Rated PG-13

SUPERMAN follows billionaire Lex Luthor trying to take down the Man of Stel, while the Daily Planet tries to uncover an international conspiracy.

Having extensively read the Superman comics, I was thrilled to see a version so close to the books. Writer/director James Gunn drops us into the action with a brighter, more optimistic delivery. Gone is the darker nature of the Snyderverse; now we have Supes as the traditional Boy Scout.

This is easily the best-cast Superman film I’ve ever seen, with David Corenswet holding things together. But others stand out, like Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Nicholas Hoult as a chilling Lex Luthor, and a slew of animators as Krypto the Super Dog.

And the film is more than just battles. It examines the nature of our own goodness, which comes from how you were raised and not necessarily where you’re from. It also looks at the purpose of journalism, which is to ask the tough questions and not pander to advertising or powerful figures.

This is easily one of the best Superman films ever made.

SUPERMAN gets four and a half capes out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

We see a lot of familiar things in the latest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. In JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, people are stranded AGAIN… on an island populated by vicious dinosaurs AGAIN… and things go horribly awry AGAIN… and somehow children end up in danger AGAIN.

More than 30 years after Spielberg’s brilliant film, this sequel/spinoff has much better visual effects, but still lacks the interesting characters and snappy dialogue.

But lets’ face it… you’re here for the spectacle, and JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH delivers on that. And it goes back to the heart of the franchise, leaving bizarre backstories of cloned children and international weapons auctions to make way for what amounts to a mega-budgeted Doug MacClure film.

The story offers some interesting ideas on dinosaur survival, and it’s broken into segments almost like a video game, which works in a strange way. If only every character’s tragic backstory wasn’t so forced.

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH gets three fossils out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

Pitt stars as a washed up driver brought in to help a Formula 1 team win. He butts heads with the team using his unorthodox style as he also struggles to become a leader.

Directed by TOP GUN: MAVERICK’s Joe Kosinski, F1 offers the same in-your-seat action for a visceral theatrical experience. I don’t have a problem with the look, the style, or the slick delivery of this film.

But for someone who doesn’t care about racing, this movie is a bore. It’s so loaded down with recycled plot points and macho virtue signaling that it becomes exhausting by the 90-minute mark. Then you realize there’s another entire hour left.

Sure, the movie looks cool as all get-out, but it’s nothing more than an amalgamation of music videos and advertisements for the sponsors.

Fans of racing will love this, but it feels like it’s written and directed by Testosterone itself, with some script punch-ups from Sports Films Cliches and daddy issues.

F1 gets two Fs out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG

ELIO tells the story of a recent orphan living with his aunt. Desperately wanting a new life, Elio sends a signal into space with a tricked-out ham radio… and miraculously gets a reply. When he is abducted by aliens, Elio convinces them he is the leader of Earth.

On its surface, there’s a lot to swallow here, but it is entirely digestible by telling the story from a child’s point of view. And with a massive dose of Pixar charm, the movie manages to be relatable to anyone who has ever felt like a bit of a misfit.

The film has many clever layers that offer wonderful messaging without being preachy or reductive.

For the kids, it’s a vibrant and fun space adventure. And for the parents, it’s an emotional ride that will catch you off guard and possibly bring a tear to your eye.

Beautifully animated and grounded with humanity, ELIO is simply a darling of a movie.

ELIO gets four and a half ham radios out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG

Closely following the animated film from fifteen years ago, the story follows a young Viking named Hiccup who befriends a dragon, in spite of living in a village that constantly hunts the beasts. Hiccup must use his new relationship to show his village how to work together for everyone’s benefit.

Although it’s a bit of a slow-starter, when the movie takes off, it’s hard to look away. Using breathtaking visuals and thrilling flying sequences, this is a film that calls to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

While at its heart it’s a kids’ movie, it’s doesn’t talk down to its audience. There’s a real human side to the story, and that makes it entirely watchable by parents and older generations.

