Reagan is a biopic that attempts to portray the life and legacy of Ronald Reagan, featuring Dennis Quaid in the titular role. My experience watching the film was a mix of nostalgia and critique, as it covers Reagan's journey from his early years to his presidency, all narrated by Jon Voight a retired KGB agent.
Quaid's performance is commendable; he captures Reagan's charm and mannerisms effectively. The film highlights key moments, such as his near-assassination and his relationship with Nancy Reagan, which added emotional depth. However, I found the film's pacing slow and its 135-minute runtime excessive, making it feel drawn out at times.
Critically, the film has faced backlash for its overly glorified portrayal of Reagan, often glossing over significant controversies like the Iran-Contra scandal. While I appreciated the nostalgic elements and the depiction of California's landscapes, I felt the movie lacked a balanced perspective on Reagan's presidency.
Overall, Reagan offers an engaging look at a complex figure but falls short of delivering a comprehensive narrative. For those familiar with his era, it provides a sentimental journey, but it may leave others wanting more depth and accuracy.
If you enjoyed my insights, check out the Latest Movie Reviews.

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch the movie "Reagan," a captivating biography centered around the life of former President Ronald Reagan. Dennis Quaid takes on the role of the iconic president, portraying a two-hour love story dedicated to the American people.
The film delves deep into Reagan's entire life, beginning from his childhood with poignant flashbacks that reveal his struggles with bullying and his mother's unwavering determination for him to stand up for himself. From his days as a movie actor to dealing with a failed marriage and the loss of a child at birth, Reagan's story unfolds with a strong focus on his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The narrative follows Reagan's journey as he rises from governor to senator and eventually becomes the President of the United States. Throughout his political career, Reagan remains steadfast in his faith, never wavering even in the face of challenges such as his mother's passing and meeting his wife, Nancy.
The movie beautifully portrays Nancy Reagan as an incredible and loving woman, showcasing her unwavering support for her husband and her compassion towards everyone she encounters. The focus remains on Reagan's story, omitting the extensive details of Nancy's tenure as the First Lady.
Despite some critics' harsh reviews, the film's well-written script and engaging pace make for an immersive viewing experience. It effectively captures Reagan's struggles during his presidency, including the threat of impeachment, alongside his significant achievements such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and collaborations with world leaders like Margaret Thatcher.
While some may find fault in Dennis Quaid's portrayal of Reagan, feeling that he falls short of capturing the essence of the former president, the film's strong writing compensates for any casting missteps. The actress portraying Nancy Reagan, on the other hand, delivers a standout performance that adds depth to the scenes involving Reagan.
The movie tastefully acknowledges other prominent political figures like Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and George H.W. Bush, without overshadowing Reagan's narrative. It successfully presents Reagan's historical significance without delving into unnecessary controversies or distractions.
Additionally, the film delves into the poignant aspect of Ronald Reagan's battle with Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on the challenges this illness poses to individuals and their families. It portrays the emotional toll it takes on President Reagan and his loved ones, highlighting the profound impact of the disease on his later years. Through this portrayal, the movie offers a glimpse into the personal struggles faced by Reagan as he navigated the complexities of Alzheimer's, adding a touching and humanizing layer to his remarkable life story.
Overall, "Reagan" offers a breathtaking portrayal of a historical figure, allowing the audience to connect with Reagan's journey without being bogged down by excessive political intricacies. It serves as a compelling tribute to the enduring legacy of former President Ronald Reagan.
#MovieReview #RonaldReagan #ReaganMovie #ReaganFilm #PresidentRegan #PresidentRonaldReagan #PresidentoftheUnitedStates

spiderman no way home is one of the best films ever made. playing in perfectly on nostalgia but in the good way. realising childhood dreams and exceeding expectations while also delivering a good standalone film for the people who never watched spiderman. the hype is real. go watch this very awesome movie!

