Film

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)
Photo courtesy Walt Disney Studios
Halle Bailey portrays Ariel, alongside Flounder, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, in “The Little Mermaid.”

‘Little Mermaid’ sings (mostly) the same tunes in remake

“The Little Mermaid” is in many ways indistinguishable from the version that debuted in 1989

Photo courtesy Walt Disney Studios
Halle Bailey portrays Ariel, alongside Flounder, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, in “The Little Mermaid.”
The Orca Theater is seen on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Orca kicks off kids summer movie series this month

This is the seventh year of “Kids Summer Fun”

The Orca Theater is seen on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional image for "Nourishing the Kenai." (Photo courtesy Kenai Local Food Connection)

Local food doc to debut next week

Kenai Local Food Connection will next week host the first public screening of a new documentary, “Nourishing the Kenai.” The free showing will be held… Continue reading

Promotional image for "Nourishing the Kenai." (Photo courtesy Kenai Local Food Connection)
Promotional image courtesy Marvel Studios
Rocket, an entirely computer generated character is performed onset by Sean Gunn and voiced by Bradley Cooper in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Despite appearances, he’s the emotional center of the film.

On the Screen: 3rd ‘Guardians’ outing delivers emotional finale for space-faring family of misfits

I don’t like endings. I’m scared of the simple fact that everything must eventually conclude

Promotional image courtesy Marvel Studios
Rocket, an entirely computer generated character is performed onset by Sean Gunn and voiced by Bradley Cooper in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Despite appearances, he’s the emotional center of the film.
Photo courtesy Lionsgate
Abby Ryder Fortson appears as Margaret in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” in this promotional image.

On the Screen: A timeless ‘Margaret’ comes of age in insightful adaptation

I went into “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” on Sunday effectively blind

Photo courtesy Lionsgate
Abby Ryder Fortson appears as Margaret in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” in this promotional image.
Beth, played by Lily Sullivan, reaches for the hand of her late sister in "Evil Dead Rise." (Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is fun horror to start the summer season

“Evil Dead Rise” stands confidently among its predecessors

Beth, played by Lily Sullivan, reaches for the hand of her late sister in "Evil Dead Rise." (Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
Promotional image for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” shows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and other major characters. (Photo courtesy Universal Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Super Mario’ is shallow, but so much fun

It lovingly realizes iconic characters and imbues them with more character than they’ve ever enjoyed in their video game appearances

Promotional image for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” shows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and other major characters. (Photo courtesy Universal Studios)
Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)

On the Screen: ‘The Last of Us’ perfectly adapts a masterpiece

HBO unquestionably knew they had a hit on their hands

Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)
Keri Russell’s Sari hides from the Cocaine Bear in “Cocaine Bear.” (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Cocaine Bear’ is a simple, but fun, slasher

The film transforms the titular bear into something like an ‘80s slasher villain

Keri Russell’s Sari hides from the Cocaine Bear in “Cocaine Bear.” (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)
Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)

Indigenous languages featured in school film festival

The festival was designed to promote and increase the visibility of Indigenous languages

Promotional flyer for the Indigenous Language Film Festival (Image courtesy KPBSD Title VI)
From left: Andrew (Ben Aldridge), Wen (Kristen Cui), Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Leonard (Dave Bautista) in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)

On the Screen: Knock at the Cabin is middling, disappointing

I’m still chasing the high of 2016’s “Split,” but unfortunately, sometimes I get served an “Old”

From left: Andrew (Ben Aldridge), Wen (Kristen Cui), Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Leonard (Dave Bautista) in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)