Some elements seem unnecessary to remake, like Toothless the Dragon looking almost identical to his animated version. However, there’s other elements of the live-action presentation that gives the film the extra zhuzh it needs to be awe-inspiring.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON gets four Viking axes out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

The story follows an orphan raised by a secret society as a ballerina and assassin. When she comes of age, she goes rogue to take out the cult that killed her father.

On the good side, BALLERINA leans into what makes the JOHN WICK films so enjoyable: non-stop action, ridiculous stunts, loud fight sequences, and a sizzling cinematography popping with color and contrast.

Star Ana de Armas holds her own from a physicality standpoint, and her acting has improved over the years. She makes the character relatable but she doesn’t let her adorable side take over.

On the downside, this film is a bit much. It’s a thin story with a basic revenge set-up, though not as quirky as Keanu Reeves going after the guys who killed his dog. While the action is top-notch, the movie feels like it just moves from fight scene to fight scene without caring about the plot.

Still entertaining with a rip-roaring third act choice of weaponry, BALLERINA works.

BALLERINA gets three flamethrowers out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

KARATE KID LEGENDS follows the previous films’ template: a teenager moves to a new city with his mother and attracts the attention of some neighborhood bullies. Eventually has to fight in a martial arts contest to prove himself.

The greatest strength of this film is when it pushes the same buttons from the original. It does lay the bullying on a bit thick, but that works for the pulpy build of the secondary characters. Overall, this makes for a, breezy underdog story.

The film tries some new angles, like the kid teaching kung fu to an aging boxer, played by Joshua Jackson doing his best George Clooney impression. These elements make the film crowded – and you might find yourself checking your watch until Ralph Macchio shows up. However, they help this not be just a cheap retread.

Not as iconic as the original, it’s still an entertaining way to capitalize on the success of COBRA KAI.

KARATE KID LEGENDS gets three and a half wax ons out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

MISSION: IMPOSSILBE – THE FINAL RECKONING picks up where DEAD RECKONING ended two summers ago. Ethan Hunt has to take down The Entity, a powerful AI bent on taking over – and eventually destroying – the world. Think of it as James Bond facing off against an overblown Grok.

The MISSION: IMPOSSILBE franchise always delivers on impressive stunt work and action sequences. However, these last two films were by cobbled hubris, amounting to a six-hour two-part movie that really could have been a single, shorter feature.

THE FINAL RECKONING takes time to build to its climax, paced more like a suspense film than a summer action. In a way, it feels like a streaming series where the punch comes only in the final episode.

The final action sequence is breathtaking and beautifully shot. Unfortunately, you have to wade through a lot of slow dialogue, reiterated plot points, complicated MacGuffins, and music crescendos to get there.

Still, it’s worth a watch, especially for the cinematic experience. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING gets three shirtless Tom Cruises out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

The story follows a college student who has visions of a catastrophic accident sixty years ago. She learns her grandmother cheated Death in that accident, and now the Grim Reaper is trying to get rid of everyone who survived… and their families.

If you’ve seen any of the Final Destination movies, you know what you’re getting into. The characters are served up on a silver platter to face their gory and gruesome demise in complex Rube-Goldberg situations. And if you’re a little sick and twisted like me, you’ll find the humor in it.

The writing is passable, loaded with clichés and silliness. But, silliness is kind of the key to a film like this.

Creative, bloody, and fun, it’s not for the faint of heart. And it also has a sweet moment where audiences get to say a final good-bye to horror icon Tony Todd.

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES gets three lawn mowers out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

FIGHT OR FLIGHT tells the story of a burned government agent lured back to the job to find an elusive hacker on an international flight. The only problem is that dozens of hit men are also on the flight trying to kill both of them.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT takes up the challenge of having a massive, multi-layered brawl happen in the toughest of conditions. Most of the film takes place on the plane, resulting in some creative and high-octane sequences, often with hilarious results.

Whether its firearms, martial arts experts, or chainsaws, the things that made it on this plane are unbelievable, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun to watch.

The overall story is full of clichés and is as predictable as a Harlem Globetrotters game, but it makes things work with a committed cast and its tongue firmly in cheek. This is what BULLET TRAIN could have been if it had pared down its bloated running time.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT gets three and a half bags of peanuts out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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