Spider-Man: No Way Home is like the proverbial blind squirrel that finds a nut every now and then, except that it doesn’t so much find them as it steals them from another squirrel’s hoard. The massive combined gravitas generated by Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx would be enough to save any other movie; the problem is that this film is not theirs to save, and it’s barely a film at all to begin with – it’s more like the superhero equivalent of that Pink Panther movie they made with spare parts from previous Pink Panther movies.
If I want Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, why not just revisit 2002’s Spider-Man? Similarly, if I have a hankering for Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, why not just rewatch 2004’s Spider-Man 2? The latter was, according to Roger Ebert, “the best superhero movie since the modern genre was launched with "Superman"”. How the mighty have fallen. It’s great to see Dafoe and Molina sharing screen time, but once the novelty – or rather the nostalgia – wears off, we are left with only a reminder of how comparatively superior Sam Raimi’s trilogy was, as well as a testament of how downhill things have gone since then.
When Molina finally arrives, following an excruciatingly dumb, seemingly endless first half hour, he does so like a godsend; unfortunately, as much as we welcome the company of someone with a gleam of intelligence in his eyes, Doc Ock’s edge has been dulled by poor stylistic choices – first, his mechanical tentacles are 100% computer-generated (as opposed to Spider-Man 2, which used CGI to enhance, but not fully replace, a set of prop tentacles), and second, Molina was digitally de-aged (as was Dafoe), though in this case, unlike for example The Irishman, the unintended uncanny valley effect might have been a blessing in disguise; after all, Doc Ock is supposed to be a comic book villain, so that grotesqueness actually becomes him.
All things considered, everything and everyone endemic to the MCU Spider-Man is as flat and artificial as cardboard (our sympathy inevitably lies with the villains because, goblins and octopuses though they may be, they remain at all times more human – and certainly have a cleverer sense of humor – than any of the heroes with the exception of Tobey Maguire, and while Spider-Man may prevail over Norman Osborne, Dafoe totally obliterates Holland in terms of acting); at the same time, all the best parts are almost exclusively lifted from the work – and not even the best work at that – of a much more talented filmmaker. To put it bluntly, Spider-Man: No Way Home has absolutely no reason for being.

**One of Marvel's absolute best!**
Watching No Way Home felt like my childhood and my adulthood were embracing each other in a warm, friendly hug. The nostalgia was brilliantly balanced with advancing Tom Holland's Spider-man and developing his character. Andrew Garfield's Spider-man also received some long-awaited closure after an abrupt end to his story. The effects, action, and humor all reinforced a heartfelt film focusing on the characters' processing of loss and grief.

I like it

This movie brings it from start to finish, there is not a dull moment in this film, and we truly see the birth of a new Spider-Man. As a superhero and MCU fan, this is a much watch and breaks open the multi-verse entirely. A welcomed addition to the fresh new phase four of the MCU.
**Verdict:** _Excellent_

This is another Spider Man for kids which for me is a wee bit unfortunate. I would very much have liked a Peter Parker / Spider Man that behaved like a real superhero instead of this naïve kid who constantly thinks he knows better than the grown ups and, of course, constantly bungles things up.
In addition I was not too thrilled about the story itself where Spider Man right at the beginning is framed as the bad guy. I know, I know, it is rather consistent with the original comics but Hollywood do not hesitate so change things if they feel like it so why not make a good change for once?
The good thing about this movie is the special effects. They are quite cool. Especially the parts in this weird space where Doctor Strange and Spider Man dukes it out. Unfortunately that is pretty much it.
The rest of the movie is really dragged down by the childish and stupid behavior of Peter Parker. Him being a real idiot and constantly trying to change the spell was just cringe worthy. Then he continues screwing things up because he do not want notorious criminals to go back to their real place because they will actually die there. Typical Hollywood sob story. Despite what that dumb bitch said towards the end, yes Peter Parker you did something wrong, you screwed up big time and the wrong people died because of it.
Another thing that was really annoying throughout the movie was listening to that moron Jonah Jameson from The Daily Bugle. He was spewing almost as much fake news as CNN and it just pissed me off every time he was on screen.
It is a shame really. One would have thought that, given that they already did the young and immature Spider Man in Spider Man: Far From Home, they could have made him more experienced and mature in this one. You know, character advancement.
Instead they just piled on the childish, naïve and immature behavior with a good dose of juvenile jokes making what, with some actual intelligent script writing, could have been a great movie with all those cool special effects (and I really do like Doctor Strange) to be one just barely watchable.

