Logan Lucky

All-star cast goof their way through a redneck romp that feels like a Soderday Night Live skit gone long. Repeatedly slips off bizarrely farcical plot-line and ultimately fails by virtue of over-easy success. Unearned twists wreck into a weird wall when Little West Virginia kicks off Swanky mismatched final act.

Spectre

Chicken little was right.  The sky has fallen, and though Bond landed on a couch, everything else was reduced to rubble.  That includes the narrative, the world, the supporting characters, and even the franchise staples.  Indecipherable conspiracy, mediocre action, and tonal tedium culminate with an inglorious villain who frankly blows.

Skyfall

Hopscotches between Bondiest Bond ever, and not a Bond film at all.  Worst Craig opening yet, followed by uncharacteristically character driven flick with interludes of digital dragons and rogue subways. Inception Island for Old Bardem, Straw Dogs third act, and perfect closing scene confuse the hell out of Chicken Little.

The Adventures of Tintin

Spielberg infuses 3D animated venture with the energy and tone that Crystal Skull sorely lacked.  A clever fast-paced story with witty dialogue and clever exploitation of motion-capture technology make for a fantastically fun film.  Bad guy who looks like Spielberg and good guy Peter Jackson evoke questions of producer-director relationship.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Swedish film (virtually identical shots, character appearance, and pacing) plus Social Reznor score and Finchermatography equals still a great, if very familiar movie. Craig manages to separate this more bookish investigator from the bonds of his repertoire, and Rooney’s Noomi is powerful but very derivative. A difficult but excellent re-watch.

Cowboys and Aliens

Independence day in Arizona. James Bond’s magic bracelet helps him fight not so Super eight thousand alien gold-diggers, because they stupidly abducted Indiana Wayne’s milkshake hungry son. Ham-handed character development, ridiculously silly story, and inanely Wilde phoenix scene add up to a film that tries too hard. Camp vs. A-listers.