Movie Review: Splash

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to my Movie Review.

And Happy MerMay, everybody. Since if anyone who are new or didn’t know, its the month of creative celebration based on one of the most notable fantasy or mythical creatures, mermaid. While I love werewolf (since I’ve covered “An American Werewolf at London”), mermaids are more notable creatures in many stories or mythology, ranging from a being an obstacles for many travelers or fishers, or, the most common, one mermaid being curious to see outside of the ocean. In case for the latter, its been adapted numerous times about this subject. Of course, the most notable is The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson that its been adapted and referenced. BUT, before we have the Disney version that we all know, we have to go back a few years in the 80s that not only its another one of favorite movies in the 80s, but we have Disney’s first film for mature audience, but in different name of Motion Picture.

“Splash” is an 1984 Romantic, Fantasy Comedy film that was directed Ron Howard (yup, the same guy who later gave us Rush), produce/written by Brian Grazer and co-written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, and Bruce Jay Friedman. And its the first film that was done by Touchstone films.

This may sounds curious for a movie done by non-Disney production team, but if we wanna know how Touchstone was born, we have to go back for a brief origin.

Around after the Disney Brothers passed away (may rest in peace, Walt and Roy O.), the Disney films had been increased public assumption, since back then (and to this day), Disney contents are targeted to kids and family, but the downside is that many of Disney original live action films went down pretty badly based on the numbers at the box-office, so they wanna make more movies, but to be edgier than kid friendly films, such as the 1979’s The Black Hole for being Disney’s first PG rated film (kinda since, a months prior, where was their first PG film under Buena Vista Districution called “Take Down”, which it maybe coincidence that both Take down and The Black Hole are the first PG rated films under Disney/Buena Vista names, but its a long story). By the time we reached to the 80s, Disney released more PG rated films such as “The Watcher of the Woods” in 1980, Condorman in 1981 and the film that revolutionized the CGI film, Tron in 1982. But the late 82, the Disney vice president of production, Tom Wilhite, suggested to make to be more mature than PG rated films, he said in New York Times, I quote “We won't get into horror or exploitive sex, but using a non-Disney name will allow us wider latitude in the maturity of the subject matter and the edge we can add to the humor”. They first experimented with Trenchcoat in 1983, but that movie didn’t go that well, even if they covered their names for their first adult-oriented film. Oh yeah, did I mentioned the early 80s was Disney’s struggling time ever with new kids of animation division after the 9 Old Men’s retirement, the new leadership of Disney and being crash and burned by competitors like their ex-employee Don Bluth? Yeah, it wasn’t that good… BUT, they were opened to make a mature film, though not under Disney’s name, they gotta build a new studio from scratch for mature audience. So, the CEO of Disney named Ron W. Miller, founded the new studio called “Touchstone Films”, which it was named to prevent a mature film released under the biggest family friendly company, but alas, despite Touchstone Films were founded, Ron Miller has resigned due to being an A-Hole to running the business, which is no wonder why Roy E. Disney and others made a campaign “Save Disney” to remove Miller from the business, which Miller eventually threw the towel and left, resulting being replaced by outsiders like Frank Wells, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Eisner.

Anyway, the idea of this movie came from Brian Grazer, it was originally going to be made with United Artists, but Grazer wanna bring his project elsewhere for pitching. Unfortunately, a lot of studios that he was pitching got rejected, a lot. It wasn’t until the aforementioned Ron Miller accept it and put it on production, along with changing story to be more a romantic comedy film, rather than a mermaid comes out to looking around in New York in curiosity. Despite there might be a downside that Warner Bros were also planning to make a movie about a mermaid with Warren Beatty, but that project was nowhere. And after turning down Footloose and Mr. Mom, our familiar film director, Ron Howard stepped in to be the director.

When Splash comes out of water on March 9th 1984, it was surprisingly well received both critics and the audience, for the love chemistry, the acting and humors and the box-office is a fishing worthy of earning $96.8M, which is nearly 10 times more than $11M’s film budget. Though im not so sure if my parents have heard nor seen the movie, but its based on my curious experience from my YouTube docuseries “Animation Lookback” by ElectricDragon505 (aka AniMat, the reviewer who inspired me), mainly during Disney’s take of The Little Mermaid, they put it on hold for couple years because Splash came out five years before the eventual release. So, I was lucky to buy a DVD from thrift store that I worked at and… Its surprisingly a pretty good one for love and humor moments.

So, with all that said, will this movie holds up to gathering a mermaid to the city, or is fishing mermaid isn’t worth of discovery?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie about Mermaid discovers New York and falling in love with ordinary New Yorker, its a pretty fascinating and fun one for the story and the writing.

The movie begins all the way back in 1964, in the boat tour at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with covered Wooly Bully song (nice and catchy song to start, eh?), we introduced Bauer brothers, Freddie, a perverse womanizer older brother, and the curious young brother, and the main protagonist, Allen. It wasn’t until he sees something from water that he jumped off into water to check in, which he saw a young girl in the water, that is until he got rescued by his parents in panic after a brief interaction between the two, despite no one ever seen a young girl who happens to be a mermaid.

Fast forward to 20 years later, Allen works as the co-owner of fruits and vegetables business with his big brother Freddie works with him. However, while his fruit and veggies business are doing… Mixed, he has tough time to finding some love, including being broke by his ex, Victoria, Allen is… Pretty much depressed his own while Fred likes to have fun to hanging out with ladies, so Allen takes taxi cab to going back to the place he remembered in his childhood, Cape Cod. But upon arriving there, he meets an eccentric scientist name Walter Kornbluth, who’s on diving expedition with his employees, while Allen tries to ask them for a boat, but they refused, until one of Kornbluth’s employee brought a man with a small boat with Mr. Fat Jack (go figure), but after the boat gets jammed, fatty mustachio swims away, leaving Allen alone on a small boat, he tries to fix, but despite he fixed it, he got bumped by an uncontrolled boat with his head and knocked out. But he was eventually saved into ashore by naked blonde woman (which happens to be the same young mermaid from the opening, though he didn’t recognized her), but the downside is that she found a wallet that he lost and got discovered by Kornbluth in the ocean. Later on after Allen returns to business and the same mermaid comes out of water, but naked that she got arrested for indecent exposure, he received a call from the cops for not only retrieved his wallet, but also gotta get along with the mermaid (now giving her as “Madison”), they both live together for having a small tour to New York and they ended up falling in love. But its up to them that while they’re in relationship, she stays there with six days til full moon, and at same time, she tries to keep in secret from Allen and desperate Kornbluth who’s trying to expose her.

Its a simple romantic comedy film from the 80s, but with a twist about a man discovering a mermaid, which I find it to be a nice inclusion plot, especially when Allen is trying to remember if he knows the blonde woman is the same mermaid when he was young, even if at the same time, he’s struggling to finding a loving relationship than living in depression unlike his colorful womanizing brother. While Allen is trying to get a new girl, the movie also treats Madison as a point of view where she’s curious to looking around as an outsider after she came out of water, which I find her pretty nice and well written, even if she has a time limit til full moon, but we’ll get to the characters later. As for the humor, it find some to be chuckle worthy, mainly for either Freddie being silly, playful with Allen and hanging out with girls, cause hey, what do you expect we have John Candy, eh? And there’s also where Kornbluth is trying to exposing Madison, but failed miserably that he gets banged up pretty badly with bandages and casts. As for the metaphor of 6 days til full moon? Its a nice question that, for my guess, she accepts to live outside of surface, but only for a week like 6 days before its full moon, cause otherwise, she won’t be back to the sea, which is like a curse that if she stays away for more then 6 days, she’ll becoming human with no ability to turning back into mermaid. Again, its just my own theory for her fate if she’s stays out of surface for more than a week.

While its simple, but il give appreciation for the writing for the chemistry, character development and some humors from the get-go.

The Presentation

As I said from the film’s release, the movie costed $11M, which is kind of cheap, but in fairness, it looks pretty nice.

For starter, for a movie taking place in New York, its no surprising that they actually filmed in the Big Apple itself, even if filming in New York is expensive. Though they also filmed in Los Angeles, California for certain locations. And lastly, one scene where Allen first sees pre-named Madison on the beach were filmed in the island formerly known as Gorda Cay in Bahamas, which this location would later be purchased by Disney in 1997 and renamed as Castaway Cay.

