Actor Jack Black (1969)

The American animated film Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022) follows the story of a fourth-grader who leads his classmates on a mission to the Moon, inspired by the events leading up to the Apollo 11 landing. The film is loosely based on writer, director, and producer Richard Linklater’s own childhood. Originally conceived in 2004, Linklater initially intended to film in live action but ultimately chose an animation style influenced by Saturday morning cartoons for its light-hearted feel. This movie depicts the 1969 Moon landing from two different viewpoints. One is from ...

The American fantasy adventure comedy film, Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), was directed by Jake Kasdan. Along with co-writers Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, Kasdan masterfully crafted a story that follows Spencer Gilpin, Anthony ‘Fridge’ Johnson, Martha Kaply, and Bethany Walker. The group reunites over Christmas break after being away from each other during their first semester of college. However, not everything is as it seems for Spencer, who feels ...

The American fantasy comedy film, The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018), directed by Eli Roth, is based on John Bellairs’ novel of the same name from 1973. After losing his parents in a car accident in 1955, ten-year-old Lewis Barnavelt moves to New Zebedee, Michigan to live with his Uncle Jonathan. His possessions now consist only of a Magic 8-Ball and family photo. Shortly after arriving at his new home, he meets Florence Zimmerman, Jonathan’s neighbor and closest friend. In the night, Lewis hears a ticking noise inside the walls and begins exploring ...

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) is an American fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan. The screenplay was written by the teams of Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg, and Jeff Pinkner, based on a story conceived by McKenna. In 1996, teenager Alex Vreeke of Brantford, New Hampshire receives the game from his father after it was previously discarded by ...

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) is an animated martial arts comedy brought to life by the collaborative efforts of DreamWorks Animation, China Film Group Corporation, Oriental DreamWorks, and Zhong Ming You Ying Film. The film follows Grand Master Oogway as he battles General Kai, a formidable spirit warrior yak who has stolen the chi of all the other deceased kung fu masters. Despite warning Kai about his eventual defeat at the hands of another, Oogway falls victim to the chi-stealing technique and Kai returns to the Mortal Realm. Meanwhile, after announcing his retirement from teaching, Master Shifu appoints Po as his successor. However, Po’s initial attempts at ...

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016) is an animated short in the popular film series. Taking place before the third movie, it depicts Po’s father, Mr Ping, mistakenly giving away his toys of the Furious Five as bonus gifts to customers. As Po frantically searches for them, Oogway’s narration prompts a question about fate and coincidence. Set a decade prior to the original film, a young Tigress is training under Shifu but struggles to meet his strict expectations. When Master Oogway and Shifu order noodles from Mister Ping’s restaurant, Po (who is temporarily in charge) accidentally sneezes into Shifu’s bowl, resulting in him ...

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011) is an animated short film from DreamWorks Animation. In the middle of the night, Master Po leads his fellow masters Tigress and Mantis on a secret mission to break into the new Masters’ Council exhibit in honor of Thundering Rhino, Ox, and Croc. Although Tigress and Mantis are initially frustrated with Po’s deception, he captures their attention with the intriguing tale of how these three masters first crossed paths. Long ago in Jinzhou, a city where Kung Fu was dominated by street fighting, Rhino, Ox and Croc were up-and-coming pit fighters who caught the eye of Grand Master Oogway. Recognizing their skill and ...

The animated martial arts comedy, Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The rulers of Gongmen City, known as the peacocks, first created fireworks for peaceful purposes. However, their son, Lord Shen, discovered that gunpowder used in firecrackers could also be used as a weapon. Concerned about Shen’s fixation on this destructive potential, his parents consulted a soothsayer who predicted that his actions would ultimately be thwarted by a ‘warrior of black and white’. Upon hearing this prophecy, Shen concluded that the warrior would be a panda and ordered his wolf army to eradicate all ...

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010) is a delightful animated Christmas special from DreamWorks Animation, directed by Tim Johnson. Po, the lovable panda and Dragon Warrior, is faced with a major challenge when Master Shifu tasks him with organizing the prestigious Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. Despite his enthusiasm for the event, Po longs to spend the holiday with his father Mr. Ping. In an effort to have him cater the feast, Po turns down top chefs from all over China. However, Mr. Ping believes Po is more concerned with his role as the Dragon Warrior and decides to stay at his restaurant to feed those without a place to ...

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008) is an American animated short produced by DreamWorks. The film follows Po the Dragon Warrior as he shares the stories of his comrades in arms, the Furious Five, through a mix of computer and 2D animation. At Master Shifu’s request, Po attempts to teach a group of energetic bunny children about Kung Fu beyond just combat, emphasizing its true purpose of personal growth and achievement. Through their individual backstories and key philosophical principles, Po shows how each member of the Furious Five became a skilled Kung Fu master. Mantis. In his youth, Mantis ...

