Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Movie Review: No Other Choice (Eojjeolsuga eobsda)
Michael's Movie Grade: A-
A brilliant dark comedy from Korea.
This movie tells the story of a man who was fired from his job and is struggling to support his family. When he applies for a job in his field of expertise, he tries to kill all the other applicants so that he will certainly get the job.
What makes this movie work so well are the early scenes. Not only do they set up that this character has an idyllic life, but they also make the character very likable. When he loses his job, we empathize with him. As he descends into a darker frame of mind, it is done in such a gradual way that we are going through the emotions with him. This shows perfectly how there are people that are normal people that we would be glad to have as friends but who when the tide turns against them can show a dark side, we never knew they had. It also shows how corporate greed and the difficulty to make it in a money hungry world can so easily push these people past their breaking point. This makes everything here seem all too real and relatable. Yet director/co-writer Park Chan-wook is a master at dark comedy. To keep this movie from getting too disturbing to enjoy, he places a lot of that dark comedy throughout the film. Thus, we are laughing at the absurdity of what we are seeing, while we are also horrified by how real it is. This is shown perfectly in the first murder scene. As dark as the subject matter is, it is played almost as a slapstick comedy with how ineptly it goes. The dark subject matter makes our need to laugh all the more urgent and we laugh louder because of it.
Usually, these types of movies focus only on the main character while making that character's family bland and forgettable. Yet here the wife and kids are also very well fleshed out. This is especially true for the young daughter, whose storyline is surprisingly touching.
This film also benefits from a great ending that is in equal parts, disturbing, funny and touching.
This is another great movie from Park Chan-wook.
Monday, January 12, 2026
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
As early as October 2011 (before the first Avengers film was even released), head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige mentioned that there were plans for a second Avengers movie. In May 2012 Head of Disney Bob Iger officially announced that the sequel was happening. In August 2012. it was confirmed the Joss Whedon would return to direct the sequel. About doing the sequel Whedon stated, "I have to make my movie assuming that people will only have seen the first one, or possibly not even seen the first one. I can't assume that everybody went to see Thor [The Dark World], Captain America [The Winter Soldier], and Iron Man [3] in-between. I have to go from one movie to the next and be true to what's happened, but not be slavish to it [...] The model I'm always trying to build from, my guiding star, is The Godfather Part II where a ton has happened in-between and it's a very different movie [from The Godfather], but you don't need any information: it's there in the film."
In this film, because of the events in the previous film, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) create a program they call Ultron to keep the world safe from all threats. Ultron (James Spader) though takes on a robotic body and decides that Earth would be safer without humans in it. The Avengers (Downey, Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johanson, Jermey Reyner, Chris Hemsworth) must team up again to stop Ultron. Meanwhile Ultron convinces two super powered twins to help him, Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
This is an excellent film and one of the most underrated MCU films. What this movie does extremely well is to raise the stakes from the first film. The danger feels much more real and present here and therefore the suspense is also raised. The main reason for this is the main villain. Ultron is a truly wonderful villain. Not only does he feel like a major threat to our heroes, but he also is a very compelling character. The very premise of a program created by the Avengers taking on a life of its own yet becoming the enemy of the Avengers is already a compelling one. The way Ultron views the world and the Avengers is quite well-written. While his point of view is warped, you can still understand where he comes from. What also makes this character compelling is how it takes on characteristics of Tony Stark himself. His jokes and snarky attitude sound like Tony Stark because he was created by Stark. Frankly watching what is essentially an evil Iron Man makes for fun watching but it also gives us a greater understanding of the dark side of Tony. The twins he gets to help him, don't get enough screentime to develop as strong of personalities but they are very effective as threats. We can easily see how Scarlet Witch's powers can tear apart the Avengers from the inside and what she does to our main heroes obviously leaves emotional wounds that can't be healed easily. As well as this the movie also does a great job of exploring who our heroes are and what makes them tick. The characters are much more emotionally vulnerable here and this makes them feel much more real to us. The movie also does an especially great job of giving us a better glimpse of who Hawkeye is (as we didn't get to know much about him in the previous movie) and why a guy who shoots arrows is so important to a team that literally has a god on it. This movie also benefits from very strong action sequences that even top those in the first movie.