The way they filmed are pretty good for 1984, ranging from the shot of Manhattan, to of course, under the sea, the filming under the water is a challenging part that it takes a lot of training and protective equipment to film in the ocean, and they did a pretty good work from Madison swims with fishes, various angles where she swims around in coral to even live in sunken ship when she checks about both the map and Allen’s lost wallet. In nowadays, movie in the sea would dangerously done in CGI, but back in 1984, its quite impressive and challenging what they pulled for filming and the effects.

Speaking of the latter, this is another challenging part for dressing up as a mermaid. Originally, the mermaid suit design is going to be dolphin-esque, but Ron Howard suggested to be more tropical look, hence the mermaid suit is based on koi fish breed, and the suit is designed by predate Academy Award winner, Robert Short (who would like win the award for Beetlejuice makeup). The mermaid tail was done functional, though it weight 35 pounds that it took three hours to fit in for Daryl Hannah, and she was forced to be remained for certain scenes when Madison is in mermaid form, even if after filming scenes in her mermaid form, Hannah is very uncomfortable ranging from yanking her out from the crane to even not eating nor going to the bathroom that she felt shivering in soaking wet and barnacles on her hair, she actually said that in her experience from People magazine. But once if Madison is in human form, it would be a difficult to removing it without causing damage her mermaid suit, which they suggest to let her keep it wearing when they’re in lunch break, along with Tom Hanks recalled (in the 20th anniversary commentary) some of cast members would drop French fries over the side of the tank when she was trained sea mammal, cause otherwise if she comes out of water, that could painfully making her legs being “shrink-wrapped”. One fascinating scene is where Madison takes a bath with turning into mermaid form. At first, I though it was like done with tricky hand-drawn or stopmotion, but it turned out they pulled a vacuum effect that Daryl had to press the button off screen to activate the vacuum effect upon her transformation with showing her scale and layer from her fin suit.

While budget is standard, but its pretty nice what they pulled for their filming and the effects for 1984, even if its challenge to filming in the water in certain scenes.

The Characters

While the narration is simple, but well executed, you think the characters could be either likable, funny, unique or even lovely? Well, I find the characters in this movie are actually pretty good.

Lets starts off with our main protagonist in this movie, Allen Bauer (played by Tom Hanks in his first main role on the big screen. Mazes and Monsters doesn’t count, cause its a TV movie). He’s an every day and curious man who works as the co-owner of fruits and veggies business, but the downside is that behind his normal and happy face, he’s also struggled and depressed to finding a new love ever since the ex from before, Victoria, broke up, leaving trying to get himself to looking back to Cape Cod from his childhood and maybe finding the new love, until he meets the mermaid, Madison. I find him to be pretty good, while he wants to be nice and normal, but he’s kind of being an outsider, considering how the Cape Cod childhood and being broke up affected him the most that he just wants to looking back where he had been to finding the answer. But once he meets Madison, things completely changed from the way he was, being both happy, but also teaching her about the world building outside of surface, though the downside is he didn’t know that she’s a mermaid, which wouldn’t be til the third act, even if he may have flaws from teach her further about human world or dangerously being a jerk for either making trouble or sarcasm. He’s somewhat relatable and well-written how we can feel he’s uneasy life from the start, especially trying to remember from his childhood, until things going good when he gets a mermaid. Of course, like I said before, this is Tom Hanks’s first main role on the big screen, which before the future Woody was hired, Allen was originally going to played by either Chevy Chase, Bill Murray or even John Travolta, but they decided to hired the then lesser known Tom Hanks in this movie in order to fitting him as an “every day man”, but I think it fits well for him, cause he did a good job for his role and the way he was written.

Next, we have a blonde mermaid, though she didn’t have a name, but she’s referred as “Madison” (played by Daryl Hannah), she’s the one and only mermaid who first encounter a human, mainly the aforementioned Allen. By the time they meet each other for the second time 20 years later, this is where Madison became both curious and interest to coming out of surface for not just discovering humans, but also wanting to get along with Allen for their relationship, which I like the chemistry between of two, its how different they really are, while they’re in love, one who’s struggled and being an outsider to connect with, and the other is an unusual being who’s both curious interest to interact with. However, the downside is that, when she’s with Allen, she starts off keep her mermaid life in secret, especially she vaguely explained she has her time limit of six days before she’ll go back where she came from. But like I said, the movie didn’t explained further what happened after six days, which in my theory for the story, if six days have past, she’ll becoming human forever, but if she’s in final day while going back under the sea, she’ll return in mermaid life. But of course, once her secret got exposed, the relationship are turning upside-down that if only she can explain sooner than later, that’s just my nitpick, but more on that later. Despite one small nitpick, I find her pretty good too, especially she looks beautiful with blonde hair and her koi fish mermaid form, and Daryl did a good job for her cute curiosity and her relation to Hanks’s Allen.

After that, we have Dr. Walter Kornbluth (played by our familiar Canadian actor, Eugene Levy, aka Ed the care salesman in National Lampoon’s Vacation), an eccentric scientist who’s in diving expedition, but once he sees Madison in mermaid form, this is where he becomes obsess of finding her to prove everyone that the mermaid is real, despite he’s been constantly being scolded he’s been exaggerated or even getting beaten up when he tried to watering Madison to exposing her secret to prove the public he’s right. But once he exposes Madison’s mermaid form with water hose, he went from crazy scientist in desperation to prove his truth to now being regretful of his responsibility. Which when I first and second watch this movie, I was easily believing myself he’s a main villain who’s trying to ruining Allen and Madison’s relationship about exposing her secret based on his desperation to prove his attention and rumors to be confirmed, but when he heard his scientist rival, Dr. Ross, and his partners are planning dissect Madison, he completely change his feeling that its all his fault for exposure that dissecting could ending her life for science experiment and ruining the relation between her and Allen. Which its a nice twist of changing his heart that he’s technically not a villain, after his action could make a huge risk of her life and such. Even though this is the second time in my review that we have Eugene Levy, but as a recurring role in this movie, I think he did a good job for being a baddie to changing heart in his role.

And speaking of Canadian role, finally we have Freddie Bauer (played by the late John Candy, aka Del Griffith from Planes, Trains and Automobile), he’s no stranger a comedic role in this movie for being colorful, free-spirited and also overly perverse and distracting to ladies compared to his young brother Allen. While he only shows up for humor roles, though to be fair, he does made me chuckle for his performance, but he may also giving some plot development to Allen when it comes to relationship and his life. He’s kinda minimal of his role, but still he did a fun work of his role. However, its also and sadly noted that, while he was a great and fun actor, but he’s also problematic to be involved with this movie. Im not saying he’s one of those bad actor to work with, but its more like he was a very struggling person behind the scenes, mainly he was constantly late to be there for certain scenes, mainly because he was very struggling person to dealing with anxiety and panic attack, along with having substance with drinks and coke. Its pretty hard to hear this when he was a very struggling man both actor and person outside of movies. Like I said in my Planes, Trains and Automobiles review, its understandably devastated that he was gone too soon as a fun, smart and loving man in his acting career, but his mental struggle and substance abuse overwhelmed and hurting his life that led to his untimely death in March 4th 1994. As always, rest in piece, Johnny, you’re always amazing and funny person.

As for the rest of the casts, there really not much to say for their minimal of roles since we have four focused characters.

There’s Dr. Ross (played by the late Richard B. Shull) who’s the scientist rival for his plan to dissecting Madison. And Mrs. Stimler (played by the late Dody Goodman, aka Blanche Hodel from Grease) who’s the secretary of Bauer brothers’ business.

While some characters have some flaws, but they’re pretty good, well-written and fun performance in the movie, ranging from one actor who was great and even the starting point of our familiar star.

SPOILER ALERT, for those who haven’t seen the movie or didn’t mind

The final act is kind of rushed from the get-go, but it does have some fun and heart-warming climax and the ending, though the latter need a bit more, but I digress.

