Sun, 13 Jul 2025 08:45:25 -0400WeeblyThu, 10 Jul 2025 19:28:04 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/lex-lies-and-the-light-that-wont-die-why-we-still-need-supermanI have to be honest, I’m not a big Superman fan. His movies have just never done it for me, and to be frank, I’ve always thought he was too overpowered to be very interesting. So despite being a lover of comic book films, I may not seem like the ideal audience for Superman. But perhaps surprisingly, this was actually one of my most anticipated movies of the year. See, Superman is blessed with an advantage no other big-screen iteration of the character has ever had–James Gunn. This is the guy who did the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and The Suicide Squad, and in my opinion, he’s the best superhero filmmaker of all time. I’ll watch anything Gunn makes, so despite my general distaste for the Man of Steel, I was still super excited to see his vision for this iconic character.

Superman was written and directed by James Gunn, and it stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. The film is the start of a new cinematic universe–the DC Universe (or DCU for short)–but unlike most superhero franchise starters, this one isn’t an origin story. Rather, when Superman begins, the world is already populated with heroes like Green Lantern and Supergirl, and Superman himself has been keeping watch over the planet for some time.

He’s even made an enemy in Lex Luthor, and now, Luthor has the perfect plan to finally put his longtime foe down for good. He takes advantage of the public’s growing unease with the Man of Steel’s god-like power and lack of accountability, so he makes one last push to take the Kryptonian off the board. He gives it everything he has, but as always, Superman won’t go down without a fight.

I’m not going to bury the lead. I loved Superman. As you might be able to guess from the plot synopsis, this isn't the most layered story in the world, but that’s okay. The real draw here is the way that story is told–especially the amazing characters and the tangible ways they exemplify the narrative's themes of good and evil–and on that count, the movie is a complete home run.

Take Krypto, for instance. He’s Superman’s Kryptonian dog, and if you’re even remotely an animal lover, you’re going to get a kick out of this adorable canine. His alien origin gives him incredible abilities beyond any terrestrial pet (or human, for that matter), but he’s still very much an animal. He often lets his excitement get the better of him, even when Superman desperately needs him to get back on track, so he’s just the embodiment of everything that makes his kind so irresistibly cute.

On the complete opposite end of the furriness spectrum, we have Green Lantern and Mr. Terrific, two heroes who belong to a group known as the Justice Gang. Despite sometimes clashing with the Man of Steel, they generally consider themselves his allies, and they’re some of the best characters in Superman. Green Lantern is the kind of self-absorbed jerk you can’t help but love and hate simultaneously (in the best way possible!), and Mr. Terrific has a nearly Spock-like air of emotionless rationality that makes for some hilarious gags.

The rest of the supporting cast is great too, but hands down the stars of this show are Lex Luthor and Superman himself. Let’s start with the villain. Luthor is a megalomaniacal madman who’s so obsessed with taking down the Man of Steel that he’s willing to hurt and even kill anyone who stands in his way, and when you see the depths of evil this guy is capable of, it will sicken you to your stomach. Luthor has absolutely no regard for human life, and actor Nicholas Hoult brilliantly brings that cold-heartedness to life. You can almost feel the evil in his speech and his facial expressions, so he’s not just a bad guy. He might as well be the devil in the flesh.

In contrast, Superman is basically goodness incarnate. He believes his purpose in life is to use his abilities to make the world a better place, and when he sees someone in need, he doesn’t think twice about doing whatever he can to help them out. That being said, this guy isn’t just a brainless boyscout. There’s a point in the story where he’s forced to struggle with his identity, so if he wants to continue his heroic lifestyle, he has to take full ownership of it. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that the Man of Steel can no longer rely on his parents to tell him who he is, and to the surprise of no one, he chooses to continue being a beacon of hope in a world seemingly gone to ruin. It’s an inspiring decision that’s sure to touch anyone with even half a heart, and it cements our hero as the complete antithesis of the diabolical evil Lex Luthor represents.

The dynamic and the contrast between those two characters is the heart and soul of Superman, and in the hands of another director, that story could’ve easily been a bleak and dour examination of humanity’s enormous potential for evil. But in typical James Gunn fashion, the filmmaker chooses to push his movie in the opposite direction. He imbues the film with all the knee-slapping humor and fun superhero action that’s made him such a legend in the genre, so this ends up being a joyful celebration of goodness instead. I’d even say it’s the kind of comic book movie our fractured and hate-filled world needs right now, so do yourself a favor and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
]]>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:42:41 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/dinos-mutants-and-mayhem-jurassic-park-gets-its-bite-backI have to be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the Jurassic franchise. Sure, I love the original Jurassic Park, and I think dinosaurs are awesome, but the sequels (including the mostly well-received Jurassic World) simply don’t do it for me. So when I heard that a seventh film was in the works, I didn’t give it much thought. I figured it would just be another big dino-snore, but that all changed when I learned who would be directing the movie. It was the man behind the 2014 Godzilla, the underseen 2010 kaiju gem Monsters, and the more human-sized sci-fi flicks Rogue One and The Creator, and he lent the project instant credibility. I’ll see anything this guy does, so he single-handedly earned Jurassic World Rebirth a spot on my must-watch list.

