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Sandie Angulo Chen
Tomatometer-approved critic
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Tuesday (2023) |
Writer-director Daina O. Pusić's fiercely original, lyrical drama explores pain and loss and has unforgettable lead performances. Louis-Dreyfus proves that her considerable, award-winning talent isn't limited to comedic timing. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jul 17, 2024
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Despicable Me 4 (2024) |
While the Despicable Me sequels have yet to rise to the standard of the original, they're still a solid choice for families looking for lighthearted comedies. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jul 03, 2024
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The Watchers (2024) |
The Watchers' explanations fall flat. And the themes related to grief, identity, folklore, and perseverance are told rather than shown. For a much better scary movie that explores similar ideas, watch Midsommar instead. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 26, 2024
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Late Bloomers (2023) |
Directed by Lisa Steen and written by Anna Greenfield, the charming and surprisingly moving film is a testament to how unlikely friendships can change and inspire people. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jun 21, 2024
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) |
Amid the dark and violent post-apocalyptic Wasteland so carefully curated by Academy Award-winning production designer Colin Gibson, audiences will find moments of levity, tenderness, and humor. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 23, 2024
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The Garfield Movie (2024) |
But even with the one-liners and laughs here and there, The Garfield Movie is middling enough to give any Garfield fan a case of the Mondays. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 22, 2024
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Not Another Church Movie (2024) |
The more familiar you are with Perry's various films, the more you'll get all the jokes, but mostly you just need to know his famous character Madea, the types of melodramas he specializes in, and (of course), the man himself. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 21, 2024
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Dragonkeeper (2024) |
Perhaps not surprisingly, given that the book on which the movie is based is part of a series, the movie doesn't wrap everything up too neatly. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 17, 2024
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Boy Kills World (2023) |
An interesting idea that isn't cleverly enough developed, this is ultimately a miss for all but diehard fans of the bloody revenge genre. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 01, 2024
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The Absence of Eden (2023) |
Despite The Absence of Eden's flaws, it will likely make viewers think about the reasons that people undertake the harrowing journey to the United States and how vulnerable they are to exploitation and violence. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Apr 17, 2024
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Miranda's Victim (2023) |
The movie is a feminist reclaiming of the name best known for a suspect's constitutional rights. It successfully forces viewers to think about Weir's brave, heroic actions, even as they lead to more trauma for her. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Apr 17, 2024
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Someone Like You (2024) |
This faith-based drama is earnest but has some off-putting behavior and lacks romantic chemistry. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Apr 15, 2024
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French Girl (2024) |
Likable actors can't save this uneven, cringe-worthy romcom. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Mar 25, 2024
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Isle of Hope (2022) |
Romay's script stays true to the play's structure and cadences, allowing each character memorable monologues that explore a complicated spectrum of emotions: betrayal, disappointment, love, forgiveness, and loss. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Mar 11, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) |
It's too bad there's not more about the Dragon-Warrior-to-spiritual-leader transition, but it's clear that this is a franchise that could still keep going. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Mar 07, 2024
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Beautiful Wedding (2024) |
And in the end, this chaotic sequel is a reminder that sometimes one movie is enough. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Feb 27, 2024
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Float (2023) |
As a movie, however, the bows are all tied up a little too neatly, and the romance, while between two twenty-somethings, still gives off first-love vibes.
- Common Sense Media
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| Posted Feb 20, 2024
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Which Brings Me to You (2023) |
For moviegoers who appreciate romances between two "messy" partners, this is a fine pick, but for those who prefer lighter, funnier romcoms, be aware that Which Brings Me to You is full of personal drama and trauma.