After feeling disbelief and disillusioned about Madison being revealed as a mermaid that he doesn’t want see her again, Allen regains his motivation from his brother Freddie explaining about uneasy love and how happy he was, he’s going for the rescue to Madison. He gotta start talk to Dr. Kornbluth, but they started off confronting each others from Allen’s blaming him for ruining his relationship, but Dr. Kornbluth begs him in mercy for taking his wrong responsibility for exposing her secret, especially for being dismissed by his colleagues for being crazy. After reconciliation, Allen, his brother Freddie and Dr. Kornbluth are breaking into the secret lab, while the brothers are pretending to be Swedish scientists (complete with not-so good speaking Swedish language, a silly Dick joke from Freddie and prove the truth to a guard soldier), they finally enter the room to rescue Madison, especially Allen and Madison reconcile after their separation. After the reconciliation, Allen and Kornbluth carries covered Madison for their escape, while Freddie is doing some fun, but when the scientist noticed that the REAL Swedish scientists entered to notice the difference between the real ones and decoys, so they called the military for the chase after our heroes (minus Freddie). At first, Allen (who drives his BMW), Madison and Kornbluth are got away pretty easy, but its just the beginning as they got close by the military vehicles on their tails, resulting a car between Allen and his pals for escaping in order to reaching the harbor, and the military for their unfinished business with try to arrest our heroes. Just as Dr. Kornbluth tries to block the military truck (but failed miserably), Allen finally reaches at the harbor in order to freeing Madison back to the water. But before she leaves, she revealed the secret from the childhood that she’s the same young mermaid when she first met Allen 20 years ago, making him surprised that she’s the same young mermaid all along (despite we already knew from the opening, but I digress). While Allen has to say goodbye to Madison to let her Splash on the water (no pun intended), its feels like too late that the military are already arrive in attempt to capture her and arresting Allen, he had no choice but to escaping from them by jumping in the water too to get back with Madison. After being circled and fight back at frogmen (from Madison fights with her fin (including kicking at one of them in the Nyuts!) and unmasking, and Allen unplugging oxygen and fight dirty with a bite), they finally escaped that they swim together (along with Madison kissed Allen to give his ability to breath underwater, almost forgot), until they’re about to getting closer to her home kingdom under the sea in freedom.

Pretty nice climax, even if its kind of a rush, but at least its nice that Allen get along with Madison against and maybe he’s curious to see her kingdom of merpeople. Though we never get the latter, but that’s just me.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film.

Overall, Splash is a pretty good film in 80s fashion, even for Touchstone’s first film ever made.

The writing is simple, but executed pretty good for the character developments, the chemistry between every day man and a mermaid, the presentation looks pretty nice and even pretty good, yet challenging for doing a live-action mermaid, the characters are nicely written and somewhat relatable and has some chuckle moments.

Though its nowhere perfect with some flaws like some characters like Dr. Ross could’ve make more appearance, maybe give us some answers about Madison’s time limit and the ending is kinda rushed.

This is another one of my “rewatch films” list that I like to come back to see it, especially that, again, its Touchstone’s first film ever made that Disney wanted to make a studio gearing towards adults (though soft) and the starting point of my favorite actor Tom Hanks. I’d say I recommend to check this one out if you’re curious or a fan of mermaid if you’re a fan of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (the original, not the remake one).

However, I only recommend if you got this on DVD or even digital purchase like YouTube, cause from what I’ve heard, the Disney+ version is badly censored (which is downright hypocritical that this is Disney’s adult studio that it doesn’t need to be censored. All this for what? “Think of the children”?? GET OUT!!!).

And apparently, I also noticed that they made a sequel as a TV movie called “Splash, Too”. And before you ask, NO! I’ll never watch nor even talk about this one, Splash doesn’t need to get a sequel. Seriously, what were they thinking…?!

Anyway, for my rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my Movie Review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Back in three years ago, we’ve witnessed The Super Mario Bros Movie, and I gotta say, this movie was a HUGE DEAL for being the most anticipating film ever since Universal partnered with Nintendo for building a theme park based on Super Mario Bros both in US and Japan. As for me, I was anticipated to see it, aside our head scratching moment for how and why they cast Peter Quill as Mario. But even we looking back at this movie, despite their best effort to adapting the game with good presentation, some good jokes, surprising good characters and fun action scenes, it would’ve been greater to give us a lot of story, character and world development, due to lackluster writing. It didn’t matter either way, the movie made a HUGE gamble by earning $1.360B, and its not surprising that we the movie’s success, sequel will always be the calling card for today’s review.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a 2026 animated adventure comedy video game film was, much like the first movie, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, produced by Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, and written by Matthew Fogel.

After the partnership deal is on between Universal and Nintendo and before the release of the first movie, the current Nintendo (of Japan) president, Shuntaro Furukawa, expressed the interest that if the first movie is a success, they’ll make a butt load of sequels and a spin-offs. But of course, with a huge hit at the box-office of earning more than 1 BILLION dollars, their wish will be granted that sequel was on the work. From before, many people are expecting the sequel is gonna be about Mario with Wario (and Luigi vs Waluigi). But once we eventually watched Nintendo Direct, they announced the sequel… Is their take on Super Mario Galaxy? Yeah, when I saw their announcement, despite my anticipation to hopefully learn their mistakes from the writing, but Really? They skipped over almost every Mario games like Super Mario World and Super Mario Sunshine in favor of Galaxy?

Well before we start, I have a confession for you fans out there. I’ve never played Super Mario Galaxy. Yeah, back in my old days with Wii, I was pretty distracted over Super Smash Bros Brawl, but I’ve never touched upon Mario Galaxy. Although, im one of those lucky customers who bought a controversial limited time release of “Super Mario 3D All-Stars” (even I questioned Nintendo’s stupid method), it does contained Super Mario Galaxy (and no Galaxy 2), maybe il give it a shot if im in a mood.

So, with all that said, will Mario and his pals could save the galaxy from Bowser’s revenge, or is this feels like a meteor crash landing?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Unlike the first Mario movie, I won’t do the comparison between the movie and the game, because, like I said in my short confession, I’ve never played Mario Galaxy. Anyway, you think they’ll learn their mistake to maybe have a new development, a new humor and a new subplot? Well, sadly no.

The movie begins in space with land like space station called “Comet Observatory” with the galaxy princess name Rosalina and children living stars called Lumas, they live peacefully that they love to have a bedtime stories where Mushroom Kingdom have been. That is until she’s under attack by Megaleg, piloted by none other than Bowser Jr. Though Rosalina tried her best to save herself and Lumas, but didn’t worked well that she gets kidnapped. Meanwhile in Mushroom Kingdom, we have Mario and Luigi, who are been in journey to solving problems around the land, including upon travel to Mexican themed town called “Tostarena Town”, due to disturbance from the temple. But upon inspection, they eventually found a lost dinosaur named Yoshi, who’s been said he was hatched out and briefly live in Brooklyn (you know, the city where Mario and Luigi used to live with their family?). After adopting Yoshi as their companion, they entered the festival of Peach’s anniversary of her arrival of Mushroom Kingdom. It wasn’t until one of the Lumas crash landed behind Peach’s castle, due to Rosalina sent one for alert that she’s kidnapped, leaving Peach and the main Toad going for the rescue, while Mario, Luigi and Yoshi are doing their own, with watching over the shrunken rehabilitated King Koopa himself, Bowser. But didn’t last long, as the UFO that its piloted by Bowser Jr. himself in demand to bring Bowser back, leaving a fight between 3 vs 1, while Peach’s castle got abducted, for brief moment. So its up to Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach and Toad on the way to save the galaxy for not only saving Rosalina, but also going after Bowser and Jr’s home planet called… Well “Planet Bowser” (feeding ego too much, King Koopa?) with a massive destruction cannon called “Boomsday Weapon” for not only destroy Mushroom Kingdom, but also the entire galaxy.

