Film & Tv
- The translation from the German original seems mangled, and the kid who plays Atreyu is a terrible actor, but the core of the story — that hope and works of imagination are built anew by every generation, and every individual — is solid.
- There's a '70s naturalism to this film that I really appreciate. It's economical with its story beats while also expanding on the emotional, wordless moments. The horse* and the kid are great, and Mickey Rooney is understated in his portrayal of a washed up jockey / trainer who takes them under his wing in the second half.*There are actually several horses who play The Black in the film, but most of the screen time goes to Cass Olé.
- Coiled spring meets messy diva, and fireworks ensue. What a pleasure this film is! Funny, clever, and brimming with life. Coel and McKellen are fabulous together, and I shed a few tears for the themes of love and connection through art.
- This review may contain spoilers. It didn't make me cry as the previous movie did, but it was very effective at showing how normal humans can be far worse than infected. And that stuff with Kelson bonding in a medicated haze with Samson was intriguing.
- Story coherence was middling for a science fiction movie (there are a fair number of plot holes and some lazy writing), but the charisma of Gosling and Hūller, the cuteness of Rocky, and the abundant humor made it pretty entertaining.
- Watched on Friday April 10, 2026.
- Never have I cared about developing breasts or menstruating (though I have done both), but the family, friend, and romantic moments of this story still resonate. I so wish I had had a relationship with a grandmother like Margaret does with Kathy Bates's character in this movie. And I'm old enough that I could feel the emotion from the grandmother's side, too.
- Gheorghe is the perfect husband.
- More like a TED Talk than I was expecting, but I enjoyed hearing their perspective on their evolution over time, and their love for their departed bandmate Adam Yauch is touching.
- Holy shit, this was a stressful experience. I was watching through my fingers at multiple points and still felt like I'd been put through a wringer by the end. Brilliant in its own way, and a hell of a lot scarier than most horror movies I've seen.