Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Besson’s back in his Element with visually astounding sci-fi symphony. City of 1000 Effects Shots mashes together shiploads of spectacle to compensate for episodic plot, illogical ending and clunky emotional beats. Hawke hocks Rihanna, and Clive Owes more than this performance to albino Na’vi, but Cara’s character carries the film.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Sin City: Fall of a Franchise matches 300.2’s weird chronology, imitative superficiality and nude (albeit black and white) Green.  Rourke’s Kirk Douglas is a better match than Brolin’s Owen.  Could certainly have benefited from insurance against tragic deaths of Murphy, Duncan and character development.  SinCity: Are you in gold eye?

Sin City

Rodriguez brings together outstanding cast and exemplary style in perfect screen adaptation of comic series. Sure, the cinematography and dialogue had all been pre-determined by co-director, Miller, but RR cuts it cleverly a delivers a beautiful hybrid. Uses voice-over to excess and seems a bit to arbitrary, but otherwise, spectacular.

The International

Tykwer’s Perfume cinematography and Edit Lola Edit stylization aren’t enough to mask the convoluted plot of this political thriller. Clive Owen finally gets his chance to play James Bond, and does well during the one worthwhile shootout. Otherwise a run of the mill conspiracy film with little to distinguish it.