Review: Fathom Events 25th Anniversary 'The Lord of the Rings'

For a variety of reasons, it seems every film is getting a milestone rerelease nowadays. Most are fun romps to see a favorite film back on the big screen. But for a very few films, these are iconic events to see a masterpiece of cinema shine again on the silver screen. Fathom Events’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 25th anniversary screenings of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy are one of these events that should not be missed.

The award-winning The Lord of the Rings consists of three movies based on the J.R.R Tolkien novels of the same name: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. These three films aren’t shown back-to-back marathon-style, but instead one movie is shown each day for three subsequent days for two weekends only (January 16-18 and 23-25, 2026). While this format may be disappointing to those who are used to binging content, the break between films was refreshing and allowed for the excitement to build throughout the weekend, ending the culmination of the epic final act.

The extended editions—Peter Jackson’s director’s cut—of The Lord of the Rings have become the defacto versions for the fandom. However, these version were found only on the Extended Editions DVDs after the films’ original theatrical run, so having the opportunity to finally see these on the big screen is a real treat. While the original versions are already long, these versions range from 3 hours, 48 minutes (The Fellowship of the Ring) to a whopping 4 hours, 23 minutes (The Return of the King). Despite this, the viewing passes in a blink of an eye, leaving you fully satisfied.

Seeing films with likeminded fans enhanced the experience tremendously. It was fun seeing the same group show up to the theater each day. Whether you went alone, with a friend, or with a group, you knew that you were in good company who loved and admired The Lord of the Rings films as much as you.

While these showings are now done, one can hope that Fathom Events will see how successful these were and repeat it later this year (it’s still the anniversary year, after all). If there ever is an encore showing in 2026 or for future inevitable 30th anniversary showings, do not let this pass you by. Seeing the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings is a a core cinematic experience that you won’t want to miss.

Fathom Events’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 25th anniversary screenings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy played on January 16-18 and 23-25, 2026.

'David' (2025) Review: A Giant Leap of Faith

After the success of its first Christian animated film, King of Kings, earlier this year, Angel Studios is taking a crack at another animated bible adaptation—this time with the highly anticipated David. 

David tells the biblical story of David (Phil Wickham / Brandon Engman as young David), a shepherd boy who is secretly anointed to be king of Israel by the prophet Samuel (Brian Stivale), despite King Saul (Adam Michael Gold) still sitting on the throne. When David is called up to play his harp for King Saul, he wins over the king and eventually is chosen to fight the Philistine warrior Goliath (Kamran Nikhad). This saves the Israelites from bondage and David remains in Saul's favor, allowing him to grow up in the palace with Saul's son Jonathan (Mark Jacobson).

While it would be easy to simply focus the film on David defeating the Philistine giant Goliath and call it a day (and subsequently setting up a sequel), the filmmakers don't go with the obvious play and instead push the narrative further. The story of David is robust and complex, so in David, we see David grow from a young faith-filled shepherd boy to a young man. David's relationship with King Saul, Jonathan, and the impending threat of the Amalekites elevate the film. That being said, exploring these other avenues drags the runtime nearly to the two-hour mark, making it feel a bit too long and bloated.

Faith-based films, while aspirational and well-intentioned, typically have never been top-tier in quality, as the message is prioritized over entertainment. The notable exception in the animated world is DreamWorks' masterpiece, The Prince of Egypt, and this film will obviously be compared to that. And luckily for David, it lives up. There are quite a few parallels between Moses and David, with one being their pseudo brothers of Ramses and Jonathan, respectively. God, faith, and religion are heavily emphasized and are not watered down.

It can be difficult to portray a character like David, who is the epitome of faith and never waivers in his belief and trust in God. However, instead of being unrelatable, his character is inspiring and continually turning back to God to help him through his trials. This is a family film and the filmmakers do a great job of simplifying the message and balancing the heavier elements of the story. The themes of light vs. darkness are tackled simply; contrasting how David's trust in God brings light, while Saul's focus on the self brings darkness.

The songs, written by Swedish songwriter Jonas Myrin, reiterate these themes even more. "Follow the Light" is a simple, yet repetitive earworm. David is known for his musical skills with the lyre, so it his singing feels natural and appropriate. "Adventure Song", "Shalom", "I Will Not Be Afraid", and "Tapestry" are toe-tapping and catchy. The film is a bonafide musical and the songs elevate the final film.

The animation, done by the South African Sunrise Animation Studios, is top-notch and Hollywood quality. In an age where it seems all animated films look the same, the character designs are distinct, stylized, and interesting. David is striking with his green eyes and curly locks, the prophet Samuel with his bushy beard is rotund, soft, and inviting; and Goliath the Philistine feels otherworldly and larger than life with his pale skin and towering physique.

David was the highest-funded Kickstarter media project in history, raising over $49.7 million. The final product delivered and was worth the wait. It brings together the best of animation, musical and story to tell a satisfying biblical story that the whole family can enjoy.

David releases in theaters on December 19, 2025.

★★★★

'Snow Bear': A Delightful 2D Animated Short that Will Melt Your Heart

"11,000 drawings. 3 years. 1 artist." This encapsulates the painstaking effort that went into creating Snow Bear, the new hand-drawn animated short from renowned Disney animator and director Aaron Blaise.

Inspired by Blaise's own experience of loneliness after the death of his wife, Snow Bear tells the story of of a lone polar bear who creates a bear friend out of snow. He strikes up an imaginary friendship with this bear, playing, frolicking, and roughhousing in the frigid arctic. However, eventually the reality of this faux friend becomes something the bear must finally confront head on.

The star of the short is the masterful hand-drawn animation, every frame done by Blaise himself. Blaise, who directed Disney's Brother Bear, is prolific for his expertise in animating animals, so seeing him showcase these skills in all their uninhibited glory is a delight. The polar bear is expressive and engaging (as are all the other critters he meets along the way) and, despite the lack of dialogue, this doesn't hinder his ability to communicate the scope of his feelings. Traditional animation is able to connect to audiences in a unique and ineffable way that CGI cannot, so watching this short makes you long for what we no longer see in mainstream animation.

The story is funny, sweet, and tender. It's fun to see the antics of the optimistic polar bear as he discovers the futility of having a fragile buddy made out of snow. The ten-minute short artfully uses its time to explore these silly moments with more serious and reflective moments of sorrow. The short perfectly wraps up, melting your heart in the process.

Speaking of heart, the heart of the short is the universal desire for companionship. The snow bear serves as a temporary, hollow replacement for this need, but never fully scratches that itch. The ephemeral nature of the snow bear eventually forces the polar bear to sit and reflect on his situation, which is raw, emotional, and stirring. 

Blaise's love and mastery of traditional animation and storytelling are on full display in Snow Bear. This delightful, hand-drawn animated short will make you laugh, cry, and ponder the deeper parts of life.

Snow Bear is available to view on Aaron Blaise's YouTube channel.

★★★★★