- Common Sense Media
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| Posted Feb 06, 2024
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The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown (2023) |
This is a short animal adventure that's zany enough for younger kids to enjoy, even if it's not particularly original. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Feb 02, 2024
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Origin (2023) |
There's a lot to take in here, but for those who are willing to experience some discomfort and sadness, Origin is a beautifully performed, thought-provoking movie. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jan 31, 2024
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The Color Purple (2023) |
Intense musical adaptation promotes resilience, shows abuse. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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The Boys in the Boat (2023) |
Heartwarming, historical sports drama; smoking, language. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Dec 16, 2023
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Wonka (2023) |
Whimsical, sweet prequel has mild peril, fatphobic jokes. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Dec 14, 2023
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Under the Boardwalk (2023) |
The Garden State's beaches get another moment in the spotlight in this short and surprisingly sweet musical adventure. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Dec 09, 2023
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Trolls Band Together (2023) |
The sibling focus means that younger viewers will get to see Branch humorously (and movingly) interact with his big brothers (who still see him as a baby), which adds depth to his behavior in the first movie. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 22, 2023
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) |
Overall, there's plenty to appreciate about the movie -- the performances, the production design, Nashville producer/songwriter Dave Cobb's music supervision, and the many Easter eggs and references for Hunger Games fans. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 22, 2023
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The Marvels (2023) |
Plot wise, thanks to the proliferation of the Disney/Marvel properties, the movie is all over the place. It has to provide exposition about characters and developments associated with various TV shows, in addition to previous movies. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 14, 2023
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Journey to Bethlehem (2023) |
Palomo and Manheim are dynamic young performers, and Banderas' scenery-chewing portrayal is outsized but manages not to tip too far into camp. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 10, 2023
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Rustin (2023) |
Wolfe hasn't reinvented the biopic wheel with this film, but he and the writers don't shy away from showing that the civil rights movement was inhabited by humans. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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Inspector Sun (2022) |
Inspector Sun is a goofy parody of Poirot, and Chieng's comedic delivery will keep young viewers laughing at the spider who lucks into discoveries more than he deduces them. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Nov 06, 2023
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The Creator (2023) |
The anti-imperialist themes are thought-provoking, if a bit heavy-handed, but Edwards balances the anti-AI zealotry with explanations of AI violence toward humans. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Oct 05, 2023
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Lift (2022) |
LIFT is a tribute to this important program, but it also shows how uncomfortable and triggering it can be for Melendez to revisit the trauma of his own childhood -- and how LIFT, while empowering, isn't enough to undo the impact of systemic oppression. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Oct 04, 2023
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PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023) |
Skye's subplot will particularly resonate with young audiences, since she initially feels like her small size makes her the team's weakest link. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Oct 03, 2023
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2022) |
A labor of love that was written for the screen and directed by Aitch Alberto, the movie is a faithful and well-executed tribute to author Benjamin Alire Sáenz' source material. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Sep 21, 2023
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023) |
Vardalos' script recycles lots of the first movie's same cultural jokes, which fall flat two decades later. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia (2022) |
This family-friendly tale, based on French picture books by author Gabrielle Vincents, is a wonderful introduction to subtitled cinema for younger moviegoers, especially if they're familiar with the original movie. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Sep 05, 2023
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Landscape with Invisible Hand (2023) |
This is ultimately the sort of movie you expect to fit into one or two genres, but it takes a turn and does something unexpected instead. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Aug 30, 2023
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) |
This irresistibly crowd-pleasing reboot is a fun, funny adventure with distinctive animation, enthusiastic voice acting, and a memorable soundtrack. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Aug 17, 2023
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The Thief Collector (2022) |
Allison Otto’s entertaining documentary is a fascinating look at the world-traveling couple Jerry and Rita Alter, whose estate included Willem De Kooning’s Woman-Ochre — which had been stolen from the University of Arizona museum in 1985. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 05, 2023
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Theater Camp (2023) |
Platt and Gordon's tribute to (and parody of) summer drama intensives is an amusing treat best suited for fans of musicals and camp comedies. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jul 27, 2023
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Barbie (2023) |
Greta Gerwig's delightful comedy adventure is bolstered by Robbie and Gosling's impeccable performances, a top-notch ensemble cast, and a witty screenplay. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jul 19, 2023
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Lonely Castle in the Mirror (2022) |
The entertaining but thinly plotted adaptation explores mature themes, focusing on misfit teens who need a safe space to make friends and be themselves. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 28, 2023
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No Hard Feelings (2023) |
No Hard Feelings manages to capture how two people with different backgrounds and levels of experience can still connect in a way that's not solely about the physical - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 28, 2023
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Elemental (2023) |
Elemental does touchingly delve into the challenges and triumphs of being the child of refugees and growing up immersed in a culturally homogenous community. It shows both the comfort and strength of being around your own people. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 26, 2023
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The Flash (2023) |
Keaton's appearance is also nostalgic, of course, and there are a host of Easter eggs and cameos that will make audiences either applaud, laugh, or roll their eyes, depending on how they feel about the sentimentality of the sequence. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 26, 2023
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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
Ultimately, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a formulaic (except for the lack of romance, which is a nice change) action film featuring an angstier Optimus Prime and yet another seemingly indestructible Transformers supervillain. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 14, 2023
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) |
Like the first film, this installment will be a joy to watch and rewatch, with repeat viewings practically required so viewers can (try to) capture all of the movie's various Easter eggs, in-jokes, and references to bits and pieces of Spider-Man lore. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted Jun 06, 2023
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Beautiful Disaster (2023) |
The premise of the source book for Beautiful Disaster, however, is a lot more ridiculous than the regular "good girl/bad boy" premise of that series. Forget insta-love -- this is a tale of insta-lust. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 23, 2023
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The Little Mermaid (2023) |
While none of Disney's live-action reboots are strictly necessary, there's a lot to enjoy about The Little Mermaid. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 23, 2023
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Rally Road Racers (2023) |
Animated animal adventure has some car crashes, fights. - Common Sense Media
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| Posted May 13, 2023
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