Of all the recent live-action remakes of Disney’s beloved animated films, “Mulan” is by far the most effective and vital. It’s thrilling from start to finish, with dazzling visuals and a strong cast. And while Niki Caro’s film holds true to the story’s centuries-old origins, its depiction of female empowerment...
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Reviews
Breakfast All Day Podcast 7/11/19
Can you feel the love tonight? We’re not exactly feeling it in our early review of “The Lion King.” Matt is back from vacation in Hawaii so he’s joined me and Alonso for the latest episode of Breakfast All Day. Besides the latest Disney live-action re-do, we also have reviews...
Read moreBreakfast All Day Podcast: A La Carte With Vincent Martella
There’s 104 days of summer vacation — give or take — and I got to spend one of them with “Phineas and Ferb” star Vincent Martella. I’ve been a fan of his voice work as Phineas Flynn on the animated Disney series for years, thanks to Nic introducing me to...
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Breakfast All Day Podcast: A La Carte With Phil Johnston
Phil Johnston is the Academy Award-nominated co-director and writer of “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” He also co-wrote the original “Wreck-It Ralph” and the Oscar-winning “Zootopia.” But we can say we knew him way back when — all the way back when he was a student at Columbia University film school...
Read moreBreakfast All Day Podcast 3/29/19
“Shazam!” is such a blast that we wanted to review it a week early. It’s one of the many films that Alonso, Matt and I discuss on the latest episode of Breakfast All Day. We also review Tim Burton’s disappointing live-action “Dumbo,” catch up with the teen weepy “Five Feet Apart,” rave...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Dumbo
If I’m not sobbing in a pile of tears by the end of your “Dumbo,” then you’ve done something wrong. Tim Burton’s live-action remake of the Disney animated classic feels like a stretched-thin pastiche of better Tim Burton movies. Reminders of his superior work are everywhere, from the Danny Elfman...
Read moreBreakfast All Day Podcast 3/22/19
Is it really me and Matt talking about movies this week on Breakfast All Day? Or is it our evil doppelgangers? You’ll have to listen for yourselves and try to figure it out. On our latest episode, we review Jordan Peele’s follow-up to “Get Out,” the deeply creepy horror film...
Read moreFinding Dory
Disney Pixar Rated PG for mild thematic elements. Running time: 103 minutes Three stars out of four. If there were no such thing as “Finding Nemo” — if there were never a previous Pixar movie, ever — we’d all be blown away by “Finding Dory.” It’s gorgeous. It’s lively. It’s...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Monkey Kingdom
Behold, the irresistible cuteness of the macaque monkeys frolicking about a Sri Lankan jungle in the latest Disneynature documentary. But beware: Some of the situations are clearly staged and manipulated. Your kids won’t mind, though. Mine didn’t. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review here...
Read moreCinderella
Walt Disney Pictures Rated PG for mild thematic elements. Running time: 105 minutes. Three stars out of four. The Cinderella of Kenneth Branagh’s “Cinderella” never wields a samurai sword or a snarky, well-timed quip. She doesn’t transform herself into a warrior princess, nor does she wallow in too-hip pop culture...
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