Good addition to the Spider-Man franchise and a quasi-reset. Fun seeing the old guard in here with Maguire and Garfield along with their foes and at least their inclusions didn't feel as forced as I feared when this movie was first announced. The relationship between Tom Holland and Zendaya worked better than in Homecoming and even Far From Home. Will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. **4.0/5**

This is the perfect Marvel movie that isn't an Avengers film. It pays off everything thing it builds up, corrects previous misgivings and really gets the character of Spider-Man right. All while setting things up in an interesting way that it's bound to be fresh next time out. Absolutely loved this.

Wow! Loved it!
I'd recommend not reading any reviews if you plan to watch it - I didn't and I'm sure glad I didn't! Spoilers inbound!
Where to begin? I was not expecting to love this film as much as I do! It surpassed my expectations in every way possible, to the point that I'd say it beats 'Avengers: Endgame' as my favourite production from the MCU. This is a next level superhero movie, it's easily the most I've consistently enjoyed a film in this series and genre - no question.
The cast are all outstanding, it's ace how they work everyone in from previous iterations of 'Spider-Man' - even away from the main universe. Seeing Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire together onscreen as Peter Parker is tremendous. The film does it in the perfect way, at no point does it feel forced or needless and the humour between the trio is excellent; in fact, the whole film is funny when it intends to be.
Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon (his best showing of the trilogy), Jon Favreau and Marisa Tomei also add positives things to this 2021 film. Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina and, most pleasing for me, Willem Dafoe all reprise their characters from past releases and are all a joy. I'm a fan of Dafoe so was particularly happy to see him reappear.
Onto what we see onscreen. The plot is great and I wouldn't change anything about it, there is one or two things that I had question marks about whilst watching but those quickly dissipated. The pacing is top notch and the music is superb, the respective screen times of everybody was pinpoint and, along with the already noted humour, the film also packs a punch on a more serious level to boot.
This really is top tier Marvel! Would watch again, would recommended etc. Awesome!

> With great power, comes great responsibility !
Best spider man movie I have ever seen. Literally got chills watching it cinema hall. Cinema hall turned into stadium. The screams, the excitement, the hype - all about it is amazing in it's own way. A total fan service.

Long awaited and very conspiricized, **'Spider-man:No way Home'** Lives up and surpasses hype, The introduction of charcters once thought cordened off into the MCU, came both as a shock and as an eventual certainty. The Pleathora of indephth easter eggs creates awonderful viewing for the spider-man fan but alienates the casual none MCU fanatic viewers. The plot is dense not in fault but in advantage, it crams in expectation with suitable comedy and light heartedness. The director created a a comprehensive journey of emotion with several troughs and many peaks leaving a sense of WOAH at the end.
Overall, **'Spider-man NWH'** is a Marvel Maniac's Heaven but can ruin marvel experiences for the uniformed viewers spoiling previous films and enjoyment of them. This is not a stand-alone film and for some this amazing but for many of those seeking to enter the universe this is not at all suitable. This and the poorly grand soundtrack make it 4.5 stars.

_Spider-Man: No Way Home_ isn’t without its flaws, but it is mostly exactly what it’s advertised to be. The film doesn’t necessarily redefine the, “With great power comes great responsibility,” aspect for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but it without a doubt gives the MCU version of Spider-Man his version of that principle.
_No Way Home_ is a nostalgic extravaganza that exceeds expectations and is a perfect and satisfying bookend for the first three Tom Holland _Spider-Man_ movies.
**Full review**: https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/12/18/spider-man-no-way-home-riding-the-nostalgia-train/

