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Short and briskly paced. "The Marvels" is an action filled superhero comedy fueled by the charm and charisma of its leading women Brie Larson, Teyonah Paris and Iman Velani who's clearly having the best time. Despite its charms the film can at time come across as uneven, with some ideas not feeling entirely fleshed out and a lackluster villain on par with Thor: The Dark World. All in all, The Marvels is an improvement on its predecessor and is a fun journey filled with heart and humor. It has a few flaws and oddities that most die hard fans will embrace, but most casual fans might be taken aback by.

This movie is everything we've wanted to see from the MCU's Spider-Man, while also being a culmination of things we never thought would be possible. This third film in the MCU delivers a fun, earnest, and eventful film that brings back some of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. (Among Others.) It's a movie that On all accounts shouldn't work, but somehow surprisingly does, crafting a perfect ten Spidey film, with Jon Watts helming something phenomenal, and Tom Holland and Zendaya stealing the show.

While definitely the most Marvel of the shows released on Disney+. Hawkeye is a fun Christmas adventure that knows why it's here. It serves as a great introduction to Kate Bishop, and fair return from Vincent Dinofrio, phenomenal continued performances from Renner and Pugh. The action is great, the representation amazing. It really is a sweet and fun little show, that may not make for a big story, but allows for some good superhero fun.

A great premise from Adam McKay and phenomenal performances from this all star cast. DiCaprio and Lawrence being stand outs. "Don't Look Up" is a fine satire of humanity, the rich, and politics that hits really close to home, but could've benefited from diving more into the world of the absurd. The movie comes in and out from time to time and it's hard to get a grasp on it, ultimately leaving me with a film I'd like to watch again but I can't say I'd enjoy a second watch.

Filled with Lin-Manuel Miranda's beautiful music and populated with an astounding voice cast and eye catching visuals. "Encanto" is a rich addition to the Disney canon, and will likely become a classic as time goes on. Thanks to its cultural influences, Stephanie Beatriz's performance, and music you'll be tapping to for hours on end.

Filled with heart, humor, and love. "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" is a lovely installment to the franchise. Elevated by the deft and heartfelt direction from Jason Reitman and filled with phenomenal performances from McKenna Grace, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon. This film is a delightful breath of fresh air. As well as a wonderful tribute to Harold Ramos, that is the best kind of familiar. This film will gladly take space on my wall of blu rays.

Beautifully directed and expertly crafted. Tick, Tick...Boom! Soars with a committed and well crafted performance by Andrew Garfield and Robin De Jesús. This earns its place as one of the great musical to film adaptations, while continuing to cement Lin-Manuel Miranda as the artist of our generation and honor the late great Johnathan Larson's legacy in a beautiful poignant way that puts his work and life in the spotlight.

Sadly this movies biggest fault is also its biggest draw. I can't say the trailer made me excited for this film, but it was the names attached that did. The movie stars Rob Delaney and Ellie Kemper as the robbers (both of whom are extremely hilarious) Archie Yates fresh off of his role in Jojo Rabbit, Aisling Bea from Living with Yourself. Not to mention Pete Holmes, Kenan Thompson, Chris Parnell, Timothy Simmons, and even bringing back Devin Ratray shows some level of fun for the franchise. However what I was most excited about for this film, were its writers. Mikey Day and Streeter Seidel have killed it on SNL for years as both a cast member and writer respectively, so it's safe to say they know humor, penning the David Pumpkins Sketch, Rap Song, and even the Close Encounters bit. The movie however squanders all of its potential with the most simple of decisions. Taking focus off of the kid and sympathizing with the robbers. On paper this is not necessarily a terrible idea, it's also different and new, but the issue is it ruins who we are supposed to root for and watching good people get hurt purely on a misunderstanding can be funny but it grades after a while. Because of this the film isn't exactly cut and paste but we also lose the charm of Home Alone by taking out the most simple of formulas. The characters are bland and the story is the same. I hate faulting the film because I love the talent behind it, and I just love Home Alone at Christmas time. You won't lose any holiday cheer from this film, but take my advice just stick to the originals, there classic and fun. I just wish this film could've been the same.

