Fan Expo 2025

Fan Expo 2025 The Mummy Returns Panel and The Star Wars Panel

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Two panels of pure nostalgia that truly captivated my attention this year were The Mummy Returns reunion panel and the Star Wars panel. Both featured many memories of the past from these wonderful franchises due to the characters that audiences around the world loved. These franchises go way back to the early 2000s, which was the height of an era. The Mummy Returns panel, and The Star Wars panel offered many moments filled with quotes and laughter to cherish forever from Fan Expo 2025.

The Mummy Returns Panel included Brendan Fraser, Patricia Velasquez, John Hannah, and Oded Fehr. All brought bolts of lightning-sparked joy to the discussion with their many words of inspiration. The crowd loved it when Fraser said, “How about that deep dish pizza!” The panel went on to discuss many interesting elements of The Mummy Returns. The actors talking about what inspires them to act was particularly compelling. Velasquez said, “Watching movies was my only hope!” Rough backgrounds led to increased empathy in The Mummy Returns. Fehr also shared, “I was always quoting movies.” Many heartfelt comments made this panel mesmerizing and memorable.

The Star Wars panel featured Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, stars who dueled with lightsabers to the death in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith back in 2005. This time, the two actors brought much joy and inspiration to Fan Exp 2025. Star Wars fans were on fire due to the interesting revelations of both McGregor and Christensen. When it comes to learning combat McGregor stated, “You learn the fights like a dance.” This panel sure felt like a well-rehearsed dance too! Christensen then said, “I’d rather be really skilled with the force!” This statement madean impact as the audience gasped with excitement. While he joined the dark side in his role, he infused this panel with hope. Fortunately, the force was definitely with McGregor and Christensen as well as the lucky audience during this panel. 

Film reviews

East of Wall Review

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East of Wall is a debut film from up and coming director Kate Beecroft.  Her film is one that has a heavy heart, while jumping through many hurdles. It presents the real frustrations connected to being a widow, running a ranch, and also dealing with legalities and debts. The character is Tabatha Zimiga (her name in real-life and in the movie), and she is trying to be a responsible parent to her adopted daughter Porshia Zimiga (also using her real  name) and she is taking on the responsibility of other children that do not belong to her. Despite a complicated dynamic, doors are open in an enclosed environment. There is a chance for her to make a better income, if she is willing to change her lifestyle. East of Wall carries a heavy tolerance, because Tabatha keeps on working to be a caregiver for those she cares about. It is breathtaking in the amount of sacrifice displayed through the performance of Tabatha Zimiga. Zimiga  plays a mom that is devoted to having a heart and keeping what her gut tells her to. That is to keep her land, but also she must consider a way to pay off the debts she builds for herself. She does not have it in her to exclude those causing an impact in her life. On a vast land in South Dakota, the landscape of hardship and making ends meet makes East of Wall feel precious in its form of motherhood and parenthood.  

After the loss of her husband, Tabatha, a horse trainer, is forced to face  the family’s many debts in addition to her grief. Since she is the owner of a ranch, Tabatha extends her heart to take care of those that are close to her, even though it is difficult at times because Porshia is rebellious and precocious. With the many horses thriving on her land, a business man named Roy Waters offers to buy the land from Tabatha. Waters  is played by Scoot McNairy (Speak No Evil, Blood for Dust) in a bold and egotistical performance. All around the crazy chaos and mayhem, there is a chance for Tabatha to make a steady income, but deep-down Tabatha’s thoughts are the driving force of the film. 

The film delivers that realistic sense of choices that are hard to make. Especially around frequent moments of teenagers doing illegal things, and Tabatha fighting legal battles for kids that are not her own. This feels like a lot, especially when compounded with the grief Tabatha feels after the death of her husband. East of Wall creates a beautiful sense of what a portrait of hardship is and what it mentally takes to keep fighting. The writing and continuity flows with Tabatha fighting to keep her heart strong, which requires a certain amount of discipline. That is even a struggle, but owning a ranch with many acres and debt on top of it is one that adds to the burdensome yet poetic story of East of Wall. 

While East of Wall  has its flaws,  its authenticity is stunning. There are times where protagonist Tabatha’s characterization may not make sense, making the impact of debut director Kate Beecroft all the more significant. The thematic drum beat of perseverance permeates Beecroft’s debut film, one that is worthy of note. Two-and-a-half out of four stars.

Review also available on MovieArcher! Link is below!

https://www.moviearcher.com/2025-reviews/east-of-wall

Film reviews

Night Always Comes Review

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One of the most thought-provoking films from Netflix, Night Always Comes explores the challenges and hardships of keeping a family together. While trying to maintain a home, bad choices are made and revisited. Directed by Benjamin Caron, the film reveals the pattern of sacrifice as the clock keeps ticking. Moments of precious time cause viewers to hearts to ache. This film is a realistic portrait of the anxiety created when awaiting consequences.

The film’s main character is Lynette, played by Vanessa Kirby. Her brother is Kenny, played by Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome. The mother is Doreen, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Lynette has a past with drugs and working in escort services, but she has a desire to start a new life for her brother. With her mother not supportive of the idea, Lynette finds herself in a place where eviction is bound to happen. Her mom does not care what happens, but Lynette does. With a limited amount of time to secure a huge amount of money to avoid living on the streets, Lynette finds herself having to revisit her dark past to make ends meet.

The film becomes a gripping odyssey of layers of darkness that is anxiety-provoking. It is not a positive storyline, but the film is faithful to its portrait of consequences. The moving parts involving prior choices and efforts to climb back out of the darkness results in a subtle tone in Night Always Comes. Every choice or decision that Lynette makes comes with a corresponding consequence. This leads her to retrace her negative influences from back in the day. One of these former influences is Tom, played by Michael Kelly, who is a drug dealer who had Lynette doing tasks in trafficking scenarios. The life that Lynette wanted out of slowly comes back up to the surface. With her brother living in fear, and her desperation to save her house, the evening hours are filled with uncharted territory and a host of new choices with associated new beginnings. They are not light decisions, but audiences will feel immersed in the uncertainty of the outcomes.

What is so unique about Night Always Comes is how it has momentum but remains quiet while also suspenseful. The writing and scenarios feel approachable in part because Kirby’s role is very emotional. The fact that it is a sister doing what she feels is best for her brother is the highlight of this film. Night Always Comes keeps the question of what is going to happen next at the top of audiences’ minds. There is no clear end in sight.

This movie is a hard watch but worth it for those who can handle the nature of the events. The subject of a sister trying to help her brother who has disabilities played a huge role in my appreciation for Night Always Comes. The sacrifices Lynette is willing to make shine through in Kirby’s performance. The obliviousness of the mother is highlighted in Leigh’s performance. A caring sister and an absentee mother makes for adynamic duo that boggles the mind in this film. Three out of four stars for Night Always Comes.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!