Erik M.

Nimona is a great action/adventure CGI movie about an underprivileged and innocent knight named Ballister who's being framed for murder and the titular being who rescues him and leads a revolution! Starring Chloe Grace Moretz as the sassy Nimona, they have the power to shapeshift into virtually anything at all and are virtually immortal. Sadly, that does not stop the Director from hunting and trying to ultimately kill Nimona just for existing. Nimona gives a voice to the LGBTQA+ community through the many struggles of Nimona. Fast-paced, smart and fun, Nimona is a movie well worth watching.

Erik M.

Kraven (Spelled with a K) was a 2024 Marvel-adjacent action film starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a violent hunter of men who goes after other criminals including The Foreigner, Rhino, various bad guys, etc. Powered by a voodoo potion to have animalistic abilities of strength, speed, sight and agility along with tracking senses and a need to kill, Kraven is a force to be reckoned with. This tale has him dealing with his bloodthirsty father, a Russian Mobster (played with some relish by Russell Crowe) and his weaker brother, the Chameleon (Fred Hechinger). Weird, disjointed dialogue, a lot of poor choices for casting, sets, and cinematography, OK fight scenes and a disappointing end for several villains make this "supposed" last entry into the Sony's Spider-Man Universe mostly forgettable.

Erik M.

Madame Web is an action adventure about a woman who has to save 3 young girls from a frightening and determined Spider-Man-like villain who wants to eradicate them NOW to prevent their future selves from stopping him in the future, a bit like T2. The woman in this story has budding precognition powers and wants to find out why her mother felt it necessary to go to Peru, to study spiders and meet Ezekiel, the anti-Spider-Man. A bit confusing, yes. If you hang in there, there's more to this tale, eventually, and OK thrills.

Erik M.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy adventure based upon the tabletop game that's full of nifty D and D creatures, callbacks and more while also about a quest to steal back a child, punish a criminal, gain vengeance against a callous enemy and try to be decent while money is scattered everywhere! Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriquez, Sophia Lillis and others are the players while Hugh Grant stars as a very unlawful bad guy. Nerdy and playfully cool little film. The effects sometimes steal the show.

Erik M.

From 1975 comes three terribly terrifying tales of horror in Trilogy of Terror! A predator on a college campus, an evil woman's just desserts and a Zuni Fetish Doll verses a woman...THAT Zuni doll that inspired Child's Play! See it with a friend and the lights on! Even made-of-TV it's got a punch.

Erik M.

In HTTYD, Hiccup isn't much of a Viking, but he has a good heart and learns that he has empathy for dragons...so much that he befriends a Night Fury called "Toothless" due to its habit of hiding its teeth. Together with friends like Astrid, he overcomes a fear of dragonkind and emerges a true hero after combating the largest dragon around. A good, action-packed and funny CGI film with heart that is worth seeing.

Erik M.

In this crazy Comedy, a cable installer harasses and torments a regular guy, becoming both his friend and mortal enemy while throwing allusions to various TV shows due to his being supervised as a youngster by Television. He inserts himself into the poor man's work, home, family and relationships as he absurdly ruins them all. It's a decent romp for the cast and especially Jim Carrey.

Erik M.

The Frozen Ground is a 2013 crime drama/thriller set in the 1980s and stars John Cusack as a serial killer who rapes and then murders his victims. Nicolas Cage is the State Trooper who is diligently seeking to put him away, while Vanessa Hudgens is the only victim who lives to see him get justice. Disturbing for its time.

Erik M.

The Garfield Movie is a fun and happy film about America's favorite cat and his dog pal Odie who win their owner's heart, eat lots of food, get caught up in a gang heist, nearly get thrown off a train from a mile up, and a whole lot more all while learning about how one rainy night changed a relationship between a son and a dad. This CGI romp has Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson, among the stars/voices. A decent cartoon that I'd rate 3.5 stars. Good job.

