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Jana Monji
Tomatometer-approved critic
San Diego-born LA-resident dragon lady battles rough collie dust bunnies between seeing films and stage plays.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) |
Think of it as a superhero bickering buddy movie, super sized for the MCU. This is witty and wild mature meta-madness. I don't want to give spoilers, but my review prepares you with some historical hints. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 23, 2024
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The Magnificent Seven (1960) |
See this for Yul Brynner's smolder and Elmer Bernstein's Oscar-nominated score, but don't dismiss this as part of the White Saviour genre without considering the cultural context. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 14, 2024
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The Magnificent Seven (2016) |
While I appreciate the attempts for bringing diversity to the Wild West, and love some of the actions scenes, this remake amuses, but mostly misfires. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 14, 2024
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Seven Samurai (1954) |
The 4K restoration isn't without problems, but it does allow one to better appreciate the beauty of Akira Kurosawa's black-and-white masterpiece. The film is male-centric, but more important are some cultural points within the script. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 14, 2024
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Despicable Me 4 (2024) |
The poster seems to promise a Fantastic Four parody which is only a minor storyline here, but there's still a lot of laughs and family-friendly silliness as Gru hides from his school part-cockroach rival Maxime, who has escaped from prison. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 03, 2024
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The Longest Day (1962) |
The year this film came out, there were complaints about a lack of diversity and in 2024, the lack of diversity is less forgivable and makes this depiction of D-Day dated. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jun 21, 2024
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Saving Private Ryan (1998) |
Who knew the pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks would result in three well-produced limited series on WW II? The opening scenes are thrilling but the script's structure relies on an interpreter and that should make us question other war films. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jun 21, 2024
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Inside Out 2 (2024) |
The storyline makes little sense and the main Emotion antagonist doesn't visually fit into parameters set by the already established characters. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jun 17, 2024
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Empire of the Sun (1987) |
A boy born in privilege (Christian Bale) scrambles to survive two years in a Japanese concentration camp. The film takes place in China during World War II, but there are no prominent Chinese characters. This is an intriguing example of Asian erasure. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted May 03, 2024
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1941 (1979) |
This film erases both the worries and the activism of Asian Americans at an important time in Los Angeles history and totally ignores the existence of anti-Asian sentiments that was clearly reflected in legislation. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted May 01, 2024
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The Fall Guy (2024) |
Combining a murder mystery with romance and some incredible record-breaking action, this film manages to be an entertaining update and expansion of a TV series hero. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted May 01, 2024
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Funny Girl (1968) |
This is a must-see for fans of musicals and Barbra Streisand and as a study of how a successful musical can be transitioned into a film. This is all about Streisand, but a Broadway and Hollywood fairytale about Fanny Brice. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 19, 2024
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Be Yourself (1930) |
There are a few reasons to see this film and it isn't the plot. See it to witness what and who Fanny Brice was and hear her sing. Also check out the glamorous gowns. View before or after or before AND after you watch "Funny Girl," on stage or as a film. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 19, 2024
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Ziegfeld Follies (1946) |
This film is worth seeing for its historic value in showing Fanny Brice toward the end of her career and other stars at the beginning. The Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire segment is a treasure, but Astaire with Lucille Bremer in yellowface is so cringey. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 19, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) |
While this is the weakest of the now four feature films, it does give Po his father and show his two fathers negotiating team parenting. Po must find his chi and fight jade zombies with the help of his biological father's panda village. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Mar 13, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) |
This sequel doesn't disappoint and explains how Po became the son of a noodle-making gander while Po learns how to find inner peace. While I loved the anthropomorphic animals in the first film, I initially thought the wolves were hyenas. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Mar 13, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda (2008) |
The anthropomorphic version of Ancient China is full of fun and good life lessons as a panda learns how to be the Dragon Warrior. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Mar 13, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) |
The story is American comfort food with wuxi flavoring, but this installment in the Kung Fu Panda cinematic universe suggests a new direction that could feature people of East Asian descent more prominently. The animation on the villain is exceptional. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Mar 13, 2024
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Arthur the King (2024) |
While star Mark Wahlberg is convincing as an almost-over-the-hill elite athlete, director Simon Cellan Jones falters with camera angles and lighting and dog action. Moreover his direction can't overcome the weak script. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Mar 13, 2024
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Argylle (2024) |
You don't have to like cats or the style of argyle to enjoy this spy spoof. Dancers who cosplay will want to add Bryce Dallas Howard's Elly and Sam Rockwell's Aidan to their repertoire. Cat lovers rest assured: No cats die, but plenty of people do. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Feb 02, 2024
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Poor Things (2023) |
This is two-hours of man-splaining enhanced by a brave performance by Emma Stone, clever language usage and wonderful set designs. In the end, it's pretty, but poorly done feminism. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jan 07, 2024
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May December (2023) |
The film features good performances by Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, but while Melton's character breaks the stereotype of East Asian men not being attractive, there are no signs of his cultural heritage. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jan 07, 2024
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The Boy and the Heron (2023) |
This film gently reminds us how World War II looked like from a young boy's viewpoint and how the modernization and Westernization affected Japan. When faced with so many new things ultimately we must ask ourselves: How do you live? - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jan 01, 2024
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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) |
This sequel is not a total loss nor win for the troubled DC Extended Universe. While its commitment to diversity is applaudable, the chemistry between Jason Momoa and Amber Heard is weak and director James Wan doesn't handle comedic timing well. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Dec 27, 2023
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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) |
