janamonji

[janamonji]

'Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red' Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

People who know me, know I love red pandas and who would not want to embrace one? There are shots of the people behind the scenes of “Turning Red” studying real red pandas (at the San Diego Zoo), but the documentary “Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red” is about accepting and celebrating one’s culture, in a way that might not have been possible in the time of our grandparents or great…

[janamonji]

'Elio': A Fun But Flawed Look at Colorful Aliens ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Elio” is a fun look at colorful aliens, yet at times, it feels derivative and I wonder, considering the cultural context of the US at this moment, if it is coming out at the right or wrong time. I attended a Monday press screening, just a few days after a singer, Nezza, performed the FDR-commissioned Spanish version of the US National Anthem at an LA Dodger game (14 June 2025). From the negative…

[janamonji]

'The Life of Chuck' and the Delight of Dance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The film “The Life of Chuck” rises on its joyful dance performances, first by Tom Hiddleston and then by the young Benjamin Pajak as the young lovestruck Chuck. The astute choreography of Mandy Moore provides so much delightful moments of  connectivity throughout that the film is a glimmering precious gem of joy, especially for dancers. The titular Chuck is played by four actors. Jacob Tremblay…

[janamonji]

'Mistress Dispeller': A Chinese Look at Cheating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Does anyone remember at US reality show (2002-2021) called “Cheaters”? I thought the documentary “Mistress Dispeller” might be something like that with private investigators, explicit (but censored proof) and angry confrontations, but instead we are given an alternative way of handling a universal problem. Obviously if things are being filmed, everyone knows to a certain extent that what they say…

[janamonji]

'Moloka’i Bound' and 'The Source of Life': Who Owns Paradise? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the questions raised by the films at the 41st annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival that ran 1-7 May, is: Who owns paradise? The feature film “Moloka’i Bound” and the documentary “Te Puna Ora (The Source of Life)” take us to different regions of the Pacific and shows us how the native population deals with colonization in contemporary times. “Moloka’i Bound” was a Pacific…

[janamonji]

'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Is a Win/Lose

My husband and I weren’t that enthusiastic about the original 2002 animated feature, “Lilo & Stitch,” but despite a few quibbles, I enjoyed the live-action remake which mostly stays faithful to the animated original but also includes some inspired changes. This is a rare win for a Disney live-action remake. However, the screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes may anger fans of…

[janamonji]

Review: 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do you know someone who is addicted to romance novels, but never seems to find a sigh-worthy guy or gal? The French film “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” might be for them or maybe it’s best for the pals who offer a shoulder to cry on. This romantic comedy does have a happy ending, but not before some mistakes are made and our heroine makes some embarrassing adult-rated mistakes (nudity and sexual…

[janamonji]

'The Legend of Ochi': Touching Rescue Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love animals and have always dreamed of saving some furry creature, this film is for you.  If you Isaiah Saxon’s feature film debut is an appealing tale, enhanced by puppetry, some CGI and careful world building. It probably helps to know that I have a room full of puppets and we took two puppets (Plato the badger and Tomoe the ring-tailed lemur) with us to the screening. From what I…

[janamonji]

'Thunderbolts*': Second Chances for Misfits in the MCU ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This humorous entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, brings together a quarreling group of scruffy misfits. You can tell that from the glowering looks and bad grooming that this isn’t about a Steve Rogers’ tragic heroic figure or a glib genius billionaire. But you might be puzzled if you haven’t been following the MCU in all its iterations as to who are these people in the fake Wheaties lineup…

[janamonji]

'A Nice Indian Boy': Expanding and Embracing Concepts of Culture and Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A Nice Indian Boy” is a warm feel-good romantic comedy that begins and ends with a wedding. At an Indian wedding, an Indian American doctors Naveen Gavaskar (Karan Soni) thinks how lucky his sister was to find a nice Indian boy to marry. With his older sister married, this nice Indian boy muses that he too would like to marry  “A Nice Indian Boy.” You’re wondering how the dreamy Jonathan Groff…

[janamonji]

'The Wedding Banquet' Gets a Welcome Update ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Much has changed since the 1990s and Andrew Ahn’s “The Wedding Banquet” reflects that as well as his own heritage. Director Ang Lee’s “The Wedding Banquet” came out in 1993, premiering at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival where it won a Golden Bear. The film also received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Now, 32 years later, with same-sex marriage legal in the US and Taiwan (2019)…

[janamonji]

'The King of Kings' Won't Rule the Charles Dickens Canon ⭐️⭐️

If you haven’t figured out, the animated film, “The King of Kings” isn’t about a real king in the socio-political sense. This is a retelling of the biography of Jesus Christ, loosely inspired by a story written by Charles Dickens for his children. Although the film has an impressive voice cast including Kenneth Branagh, Mark Hamill, Ben Kingsley, Oscar Isaac and Uma Thurman, the script by…

[janamonji]

'The Amateur': Rami Malek Remake Gives High Tech Upgrade ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Rami Malek’s new film, “The Amateur,” is a remake of a Canadian film, but this version gives this vigilante spy thriller high tech upgrade and a much needed emotional charge. The titular amateur is a hastily trained CIA assassin on a personal vendetta of revenge, a mission not entirely supported by his agency. Both films are based on the 1981 Robert Littell novel of the same name. Yet without…

[janamonji]

Last Chance: Let's Fly LA Balloon Museum ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We thought this “dogs allowed” exhibit would be a great opportunity to further socialize our young dogs, Mizore (b. 2 July 2022) and Amazora (b. 26 February 2023). We tried a Friday morning first admission group (11 a.m.). We would have stood in line, but we parked next to a group of who had several children and whose parents allowed the kids to tease our dogs by barking. In line, these kids were…

[janamonji]

'Emilia Pérez': Musical Crime Film with Lingering Questions ⭐️⭐️

Despite my love of musicals and crime dramas, I had reservations about “Emilia Pérez” and not because of the transgender issues. My first hesitation was because this was a French filmmaker making a film about Mexico, but not set in Mexico. The Paris-born Jacques Audiard wrote and directed the film, loosely inspired by a chapter from a French writer’s (Boris Razon) novel. The film begins with a…

[janamonji]

'Breach' Brought on by Faith, Family and Country ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At this time in US history, it’s worth watching the US spy thriller “Breach” to remind us of the intrigues and reality of the Soviet Union and Russia. Written and directed by Oscar-nominated Billy Ray (“Captain Phillips,” 2013 and “Richard Jewell,” 2019), the film sis based on the true story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen and investigator Eric O’Neill. Hanssen’s (Chris Cooper) career unravels after…

[janamonji]

'AUM: The Cult of the End of the World': Cults and Culture ⭐️⭐️

There’s a comment at the beginning of the documentary, “AUM: The Cult of the End of the World,” that stopped me and played in my mind throughout. The quote comes from investigative reporter, Andrew RC Marshall, who, with David E. Kaplan, wrote the 1996 book this film is based upon: “The Cult at the End of the World.” Those comments and how they would influence the interpretation by an…