Carson Kelly Blogs

Some movie franchises become more than movies after a while. They become pieces of your childhood, pieces of your memory, pieces of the way you understand growing up, letting go, friendship, imagination, and time. For me, Toy Story has always been one of those stories. So, walking into Toy Story 5 , I had a lot of emotions sitting with me before the movie even started. Excitement, nostalgia, curiosity, a little bit of fear, and honestly, that quiet question a lot of fans probably had: did we need another one? After watching it, my answer is this: maybe we did. Because Toy Story 5 is beautiful. It is powerful, uplifting, emotional, and deeply reflective for anyone who has followed this franchise from the beginning. It understands the weight of what came before it. It understands that these characters are not just toys to the audience anymore. They are old friends. They are symbols of childhood. They are reminders of a time when imagination felt endless, and the world felt smaller, saf...

For years now, fans have wondered what the next true cinematic chapter of Star Wars would feel like on the biggest screen possible. After countless stories told across streaming, animation, novels, games, and television, The Mandalorian & Grogu arrive carrying an enormous amount of expectation on their shoulders. Thankfully, the film understands something important from the very beginning: Star Wars has always been strongest when it remembers the humanity beneath the mythology. What makes The Mandalorian & Grogu work so well is not simply the action, visual effects, nostalgia, or scale, though all of those elements are certainly present. What truly gives this film its heart is the relationship at its center. The bond between Din Djarin and Grogu remains one of the most emotionally sincere dynamics Star Wars has introduced in decades, and this movie leans into that emotional core beautifully. There are several moments throughout the film that genuinely linger after the credits r...

  Some episodes entertain you, and then there are episodes that stay with you. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Episode 5, “The Grand Design,” is one of those episodes. This was not just another strong hour of television for me. This felt like something special. It felt emotional, haunting, mature, and deeply human. Out of everything Born Again has delivered so far, this may honestly be the best episode of the series. Episode 5 is officially titled “The Grand Design,” and it arrived as the fifth chapter in Disney+’s eight-episode second season. What makes this episode so powerful is how willing it is to slow down and sit with pain. This is not an episode built around nonstop action, and that is exactly why it works. The show understands that action only means something when it is attached to loss, memory, guilt, and consequence. Episode 5 leans into that truth. It lets the emotions breathe. It lets the performances carry scenes. It trusts the audience to sit in the discomfort, and...

Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again is back, and after watching Season 2, Episode 1, I can honestly say this was a really strong start. What I appreciated most about this premiere is that it did not waste time. Right from the beginning, the episode felt focused, emotionally charged, and full of purpose. It had the kind of energy that immediately reminds you why this corner of Marvel works so well when it is handled with care. There was tension in the air, real dramatic weight in the character moments, and enough action to make the episode feel exciting without losing sight of the story's heart. One of the biggest strengths of this episode for me was how well it balanced different tones. There was romance here, and I thought that added something important to the episode. It helped ground the story and gave some of the more intense moments extra meaning. That emotional layer made everything feel more human, which is something Daredevil has always needed to hit as hard as it...

Date: May 22, 2025 Written by Carson Kelly Disney has delivered some live-action remakes over the past decade, but few have matched the heart, energy, and emotional pull of their animated originals until now. Lilo & Stitch (2025) surprised me in the best way possible. It’s hands down the best live-action remake Disney has done so far, and it’s clear the filmmakers genuinely cared about doing this story justice. As someone who grew up loving Lilo & Stitch , I was nervous about how Stitch would look in live action. Let’s face it, he’s not the easiest character to translate from animation to photorealism. But I’m happy to say they nailed it. Stitch looks incredible on the big screen. Seeing him brought to life reminded me of the first time I saw Buzz and Woody light up the screen in Toy Story 3 back in 2011, a memory I deeply cherish, especially since I saw that film with my late pops. That nostalgic connection hit hard tonight, and it made the whole experience even heavier fo...