Jurassic World Rebirth was directed by Gareth Edwards, and it stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Mirand, and Ed Skrein. If you remember from the last Jurassic World film, dinosaurs have spread beyond the park into the human world, but now, several years later, they’ve almost all died off again. The modern atmosphere simply won’t sustain these ancient creatures, so aside from a few holdouts, they’re limited to a handful of tropical locales around the equator.

In this new reality, a pharmaceutical company needs to get samples of dinosaur tissue to finish a drug they’re working on, so they recruit a team to travel to a quarantined island where dinosaurs still roam. Along the way, these intrepid mercenaries encounter a shipwrecked civilian family who for some reason have ventured near this forbidden area, and as I’m sure you can guess, things get more than a little hairy. The creatures on that island prove far more dangerous than our protagonists anticipated, so they soon find themselves in a fight for their very survival.

I’d be lying if I told you that Jurassic World Rebirth was a deep, complex, or thematically rich story. It’s not. In fact, there’s a lot to dislike about this movie. Most notably, the shipwrecked civilians are completely unnecessary. The film would’ve been exactly the same without them, so it almost feels like the studio execs required the filmmakers to awkwardly shoehorn these people into the narrative.

Along similar lines, none of the characters have any real depth to them. At best, they just have a single, all-encompassing characteristic that defines who they are, and some of the smaller characters don’t even get that. For instance, there’s the scientist, the evil corporate guy, and the dad, and none of them are fleshed out beyond those one-phrase or one-word descriptions.

The plot is also just as straightforward as it sounds, so Jurassic World Rebirth stands or falls almost entirely on the strength of its dino action. And on that count, the film is an absolute blast. It’s basically the classic Skull Island template transposed into the Jurassic universe, so everywhere the characters turn, they’re sure to find a new prehistoric threat that just might send them to an early grave.

Granted, it’s not the most original idea in the world, but director Gareth Edwards executes it so skillfully that audiences looking for a good time won’t care how derivative it is. These creatures are brought to life with beautifully realistic CGI, and when they go on the attack, the tension ratchets up to eleven. Even when they’re not actively terrorizing the humans who’ve invaded their space, the mere threat of their presence is enough to keep you on your toes, so if you’re a fan of monsters, you’re going to get your money’s worth.

And when I say monsters, I mean monsters. Sure, we see a couple of normal dinosaurs, like a T-Rex and a Mososaurus, but we also get some hybrids that just might haunt your nightmares. See, this island is home to all the failed experiments that never made it into the park, so the filmmakers got to create a couple of unique monstrosities never before seen on the big screen. These terrifying newcomers help keep an otherwise stale franchise unexpectedly fresh, so if we get more Jurassic movies, I hope Universal finds a way to incorporate these awesome mutants into future installments.

Last but not least, I have to say a few words about the performances. I mentioned earlier that Jurassic World Rebirth stands or falls almost entirely on the strength of its dino action, and here’s where that “almost” comes into play. The acting in this film is pretty good, and the three lead stars–Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey–are especially on their game. They manage to make their characters surprisingly likable despite being incredibly thin, so you actually care about them when things start to go south.

To be fair, that still doesn’t make for a very profound or meaningful experience, so I can’t say that Jurassic World Rebirth is one of the best films of the year. It’s just a fun time at the theater, and for some viewers, that’s not going to be enough. But if you enjoy classic creature features, I recommend checking this movie out. The combination of entertaining characters and excellent dino action is sure to please fans of that time-honored cinematic blueprint, so if you ask me, this is the best Jurassic film since the original.]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:14:57 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/the-devil-took-her-faith-first-why-rosemarys-baby-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-catholicsIn the annals of horror history, few movies are as seemingly Godless as the 1968 classic Rosemary’s Baby. The film follows Rosemary Woodhouse, a young woman living in New York, as she slowly comes to realize that a local coven of witches has recruited her husband, Guy, to help them carry out a nefarious plan for her unborn baby. It’s every mother’s worst nightmare, but the truth is much more diabolical than even she could’ve imagined.

The witches actually conjured the devil to secretly conceive a child with her, and this child is destined to become the Antichrist. Unfortunately, Rosemary only learns this horrible truth after her son is born, but by then it’s too late. The woman’s maternal instincts soon kick in, and after hearing a chorus of demonic chants like “Hail, Satan!” and “God is dead!”, she gives in and agrees to raise the child.

On top of its overtly Satanic story, Rosemary’s Baby also appears to attack and even mock the Catholic faith. There’s a scene where some of the main characters criticize the pope and the Church, and Rosemary periodically experiences bizarre dreams suffused with confused Catholic imagery.

