Superman (2025)

 When I saw Man of Steel in the theater back in 2013, I remember thinking that I'd probably end up seeing at least one more new Superman in the theater and now I have. James Gunn's Superman is perfectly fine. It felt more like a 'comic book movie' then the darker stuff that's been pretty consistent in DC productions since Tim Burtons Batman in 89. Lighter 'Silver Age' vibes that still avoids descending into camp ala 60's Batman. Solid, but Supehero fatigue is a real thing. I'm gonna be generous and give it ***, because I suspect this will age well. Haza to the lighter tone and good casting.

The Bone Collector (1999)

 Better then expected, with a 30% Rotten Tomatoes score I figured I'd just watch it until I got bored (had a backup movie ready for when that happened) but I didn't get bored. Solid thriller, I had some issues with the ending but strong lead performances from Denzel Washington and Angelena Jolie kept this average thriller engaging. ***

Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985)

 I stumbled across this, and knowing next to nothing about it I watched it. The word that kept coming to mind as I viewed was 'competent', this is a very competent (animated) Star Wars ripe off. The pacing is strong, I was seldom if ever bored. The characters worked as arc types, there were enough plot complications to keep things interesting, the animation style was just different enough. But ultimately this was empty calorie viewing, not so much a success as failing to make major mistakes. Still, I could watch it again. **1/2

Hello I Must Be Going (2012)

 Thirty-five year old Melanie Lynskey moves back in with her parents after her marriage breaks up. Aimless and miserable she finally finds someone who makes her feel loved in the form of 19 year old Christopher Abbott, the step son of her father's most important buisness client. Despite the risks the unlikely couple embark on a covert relationship, one with high stakes for both them and their families. Lynskey at her best. Good supporting work from Blyth Danner and Julie White as the couples mother's. *** 

The Naked Spur (1953)

 Anthony Mann directed Western has only five characters in it.  James Stewart is after a bounty, circumstances bring Ralph Meeker and Milliard Mitchell in as his assistants, together they apprehend outlaw Robert Ryan and the young woman (Janet Leigh) traveling with him. Psychological games are played, troubled pasts reviled, it's like a drawing room noir played out in an open wilderness. An a typical genra offering. ***

The Automatic Hate (2015)

 A Boston chief (Joseph Cross) learns he has family he never knew about after being contacted by his cousin (Adelaide Clemens, a tall, Australian version of Michelle Williams, a standout amongst a reasonably solid cast). The two team up, trying to solve the mystery of their fathers estrangement, while discovering an uncomfortable sexual attraction to each other. An unusual kinda film, I don't know what to compare it to. This movie is great with its employment of tension, I felt on edge and nervous throughout most of its running time, waiting for the other shoe to drop, anxious to learn the dark family secret. I thought the ending really worked. ***1/2

Nosferatu in Venice (1988)

 This is a kinda, sorta sequel to Herzog's Nosferatu, Klaus Kinski returns to the role, only the chronology of events here directly contradicts the earler film. Donald Pleasance and Christopher Plummer help with name recognition and financing, but not alot else; both characters prove pretty useless against the vampire threat, in fact Plummer's character packs up and leaves after a failed attempt, stating aloud it was hubris for him to have even tried. The narrative is confusing, it's a difficult film to summarize, action sequences and some generous nudity seek to distract from the nonsensicality of the film. A mess, awful in many ways, but a surprisingly watchable mishmash of tropes, ideas and performances. Still, this is a classicaly bad movie. *

28 Years Later (2025)

 Second sequel to Danny Boyle's 2002 film '28 Days Later', which arguable ignited (for better and worse) the zombie movie craze of the 2000's and 2010's. The start of a new trilogy of films, '28 Years Later' shows us a United Kingdom nearly 3 decades on from the events of the first film, quarantined, blockaded (by NATO?), home to small surviving settlements of the living and zombies who are starting to subdivide into different types, some of which are pretty smart. The main plot concerns a 12 year old boy trying to find help for his dying mother and a largely thriving community on a small island that becomes a peninsula at low tied. We also learn a bit about the wider world which has gone on to develop much as ours has, with smart phones and social media. Ralph Finnes plays a hermit doctor, probably the most interesting character in the movie. The films pretty good, has a few interesting ideas and a handful of likable characters. Well see how this goes. ***

Jolene (2008)

Credited as Jessica Chastain's film debut, 'Jolene' is probably largely responsible for her big break casting in 'The Help' as the characters are somewhat similar. Jolene has spent much of her life in abusive foster homes, before at age 15  marrying a nice and simple young man, at the arrangement of his uncle. It is not until later that the couple discover that the marriage was arranged to give the uncle sexual access to the teenager. This situation does not end well, the husband dead and the uncle in jail. Jolene flees South Carolina on an oddessy that will take her to Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma and finally California. Along the way she will be romaticly persued by a verity of men, only one of which is truly good to her. She learns and grows from a niave teenager to a self possessd young woman. I read a review blurb on this film that called it a mediocre movie with a good central performance, and I concure with that. **1/2

American Siege (2021)

 I bought this used Redbox DVD for a dollar knowing nothing about it save the title; once the disc loaded and I could see Bruce Willis's face on the DVD menu I knew a heck of a lot more about it. A widower recently released from prison, teams up with his late wife's sister and cousin to take a doctor hostage in a effort to learn the true cause of the lady's death, turns out she was involved with the illegal drug trade. Bruce Willis is the past his prime county sheriff (this movie is filmed and set in Georgia) who had largely turned a blind eye to the drug trade, as some prominent locals were heavily involved; with this hostage situation he sees a chance to redeem himself. Willis was in heavy mental decline at the time this movie was made, he often seems to not fully understand what is going on and half the time he's either sitting down or leaning against something. This movie is none to good, but for the most part technically competent. *

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

 Oscar winning documentary is a refreshingly different take on the nature film, one that actually got me emotionally invested in an Octopus. ***1/2

Jess and Moss (2011)

 Set in rural western Kentucky in the mid 1990s, 18 year old Jesse and 12 year old Moss are cousins, who spend a lazy summer exploring the kudzu infested forests and abandoned buildings of their neck of the woods. A series of vinyets, but you gradually learn more about the cousins home lives, each sad in their own way. Makes the most of a limited budget. **

Mad About Men (1954)

 This is a sequel to the 1948 mermaid comedy 'Miranda'. In this one Miranda takes the place of her identical human 4th cousin, a school teacher, and sets out to procure her a less boring man to replace a snooty fiance. Different enough from the original in plot, but much the same kind of humor. Margret Rutherford is the only returning actor save Glynis Johns. **