Movie Review: The Electric State

February 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Electric State
Directed by: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Simon Stålenhag
Starring: Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Woody Harrelson
Distributed by: Netflix
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.

I’ve always been a fan of Millie Bobby Brown’s work since she initially rose to fame as Eleven from Stranger Things, so getting to see her in another Netflix production where she teamed up with Chris Pratt and Woody Harrelson (among others) was a no brainer. Based on Simon Stalenag’s The Electric State book, Michelle (Brown) is an orphaned teen who refuses to buy into the mass technology usage that has swept across the world following a war between the robots and the humans. With robots being exiled into an ‘Exclusion Zone’ after losing the war, Michelle’s life is thrown into a chaos after a robot from her brother’s favorite cartoon shows up on her doorstep (claiming to know where her brother is). A cross country trek ensues, where they must fight off those from the mega corporation pursuing them as well as those tasked with the eradication of robots in human territory.

The cast of this movie is certainly stacked. Along with Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Woody Harrelson, there are some other major players like Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Ke Huy Quan and Anthony Mackie. It took me a second to recognize some of them as they are playing robots, and their voices were a little digitized at times but their mannerisms are definitely there (even in a metallic body). Admittedly, there were some moments where Chris Pratt’s character felt less like the rugged smuggler he was supposed to be and more like Starlord from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (see the music included in the movie), but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the film.

While the plot of the movie isn’t that original (it reads like a much more dystopian version of Ready Player One), the emotion is. Chris Pratt’s comedic timing showed through in the movie, and helped lighten some of the more tense moments. And the way that Michelle and the Cosmo robot were able to connect with very few words was particularly impactful. I started crying during the last scene between Michelle and her brother Christopher (Woody Norman), with Ke Huy Quan’s character PC looking on.

Overall, this was a great movie and I was very entertained. I’m not sure why critics viewed it so negatively. It’s available through Netflix, and I recommend it to sci-fi movie fans who also enjoyed movies like Ready Player One.

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TV Review: Pluribus (Season 1)

February 9, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Pluribus (Season 1)
Writer: Vince Gilligan
Director: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, and Carlos-Manuel Vesga
Publisher: Apple TV, Sony Pictures Television
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

In a world overtaken by a mysterious wave of forced happiness, Carol Sturka, one of the immune few, must uncover what’s really going on – and save humanity from its artificial bliss.

Permanent happiness might come with a catch.

I loved how this show dealt with the practical aspects of such a monumental change to human society. At first glance, the alien virus seemed like it would usher in a utopian future for humanity due to the immediate end of crime, violence, pollution, and anything else that could possibly harm any form of life on Earth. While I don’t want to give away spoilers about what the possible downsides of such a world might be, I thought the writer did an excellent job of including plot twists to explain why Carol was so scared by this change and what compelled her to dig more deeply into this peaceful invasion.

Some of the later episodes in this first season were repetitive due to how often Carol’s anger management issues interfered with her desire to figure out why nearly every human on Earth had been infected by that alien virus. While having such a complex and flawed protagonist was otherwise great, I did find myself wishing that she’d break out of the cycle of feeling her anger building, exploding at someone near her, and then either sweeping her actions under the rug or, as her tale progressed, maybe apologizing instead. Here’s hoping that future seasons give her more opportunities to react to The Others as she calls them in some new ways as I’d love to see the pacing pick up in the future.

On a deeper note, I also enjoyed this tv show’s subtle criticisms of topics like AI, conversion therapy, and conformity in general. The arguments were nuanced and left plenty of space for discussion regardless of whether or not viewers agreed with the points the writer made. This sort of thought-provoking storytelling that kept me interested even when I struggled with how slowly some scenes moved along.

Pluribus was intelligent science fiction.

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TV Show Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)

February 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)
Distributed by: Disney+
Writers: Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Starring: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars (10 stars on IMBDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.

I just finished the second season of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians tv show on Disney+, and this is the adaptation that my forever Percy Jackson fan heart has been waiting years for.

