Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: Brand New Day; Surprisingly manages to show more inventive ways to experience Spidey on the screen, w/spectacular stunt work & inspired super hero team ups and clever shots & sequences. On top of that, weaves an emotional arc w/impact, even if it meanders off on an odd pace for a bit; A

Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts*; Gets deeper than anticipated while offering Marvel brand destruction couched in humour we’ve come to expect. The cast plays well off each other, following the James Gunn formula for loveable misfits overcoming their pasts to connect w/their found family. Preaches the power of love; B+
 

Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two; Every aspect of the craft of filmmaking is exquisitely done by each department, distracting from the relatively boring story. One would (and very well still could) fall asleep if it weren’t so spectacular to look at and listen to. An insanely talented cast adds to the ruse; B+

The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron; These films are not for me. They look beautiful and the characters are insane but the way the story goes in fits and starts, annoys me more than it appeals to me. The randomness and fantasy side quests and diversions simply don’t add up in a cohesive way that’s satisfying; C+
 

Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer; What happens when you gather the greatest talents in the industry & they make something so technically marvellous on every level, one wonders why they chose to make this, of all things. Compelling, but like most Nolan work, more cerebral than emotionally moving; A-
 

Midsommar

Midsommar; Exquisitely crafted and shot for maximum effect, both beautiful & haunting. A slow burn that will stay with you long after the final frame. Long run time isn’t felt at all, as the film ratchets up the tension, foreboding and stakes. Pugh is captivating. Stellar; A
 

Black Widow

Black Widow; If Marvel made a Bond film, it’d be this stunt filled action fest. The family dynamic is fabulous, really steals the show. The Widows could have been given more personality than being pretty automatons, but the fight scenes are superbly shot. Well worth the wait; A-

Little Women

Little Women; Latest adaptation reflects our current times as much as it envisions the era. This has mixed results, as the casting works but the narrative lacks a cohesive through line. Still, it’s not a shame for each generation to have its own adaptation of this beloved book; B