Unlike the previous movie where the humor hit constantly, here it is a bit hit and miss. There are moments here that are legitimately quite funny (I especially love the elevator joke towards the end). However, there are also times when it can fall completely flat. There are quite a few forced quips here that feel like they are simply there because they are expected. This makes some of the humor lose the natural feel it had in the first movie.
Chief among the flaws is that the romantic relationship between Hulk and Black Widow, doesn't work. It feels forced, bland and quite undeveloped. The plot also can rely too much on supposedly smart characters acting dumb simply because the plot says they should.
The movie was a financial success grossing $1.403 billion worldwide making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2015. On its opening weekend alone, it grossed $392.5 million making it the seventh largest ever opening weekend.
Critically it received quite mixed reviews. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times stated, "Although this movie is effective moment to moment, very little of it lingers in the mind afterward. The ideal vehicle for our age of immediate sensation and instant gratification, it disappears without a trace almost as soon as it's consumed." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone stated, ""Age of Ultron is a whole summer of fireworks packed into one movie. It doesn't just go to 11, it starts there. [Joss Whedon] takes a few wrong turns, creating a jumble when the action gets too thick. But he recovers like a pro, devising a spectacle that's epic in every sense of the word." Richard Rooper gave the movie three and a half out of four stars stating, "Someday, an Avengers film might collapse under the weight of its own awesomeness. I mean, how many times can they save the world? But this is not that day."
This movie introduced Ultron, Scarlet Witch, Quick Silver (although Scarlet Witch and Quick Silver had a tiny cameo in the post credits scene in Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014)) and Vision to the MCU. Ultron was first introduced to the comics in Avengers #54 (July 1968). In the comics he was created by Hank Pym not Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. Vision was introduced in the comics not much later. He first appeared in Avengers #57 (October 1968) in the comics he was originally created by Ultron to trap the Avengers. However, he would have a change of heart and end up joining the Avengers. Him and Scarlett Witch would have a romantic relationship both in the movies and the comics. Scarlet Witch made her first comic book appearance in X-Men #4 (March 1964). Quick Silver also first appeared in the same issue. Though both Quick Silver and Scarlet Witch have strong ties to the X-Men, at the time this film was being made, 20th Century Fox had the film rights for the X-Men. Because of this for the MCU, their origin stories were changed to fit into a Marvel Universe without the X-Men. In the comics Quick Silver and Scarlet Witch joined the Avengers in Avengers #16 (May 1965).
Resources Used
The Marvel Encyclopedia published by DK Books
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-sequel-comic-con-mark-ruffalo-249014/
https://web.archive.org/web/20140815052937/https://deadline.com/2012/05/disney-announces-avengers-2-in-development-268528/
https://variety.com/2012/film/news/joss-whedon-to-write-direct-avengers-sequel-1118057576/
https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18630302.html
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2395427/?ref_=bo_cso_table_18
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-avengers-review-20150430-column.html
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/avengers-age-of-ultron-251411/
https://web.archive.org/web/20150430020626/http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/avengers-age-ultron-marvel-humor-peril-comic-book-triumph/
https://www.reviewingcomics.com/marvel/avengers-1963/avengers-16/
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Movie Review: I Was a Stranger
Michael's Movie Grade: B
A very moving film.
This film from Angel Studios is about the plight of Syrian refuges through different stories that involve five different strangers. These strangers' lives all end up effecting others in profound ways, some positive and some negative. Though this movie is made by the Christian Angel Studios, it is not the typical feel-good sugar-coated Christian film that one might expect it to be. For the most part this film favors a sense of gritty realism. This even done to the point where different main characters speak different languages throughout, with English subtitles through it all. This may be alienating to much of Angel Studio's typical audience, who may not be used to having to read subtitles for so much of a movie. However, it does make this movie feel more real and adds much to its emotional resonance that way. Speaking of emotional resonance, this film is very throughout. The characters may not be the most complex but fulfill their job very well. We care about them and their plight. I will not give away any of the emotional scenes in this movie, but I will say that some will really have an impact on you.
Though this may not be an overtly Christian movie, you won't find a single bible verse recited nor any character giving their lives to God. However, it focuses on one of the most important Christian values, compassion for others. In today's climate this is a value that is more important than ever all over the world.
This movie does have the problem of trying to fit too many stories into too small of a runtime. This can make elements feel rushed and characters feel underdeveloped.
