Reel & Read
Reviews of film, music, literature, and travel — plus reflections on teaching and creativity, by William Edward Villano.
recent posts
- Rip Van Winkle Short Story Review — Washington Irving’s Magical Tale of Time and Change | by William Edward Villano
- Lateralus (2001) Album Review — Tool’s Otherworldly Journey Through Sound | by William Edward Villano
- Spirited Away (2001) Review — Studio Ghibli’s Masterpiece of Music, Magic, and Memory | by William Edward Villano
- Denali National Park Review — Grizzlies, Fragility, and the Call to Preserve | by William Edward Villano
- The Charge of the Light Brigade Poem Review — Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Reflection on Valor and Tragedy | by William Edward Villano
about
Category: Film Reviews
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I first watched Spirited Away as a junior in high school. Unlike some films that changed my life immediately, this one left its mark in quieter ways. The story of Chihiro navigating a strange and enchanted world fascinated me, but what really stayed with me was the atmosphere: the music, the visuals, the setting that…
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I first saw The Fellowship of the Ring when I was nine or ten years old, sitting with my family and a few family friends. I didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a world that felt larger than anything I had ever seen before. The battles and sweeping landscapes pulled me in…
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I first saw The Dark Knight in high school, and I have probably watched it five times since. Each viewing confirms what I felt the first time: this is more than a superhero film. Christopher Nolan’s second Batman entry is a gripping action thriller, yes, but it also smuggles in questions that linger long after…
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I first watched The Shawshank Redemption in 11th grade, and it has remained with me like an echo I cannot shake. Even now, years later, I return to that moment in my life with a sense of awe. It was more than just a film on a classroom screen; it was an initiation into a…
Reel & Read 