The animated martial arts comedy film, Kung Fu Panda (2008), was created by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. In Ancient China’s Valley of Peace, Po Ping, a giant panda, helps his father at their noodle restaurant. His ultimate dream is to fight alongside the Furious Five – Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper, and Mantis – who reside at the Jade Palace and are trained by Master Shifu, a grumpy red panda. One day, Master Oogway (the wise tortoise who founded kung fu) predicts that Tai Lung (Shifu’s former protégé who is now imprisoned) will escape and attack the Valley in search of the Dragon Scroll – an artifact that ...

Tropic Thunder (2008), a satirical action comedy film directed and co-written by Ben Stiller, tells the story of a film adaptation of Hook-handed Vietnam veteran Staff Sergeant John ‘Four Leaf’ Tayback’s memoir. The cast includes has-been action hero Tugg Speedman, five-time Academy Award-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, closeted homosexual rapper Alpa Chino, and drug-addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy. Despite newcomer supporting actor Kevin Sandusky’s reliability, the rest of the actors cause chaos for inexperienced director Damien Cockburn. With the project falling behind schedule and ...

The American comedy-drama film, Margot at the Wedding (2007), was both written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The main character, Margot, is a accomplished writer who is often preoccupied with her own thoughts and feelings. It is hinted that she may have borderline personality disorder. Margot decides to bring her 11-year-old son Claude with her for a weekend visit to her sister Pauline’s home on Long Island, New York. Pauline is set to marry Malcolm, an unrewarding musician whom Margot finds unappealing. During her stay in town, Margot participates in a public interview at a local bookstore with Dick Koosman, a ...

The Holiday (2006) is an American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Iris Simpkins, a society columnist for the Daily Telegraph in London, is hopelessly in love with her ex-boyfriend, Jasper Bloom; despite his infidelity and current relationship, he has maintained a close friendship with Iris. However, when he reveals his engagement at their company’s Christmas party, Iris is heartbroken. Meanwhile, Amanda Woods, owner of a Los Angeles film trailer company, ends things with her cheating composer boyfriend Ethan due to her own emotional unavailability. By chance, Amanda stumbles ...

King Kong (2005), a monumental adventure monster film, was co-written, produced, and directed by the talented Peter Jackson. In the midst of the Great Depression, New York City’s struggling vaudeville performer Ann Darrow is offered a role by filmmaker Carl Denham, who is facing financial troubles. Despite her initial reservations, Ann agrees to join the project upon discovering that her favorite playwright, Jack Driscoll, is involved as well. The filming takes place on the SS Venture, with Captain Englehorn at the helm and Carl claiming that they are heading to Singapore. However, his true intention is to capture ...

Shark Tale (2004) is an amusing animated film created by DreamWorks Animation Productions for DreamWorks Pictures. In the Southside Reef resides Oscar, a bluestreak cleaner wrasse who longed to work at the Whale Wash like his late father Earl, despite being teased by his peers. Oscar dreams of fame and fortune but finds himself owing money to his boss, Sykes, who owns the Whale Wash and happens to be a pufferfish. Luckily, his best friend Angie offers him a pearl from her grandmother as collateral to settle his debt. At the same time, Don Lino, head of a shark mob consisting of orcas, sailfish, and octopuses (among others), is displeased with his son Lenny’s ...

Orange County (2002) is an American comedy featuring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. The film follows Shaun Brumder, a teenager who is bright but lacks interest in academics. He embraces the laid-back lifestyle of Southern California, spending his time surfing, partying, and drinking in the affluent town of Orange County. However, after the tragic death of his best friend Lonny in a surfing accident, Shaun reevaluates his priorities. A chance encounter with Marcus Skinner’s novel sparks his passion for writing and he sets his sights on attending Stanford University to ...

Ice Age (2002) is an animated adventure comedy produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The film follows a herd of prehistoric animals as they migrate south to escape an impending ice age. Sid, a clumsy ground sloth, is accidentally left behind and tries to catch up with the herd on his own. Unfortunately, he interrupts a meal of two brontotheres and is nearly attacked. Lucky for Sid, he is saved by Manny, a cynical woolly mammoth who chose not to migrate. Although Manny prefers solitude, Sid insists on tagging along and constantly tests his patience with his outgoing personality. Meanwhile, prior to these events, half of a Smilodon pack was ...

The mystery thriller film Johnny Skidmarks (1998) was directed by John Raffo. The main character, Johnny Scardino, is a crime scene photographer who regularly works with police detectives Larry Skovik and Woody Warshawski. Due to the nature of his job, he is often called ‘Johnny Skidmarks’ by the detectives. To cope with the horrors he sees, Johnny has built a wall of detachment around himself, which has only been reinforced by the recent death of his wife Ruth. He leads a solitary life, with his only companions being Ruth’s brother Jerry, who is always in need of attention and conversation, and their ...

Mars Attacks! (1996), an American black comedy science fiction film, was directed by Tim Burton and co-produced by Larry J. Franco. When Earth is suddenly visited by a massive fleet of flying saucers from Mars, President James Dale addresses the nation. Among those following the developing story are talk show host Nathalie Lake and her boyfriend Jason Stone, who try to take advantage of the situation with an interview featuring Professor Donald Kessler, Dale’s scientific advisor. However, their plans are interrupted by a broadcast from the Martian leader. As the ...