Now, it may sounds like another character in distress story that our heroes going not just rescue mission, but saving the whole galaxy for peace, which I find it to be pretty standard plot from the get-go we love to see. However, the movie does gave us some extra plot elements for some new developments like Peach’s possible connection with Rosalina and a chemistry between Bowser and his son, Junior. But sadly, all the good things came to at end quickly, because im sorry to say… It feels just like the same problem as the first movie, mainly for having a pacing problems, lackluster message, nonexistent narration, mish-mash world building, and some jokes sadly even more hit or miss than before. Its no surprising that the writing feels like a copy-paste issue from before. But another problem about this movie is that the title rather misleading. Sure we do have an adventure in the galaxy to boldly go where no heroes have gone before, but the Mario Galaxy part is only both the opening and the climax, instead, it leaning towards Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros 2 (aka Doki Doki Panic from Japanese version) and even Star Fox (more on the latter later). I mean, il give credit for paying homage to several Mario games for actions and other elements we can found references and Easter Eggs, but keep in mind, the movie is called “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”, because again, the title is lackluster that it doesn’t feel like we’re on an adventure in the whole Galaxy, but more of a same formula from previous film that the movie that it should’ve been called “The Super Mario Bros Second Movie” or maybe even “The Super Mario Odyssey Movie” (on second thought, skipping over World, Sunshine and Galaxy feels like crossing the line for the concept, eh?). Now you people are going to turning off my reviews with hate comments and death threats on me, this is ONLY MY OWN CRITICAL PART, sure its pretty lacking that they really need to learn their lesson from the previous film’s writing, but like before, it feels more of a “quality over novelty”, like we can turn off our criticisms’ mind to watch the movie for fun with humors, adventures and bunch of references and Easter Eggs from both Mario and Nintendo games, I mean, im sure kids are likely going into the quality over novelty, that’s the type that its understandable we can enjoy, even if the movie feels the same as before.

While it has SOME redeeming quality that I like to gave for the characters, references, homages and some okay jokes, but I just wish that, again, they really need to learn their lesson from the first film to give us a proper plot to understanding, but again, I kinda understand some people are defending this for the sake of “quality over novelty”, not just for the kids, but also for hardcore Mario fans out there. But again, its only my point of view of criticism.

The Animation

The movie’s budget is slightly higher than before with the cost of $110M, and I think its safe to say the animation is no stranger to be the highlight of this film’s budget.

For starters, the background of the world building from either Mushroom Kingdom and Gateway Galaxy look pretty standards, sure one of them is a colorful land with Toads, some dinosaurs and several locations that references from several Mario games that we all know like mushroom platforms, cloud level, water level and others. While the other one is the same world setting of Mushroom Kingdom, but for traveling trips, kinda like an airport with pipes for either the hangar or to the underground city, along with cubic casino run by King Wart from Super Mario Bros 2, but I will give credit for the latter that the setting in cubic casino is not only colorful, but also pretty good and unique for the action with various angles and a lot of struggle to dealing with those Ninjis act like securities. Aside the inclusion of Mexican themed town called Tostarena Town, which looks pretty nice and colorful, even for taking place in desert location of Mushroom Kingdom, they do have some locations based on Super Mario Galaxy, even if they put a bold name on the movie’s title, such as Comet Observatory, landscape-like space station run by Rosalina, which I find it to be pretty unique and fascinating, especially it also has a couple of shuttles, despite they can also using Launch Star, but I digress. And there’s Planet Bowser, which it may looks like volcanic land in Bowser’s inflatable of ego and menacing, but it does has cool and fun stuff they putted like theme parks, the surveillance room with 8-bit graphic and of course, a massive cannon of destruction “Boomsday Weapon”, while holding Rosalina in hostage for their setup of destroying the entire galaxy, quite over-the-top, but hey, gotta give credit for follow up from the game (sort of).

Of course, the animation effects are pretty good to go bigger and better (kinda) to adding more fun effects for the action with fires, more landscapes, the aforementioned unique ways in cubic casino and of course, the beauty view in space to make it more vibrant and colorful, even the world building and the settings are still looking good in vibrant, bright and colorful. Especially its also fun they also adding video game graphic in homage from their games like the aforementioned 8-bit and the 16-bit graphic for Super Mario World reference, let along with sound effects from the game that we all know. Of course, like the previous films, the character designs are pretty nice and followed from the game franchise, but with more expression to giving their personalities, sure some personalities either remains the same or even surprising new, still give nice and respectful credit for the designs to be respectfully representing from the game, especially with, again, giving us some fun Easter Eggs to pointing out.

And lastly, there’s always no stranger to giving us the action scenes from fighting against Bowser Jr with his unique and creative use of his paint weapon like duplicate enemies or armors for himself, chasing away from the T-Rex in Mario Odyssey, Rosalina’s defending herself and Lumas, space dogfight with Arwing from Megaleg and even the climax in Planet Bower. They’re pretty fascinating and entertaining from fast pace, creative and impact to see our heroes avoiding obstacles and fighting for their lives from the evil threats like Bowser, Junior and even King Wart.

Like I said from the start, its not surprising that the movie’s budget focus is its presentation for nice and beautiful quality, creative and followed backgrounds, faithful character designs, great effects and fun action scenes. While the soundtrack by Brian Tyler are pretty good as always, but at least they step away with the use of labeled songs from before.

The Characters

With the writing’s problem, perhaps the characters in this movie would be slightly improvement from the first movie? Well, Perhaps, but again, I wish that some characters would’ve been better with new development. Even if some voice cast that, while they’re good, but unfortunate a downgrade.

Lets start off with our titular protag, Mario (reprised by Chris Pratt), he’s our main hero that he’s trying to protecting Mushroom Kingdom in peace for potential girlfriend (so we think) Princess Peach. While his development is slightly updated as a no-nonsense hero and possibly concern if Peach is in trouble with Toad, but its all slightly development him, just a hero of Mushroom Kingdom who’s heard about the galaxy is in danger. But of course, even when Pratt returns as Mario, im STILL considered the worst casting choice ever, even when’s trying to imitating retired OG voice of Mario, Charles Martinet, he’s STILL doesn’t feel like Mario that we all know, like you might as well give Star-Lord with plumber gimmick. But like I said in the first Mario Bros movie, I’ve nothing against him, he’s a great actor that I have a respect for him, but I still standby for his role of Mario just doesn’t work based on his voice or even comparing the other character he’s been portrayed. But im sure im not the only one who pointed out a bad call, even some of you can agree with me to this day since the previous film.

Next we have Luigi (reprised by Charlie Day), like before he’s a timid, scaredy cat young brother in adventure with Mario. But in this version, we eventually get to see him in action with his brother and be somewhat confident for the journey. I think its safe to say that he’s probably the only one with new development after he used to be a dude in distress from the first film, even Charlie did a nice work of his role of Luigi.

Then we have Princess Peach (reprised by Anya Taylor-Joy), a royal princess of Mushroom Kingdom with helping Toads and even bonding with Mario and Luigi for saving the land, and as always, being strong-willing and badass princess for being aware from the threat. This time, she’s going out on her with the main Toad (reprised by Keegan-Michael Key) based on urgency about Rosalina. But then, somehow, they gave her a further backstory where she came from, but I won’t give you a SPOILER details, but if you wanna know my thought about this? Well, to quote from Jontron “I have SEVERAL questions”. Aside the further backstory, I still like her portrayal in this movie and Anya did a nice work of her role.

And finally, we have the King Koopa himself, Bowser (reprised by Jack Black), when we saw him before, he’s a memorable main villain for Jack’s fun performance, and being both menacing and comedic for being self-aware how he’s made of. Here, he start off as comedic neutral that he’s forced to partner with Mario, Luigi and Yoshi for the whereabouts of Peach and knowing about his son, Bowser Jr. But once he grew back to normal and separated from our main heroes from the deal with Honey Queen (voiced by Issa Rae), he turns back into villain role once he’s rescued and reunited with his son, though he’s more like a secondary villain role than his son, which is rather a downgrade for his role, but to be fair, at least I like they gave a heart to heart moment before him and his son to explain whatever happened to them when they’re separated, even if we wish they could’ve have a further backstory development. While I still give appreciation for fun performance from Jack Black, but I just wish they could’ve give him something new fun stuff like a new song, which it didn’t have that, even if his returned role is not as menacing and fresh as before, though I’ve nothing against him, I still think he did a fun performance, but not as memorable as last time.

As for the new characters, while il give appreciation for entering the scenes, but its too bad that, like the returning characters, not even some new ones could give us a long development (sort of).

First we have Yoshi (surprisingly voiced by Donald Glover), a dinosaur who becomes Mario and Luigi’s companion in Mushroom Kingdom. Even though we saw a flock of Yoshis from the previous film, but its nice to have the main green Yoshi on the big screen, which I wish he should’ve been in the first one than later, but that’s just me. But im quite surprised Donald do the voice of everyone’s favorite dinosaur, but not as fresh as the original voice, Kazumi Totaka.

