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+
 

The Creator

The Creator; Impressive cast given an interesting premise is undercut by choppy editing that dices the storytelling into snippets that ultimately disconnects the audience. Futuristic imagery is visually creative, yet still feels grounded in current tech. A vision unfulfilled; B-

Eternals

Eternals; Beautiful, change of form for MCU, relying on exquisite landscapes & familial relationships over action/comedy (though there’s plenty of that as well—it’s just not the focus). Cast gathered is a great representative of many cultures, working wonderfully together; B+

Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon; Spectacular animation amplifies a simple story that takes us to many terrains and vistas. Quality voice acting and authentic casting adds to the action packed experience. Fight scenes are perfectly paced and quiet moments rest well on the soul; A-

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel; Larson has a lot of fun in the role, making the character playful, strong, vulnerable and complex. Marvel continues to find the right balance of tone between action, comedy and drama. Nice to see Jackson’s role increased; A-

Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians; A solid, funny rom-com with few surprises. Gorgeously shot and wonderfully acted, it's as though genre perfection was the intention, giving us typical story beats, albeit with a very non-typical cast. Does leave us wanting more; B+