Marvel's latest entry to the MCU feels very self contained, and allow for Chloe Zhao to work with a large budget using her beautiful affinity for landscapes and nature at a large scale. The films story, plot, characters, and performances are all phenomenal the only issue with it is there's too much, and it's our first time with any of these people. For a film like "Ant-Man and the Wasp" which also contains a lot but we've seen them before and the stakes are quite low it's an easier ride. With this film, it's the first time many of these actors, characters, writers, and filmmakers have entered the MCU and while it's without a doubt thrilling and fun, the movie feels it's length and can leave some unfamiliar with the Eternals feeling bored (however I was ecstatic.) I'm excited to see where these characters go in the future and I hope Chloe Zhao is invited back to the table to tell another chapter, as I feel she has some ownership over these characters much like James Gunn to the Guardians. I almost wish the film were told in two parts as it is very similar to Dune in some ways, but take what we can get. Is this the worst of the MCU not by a long shot and it's crazy to see the Rotten score after viewing it, but I can't say I don't understand where some are coming from. If you're a fan of Marvel and are ready for some new characters, Shang-Chi might have been more your speed, but Eternals satisfies in ways that are very beautiful and deserve to be seen.

Venom and Carnage as characters deserve much better treatment than these particular films deliver. With that said however it's fun to watch multiple high caliber actors just ham it up and have fun in these roles. If you were a fan of the first one, you'll likely enjoy this film. And while there is some charm in the goofiness and mindlessness, fans of the comics and Venom alike will probably still be wanting more than what we've received.

As an Abilene resident, and an Abilene High alum, I had many chances to be apart of this film. I'm glad I wasn't. While I've definitely seen worse films, and there are some moments of good. Both Abilene and this Story deserve better. I'm all for indie movies but for first time directors and writers, I feel more extensive research needed to be done for this film. Abilene may also have rough places but there is a lot of beauty here and I think the filmmakers chose not to focus on that. While Laurence Fishburne and Milo Gibson are fine actors, the direction is completely off and the entire movie feels like a needless copy pandering to the crowd who enjoyed "Friday Night Lights" further evidenced by the films title change from Brother's Keeper to Under the Stadium Lights. Which is not a fair title considering that all games filmed in this movie take place during the DAY! I had many friends as extras in the film and two of my brothers are even in this as extras. This film could have been something very special and open up the country to Abilene, TX. But it seems the filmmakers didn't truly care about telling a good story and only about making a quick buck and stretching their talents for the future. Who knows maybe there will be better films in the future one bad film doesn't make a person a bad storyteller. But for a city who really care for this team and the personal stories it highlights deserve a shot at something a whole lot bigger.

This movie. There are no words. James Gunn was not only the best man for the job, but the creativity and quirky Ed's he brings to the table are all things from his own mind that no one else could do. Being R-rated, the films violence and Gunn's pension for it shine through and with the astounding group of actors he has under his belt, he creates one of the best comic-book films for possibly the decade. The amazing visual style, phenomenal script, and hilariously dark humor make this DC film an exponential improvement on its predecessor and quite possibly one of the great films of its medium.

Free Guy has an interesting premise and a great performance from Ryan Reynolds, but the surprisingly heartfelt screenplay and direction from Shawn Levy elevate what is possibly one of the years best films to new heights. The great effects, phenomenal actors, and message are all highlights of the film and you'll leave the viewing feeling ecstatic both as a fan and as a human being.

Shang-Chi is a character I and many others, know very little about. Which in Marvels case offers up a clean slate to tell a fresh story. I'm happy to say they have delivered. Marvel's newest outing is a Kung-Fu superhero extravaganza, that is fully built on it's action and set pieces. The performances of Simu Liu and Tony Leung stand out amongst the pack and offer a great and rich story for Marvels Cinematic Universe. Though the film can at times feel bogged down by its origin story tropes, the direction of Destin Daniel Cretton, the overall charm of its cast, and story make the film feel fresh and lively. I'm happy to welcome this crew to the ever growing MCU and cannot wait to see what comes next. Hopefully more Shang-Chi!

Malignant's original story and direction from the not always reliable but always creative James Wan made this film intrigue me. The strange places it goes and the off putting twist ending will leave people divided (no pun intended). What you get out of this film you will receive and it will no doubt leave some sort of impression on you whether for better or for worse.

You know I get that the original "Space Jam" is nostalgic but it's far from a good film. If that affects your views on this film that's a little crazy to me. Having said that I can not whole heartedly call this film good, but it's fun. "Space Jam: A New Legacy" has good effects and a fun premise but despite LeBron James' best efforts it falls flat. This movie understands the Looney Tunes a little better than the original film (though not as well as Back in Action) and features a good character arc for Bugs Bunny of all. However the awkward delivery and shameless IP placements do nothing to enhance the viewing experience. Despite this we must all remember this movie is for children, and it's a fun ride that will be enjoyable for them. I don't recommend this as a Cinematic classic, but I'll gladly recommend it as a good time!

