Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

Avatar has a new skin. While the first two films introduced us to the forest and the sea clans, we now have the ash clan. All that's missing is the air element...

James Cameron does it again. By creating a rich, fully inhabited world that you would rather live in, you forgive all the flaws in this epic sprawling picture, filled with warring clans and transparent allusions to racism. Visually, it's a 10/10 movie; like your desktop wallpaper come to life. Cameron has masterful command over the material and takes us to dazzling, staggering heights filled with beauty, wonder and imagination. Individual moments shine, but most of it feels like CGI on overdrive with things exploding in the background, which overshadows the drama and emotional stakes. The new villain Varang (Oona Chaplin) oozes with sensuality, while the most interesting character remains the teenage Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), but there are too many storylines and the whole thing loses focus quickly. The fundamental flaw of these movies is that they're way too fucking long. And it's starting to feel repetitive at this point. I enjoyed it, but I also breathed a sigh of relief when it was finally over.

3½ breathing devices out of 5

Note: Luckily, this film does feature a conclusive enough ending if Cameron chooses not to continue with his planned sequels. We'll see what happens.

Elio (2025)

Orphan Elio dreams of being abducted by aliens more than anything in the world. It sounds overly simplistic, but this is a movie where you really have to put yourself into the mind of a child in order to get the most out of it and experience the boundless imagination and wonder it has to offer. Even as it descends into maudlin territory and eventually loses the plot by the end.

Visually, Pixar's latest is dazzling and astounding and in a league of its own, and Rob Simonsen's score sets the stage for a fun, epic sci-fi adventure.

3 eyepatches out of 5

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Returning from a lengthy absence (we won't talk about that), James Gunn completes his trilogy with flying colors that places the heart and soul back into Marvel's Cinematic Universe. Focusing on Rocket Raccoon's backstory, we are introduced to the High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock, as well as cuddly companions from Rocket's past. 

Like Deadpool, Guardians remains my favorite Marvel property due to its irreverent humor and winning heart (especially the chemistry between Drax and Mantis, who I will miss most of all), which set it apart from many of the superhero franchises which try so hard to be "cool" all the time. It's refreshing when all the characters feel flawed and sorta human (even the alien ones).

What I like most about this series is how it is (almost) separate from the MCU machine (the Guardians also feature in Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder, so it's not entirely self-contained), so you can watch Vol 1-3 as a trilogy of its own design (but don't forget the Holiday Special!). 

Most other things I have to say about this movie rely heavily on spoilers, but all I'll say is that while I was mostly satisfied with how it all ended, it left me with bittersweet feelings which prevent me from giving it a higher score.

3½ confusing car door designs out of 5

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Let's get this out of the way first: This movie is gorgeous. But that's all it is. It wades in shallow waters, but the colors pop and it's a world you achingly long to escape to. You want to watch this on the biggest screen you can find. 

It only took James Cameron 13 or so years to get back in the director's chair to follow up the visually arresting Avatar. He doesn't make too many changes to the formula here, but he swaps the Na'vi forests for its deep oceans (one of Cameron's own vested interests) in order to introduce the audience to new types of dazzling flora and alluring fauna. Like the original, people cynically bemoan it as a dearth of cinema, but it's only meant to be a simple good time at the movies. Get the stick out of your ass and flip the switch on your brain to "off" to get the maximum enjoyment. There's only going to be about 20 more of these damn movies.

3½ swims with whales out of 5

Avatar (2009)

This film is a visual marvel and most people tend to cynically look back on it as derivative of other films (Dances with Wolves or FernGully), but you have to appreciate it for what it was at the time: a technological spectacle that brought about remarkable advances in cinematic achievement. At once an environmental morality tale and a love story for the ages, Jake Sully is a paraplegic war veteran who is given a new lease on life when he gets the chance to try out a new, enhanced engineered body and infiltrate the mysterious Na'vi creatures of an alien planet called Pandora. It's enjoyable primarily because it manages to do what movies do best: take you on an adventure of imagination that is unbound by this world's stringent limits. Still manages to move this viewer and stir the withered heartstrings after all this time. I See You.

4½ hair jobs out of 5

Note: At the time of posting, this is still the highest-grossing film of all time, but it is neck and neck with Avengers: Endgame. It is still remarkable to me that James Cameron is responsible for three of the top four biggest box office returns. Not too shabby for a director who has made less than 10 feature films.

Emilia Pérez (2024)

A musical crime thriller where I learned that Zoe Saldaña is completely fluent in Spanish. This one revolves around a cartel kingpin who undergoes a sex change operation and starts a new, "authentic" life while estranged from her wife and kids. It's weird, man. There are some catchy songs and unique dance numbers, and that's the most memorable part of the film for me. It did nothing for me personally, but I can recognize why it's received accolades and outside attention (both critical and lauding). It just failed to move me on any level.

3 completely oblivious characters out of 5

Vantage Point (2008)

A twisty thriller set in Spain during a political summit concerned with creating an international alliance to tackle America's war on terrorism. It's of such importance that the US president (William Hurt) is making an appearance, making himself a visible target for the people he's there to protest against.
The singular event is replayed many times from the perspective of various attendees, the 'vantage' points of the title. Initially it's exciting and adds a level of intrigue but the overuse and highlighting of too many damn coincidences turns it around until it becomes an exercise in endurance. Likewise, the editing, effectively adding tension at the start, starts to annoy over time. The ridiculous car chase is where I gave up caring about any of it.