Erik M.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a Sci-Fi action movie about everyone's favorite mutant and how he started off as a frail waif, went through many wars alongside Sabretooth, then found his way to Colonel Stryker, and the adamantium bonded to his skeleton, his memory erased, etc. Along the way he fights Blob, Agent Zero, "Deadpool" and falls in love with the mutant Silverfox. OK story, weird CGI at times and a few missteps make this a just alright kind of film film overall. Oh, and Gambit's first appearance is 3/4 of the way in.

Erik M.

Jaws 4 OR Jaws The Revenge was the last of the Jaws series and, well, not a moment too soon. Lorraine Gary comes back to play Chief Brody's wife, Ellen, who hates sharks and the sea as much as her late husband did. After her youngest son, now chief of police, gets taken by a shark, the family rallies to confront this roaring menace. Michael Caine, Mario Van Peebles and others lend a weak hand, but no-one can deliver Jaws 4 from the inky depths. Pure cheese, some very bad. What a mess-watch Deep Blue Sea instead. 3 generous stars.

Erik M.

Migration is an illumination CGI cartoon from 2023 that sees a small family of mallards get caught up in the flocking phase and wonder what lies beyond their safe and average pond. They decide to go an adventure where old herons, a weirdo celebrity chef and others try, and fail, to make a meal out of them until they arrive at the pristine and wonderful shores of Jamaica! It's cute fun for the kids and parents might get a few chuckles, but a simple plot, minor terrors and light jokes won't make this bird fly more often than not; it's just OK. 3 stars.

Erik M.

An epic tale of revenge, gasoline/petrol and finding her way back home, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga may not have Mad Max himself, but it does explain the many wars and catastrophes, pandemics, etc. that made Australia The Wastelands and introduces us to a younger Furiosa as well as the huge Immortan Joe and his sons, Dementus and others who seek to rule over the non-vehicle riding population. Action-packed if nothing else, Anya Taylor-Joy rarely speaks but shows off her violent side. It's a trip.

Erik M.

It's another rampaging, voracious shark against former Chief Brody, frightened and screaming teens, a hapless helicopter, a greedy land developer and more in the first of many sequels to the original blockbuster phenomenon! A few better scenes, and some really contrived ones, make this a sturdy second film but not a smash.

Erik M.

Deadpool and Wolverine is a funny, action-packed and terrific film about the pairing of two big superhero characters who attempt to save their timeline/franchise from destruction. Crammed with many cameos, humor and fight scenes as well as heart, Deadpool and Wolverine must ultimately face a Professor X-like villain called Cassandra Nova who wants to end everything. It might just be a summer blockbuster.

Erik M.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the follow up to Ghostbusters: Afterlife where nearly the whole cast is back in NYC fighting ghosts and taking names until another major bad guy named Garraka shows up who can freeze anything and kill by fear. Meanwhile, teen Phoebe Spengler meets a ghost named Melody who inhabits the park and longs to be reunited with her family who went to the other side without her. The entire team must face Garraka and stop the frozen apocalypse before it's too late in this comedy adventure/fantasy. It's pretty good, though if you watched Afterlife, a bit predictable. Still worth the viewing.

Erik M.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a terrific popcorn movie about the title monsters facing a malicious and tall ape and his freezing dino beast plus their followers. Thankfully, Mothra, Jia and her friends plus others assist in defeating the bad guys and restoring order to Hollow Earth! Big battles, good SFX and a quick but serviceable storyline make this a major win! Two claws straight up.

Erik M.

Wonder is a 2017 movie about a sweet young boy who is bullied at school for looking different, a teen who struggles with her friends, and parents who try to help everyone cope. A safe and heartwarming story of a family that comes together.

Erik M.

Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 movie about the ferocious and titular monster reptile that pulverizes Japan once more and it is up to a handful of heroes to stop its rampage! This story has more people to root for, more Godzilla to fear, and more action and special effects yet without the budget you'd expect from any movie this bombastic! See Godzilla Minus One.

Erik M.

Dune: Part Two is Denis Villeneuve's next chapter where Paul fights the Emperor's forces, the Harkkonens, and more while courting Chani, dealing with Bene Gesserit schemes, and more in this bloody conflict. You'll learn about the desert world, politics, etc! A few things are left out again, but this is another mostly faithful adaptation of the story. Long live the fighters.

Erik M.