When it comes to myth-making in modern cinema, no character in the past decade rivals the legend of John Wick. Across four films, Wick (Keanu Reeves) has racked up a body count that challenges the highest in cinematic history. With action sequences and production values that have set a new standard for the genre, the John Wick series has become the benchmark other action films aspire to reach.

Branching off from this success comes "Ballerina" (technically titled "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina"), featuring a character that Wick crossed paths with back in "John Wick: Chapter Three - Parabellum." Eve (Ana de Armas) is more than just a female version of John Wick, and while "Ballerina" stumbles out of the gate, it eventually finds its footing and earns its place in the John Wick cinematic universe.

It would be impossible to overstate Tom Cruise's impact on Hollywood. A bona fide mega-star, one of the finest actors of his generation and a certifiable mad-man when it comes to the Mission: Impossible movies.

With "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," we are now eight movies deep into this unlikely franchise...and it feels more like a long-winded farewell rather than going out with a bang. It was of course based on the popular TV series that aired in the late 1960s-early 1970s, but Tom Cruise and his undeniable drive, charisma and vision is what initially propelled the first film in the franchise into a box office smash...propelling the rest of the films to push the boundaries of what an action movie is capable of.

The first seven films have grossed over 4 billion dollars at the box office, and we arrive at "The Final Reckoning" with the loftiest of expectations both financially and creatively. Can it possibly live up to the previous chapters? Will Tom Cruise - like he did with "Top Gun: Maverick" back in 2022 - rejuvenate the movie business and instill a boost of much-needed confidence into a once-again struggling industry?

"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" is a difficult movie to assign a letter grade to. It's by no means a bad movie, although it may be the weakest entry in the series. Its third act is exhilarating and on par with anything the franchise has given us to date, but those first two hours are a slog. 

I can deal with "implausible"...let's face it...implausibility has been baked into the formula of this series from the very beginning. But the choppy, overcomplicated first two hours feels like a missed opportunity.

There's little question that "Thunderbolts*" is one of the better Marvel films of the past few years...but that's a very low bar to clear.

Taking a cue from the legendary film critic Roger Ebert, all movies should be judged "relative to genre," meaning we shouldn't, say, put "The Minecraft Movie" on the same grading scale as "The Godfather."

With that in mind, "Thunderbolts*" may feel a bit more inspired than recent Marvel movies. But even accepting it for what it is - a teen-targeted superhero team movie - any praise quickly crumbles when you hold up against nearly any other film in the same category. I'll explain.

Horror films rarely resonate as award-worthy movies...not to mention how rare it is to see any Spring release at all turn up on a "Best of" list come year-end. That's what makes "Sinners" such a rarity. Not only is it one of the best mainstream horror films in years, it's already one of the year's best films. In fact, I can't think of a scenario where it wouldn't be on my personal "Best Movies of 2025" list.

It's well-made, well-acted and features one of the most kick-ass scores - and scenes - you'll ever witness. While the plot, characters and devices aren't wholly original, it's mashed together with such conviction that it feels wholly original. And it's not easy for a movie to work simultaneously on many different levels, but "Sinners" does. It can be enjoyed by horror enthusiasts, as popcorn entertainment or as a good date night out. But its complex themes can also be dissected by film critics and historians, made in a way where multiple viewings might be required to pick up on every nuance or metaphor.

Make no mistake, "Sinners" is bold and bloody, and bound to bring comparisons to Robert Rodriguez's "From Dusk Till Dawn" as it seems to shift midway through from intriguing drama to gory vampire romp. But it's far from mindless...you'll be thinking about this one for a long time afterwards.

When a movie based on the popular sandbox video game "Minecraft" was announced nearly a decade ago, fans cheered. Moments later, many of them thought, "Wait...what?"

Despite it's tremendous worldwide popularity - it is in fact the #1 best-selling video game of all time, outselling even games like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris - its open-world format doesn't necessarily come with a minable (pun intended) storyline suitable for a feature film. How would a Minecraft movie even work? What would it be about?

