Erik M.

A fair mea culpa to Batman Vs. Superman, this latest installment in the DC Cinematic Universe brings together Batman, Aquaman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Superman to tackle world-destroying foe Steppenwolf and his swarm of Parademons to herald in his Master, Darkseid. CGI chaos reigns as the few available mighty heroes battle the winged monsters and their axe-weilding giant commander for the fate of Earth. Some appearances, like Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash, might take some getting used to and some of the action sequences were a bit clumsily handled, but overall the movie tries to tie up strands from the prior DC films and create some new ones while earnestly attempting to be entertaining and with some heart. While by far not a perfect superhero film, it is a step in the right direction for DC.

Erik M.

In this astoundingly vibrant and well-rendered CGI animated feature film, a young Mexican boy named Miguel wants to become a musician but it is forbidden in his family to pursue this or even to listen to music. What follows is a magical adventure to discover the truth about his relative's past, expose a villain, bring forgiveness, acceptance and healing to the family, as well as remembrance of the departed. Fun, sweet, respectful and sometimes poignant, Coco entertains from beginning to end and has messages worth keeping close to heart for viewers of all ages.

Erik M.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second of the current continuity of the Star War main cinematic story and it doesn't disappoint in drama, battle scenes, twists and foreshadowing. The First Order continues to hammer brutally at what's left of the Resistance while Rey attempts to convince a disheartened Luke Skywalker to rejoin the fight. Kylo Ren and Rey, meanwhile, find that there exists some bond between them...one that Supreme Leader of the First Order Snoke intends to exploit. A few new characters are introduced amid the chaos, some major characters perish, and what we're left with is both sides reeling from staggering loses and regrouping as we head into the third film. This movie, while a bit overlong and slow at points, is a strong addition to the Star Wars franchise and, with nods to several prior films given, maintains its own identity and continues to carry on the dread and harrowing action of its most recent predecessors, The Force Awakens and Rogue One. Overall, a good, solid Star Wars movie well worth a look!

Erik M.

Little Miss Sunshine is about a family that's coming apart at the seams for various reasons but all manage to try to pull together when their youngest member has a shot at a beauty pageant. Plucky Abigail Breslin's Olive wants to win and make her family proud, and the rest of her dysfunctional clan has to overcome their differences and their personal issues to help make her dream come true. It's sometimes funny, sometimes a bit sad, weird and silly, but at it's heart it's about overcoming obstacles and managing to love one another as well as acceptance. Not a perfect film but one with some heart.

Erik M.

Idris Elba and Kate Winslet star in this airplane crash survival story where two strangers are stranded on a frozen mountaintop with little hope of rescue and very limited resources. Despite their immediate differences and instances of peril, they not only traverse the harsh wilderness but manage to fall in love. The movie has some minor suspense but little that hasn't been seen or done in other films of its kind, and Idris as a morose, logical surgeon and Winslet as a feisty but wounded photojournalist who at times loses hope come across as a bit forced. Their love may have helped the characters survive the mountain and each other's personalities, but there was nothing too challenging about the paint-by-numbers plot or predictable love story that emerges. OK for fans of the stars, hopeless romantics, and those who enjoy wintery scenery.

Erik M.

Ghost in the Shell (2017) is a mostly very faithful remake of the classic anime upon which it's based, at times shot-for-shot. Scarlett Johansson may not be Japanese, but she does an admirable job (along with convincing CGI) channelling the heroine as she and her partner battle through the technologically oppressive Neo-Tokyo background. If there's a fault with this movie, it's just for those who've seen and appreciated the original--there's little new for the fans of the original to take in beyond the SFX. Some of the characters are wooden, and the spider tank isn't was visually striking as it could have been, but overall this a solid remake, though not entirely necessarily a needed one.

Erik M.

Richard Gere and Winona Ryder star in a slow-paced tragic May/December romance...philanderer Will discovers true love with Charlotte, who's less than half his age but dying and with very little time left. Joan Chen tries to pull heartstrings and show off locales in New York City, but their relationship and the challenges it faces feel forced, and what they have in common is unclear. Can will outgrow his self-centered ways to support a mature relationship during the time that Charlotte has left? Will anyone care? This should have been much better.

Erik M.

Leap! (aka Ballerina outside of the U.S.A) is a sweet CGI animated film with a message about pursuing one's dreams and overcoming obstacles set in the City of Lights during the late 1800s. Félicie and her best friend Victor, both orphans, escape rural Brittany to do just that, one wanting more than anything to become a dancer and the other an inventor. Along the way, they discover their abilities and make new friends. During a year that saw Zootopia and Sing, this understated movie may have slipped by and gone unnoticed, but there's an attention to detail, vibrancy and energy that shouldn't be missed. The dancing, setting and Elle's voice performance as Félicie, elevate what could have been a fairly routine take on ballet and the overall message that all three movies cited here share: To believe in one's self. Still, watch for the beauty of a well-rendered CGI cartoon with a great dance-off between Félicie and Maggie Ziegler as Camille!

Erik M.