The whole thing just seems like a Godless exercise in blatant anti-Catholicism, but I’d suggest that there’s more to this movie than meets the eye. If we look at it through a Catholic lens, we’ll find that it actually contains a surprisingly profound message about the value of faith, so let’s take a deep dive into Rosemary’s Baby and see how it teaches this important lesson.

Good Guys and Bad Guys
To begin, let’s clear the ground a bit and show that the film doesn’t truly disparage our faith, starting with the characters’ criticisms of the Church. These remarks all come in a single scene, where Rosemary and Guy have dinner with the Castevets for the very first time. Roman and Minnie Castevet are an older couple who live in the apartment right next to the Woodhouses, but unbeknownst to their younger friends, they’re also key members of the cult that wants to bring the Antichrist into the world.

The two couples talk a bit about Pope Paul VI’s upcoming visit to New York, and Roman quips that popes never visit cities where the media is on strike. He believes all organized religion is hypocritical, and in hearty agreement, Guy dubs the whole thing just another form of show business.

After these brazen (and, to be frank, stupid) criticisms of the Church, Minnie and Roman turn to Rosemary and ask what she thinks. As a former Catholic, she’s not entirely comfortable with the conversation, but the only defense she can muster is a sheepish “Well, he is the pope.” In response, Roman proclaims that we don’t need to respect the pontiff just because he “pretends to be holy,” and unsurprisingly, his argument leaves Rosemary at a loss for words.

People often take that discussion as a blatant attack on the Church, and the first time you watch Rosemary’s Baby, it definitely appears that way. The movie hasn’t revealed the truth about Roman and Minnie yet, so as far as a first-time viewer knows, these are just four fine people enjoying a pleasant meal together.

But by the time the credits begin to roll, the scene takes on a very different meaning. You eventually realize that Roman, Minnie, and Guy are the primary villains of this story, so you can’t simply assume that they speak for the film. That would be like thinking Avengers: Infinity War supports genocide because Thanos wants to wipe out half the universe.

That’s not how movies work. They typically align themselves with the views of the protagonist, and in Rosemary’s Baby, that’s the one person who tries to defend the maligned pontiff. To be fair, Rosemary’s argument is half-hearted at best, so we can’t say the film genuinely supports the Church. However, because the ones who happily criticize the pope are the villains, it’s fair to conclude that the movie doesn’t endorse their views either. It merely recounts them, and there’s nothing anti-Catholic about that.

Garbled Recollections
The same principle also explains the cult’s Satanic exclamations at the end of Rosemary’s Baby, but it doesn’t quite take us all the way home. We still have to account for the confused Catholic imagery in Rosemary’s dreams–including angry nuns, an odd conversation with Pope Paul, and a group of Catholic schoolgirls. Do these creations of the woman’s subconscious constitute an attack on our Church? The way I see it, the answer is a pretty clear no.

Rosemary grew up Catholic, she attended Catholic school, and at one point in the movie, she even talks about the pope’s upcoming visit to her city. That’s enough to make anybody dream about nuns and bishops, and because she no longer practices her faith, it’s totally plausible that those images would become garbled in her mind.

In other words, these dreams are simply a natural part of the character, so they don’t tell us anything about the film’s attitude towards the Church. In fact, I’d even argue that they play an important role in the story. See, film is a visual medium, so if a movie wants to make a point, it shouldn’t just tell the audience.

It should show us, and that’s exactly what these dreams do. They show us Rosemary’s obscured (at best!) faith, so we don’t have to take the woman’s word for it. We can see the sorry state of her Catholicism for ourselves, and if you ask me, that wilted piety is the key to interpreting this movie as a Catholic.

An Urgent Warning
Rosemary’s Baby never explains why Minnie and Roman chose Rosemary to be the Antichrist’s mother, but from a perspective of faith, it’s safe to say that the woman’s rejection of God played a key role in their decision. You even get the feeling that the couple purposely insulted the pope at that fateful dinner because they wanted to see how Rosemary would react.

If she showed herself to be a pious woman, they most likely would’ve looked for another victim, as the devil wouldn’t have been able to touch her. But since she openly declared her lack of faith, she had no defense against their demonic machinations. The enemy was able to push the poor woman around at will, and he even used her motherly instincts to compel her to raise the child herself.

It’s a tragic turn of events, and it hauntingly illustrates our absolute dependence on grace and our helplessness against the power of evil without it. Sure, witches probably won’t choose us to bring the literal spawn of Satan into the world, but we all have to deal with diabolical temptations to sin. Each and every one of us is engaged in an ongoing spiritual battle just as real as Rosemary’s, and if we want any chance at winning, we have to maintain a lively faith nourished by prayer and the sacraments. If we don’t, we’ll inevitably fall prey to the snares the devil puts in our way, and for a Catholic, that’s the biggest tragedy of all.]]>