Ferdinand (2017) Movie Review

January 18, 2018 Steve Baqqi

Ferdinand had the misfortune of having a premiere date sandwiched right between two House of Mouse Behemoths, Coco, and The Last Jedi. It is, however, the former film that Ferdinand will probably be compared to, given that Coco was a brilliant re-imagination of Mexican culture with nuisance, humor, sadness, and depth. Comparing Ferdinand to Coco is almost unfair, as Ferdinand is almost everything that Coco is not. Ferdinand doesn’t even attempt to explore Spanish culture or bullfighting, other than some face value for humor or to service the plot. Ferdinand is a simplistic, but well-crafted animated film about a bull who doesn't want to fight.

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Deadpool (2016) Movie Review

April 2, 2016 Steve Baqqi

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Deadpool is fun and violent--that’s it. I could end the review right here given the entire internet is about to combust with all things Deadpool related. The film has already made close to $800 million dollars and is now the highest grossing R rated film of all time, so chances are you’ve also already seen it, but I digress. The film is a diametric opposite to the grim growly seriousness of Batman v Superman. Deadpool (the character) is an unhinged psychopathic Daffy Duck/Bugs Bunny in tights, gleefully murdering everything in sight, while mocking the very notion of being a “superhero”. Thankfully the film doesn’t pander, annoy, or overstay its welcome instead it’s funny, violent, and acutely self-aware of the genre it so irreverently mocks.

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Zootopia (2016) Movie Review

March 26, 2016 Steve Baqqi

I’m an ardent fan of both Disney and Pixar’s animated films. The original “Disney Renaissance” coincided with my childhood; as did Pixar’s meteoric rise to rival Disney before the former’s acquisition by the latter. So it’s no surprise to me that Zootopia is easily the best film I’ve seen so far this year. Perhaps that’s because it's one of two new films I’ve seen thus far...but still! Disney has made another fantastic film that will only continue to bolster the “Second Disney Renaissance”. Zootopia is a fast paced, exciting, and funny animated film with a surprising amount of depth.

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