Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)

In Godzilla:King of the Monsters Godzilla wreaks havoc. This early monster movie has impressive effects for 1956. Raymond Burr's character is intense, as reporter Steve Martin. I liked this film a lot.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

In Something Wicked This Way Comes there's a lot to unpack. Family, age, regret, desire, good vs evil, power. Impressive special effects. Well done and very dramatic, but a bit intense for a PG rating. Good rental

The Wolfpack

The Wolfpack is a documentary with a lot of layers. A group of brothers, raised in an apartment in NYC, with no exposure to the outside world, emerge in a wonderful way. If you see this on DVD watch the extras.  I feel that the final message of this story is "be happy." Good documentary.

Collective

The documentary Collective explores healthcare fraud in Romania. The results are disturbing and sad. 

Zappa

The documentary Zappa is a fantastic film about a talented artist, activist, composer and human. This film documents Frank Zappa's life and works on a very personal, heartfelt level. Much respect.

"Any decision you make based on money is not an artistic decision." ~Frank Zappa

Pinocchio (2020)

 This version of Pinocchio is creepier than most, but it sticks to the classic story. The makeup and costumes are very good. Worthy of the Oscar nominations. An interesting take that could be too intense for little ones.

Spontaneous

The crazy events in Spontaneous seem to be a metaphor for what is going on inside the teen mind during pandemic. Ideas of uncertainty and death can weigh heavy on the mind. This is an unusual story with a lot of drama to struggle for survival and a little humor. Interesting film. 

Jack and the Beanstalk (1952)

 I saw the 1952 version of Jack and the Beanstalk on TV when I was a kid. The comedy duo of Abbott and Costello, along with a stellar cast, bring this children's story to life in a wonderful way. I'm glad that it was available on TCM to revisit. Well done.