Ballerina (2025)

 

Another surface level John Wick universe shoot-em-up. Little in the way of creative storytelling. Typical action movie tropes. Non-sensical plot devices. They make these girls study ballet for years, but never provide rational justification. It’s not like the boys are becoming licensed plumbers as part of their training.

Time is only a concept. Wick appears to be just up the road; able to hop on a 30 minute train ride to the big finale when called upon, despite the lair being a super-secret remote village. It’s lazy writing that most action films subscribe to. 

How terrible is this assassin cult at their job of assassinating if one fly weight ballerina can dispatch their entire village in one evening? 

Rating: D+

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

Picking up from where 2 leaves off, John Wick is on the run and being hunted by what appears to be half the city. In the JW Universe, hit-man is a popular career choice. If you’re in the mood to bathe in violence, John Wick will be seeing you.

Rating: C

When In Rome (2010)

Mostly lame and formulaic, but with periodic funny parts courtesy of some of the supporting cast. (NOT her obnoxious friends from work) The black-out restaurant scene was solid.

Rating: C-

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

 Wes Anderson films are always unique, if not entertaining. This one is both. They could just as easily have gone with a giant train set-piece, along the same vein as the submarine in Aquatic. Instead, they brilliantly used the real thing, bringing the audience along for the ride through an India seldom seen onscreen.

Anderson's quirky trademark shots are everywhere. This is his film through and through. Most of it works, some  doesn't. Always worth the price of admission.

Rating: B-

Captain EO (1986)

I saw this 3D throwback at Tokyo Disney, since the lines for everything else were really long. They show a making-of documentary while you wait in the lobby. The 3D effects are kind of cool, plus they blast you with water vapor and jerk your seat around, so it’s probably more fun to see this at Disneyland than sitting on your boring sofa at home. 

With that said, it’s more camp than fun. Most of the songs and dance routines are tired and lame. The monster turns into Anjelica Huston, who was supposedly hot back then. Don’t go out of your way to see this.

Rating: D

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Another odd comedy from Wes Anderson, following a similar cinematic style as Rushmore. Even the music selections are related. Great cast and off-the-wall characters. For those that like their comedy dark, quirky, and over the heads of mainstream America, this is your movie. I liked it.

Rating: C+

50/50 (2011)

As far as cancer movies go, this is a good one. Most of the contrived, forced scenes have been left out. Instead we get a more straightforward, honest portrayal of what one person’s experience with cancer might be like. Fortunately Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt click as friends, so things stay light despite the downer material. The romantic elements were nice too. Well done.

Rating: B-

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

As expected, an odd and quirky movie with an all star cast. The humor is along the lines of Wes Anderson's other films, but even more subtle. I wasn't really sure what to think of it. The music is great, the characters odd, and the story bizarre.

Rating: C+