Wonka

 So much better than I anticipated. Very fun and clever. About 20 minutes too long.

*** Must See

Rated PG (for mild violence and thematic elements)

WISH

 

...meh.

** Rentable

Rated PG (for thematic elements and mild action)

Barbie

 

Barbie and Ken live in ignorant bliss in Barbie Land. When Barbie's feet fall flat she is off to the real world to fix it. 

This was beyond forgettable and overall a disappointment. Aside from a three minute monologue rant from America Ferrera on what it is to be a woman it was a complete and total let down. 

The script is all over the place and struggles to find its own focal point. The actors although well cast, seem unsure of what they are doing. And who at Mattel signed off on this??? Also, not hyped as a musical, it has a couple of random song and dance numbers reminiscent of the Gene Kelly days that were awkward and out of place. Half way through audience members were either asleep or lost interest.  

Dumb.

* Not-a-chance

Rated PG-13 (for language and suggestive references) 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

 What can I say...

It was better than The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, (2008) but it was an unnecessary epitaph. 

Just like Toy Story, (1995), it's third episode perfectly wrapped up the franchise and they should have left well enough alone.

** Rentable

Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

Sound of Freedom

 

Based on a true story...

Though this is extremely diluted, it is still uneasy to watch. The inferred crimes left to the imagination of the audience are horrifying and gruesome. 

EVERYONE should see this film. If you are a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a friend or merely an acquaintance of a child. Everyone should see this, even if it means you will never let those respective children leave your home again. 

This movie is sickening, disturbing, gut wrenching and even worse true and ongoing. 

It will unlikely ever be nominated for awards or receive recognition as groundbreaking but for its attempt to shine a glimmer of light onto the black whole of child trafficking it deserves your consideration.

**** Must See

Rated PG-13 (for thematic content, violence and sexual references) 

Bullet Train

 

Ladybug is an unlucky assassin who decides to try and do his "nine-to-five" peacefully after one too many jobs has gone amiss...

This was interesting. It had clever dialogue and an engaging premise however the over the top Kill Bill (2003)-esque violence was quixotic. In fact, it distracted from the other promising elements and performances and made it forgettable.

** Rentable

Rated R (for pervasive language, gratuitous violence and brief sexuality)

Thor: Love and Thunder

Thor takes on his greatest mission ever...the quest for inner peace. 

Funny...but not even close to as entertaining as Thor:Ragnarok (2017) or even the original Thor (2011) but still leaps and bounds better than Thor: The Dark World (2013).

This episode isn't in the Marvel worlds top 5...but not in the bottom 5 either. 

**3/4 - Must See for the Marvel devotees; otherwise rentable

Rated PG-13(language, intense action and violence and partial nudity)
 

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Young Gru attempts to join a band of super villains' after they have ousted their leader...

This was ok. It wasn't nearly as clever or unique as the original or even the other sequels but it was fun.

** Rentable

Rate PG (for action and rude humor) 

Jurassic World: Dominion

 

It's true - creativity in the Jurassic World is extinct. 

I went in with extremely low expectations and still found myself in awe of my own disappointment. This has lost all sense of wonder and feels more like a Fast and the Furious 9  meets Godzilla type movie. 

** If you must, rentable

Rated PG-13 (for violence and peril and some language)

Top Gun: Maverick

 

It's been 30 years and Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is back in the saddle...

Admittedly I missed the Top Gun (1986) craze. The first time I saw the original movie was while in grad school and there was some confusion on my part as to what all the fuss was about....

That being said, the much awaited sequel follows the original script almost to the second. The exact same plot points are hit along the way, if you watched them side by side, it is possible that they would be synced up perfectly. The surprise here, is that this version is actually better. The plot is stronger, the apogee has greater urgency, and it is more fun in general. Its' copy cat like screenplay pays homage to the original while developing the storyline into something believable. 

*** Must See (for all you Ray-Ban sporting/bomber jacket-eers) 

Rated PG-13 (for adult situations, action and language)