The year’s best feel-good film
Five stars. Unrated, and suitable for all agesGiven how it was sabotaged by malevolent forces this past summer — over which its roughly 496,000 hard-working employees had no control —...
The Booksellers: A novel delight
The Booksellers (2019) • View trailer Four stars. Not rated, and suitable for all agesBy Derrick Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 9.18.20An average person’s notion of a book collector, we’re told in director D.W....
Howard: Done too soon
Howard (2018) • View trailer Four stars. Rated TV-PG, for no particular reasonBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 8.28.20 I remember — vividly — when everything changed. Songs had been an essential part of Disney...
Derrick Bang on Film: Spelling the Dream: True word power
Spelling the Dream (2020) • View trailer Four stars. Rated G, and suitable for all agesBy Derrick Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 7.3.20 Spellbound was one of the hits of 2002’s film season: an engaging...
Derrick Bang on Film: Apollo 11: To infinity, and beyond!
Apollo 11 (2019) • View trailer Five stars. Rated G, and suitable for all agesBy Derrick Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 5.15.20 The images haven’t lost their power, and I’m sure they never will....
Derrick Bang on Film: Science Fair: An engaging presentation
Science Fair (2018) • View trailer Four stars. Rated PG, for no particularly reasonBy Derrick Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 4.17.20 Think 2002’s Spellbound, but with STEM whiz kids rather than spelling bee champs. Writer/directors...
Derrick Bang on Film: Maiden: A fantastic voyage
Maiden (2018) • View trailer Four stars. Rated PG, and needlessly, for mildly salty languageBy Derrick Bang • Originally published in The Davis Enterprise, 7.19.19 The only thing better than a captivating underdog drama is a captivating...