Next we have, surprisingly, Fox McCloud (voiced by Glen Powell, aka Ben Richards from 2025 The Running Man), the main mercenary pilot of Star Fox who’s somehow being transported into Mushroom Kingdom. Again, im very surprising to having Fox, the main protagonist from Star Fox in the movie, but instead of rival turned friend like Donkey Kong (who sadly, won’t be back in the sequel), here, Fox is a hired pilot to helping our main heroes with his transport Arwing through the galaxy and shooting Bowser’s enemy ships. Let along with boasting his good’ol days when he used to be with his trusted partners in Star Fox from the evil threat of Andross, even if his ego is gotten on his way from his charisma. Despite his somewhat minor role, I find him pretty surprisingly nice inclusion in this film, even Powell’s role fits pretty good. Though it makes me wondering what if this is a setup to make a spin-off movie, but with Star Fox, but again, its just me.

Then we have, Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson, aka Captain Marvel from MCU), she’s the princess of the galaxy and the mother figure for Lumas in her home space station, Comet Observatory. At first, I find her to be a great potential that she’s going be a new promising and badass princess with motherly role to helping our heroes to save the galaxy from Boomsday. I give credit that she has a similar treatment as Peach, bring strong-willed to protect the galaxy and soft and sweet with Lumas, and Brie’s voice as Rosalina is a lot better than Captain Marvel. But sadly, her role is controversially minor that she’s depicted as a damsel in distress, which is nothing but a BIG FAT Slap in the Face for what we’ve expecting. Talk about a letdown for what would’ve been from our anticipation, since SHE’S A MAJOR ROLE FROM THE GAME COMPARED TO THE MOVIE, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!!!

Im sorry, its just that doing research in small comparison is… Really baffling me the most for ruining the potential…

And finally, we have the new main villain, Bowser Jr (voiced by Benny Sadie), the son of Bowser who’s out there for not only kidnapping Rosalina (ugh…!), but also searching his father to presentation his destructive weapon from his home planet. I find him to be a very good role, he may have a similar treatment as his father, but he’s more menacing and serious threat in attempt to put the end of Mushroom Kingdom and the cosmos, but of course, like I mentioned on his father, he does have a softer side when he reunites with his father for returning villainous role, even if Junior is the main villain role, while his father is on second-in-command, along with returning henchman Kamek (reprised by Kevin Michael Richardson) and crime boss named King Wart (voiced by Luis Guzman).

While some casts are doing fine, minus Chris Pratt’s Mario that I still standby the controversial casting choice, but the characters are alright, while there are some have a developments, but its just we wish some could give us new developments and, better yet, a bigger role for what would’ve been.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film

Overall, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is… Dare I say, a very mixed to average at best.

The movie is suffered the same problem, but dangerously downgraded with lackluster narrative story, world building are clearly a flip flop, average and downgraded characters, some jokes could’ve gone better, subplots just came out of nowhere, and the potential of this movie what we’ve expecting, just didn’t go that well, especially the title of this movie is misleading that its more of a typical follow up rather than focusing on galaxy.

But before you guys are going to be hot boiling of rage to send me hateful comments to canceling me and death threats, I wanna put this very clear. Its NOT the worst movie I’ve ever seen. Sure, it does have flaws that they made another mistake, but it has a redeeming qualities that we can give appreciation like well-done animation, faithful designs, fun and noticeable Easter Eggs, great action scenes, pretty good soundtracks and has a surprising characters are that memorable on their own like Bowser Jr. and even Fox McCloud.

As a movie itself, its not great for many reasons in a same way as the first one, which again, they really need to learn their mistakes without doing the same pattern. But again, if we turn off our criticisms and narration, its a pretty good and fun film to watch, even if the movie is short as one in a half hour length. For recommendation, its no stranger that its only for diehard fans of Mario, just for the sake of see the fun stuff with the animation, the actions and others, which like I said, its pretty good that the Illumination did their best for their work, but as for non-fans of Mario or being a fan of storytelling (like me), I’d say, watch once and il let you make a conclusion if its good or not that great.

From before, I gave the first animated Mario movie a 7/10, which I enjoyed the first one (for the most part). 

But as the sequel, im really sorry to say, I gotta drop the number of my rating to 6/10. Again, its not the best sequel nor best movie based on video game, but it has some redeeming quality to give an appreciation.

Anyway, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Hoppers

 

Hello hello everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome everyone to my very first Movie Review in 2026.

Well okay, I know its been three months that I wanted to get started, but I was stuck in 2025 for remaining films how desperate I was to see some of my wishful films that I want to see. But don’t worry, its all settled and lets move on, il learn my mistake next time. Anyway, what better way to kick things off for this year? (aside that I missed Markiplier’s Iron Lung, which il save it later when its available digitally) By going back to our old friend, Pixar, to gave us their new movie less than a year later after their underwhelming film, Elio.

“Hoppers” is a 2026 animated sci-fi adventure comedy film that was written/directed by Daniel Chong, produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, and co-written by Jesse Andrews.

Back in pre-mid-2015, Daniel Chong was hired as a story artist in several studios like Pixar’s Cars 2 and Inside Out, Illumination’s The Lorax and the craptacular Free Birds. But at the same year as the release of Inside Out, he created “We Bare Bears” in 2015 to 2019, which it became a popular show back in 2010’s fascinating year in Cartoon Network. But then in December of 2020, after finishing his show and “We Bare Bears: The Movie”, he announced he came back to Pixar to building up his passion project, along with working the writer of Luca, Jesse Andrews, joined in. In their idea, they said its gonna be an inspiration from animal documentaries, but with robot animals in the wildlife with animals, but with sci-fi twist and action. Basically what they said, imagine Avatar and Mission Impossible merging together, but with wild animals for kids.

So, with all that said, will the experimental human minds into robot animals will fit in to help the wild animals, or is this feel like rocket science gone horribly wrong?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

When it comes to the plot about natures vs humanity, its actually pretty complex for its depth, but it wants to have fun from the get-go.

The movie begins from the past (cause of course) in the city Beaverton, we introduce our main protagonist, Mabel Tanaka, back in her childhood, she wants to bringing wild animals from her school for free will, but not before she got caught and scolded from her school, this is mainly due to she likes to spend time with her grandma in her home located at nearby the forest glade, in order to be calm and watch and feel the ambiance and peaceful to see the wild animals like beavers. Fast forward to the present time, she lives in her grandma’s home to stay with her childhood glade after her grandma sadly passed away. But the downside is that she’ll never get to see her familiar wild animals, this is due to the mayor of Beaverton named Jerry Generazzo, where his goal is to take down the glade for the plan of Freeway, much to both dismay and disgust from Mabel that she became not just a nature appreciation, but also activist in attempt to have a petition to take down the Freeway, but didn’t get any support to everyone in Beaverton, especially her college studies has been draining that she got disapproved to biology professor Dr. Sam Fairfax. It wasn’t until Mabel sees a beaver in the forest, but it goes into the university from the secret room, revealing that Dr. Sam and her colleagues are experimenting their new technology called “Hoppers” where they created a robot of a wild animal to putting human’s mind into the replica of wild animal. But after gets caught and learned about the project, Mabel saw this as an opportunity to put herself into the experiment to “hops” her mind into the same robot beaver for her escape and eventually communicating wild animals to learning what they’re doing. Its up to Mabel, in a robot beaver, to find the way to save the wildlife (mainly her childhood glade) against the Freeway, as long it doesn’t have to be a death threat against either humanity or animals.

At first, it makes you think its another one of those nature vs humans or technology story, its similar plot as the aforementioned Avatar as Chong said during the making of this movie, which is easily understandable, but it has a pretty nice execution to add more depth, like thought-provoking story, the messages, and even the humors (You take notes, James Cameron, huh? Huh??). The message is no stranger that its all about be reasonable and protect the wildlife in the name of peace against human consumption like the setup of Freeway, though its not the first time we’ve heard about plot about campaign against the Freeway, like say, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. Its quite of big deal since we’ve seen plenty of forest has been torn down for not just freeway, but also homes like condos and job apartments like stores, restaurants and others, much to dismay to the wild animals in the forest. Sure, the similar plot of Avatar is there, but again, at least it has a nice execution for creating robot animals with human consciousness to save wildlife rather than going on war, not to mention that’s all about be peaceful to cancel without posing a threat of assassination on the mayor, which of course, there is a plot twist villain, which is another plot twist cliché, but has good kind of twist, but I won’t give further details from SPOILERS. As for the humors, I will say, the humors of this movie is chuckle worthy like how King George demonstrate the world building of the wildlife that he rules with his delivery, the incoming timing with the worm getting eaten, even constant argument between Mabel and Jerry between saving nature and Freeway (at least its a showcase joke, kind of like Family guy), which is common, but at least they didn’t take it seriously. Not to mention with the humors is also being self-aware from either referencing to the aforementioned Avatar (because Duh), how the wildlife works and the unlikely communication between humans and animals. However, if there’s a problem for this movie is the first act, the movie just starts out rather rushed for Mabel’s origin story before we’re going to both against Freeway and the Hoppers experiment, its just like the same problem as Zootopia 2’s first act.

