The Bad Batch

Bad Bax populates a stereotypical post-apocalypse with unpredictable action and mold-shattering roles for incredible array of actor characters. From the disarming opening to the mind-altering middle, this trek is perpetually intriguing, but struggles to supports its story as the freshness ultimately can’t carrey the weight of a weakly built world.

Selma

A historical piece that marches steadfastly forward from start to finish and follows Lincoln’s lead, depicting a hero by focusing on one event.  Never gets beaten down by gravitas of the subject matter.  Oleyowo was the right leader for this powerful piece and his performance is a dream come true.

Ted 2

McFarlane stuffs the same used plush formula with the same loveable live action Family jokes, but forgets the heartfelt story that made the first coming so accessible.  Amusing anecdotal episodes and silly celebrity cameos mesh horribly with the shoe-horned messages of the courtroom scenes and the bearly tolerable third act.

Gangster Squad

Gangsterland proves that with enough star-power, a terrible script can be transformed into an equally terrible movie.  2-dimensional characters babble clichéd lines throughout an overly dumbed-down condensed TV-series plot.  Gosling and Stone make one Crazy Stupid decision after another and Brolin decides this is No City for Penn’s bulldog mask.

The Rum Diary

Depp’s return to’ Thompson and I’ lacks Withnail’s wit or Fearful Loathing pacing.  Eckhart, Jenkins, and Ribisi’s characters are enjoyable distractions from unsatisfactory island vacation, but even they can’t fill Captain Jack’s empty bottle/diary of rum.  Disenchanting story, dissatisfying dialogue, and an ultimately disappointing story fail like a drunken newspaper.

Ted

Live action family guy complete with arbitrary and obscure referential cutaways.  Kunis and Wahlberg perform hilariously on their second date, and a strange cast of supporting stars distracts away from lamely straightforward plot and a few flat self-directed jokes.  Stupidly juvenile premise works great, but could have used heavier R.

Avatar

Visually orgasmic reformatting of old story into fantastical new world. If C.S. Lewis can do it to Jesus, why can’t Cameron do it Pocahontas? Pervasive political message tries and fails to detract from special effects extravaganza. Not for people who hate beauty, excitement, or Native Americans. That said, ‘unobtanium,’ really?