Moana

Moana; Surprisingly good for a live action remake of a 10yr old film. Seeing the real life Polynesian people is quite impactful & the new Moana is exquisitely cast. Having realistic depictions heightens scenes of peril, while reimagining of fantastical elements still play really well. Enjoyable; A-

Moana 2

Moana 2; Near impossible task of living up to the original ultimately fails on account of lesser songs, story beats and animation. Cravalho does some heavy lifting, as her vocals and humour guide the film through patchy moments, even when the script, lyrics and music aren’t up to the task; B+

Black Adam

Black Adam; A music video, an invasive orchestral score and a video game all compete to be anything but a coherent movie. It took three credited writers to craft a nonsensical snore fest that manages to make The Rock boring. A completely unredeemable mess; F

Red Notice

Red Notice; With the three most charismatic leads working today and some exciting action sequences, who needs a decent plot? The trio elevate the material above standard action fare and seem to be having as much fun, if not more, than the audience; B

Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise; Fun, silly, lore filled adventure w/plenty of Disney’s typical F/X action set pieces spectacularly scored. Johnson & Blunt play well off each other & would make a fun comedy pairing in a different film w/less set dressing. A good time but not highly rewatchable; B

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw; Perfect pairing of two leads complemented by great supporting cast amplifies the action expected from the franchise and stars. Trims the fat of F&F for those uninterested in fuel and Diesel, yet keeps the octane level explosive and fun; A-

Jumanji: The Next Level

Jumanji: The Next Level; Twisting conceit of previous film makes for another enjoyable experience that feels familiar yet fresh at same time. Cast plays perfectly inhabiting new roles. Action scenes are much like a video game but it’s the heartfelt moments that surprise most; A-

The Fate of the Furious

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-

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; Fun casting makes this action comedy work. Too much shown in the previews and trailer but still funny and action packed; B

Moana

Moana; Solid music and a focus on few characters allows Disney to hit another home run. Animation is top notch, story told beautifully; A+

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation; What did we do to deserve this? Trailer is > the movie. Designed to sell toys. Two hours I will never get back; D

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island; Surprisingly green lit what w/ the flat dialogue & actors trying to overcome ridiculous story lines; D+