**" THIS IS POP-ENTERTAINMENT; AT ITS FUNNEST,
WILDEST, WHACKIEST, _MOST_ CREATIVE, "SUBLIME-EST"... _B E S T_ 💜 😉 😃 "**
A **-{ _B I G_ }-** Screen **_MINI_** Review ; Film Seen all of FOUR times( soon to be 🖐 ); as of Dec.15, '2021.
______________________________________________________
Tom Holland's Peter: { to MJ }: "What's that thing you always say? ...expect disappointment..."
MJ: "No, no, no... NO ...we're gonna Kick Some Ass !"
Tom Holland's Peter: "O.k !"
Toby Maguire's Peter: -{ "Cure. Cure Some Ass" }- .
**Ned Leeds: CURE THAT ASS !!!**
______________________________________________________
**Somewhere, "In An Alternate Universe",** Spider-Man: No Way Home { to be hitherto referred to as NWH }, is already -Well- on the way to winning the "Best Motion Picture Of The Year" Award. { Here on Earth 🌎, incidentally, the Oscar Awards are, ( as things stand as of -_Now_- ), slated to be held on March 27, 2022 }. And -Speaking- of which, in our -{ OWN }- breathtakingly ravishing universe unfortunately, that particular proposition is likely to be a **-FAR CRY-** at best ; given the Academy's characteristic, and seemingly perpetual "Stiff Upper Lip" type of attitude towards the 'Superhero-Supervillain' genre, in general. However ; with 'Black Panther' ( 2018 ) and 'Joker' ( 2019 ) having -BOTH- been nominated for "That... -{ Most }- Coveted Cinematic Prize ...Of All ", the Best Picture Oscar ; I believe that things are, thankfully 🙏, albeit -{ Slowly }-, **changing for the better.**
Yeah, so I'm er, "Officially" dubbing this "An Easter ( - E g g - ) Movie Released At Christmas", because it -well and truly- does reveal itself as **"The Movie Of A 1,000 Beautiful Surprises" . . . .** and so much, much, much, more. { And as I recently changed my review classification from 'Spoiler-free' to 'Spoiler', there is of course, a glaring "Little" reference to ( one ) of the two -most- THRILLING surprises of the picture ( by far ) }. In a nutshell, at this point, I suppose that it would be, well... -{ Suffice for me to say }- ...that NWH "far, far, far, far", surpassed my Hopes for said Theatrical 'Gargantuar' . . . . and "then some". It has -{ already }- SMASHED "all manner of records" the world over, & is currently the **6th Biggest Box-Office Earner ( E v e r ) ;** -quite possibly- soon to be Number 5 ( 💣 💥❗) ; after barrelling thru to overtake yet -Another- 'Veritable Marvel Collosus', 'Avengers: Infinity War' ( 2018 ).
Right, and -these- were my three biggest takeaways: 1. The "Raw, -{ Unbridled }- Talent" of NWH's three ( principal ) youngsters, Tom, Zendaya & Jacob . . . & boy, can the young thespian Mr. Thomas Stanley Holland, ( still barely all of '25 and two-thirds' ), **Really, Really ACT 👏❗** 2. How brilliantly -{ ALL }- the 'Multitudinous Trappings Of Contemporary Fame', ( whether that fame be positive -Or- adverse ), were depicted at the onset of NWH. 3. The totally "Astonishing" standard of -{ All }- of The Special Effects ( both computer generated -as well- as "Live" ), & indeed . . . just the { " A l l - A r o u n d " } level of cinematic accomplishment by Jon Watts, Daren Gilford, & Mauro Fiore, ( Director, Production Designer, Cinematographer ), & the -{ Entirety }- of the picture's **CREW & CAST,** frankly ....in achieving this thru the -{ Heights }- of a global pandemic.... **K u d o s 🌠❗**
**Summation:** Just before I go, I feel like I -{ Must }- say this. "If, ( -like yours truly- ), you've been a Loyal, Loving Adorer of the web-slinger for ( pretty much ) your -Entire- life . . . bring TWICE the amount of tissues ; 1 half for the ( -Several- ) Ribtickling 'Funnies' in NWH, & the other half for the **richly soulful & -{ FABULOUSLY HUMAN }- emotional scenes** that you are unquestionably going to encounter. Also, -Do- try & stay till the -Very- end of the movie, for not just 1, but in fact, -2- great teaser scenes . . . as you'll be -certain- to glean a few -exciting- insights into the near future of the MCU ( Marvel Cinematic Universe ). And here, without further ado, is my final appraisal of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel's truly "fresh", and -{ Uplifting }- New Multiplex-Marvel. **" 25 Spider Bitten, -{ Viscerally }- Wowed, And Indeed, " UTTERLY SMITTEN " Marks Out Of 10 . . . 😃 💥❗ "**

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/spider-man-no-way-home-spoiler-free-review
"Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the darkest, saddest, emotionally draining entries in the MCU, surpassing all of my expectations.
Despite a messy, convoluted first half with some pacing issues and occasionally frustrating, poorly placed humor, Jon Watts, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers more than compensate these minor issues with some of the best (and brutally violent) Spider-Man action ever witnessed on screen.
In addition to this, the surprisingly coherent narrative packs shocking developments and actually offers enough screentime for the villains to significantly impact Peter Parker's arc. Unbelievably outstanding performances from everyone involved, especially Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Willem Dafoe.
A heartfelt, nostalgic homage to the Spider-Man legacy that fans will rewatch countless times, laughing and crying along for many more years to come.
A memorable, passionate, once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience."
Rating: A