While the first act is rather a rocky start, but the rest gets better for the thought-provoking plots, the messages, an understandable similar plot with good executions and a chuckle worthy humors.

The Animation

The movie’s budget costed $150M, which is yet another Pixar’s low budget film much like Elio. But unlike last year, I noticed the setup for Pixar to having two movies in a year unlike last year, they treated Hoppers as an appetizer, while the upcoming Toy Story 5 is the equivalent of the main dish. But to be fair, for low-budget appetizer, at least it looks pretty nice.

For starter, the background for taking place both the city like Beaverton and the forest are… Dare I say, pretty average, they’re just standard setting as what you expect. But it doesn’t mean its boringly average, they did their best for some creative setting like the home of council in the dam, the quality and even the ambiance when Mabel wants to relax in her forest glade.

For the designs, the humans are also standard for either average or some cartoony designs, but at least I can give an appreciation that, either be normal or go crazy when the humor kicks in based on either the action scenes or the delivery. But the wild animals on the other hands, they’re actually pretty good and cute, sure the design may or may not look real, but they’re so adorable for how round and colorful they are, especially with some details. Its as if the designs of We Bare Bears comes to life in CG, I know its weird thing to describe, but what do you expect for a movie being directed by the guy who gave us a memorable show about the bears in CN.

But I think the best part for the designs in this movie, are the animals expression and the communication based on different perspective. When we’re in human, the animals expression are normal like black dot eyes or typical animal noises, its simple and kind of realistic. But once we’re hoping into robot animal, this is where the animals get their true colors of their expression with cartoon eyes and talk like humans. At first for the latter, I was confused how’s that work, but its only if we’re transported human conscious into robot animal for communication, which it would make sense, unless there’s a missing tool that we can translate from animal language outside of animal replicant. It may not be as highly revolution, but il give credit for their creativity.

As for the animation, like I mentioned for the story, it starts out slow that the animation are good and standard, but once we get to the second act and the climax, boy it gets interesting to have a montage of demonstrating wild animals in the forest, the building dam with beavers while playing “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy (gotta love the 80s song to building a dam with beavers, eh?), and of course, the climatic chase in the risk of death or worse, having a robot animal go “BOOM!” when crashing (Jeez, what kind of machine it contains?).

Despite the background is average at best, but its the animation and the designs are the best part of animation for how they crafted and the creativity from different perspectives.

The Characters

While the writing of the story is pretty good, we expecting the characters could be memorable too? Well, I think so, both how they developed and a fun voice performances.

Lets start off with our main protagonist, Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda), a Japanese-American animal lover and college student who likes live with Glade for not just seeing the animals in the forest, but also due to her personal history from her beloved grandma, making her becoming rebellious against Mayor Jerry to prevent the planning Freeway. I find her to be pretty fascinating character and somewhat relatable, we can feel that we want to save something important from our beloved grandparents from our childhood without ruined by city consumption or using violence as the answer from the councils. Not only she’s somewhat relatable that we want to keep something safe due to personal history and deep meaning, but she’s quite curious, enjoyable, energetic and caring with the animals that I find her quite possibly memorable, and Piper kicks ass her performance in energy.

Next up, we have King George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan), the monarch of the beavers and the King of Mammals who shows Mabel about the building in the forest who sees himself as an optimistic to follow the set of pond rules to the animals in the forest, especially for being a plot development to teach Mabel about the whole forest, the animals, the aforementioned pond rules and providing lessons about trusts. Though he can be a flawed king when it comes to handling or delivering the rules, but he does have a nice chemistry with Mabel to understand about the forest and the issue about the upcoming freeway, even if he’s gotta realizing this due to being blocked by a fake tree with possibly a high pitch frequency. Though he’s nowhere perfect to be the king, but at least he’s kind, optimistic and also enjoyable to gives us the lesson and plot convenience in order to understand why Mabel wants her Glade in peace with beavers, and I think Bob did a nice work of his performance.

Next we have Jerry Generazzo (played by Jon Hamm, aka Sentinel Prime from Transformers One), the mayor of Beaverton for his plan to building the freeway for reelection. You may think that he must be the main antagonist of this movie for his plan of freeway without Mabel’s consent for placed on her glade due to her personal history with her beloved grandma. I mean okay, he maybe villainous that, kinda like mayors, senators or politicians, he always think he’s a perfect mayor that he’s in the right with everyone support him, while also being oblivious about the cause based on, again, Mabel’s protection her glade for the sake of the wild animals. Basically, he’s kind of like the human version of Sentinel Prime, they’re both similar how they’re written, but the difference is, while Sentinel is self-proclaimed hero in Cybertron without acknowledging the major problem for being the leader of Iacon from the dark secret, Jerry on the other hand is, like leaders in towns, he chooses to extending Beaverton with freeway, while being oblivious about the cause to the forest and animals. I guess its no wonder why I saw a couple of posts that lot of people compared both Jerry and Sentinel Prime for similarities, not just for their setup, but also they’re both voiced by Jon Hamm. But to his credit, at least Jon did a good work of his role too, even if we though he’s the main villain, but not exactly, without SPOILERS.

After that, we have Dr. Sam Fairfax (voiced by Kathy Najimy), the biology professor in Beaverton University that she and her colleagues secretly experimenting the hopping technology. Like George, she also gave us plot convenience about this experiment that made Mabel as an opportunity to transfer her consciousness into robot beaver for her rebellious plan to save her glade, despite even if this is something that Dr. Sam is gotta understand about Mabel’s plan rather than overprotecting the project. Though il give credit about this experiment, but the execution is rather… flawed to explaining this, but then again, its due to rocky in the first act in the movie. Im not saying Kathy is bad, she did a nice work of her role, but its just some writing part her is kind of weak, even if she’s rather too protective for this project.

And finally, there’s the insect royal family, like The Queen (surprisingly voiced by Meryl Streep) and her son, Titus (voiced by Dave Franco), like George, they’re the council for which animal kinds, specifically, their rule for the insects. But unlike George, they’re more tyranny for their decision, mainly if its not easy to stop the humans, The Queen or Titus are choosing violence as the answer to “squish” humans, which is their term to KILL to believe animals and insects will be the top of the food chain. I know its easily predictable about The Queen and Titus, but again, not gonna give a spoiler warning whatever happens further. While Dave Franco did a surprising work of his role, along with Eman Abdul-Razzak as the younger version of Titus. But of course, Meryl Streep is an unusual pick for this role, but she did a good job as a the most recognizable actress for many ages.

As for the rest, there not much else to say, lot of them are either for plot purposes or for good humors, there's Loaf (voiced by Eduardo Franco) another beaver, despite being sluggish, but thankfully being loyal with other animals, Tom Lizard (voiced by Tom Law) is a lizard who wants to have fun rather than into drama (and somehow became viral), Ellen (voiced by Melissa Villaseñor) is a menacing bear, but just want to follow the pond rules, because she's a predator, and Nisha and Conner (voiced by Aparna Nancherla and Sam Richardson) are Dr. Sam's colleagues.

I find the voice acting are pretty good in the movie, while some characters are flawed, but i find some are enjoyable and probably memorable in this film how they're nicely written and delivered.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film.

Overall, Hoppers is actually a pretty good film to start in my experience of movies in 2026.

The animation looks great, even for being an appetizer, it has great characters, nicely done writing, the story good, the voice acting are enjoyable, it has a nice message what this movie is about.

Sure, there are some flaws like the first act was good, but rather slow, some character could've understand about the issue and the setting is too standard.

Even with the flaws, its an enjoyable film from Pixar, like probably better original Pixar film than Ellio. If you're a supporter of animals and a fan of Pixar, i'd say this out, i considered a recommended film to watch. Cause you'll have a fun time to see it like i do.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8.5/10.

