Dann Michalski

The mediocracy of Marvel Phase Five continues with The Marvels, another generic superhero film. When the new Kree leader launches a series of attacks on other worlds, Captain Marvel attempts to stop her, but finds herself switching places with two other women due to a mysterious connection. Brie Larson seems to be phoning in her performance, but Iman Vellani is incredible charismatic and really shines in her role. Also, the writing is rather weak; particularly in how it tries to manufacture conflict between Marvel and her pseudo-niece and create some kind of mystery as to what happened with Marvel and the Kree. Still, there are some fun and exciting action scenes, as well as some nice bits of humor. The Marvels is entertaining and delivers some thrills, but it’s largely forgettable and does little to advance the larger MCU.

Marvel delivers its first female centric superhero film with Captain Marvel, a prequel to the Avengers series. After escaping capture by the Skrull, a Kree soldier named Vers gets stranded on Earth where she discovers that the Skrull are searching for something and during her investigation she unearths a past that she never knew about. Brie Larson gives a decent performance, though she’s clearly doing an imitation of a Tony Stark-like character (which there are already too many of in the MCU), and the supporting cast is pretty strong; featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, and Djimon Hounsou. Unfortunately the script is rather poor, as it desperately tries to avoid telling an origin story while also ham fistedly forces one in at the same time. But the action-scenes and fight sequences are fun and exciting, and there’s some lighthearted comedy that works really well (particularly the Stan Lee cameo). Also, the soundtrack is incredibly well-done; using ‘90s music to set the tone and time period. Despite some flaws, Captain Marvel is yet another solidly entertaining pop-corn film from Marvel.

Mariah Carey directs the Hallmark family holiday film A Christmas Melody. Lacey Chabert stars as a single mother who’s forced to move back to her hometown in Ohio after her LA fashion boutique goes out of business; and to help her daughter adjust, she gets her an audition to her school’s Christmas pageant. Chabert gives a strong performance and has good chemistry with newcomer Fina Strazza; who proves to be a rather charming child actress. The plot is predictable and follows all the usual clichés, but it also has a nice message about adjusting one’s dreams as you go through live and not letting the past define you. And while this is clearly a low-budget film, it puts its money in the right places; delivering some impressive costumes and sets that capture the festiveness of the season. It has some weaknesses, but overall A Christmas Melody is a fun and entertaining film that has the Christmas spirit.

Perhaps the worst film in the MCU, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a convoluted mess. The plot is kind of all over the place, but the main story follow a race of sea people attempting to force Wakanda to join them in their genocidal plans to destroy all the nations of the world. The writers do a good job at addressing the loss of Chadwick Boseman and working it into the plot, but that’s about all they do well. The villain is ridiculous, as is the manufactured conflict between the sea people and Wakanda, and the introduction of Ironheart comes off as forced. However, some of the action scenes are pretty exciting and there are a couple of interesting new ship and weapon designs. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever takes on too much and ends up doing it all poorly.

Marvel tries its hand at blaxploitation with Black Panther, an action-packed superhero film. The story follows Prince T’Challa who becomes the new Black Panther and King of Wakanda in the wake of his father’s death, and must confront an old adversary who’s reemerged selling stolen Wakandain technology on the black market. There are a few callbacks/Easter eggs to the other Avenger films, but for the most part it’s self-contained and doesn’t advance the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, it kind of undermines it; showing up Tony Stark and SHIELD with Wakanda having crazy ridiculous advanced technology and an ultra-secret spy network throughout the world. The worldbuilding is problematic and detracts from the film. Still, there are some really creative and interesting set designs. And, the action is especially well-done; featuring a lot of exciting and intense fight scenes. It’s not one of Marvel’s better efforts, but for a big-budget popcorn film, Black Panther delivers.

The Ant-Man series abandons what it’s good at and tries to be a Guardians film in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and fails. When the Pyms, Scott Lang, and his daughter are sucked into the Quantum Realm they are hunted down by Kang the Conqueror, who rules the realm and is seeking revenge on Janet for stranding him there. The writing is rather poor, as the characters seem completely different than in the previous films and the Quantum Realm comes off as a hodgepodge of weird alien creatures that have been thrown together. Also, the creature and set designs are pretty generic and forgettable. Still, there are some fun and exciting action scenes, and what little humor there is works (for the most part). Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania tries to be something it’s not, and feels more like a cheap knockoff a sci-fi movie than the action-comedy fair of the previous films.

Marvel ends Phase 2 with the quirky action-comedy Ant-Man. After getting released from prison a burglar named Scott Lang is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym to don his super-powered suit (and persona as Ant-Man) in order to steal a weaponized shrinking suit that Pym’s former protégée has created. Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly, the casting is pretty solid; as are the performances. And, the writing does a good job at balancing the action with the lighthearted comedy. Additionally, the special effects and fight scenes are done rather well and bring a lot of energy to the film. Surprisingly entertaining, Ant-Man is an incredibly fun film with an exciting new vision of one of Marvel’s hallmark superheroes.

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 James Gunn exits Marvel and brings the adventures of the Guardians to an end. When Rocket is critically injured during an attack by Adam Warlock, the Guardians most go in search of Rocket’s creators to save him. Unfortunately the film lacks the lighthearted tone of the previous two and is weighed down by some heavy themes of grief and loss. And the High Evolutionary’s schemes and humanoid-animal creatures are incredibly bizarre and make no sense. Still, there are a lot of fun action scenes and the comedy is as hilarious as ever. And the soundtrack is incredibly well-done and does a good job at complimenting and enhancing the scenes. Yet while it’s entertaining, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a disappointing conclusion to this incredibly imaginative and groundbreaking Marvel series.