Life for Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is complicated thanks to his dual life as Spider-Man and the challenges of being in High School. Unfortunately for him; his best intentions are about to make things much worse in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.
Taking place where “Spider-Man: Far From Home” ended; Peter must deal with his secret identity being leaked by Tabloid Journalist J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons); and the throngs of people, helicopters, and protestors who follow his every move and camp outside his home.
As if this was not bad enough; being accused of being a murderer has drawn the attention of the authorities which further complicates his life as does returning to a school where everyone knows his identity.
Desperate to get away from the constant scrutiny and observation; Peter seeks out Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and asks him to cast a spell that would make the world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
Strange agrees but mid-spell Peter requests that there are some exemptions from the spell which include his Girlfriend MJ (Zendaya); his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei); and his friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).
Strange agrees but in doing so; complications arise which allows entrants from other dimensions to enter their realm. Soon Peter is accosted by villains whom he does not know but seem to know him; that is until he is unmasked and they have no idea who this Peter Parker is before them.
As more villains arrive; Peter learns of their fates in their natural dimension and is determined to save them and give them a second chance which puts him at odds with Doctor Strange who says they must go back to whatever fate they had.
What follows is a descent into humor and darkness as Peter despite his best intentions sees the situation go from bad to worse and he must fight to stay true to himself and save the day.
The film is a difficult one to review in the fact that there are so many surprise guests, twists, and turns that it is challenging to not reveal anything but suffice it to say that fans should absolutely enjoy it.
The film takes its time getting to the action as it has a very slow and deliberate climb and Director Jon Watts is confident enough in the characters and premise that he allows ample time for the characters and setting to build and be established before he gets to the action.
While there is considerable fan service in the film; it never once seems like it is pandering and it all fits very well within the story and the MCU and opens up numerous possibilities for the future.
There is a mid-credit scene and a post-credit scene which is basically a trailer and both are very engaging in terms of the possibilities as Marvel has again shown that their plan of interwoven stories and characters continues to deliver and that Spider-Man still remains as popular and engaging as ever.
4 stars out of 5

With over 7,000 pieces taken by the colonising French from their homes in the ancient African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin), there is much celebration amongst the population at the return of 26 artefacts. These range from statues of their legendary Kings Ghezo and Béhanzin to objects of religious significance and items of such an intricate design that their condition will require perpetual care in a new, purpose-built, home near the Presidential Palace. Sadly, we just don't spend enough time with these beautifully crafted sculptures, nor do we really learn very much about the history of them, their historical provenance nor really anything much about the colonial "treaties" that facilitated their move in the first place. It lacks a narration. Not often that bothers me, but at times this whole thing reminded me of one of those films you'd watch for ten minutes if you were visiting a museum before you moved on. It's presented as if it were the introductory edition of a multi-part documentary that was going to explore more and fill in many of the gaps left unexplained in this hour long preview. Too much of it is spent following a group of young people in a forum arguing about the relative merits (or demerits) of this gesture from the French, and though it can be interesting at times to listen to the differing views in this "what's past is prologue" type debate, it wasn't what I wanted to see. I wanted much more about the fascinating mythology that attributed animal features to human beings in the way the Egyptians did two thousand years earlier. What was their significance? How were they to be conserved, preserved, exhibited - and, quite importantly, to whom. None of that was really gone into and I found that all a little disappointing. It may stimulate further reading but as it stands, it's not great.

"Fujino" is the class favourite when it comes to her four-scene manga that she draws for the weekly school newsletter. Then one afternoon her teacher asks her if she wouldn't mind letting "Kyomoto" have a go. She's never at school - indeed she's routinely called the truant, but he thinks that this might be a way of getting her more involved. How good can she be, thinks "Fujino"? Well it turns out that she's actually pretty good - but she still never shows up. At graduation time, "Fujino" is tasked with delivering the certificate to her unknown rival and that's the start of something that neither girl could readily have anticipated. It's quite an emotionally powerful animation, this one, taking a look at ambition and isolation amongst young people craving for acceptance, purpose and friendship as they start to emerge from childhood and face a much less sympathetic world. The girls have synergies and differences - at times they act as one, at others - well, anything but - and as the short story develops and the timelines shift about a little, we get to know a little of the enigmatic nature of their personalities and just what makes these girls tick. There is a lot of information on the screen - even if you do understand Japanese, and though I'm usually loathe to recommend dubbed versions, it might make it slightly easier to follow if you are not trying to read the top and the bottom of the screen at the same time as watching the simply effective animation. I'm not sure it needs a big screen, but it's worth a watch.