It is obvious how much the showrunners and writers put into this book, especially with the easter eggs they dropped for die hard fans. Clarisse’s (Dior Goodjohn) storyline this season was also particularly impactful compared to the books, as you actually got to see some of the scenes that were only hinted at, such as when Ares (Adam Copeland) gives her the ship that they head to the Sea of Monsters on. I connected more to her portrayal of Clarisse emotionally than I did to the Clarisse from the books. Daniel Diemer’s portrayal of Tyson this season was excellent, and I really loved his brotherly relationship with Percy (Walker Scobell). It was a really impactful choice from the production team to never show Tyson with two eyes, as in the words of producer Dan Shotz everyone in the audience is a demigod now.

While I’m sad that some monsters from the book didn’t make the cut (the Hydra in particular would have been a CGI budget black hole), all of the changes they made from the book made sense. I especially appreciated more appearances from Sally Jackson (Virgina Kull).The contents of the last episode are almost entirely different from the book, but I think it worked out well and I’m excited to see how they take the adjusted storyline into future seasons (with season 3 set to premiere before the end of 2026). The show will resonate the most with fans of the book, but I highly recommend it to viewers of all ages who enjoy adventure, friendship, and Greek mythology.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox

January 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox
Writers: Jenni Bayliss, Erin Rodman, Davah Avena, Zac Hug, Lynn Sternberger
Starring: Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, Toby Sandeman
Distributed by: Hallmark Studios
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Kate, a textile pattern designer, cares for her separated father Mac in Blexford, England. Laura introduces her to The 12 Dates of Christmas, a matchmaking program that rekindles her life and leads her to new adventures.

Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas, the new Hallmark mini series starring Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, and Toby Sandeman, was a chaotic yet fun movie for rom-com fans approaching the Christmas holidays. An entirely different format than Hallmark’s more stereotypical films, I enjoyed the novelty of the format as well as the relationships that are carried through multiple episodes.

Kate’s (Mae Whitman) a textile designer who hasn’t gone on a date in a while and spends her time taking care of her father. Wanting her friend to be less lonely and find some magic in the season, Laura (Lucy Eaton) signs Kate up for the “Twelve Dates of Christmas”. Lots of shenanigans ensue, from Christmas rage rooms, escape rooms, and even coordinating crazy hats. The organizer of the event, Drew (Eimear Morissey), was quite fun and did an excellent job in her role as “Christmas cupid”.

While some of the date partners were not particularly memorable (as one might expect from a show that is set to feature 12 dates), I appreciated how they helped move Kate towards her happily ever after. Said happily ever after is definitely predictable, but it makes it no less heartwarming. Don’t want to say too much about Richard (Tobey Sandeman) and Callum’s (Julian Morris) characters, as that very much spoils how things end up. While Kate’s relationships are the focus, it was also nice to see so many other characters in the mini series get their happily ever after too. The storyline between Kate’s dad Mac (Nathaniel Parker) and Evelyn (Jane Seymour) was quite funny, and to see Delilah (Mary McDonnell) running around and meddling towards the end of things was both entertaining and cringe-inducing (I felt for Mac during the book club scene). Make sure you catch the Independence Day actor reunion though!

Overall, this was a great mini-series and I’m so glad I took the time to watch it. Highly recommend this series to those who enjoy rom-coms with guaranteed happily ever afters and large ensemble casts of actors. As a note for book lovers, this is based on the novel of the same name by Jenny Bayliss.

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Movie Review: Meet Me Next Christmas

December 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Meet Me Next Christmas
Writers: Camilla Rubis and Molly Haldeman
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Starring: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, and Kofi Siriboe
Publisher: Netflix
Genre: Romance, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

True love makes everything a little better.

I adored the chemistry between Layla and her romantic interest. They shared similar playful personalities and were both incredibly kind and generous people as well. It was nice that they both had so many opportunities to shine as this film progressed as they weren’t the sort of people who would generally draw attention to themselves on purpose. They needed a little more time to open up to the viewers, but it was well worth the wait.

There was a plot hole involving Layla’s desperate need for a ticket to a Pentatonix concert that I did wish had been explored in greater depth. Couldn’t she have gone to the venue without the ticket and still looked for James in the lobby or left a message for him with the employees at the box office there? That’s what I would have done in her shoes, and I was a little puzzled by why this never came up as an option even though I otherwise enjoyed the storyline.