Season 1 This being Marvels first series on Disney+ to receive a second season, and it being so unique I had to let this show ruminate for a moment. Ultimately I came to this. "WandaVision and TFAWS" were and are events, both very different and "Loki" is no exception (the only thing is there will be more). Balancing a new part of the MCU and featuring a wonderful cast from people I love like Owen Wilson and Gugu Mbatha Raw to people I've never seen before (Sophia Di Martino and Johnathan Majors). Kate Herron and Michael Waldron's first season is a visually stunning artfully balanced masterpiece that promises a great future for these characters and the overall MCU, and with Tom Hiddleston at its core in spectacular fashion. This show is clearly destined for Glorious Purpose.

Cloak and Dagger features some of my favorite Marvel characters and some actors I've been watching since I was a kid. While the characters and story are there, the action, the pacing, and the general care you're supposed to have are not. While it's still cool to see, it's not enough to keep anyone invested and sadly is one of the more boring entries in the MCU.

Black Widow's numerous delays combined with a constant want for her own big screen solo outing, and the fact that this is the first MCU film apart of Phase Four likely caused a lot of people to build this movie up in there heads. While by no means a bad film (what marvel movie is?) "Black Widow" is an action packed spy drama somewhere in the realm of Mission: Impossible. The Actors are all phenomenal in this film with the core "family" Johansson, Pugh, Weisz, and Harbour giving it their respective best. The film also has a nice lighting design and well choreographed action if not always well shot. Shortland's direction is great and I hope to see more from her in the future. This doesn't rank among Marvels best, but it's not supposed to. This is a good movie and a welcome return to the films of the MCU. I look forward to see if Pugh's character will grow from this point.

"Luca's" beautiful animation and terrific lighting design highlight the beauty of Italy in the summertime and the decision to cast such great child actors like Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer elevate the film even further, despite it not taking many risks (which by no means is a bad thing!) "Luca" is a phenomenal directorial debut for Casarosa and in many ways feels like Pixar is making an art house indie film. The story is nothing new but the journey is all but worth it.

Very few people outside of the theatre world know about "In the Heights" which is why I'm so glad it has made a leap to cinema. Beautifully directed by Jon M. Chu (In fact possibly his best film?) "In the Heights" phenomenal dancing, ecstatic music, beautiful visuals, and of course the exceptional cast elevate the musical to new places for not only a new generation but for people who have yet to experience the magic. The movie will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. This is not something that should be missed.

In a world where a majority if not all Disney remakes have been bad (one exception being The Jungle Book) Cruella's announcement was not something I was looking forward to. However, after a really good trailer I regained my investment, and I'm ever grateful. Cruella is an artful balance of remake, prequel, reimagining. That has great direction from Craig Gillespie and even better performances from Thompson and Stone both of which continually prove their talents, with Stone being a great Cruella. Paul Walter Houser and Joel Fry also steal the show with their excellent performances. The beautiful costumes, great cinematography, and willingness to take a chance may mean these Disney remakes aren't going anywhere, but if they're more like this I wouldn't mind one bit.

A fun popcorn action flick that has phenomenal fight scenes and great visuals. The movie seems to squander its full potential by having an extremely rushed script and a need to introduce as many characters as possible, and some actors clearly not giving there A-Game. (Kano being a true exception) I believe this was the studio simply proving they can handle a Mortal Kombat film, and while I can't in good conscience call this a great film, I can call it a fun film and worth a watch if you love action or if you're a fan of the game.

A wonderful action showcase for Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan. "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" highlights what it truly means for a black man to take up the shield in a wonderfully written and well acted series, that shows the more realistic side of the MCU, and allows for Sam Wilson to grow as a character as well as Cap, with Wyatt Russell proving to make a great addition to the MCU. I can only look forward to what's in store here for one of my favorite superheroes as Sam and in many ways Anthony Mackie takes up this mantle, with Sebastian Stan growing beside him.

Despite some impressive visual effects and beautiful lighting design to boot. Godzilla vs. Kong hits the mark on these classic characters and their ultimate battle but misses the reason why they are fighting making us follow some terribly underwritten human characters. Thankfully the movie knows how to displace its action scenes, so you're never really bored, but just because we have Godzilla and Kong fighting doesn't give an excuse to give up on a compelling screenplay. Try as the actors may they cannot save the terrible dialogue and thinly slapped together story, in fact the only thing that can save the movie are the epic sequences from these two Kings of the Monsters. Watch for the action, but if you're looking for some substance, or compelling characters, simply watch something else to satisfy.