I was happy to be surprised. It all fit with hindsight and that’s the best sort of reveal.

Score: 1

Dialogue

I’m going to be honest, I have no idea how teens talk anymore. This felt stilted at times but still fun. The vocabulary and innuendo level definitely geared for younger kids.

There’s a lot of borderline cheesy but empowering dialogue.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The visuals were colourful and well filmed. The camera work showed a cinematographer who understood monster movies. The sets, costumes, makeup, and special effects were acceptable.

I was impressed by the music. Some of the same people who worked on this also worked of Descendants and/or Julie and the Phantoms. They brought that quality to this.

Score: 0.5

Fun

The movie was a little slow to start but once we got the first song, it picked up. The entire family loved it. The 6yo more than the 3yo, but not by much.

It was a fun boarding school mystery adventure; my wife and I loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

Those that loved the TV show will be incensed at the changes. It uses the look and feel and spins its own story.

Taken on its own, it’s a great monster twist on the boarding school adventure genre. The characters, music, and story are fun with a hopeful message.

Final Score: 3.5 Stars out of 5

Hocus Pocus 2 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Hocus Pocus 2.

Story

It felt like the first closed the book on the Sanderson Sisters, but the sequel uses a clever linguistic loophole (the best kind) to bring them back. The structure of the movie is close enough to the original to have callbacks, but different to be unique.

I’m really impressed with the tighness of the story. There are elements that seem like they were meant as one of gags, but then come back later in a great way.

Score: 1

Characters

The sisters, and Billy, are 29 years older and it show in little things like the timbre of their voices and the way they move. That being said, they are completely beleivable.

The new characters are very much like the first set of kids, except instead of the awkward romance, we have the story of friends who’ve drifted apart. Much less secondhand awkward and more fun.

I also enjoyed the clueless boyfriend who didn’t realize he was a bully.

I liked the evolution of Book from a malevolent force to a loving friend.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue was quipy and a lot of fun. I liked the self awareness of the film.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals were beautiful. They were sparing with the CGI and what little they used was well done. (Looking at you Book)

The music was fantastic. I loved the musical numbers and the other music was great. I’m buying the soundtrack if I can.

Score: 1

Fun

This had all the fun of the first with no angst, awkwardness, or child death.

It was fun and spooky in all the right ways. The entire family loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

A new Halloween tradition is here! With all the charm and fun of the first with more songs, more magic, and less awkwardness. In most ways, it’s just as good if not better than the original.

Final Score: 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Sneakerella – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Sneakerella.

Story

This was a modern take on Cinderella and had a lot of throwbacks to the Disney Cinderella. The story was pretty standard, but included a nice, if awkward, Aladdin twist.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The two mains had a lot of chemistry and the rest of the cast was great. The acting was top notch, I particularly liked his best friend and fairy god-father.

I am a little peeved at the lack of development dedicated to the step-father. He didn’t earn his happy ending by being anything but obtuse. He was still a jerk, just not too big a jerk.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue was excellent. It felt authentic to my ear and was quite witty. I liked the puns and plays on classic Disney.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The locations and cinematography were stunning. The dance numbers were cool and everything about it was beautifully colourful.

The music was solid. I won’t be humming the songs, but they were well done.

Score: 1

Fun

Maybe it was knowing how it ends or just not liking the angst, but the second half dragged a little for me. My 3yo was bored when there wasn’t any music and everyone else liked it okay.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A fun re-interpretation of Cinderella with great Disney Easter eggs and enjoyable songs. The movie doesn’t add much to the tried and true story, but doesn’t really need to.

Final Score: 3.5