Gods of Egypt

If you’re expecting top-notch scholarship in Egyptology, you’re probably going to be disappointed in this flick. But if you approach this with the right frame of mind--namely, it’s a popular story using the familiar characters of the Egyptian mythos, in much the same way that Greek and Roman myths have been mined for movie materials for decades (think of all the iterations of Hercules in film)--then you may have a chance of seeing this film as a fun bit of entertainment. Nothing wildly great, and certainly with its flaws, but not much better or worse than the kinds of stories people have been telling each other for thousands of years...or at least since movies were created. It’s splashy and entertaining, and that’s really all one should ask from this kind of movie. It works.

300

The quintessential example of the power of a noble defeat. It would have been nice if a certain two-term president I could name had the resolve of Leonidas and his Spartans in the face of opposition; as this film demonstrates, sometimes getting beaten is what sets up the more lasting and meaningful victory down the road. Worth seeing for its visual inventiveness, its excellent performances, and for all the deep stuff this movie has on its mind. Yes, we are the inheritors of a tradition that has hung in the balance--by a thread--more than once in our history; and yes, if need be, we can beat back the attack once again.

Coriolanus

A new experience in so many ways. There are many Shakespeare plays that I have seen several times (in person and on film), a few I’ve seen once, several that I haven’t seen but know the story pretty well...this ain’t one of them. I had no clue what Coriolanus is about until I saw this film, yet I found it to be one of the more powerful presentations of the Bard that I’ve ever witnessed. Mad props go to Ralph Fiennes for both his performance and direction; he has put together a film that is not only entertaining in its totality, but the visual storytelling is so strong that you’d know what’s going on even if you were watching the movie with the sound off and no captions (good news for people who complain that they don’t understand Shakespeare’s language). A triumph, one any good Roman would hope to achieve.

How to Train Your Dragon

You know the drill by now. This film has all the standard characteristics of today's CGI animated wonderworks--enough so that it shouldn't rise anywhere above run-of-the-mill status. And yet, somehow, it does. There's something in this piece that gives it more life than the usual fare. The art direction, the voiceover acting, the setting...I don't know; it's something ineffable that leaves the viewer thinking, "I enjoyed that more than I should have." Maybe I shouldn't trust that result, but I think we can get away with it here.

Reign Of Fire

Surprisingly excellent action-adventure movie. Great action, interesting vision of an alternate world, compelling story and characters--even Sir Shirtless himself (McConaughy) holds his own against no less a costar than Christian Bale. Add it all up and you get an unfairly overlooked but thoroughly enjoyable movie. Take the time to find this one and appreciate.