Anyway, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Yes, im back for another Friday the 13th reviews in the actual Friday the 13th, since last month, I covered Part 6: Jason Lives, which while its a great film for bringing back Jason, but its not my cup of tea, the best one is, without a doubt, Part 4. However, by the time we went in late 80s, Paramount is in desperation following their disappointing result from Part 6, to giving us quite possibly the weirdest and highly questionable supposed crossover plan for Part 7 in today’s review.

“Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood” is a 1988 supernatural slasher film that was directed by the late John Carl Buechler, produced by Iain Paterson and written by Manuel Fidello and Daryl Haney.

Like I said before, due to a disappointing result on Part 6 from either becoming a franchise fatigue or being rivaled by A Nightmare on Elm Street, Paramount wanted to have a crossover film to having Jason meets Elm Street’s slasher, Freddy Krueger. However, they plan didn’t do that well due to unable to having the deal with Elm Street franchise owner, New Line Cinema (though it wouldn’t be until decades later). So it was back to the drawing board that it was originally intended to be like Jaws, according to associate producer, Barbara Sachs. But that plan was changed from our familiar executive producer, Frank Mancuso Jr, when one of the writers, Daryl Haney, came up the idea of “What if you have Jason Voorhees facing against Carrie?” Which it sounds like out of franchise at first, Sachs eventually accepts, but be more like one character be like Carrie instead of borrow the Carrie’s right. But of course, lets not forget that this is the first Friday the 13th to having Jason being played by the only repeated actor who played Jason, Kane Hodder, which he was playing Jason from Part 7 to Jason X, more on him later. The reason why Hodder was picked as Jason is thanks to being involved with the 1987 film called “Prison”.

When this movie came out with telekinesis, it didn’t go that well as they were hoped for, critics and audience, saying it feels like a downgrade compared to Part 6 and the box-office isn’t help either with earning $19.2M. Even to this day, despite it has some promising elements, but everything else was all down to the mess.

So, with all that said, can using telekinesis would be a great idea to fight Jason, or is this film being two times worse than before to destroy the mask?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

As I said from the beginning, its been told that its gonna be a mix of Friday the 13th and Carrie, is this concept lived up? Absolutely… NOT…!

After a long opening with stock footage of previous films with… Crazy Ralph as a narrator (Okay?), it begins in a flashback were we introduce the young girl name Tina Shepard who saw her angry drunken father, John, physically abused her mom Amanda, so Tina ran away to the boat, despite he tried to apologize, she doesn’t trust him so bad she… Unleashes her telekinesis to collapsing the dock to kill her father, despite she starts crying that she didn’t even meant to…?! Anyway, we fast forward to the present time (aka in the late 80s) where now grown Tina is brought back to her home, which is somehow located on Camp Crystal Lake (last time it used to be called Camp Forest Green, but now it stepped back to Crystal Lake??), but she and mommy Amanda is now living their house with psychiatrist named Dr. Crews, who puts Tina on test that she has psychokinetic abilities, not before she gets “Carried” away by moving a small matchbox and lit it on fire based on overcoming her emotion before on her instant regret of her dead father (again, how can you be so remorse from your abusive alcoholic father?). So in the night, she walked to the dock, wishing for bringing her father back to life to say “sorry”, but in reality, she accidentally uses her psychokinesis to revive none other than Jason Voorhees. So its up to Tina gotta open her eyes about the occurrence of Jason (despite she didn’t know about the hockey masked killer), while she’s pretty much forced to stay in Crystal lake with her mom, Dr. Crews and the forgettable campers.

When I did a research for the idea of this movie, I felt that it doesn’t feel like a Friday the 13th film ,but more like a poorman version of Carrie. I mean, yes, we have Jason on the loose once again, but unlike Carrie where she has telekinetic power from sin (so we think), here, Tina has powers because of… Um, domestic abuse by her father? I don’t know, they never tell us proper how or why she has powers, which I find the writing of this movie feel so dull, it feels like its a step backward compared to Part 6. But of course, the movie also tries to have a small subpot of love triangle between Tina, Nick and the Queen B of the campers, Melissa, but it just didn’t work that Melissa who wants to sleep with other campers for her pleasure, when she’s nothing but a manipulative B(bleep), but its just doesn’t work either, considering the campers are so bland (except for Nick, I find him to be not bad), cause its no stranger it focuses on Tina that much, and also Jason’s killing spree. As for why the campers are here in Crystal Lake? Well, they’re just there for birthday, though its more like a generic horny teens to boozing up, smoking up and sexing up without being warned about Jason on the loose. Like its the same thing ever since he came out of the lake.

The story is a complete lackluster compared to Part 6, I mean I get they wanted to make Carrie vs Jason, but its just poorly executed that it feels just another Friday the 13th film about teenagers getting killed before the final girl, especially with plotholes that left question for Tina’s excuse or her origin. Though in fairness, there are some dialogue are okay, which some dialogues gave me a chuckle.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget costed $2.8M as I’ve said before and it looks fine at best, but suffered with numerous problems.

For starter, the filming looks good for say the least, typical filming in the woods in Camp Crystal Lake, though for some reason we have two buildings, one is Shepard’s house and the other is a camp house, which im pretty sure they did the same thing as Part 4, in fact, there’s one scene where Robin got thrown out of window to death (but weaker compare to previous films) were filmed in the same Jarvis house in Part 4 as a last minute change when she was originally killed by dismembered from torso, but looked pretty bad that it was cut. The rest of this movie were filmed in Alabama, such as Baldwin County, located on Byrnes Lake off SR 225, and the road near from Mobile.

It has the same improved quality as Part 6, filming woods and again, two buildings in the camp, which like I said, it feels like a copy-paste from Part 4, but with Carrie-like element and Jason on the loose. Despite the filming looks nice, but the movie is suffered from editing problem, like there are bunch of jumpcuts that we skipped time or nearly all over the place. But the WORST case of the editing are the kills.

Speaking of the latter, some of the kills are standard, but they also have some creative and fun ones like Dr. Crews getting gut opened by a buzz saw weed wacker (which is the only time Jason kill someone with motor items. Sorry folks, no Jason with chainsaw in the franchise…), Kate getting Toot’d on her head from party horn in the funniest inclusion, and the most memorable of all (and Kane Hodder’s favorite), the sleeping bag kill by smashing Judy against the tree. While the rest are standard but rather weak, like we can barely see the gushing out blood and gore throughout the movie. But we all know the number 1 biggest problem of this movie, many of kills, along with some revealing dead bodies are edited out all over that we can’t even see what’s happening nor look like, it was all because MPAA were constantly sent X-Rated Warning 7 times, leaving more frustrations for post-production to cutting the kills down into what we have here. It feels like MPAA are acting like nowadays YouTube. For example, there’s the aforementioned weed wacker kill is supposed to be a lot gory with cutting the gut open, there’s Ben’s head crush to death that it was going to be a bloody bath with blood gushing out from the head like something out of anime, or the aforementioned sleeping bag kill that it was going to be multiple smash swing against the tree than once, as Kane Hodder was told for what would’ve been.

Once again, if you’re watching Dead Meat like I do, it has 16 kills in the movie. For my favorite, its a tough task, it will be either the sleeping bag kill, the Toot to the head or satisfying killing off Melissa, they’re more like my Top 3. But the worst kill for me, it will be either Robin being thrown out and weakly splattered on the ground or Maddy getting gutted by Sickle from cut out to outdoor with overusing unnecessary flashing light of thunder without a drop of rain (no really, the light flashing of thunder is so unnecessary and annoying that we barely see a rain drop nor even raining sound).

One lastly I like to complaining is the soundtrack. While the soundtrack when Jason is around is fine, but the rest just isn’t feel something out of Friday the 13th whenever they play Tina part. And not to mention, the opening credit song is just… Boringly bad that its just horror drum tone. I think the reason about the soundtrack, its because the composer of Part 1 to 7, Harry Manfredini, did some soundtrack, mainly because he was busy composing soundtrack on “DeepStar Six”, and the rest were done by Fred Mollin. Gee, I wonder why...

While the filming and the kills are fine, but its ruined with many issues like editing that feels like a pacing problem, annoying light flash of thunder and of course, the kills are ruined by Karen’s rating.

