 20th Century Studios, 2025. What an impossibly high bar that has been set for director James Cameron, where each new film he makes is expected to reinvent cinema all over again or be casually dismissed as a disappointment.
The early criticism aimed at "Avatar: Fire and Ash," that it feels “too similar” to its predecessor, says far more about our warped expectations than it does about the film itself. Since when did consistency, coherence, and a director confidently expanding the world he created become a flaw? With "Fire and Ash," Cameron has once again built, refined and deepened his cinematic universe, delivering another immersive, meticulously crafted chapter that reminds us why Pandora remains one of the most fully realized worlds in modern blockbuster filmmaking.
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 Universal Pictures, 2025. The sequel and final chapter to one of the best films of 2024, "Wicked For Good" sticks the landing in a truly wondrous way. Anyone who cannot get swept up in this magical, fast-paced adventure may be missing the brains and heart...or worse, the courage...to admit that this is one of the most impressive musical-to-film adaptations - across two movies - that has ever been put on screen.
In truth, most of the criticism aimed at "Wicked For Good" is really criticism of the source material. If you walked out of the stage production feeling Act II was the weaker half, you will likely leave this movie with the same thought. But most moviegoers don’t speak in those terms. Nobody is stepping into the lobby asking, "So what did you think of the Second Act?" They leave with a feeling, an instinctive reaction to whether the film moved them or not. And for the vast majority, "Wicked For Good" will deliver that feeling in full, giving fans everything they hope for while also offering newcomers who only know the first film and have never seen the musical a truly wonderful time.  Sony Pictures Releasing, 2025. Don't be lured onto this mundane and awful journey simply because of its stars.
The collective charm of two sensational actors, Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, is not nearly enough to make this painful film worth the trouble. The script doesn't allow for any chemistry between them, and there's not a hint of emotional authenticity. Are the characters dead and in some sort of weird, flowery purgatory? Did we die and go to movie hell? Does any of this matter? Let me answer that last one for you: No. "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" could have been generated with AI, given its lack of humanity and its hollow emptiness. It's one of the worst films I've seen this year, or any year, so consider yourself warned.  Marvel Studios/Disney, 2025. 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.  Walt Disney Pictures, 2025. 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.  Columbia Pictures, 2024. It's been nearly 40 years since the original "Ghostbusters" slimed its way onto the scene, becoming one of the most popular and iconic movies of all-time. It made nearly 300 million at the box office when it was released back in 1984, or roughly 10-times its budget, and the movie spawned an entire multimedia franchise reaching across film, television, video games and pretty much every corner of American pop culture.
As difficult as it is to trap a ghost in one of those little striped boxes, Columbia Pictures has spent the past four decades chasing whatever strange lightning struck with that original film, desperately trying to bottle it. The 1989 sequel "Ghostbusters II" was not well-received, nor was the 2016 Paul Feig reboot. And while "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" was a box-office winner in 2021, many (like me...see my "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" review here) found that this thick dose of nostalgia was a bit too much. For a franchise that seems to have so much potential for originality and entertainment value, what was being streamed directly into our eyeballs felt more like a feeble attempt to cash-in on what had come before. That brings us to "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," a film that feels a bit more comfortable with itself overall, but is still too closely shackled to its past. Everyone is dressed up, and it feels like a "Ghostbusters" movie. It's just that these ghosts are quite lifeless.  Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023. Imagine me - a male film critic - somehow posturing myself to think that anyone would care about my review of a "Barbie" movie. To think that my take matters sort of undercuts the spirit of the entire film...women - Barbie included - do not need my stamp approval or my "thumbs up," nor does it feel appropriate. That being said, it feels very "male" of me that I would continue on giving my opinions regardless.
Understand that "Barbie" is a movie that EVERYBODY should go see, but I would like to fully acknowledge upfront that this is a movie best appreciated by women, or those that grew up with the uber-popular, iconic Mattel Barbie dolls. There are several call-backs, references and jokes aimed at the entire past line of Barbie dolls...from the pregnant Midge doll, to her younger sister Skipper whose breasts would grow if you rotated her arm, to Ken's "buddy" Allan (all of Ken's clothes fit him!). If you don't know much about Barbie, there is still fun to be had, but not nearly as much as for those in the know. "Barbie" isn't perfect, but that's sort of the point and the modern approach to the character, isn't it?  Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023. It's fast, furious and funny. But traveling faster than the speed of light comes with the increased risk of tripping up.
The long-awaited, somewhat controversial "The Flash" has finally reached theaters. And while it deals with yet another messy multiverse that at times runs itself in circles, Ezra Miller's dual role as a future and past Barry Allen gets this one past the finish line...just barely. ***SOME MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW***  Paramount Pictures, 2023. Must every intellectual-property (IP) succumb to the Marvel formula?
If you like your characters bland, your dialogue snarky and your battles meaningless, then you'll love "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," a movie that wants you to like it so bad, that it actually hurts.  20th Century Studios, 2022. It has finally arrived.
The long-awaited sequel to what had at one time been the #1 box office movie of all-time, Avatar, is now in theaters...and I'm happy to say that it's been worth the wait. ***MINOR PLOT SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*** |
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