North Carolina Film Critics Association

13 hours ago

Review: Frozen from member Nicole Ackman.

For Disney fans, it is hard to believe that “Frozen” (2013) was released just six years ago. The tale, inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen,” has permeated pop culture in a way that even Walt Disney Pictures couldn’t have predicted when it was released. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, “Frozen”’s themes of family, love, isolation, and finding yourself have resonated with people across the globe. And of course, “Let It Go” became such a hit that it was almost impossible to avoid hearing it for many months. In addition to the film making it onto In Their Own League’s Top 50 Female Directed of the Decade list, now is an appropriate time to look back at the first “Frozen” film as its sequel has just been released.

Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital now. #Frozen ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

17 hours ago

Home Release Review: "IT Movie Chapter Two" from member Douglas Davidson.

“You’ll Float, too.” Three innocuous words infused with horrible terror thanks to Stephen King’s 1986 novel "It". Then, in 1990, a television mini-series adapted from the book shifted the way the average person looks at clowns, thanks in large part to Tim Curry’s performance as the ancient multi-dimensional creature known as It or, more commonly, as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Though mileage varies from story to story, reader to reader, there’s no denying that King’s It, and its adaption, captured our nightmares, leaving us often feeling like, no matter our age, we can never let go of the existential dread Pennywise instills. Where the mini-series sought to convey the story across 3+ hours, director Andy Muschietti wisely broke apart the chronologically shifting novel into two chapters: the first featuring the central characters as children and the second as adults. Now available on home video, Muschietti’s "It Chapter Two" finishes the gripping story he begin in 2017 with an almost new cast which beautifully matches the excellent performances of the first.

Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital now. #ItMovie ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

21 hours ago

Review: The Aeronauts from member Cameron Allison.

Set in 1862, "The Aeronauts" tells the story of hot air balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) as they set out to break the record of flying highest in the world and research the atmosphere in order to learn more about weather patterns. Their adventure, which takes place primarily in a hot air balloon, faces major turbulence both literally and metaphorically.

In select theaters now. #TheAeronauts ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

2 days ago

Review: Honey Boy from member Edwin Arnaudin.

If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded an Oscar for bravery, Shia LaBeouf’s autobiographical work in "Honey" Boy would be a shoo-in.

While the celebrity-adverse and folks who’ve grown tired of the prodigal actor’s off-screen shenanigans over the past decade might rather shame him for egotistical excess and crafting a film that’s essentially a 90-minute public therapy session, the payoffs that arise via exorcising his demons are plentiful for game viewers — and, hopefully, the screenwriter/co-star/subject himself.

In select theaters now. #HoneyBoy ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

2 days ago

Review: Jumanji: The Next Level" from member Douglas Davidson.

In recent memory, there’s only one film franchise that seems to have unlocked the key to longevity after an extended break and that’s the "Fast & Furious" series. They found a way to revitalize the car drama by bringing back the original cast and mixing in the characters introduced in the sequels. Add a dash of ever-increasing insane stunts and the films just keep going and going, getting crazier with each new addition. They found a way to channel the various forms of sequelitis into something audiences are lapping up again and again. When dealing with ridiculous situations, going bigger is often the key to making something feel fresh and unique. That works in the "Fast & Furious" series because they abandoned logic slowly over time. But for a series like "Jumanji", based on the 1981 Chris Van Allsburg children’s picture book, logic was tossed out the window a long time ago. Now on its fourth story, "Jumanji: The Next Level" succumbs to the best and worst parts of any sequel by making almost the same film as before, just with a different scenario.

In theaters December 13 209. #Jumanji ...