I'm always struck by how much jeopardy and peril there is in modern family films. Not that it's a bad thing... But I was also the child who had to be taken out of the cinema during 101 Dalmatians, Pinocchio, and Bambi.

"UP" is a movie that begins with a poignant and emotional experience, immediately tugging at the heartstrings with a touching portrayal of loss and longing. The journey of Carl embarking on adventures inspired by his late wife's dreams is both heartfelt and captivating, drawing viewers into a world filled with emotion and wonder.
The dynamic between Carl, Russell, Kevin, and Dug adds excitement and depth to the story, as they embark on extraordinary adventures together. The over-the-top and ridiculous villain brings a sense of thrill and suspense to the narrative, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The bond between Carl and Russell, an older gentleman and a Boy Scout, is a central highlight of the film, showcasing a beautiful and heartwarming relationship that blossoms through their shared adventures. The characters of Kevin, the big bird, and Dug, the dog with funny voices, provide comedic relief and add charm to the storyline, creating moments of lightness amidst the emotional weight of the narrative.
While the confusion surrounding the wife's death may be a downside for some viewers, the presence of Muntz as a compelling and fully realized villain adds depth and tension to the plot, keeping audiences engaged throughout the film.
Overall, "UP" is a beautifully crafted movie that skillfully balances emotional depth, humor, and adventure, offering a rich and immersive viewing experience for audiences of all ages. The film's ability to evoke a range of emotions and deliver a compelling story makes it a must-watch recommendation for everyone, promising an enjoyable and memorable cinematic journey.

Widowed "Carl" (anyone else thinks he looks like Henry Kissinger?) gets himself involved in an altercation with a construction worker that sees him court-ordered to the "Shady Oak" retirement home. He's having none of that, and on the day of his deportation releases thousands of balloons from his chimney. They manage to uproot his house and using some rudimentary sails he sets off in search of "Paradise Falls". Deep in South America lie these idyllic waters where he and his late wife dreamt of visiting. En route, and a few hundred feet up, he hears a knock at the door. It's "Russell". A boy scout from his home town who just happened to find himself on the balcony when it took flight. The two don't immediately bond, but after a thunderstorm when it becomes clear that the youngster has his uses, a truce sets in as they end up having to walk through the jungle towing his still airborne home behind them. This is when they meet the big-beaked "Kevin" and the talking dog "Dug". Continuing their search, they stumble upon an adventurer who is warm and welcoming, but is he all that he seems - especially when he learns of "Kevin"? The animation is lively and vibrant and it's quite good fun this adventure, with loads of sarcastic attitude from the curmudgeonly old git, a breezy and not too annoying child in "Russell" and a last ten minutes, or so, that are fairly action packed and enjoyable to watch. It's not my favourite Disney/Pixar film this, but it passes ninety minutes effortlessly enough.

To Christopher Plummer and Ed Asner...
RIP.

A fun and charming adventure.
'Up' certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings. It creates a very meaningful story around Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), with the early scenes particularly standing out as superb.
I don't overly enjoy the parts with Dug (Bob Peterson) and Kevin (Pete Docter), not that they are bad, though everything with Fredricksen, Russell (Jordan Nagai) and Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer) is entertaining and/or hearty.
Asner and Nagai do terrific, in what is one of Disney's 'best of the rest' films. There is some lovely music by Michael Giacchino, too. Go watch!

