Freddy's Cine It

Plot Summary: Three talented young K-pop trainees discover they have supernatural abilities to battle ancient demons lurking in modern-day Korea. They must balance their demanding training for a much-anticipated debut with their secret mission to protect the world. Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Screenplay: Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans Producer: Michelle Wong Music: Marcelo Zarvos Starring: Arden Cho as Rumi May Hong as Mira Ji-young Yoo as Zoey Ahn Hyo-seop as Jinu Yunjin Kim as Celine Ken Jeong as Bobby Lee Byung-hun as Gwi-Ma   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Peer Pressure & Pleasant Surprises My daughter came home from school the other day looking like she'd been left out of the cool kids' club because she was the only one who hadn't seen Kpop Demon Hunters. I knew right then my Satur...

Plot Summary: After a traumatic experience with her father, a young girl named Nanhe drifts into a fantastical underwater world. There she meets Shenxiu, the chef of a floating restaurant, and embarks on a dreamlike adventure filled with bizarre creatures and surreal landscapes, ultimately revealing deeper truths about loss, acceptance, and healing. Director: Tian Xiaopeng Screenplay: Tian Xiaopeng Producers: Qiao Yi Cinematography: Mazhiyuan Cheng Music: Mao Buyi, Tang Hanxiao, MIUMIU Starring: Tingwen Wang as Shenxiu Xin Su as Nanhe Kuixing Teng as Dafu Ting Yang as A Hua Jing Ji as Mama   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Forget 'Spirited Away' Keeping up with my Chinese movie journey, I stumbled upon a film that, oddly enough, none of my friends on Red Note recommended. They must be missing out, because Deep Sea by director Tian Xia...

Plot Summary: Born as a demon orb reincarnation instead of a spirit pearl, Ne Zha is destined to bring destruction to the world. Despite the heavenly gods' decree, his parents refuse to kill him and instead raise him with love while hiding the truth about his origin. As Ne Zha grows up ostracized by his community, he must choose whether to accept his demonic fate or fight to forge his own destiny. Director: Jiaozi Screenplay: Jiaozi Story by: Yi Qiao, Wei Yunyun Based on: Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin Music: Wan Pin Chu Produced by:   Wei Yunyun, Liu Wenzhang Starring: Lü Yanting as Ne Zha Joseph Cao as Ao Bing Han Mo as Li Jing Chen Hao as Taiyi Zhenren Lü Qi as Lady Yin Zhang Jiaming as Shen Gongbao   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Ancient Gods and Modern Jokes I had some time to watch a movie with my daughter...

Plot Summary: Moana, now a master wayfinder, sets sail with her new crew to restore the lost island Motufetu and reconnect ocean tribes. Directors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Producers: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino (with Jennifer Lee credited on fandom) Screenplay: Written by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller; story by Bush, Miller & Bek Smith Starring (voice cast): Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Hualālai Chung as Moni Rose Matafeo as Loto David Fane as Kele Awhimai Fraser as Matangi Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea Alan Tudyk as Heihei Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui Nicole Scherzinger as Sina   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Back to the Ocean, But With Cautious Toes Saturday after lunch, full belly, and we hit play on Moana 2. If you’ve read my love letter to the first movie, you know it h...

Plot Summary: Beckett, a spoiled and selfish housecat, takes his nine lives for granted. After recklessly losing his final life, he is granted ten more—but with a catch. Director: Chris Jenkins Producers: Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon, Ash Brannon, Ernesto Matamoros, Leland Cox Screenplay: Chris Jenkins, Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon Starring: Mo Gilligan as Beckett Simone Ashley as Rose Ashley Sophie Okonedo as Grace Zayn Malik as Kirk and Cameron Dylan Llewellyn as Larry Llewellyn Jeremy Swift as Happy Bill Nighy as Professor Richard Craven   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Nine Lives Too Many Saturday afternoon with 10 Lives, directed by Christopher Jenkins. Jenkins has been in animation since at least 1988, starting as an effects animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Now he brings us this 2024 film about Beckett, a selfish cat who loses his las...

Plot Summary: A stray cat navigates a post-apocalyptic flood, forming unexpected bonds with other animals as they struggle to survive in an ever-changing world. Without dialogue or anthropomorphism, the film delivers an emotional journey of resilience and adaptation. Director: Gints Zilbalodis Producer: Matīss Kaža, Gints Zilbalodis, Ron Dyens, Gregory Zalcman Screenplay: Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža Starring: No voice cast (dialogue-free film)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Video Game or a Movie? And we’re back! Still haven’t finished my Frank Oz filmography (only two movies to go!), but hey, when do I even have time to watch movies alone anymore? So, here we are again with another animated feature. This time, it’s Flow by Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, a film that has racked up awards and was entirely made using Blender. At first, I was worried. The opening scene ...

Plot Summary: In 1980s NYC, a lonely dog buys a robot for companionship. After an accident separates them, both embark on journeys of longing, growth, and self-discovery, leading to an emotional conclusion. Director: Pablo Berger Producer: Arcadia Motion Pictures, Noodles Production, Les Films du Worso Screenplay: Pablo Berger (based on the graphic novel by Sara Varon) Starring: No voice cast (dialogue-free film)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Robot, A Dog, and a Lot of Feelings Another Sunday, another animated movie—this time, the critically acclaimed Robot Dreams, an adaptation of the book by Sara Varon. Right off the bat, this animation stands out with its slick flat-color style and complete lack of dialogue. It creates a beautifully detailed world where there’s always something to miss on the first watch. Set in a vibrant 1980s New York City populated by hundreds of ...