All in all, a very well-done film that leaves an emotion punch at times.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Cowboy Church #251
Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Wings of a Dove. This recording comes from their 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. This song was written by Bob Ferguson in 1958. However, most music fans would first hear the song when Ferlin Husky recorded it in 1960. That version of the song was a major hit staying number one on the country charts for 10 weeks straight. Naturally after this many more country singers would record this song, including Roy and Dale here.
This is followed by Cristy Lane with Love Lifted Me. This hymn was written in 1912 by James Rowe and Howard E. Smith. Rowe's daughter would later state, “I can see them now, my father striding up and down humming a bar or two, and Howard E. playing it and jotting it down…The two huddled together, working line by line, bar by bar, composing this hymn in tandem.”
Afterwards is Washington Phillips with Mother's Last Word to Her Daughter. He recorded this tune on December 2, 1929, in Dallas Texas.
Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with He Walks with the Wild and Lonely. This song was written by Bob Nolan, one of the founding members of the group and one of my personal favorite songwriters. When in a 1979 interview fellow cowboy singer and songwriter Stuart Hamblen asked Bob what he thought the best song he had written was, Bob answered that it was quite possibly this song. He explained why stating, "The lyrics and the music were so perfectly wed that I just couldn’t improve on it."
Then comes Jerry Lee Lewis with He Looked Beyond My Fault. This recording comes from his 1971 album, In Loving Memories (The Jerry Lee Lewis Gospel Album).
Up next is Johnny Cash with The Fourth Man in the Fire. This song is based off of a story from the book of Daniel. Though this story takes place during Old Testament times many (including myself) believe the fourth man to be Jesus. While most of us will not be thrown in a fiery furnace, this song reminds us that there is no place that through every hardship in life, Jesus is always walking with us and watching out for us. In the liner notes for the Unearthed box set, Rick Ruben remembered this song being recorded, "I can't tell you much about the song except that again it was one that he liked, but I can tell you why it sounds like he's getting frustrated. We were working in my living room, and we didn't have any editing equipment or engineering person - I'm not an engineer - we were just rolling the tape, and everything was live. If you're in the studio and you're doing a song with a long-spoken intro, and you got the intro right but there's something wrong with the song, you wouldn't have to do the intro over and over every time you redid the song. We didn't have that kind of editing capacity at my house, which is why when Johnny says 'Are you going to keep the intro from the last take? It was good' and I say, 'We can't do that,' you can hear the frustration in his voice."
Today's musical selection ends with Patty Loveless singing Sorrowful Angels. This comes from her 2001 gospel album, Mountain Soul.
Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham.
Today's movie is Gangsters of the Frontier (1944) starring Tex Ritter.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #263
Hello, my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection starts with a truly classic Mickey Mouse cartoon, Traffic Troubles (1931). This movie is simply a wonderful little short. Much of this is due to the great cast of animators. Dave Hand, who would go on to be the supervising director for the Disney features Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942), animates the opening scenes of this film, the tire rolling away and Pete pouring the "medicine" down the car's radiator. Les Clark, one of Walt's Nine Old Men and often considered one of the finest Mickey Mouse animators, animates the pig getting into the car and Minnie playing the accordion. Tom Palmer, who would later direct a few short cartoons for Warner Brothers, animates the cop getting angry at Mickey, Minnie climbing into the taxi and some of Pete's dialogue. Ben Sharpsteen, who later was the supervising director for the Disney feature films, Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941), animates the cop in traffic, Mickey parking the car, Mickey chasing the taxi and the car hitting the rock. Dick Lundy, future Woody Woodpecker and Barney Bear director, animates Mickey trying to fix his tire (including replacing the pump with the pig) and the car landing on the cow. Jack King, who would become possibly the finest Donald Duck director, animates the taxi in traffic, a close up of Minnie playing the accordion and Mickey actually inflating the tire with the pig. Johnny Cannon, who spent the majority of his career working uncredited on Disney shorts, animates the taxi going through the mud and Pete on the bicycle. Norm Ferguson, an animator who would help define the character of Pluto, animates some scenes with the pig inside the taxi, the taxi trying to dodge the bumps and the film's ending gag. An interesting note about this movie is that it was made pretty much at the same time, Floyd Gottfredson was making an adaption of it for the Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip. He had done this before when he made a comic strip version of the