Action

Napoleon (2024.32, Stunning , But Bad)

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Napoleon is visually stunning but fails to tell an emotionally engaging and understandable story. (1.5*)

The Creator (2024.31, Pale , Not Good )

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The Creator is a disappointing science fiction movie that could have had a great story but instead gets lost in the special effects. (2.5*)

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning (2024.30, Thrilling , A Blast)

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Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning is an action-packed thriller with everything you’d expect from the IMF. It is also an endurance test of adrenaline production. (4*)

Godzilla Minus One (2024.29, Lots-of-fun Smash )

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Godzilla Minus One is a monster movie but it is also a surprisingly good personal drama that tells us much about Japanese national character. (4*)

Nimona (2024.13, Good , Little-Known )

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Nimona may not be the best in animation, but it tells an important message about gender identity. (3.5*)

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse (2024.12, So-So , Hero )

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Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is a sequel and like the original, it isn’t for everyone. If you are into comic book action heroes go for it. Otherwise, there are plenty of other movies to see. (3*)

2023 Oscar Action Films

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An Overview of the 2023 Oscar Action Films (and a review of last year’s recommended entries.)

RRR – Fun-Loving Indian Super-Humans (4*)

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RRR is an over-the-top action movie in the Bollywood tradition. With CGI, action, humor, song, dance, and history, it is just three hours of fun. (4*)

The Batman – A Cut Above your Typical Super-Hero (4.5*)

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The Batman is one of this year’s best movies. While nominally an action film, it also is thrilling detective story, told at a human level.

Avatar: The Way of Water – (Superb Spirit & Beauty) (4*)

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Avatar: The Way of Water is a visual spectacle, a story setting up the next three sequels, and, yes, long.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Beautiful but Oddly Unsatisfying (2.5*)

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever starts with the death of the former Black Panther and moves through nearly three hours of sometimes beautiful, sometimes action packed, scenes but with so many obligations to fulfill that it is ultimately unsatisfying.

Top Gun: Maverick – Well Structured and a Blast (4*)

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Top Gun: Maverick is this year’s most popular movie. It tells a relatively simple story well, bursting with visual and aural excitement. First of this year’s “popcorn movies” and worth every kernel. (4*)

All Quiet on the Western Front – A Gut Punch Focus on War (4*)

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A German production, All Quiet on the Western Front re-adapts the 1928 novel of the same name, adding some distinctive scenes and commentary to the story of a young German man, and his friends, thrust onto the “Western Front” to fight the French in the final months of World War I. Accompanied by some stunning cinematography, dominating sound and music, and visceral visual effects, the film reaches new heights in presenting the horror of war. It also adds another, very important message about how events are felt differently depending on where you stand on the social ladder.

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Deep and Insane Look at the Multiverse (4.5*)

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Everything Everywhere All at Once is an insane look at one woman’s romp through the multiverse as she learns what is really important about life. (4.5*)