2½ phone calls out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 [2017]

Director James Gunn returns to the MCU for more immensely entertaining nuttiness in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Continuing their galactic misadventures, the Guardians are on the run from a race of powerful aliens  of whom they stole from when they run into Peter Quill's long-lost father with a tempting proposition.
After the surprise of how good the first film actually was, this installment has a lot to live up to and it almost hits the mark.  Gunn has a lot to juggle and it's almost always successful with a few minor quibbles here and there.  It's jam-packed with plenty of humor, extravagant set-pieces, memorable characters you learn to love even more and plenty of emotion to form some serious lumps in your throat.  If you're a fan of the first then this one will deliver the goods with oddball personality and genuine heart.

3½ trash pandas out of 5

LIVE BY NIGHT [2016]

After three wonderful directorial efforts, Ben Affleck hits a bit of a misfire with his adaptation of Dennis Lehane's organized crime novel Live by Night.
Set in the roarin' 20's Prohibition era, a Boston-bred gangster is relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he sets up violent rivals with the local mob, law enforcement and Ku Klax Klan.
The studio had nearly an hour cut to make it seem more action-packed than it needed to be resulting in the film lacking an emotional core.  With so many thematic directions thrown on the table it's almost impossible to thoroughly explore in what seems to be a rushed shortcut to the finish line.  In the end this well-acted, beautifully shot period drama feels like the studio abandoned what Affleck set out to do and hurried it's way to awards season only to find it put on the wrong undies for such an occasion.

2½ track marks out of 5

STAR TREK BEYOND [2016]

Director Justin Lin gives Captain Kirk & Friends a fast & furious makeover for the third installment of the Kelvin timeline, Star Trek Beyond.
This time around we follow the restless Enterprise crew into uncharted space where they meet a Big Bad who's bent on destroying the federation.
It's a pretty straight forward story that feels more like an old episode of TOS, especially by dropping the heavy cynicism of the first two films and diving deeper into the search for hope in humanity.  More a character piece than story driven film, we get plenty of great moments with the cast that all share an easily watchable on-screen chemistry.  There's some unforgivable face-palmy moments but Trek's always had it's fair share of bits that easily out-dates itself best taken with a grain of salt.
It's not going to win over any folks already hissing at the series but for those already invested in this series than it's as pleasurable as Insurrection or The Search for Spock.  A welcome stand alone film treading water in a world of sequels that require knowledge of every film in the franchise.

3 big green hands out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY [2014]

Disney took a huge risk producing a big budget comic book movie based on a little known Marvel comic book.  They took even a bigger risk by enlisting the unhinged James Gunn to direct Chris Pratt in the lead role.
Fortunately Guardians Of The Galaxy succeeds in nearly every way possible.
The final film in Marvel's Phase Two before Avengers: Age Of Ultron, GOTG sets up for a larger story to be seen in Phase 3 but holds up well on it's own.  Gunn blends his trademark wackiness quite well into a comfy balance of humor, heart and action all neatly placed in the correct spots of the narrative to keep things in check.  It's a fast-paced wildly imaginative treat that feels like Farscape buggered The Fifth Element up the arse to the musical sounds of the 70's.

4 great heroes named Kevin Bacon out of 5

OUT OF THE FURNACE [2013]

Writer/director Scott Cooper's follows up the acclaimed Crazy Heart with another tale about troubled Americana, the moody drama Out Of The Furnace.
Like a Bruce Springsteen song, the film is filled with poverty, hopelessness, violence, love in the darkest of places and folks who are destined to forever live in their own personal prisons no matter what choices they make.   The story speaks of emotional punches and it makes it halfway there due to the astonishingly fantastic cast but loses half of it's impact due to a weak script.  It's well worth a look at for the beautiful photography, haunting music and great acting but leaves much to be desired when all the names attached seem to promise something so much more.

3 Midnight Meat Trains out of 5

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS [2013]

A little bigger, darker and bolder than director J.J. Abrams & his Fringe team's first film in the franchise, Star Trek Into Darkness continues the "more balls than brains" version of Trek.
It stirs the excitement with adventure and intrigue, while taking us to brand new worlds that seem more in place in the Star Wars universe than Rodenberry's vision.  Nevertheless, with a simply deliciously cold and menacing performance from Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Pine & Karl Urban stealing lens-flared scenes left right and center, the film is nothing more than good summer fun to butt heads with Iron Man 3.

3½ models of Zefram Cochran's ship out of 5

STAR TREK [2009]

When the mastermind behind TV's LOST, Alias & Fringe, J.J. Abrams was announced as the director of the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek franchise it created quite a stir with Trek fans and Abrams fans alike.
Apart from some unforgivable flaws and changes to the universe, Abrams take on the Trek is nothing short of an entertaining ride. Highlighted with a solid story, action, humor and wonderful spot on performances (particularly from Chris Pine, Zackary Quinto and Karl Urban) the new Trek is more balls than brains.
In a time with ridiculously dark comic book movies and brainless comedy after brainless comedy, Abrams optimism and humor in Star Trek is a refreshing breath of fresh air.

4 Wil Wheaton's voice is everywhere out of 5