Now then, as stories go this is an huge pile of dino-droppings - but Chris Pratt does his level best, alongside some pretty bad-assed dinosaurs to keep this action adventure exciting. When the new "Jurassic World" theme park is opened, it builds on the promise of it's doomed predecessor but this time, they have state of the art safety facilities to protect the visiting lunch box brigade. Or do they? Unfortunately for them, "Indominus Rex", wasn't at the read-through and has a mind to eat just about anything he can wrap his jaws around. What he can't devour, his eager - recently released - friends from elsewhere in the park are plenty keen on too - so we quickly find ourselves with a "containment anomaly" that leads to a distinct carnage scenario for our hero to avert. As ever, Pratt brings oodles of personality to his role as the velociraptor's pal, but the rest of the cast - to an human - are poor. The kids grate and ought to have been eaten very early on, and gazillionaire Irrfan Khan ("Masrani") is way to dapper and refined to be a convincing baddie. Vincent D'Onofio tries to help out, at least his part has some meat to it, but otherwise this is just a cracking victory for Pratt and some outstanding visual effects without even a rousing score from John Williams to rely upon and some storylines that are contrived to maximise the menace and minimise the plausibility. If you can find it showing on a big screen anywhere, then it is still worth watching on a wet afternoon, but it loses much of any potency it ever had on the small screen and I'm not sure I'd bother again.

They rebuild the theme park and claim its safe. You can't keep a bunch of Godzilla like dinosaurs contained.

**Jurassic World captures the delight and suspense of the original films while adding a fantastic new cast, an epic new park, and bigger, scarier dinosaurs.**
Jurassic World perfectly blends the nostalgia of the original movies with a new grand scale, incredible effects, and big stars. Hollywood’s flood of reboots and remakes rarely capture the heart and quality of the original source, but Jurassic World stands out as one of the best. Chris Pratt’s tough and lovable rogue, Owen Grady, brings the action. At the same time, Bryce Dallas Howard’s high-stung and successful business executive, Claire Dearing, grows and develops from selfish career focus to respecting nature and valuing family. Every scene feels grandiose and epic, with a bigger park, bigger attractions, and bigger dinosaurs. The childlike wonder still shines through, with kids giddy at a dino petting zoo and crowds cheering as the Mosasaurus feeds on a great white shark. The scares are back, too, with deadlier predators and plenty of hapless park employees to hunt. While the Jurassic series has its ups and downs, Jurassic World is at its peak!

I recently watched the first three movies in this series, for the third time or so, but it occurred to me as I watched this one that I probably watched it only once, if at all.
It brings with it the usual elements of this film franchise: the children (not the thousand extras who run around but two we care about), whose mission is to get themselves into the path of extreme danger; the somewhat evil guy who presumably will also end up being Dino food; raptors who get smarter and stronger with every film; and footage of the original Jurassic theme park in case we are in danger of forgetting its roots.
I try not to notice stuff like how extras can never outrun dinosaurs but the stars always manage it. It is just entertainment, after all. Let’s not overthink it. And I question whether a company that must be so susceptible to lawsuits in its day to day operation would really create more dangerous creatures because they need new thrill rides. Wouldn’t they be more apt to create more up close and personal rides or experiences with the existing ones? Especially the herbivores? If a customer needs more excitement than standing near a 100-foot tall dinosaur, maybe they need to scale back their drug intake, or go climb Mt. Everest. But again, I don’t want to overthink this thing. It was watchable enough, just not thought provoking or revolutionary.

MORE REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/
Jurassic World remains my second favorite film of the whole saga.
Colin Trevorrow is able to blend the suspenseful traits of the original with a more adventurous, light tone really well. Dinosaurs look amazing, still today. Characters could have benefited from a little more work. Decent story.
Rating: B

Most assuredly the best sequel to _Jurassic Park_, but it doesn't touch the original. "Not being as good as a different movie" is not what's bad about _Jurassic World_ though, what is though is the dropped plotlines, unlikeable characters, haphazard mixing of respect and disrespect for the original at random intervals, a **complete** lack of chemistry between any two characters whatsoever, but most of all the romantic leads, underdeveloped arcs of both characters and story, more Deus Ex Machinas than you can shake a stick at, and some of the most painful dialogue I've seen in a Hollywood flick all year.
But there's Bryce Dallas Howard proving (when given the chance) she's an acting force, which was a particularly pleasant surprise given that the last thing I saw her in was _Spider-Man 3_. Chris Pratt doesn't for a moment make you believe he is anyone other than Chris Pratt, but Chris Pratt is a pretty rad dude so that's more or less a chip in the film's favour.
It also has dinosaurs, so there's that.
_Final rating: ★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._