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Hello, I'm Joshua Mbonu

Hello! This is my Journalist Portfolio! I have been writing about film and reviewing movies since early 2024. I'm a Member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Critics Association and write Film Reviews, OP-Eds, and news articles for multiple outlets, including Geek Vibes Nation, InSession Film, The Rolling Tape, Cosmic Circus, and Awards Watch. From a young age, my first connection to the film world was through the world of animation, like a lot of people but have expanded my horizons for a long time. I always loved spending time in the movie theater, holding space with the potential magic taking place on the screen, even when I was younger. The more time passes, the more the medium of movies has become deeply
intertwined with who I am as a person and what I want to talk about during my life. I have amassed many reviews across my outlets, including my very own Substack, where I write reviews and Op-eds as well.

Read more about my credentials below!

Explore Every Review, Op-Ed, and Article I've Written Through My Outlets

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Most Recent Articles

Talking Da Movies •

The Odyssey (2026): Movie Review

There’s an inherent appreciation that most can find in the pleasing nature of your average blockbuster. We’ve all had the serotonin of being completely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of theatrics we can witness on screens and in a Hollywood landscape where the once ever-intoxicating bright light of the blockbuster has dimmed. Christopher Nolan is one of the few filmmakers able to make films that are fully of his own sensibility while having the audience cache to back him up. What’s even been mor...
Geek Vibes Nation •

‘Moana’ (2026) Review - Disney’s Endless String of Empty Remakes Continue To Reach New Territories of Soullessness

Ah yes, the Disney live-action remakes. We know them and mostly hate them, yet they continue to rake in billions in the quest to mine for every piece of nostalgia imaginable in Mickey Mouse’s vault. They’re constantly maligned for being huge downgrades for what many see as the true magic of Disney, but in a deeply cynical but understandable way, there’s always a small part of us that wants to experience the beauty of those moments we saw 20-odd years ago. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Littl...
Geek Vibes Nation •

‘Evil Dead Burn’ Review - Another Brutally Bloody And Nasty Entry In A Franchise That Consistently Delivers The Goods

If it seems sacrilegious to call the Evil Dead franchise underrated, it’s because it is; standing toe to toe with the titans of the horror genre, but the franchise’s humble origins are fascinating to see after the constant evolution to where it is today. The original film was essentially a DIY project in which Sam Raimi threw nearly anything at the wall to make a horror movie. This grew into a film series that’s as renowned for its grueling original in the early 80s and its goofy escapades in th...
THE ROLLING TAPE •

Review: ‘Minions & Monsters’ is a Delightful Love Letter to Golden Age Hollywood and the Creative Highlight of its Franchise - THE ROLLING TAPE

Of all the famed titan franchises of animation, the everlasting existence of the Despicable Me (2010) franchise is one of the most bizarre. From Pixar’s rise with Toy Story to the insane number of properties that both Walt Disney Animation and DreamWorks have produced over the decades, Illumination has turned one film into a sprawling blockbuster franchise phenomenon. Believe it or not, it’s been over 16 years since Illumination Entertainment made the film that would essentially model and mascot...
Geek Vibes Nation •

‘The Invite’ (2026) Review - A Razor-Sharp Dramedy That Is Equally Hilarious And Deeply Insightful About Modern Relationships

The many inflections of relationships and marriage have been touched on countless times in movies; the heartbreaking sorrow of Marriage Story, the beautiful connections and sad, drifting nature of love captured within the Before trilogy, and the exploration of romance has seen numerous depictions in cinema. It’s clear that Olivia Wilde firmly understands this within her third feature film, The Invite, but what’s most impressive about the film is how Wilde’s strongest directorial effort is perfec...
THE ROLLING TAPE •

Review: ‘Supergirl’ Is Bolstered by Milly Alcock’s Anchored Performance but Painful and Bland in Nearly Every Other Aspect - THE ROLLING TAPE

The comic book movie genre has been in a fascinating struggle recently to regain the chokehold it once had on the public consciousness. What were once consistent must-see events for nearly every film, no matter what hero it starred, have now seemingly devolved into the same pot of mush, with only big IP swings or the big names like the new upcoming Spider-Man and Batman films being able to stand out. The new DC universe, under the eye of James Gunn, now sits in an interesting place amid the genr...
InSession Film •

Movie Review: ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ Invites Bleak Introspection But Just Barely Rewards Patience | InSession Film

Director: Michael SarnoskiWriter: Michael SarnoskiStars: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård
Synopsis: Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

We’ve all heard our fair share of myths or legends, but the tales of Robin Hood exist as a strange piece of history in both the English tales of old and as a piece of Holly...
Geek Vibes Nation •

‘Toy Story 5’ Review - Franchise’s Winning Streak Continues In This Somewhat Messy But Solid Entry

Long-running franchises have had tumultuous ups and downs over the many decades of cinematic history. For every long-running film series that’s retained its relevance and strength between entries, there’s another reviled for overstaying its welcome or eventually succumbing to the weight of its own legacy that it’s built. This only makes the pure magic of the Toy Story films all the more impressive, consistently growing with its audience both in time and emotion while beginning the heartfelt wond...
The Cosmic Circus •

'Leviticus' Is as Tender as it is Haunting

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Leviticus resides in a fascinating place when viewing it from its genre roots. It’s able to weave both a compelling queer story and progressively brutal horror while changing enough elements to remain just distinctive enough from its inspirations. You’ll hear many comparisons to genre flicks like It Follows and Smile, but director Adrian Chiarella clearly understands that within his feature debut. Chiarella adds his own sense of dread and fear surrounding homophobia i...
Geek Vibes Nation •

'Disclosure Day' Review – Steven Spielberg Returns To The Blockbuster Space To Remind Us Why He’s One Of Our Best

Over fifty years ago, the film landscape was a very different place for many obvious reasons, but one of them was that 1975 essentially birthed what would be known as “The Blockbuster”. This began when Steven Spielberg’s Jaws hit theaters that year and was a true sensation, not only being an incredible movie but also changing the way people would see the scale of films towards crowd appeasement for years to come.
The ripple effects from the Jaws cannonball are still rolling through the industry...