Mickey Mouse short, The Picnic (1930). That was a rather straightforward adaption of the cartoon, while this comic strip story took more liberties with the source material. The comic strip adaption included a gag that was animated (by Norm Ferguson) for the film but dropped from the short before release. This was a gag involving a fireplug. If you are interested in reading the comic strip version yourself, it is included in J.B. Kaufman's fantastic article on this movie. This cartoon was directed by Burt Gillett. Gillet was one of the studio's major directors of the early 1930's. His cartoons include such classics as The Chain Gang (1930), Mickey's Orphans (1931), Flowers and Trees (1932), Trader Mickey (1932), Mickey's Good Deed (1932), The Three Little Pigs (1933), Mickey's Gala Premiere (1933), Playful Pluto (1934) and many others. Animation for this film began on December 12, 1930, and was completed on January 1, 1931. It was released on March 7, 1931. A famous story about the making of this cartoon involved a scene David Hand was animating. Walt kept telling him, the scene needed to be more exaggerated. This made Hand so frustrated he decided to show Walt, he would make it twice as exaggerated. Though Hand felt this might get him fired, this new animation was exactly what Walt wanted. This cartoon is one of the five viewable in the Main Street Cinema in Disneyland. In 1933, this cartoon was released on 16mm film, for home viewing. This 16mm film was silent and could rented for 75 cents. In his heyday (when this cartoon was released), Mickey was one of the popular movie stars not only with audiences but those working in the film industry as well. Silent movie queen Mary Pickford was an especially huge fan. In June 1930, she wrote Walt Disney to thank him for a replica of Mickey Mouse he gave her. She stated that with this replica her husband actor Douglas Fairbanks finally had a rival. She also complained to Walt about Mickey Mouse's screen appearances being too infrequent and asked Walt if he could speak to the mouse to speed up his work schedule. Another filmmaker who was a massive fan of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse was Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein, considered one of the most important directors of Russian cinema and a director who is still studied by film students today. Sergi wrote that Walt Disney's work was “the greatest contribution of the American people to art.”
Next comes the Terry Toons cartoon, The Lyin' Lion (1949).
Now for the Fox and the Crow cartoon, Be Patient Patient (1944). Though rather forgotten today, the Fox and the Crow were probably the most popular characters to come out of the Columbia cartoon studio. They were not only popular in these theatrical shorts, but they had a very successful comic book series (published by DC Comics) as well.
Now we will join our friend Toby the Pup in Down South (1931). While Charles Mintz was producing Krazy Kat cartoons for Columbia, he decided to create a separate series of cartoons for RKO, these starring a character named Toby the Pup. To head this series Mintz handed the duties to Dick Huemer, Art Davis and Sid Marcus. Dick Huemer had been a major contributor to the style of the Fleischer studio earlier and this is probably why these shorts have a Fleischer-type feel to them. Huemer, Davis and Marcus would later be the major creative factors for Columbia's Scrappy cartoons (also produced by Mintz).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Now for the New Three Stooges cartoon, Let's Shoot the Player Piano Player (1965). The Stooges voice themselves in this made for TV cartoon. The real Stooges also appear in the opening and closing live action segments. The live action segments would often be repeated even when the cartoon was new. Curly Joe DeRita felt that this hurt the show. He thought that people would see a live action segment they had seen before and assume the show was a rerun and change the channel not knowing the cartoon was new.
In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, Porky Pig was the star of Looney Tunes. It became a rule that Porky had to appear in every Looney Tunes cartoon while the same would not be true of the sister series Merrie Melodies. Because of this oftentimes in these Looney Tunes Porky would just make a brief cameo appearance. Case in point, A Coy Decoy (1941) which stars Daffy Duck and Porky only makes a brief appearance singing the great cowboy song Ride Tenderfoot Ride and delivering the final line. The song Ride Tenderfoot Ride was written by Johnny Mercer and Richard A. Whiting. Johnny Mercer also wrote another one of the best cowboy songs ever with I'm an Old Cowhand. Richard Whiting was a writer for two songs every Looney Tunes fan will know, Hooray for Hollywood and Ain't We Got Fun.
Now for the Happy Harmonies cartoon, The Old Mill Pond (1936).
Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in Football (1987).
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry.
Resources Used
Mary Pickford: America's Sweetheart by Scott Eyman
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by David Gerstein and J.B. Kaufman
Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin
https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/mickey-mouse-movies-into-comics-2-traffic-troubles/
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
https://furinchime.com/2021/12/11/the-protean-cartoon-currents-of-animation-theory/