Another solid entry to the Bond franchise, but it never manages to elevate itself enough to become something more memorable. As it has been with the other more recent films, Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond is what carries the movie. And once again, it succeeds. His Bond has a quiet strength mixed with a… Read More »
A fairly strong beginning is thrown off course by an odd middle-section, and then finally completely derailed by a weak climax. Early on in the film, we‘re introduced to a nuanced Reed Richards. His friendship with Ben Grimm continues to move the plot along, and then unfortunately Ben is suddenly dropped out of the film… Read More »
The over-the-top stunts and likable characters are back, and although they really do nothing to add to the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, they do give us an enjoyable movie. Tom Cruise is entertaining once again as Ethan Hunt, and puts both himself and his character at risk throughout the film. With the exception of Simon Pegg,… Read More »
An entertaining film, but not the strongest of Marvel’s Avengers-related franchises. This is probably the closest Marvel’s come to doing a flat-out action-comedy. There’s more humor here than even “The Guardians of the Galaxy.” Much of the comedy comes from Michael Pena’s Luis character, who almost steals the show from the rest of the cast.… Read More »
With a fresh spin on the beginnings of the franchise, the newest “Terminator” film ends up coming up short of its legendary heritage. This film is a bit of both a sequel and a reboot, similar to the recent “Star Trek” films and the ninth Mortal Kombat video game. With a bit of time travel,… Read More »
While the film plays out almost exactly as you would imagine after watching the trailers, it’s still an enjoyable ride. Almost everything about this movie is predictable: Who lives, who dies, how the bad decisions will screw everybody over. However, that doesn’t seem to diminish the entertainment. Like the previous “Jurassic Park” films, all the… Read More »
Entertaining for what it is: A big-budget disaster movie. The movie suffers from sticking with all the clichés from this genre, including the done-to-death estranged couple forced back together during a natural disaster, narrow escapes and annoying characters getting their comeuppance. Fortunately, most of this is toned down a bit and there is an effort… Read More »
A non-stop, over-the-top action film that never quite connects. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the other “Mad Max” films that I don’t remember much of anything about them. (In fact, I always thought there were only two films up until recently.) That said, the opening of the new film is somewhat confusing. There’s… Read More »
More or less just a retread of the first film, but without the magic that made it special. This is a somewhat boring and surprisingly bland movie. Overall, the plot is too similar to the first “Avengers,” but this time they cram in even more characters. The thrill of seeing the core members of the… Read More »
Over-the-top action that defies logic and physics keeps the adrenaline pumping, while a touching sendoff may leave you in tears. Like the previous “Fast & Furious” films, there’s no shortage of action and carnage. Most of this involves fast cars doing the impossible, but there are some entertaining hand-to-hand fights as well. The plot here… Read More »