Kirsten Acuna

Kirsten Acuna Business Insider Dec 19, 2023 A- The remake is a powerful message for a new generation, inspiring anyone who has felt undervalued and unloved to stand tall and forge their own path. If it fails to win an Oscar again, then the Academy has failed this movie twice. Go to Full Review The Color Purple (2023) 81% - -

Kirsten Acuna Business Insider Dec 4, 2023 C+ Director Paul King (who also made "Paddington") delivers a neither-great-nor-outright-awful musical that's slightly reminiscent of another Dahl entry, "Fantastic Mr. Fox." While it has a few delightful moments, it doesn't call for repeat viewings. Go to Full Review Wonka (2023) 82% 47%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Nov 9, 2023 C+ Though the movie successfully hits the over-500-page book's broad strokes, in doing so, it results in an overstuffed, hollowed-out adaptation that plays more like two movies than one by the time it gets to its third act. Go to Full Review The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) 64% 46%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Nov 8, 2023 B "Regardless of any hiccups, "The Marvels" satisfyingly gets its larger message across, that women should lean on each other, and know they're higher, further, faster — and stronger — together." Go to Full Review The Marvels (2023) 63% 83%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Jul 18, 2023 B+ "Barbie" manages to straddle a vibrant film filled with enough Easter eggs and nods to the doll's 64-year history to necessitate a second watch with a self-critical piece for those who believe Barbie is a detriment to feminism. Go to Full Review Barbie (2023) 88% 29%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Jun 16, 2023 C+ Stuffed with unnecessary cameos seemingly for the sake of it, "The Flash" contains glimpses of fun, but is tonally uneven. It's often in conflict with itself over whether it wants to be a Batman nostalgia fest or about the fastest man alive.  Go to Full Review The Flash (2023) 63% 83%

Kirsten Acuna Insider May 22, 2023 B+ Fantastic performances and a few smart updates aside, Marshall largely delivers the same paint-by-numbers story in a longer movie that should've pushed the bar more with its antagonist instead of wasting time on forgettable new songs. Go to Full Review The Little Mermaid (2023) 67% 94%

Kirsten Acuna Insider May 17, 2023 B- "Fast X" plays like an "Infinity War'' wannabe, right down to its massive surprise ending and purple-clothed antagonist. Go to Full Review Fast X (2023) 56% 84%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Apr 28, 2023 B+ Gunn delivers an emotional sendoff for his ragtag group of misfits that possesses the humor and heart of the first two movies. Devoid of any real stakes, "Vol. 3" is not the best of the trilogy, but it's better than the last outing. Go to Full Review Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) 82% 94%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Mar 16, 2023 B Infused with the childlike joy that made the first so enjoyable, "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" explores the complexities of what it means to be a hero and how everyone can be worthy if given the chance. It isn't a superpower that makes us powerful. Go to Full Review Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) 49% 86%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Nov 8, 2022 B+ While full of breathtaking visuals, a few truly shocking moments, and another Grammy-worthy soundtrack from Ludwig Göransson, the sequel wastes a decent portion of its lengthy two-hour-and-41-minute runtime on setting up spin-offs. Go to Full Review Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) 84% 60%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Oct 18, 2022 C [Johnson's] performance is one of the film's few highlights other than a shocking mid-credits reveal. Go to Full Review Black Adam (2022) 39% 88%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Sep 8, 2022 C While it makes some vast improvements to problematic scenes and material in the original 1940 film, holy smoke-io, it adds almost as many unnecessary and frustratingly bonkers new changes. Go to Full Review Pinocchio (2022) 27% - -

Kirsten Acuna Insider Jul 5, 2022 B+ If you liked 2017's "Thor: Ragnarok," you'll enjoy this, even if it does follow a few beats from the previous film a bit closely. Go to Full Review Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) 64% 60%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Jun 17, 2022 B+ The real selling point was a great, unexpected twist late in the film, proving that Pixar still has some surprises to offer from this franchise instead of simply milking the "Toy Story" franchise as a cash cow. Go to Full Review Lightyear (2022) 74% 84%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Jun 8, 2022 B The sequel is at its best when the old and new "Jurassic" casts are together, but it takes far too long for them to team up. Go to Full Review Jurassic World Dominion (2022) 28% 77%

Kirsten Acuna Insider May 23, 2022 A- "I was curious to know if the film would play well with audiences who weren't familiar with the show. (Good news: It does by delivering a fun musical murder mystery that's reminiscent of a "Scooby-Doo" whodunit.)" Go to Full Review The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) 87% 89%

Kirsten Acuna Insider May 4, 2022 C+ "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is filled with mind-bending visuals and huge action sequences, but it's also destined to be Marvel's most divisive film in years. Go to Full Review Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) 73% 85%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Apr 5, 2022 B- The franchise would be better off sidelining the creatures to get to the main event people are really coming to these films to see: the infamous Dumbledore and Grindelwald duel. Go to Full Review Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) 46% 83%

Kirsten Acuna Insider Feb 28, 2022 A- Director Matt Reeves delivers a gritty action thriller reminiscent of "Se7en" and "Zodiac" that finally makes "the world's greatest detective" deserving of the title. Go to Full Review The Batman (2022) 85% 40%