With that being said, this was still entertaining. As a fellow fan of Pentatonix’s music, I loved seeing Layla gush about their songs and try to use that as a way to connect with other people. She was so earnest about her interests that it only made me like her even more. There is definitely something to be said for characters who are this deeply invested in something that matters so much to them.

Meet Me Next Christmas was sweet and heartwarming.

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Movie Review: Dear Santa

December 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Dear Santa
Writers: Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly, and Dan Ewen
Director: Bobby Farrelly
Starring: Jack Black, Robert Timothy Smith, and Keegan-Michael Key
Publisher: Paramount+
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black arrives to wreak havoc on the holidays.

A little miscommunication goes a long way.

It was cool to have a protagonist who had a learning disability, especially since Liam’s struggles with reading and spelling played such an important role in where his letter to Santa ended up and what happened when the unintended recipient decided to reply anyway. This is something I’d love to see more of in the film industry in the future given how rare it is to explore the lives of people with these sorts of difficulties on the big screen.

I found the ending confusing and out of sync with what was going on in the beginning and middle of this film. The themes about grief, friendship, and Christmas magic that had been slowly building up to this point were suddenly switched out for a conclusion that sharply contradicted what had previously been established as the rules Liam must follow while making his three wishes.

It was interesting to see the wide variety of jokes. Some of them were the sorts of things elementary and middle school aged kids often find funny like bodily functions while others were definitely meant for adult viewers. In certain scenes, one of these jokes would be immediately followed by the other sort which made this feel like something that the whole family could enjoy.

With that being said, I do think this would have benefitted from having a clearer understanding of which audience it was written for. There were playful scenes I would wholeheartedly recommend to kids but others that were too dark, scary, and in one case even tragic for me to feel comfortable including them in the list of people who should see this. The ending played a big role in my discomfort here.

The dialogue felt natural and was often witty. Jack Black has played plenty of roles in other movies that I enjoyed in the past, and it was fun to see how he approached such a surprising character. He had a great sense of humor in this piece and provided plenty of laughs exactly when they were needed.

Dear Santa made me chuckle.

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Movie Review: A Minecraft Movie

November 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Minecraft Movie
Writers: Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen
Publisher: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected expert crafter.

Anything can happen in the overworld.

There were so many Easter eggs here for viewers who have played Minecraft. I’d strongly recommend doing a little research on the game first for viewers who haven’t played it yet due to how funny many of them were, although the plot does still make sense without understanding these references. It’s not always easy to strike a balance between drawing in new fans and entertaining the existing ones. This spoke to both audiences in my opinion, though, and it worked on enough levels to appeal to many different types of viewers.

I would have liked to see more time spent showing just how creative the Minecraft universe can be. This was what first encouraged me to play the game, so I was hoping the film version would explore more of the many unique things that can be done with a crafting table and a vivid imagination. If not for the numerous references to various quirks of the game, I would have struggled to remain interested in certain places due to how easy it was to predict what would happen next.

With that being said, this movie had a fantastic sense of humour that, while written mostly for kids, did have moments teens and adults can appreciate as well. There is definitely something to be said for writing something the entire family can enjoy together. I laughed out loud several times and thought this highlighted the playful aspects of this universe well.

A Minecraft Movie was lighthearted and entertaining.

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Movie Review: Sinners

October 27, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Sinners
Writers: Ryan Coogler
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Saul Williams, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Andrene Ward-Hammond, and Jack O’Connell
Publisher: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars (10 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

Horror and history are the perfect match.

The character development was everything I hoped it would be. Both the protagonists and the vampiric antagonists were well-rounded individuals who all had their own virtues and vices. They genuinely felt like real people – or real former people – to me who sometimes made terrible mistakes only to reveal wholesome aspects of their personalities that I found relatable and understandable a few scenes later. Sympathizing with vampires or other creatures of the night isn’t something I generally do, but I thought they made some intelligent points about the advantages of joining them and had a much clearer understanding of how the world should work than some of the human characters did.

