PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES [2017]

Directors Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg take Captain Jack Sparrow out for a fifth spin Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Once again Sparrow is in search of a mystical treasure while a ghostly revenge-seeking pirate is hot on his trail.    You know the deal when it comes to these films.
After the previous film was so dismally dull it's nice to see the enthusiasm is back, even if the series has clearly run it's course.  It's a tighter story, more well-paced and with lowered expectations there's actually quite a bit of silly fun to be had.

3 ghost sharks out of 5

LION [2016]

In director Garth Davis' adaptation of Saroo Brierley memoir, A Long Way Home, we follow the life a 5-year old Indian boy adopted by an Australian couple after he is lost in Calcutta.
The first half of Lion is easily it's strongest, with 8-year old newcomer Sunny Pawar carrying most of his scenes alone and without dialogue, leaving his expressions to tell the dramatic tale with honest finesse.  The second half of the film, following the boy in his young adult years, now played by marvelous Dev Patel, isn't as interesting, as most of the characters are too conventional but fortunately elevated with great performances all around.  It's finale is a bit dramatically manipulative but hit so closely to home for me it didn't matter and left me a blubbering mess.

4 watermelons out of 5

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (extended edition) [2003]

Peter Jackson & co. deliver an emotionally powerful, visually breath-taking grand finale to The Lord Of The Rings film trilogy with The Return Of The King.
Clocking in at over 4 hours it feels like no time is put to waste with it's satisfying character moments, terrifying battle scenes and beautiful backdrops courtesy of New Zealand.  So much care and love was put into every single element of the film you know it's a film for the fans made by fans.  Many might complain about the overly long conclusion but I find it more than suiting to wrap up everything while never wanting to let the characters go.  This trilogy as a whole is a fine achievement in film-making that has already found it's place in cinema history and with good reason.

4½ drinking games out of 5

The Proposition [2005]

Director John Hillcoat reunites with screenwriter/musician Nick Cave for the poetically brutal Australian western The Proposition.
Guy Pearce leads the cast as a captured outlaw in the 1880's let loose by the law to hunt down and kill his psychotic older brother played with great intimidation by Danny Huston. It's a merciless, gritty ride that makes no apologies for it's realistic portrayal of the racism, violence and lack of proper law in early Australia. This well-paced story about morals, loyalty and revenge could have benefited emotionally with a longer back story for the brothers. No matter, it's still a great western that captivates from start to finish.

4 disappearing Queenie's out of 5