Barbie (2024.4, Terrific , Energy )
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So far, at least, this is my favorite picture of the year. Full of sensory and storytelling delight. (5*)
Adventure
2023 Oscar Adventure Films
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An overview of 2023’s Oscar-nominated Adventure Films, including a look back to last year’s.
Turning Red – Spunky but Lost (2.0*)
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Turning Red is about a 13-year old’s experience with adolescence and her family’s reaction. Though with spectacular animation and colors, who is this story really for? (2.5*)
The Sea Beast – An Epic Moby Dick and Master Political Metaphor (3.5*)
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The Sea Beast has terrific computer animation, a Moby Dick story, a young girl as the leading character, and multiple political and social threads for adults. (3.5*)
Puss in Boots The Last Wish – Bright, Easy, and Frisky (4*)
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Puss in Boots The Last Wish Is a terrific animated feature that will be enjoyed by children of all ages and their elders! It is the story of a legendary cat who faces his ninth life and discovers what is really important. (4*)
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.
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*)
Cruella
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Cruella (4*) – A delightful diversion with great chemistry between the two Emmas and an interesting story of how movies happen.
2022 Oscar Adventure Genre
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An Overview of this year’s Oscar Adventure movies, my recommendations of five of them, plus five more from last year.
Free Guy
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(2.5*) Free Guy – Some good acting can’t quite save this fairly shallow movie.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
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(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.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
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(4*) Spider Man No Way Home has great visuals but also tells a human-level story. A surprisingly good comic-book movie.
No Time to Die
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(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.
Luca
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(1.5*) Luca is fun for about twenty minutes and then descends into boredom!
Raya and the Last Dragon
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(2.0 *) Raya and the Last Dragon is visually stunning, but is going to leave adults rather empty!
The Mitchells vs the Machines
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(0.5*) The Mitchells vs the Machines is quite possibly the worst movie I’ve ever seen and certainly the worst one this year.
Dune
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(5 Stars) A stunning sensory experience and quite likely the next Star Wars.
2021 Adventure Genre
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An Overview of the 2021 Oscar-nominated Adventure Films (and a look back to 2020)
Da 5 Bloods
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(4 Stars) A War-time Adventure that challenges White America at the same time that it doesn’t go far enough!
The One and Only Ivan
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(1.5 Stars) Might work for families with small children.
The Midnight Sky
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(4 Stars) Much better than the critics say. Beautiful imagery and sounds and a story with a twist.
Wolfwalkers
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(4.5 Stars) Beautiful animation, Celtic music, and an Irish folk story with modern day lessons.
Over the Moon
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(3 Stars) The film doesn’t hang together real well, but there are some great songs and terrific visuals.
Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
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(2.5 Stars) Family Entertainment and a refreshing unique style of animation.
News of the World
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(3.5 Stars) Many good things here, but, in the end, not real memorable.
Soul
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(4.5 Stars) Interesting and Creative approach to some very abstract questions. Excellent film.
Mulan
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(2.5 Stars) A disappointing remake when it could and should have been much better.
The 2020 Adventure Movies
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An Overview of this year’s Oscar-nominated movies in the Adventure genre.
Maleficent: Princess of Evil
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(1.5 Stars) Some fun visual moments do not make up for a plodding story. Pfeiffer occasionally shines, but Jolie’s talent is wasted.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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(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.