The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot; Beautifully rendered, lovingly told, the film follows the WALL-E way of endearing the audience to the robot via silent film techniques and cute, tiny interactions. By the time the conflict shows up, we’re rooting for the robot to succeed in its reflection of humanity. Sweet film; A-

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+
 

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; Checks all the expected boxes without offering much in the way of surprises or innovative elements. Enjoyable fan service but filmatically staid. Humorous elements welcome in an over serious narrative obligated to wrap up three trilogies; B

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Takes everything great about the franchise and pushes it to the forefront, eliminating any excess. Quality character moments, excellent action scenes and fun dialogue. Solid entertainment from start to finish; A

The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition

Directed by:  Irvin Kershner
Starring:  Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Running Time:  2h 07min

This has always been my favourite installment of the Star Wars trilogy.  The amazing locales and new characters that are introduced are one of a kind.  Yoda, the series' best character gets the most screen time in this one, as well as Boba Fett.  (Fett doesn't really do all that much.  I think I made his figurine do a hell of a lot more!)  The planet Hoth, the cloud city of Bespin, and the swamp Degobah give the characters refreshing situations, as well as a new friend, Lando Carissean.  I think I love this one the most because I could do the most with the toys that were produced from it.  The dark ending is a first, where the good guys don't really win, they just survive.  No need to re-do this one, its basic elements are all that's needed.

Grade: A