The Mitchell's vs the Machines

 In The Mitchell's vs the Machines we go on an adventure with a family and not everyone wants to be there. The is teen angst, awkward Dad moments and family dynamics that are easy to relate to. Then they meet the machines... This movie is funny, action-packed and very heartfelt. I liked it a lot.

Love and Monsters

I watched Love and Monsters because it was Oscar nominated for visual effects. This is a rather forgettable quest movie, but there were a few quips that struck me.

Q: "What if I have terrible Instincts?"

A: :You'll die."

~ "You traveled 85 miles across hell, I think I can stop 3 assholes."

Tenet

Tenet was a difficult film to watch both technically and conceptually. I struggled to understand the plot and its time-jump theory. "You have a future in the past." I also struggled to understand the characters speaking with gas-masks, mumbling and competing with the sound track. The sound mix was way off in my opinion. The visual effects were good, but that's about it. Frustrating rental.

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

I love Shaun the Sheep, but A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is as clunky as the title. Technically well done, but the story is pretty blah. 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a great sci-fi, mystery horror film. What's in those pods? Well shot and oh that score. Great rental

Barbarella

 Barbarella is considered a cult classic. It is a sci-fi ride with strong sexual content. The absurd elements made me laugh, though I'm not sure that was the intent. The special effects are impressive for the time. I saw the original costumes that Jane Fonda wore at an art exhibit a few years ago. Still sexy today.

The Old Guard

I usually don't like battle scenes with immortals, but the fight choreography in The Old Guard is outstanding. Theron and Layne are great as the heroes protecting the world as they know it. This movie is worth a watch.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

The film Planet of the Apes ventures into so many genres. Drama. Sci-fi. Adventure. Politics. Justice. Social Commentary. This futuristic society with apes as the dominant race and humans as the underlings is very well formed. The script is profound and dramatic. It's impressive how quoted it is. A true classic. Well worth watching.

Spaceballs

 The sci-fi parody Spaceballs is a fun ride. The galaxy is so funny and the characters are so goofy. I watched this movie when I needed a good laugh, and boy did it deliver! So silly. So good.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

I have been listening to a podcast where 2 people who have never seen the Star Wars movies watch them in chronological order and discus each one with a guest who is a fan. I saw all of these films in the theater and have had a 43 year relationship with these movies, so listening to people who have not lived with these stories forever was highly entertaining. They actually became quite knowledgeable very quickly. This inspired me to really think about what movie in the saga was my favorite. I had recently watched A New Hope and being the first I saw will probably have a special place in my heart. But listening to them talk about Return of the Jedi, I was reminded of how entertaining it was, so I gave it a re-watch. It did not disappoint. There is nostalgia, action, battles and heart. Those crazy ewoks get me every time. This movie is worth watching just for the chase scenes. Great rental.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Finishing the Star Wars story with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a fitting finale. Visuals and music are on point. There are several character treatments I didn't care for, but the internet can handle those. They covered a lot of ground in this saga. Happy to have gone along for the ride.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

I love a good monster movie and Godzilla: King of the Monsters sure delivers. It is a ridiculous story, but the monsters were great and this is a strong cast. Fun movie.

High Life

As an abstract futuristic film, High Life shows that humans still deal with very human problems. It is graphic and physical. An OK rental.

Avengers: Endgame

After 21 movies and adventures in the MCU, Avengers: Endgame brings the saga to an end. In all it's 3 hour-plus glory the stories play out with eye-popping action and a nice dose of humor. No spoilers here...see it for yourself. Well done.

Bumblebee

I loved the first Transformers movie. In Bumblebee I felt the same vibe. The character development is good, the action is solid, the story is interesting and there is a big old heart. The humor is well placed and executed. This movie was a lot of fun.

Bird Box

When a mysterious force drives people to suicide in the film Bird Box we see survival techniques in overdrive. The back and forth in the time-line establishes tensions and dread. The solution? Blindfolds. I get it, though it's a bit melodramatic. This film is a good addition to the future-alien-apocalypse genre (is that a genre?) Since it's streaming on Netflix I'm sure I'll watch it again.

Hotel Artemis

In a futuristic sci-fi story, Hotel Artemis is an exclusive emergency room for criminals. The premise is super weird, but after a while I settled in and it grew on me. The performances are very good, I wish I liked sci-fi more. Well done.

The Invisible Man

For 1933 the effects in The Invisible Man are absolutely amazing. The story is compelling when a scientist tries to find an antidote for his invisibility. As he goes mad, there is mayhem. Great classic horror film.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

The Star Wars collection continues with Solo: A Star Wars Story. This is Han Solo's origin story. The story itself is OK, but the visuals are what shine in this movie. Sweeping shots of spaceship flight kept my attention throughout. There is drama and humor as well. I liked this addition to the Star Wars universe more than expected.

Jurassic World: Forgotten Kingdom

In the film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom we see a park trying to preserve dinosaurs. This story is foolish and sloppy. There are a few winks at criticisms of Jurassic World, this was the only thing I found entertaining. Not for me.