Dune: Part Two, a science fiction film, explores the enduring human traits of power-seeking and religious fervor, highlighting their timelessness despite technological advancements. The movie’s themes of power, ideology, and environmental concerns resonate with contemporary issues, prompting reflection on the persistence of human nature.
An overview of the best action films from the 2024 Oscar slate and a look back at six more from 2023.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an attempt to recreate the feelings of the old franchise. But, without the Spielberg magic, it feels stale and old. (2.5*)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is a VFX masterpiece and the last in a trilogy of super-hero movies that are actually relatable and human scaled. Still, it isn’t as good as the last one.
Napoleon is visually stunning but fails to tell an emotionally engaging and understandable story. (1.5*)
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 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 is a monster movie but it is also a surprisingly good personal drama that tells us much about Japanese national character. (4*)
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 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*)
An Overview of the 2023 Oscar Action Films (and a review of last year’s recommended entries.)
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 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 is a visual spectacle, a story setting up the next three sequels, and, yes, long.
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 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*)
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 is an insane look at one woman’s romp through the multiverse as she learns what is really important about life. (4.5*)
An Overview of the six movies that fall into the action genre and a look back at three I can recommend from last year
(2.5*) Free Guy – Some good acting can’t quite save this fairly shallow movie.
(3.5*) Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is thrilling and a lot of fun to watch. It also involves a compelling story of family dynamics.
(4*) Spider Man No Way Home has great visuals but also tells a human-level story. A surprisingly good comic-book movie.
(3.5*) No Time to Die is exactly what you expect from a Bond film. Sixty years after Dr. No, the franchise has changed, but lives on.
(2.0 *) Raya and the Last Dragon is visually stunning, but is going to leave adults rather empty!
(5 Stars) A stunning sensory experience and quite likely the next Star Wars.
(4 Stars) For those of us who like our heroes simple, with tense, sustained, action.
(3.5 Stars) Many good things here, but, in the end, not real memorable.
(3.5 Stars) A sensory delight, but if you want to follow the plot, bring a notepad.
(2.5 Stars) A disappointing remake when it could and should have been much better.
Five candidates but I think it is a toss up between the Avengers movie and Ford v Ferrari for pure bombastic action.
(3.5 Stars) I suppose if you are a Star Wars buff, you will be disappointed. But for the rest of us, it is just plain fun.
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