Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; Actually forgot I saw this movie. That’s how memorable it is. No surprises. No characters to care for. No scenes that match the iconic moments of previous films. Embraces the horror nature of the series with none of the magic or suspense; C-
Deadpool 2; Surprise is gone but the antics amuse and additions work well. Action pieces deliver and dialogue zings at an amazing pace. Worthy sequel; A-
Incredibles 2; Long awaited sequel picks up where the original left off. Action aplenty and offers some amazing animated sequences. Characters shine equally and play emotional and comedic beats well. Fun for the whole family; A
Logan Lucky; Workman like director Soderbergh delivers another solid, quality film that entertains from start to finish. Excellent cast crafts a quirky heist that feels fresh and original within a familiar genre. Refuses to succumb to categorization by just telling the story; B+
Solo: A Star Wars Story; Continues the process of taking the classic beloved elements of films past and distilling them into an updated action adventure. The car chase, the train robbery, the poker showdown, all placed within the Star Wars universe. A fun, well cast film; B+
Fahrenheit 451; A let down that intrigues enough on the performances and direction to entertain but ultimately unsatisfying in its exploration of the novel’s themes. Hard to adapt a classic from a different era while offering a contemporary take. Many decisions fall flat; C
Dunkirk; Masterful recreation lacks emotional connection. Enemy absent on screen is an interesting choice, as well as the overdominant score. Intense in the moment with little lasting resonance afterwards. B+
Avengers: Infinity War; Hard to review what is essentially half a movie. Combines and situates characters from the Marvel Universe in interesting ways, while focusing mostly on the new baddie. Action aplenty but bereft ending ultimately unsatisfying; B+
Isle of Dogs; Spectacularly rendered and dynamically scored, the latest from Wes Anderson offers a quirky, heartfelt story with just enough suspense and humour. Some colonial concerns but privilege begets artistic indulgence for our own reward; A
Ready Player One; This Spielberg guy knows how to pace a film and play in a future setting that feels familiar and possible. Deftly bounces between the virtual and real worlds with intensity while referencing childhood touchstones with great emotional resonance; B+
Tomb Raider; Alicia Vikander takes over the role with poise and confidence, making the character less of a cartoon fantasy. Though playing it for real loses some of the fun, the action is well shot and entertaining; B
A Wrinkle in Time; Imagines the unfilmable book’s emotional constructs with a creative vision. Strong performance from at the centre gives the film its heart and soul. Wonderful update on a classic text; A-
Black Panther; Light on the action seen in the ads, more about the story and momentous themes connected to the characters and setting. Delivers a solidly crafted film, distinct from the usual Marvel entertainment; B+
Paddington 2; Brit bear is Pee-Wee sweet causing all kinds of cute escapes from harrowing moments. Cast indulges playfully, with Grant relishing his villain role especially. Critic proof fun; B+
The Boss Baby; Does some neat elements with animation and doesn’t ever drag despite a premise that’s equally bizarre and filled with contrived plot conveniences. Gags land more often than not; B
The Shape of Water; A simple tale with deeper themes, weaves his fantastic magic over a love story between those cast to the margins of our society. Great performances all around add gravitas and genuine sweetness and humour; A-
The Breadwinner; Expertly animated to devastating effect. Not sure if I could handle the subject matter in documentary style, yet the film doesn’t shy away from the horrors while maintaining hope and optimism in the lead character’s strength; A-
Kong: Skull Island; Interesting conceit to frame the monster myth with a war context and colonial invasion. Delivers on monster size action while offering elements of humour and character growth from cleverly cast roles; B+
The Fate of the Furious; For a first time Furious watcher, this was a solid fun action film that knows what to do with its pieces, making the most of the insanely amazing ensemble, giving them all plenty to flex at; A-
Where to Invade Next; A neat conceit for Moore to travel the world to show off some of the better socialist ideas that America should reconsider. Some land bitingly well, others come across too heavy handed; B+
