What I treasure most about Miyazaki's storytelling is that his villains are so rarely "evil". More often, they're just individuals who oppose the hero's agenda in some way. Whether it be the goofball band of pirates or the pompous, infinitely arrogant Curtis; they're just people who more or less find common ground with Porco at some point in the film. This softened sense of good and evil lends itself to an affectingly gentle story which, unfortunately, has lessened it's standing…

Just not for me. Excels at evolving and tightening the unique blend of crass and meta humor of the first film, a clear indicator that its creators know what they have in this franchise. There's some good jokes here and there, the movie is well-casted as well. I just don't care for what Deadpool 2 brings to the table. I like a degree of sincerity in my superhero movies, not the complete irreverence this brings to the genre. I appreciate…

I've been seeing lots of "controversy" over the supposed value of La La Land vs something like Moonlight, usually insinuating that La La Land's comparative levity somehow renders it lesser. My quick two cents would that be that yes, Moonlight is a magnificent portrait of masculinity in 2017's world, with broad, valuable insights on how race, sexual preference (*orientation*) and class all influence and inform one's identity. Basically a vehicle and showcase for compassion and empathy in a world seemingly…

In light of recent events, I'm reminded of Fermi's paradox. A cynical and unsettling notion which suggests the reason we've never been contacted by extraterrestrial intelligent life is that the no civilization has survived long enough to innovate to that level. Or, in simpler terms, that the fundamental nature of intelligent life is to ultimately destroy itself. As tech and sciences progress further and further, what matters is how we allocate that technology; what leaders we elect to control it…