It's hard to say whether this is a good movie or not. It's hard to say much of anything about it. Partially, that's because, at this point, what is there to say about any of these movies? Partially, it's because this entry caps a series of films that some of us have been watching practically our entire lives; it is virtually impossible to filter out one's personal associations with the franchise versus its actual accomplishment (or not) as a piece of filmmaking. This episode has taken a big chunk of critical bashing; I doubt those complaints are sincere reflections on the nature of this work, rather than the verbal posings of those who want to burnish their intellectual bona fides by not throwing their lot in with the hoi polloi. I'll try to avoid that trap. Simply put, this movie works as a descendant of the early, Saturday matinee serial action adventure shorts, to which the series owes so much. If one recognizes it as such, then the viewer can appreciate the offering to a substantial degree. Anyone expecting Oscar-bait will not only be disappointed, but will be walking into the theater (or, at a future date, sitting down in front of a home screen) as a fool. Best to be wise and enjoy the simple pleasures--they're there in this piece, despite the critical carping--one last time, at least along this storyline.
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