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Why Boys Go to Jupiter Might Be Shockingly Weird for Some Viewers

Dream-like and visually stunning, Boys Go to Jupiter explores independence, friendship, and the whimsical side of growing up.

Boys Go to Jupiter Movie Poster — **Playing at The Vic Theatre (Victoria, BC) From Sept 5 to 11th, 2025**

One theme explored in Julian Glander‘s animated film, Boys Go to Jupiter, is the importance of giving kids personal space rather than pushing them to explore other, more literal spaces. The film feels like a dream-like take on Rugrats. Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) often acts as the voice of reason among his friends—Freckles (Grace Kuhlenschmidt), Beatbox (Elsie Fisher), and Peanut (J.R. Phillips)—but when he pursues independence, the question arises: does gaining freedom mean leaving his friends behind?

The gang drifts through summer as outcasts, relying on little more than each other. Even Peanut’s “initiation” feels redundant, as if he already belongs. With no parents, teachers, or siblings guiding them—Billy’s sister barely registers—they fill the void with pranks, banter, and existential musings. They recall The Lost Boys not in plot but in spirit, caught in a restless limbo. Early in the film, they encounter a strange wormlike creature on the beach. The brief adventure quickly slips away, signalling a world where oddities can appear at any moment.

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[Fantasia Film Festival] Five Ways Foreigner Exposes the Real Terror of Cultural Erasure

The real possession in Foreigner isn’t demonic—it’s cultural: the slow erasure of nuance, contradiction, and soul.

FOREIGNER - Poster 1 - 1 — This movie played at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival on July 31st.

Ava Maria Safaid debut with her horror film Foreigner is sure to make waves. This standout exploring the Iranian diasporic experience is the opposite of Juliet and the King, which I reviewed a few days ago. While I’m more familiar with the mythic world of ancient Persia, this story echoes the dilemmas once faced by figures like Siavash and Mithra. Here, Yasamin (played with quiet intensity by Rose Dehgan) is an Iranian teenager whose family has moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in search of a new beginning.

At home, Persian customs remain strong. But outside those walls, the world she faces is confusing and often against who she is. Her tale is the classic Hero’s Journey, with challenges that are both spiritual and social. Like Siavash, she wants to be seen for who she truly is—but has to prove herself in a place that doesn’t really get her. And like Mithra—a figure from an old Persian religion that isn’t really practiced anymore but still symbolizes things like truth and justice—she’s stuck between family traditions, society’s expectations, and figuring out her own identity. It’s that old struggle of holding on to who you are when everything around you says to change.

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Superman Unveiled: A Brilliant New Beginning for the DC Universe!

This review and analysis of James Gunn’s Superman examines its strengths and weaknesses. Despite curious role shifts, what’s offered is as inherently good as reading an Alan Moore comic book.

Spoiler Alert

Dissecting the text that begins James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s restart of Superman (2025) reveals a grand vision. Even with some unusual choices in supporting roles to introduce this tale, this movie is terrific for fans of the “Gods and Monsters” narrative arc as they reinvent what the animated film, Justice League: Gods and Monsters tried a decade ago. Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm packed a lot of ideas into a 75 minute film. I loved it, but sadly, the reception for it was poor. Even though the ideas continued to be explored in future DC Comics / Warner Bros. releases, not every work was as hardcore. Continue reading “Superman Unveiled: A Brilliant New Beginning for the DC Universe!”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Reflections on Season One Before The Debut of Two

In Canada, Star Trek Strange New Worlds is now available on #homevideo and we can binge watch and offer some analysis on it!

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season One 4K Sleeve — **Pick up Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Amazon USA**

Season Two Begins on June 15, 2023

Arriving just in time before the season two debut of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the 4K release of season one! It got delayed in Canada, but for those wanting to get caught up before the broadcast of the next season on Paramount Prime, now’s the time!

In what I am preparing for is to remind myself of the continuing story arcs that matter, which also includes what’s happening with Mr. Spock and T’Pring. While that relationship is official, just what this science officer feels for Nurse Chapel has been something of an unusual thorn. I can’t wait to see where this love triangle goes in season two. While “Spock Amok” is a precursor to the penultimate “Amok Time,” just what his feelings are is uncertain. And there’s a lot to read into this update to Spock’s Journey (Ethen Peck). To borrow upon a popular song title, People are Strange, indeed.

However, the real standout is “The Elysian Kingdom.” It’s very familiar, where not only Star Trek’s “Metamorphosis” may have provided the inspiration for its genesis but also there’s Deep Space 9’s “Rumpelstiltskin,” where energy beings are wandering the galaxy and giving hope to those wanting their dreams fulfilled. Had there been a director’s commentary, I’m sure what’s said might suggest a connection and evolution of this cloud entity! What I offer are merely guesses, especially when concerning a series that likes to connect the dots more often than not. Continue reading “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Reflections on Season One Before The Debut of Two”

A Player’s Shameless Guide to Breaking Down Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Home Video

We take a look at which edition of the home video release of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is worth picking up and the verdict is….

Paramount Pictures and eOne
For the Movie Review,
please visit our original post here.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is coming to home video this week! Although what’s offered as bonus content does not differ from the streaming version, I am glad to have a release to hold in my hands. Although I was hoping a store exclusive can come with added goodies, alas the only thing offered (for now) is the steelbook. The case presents the ampersand dragon with the movie cast presented in silhouette and the interior is a gorgeous recreation of the dungeon scene from the film like it was a Mondo art print.

And my appreciation for this film got bumped up a notch. The first segment, “From Dice to Dragons: Honouring the Lore,” finally reveals the details and what kind of love writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley put in to adapt the game to screen. Their interview also includes explaining why they went with a pudgy dragon rather than a sleek one. Strangely, they didn’t acknowledge Gary Gygax or the TSR days. Unless it passed by fast, I would’ve liked to hear that Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro did not own and manage the property back then.

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Full Trailer Drop and Analysis.

The Dial of Destiny can either mean the search for Stargate’s Dial Home Device, or just another instrument that can turn back time.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Indiana Jones is back, and his latest quest concerns a mysterious Dial of Destiny. It’s tough to say if that’s an archaeological relic or some ancient alien tech, but I’m hoping for the former, since the fourth film wasn’t beloved by every fan.

Although the trailer does not hint at much, we see him remembering things from the past and perhaps putting more emphasis about missing those adventures on the high seas. His concern for present events doesn’t seem to matter. As for his future, it’s nice to know he’s there to either be involved in some mess concerning the Apollo 11 landing and the return of those famous astronauts. Perhaps it is about some conspiracy that NASA does not want in the public eye.

But for those who’ve followed the lore concerning the US Government giving (former Nazi) German scientists amnesty after World War II ended, the plot being advertised is no surprise at all. But as for how historically accurate this tale will depend on rocket engineer Wernher von Braun getting involved. Amusingly, he’s an accepted Disney spokesman; He appeared in the 1955 television special Man and the Moon to explain why humanity must reach for the stars. He’s worked at NASA and as for whether he’ll influence Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), also a former Nazi, to do covert things for him, nobody knows for sure. This character might be played by Thomas Kretschmann, the only other German actor listed in the early credit reveal.

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