Tron: Ares (2025)

The next step in the evolution of TRON. The effects look better than ever, but it still feels hollow. Tron has never been the deepest franchise; it's all about the visual style and evocation of mood and showing off the best technology of the day. In that way, I appreciate what it's doing here. That being said, this one feels even louder and emptier than the previous film. This time, the hot button issue is AI. It's an inverse of the last film where now it's the MCP that leaves the grid into our world. At times, it reminded me of The Terminator. At the center is yet another Light Cycle sequence, which is the bread and butter of this franchise. It essentially amounts to a glorified tech demo of the times.

1 '80s throwback sequence out of 5

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

KON-TIKI [2012]

Kon-tiki is a thrilling drama based on the true story of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal & his team that set out to sea on a raft to prove that South Americans were able to settle in Polynesia in the pre-Columbia times.

Max Manus directors Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg craft a beautifully shot adventure story that packs just enough emotion to keep the characters grounded and easy to relate to.  The visual effects are absolutely stunning as I didn't realize they were FX until after the film was done.  A highly enjoyable film that will leave you in awe.

3½ possibilities of needing a bigger boat out of 5