Runtime 2 hours 21 minutes

Capsule Review, minimal spoilers:

It’s finally here, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker The final chapter in George Lucas’ vision for the Star Wars universe. However, it’s not his anymore, since he sold it off to Disney. J.J. Abrams took over the reigns, who put together this story.

What story, you ask? Well, it’s THE story, the one that closes the chapter on the 9+ movies made during this ‘era’ of Star Wars, the one that’s supposed to tie up all the loose ends laid out in the previous 8 specific movies, the one that puts this story to rest.

Well, does it? That’s putting a lot of pressure onto this movie, and because it is a genre series that a lot of people grew up with, expectations are extremely high. The answer, in my not so humble opinion is, therefore, Kinda. This movie is in a weak position, in that it cannot please everyone (and, given the past movies), will irritate a few.

As for me, I liked it, however I had a few issues with it. No details, but it suffices to say that there were a lot of things thrown into the mix that came out underdeveloped and just accepted as they were. Some of them were important to the plot, and would’ve probably made for some great storytelling, but those bits were omitted, and the result was kept.

To quote Luke Skywalker from the The Last Jedi, “This is not gonna go the way you think!” I’d have to agree. With that said, I did like what I saw, for the most part, barring the shortcuts they took with some of the plotlines that I alluded to. I do recommend the film, if only for completeness in the Star Wars Saga. See the “end” for yourself, and make up your own mind. Hopefully, you will leave the theater, mostly satisfied for having seen it.

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Standard Review, some spoilers:

I really hate it when trailers give away some of the best moments of a movie. Well, the trailers for Rise of Skywalker delivered, and played out what could have been my favorite moment of the film, had it not been spoiled. I can’t say more about that, except, maybe, thanks a lot! (note the sarcasm that’s not obvious in print).

The story picks up a short time after The Last Jedi. There are rumors that the Emperor is alive, and will be reasserting himself across the galaxy. The Resistance is trying to figure out the truth of it, but has also come across some very disconcerting news about the First Order, who are about to retake what they have lost. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is now leading the First Order, and he, too, is trying to find out the legitimacy of this signal the Emperor supposedly sent out. He, however, has a leg up on the Resistance, in that he’s found a way to track the origin of the signal. A small team, led by Rey (Daisy Ridley) begins their search, but the clock is ticking.

So goes the story, from there. This is the start of the plot jambalaya. So many things are set in motion, and only some of them are spelled out on the screen. If the movie were an hour or two longer, they could have been properly played out, but they weren’t. Things seemed a bit rushed, and it would seem there was something cut out of the story that could’ve explained a few events, but someone made a choice to omit it. Perhaps a second viewing will answer some of the questions I have, and perhaps, that was the plan all along. Lay it down, thick and heavy, and then it will all become clear after repeated viewings. If I’m really bothered by these things, I will go back, and line Disney’s pockets even more. Maybe that was the plan, all along.

In my opinion, some of the Star Wars fanboys savaged The Last Jedi, and were angered by it. To me, I had problems with some of the story, which unfurled in such a way that shouldn’t have happened, in particular, why didn’t General Organa or Vice Admiral Holdo tell anyone they were headed to a refuge? That was just bad storytelling, which forced an unnecessary mutiny, but that would have messed with the plot and, well, there’s …(other things). I digress. Yes, I’m a fanboy, or fanperson, and as dumb as that was, I was able to let it go. I feel almost the same way with Rise of Skywalker, but nothing was so specifically heinous that I can say it irritated me as much as some of the elements of The Last Jedi did. That movie definitely satisfied my Star Wars Fix.

The circle is now complete. Despite the flaws, I’ll say you should see Rise of Skywalker, if you like Star Wars. If your burning question of the last few movies is about Rey’s parents, you will have your answer. Will it satisfy you, overall? Will you be irritated beyond belief, or, will you fall somewhere in between? I don’t have an answer for you, because only you can say, for sure.

Runtime 2 Hours 10 Minutes

Capsule Review, minimal spoilers:

Knives Out is a whodunit film. The day after a birthday celebration for the wealthy patriarch of a family, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead in his room, which was pretty isolated. It would appear to be a gruesome suicide, and police are convinced. In walks Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), a detective hired by someone, to confirm this is a murder, not a suicide. None of the family flaims to know what happened, and they’re forced to stay around while everything is checked.

This film is replete with characters, and they all know something of the events leading up to the death. It’s up to Blanc to put it all together. The story unfolds, but not necessarily from his viewpoint, and that’s a mild twist on the usual theme of films like this.

There’s a lot of interplay, a bit of sass and sarcasm, and your typical twists and turns. Most of the characters are fully fleshed out, but there are some weaker ones, less important to the story. The payoff was interesting, to say the least, and not at all what I expected. I did, however, have an issue with Craig’s accent. I can’t say why, but all I know is it bothered me. Besides that, I rather enjoyed Knives Out, and definitely recommend it.