Well, now we know. And the result is that "A Minecraft Movie" isn't all bad, in that it's a complete romp that both makes fun of and honors the blocky-universe it is based on. It's silly, ridiculous and ends up being a bit better than it has any business being. Albeit, it was a very low bar...video game movies have generally been awful, and expectations were minimal.

​Ironically, it's the hard-core Minecraft gamer, not the casual movie-goer, that may take issue with this movie the most. In aiming it at the masses, it obviously becomes a more accessible movie, but it simultaneously risks losing the adoration of those that made it popular in the first place.

A lot has been said about the one-of-a-kind comedian Andy Kaufman. But somehow, the new documentary about his life, "Thank You Very Much," seems to put a fresh spin on what we've come to know, while also examining the methods of his madness.

The thought of the newest Disney live-action remake  has me whistling with delight.

"Snow White" is the rare remake with purpose. In 1937, Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was a ground-breaking achievement, and the first full-length animated film produced in the United States. It's safe to say that much has changed in our country over the past 88 years. If ever there was a Disney classic in need of some updating, this was it.

Director Marc Webb ("The Amazing Spider-Man," "500 Days of Summer") creates a modern version of the tale, swirling with that intangible Disney magic, that's both original and reverent of what's come before. The (mostly) all-new music is surprisingly good and dynamic (the powerhouse duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Academy Award winners who crafted songs for "La La Land," "The Greatest Showman" and "Dear Evan Hansen," were brought on to craft these new songs) and the production design, costumes and visual effects are every bit as stunning as the recent Oscar-winning film, "Wicked."

Despite some casting issues and a few missteps, I didn't just like the new "Snow White" film...I loved it.

For "Magazine Dreams," it's been nothing less than a nightmare.

A once-rising star in Hollywood, the off-screen controversies involving lead actor Jonathan Majors derailed his career and this film. Jonathan Majors was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in March 2023, leading to charges of misdemeanor assault, harassment, and aggravated harassment. Prosecutors alleged he twisted her arm, struck her head, and caused injuries. In December 2023, a jury found him guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment, but not guilty of intentional assault or aggravated harassment. The conviction was based on recklessness rather than intent. Following the verdict, Marvel Studios dropped him from his role as Kang the Conqueror, and his career faced significant setbacks.

"Magazine Dreams," in which Majors gives what might have been a career-defining performance, was the talk of the festival circuit back in 2023, just prior to these incidents. It was picked up by Searchlight Pictures, who outbid Neon, Sony Pictures and others, and it was expected to be one of their major pushes during awards season.

That all went away. "Magazine Dreams" was shelved, and the distribution rights were quietly returned to the filmmakers. The independent Briarcliff Entertainment - whose highest-grossing previous film to-date was the Liam Neeson thriller, "Blacklight," back in 2022, which grossed under 10 million domestically - has taken a chance on "Magazine Dreams." And I'm glad they did.

Controversies and all, this is a film worthy of being seen. And trying to put the personal stuff aside (if you are unable to, I don't blame you), Jonathan Majors not only gives the best performance of his career, he gives one of the best performances by ANYONE in recent years...an all-in, undeniable performance that crafts one of the most haunting on-screen characters of the past decade.

While the beloved Looney Tunes characters are familiar and respectful, these aren't exactly your parents' Looney Tunes.

"The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" is shockingly the first all-animated Looney Tunes movie ever released in movie theaters. It's also not being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures...that duty is being handled by the much smaller Ketchup Entertainment, which is why this film might feel a bit "under the radar" for most.

And while this weird, zany sci-fi story is quite harmless, it also feels a bit uninspired. It's been nearly 100 years since the release of the very first Looney Tunes animated short...and this is what we've all waited for?

Everybody loves Pattington, the Peruvian talking bear that winds up living a proper British life in London with his adopted human family, the Browns. So much so, that he's appeared in nearly 30 books since 1958, when he first appeared in the classic  novel "A Bear Called Pattington," by author Michael Bond.

This is the first Pattington film since Bond's death in 2018, and the third in the surprisingly great film series that has not only been a success at the box office, but also with critics ("Pattington 2" held the rare 100% RottenTomatoes rating with over 250 reviews, until some boob famously posted a rotten score, surely to grab personal headlines).