Movie Reviews from HMC
Read about films reviewed by HMC’s Station Operator, Will Hopper.
New reviews are published every Friday on our weekly newsletter.
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Latest Review:
Poetry
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Streaming on The Criterion Channel & Hoopla
Directed by Lee Chang-dong
[Not Rated] 2hr 19min
Drama
★★★★★
2010
Read Review | Watch Trailer
Watch the trailer below:
New Theatrical Releases:
Coyote vs. Acme
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Directed by Dave Green
[Rated PG] 1hr 41min
Family, Comedy, Adventure
★★★
August 28th, 2026
Read Review | Watch Trailer
Tony
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Directed by Matthew Johnson
[Rated R] 1hr 46min
Biography, Comedy/Drama
★★★½
August 21st, 2026
Read Review | Watch Trailer
The End of Oak Street
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Directed by David Robert Mitchell
[Rated PG-13] 1hr 39min
Sci-fi, Thriller, Mystery
★★★½
August 14th, 2026
Read Review | Watch Trailer
All movie reviews sorted alphabetically.
Reviews for movies released in theaters in 2026.
Reviews for movies released in previous years.
Reviews for movies available on streaming services.
Read the latest Streaming Spotlight reviews below:
- Will’s Watchlist (9/11/26)
Poetry (2010)
Directed by Lee Chang-dong
[Not Rated] 2hr 19min
Drama
★★★★★
“The most important thing in life is seeing.”
As Mi-ja encounters certain harsh realities late in her life, she decides to learn how to write poetry as a way to process her feelings and find beauty in little things that she’d been taking for granted. Although she struggles to find the words to express herself, she continues going about her life with the hope that she will eventually be able to write a single poem.
Lee Chang-dong’s films always have a very poetic style, and fittingly, his film about poetry is itself a poetic masterpiece. It slowly and methodically presents its story in a natural manner that intertwines many different aspects about life, which also touches upon a variety of important themes and effectively links them together. In addition, the narrative effortlessly brings the audience along with Mi-ja as she goes about her daily routines, and it perfectly highlights the emotions she feels as she navigates through certain experiences. This is also enhanced by Yun Jeong-hie’s phenomenal lead performance, as she beautifully captures the pain and longing in her character’s life that she tries to overcome. Overall, the quiet, contemplative atmosphere of this film creates an incredibly moving experience that’s hard to forget.
I highly recommend Poetry to anyone who wants to see a thoughtful examination of the connection between pain and beauty through an emotionally resonating narrative. Everything about this movie is exceptional, and it perfectly demonstrates why Lee is my favorite film director. His latest film, Possible Love, just premiered at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this week to very high praise, so keep an eye out for it when it releases on Netflix this November.
Poetry is currently available to stream on The Criterion Channel and Hoopla. Click here to watch the trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper
- Will’s Watchlist (8/14/26)
Your Name. (2016)
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
[PG] 1hr 46min
Animation, Fantasy, Romance
★★★★★
“There’s no way we could meet. But one thing is certain. If we see each other, we’ll know.”
Dissatisfied with her life in a rural town, Mitsuha wishes she could be reborn as a boy living in Tokyo. Soon after, she develops a special connection with Taki, a city boy, and they eventually form a deep relationship that leads to them trying to meet together in person for the first time. However, they must overcome various obstacles in order to finally see each other, which proves to be much more difficult than either of them expected.
This film is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. It fully utilizes all the tools of animated filmmaking to create a completely unique and incredibly moving story that effectively conveys its emotions through every aspect of the film. The animation itself is absolutely stunning and creates a really charming, warm atmosphere; the passionate soundtrack and beautiful score greatly emphasize and resonate with the yearning, bittersweet nature of the story; the exceptional voice acting makes the characters and their feelings seem real and tangible; and the brilliant narrative ties everything together in a compelling presentation that’s unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. Overall, this movie must be experienced first-hand in order to see exactly what makes it so special, as any amount of description or analysis can never to it proper justice.
I highly recommend Your Name to anyone who enjoys animated films and/or romance stories. It offers a phenomenal experience that perfectly illustrates just how impactful movies can be on an emotional level. While it is an intimate movie that can be fully appreciated at home, it also provides a fantastic spectacle that deserves to be seen on the big screen at a theater.
Your Name is now playing in theaters for its 10th anniversary and is currently available to stream on HBO Max. Click here to watch the Re-Release Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper
- Will’s Watchlist (7/31/26)
Battle Royale (2000)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
[Not Rated] 1hr 54min
Action, Thriller
★★★★
“No matter how far, run for all you’re worth. RUN.”
In a dystopian Japan where teenagers have become increasingly delinquent following a major economic recession, the government establishes an annual Battle Royale where one school class is chosen at random to have its students fight to the death. When Shuya Nanahara’s 9th grade class suddenly wakes up together on a deserted island after unknowingly being selected, he finds himself working with his friend Noriko to try to find a way for them both to survive.
This is an excellent film that examines various social dynamics between teenagers and with the adults around them through the backdrop of an economically destabilized nation. It effectively highlights many serious topics that are relevant to modern society, as the extreme context of its narrative make those issues more prominently visible. The brutal violence greatly contributes to this as well due to its shocking nature and makes the themes significantly stronger, especially since it involves children. In addition, the gripping action and raw visuals further heighten the intensity of the atmosphere, which continues to emphasize the thematic content at all times alongside the incredible set pieces. It’s impressive that this film is able to synthesize and convey numerous social issues and ideas yet still adequately support them throughout the narrative, which provides an overall fantastic storytelling experience.
I recommend Battle Royale to anyone interested in a film that utilizes an extreme concept to provide compelling commentaries on many interpersonal issues that are present in modern society. This film also serves as a precursor to a lot of popular contemporary media including The Hunger Games series, Fortnite Battle Royale, and Squid Game, so anyone who enjoys those should definitely check out this movie as well.
Battle Royale is currently available to stream for free on Philo. Click here to watch the Official Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper