Christie Cronan
Tomatometer-approved critic
Christie Cronan is a 30-something year old Asian Mom raising two multicultural (half American, half Korean) Whasians. Blogging at RaisingWhasians.com since 2011, Christie aims to bring an honest multicultural perspective back into movie reviews always with the question? Are they safe for kids?
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) |
Lightning doesn't strike twice. Big plot holes, flawed villains, unrealistic continuity, disjointed action, and a detachment from the original, this film doesn't quite connect the dots for me. A watchable sequel, but Shazam lost some of his magic. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Mar 16, 2023
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Chang Can Dunk (2023) |
For a straight to streaming, Disney+ eventually wins you over. A relatable, feel-good movie that teaches kids important life lessons without being completely “Disney Channel over-the-top.” - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Mar 10, 2023
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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) |
I think the little guy forgot to bring a "little" more humanity and relatability to the party. The reality is, the reality was missing. A decent sequel, but at this stage of the game, Marvel can and should have done better. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 14, 2023
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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) |
A rare sequel that is surprisingly better than the original. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Dec 19, 2022
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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) |
For those looking for a fully immersive theater experience, Avatar: The Way of Water delivers a sea of blue. But do the breathtaking visuals outweigh the predictable plot? - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Dec 16, 2022
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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) |
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio was a refreshing departure from the predictable Disney-esque film. An overwhelming full sensory experience - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 29, 2022
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Strange World (2022) |
Disney forgot to insert the magic. No amount of action/adventure scenes could ever make up for THE signature Disney story. Without heart, an emotional connection to the characters, Strange World ends up being just ok - which by Disney standards is subpar. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 21, 2022
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Disenchanted (2022) |
The talent is there, but the original magic is lacking. Disney still hasn’t learned their fairy tale lesson - not every successful movie needs a sequel. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 18, 2022
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) |
Not shaken at the word sequel, but certainly stirring up the whodunnit genre, Glass Onion takes another stab at the murder mystery, triumphs at sleuthing audiences once again. But the vulgarity alone almost killed the entertainment. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 17, 2022
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |
The outpouring of raw emotion, the tears - all real. It's regal yet messy, refined and yet unrefined. This movie sequel is a grief journey with power beyond super heroes. Death is not the end of this king's legacy. It's just the beginning. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 08, 2022
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Black Adam (2022) |
Lightning doesn't strike twice for DC, but this action-packed storm is still worth a watch. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Oct 20, 2022
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Rosaline (2022) |
It's a little hard to feel the love when you're dropping an f-bomb. Unfortunately, the profanities alone were enough to bite my thumb when it comes to family-friendliness. But language aside it's an easy-to-watch rom-com for adults. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Oct 11, 2022
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Werewolf by Night (2022) |
Marvel's Werewolf By Night is yet another surprising MCU production that will have horror fans HOWLING for more. But this special is NOT for kids! - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Oct 06, 2022
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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) |
A load of croc? Don't go in expecting The Greatest Showman. With a spotlight on animal cruelty, off-key co-star singing, cringe-y acting, & missing climatic spark, Lyle doesn't pull on my heartstrings in perfect harmony. Good, but not great - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Oct 06, 2022
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Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) |
Wicked things come to those who wait. Hocus Pocus 2 is proof that magic can still take you by surprise. Spellbinding. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Sep 29, 2022
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Pinocchio (2022) |
Visual masterpiece with subtle nods towards mental health. Watch for the nostalgia, but don't expect this to be a Monstro whale of a movie. There's a reason this movie went straight to streaming - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Sep 08, 2022
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DC League of Super-Pets (2022) |
I expected "ruff" but instead was SUPER surprised. DC League of Super-Pets is a film that takes a risky pet twist that ultimately pays off. Warner Bros. is playing fetch with the big animation boys this summer. And they're tugging at our heartstrings. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jul 26, 2022
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Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) |
The moral of the story is – if you go into a B-list Kung Fu Panda knock-off animated movie with low expectations, you come out shrugging your shoulders, saying “hmm, that wasn’t so bad.” - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jul 13, 2022
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Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) |
Solid but not totally sold, Thor: Ragnarok still stands as the best Thor movie in the MCU. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jul 05, 2022
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) |
A sequel spin off that's better than the original gibberish, that's a Minion of a different color. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 28, 2022
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Lightyear (2022) |
Finally, a prequel that lives up to the hype…hyperspeed that is. Shockingly, it was the cat droid I was looking for. Certainly knocked my Sox off. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 14, 2022
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Jurassic World Dominion (2022) |
Our childhood nostalgia for dinosaurs & 90s movies mask a forced reunion and unimaginative story. Placing a tired period at the end of a Jurassic period, I won't be sad to see this trilogy go extinct. Not bad, but not the finale we wanted. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 08, 2022
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Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) |