In 2023, the film seems dated, so it's best for younger children or adults who want whimsical nostalgia. Gene Wilder makes the mold for a Wonka that is more approachable than Johnny Depp's and allows for the possibility of Timothée Chalamet's. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Dec 27, 2023
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) |
While Wilder's Wonka had the pensive perfume of bittersweet chocolate, Depp's Wonka is that weird white chocolate--not really what you have in mind when you want to eat chocolate but can be an acquired taste and definitely part of the culinary craft. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Dec 27, 2023
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Wonka (2023) |
This wonderfully whimsical film gives us a world of pure imagination where a man with a magical hat takes on a Chocolate cartel with new found friends. Take you kids or embrace your inner child and warm your cockles on this frothy fantasy. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Dec 27, 2023
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Godzilla Minus One (2023) |
Writer/director Takashi Yamazaki places Godzilla back on the throne as kaiju king and one of Japan's most infamous exports. Yet for all the big-scale destruction, Yamazaki also brings out a touching emotional story of post-World War II Japan. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Perfect Days (2023) |
German director Wim Wender has co-written with Takuma Takasaki that feels essentially Japanese. It made me contemplate: What is a perfect day? Have I had a perfect day? Kōji Yakusho's character is quiet, but always watchable. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 22, 2023
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Wish (2023) |
This particular animated feature seems to pander both to diversity and to Disney's centennial celebration. The results are some good visuals, costumes that are definitely cosplay-worthy, but a story that fails to be emotionally moving. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 22, 2023
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Suzume (2022) |
In a land of always under the threat of earthquakes, this film gives a comforting concept of how they might be controlled by releasing nostalgia for places that only exist in our memories. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) |
Scorsese's film is a cinematically poetic well-told tale of toxic masculinity partially shaped by racism but the complicated racism in Oklahoma is only hinted at. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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Evil Does Not Exist (2023) |
This film is a contemplation on our relationship with nature and the ecology of a forest as seen in the small rural village in Japan. Don't expect a tidy package; this drama isn't wrapped up to be pleasing, but unsettling. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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The Marvels (2023) |
While this film is a win for diversity, the plot is not particularly interesting and under director Nia DaCosta the tonal shifts fail and the comedic timing is off. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Nov 08, 2023
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The Creator (2023) |
This science fiction adventure is a visually beautiful film about the ugliness of war but also unfortunately carries forward the American Black Savior trope. Asia is a background for American adventures but the Asians seem powerless against America. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 26, 2023
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Haunted Mansion (2023) |
While there's a modern twist and a less than rosy view of the world in the beginning, there's a happy ending to this tale of a paranormal tour guide while teams up with a psychic, a priest and a historian to help the hapless owner of the titular house. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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Weathering With You (2019) |
This Japanese anime takes the every day concept and builds a relationship between two teenagers yet to fully understand this film you need a little knowledge of Japan and its culture. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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A Haunting in Venice (2023) |
Kenneth Branagh is not my ideal Hercule Poirot, but this film features an engaging cast and there's something delightful in this casual diversity casting. Also, loved the 1947 era costumes. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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The Wind & the Reckoning (2022) |
This seems to be one of the first Hawaiian language film with international distribution, but while it tells a story worth knowing, the acting is uneven and there are other questionable choices made by this production. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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Peter Pan (2000) |
Cathy Rigby won a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and her portrayal is youthful and energetic. You really believe she can fly. There are some problems with the production though, making me favor the Mary Martin TV movie. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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Hunt (2022) |
Director and star Lee Jung-jae mixes action with espionage but serves neither as well as it could, but this film opens an opportunity to learn more about the two Koreas in modern history. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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The Deer King (2021) |
This is an interesting tale that is an adaptation of a manga series that was published after a different pandemic, but this film came out during the COVID-19 pandemic with a lot of thoughtful observations. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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Princess Mononoke (1997) |
When you watch this film, you need to think: "Where are the Japanese wolves?" If you don't, you'll miss the full impact of Hayao Miyazaki's environmental theme. Japan isn't the land of Bambi or the Big Bad Wolf. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Sep 25, 2023
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Oppenheimer (2023) |
This film is a White-Jewish male compartmentalized view of history that blinds us to the truth of the world that J. Robert Oppenheimer worked in. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Aug 01, 2023
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Barbie (2023) |
Can Barbie prevent a Ken-tastrophe and shoot down the patriarchy? This Barbie-cue of Mattel's eternally young miss is lovingly done with fuchsia-infused feminism. Margot Robbie is stereotypically Barbie-licious and Ryan Gosling has the right Kenergy. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jul 19, 2023
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The Flash (2023) |
More smiles per hour than expected and the cameos quickly become one of this film's highlights. Ezra Miller acquits himself well as the troubled young man who goes back in time to save his mother and meets a carefree version of himself. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Jun 06, 2023
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Shortcomings (2023) |
This film is about flawed people finding their way through life in a messy, tangled world where there is hope, but not necessarily happy endings. As director Randall Park has a good eye and rhythm, making this film a promising directorial debut. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 14, 2023
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Air (2023) |
If you're shoe-obsessed or sports obsessed, this humorous and often witty film is a must-see. If you want to understand the change in an economic system that exploited athletes, you'll want to see this film. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 14, 2023
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Sakra (2023) |
This film sinks under the bland sameness and is likely best as something you can stream or you can just wait until someone puts the best action sequences online. - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 14, 2023
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Renfield (2023) |
If you can put history aside, this film is gorrific fun. This is a deeply and densely pop psychological battle between darkness and light, dependency and narcissism - Age of the Geek
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| Posted Apr 14, 2023
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