Tár

Tár; Compelling character created by Blanchett is fully realized & expressed to examine cancel culture & artistry. Specificity is almost excessive, adding to film’s run time in an effort for world building & emotional impact of eventual downfall. Art more than entertainment; B+

Guillermo del Toro's PInocchio

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; Expertly crafted to match the tone and aesthetic of del Toro’s incomparable vision. Perfectly executed by its talented voice cast, composer and animators. Gives so much heart to an old wooden monster story with its message about loving life; A+

The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil; The cast is having a blast, the visuals are scrumptious but the pacing & lore seems to struggle with whether this is a series, a franchise or an overlong feature film. Actors are excellently cast and play the dualities nicely. Overstuffed but fun; B-

Don't Look Up

Don’t Look Up; Fine art of satire expertly applied by all involved. Actors relish the comedic bite in their respective roles while hilariously critiquing the media and politics of our times. Every bit as meaningful as it is delightful, while simultaneously sad in its accuracy; A-

Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok; Innate fun that seems removed from the Marvel Universe, a capsule of sci-fi fromage from the past packaged for our present sensibilities. Nice to see Indigenous actors in speaking roles; B+

Cinderella

Cinderella; So earnest & extravagant, the fairy tale's whimsy is lost on me. Rather see $$ spent on making real girls' dreams come true; B-

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies; Epic Carnage. Fights galore. Almost outpaces the story and characters in its battle orgy; A-

How to Train Your Dragon 2

How to Train Your Dragon 2; Grown up Hiccup's as entertaining as before, w/amazing animation & expanded dragon universe. Enjoyably dark; B