These 2 gumshoes are NOT picking up the slack. Messy plot, chaotic visuals, and little humor despite the comedic talent. This nostalgic reboot missed the mark on a 30+ year comeback. There's a reason this movie went straight to streaming. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted May 17, 2022
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Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) |
Like a strong cup of English tea, Downton Abbey: A New Era pours fans exactly what they've been craving - a HOT, clever historical drama with thoughtful writing, heart, and the sharp tongue of Maggie Smith. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted May 17, 2022
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) |
The doctor is in...SANE?! Marvel switched genres on us. Good for horror fans, but bad for parents. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted May 03, 2022
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The Bad Guys (2022) |
It's a crime for a kids movie to be this good. Looney Tunes meets Ocean's 11 with just enough appeal for the whole family - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Apr 21, 2022
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Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) |
Third time's the charm? Maybe a confundus charm. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Apr 13, 2022
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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) |
More of a marathon than a sprint. But despite a slower story and longer runtime, certainly NOT boring. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Apr 04, 2022
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Turning Red (2022) |
Hilarious, awkward, over-the-top anime meets Pixar's emotionally raw, vulnerable storytelling. It's never felt so good to see my Asian teen self become the hero, and learn to forgive her too. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Mar 07, 2022
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Death on the Nile (2022) |
Theres no de-NILE that the sequel is better than the maiden voyage. But this murder mystery turns up the heat! If your kids saw Orient Express, think again for this film. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 07, 2022
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Back to the Outback (2021) |
Somewhere between the mixed messages and the innuendo is a poisonous combination that may be worse than snake venom. That's not to say that this kid movie doesn't have some redeeming aspects, but they may be buried deep in the Australian outback. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Dec 07, 2021
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Sing 2 (2021) |
Sing 2 is no mic drop sequel. But families will appreciate the feel-good encore. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 28, 2021
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Encanto (2021) |
It's no Coco, but Encanto has enough family magic to charm audiences with Disney feels. Good, but not great. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 17, 2021
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The Addams Family 2 (2021) |
The Addams Family 2 is the scary reminder that this franchise should have be deceased years ago. All puns intended. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Oct 01, 2021
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Dear Evan Hansen (2021) |
It comes down to adaptation and believability. I wasn't completely sold on either. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Sep 22, 2021
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Jungle Cruise (2021) |
Everyone knows that your skipper makes or breaks your Jungle Cruise ride experience. Even though I had my doubts, Dwayne Johnson doesn't disappoint. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jul 27, 2021
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The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) |
Well, it's the sequel that no one asked for, but now we have. Maybe I'm too "grown up" for this franchise - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jul 02, 2021
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Black Widow (2021) |
Marvel is more invested in weaving a web of explosions, stunts & violence than our investment in Black Widow's character. Not my favorite solo film. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 29, 2021
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Luca (2021) |
Luca hasn't quite got his sea legs, but is a sweet enough story for a summer family flick. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 16, 2021
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Spirit Untamed (2021) |
In one word, tame. But it's a safe, wholesome summer flick that families will be saying yay versus neigh - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Jun 01, 2021
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Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) |
If any film can restore faith in humanity, this is it. A heartfelt, rare "dragon" gem of a movie with a timely message for a broken world. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Mar 01, 2021
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Flora and Ulysses (2020) |
A family-friendly movie that will have everyone yelling SQUIRREL! but in a good way. Nice twist on the book plot. Just wished they toned down the animal cruelty a bit for kids. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 17, 2021
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The Croods: A New Age (2020) |
The sequel didn't evolve much from the original, but at least you can't say it's "end-of-the-world bad." - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 24, 2020
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Soul (2020) |
Hits deep, hits hard, hits heavy - but not quite soul quenching. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Nov 10, 2020
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Mulan (2020) |
You don't realize how important those catchy songs are for character building until they're ironically "cut" from the film. Beautiful visuals and action can't ever replace good storytelling. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Sep 03, 2020
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Onward (2020) |
Pixar hasn't lost the magic touch to pull at our heartstrings. But this original film had so much potential for being truly magical - but may be still missing "half" of the great stuff. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 21, 2020
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Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) |
Sonic the Hedgehog movie is the visual reminder that every underdog (under-hedgehog?) can have his day & rise up from heels of failure. One questionable scene for kids, but overall what a family-centered movie should be. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 13, 2020
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Sid the Science Kid: The Movie (2013) |
[The] movie blended humor, music, fun facts and critical thinking throughout. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 05, 2020
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Bears (2014) |
It's so magical to watch Disney blend nature and storytelling together in an epic adventure. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 05, 2020
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) |
The All-American did not disappoint. - Raising Whasians
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| Posted Feb 05, 2020
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