The Characters

Since this movie is about Jason vs Carrie (in odd idea), you think the characters would be even more enjoyable than before? None… A lot of characters are mediocre…

Lets start off with Jason Voorhees himself, as always. This time, as I said before, he’s played by Kane Hodder for the first before three later films which Hodder will be, by far, the only guy who played Jason more than once. While I like Jason look from Part 3 and 4, I think Part 7 design is also my favorite, which according to John Carl Buechler shows a lot od damages from previous films instead comes out clean like nothing happens, which I won’t deny his decision to make him look scarier and menacing as a powerful zombie killer with ripped clothes, exposed bones, a damaged mask and of course, being mad as HELL. Like you can see Jason movements went walking menacingly slow (pretty cliché), but when he gets confronted by Jason, he’s reached mile high of rage, or Roid Rage, if you add. That’s one thing il give credit for Kane’s Jason, he did a nice work for his portrayal of Jason for being menacingly scary and angry. Of course, Kane did a lot of stunts that he made a lot of risks of his life like being crushed by the roof (which funny enough, he said the hockey mask saved his life), he got face contacted by a light that he falls and destroying the stairs (BAW GAWD!!!) which Kane, which he came up that idea, said he could’ve broke his head and neck by real stairs compare the practical parts for his stunt, and the biggest one of all, being sprayed by a gasoline and being lit on fire by bursting furnace, and Kane did the fire stunt for more than 40 second that held the record at that time, which while it looks pretty cool, but it was torture for Hodder that he was hospitalized for months and has burnt scars on neck, torso and hands to this day. Talk about a dedicated role he’s ever done.

As for the rest of survivors, while there are some that find okay, but the rest are just bland and feel like step backward.

The only one that im talking for is Tina Shepard (played sadly, the late Lar Park Lincoln), the main protagonist in this movie who has Psychokinesis since her late father’s domestic abuse at her mom. The easiest way to describing her, she’s a poor man version of Carrie, which, like Carrie, she had ab abused moment and live with her mother, though at least it split rather than combined like Carrie, her father is abusive alcoholic and she has a caring mother. Even though I may like the chemistry between her and her mom, but I think I kind of prefer the chemistry between her and another camper hunk named Nick Rogers (played by Kevin Spirtas), while they get along, but i wish if the writing could’ve gone better for the two. Maybe its because Lar Park and Kevin didn’t get along from behind the scenes, which im assuming its because Kevin is secret gay before came out of closet (which the same can be said some other young gay actors back then). Despite being forgettable from the writing, Lar Park did a nice work of work of her role from remorse in distress to eventually trying to fight back against Jason. Though she did a very nice work, cause sadly, many years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she won twice, but by the time she received the third one, she sadly lost the battle and died on April 22, 2025, at the age of 63. Rest in Peace, Tina…

As for the rest, some are fine, but like I said, the rest are forgettable at best.

There’s Amanda Shepard (played by the OG Arcee herself, Susan Blu), who’s Tina’s caring, bur protective mother, Dr. Crews (played by Terry Kiser) who’s a psychiatrist to checking on Tina, until he has a dark secret, Melissa (played by Susan Jennifer Sullivan, who said to be dead from cancer in 2009, but it turned out it wasn’t true, I think she’s still alive in her normal private life after Part 7) who’s a mean girl against Tina and wanting to have affair with Nick or other dudes, Eddie (played by Jeff Bennett, no connection to the voice actor with the same name, sorry James A. Janisse) who’s a sci-fi nerd and kind of annoying, while the rest are the same generic campers you expect, party fellow, lovely couples, doped up camper and many more. Its like take a shot if you’re in typical slasher films.

While the acting are good that il give credit for some, but the characters are just mediocre that its the same that we didn’t care that much.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen the movie, or if you don’t mind

The final act is probably more memorable part in Part 7 after the blandness from the first and second act.

After discovering Dr. Crews setup on Tina that happens to be a harsh science experiment for the amount of emotion and stress, Amanda is absolutely disgusted about his plan, but Tina heard their conversation about the setup, she tried to escape by herself in a car, but didn’t last long from her scary vision of her mom getting killed by Jason and crashed into woods, leaving Tina runs off to the woods, like Amanda goes into motherly panic to finding her with Dr. Crews (because throughout the movie is nothing but “Wood is woods” as Nick’s cousin Michael (played by William Butler) puts it). But what Shepards and Dr. Crews didn’t know, is that Jason is on the loose of killing teens as we expect. Anyway after Tina and Nick discovered dead cousin Nick, they entered her home to reveal more twist, Dr. Crews has kept in secret to not only planning to sabotage Tina’s Psychokinesis, but also covering the report about Jason Voorhees, leaving Tina feeling overwhelmed with her power, causing Nick found out she’s 99 cent version of Carrie. However, their attempt to finding Amanda Shepard is too little too late, as she was killed by Jason with tree trimmer (even if Susan Blu said that her death is like the final moment of her live action acting before focusing on voice acting. Yikes...). And also Dr. Crews was brutally murdered by Jason’s buzz saw weed wacker. After Tina goes out on her own to discovering dead bodies (including her mother), she finally gets confronted by Jason, she takes her revenge by using her power by tangling with branch or loose power-line to electrocuting him with muddy pond. The chase went on from woods to party cabin with throwing stuff with her mind and crushing him with a roof, then she goes back to her home to Nick with mean girl Melissa, they try to tell “The-NOT-Regina-George” about Jason, but she find them crazy, only Melissa gets caught by Jason for Axing her a question to her head (karma can bite right in the ass). Anyway, this resulting a small chase from upstairs and back to downstairs (thanks to Tina uses her power to smash Jason with a light and crashing into practical stairs). But Jason breaks out in attempt to Nick, but Tina fights back by squeezing his head with mask strings, but not before breaks it off to revealing the most gnarliest Jason’s face I’ve ever seen. But Tina is still isn’t finish to blow the light and using electrical wire to hanging him, but felt like to make a hole to put him out again, but as we all know, Jason still comes back, but even more angrier underneath the downstairs. But again, Not-Carrie attacks him from throwing nails, spray him with gas and lit him on fire, causing her and Nick to leave in hurry before the house go BOOM!!! (Wow, pretty unexpected for Friday the 13th films. But you know what they said, go big or go home. No pun intended)

But Jason, somehow survived from explosion like a cartoon, but even more gnarlier and angrier, to not only backhanding Nick (after he shots Jason, but should’ve know bullets won’t work on Jason), but trying to kill Tina. But Tina goes mind wishing for her abusive dad again (seriously, why you want him back when he abused her late mother??), but then some how, John comes out of water, capturing Jason with chains around to neck to drowning him to “death”. But then in the mourning, the movie ends in the same way early days of Friday the 13th, Tina and Nick were carried in a stretcher to the ambulance and… That’s about it, just copying what we saw from pre-zombie Jason days.

I should also point out the scene where undead(?) John Shepard comes out water just plain too weird and dumb. But im not the only one, even John Carl Buechler hated that originally, john supposed to coming out like a zombie with makeup all around, but Frank Mancuso Jr was absent due to working on “Friday the 13th: The Series” (which I’ve never seen), Barbara Sachs shutdown Buechler’s suggestion that what we have here. Yeah, that didn’t go that well.

The final act is no stranger to be the highlight of this movie, even if the ending just didn’t make any sense whatsoever.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film

Overall, Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood feels like a step back compared to Part 6, but weirder, dumber and kind of boring.

It suffers from stepback on nearly everything on the characters and the plot, some parts of writing, forgettable filler, the idea with Carrie part in it is questionable that it didn’t feel like a Friday the 13th film, some questionable editing and worst of all, despite some kills are good and creative, but its ruined by the MPAA for being forced to tone down or else.

But it doesn’t mean its ALL bad, there are a few redeeming quality that il give appreciation such as Kane Hodder’s Jason, the kills are good and creative (though ruined by you-know-who), some of the characters are fine, some filming are alright based on slightly big budget, and of course, the climax is the best part of the movie.

Some fans maybe mixed that either they like it or not due to several reasons, which I won’t deny their mixed feelings, but for me, it feels like a letdown, I don’t recommend it that much, its more like check this out ONCE and you’ll make your conclusion, it may look fine, but felt like a downgrade than before.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 3.5/10.

So this ends of my movie review, so next time, it looks like we’re going down, down and down, when we’re gonna have a hockey masked killer to having… A boat trip to the Big Apple.

But as always, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.