Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 (Jennifer Corbett and Dave Filoni, 2023)

Click here for the basics

Science Fiction, Action, Adventure

Season 1 Rating: DSQ=10, SP=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale A=4, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

I was expecting season 2 of The Bad Batch to launch right into where we left off from season 1, but instead we got some fun little side stories that explored the Bad Batch family. This was nice but I was worried that we wouldn't get answers or feel the same tension and suspense that season 1 had. By half way in, though, we returned to the main storyline and plenty of new information was revealed. I really enjoyed the new episodes and Omega's growth. While it was a little less engaging, season 2 still offers gorgeous animation and dramatic situations. And, of course, the finale left me wanting more. Why must we always have cliffhangers!

Click here to see how I rated Season 1.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

The Banshees of Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin (Martin McDonagh, 2022)

Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Complex Relationships, War, Mental Health, Ireland, 1920s, Dark Comedy

There aren't many films being made today that can pull off a gut-wrenching, serious drama and also makes you laugh and cringe. Martin McDonagh does this masterfully with The Banshees of Inisherin. He has captured the stark, lonely, and also beautiful setting of Inisherin and shows us how isolation and the often mundane human experience can lead to unending wars. 

This film is about battles--civil war, a fight between two men, a struggle between family and independence, a war between father and son, and the hardest battle of all: the crisis of age and impending death. With so many battles humans often forget why they are fighting... this film will stay with you for days. Incredible performances by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Masterful cinema.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Animation by Don Bluth and Others

An American Tail (Don Bluth, 1986)

Click here for the basics

Rating: AQ=6, AP=6 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=2, Scale R=2, Scale S=2

Animation, Immigration, Coming of Age, Adventure

I had never actually seen this film until now, strangely. I enjoyed it--a lovely sketchy quality to the art. The storyline and the flow was a little too fast, but it was still charming.

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells, 1991)

Click here for the basics

Rating: AQ=6, AP=6 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=2, Scale R=2, Scale S=2

Animation, Immigration, Coming of Age, Adventure

A fun little escape. The art felt less whimsical than the original film, but the story was maybe more fun. 

The Land Before Time (Don Bluth, 1988)

Click here for the basics

Rating: AQ=6, AP=8 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=3, Scale R=3, Scale S=2

Animation, Coming of Age, Adventure

I love this film in so many ways--so nostalgic. The characters are endearing and the setting and artwork is lovely.

The Brave Little Toaster (Jerry Rees, 1987)

Click here for the basics

Rating: AQ=8, AP=9 / Drooling

Scale O=4, Scale P=4, Scale Q=3, Scale R=3, Scale S=3

Animation, Adventure

Of all the non-Disney animated films during the 1980s, the Brave Little Toaster has by far the best artwork and the most dramatic and interesting story. It is no wonder that those who worked on this film later went on to found Pixar. I love this hand-drawn animation so much more.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Oscars 2023: The Results

And the winner is... Everything, Everywhere, All At Once! And in so many other ways. I'm so happy that long-time actors and writers finally got validated for their work!