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Standard Review, some spoilers:

Being a wealthy patriarch is dangerous business, where family is concerned. Almost all of his children have lived off of Father’s financial support, and they all seem to believe that he was going to be less forthcoming in the future. The implications start flying as Benoit questions them all.

Besides Benoit, the film focuses on Thrombey’s nurse, Marta (Ana de Armas). She had a close relationship with Thrombey, and was privy to his thoughts and feelings about his family. She is the key to the family secrets, and Benoit tries to use her to get to the truth of the matter. She is quite forthcoming, but it’s not enough to implicate anyone specifically.

It was a good story, leading up to the last minute revelation. With a large cast like this, it’s difficult to balance them all out, to give them enough screen time to establish them. Of particular note were Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon), Joni Thrombey (Toni Collette), and Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans)Some of the peripheral family members aren’t in the spotlight, so they don’t get much time to shine, but for everyone else, you really get a sense of who they are, and what their situation is. Almost everyone has a reason to want him dead, but there’s not enough direct evidence to prove any of them did it. It’s quite baffling.

I have to congratulate whoever found the home that Knives out DID an excellent job. The house really fir the mood of the film. Dark and cold, but also warm, in a way. Kind of like the Thrombeys. It’s a house that you’d consider buying if you won the lottery. It was very elegant inside, and felt lived-in. The way it was laid out fit the setting of the movie, and made for some interesting moments.

You don’t see too many of these whodunit films any more, and most of them are screen adaptations of novels (like the relatively recent Murder On The Orient Express remake. It’s hard to craft an intricate plot, such as this, and have it be unfamiliar material. Knives out succeeds on that level, and manages to be properly played out on screen.. I suspect it might receive an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, but maybe I’m overestimating its content.

I do recommend this, and if you wait to see it at home, you won’t miss out too much by seeing it on the small screen, except for the whole movie-going experience. I found it fun and entertaining.

Runtime 1 Hour 48 Minutes

Capsule Review, minimal spoilers:

JoJo Rabbit is a Dark Comedy. It takes place in Germany, some time around the end of World War II. It focuses on JoJo (Roman Griffin Davis), a young boy of 10, who has just been drafted into the Hitler Youth. He’s clumsy and not a good fit, but that’s OK. He has an imaginary friend who cheers him up. Of course, it’s Adolph Hitler (Taika Waititi, the film’s director and writer), but not the Hitler you expect.

The two of them navigate through the story, which is quite interesting, but as I mentioned, this is a Dark Comedy, meaning it’s not just a comedy by any stretch of imagination. Consider the source material and the realities of what Germany represented, and you get the idea.

This film is made on the relationship between JoJo and Adolf. The strong supporting cast includes Scarlett Johansson as Elsa, his mother, and Sam Rockwell, and the city’s Hitler Youth leader, Captain Klenzendorf.

It is certainly offbeat and quirky, and a little disturbing. It is not for everyone. If you can handle that, I do recommend this film. If, however, you like your films nice and bright, this film is not for you.

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Spoiler Space

Standard Review, some spoilers:

After an injury at training camp sidelines JoJo, the Captain assigns him the duty of spreading propaganda in the city. His pal Hitler helps him to believe it all, especially all the material about The Jews. After all, he’s an impressionable kid, and the only information he has to go on is the propaganda.

His mother, is a different story. She’s full of life, living for the moment, as best she can. Things are not going well for Germany, in terms of the war, and she’s convinced it’ll all be over soon. JoJo’s father is MIA, but everyone is telling him that he went AWOL instead. Of course, Elsa tells JoJo differently, so he just muddles on.

One day, JoJo is home before his mother, and he hears something that bothers him. Well, that’s when everything gets turned upside down. His pal is telling him one thing, but his curiosity is making him think not everything is as it seems.

JoJo grows as a person, which is quite surprising at the age of 10. Then again, it’s wartime, and he has to face some cold realities. It’s extremely tough to do at any age, but he’s forced to, at the worst possible time. Waititi’s script is quite clever in that it manages to maintain that child’s perspective on everything that’s happening to him, without getting too smarmy or preachy.

I also appreciated how they didn’t explain everything , but again, the storyline matched some of the events to how a 10 year old would interpret them. Consider the Captain and his behavior. Some of the things he does are just, well, odd. As adults, we know what’s going on there, but JoJo doesn’t. I found that impressive on a higher level.

This is definitely a twisted movie. I went in, expecting one thing, and was delivered something else. That unpredictability is extremely rare to pull off without it breaking the rules of the film (cheating with a deus ex machina moment, for example). It’s a really good story, and definitely impressed me. I strongly recommend it, if you can live with the source material.