Serenity (2019)

One minute into the movie, I went "Oh damn, is this a fishing movie?" I walked in knowing nothing about this movie. And I was not ready for a fishing movie. This turned out to be much worse than a fishing movie. There is a small nugget of inspiration in the idea but it's done so poorly. It could have had interesting things to say about free will and consciousness but it doesn't go there. The writing is god awful. And the acting by ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS is embarrassing; they must have paid Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey quite a bit of money. This has The Room written all over it. Maybe one day this will become a cult classic known for being bad.

Ocean's 8 (2018)

A pretty clever heist movie, albeit unrealistic but it's still quite a bit of glamorous fun. Sandra Bullock plays the lead but among this star studded cast I think she gets outshone. Actually, though they're all good, none of them really get that opportunity to truly shine. Except Cate Blanchett. She could do anything. She commits herself to playing thief as she does to playing royalty or playing an elf.

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Did we really need this sequel? No, not really. Tim Burton created an amazing vision of Wonderland in the first film. Then he stepped away and the world Disney re-created just wasn't quite as impressive or imaginative. Time Burton created an original story with familiar characters in the first one. The story culminated in an epic battle and was well done. This one just doesn't match up. Even the actors don't seem quite as invested in the project. No one asked for this sequel.

The Intern (2015)

This is actually a very cute feel-good movie. Robert DeNiro plays a senior citizen who is doing an internship at an Internet company. DeNiro's character is the type of likable grandfather/mentor figure you want in your life. The company is run by Anne Hathaway, a strong woman used to doing everything herself being pressured to find a CEO for her company. It is refreshing to see Hollywood depicting a woman in charge at a tech company. Though reluctant at first, they become close co-workers. And as expected, they teach each other along the way. It's no revelation, but two solid performances and an unexpectedly good chemistry make for an easy light-hearted comedy. 

Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan makes some really special movies.  The unique ideas that he comes up with are always thrilling, mind blowing and thought provoking.  This is no exception.

Interstellar presents some really ambitious, out-there science fiction (in science fiction, you just have to roll with it).  Granted, some of the ideas are unbelievable, especially as you get further into the movie, but I feel like I followed it up to the last 20 minutes or so.  Without giving too much away, the story falls apart a bit at the conclusion.  Nonetheless, the film triumphs at integrating powerfully emotional scenes and human drama with a confusing and complex plot.  

On the creativity front, I was most impressed by the conception of the planets that they visit.  It's hard for us to imagine what the environment of other planets might be like, and Nolan shows us two interesting, well conceived theoretical planets.  The robots are not anthropomorphic, rather they are made up of four bars, that can arrange into different useful formations.  Perhaps the wackiest creative freedoms were taken in the physical representation of higher dimensions.

The visuals are stunning and are especially incredible in the IMAX 70mm format.  The visual effects, especially when in the emptiness of space, or in the unreal environments of the planets, or looking in a black hole or a worm hole, are breathtaking.

Hans Zimmer, as always, has composed a magnificently fitting score for the film.  With the backdrop of empty space, or the varied environments of the different planets, or the expansive corn fields on Earth marred by dust storms, Zimmer's score adapts and shines.

Interstellar features a star-studded cast, from frequent Nolan collaborator Michael Caine, to Hollywood's current it-man Matthew McConaughey.  McConaughey's character and dialogue resemble the soft philosophical ramblings that we've come to know him for in the Lincoln ads and True Detective. Anne Hathaway is also excellent, though she has way too much makeup for someone going to lonely outer space.  I appreciated the casting of Mackenzie Foy as a young Jessica Chastain.  The resemblance is uncanny and Foy proved to be a very capable young actress.

In summary, despite some problems with the plot and the science, Interstellar is a solid film that truly embodies the magic of the movies, featuring imagination, spectacle, and pure entertainment.