Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning; Serves up 2x tense stunt sequences, w/a greater emphasis on dramatic high stakes w/somber reverence for the series/characters as a whole. It’s great entertainment, but main stunts are so far removed from what we will experience, thrill is more detached; A-
 

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-

Lilo & Stitch

Lilo & Stitch; Surprisingly sweet tale of family comes out of a galactic science experiment gone wrong. The island setting and rocking soundtrack keeps the movie bouncing along, stopping for hi jinx that ends up hitting your heart as much as it attempts for humour. Leaves an impression on you; B

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One; Nods to spy films over the years paired w/breathtaking stunts, fights & chases. Franchise continues to deliver by way of its returning cast gelling well w/new characters, who are great in this instalment. Pure fun w/high stakes; A-
 

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Mission: Impossible - Fallout; Escalates nicely with intricately designed action set pieces beyond belief. New cast additions work well with series regulars. Humour, intensity, intrigue. Everything we’ve come to expect, amplified; A

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation; Pulse pounding action w/breath holding elements in spades.  Cast exceptionally well, esp. femme fatale; A-

Entrapment

Directed by: Jon Amiel
Starring:  Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ving Rhames
Running Time:  1h 50min

First off, the chemistry between Connery and Zeta-Jones is made instantly real by the way it's played.  Zeta-Jones is irresistible in that old fashioned, truly beautiful movie star sort of way, radiating with every scene.  Connery is as dashing as any leading man could get, including those half his age.  So the film does work that way.  As a suspense piece it does work, due to a pro-active cure to traileritis.  Finally, a studio has used a trailer to set up audience preconceptions to add to the film's mysteries.  Unfortunately, the film doesn't work on its action scenes.  Too much ballet from Zeta-Jones, not enough from supporting player Rhames, and only a minimum of true audience engagement makes this one just above average.

Grade: B-

Pulp Fiction (Pan & Scan)

Pulp Fiction; A reviewer's paradise. I would review this movie a thousand times and still find something new to rave about. After seeing it four times at the theatre and countless times on video (I own 3 different copies) I managed to catch his film on Showcase. That is why it has only received an A. The movie loses very little in its Pan & Scan version but that "little" is Tarantino's amazing use of the widescreen. Pulling from influences like Scorcese's long tracking and Kubrick's horizontal shift through walls, Tarantino manages to mix great filming with fresh, natural sounding dialogue to visual appeal is an A+. Everything that is except the Pan & Scan format; A