I loved the way the director wove sharp social commentary about race, colonialism, and how those in power can manipulate things that are supposed to be good for malicious purposes into what was already an exciting vampire movie. This film could be interpreted in multiple ways that each stood on their own merits but also created an even more compelling story if they were layered on top of each other. That isn’t an easy feat to accomplish! It was one of my major reasons for choosing a perfect rating, and I would have given it even more stars if such a thing were possible.

Not every question I had about the characters or plot was answered which I consider to be a huge asset of this story. There were some scenes that were either partially explained or more or less left hanging, especially when it came to the behavior of the vampires in the last twenty minutes. Thinking about possible explanations for their poor choices in those moments made me want to rewatch this to see if there are additional hints about why this happened that I may have missed. I already have a few theories about why it was written that way and thought allowing the audience to come up with our own ideas made those scenes even more powerful.

There wasn’t a single thing I’d change about Sinners. It was memorable and thought provoking from every angle.

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Movie Review: 28 Years Later

October 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


28 Years Later
Writers: Alex Garland
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes
Publisher: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors.

Survival takes on many different meanings after a few decades of zombies running around.

One of the cool things about this film was that it didn’t require any knowledge of the first three instalments in order to understand what was going on during it. Obviously, there were a few interesting callbacks for fans who did start at the beginning, but this otherwise felt like an introduction to a new horror series which I found refreshing and surprising.

The plot twists were pretty easy to spot ahead of time for me given how often I watch zombie films, so I would have liked to see a little more development there given how long this was set after the original outbreak. A new generation of people had been born into and grown up on an island filled with zombies by the time this tale began. Even something as simple as discussing the rules they had grown up following about how to stay safe in such a dangerous environment could have given the storyline creative ways to flourish if a few more scenes had been dedicated to the topic. The possibilities were endless.

With that being said, I enjoyed the plot development that had taken place over twenty-eight years, especially when it came to the tense but sometimes also complex relationships between various characters of both human and zombie origin. This film had some poignant things to say about the meaning of life and how to push through a day, often literally, while dealing with painful emotions like grief or uncertainty. The deeper layers of the storyline were what encouraged me to choose a higher rating and have made me incredibly curious to see what happens in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple once it is also released.

28 Years Later was a grisly but thoughtful adventure.

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Movie Review: Gunyo Cholo: The Dress

October 13, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Gunyo Cholo: The Dress
Writers: Samudra Bhatta, Najir Husen, V. Vansay Zanubon
Director: Samudra Bhatta
Starring: Ip Acharya, Nisha Bajhgain, Prasamsha Bhatta
Publisher: Anupheap Productions, Sabsung Studios, Sky Ocean Entertainment
Genre: LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars (10 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dev/Gulabi, the only son of a retired Army General, is disowned for wanting to transition. Fleeing her village for Kathmandu, she finds belonging in the trans community and fights for acceptance in a hostile society.

Acceptance is everything.

I was mesmerized by the early experiences in a rural and sometimes intolerant community that shaped Dev (who later changed her name to Gulabi) into the woman she became. Few things in life are completely harmful or helpful, so I appreciated the quiet, happy moments with the family that were included between scenes that showed how her first explorations of her gender identity were misunderstood and feared.

What the love of a family can look like was another theme that was heavily explored in this film. Whether with biological relatives, chosen relatives, or some combination of the two, everyone has occasional disagreements with the people they consider to be kin along with the happy moments they also shared. There were times when I blinked away tears as Gulabi faced disappointment in these relationships and other scenes where I quietly cheered as she found new ways to balance her responsibilities to both herself and to those she deeply loved.

The ending was ultimately what convinced me to choose a perfect rating. It wove all of the themes together perfectly while also resolving the major conflicts in both realistic and heartwarming ways. Obviously, I can’t go into too much detail about what happens in those scenes, but I wouldn’t have changed a single moment in them. They showcased the personalities of all of the characters nicely and gave this viewer a chance to say goodbye and feel satisfied with what I had just seen.

Gunyo Cholo: The Dress was a beautiful and emotional tale.

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