Massive cool.

The golden centerpiece from Seagal's unmatched five picture run that began with Above the Law and ended with Under Siege. The graphic body count rivals the best horror franchises of the time. Seagal gets to take the prime antagonist out twice! There's eye gouging, defenestration, an impaling, and a beheading by sword, ffs. And speaking of hideous heads, CG had not yet reared its head in action cinema. That would arrive soon enough. Ric Waite was also the cinematographer for Cobra and Red Dawn and is one of the action genre's unsung heroes. The nighttime photography is elegant and stylish.

Think I'll grab that complimentary DVD player and pass on the secret sauces. Westridge County loses its soul, cultural identity, and multiple citizens to aliens, cultists, media disinformation, and Buffet Infinity—an ever-expanding, unstoppable family restaurant of unclear origin. This experimental and overstuffed "found footage" broadcast parody evokes fears spreading through our current climate of corporatism, displacement and uncertainty.

Tres Canadian

Baby Yoda looks tiny in IMAX. Stormtroopers remain as useless as ever. The first truly standalone Disney Star Wars, requiring no homework or mental engagement whatsoever. A passable, episodic Saturday-afternoon space western that feels more like a dark ride than a movie. Jon Favreau is definitely a foodie, as every creature here has the munchies, so bring snacks. No Mary Sues, no Skywalkers, no trilogy incoming.

There’s still Hope.

Blissfully gritty and violent combination of pulp action and neo noir. It's the strongest in a string of distinguished work since Schwarzenegger has returned to movies. This is David Ayer's uncompromising reaction to The Expendables and it's not for wimps. Olivia Williams and Mireille Enos turn in gender-defying performances as the hard-boiled women trapped in this nightmare of throbbing, reckless machismo.