How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Spoiler: what this movie is for the franchise. ‘HTTYD: Don’t!’ offers beautiful Wall-E-esque sequences which weave in and out of logical plot holes to ultimately unveil the message that integration is unnatural. Strange mix of comedic quirk and serious sentiments fails to soar to previous heights in Train’s shaky caboose.

Mother!

Moving cinematography puts viewers in the feverish nightmare of an unamused muse abused. Mediocre digital effects and inconsistent pacing damage structural integrity of a creative internal haunted house built on a foundation of densely packed symbolism which ultimately devolves into Boschian cinematic orgy where generating exclamation seems the main point.

Sausage Party

Overstocked with shock, Rogen’s grocery story is a pun-ishingly biting satire of faith, religion and world culture. From start to finish, Party is stuffed with deliciously satisfying vocal performances. Maybe mis-packaging as a giant dick joke prompted refined viewers to shelve the product, when really it’s well worth checking out.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Hiccup grows up and his world grows out, expanding to include contrived backstory, overly complex dragon rules and countless questions about how everyone knows where they’re going.  Teen friends flirt until frozen reunion leads to most tedious dragon fight ever. Despite stilted pacing and awkward arcs, still an entertaining flight.

The Martian

Saving Astronaut Damon is Scott’s first humans-only space epic and the cast, setting and result are stellar. Necessarily jettisons several of source’s set-pieces but remains loyal to the physics, the feel, and the fun.  Iron-ically cheesy finale and spaced out Glover are only detractors.  But Boromir explains Elrond to council!!!