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Few stories have the enduring impact of "Frankenstein". Written by Mary Shelley in 1818, it has been adapted to film countless times, most famously in 1931 starring Boris Karloff as the monster. In 2025, legendary director Guillermo del Toro puts his unique stamp on this classic tale.

As I have never read the original story, I can't say how this works as an adaptation. I can, however, judge it as a film onto itself and, I must say, it is beautifully told. The way it's structured is interesting, the first half told by Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and the second by the monster (Jacob Elordi). More than simply a cautionary tale of daring to play God, it is a tragedy of fathers and sons. Victor's pride and cruelty come from a place of inadequacy and ungiven love yet he still evokes pathos, which in turn affects how he treats his creation, born unnaturally and struggling to find meaning in his life. The effects and art direction are top notch, seamlessly blending the practical with the digital, the use of certain colors like green and red are eye-catching, and the sets are wonderfully built. The makeup used for the monster is a real standout, setting him apart from other interpretations yet allowing the actor to convey hard-hitting emotions. In fact, the drama was so well executed I started getting emotional by the end. There is gore in this film, impactful without being overly gratuitous, and the bits of action featured are serviceable. The runtime is long, but the film does make the most of it.

It's hard to go wrong when you have Guillermo del Toro at the helm. His "Frankenstein" is a worthy interpretation of Shelley's story, carrying on the spirit that, like the monster, continues to endure through the ages.

Sony's "KPop Demon Hunters" was not on my agenda of films to expect. Less so is the amazingly wide positive reception and the domination over "Elio" by Disney and Pixar. This contributed to my interest being piqued.

The film centers on Huntr/x (Rumi, Zoey, and Mira), the latest generation of a long line of young women who hunt soul-sucking demons and keep them at bay with a spiritual barrier via magic-infused singing. They are on the verge of sealing away the demons forever, but the lead singer Rumi faces complications at the worst time due to her legacy. The demons decide to counter by sending a group disguised as a band called the Saja Boys, led by the mysterious Jinu, to disrupt Huntr/x's rhythm. Can the hunters come to terms with who they are, the nature of their enemy, and save humanity?

I am stunned by how well-made this movie is. The animation is very stunning; the designs are fantastic, the colors really pop out, and the facial expressions are enjoyable. The fight scenes are so fluid and hit the right notes (pun intended), each hunter using different weapons yet are able to work in sync with one another. The anime-style humor got me laughing hard several times, which I hadn't done in a long while. I also appreciate seeing more of Korea's culture, both modern and mythological. The songs are also well-done, having the right beats, mood, and helping to both tell story and explore the characters. Speaking of which, I enjoyed the hunters, seeming like really good friends, sharing laughs, poking fun at each other, and having great drama. While Mira and Zoey are given admittedly barebones backstory and conflict, Rumi is a fully developed hero. Coming to terms with who she is at such a critical moment peels away the walls she put up, leading to great emotional payoffs. This is cemented by her interactions with Jinu, whose own past and inner turmoil add further complications to their respective sides. It all leads to a visually incredible climax that brings all the great elements the film brought together in a spectacular mix.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but "KPop Demon Hunters" is easily one of the best films of the year. It has the right mix of everything and delivers it in a refreshing package that, dare I say, puts current Disney to shame. I heard even those who don't listen to K-pop enjoy it. Personally, I highly recommend it.

Sony has been trying to expand the Spider-Man film franchise. Results have been varied. Venom is an interesting case, starting off strong with the first film (starring Tom Hardy), but the second wasn't as well received. Along comes "Venom: The Last Dance", which aimed to bring an exciting conclusion to the series. Did it succeed?

Plot: Eddie Brock and his symbiote are on the run, not only from the law, but from Venom's home world. The symbiote god, Knull The King in Black, sees his chance to escape his prison through the pair, so he sends giant insectoids called Xenophages. With enemies on all sides, Eddie and Venom consider the possibility that they may not walk out of this alive together.

I get the sentiment behind this story. Eddie and Venom have been through thick and thin, which led to moments where they try to enjoy their time together and some of them do hit decent dramatic notes. The action scenes are okay too, the violence upped to a somewhat shocking degree, and some creative moments here and there like the symbiote jumping between animal hosts. The Xenophages are a menace, killing folks in horrific ways and being hard to destroy, though their designs felt generic. Sadly, the negatives of this film outweigh the positive. Most of the humor is not only unfunny, but at times cringey. Don't expect to see Eddie in his Venom form much this time as there's a narrative reason for it (I suspect a budgetary reason too). The plot has serious gaping holes in it too like the MacGuffin needed to free Knull, characters making very illogical decisions throughout, and certain elements introduced but underutilized and not paying off big time. It also seems like the film couldn't decide if it wants to be a definitive end or set up potential sequels that may never happen given Sony's track record. Also, most of the new characters are forgettable.

"Venom: The Last Dance" has its ambitions and sprinkles of goodness, but the drawbacks and lost potential prevent this from being a solid entry in the Spider-Man franchise. It may be worth seeing once if you're a superfan, but otherwise disposable.