Film

Poster for 2nd Annual Indigenous Language Film Festival. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Indigenous Education Progam)

KPBSD to host 2nd annual Indigenous Language Film Festival

Community submissions will be accepted until Feb. 16

Poster for 2nd Annual Indigenous Language Film Festival. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Indigenous Education Progam)
Barry Keoghan portrays Oliver Quick in “Saltburn.” (Promotional photo courtesy MGM Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Saltburn’ weird and fun, not as sharp as Fennell’s first outing

Since “Saltburn,” the second film by director Emerald Fennell, came to streaming last month, I’ve seen a lot of conversation about the film on social… Continue reading

Barry Keoghan portrays Oliver Quick in “Saltburn.” (Promotional photo courtesy MGM Studios)
Tom Blyth portrays Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler portrays Lucy Gray Baird in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Promotional photo courtesy Lionsgate)

On the Screen: ‘Hunger Games’ still has something to say

Surprisingly rich prequel interrogates contemporary politics through dystopian lens

Tom Blyth portrays Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler portrays Lucy Gray Baird in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Promotional photo courtesy Lionsgate)
Carol Ford portrays Aunt Nancy in “Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble,” a short film by Raleigh Van Natta. (Photo courtesy Raleigh Van Natta)

Local filmmakers given spotlight at Winter Film Series

The series is an offering of short films intended to spark discussion about film in the local community

Carol Ford portrays Aunt Nancy in “Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble,” a short film by Raleigh Van Natta. (Photo courtesy Raleigh Van Natta)
Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”

On the Screen: New ‘Godzilla’ surprises as one of the year’s best movies

The film shines not because of a giant computer-generated monster, but instead because of its emotional narrative grounded in humanity, history and politics

Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”
Marvel Studios

On the Screen: ‘Marvels’ messy but very fun

Where the film shines is in the stellar performances of its three leads

Marvel Studios
Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

On the Screen: ‘Flower Moon’ a grueling historical spotlight

Throughout “Killers,” Scorsese depicts failings of society and personal relationships

Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”

On the Screen: An emotional spectacle

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ brings intensity of stage to screen

Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
Madeleine Yuna Voyles portrays Alphie in “The Creator.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Creator’ a visual delight, thematically light

The film shows off a thought-provoking and vividly realized original setting, even if it fails to capitalize on its own ideas

Madeleine Yuna Voyles portrays Alphie in “The Creator.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)
Kenneth Branagh portrays Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)

On the Screen: Murder most haunting

Hercule Poirot takes on supernatural in latest Agatha Christie adaptation

Kenneth Branagh portrays Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice.” (Photo courtesy 20th Century Studios)
Taylor Zakhar Perez portrays Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine portrays Prince Henry in “Red, White and Royal Blue.” (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)

On the Screen: A romance for idealists

‘Red, White and Royal Blue’ a surprisingly biting romcom

Taylor Zakhar Perez portrays Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine portrays Prince Henry in “Red, White and Royal Blue.” (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)
Xolo Maridueña portrays Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle in “Blue Beetle.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)

On the Screen: ‘Blue Beetle’ is fun, but offers little new

A new superhero film needs to be great to earn attention

Xolo Maridueña portrays Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle in “Blue Beetle.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)
The Orca Theater is seen on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Discounted tickets at local theaters Sunday for National Cinema Day

All tickets discounted to $4 at Kenai Cinema and Orca Theater on Aug. 27

The Orca Theater is seen on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
April O'Neil, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael gather around a cell phone in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." (Photo courtesy Paramount)

On the Screen: ‘Turtles’ reboot a fun and fresh take on familiar story

The Turtles don’t exactly have a sterling reputation on the silver screen

April O'Neil, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael gather around a cell phone in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." (Photo courtesy Paramount)
Promotional material for both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” (Photos courtesy WarnerMedia and Universal Pictues)

On the Screen: ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ together spark excitement at the cinema

The double feature, despite or perhaps because of how silly it is, totally worked

Promotional material for both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” (Photos courtesy WarnerMedia and Universal Pictues)
Robin Williams as Walter Finch and Al Pacino as Will Dormer in “Insomnia.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)

On the Screen: Nolan disappoints in 2002’s ‘Insomnia’

In preparation of Nolan’s latest cinematic feat, “Oppenheimer,” some friends and I have been rewatching past films

Robin Williams as Walter Finch and Al Pacino as Will Dormer in “Insomnia.” (Photo courtesy WarnerMedia)
Riz Ahmed’s Ballister Boldheart and Chloë Grace Moretz’s Nimona peer through the window of a subway car at a contingent of knights waiting to arrest them in “Nimona.” (Photo courtesy Annapurna Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Nimona’ challenges rigid systems, celebrates individuality

In a futuristic fantasy setting, two unlikely allies are forced together — a heroic knight framed for murder and a shape-shifting child looking for revenge… Continue reading

Riz Ahmed’s Ballister Boldheart and Chloë Grace Moretz’s Nimona peer through the window of a subway car at a contingent of knights waiting to arrest them in “Nimona.” (Photo courtesy Annapurna Pictures)
Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air." (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)

Shoes are the star in riveting ‘Air’

I don’t know much about basketball. I know less about Nike, and, to me, Jordan is mostly just the guy from “Space Jam.”

Matt Damon appears as Sonny Vaccaro in "Air." (Photo courtesy Amazon Studios)
The Kenai Cinema on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Cinema announces discounted summer movie program

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, an animated children’s film and a “Harry Potter” film will be played at 10 a.m.

The Kenai Cinema on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Miles Morales, played by Shameik Moore, finds himself opposed by a legion of Spider-People in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” (Promotional image courtesy Sony Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ is somehow again groundbreaking

It’s unlike anything else in theaters. It shouldn’t be missed.

Miles Morales, played by Shameik Moore, finds himself opposed by a legion of Spider-People in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” (Promotional image courtesy Sony Pictures)