Movie Reviews
Downton Abbey — A-III (PG)
Those who’ve been yearning for a fix of interwar elegance ever since the popular ITV and PBS television series “Downton Abbey” went off the air in 2015 can rejoice.
The Angry Birds Movie 2 — A-II (PG)
Much feathery fun is packed into “The Angry Birds Movie 2,” the latest animated installment in the franchise based on the addictive phone app. In fact, in every respect, it’s far superior to, and more intelligent than, the 2016 original.
Brian Banks — A-III (PG-13)
Dramas of the falsely accused fighting against a broken legal system are reliably inspiring. With the sports star formula additionally worked in, “Brian Banks” might seem to ace it.
Dora and the Lost City of Gold — A-II (PG)
Teenage and grown viewers will find much to cheer about in “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” As for younger fans of its source material, the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series “Dora the Explorer,” however, parents may need to exercise just a bit of caution.
Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable
Perhaps the most startling image in the documentary “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable” (Entertainment Films) is of the pro surfer, who lost her left arm in a 2003 shark attack, confidently navigating her surfboard while seven months pregnant with her first child.
The Lion King — A-II (PG)
Advances in moviemaking technology allow a story that could only previously be told as a cartoon to be enacted, so to speak, by animals. And so we get “The Lion King.”
Toy Story 4 — A-I (G)
Just how good are the hotshots behind “Toy Story 4?” So good that, by the time the closing credits roll, moviegoers will likely feel more emotional connection to an animated spork than they have to the vast majority of live-action human characters they’ve ever seen on screen.
Child’s Play — O (R)
The nicest thing that can be said about the reimagined horror film “Child’s Play, ” it that is just 88 minutes long. Any longer and it could be designated a method of torture.
Dark Phoenix — A-III (PG-13)
Though somber in tone, the Marvel Comics-based sci-fi adventure “Dark Phoenix” has a fundamentally moral outlook and features a more relationship-driven story than many similar films.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters — A-III (PG-13)
If there were an Academy Award for the most aurally annoying film of the year, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” would certainly be a strong contender.
Aladdin — A-II (PG)
Though the magical tale of Aladdin is centuries old, it’s probably best known to contemporary audiences through two relatively recent products of pop culture: the 1992 animated film with Robin Williams and the Broadway musical derived from it, which continues a run that began in 2014.
Poms — A-III (PG-13)
Moviegoers turning to the senior-themed comedy “Poms” in the hope of being treated to the kind of zingy dialogue and amusing antics that made the NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls” so popular will come away sadly disappointed. Though the filmmakers’ good intentions are evident, the outcome is feeble.
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