cricketbat

Even as a kid, I knew that Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was not a great movie, but I still liked it because I was a kid. I've grown up now and, despite my childhood nostalgia, the weaknesses are impossible to ignore. The budget cuts are apparent from the very beginning. Even though this was released almost a decade after the first Superman movie, the visual effects look worse. And the feeble script, the terrible dialogue, and the corny overacting don't do this sequel any favors. It's not really surprising that, after Superman IV, the Man of Steel took a cinematic break for around 20 years.

Catchy songs. Interesting animation. Clever story. There's not much to dislike about KPop Demon Hunters. To be honest, this movie wasn't really on my radar, but my kids were all asking to watch it, so we gave it a shot. I'm glad we did. Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo give vocal performances that really bring their characters to life, and it's enhanced by the animators having a great time with their facial expressions. The message of the movie gets a little muddled, and the ending left some loose ends, but I would gladly watch KPop Demon Hunters again and I'll give the soundtrack a listen, too.

Superman (2025) is a crowded niche crowd-pleaser. Those unfamiliar with DC Comics may be a little confused about what's going on at times, as it delves fairly deep into Superman lore. Plus, there are so many characters that some only get one or two lines before becoming scenery. And yet, I liked it. I wasn't sure if David Corenswet would be able to fill the boots of those that flew before him, but he nailed the part and carried this adaptation on his shoulders. So while I doubt this chaotically frenetic film will save DC Studios, this Superman movie can stand tall alongside the others in the franchise.