The crew of the Milano get into more wild and crazy adventures in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. After a job gone wrong the Guardians end up on the run from the Sovereign and are rescued by a celestial being named Ego who claims to be Peter Quill’s real father and takes him to his home world so the two can reconnect, however Gamora suspect that Ego isn’t telling them the whole truth; meanwhile Rocket and Groot fend off an attack by the Ravagers. Kurt Russell joins the cast and delivers a really good performance. And there are a dozen of fun cameos and Easter eggs that fans are sure to enjoy. Additionally, director James Gunn keeps the tone lighthearted, just like the first film, and the action is incredibly exciting. The soundtrack is also especially well-done and does a good job at complimenting the scenes. It doesn’t quite reach the highs of the original, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a solid sequel that’s extremely entertaining.

From Marvel Studios comes the fun, madcap adventure film Guardians of the Galaxy. In the far reaches of space a motley crew of thieves, assassins, and bounty hunters join forces to stop a renegade Kree warlord from using an Infinity Stone to destroy the Xandar home world. Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Lee Pace, the cast is quite impressive. And the special effects are incredibly well-done, as are the costumes and set designs; creating a captivating look and feel to this universe. The soundtrack is also remarkably effective. Comprised mostly of '70s pop songs, it sets a lighthearted and campy tone that gives the film the right kind of energy. Extraordinarily imaginative and entertaining, Guardians of the Galaxy is out of this world.

An inspiring tale of overcoming adversity, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty delivers laughs and adventure. When the cover photo for Life magazine’s last issue comes up missing, Walter Mitty embarks on a quest to find the photographer and get a copy of the missing photo; but he’ll have to brave shark attacks, volcanoes, and scale mountains to do it. Starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, and Sean Penn, the film has a strong comedic cast that works well with this kind of satire and dry humor. Additionally, the soundtrack does a good job at depicting the character of Walter Mitty, and the changes that he goes though. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has some pacing issues and the story’s missing a few beats, but it’s still a fun ride with a positive message about self-empowerment.

An abysmal piece of garbage, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 is a spectacularly ill-conceived sequel. Ripping off Back to the Future Part II and a host of other time travel films, the plot follows Lou and his friends as they travel to an alternative future in order to save Lou’s life after an assassin tried to kill him. It’s a confusing and idiotic story that’s more stupid than fun. And the comedy is incredibly vulgar and mean-spirited. Having none of the wit or good humor of the original, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 is an atrociously bad film.

Hot Tub Time Machine delivers a wacky adventure that’s outrageously hilarious. When three friends take a trip to a ski resort they end up accidentally going back in time to 1986 where they have to relive a seminal weekend of their lives in order to prevent disrupting the timeline. The cast includes John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Chevy Chase, who all deliver great comedic performances. However, the time-travel aspect of the film isn’t that effective: as it focuses too much attention on ‘80s fads, and the humor isn’t organic to ‘80s culture. Still, while the lack of cleverness in the writing holds the film back a bit, Hot Tub Time Machine is entertaining and has a lot of good laughs.

Big changes await Night Court in Season 7. Due to the real-life pregnancy of Markie Post, the character of Christine has a whirlwind romance, gets married, and has a baby. Meanwhile, Bull sues the city when he’s accidentally shot, Dan faces a disbarment hearing, Mac and Harry go into business together, and Buddy and Yakov stop by for some shenanigans. The writers do a good job at handling Post’s pregnancy and at working it into the show, and Post herself proves to be up to the challenge. This also proves to be a boon for the comedy; allowing it to go in new directions. One of the best seasons of the series so far, Season 7 of Night Court is incredibly entertaining and a lot of fun.

The more things change the more they stay the same in Season 6 of Cheers. After sinking his boat while sailing around the world in an attempt to get over the loss of Diane, Sam returns to Cheers to be a bartender once again, but finds himself at odds with the bar’s new manager Rebecca Howe. Meanwhile, Frasier and Lilith get married, Norm becomes a painter, Cliff moves into an apartment, and Carla and Eddie have twins. The addition of Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe proves to be just what the show needed; as she’s able to fill the Diane role as a love interest and foil to Sam, but with a different dynamic as his boss. Tom Skerritt also joins the cast as a recurrent character, and there’s a special Christmas episode. Season 6 may look different than season’s past with new characters and relationships, but at its core it’s still the same old Cheers, as fun and entertaining as ever.

In the wake of Nicholas Colasanto’s death Cheers enters a rebuilding phase in Season 4 and introduces the replacement character Woody Boyd. Picking up a few months after Coach’s off screen death, Sam hires country bartender Woody Boyd, who’s new to the big city, and helps him get a start; meanwhile Diane returns to Cheers to rebuild her life after leaving Frasier at the alter in Europe. Unfortunately Woody is a poor substitute for Coach, even though their characters are pretty similar. Still, by the end of the season he feels like a part of the family. Additionally, the series does a good job at keeping Frasier around and finding a role for him post-Dianne. There are also some interesting guest stars, including Kate Mulgrew in a three episode arc that ends the season on a cliffhanger. Proving to be quite resilient, Cheers continues to deliver plenty of laughs in its fourth season.

The third season of Cheers sets a new course that gets a little more series, but still brings the laughs. This season marks the introduction of Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane and the tragic loss of Nicholas Colasanto (who played Coach). When Sam falls off the wagon and losses control in the wake of his breakup with Diane, she returns and, with the help of her new boyfriend Dr. Frasier Crane, attempts to help Sam get his life back together; but old habits die hard and Diane finds herself pulled between her feeling for Sam and her feelings for Frasier. The addition of Frasier is really good for the show, as he brings a new energy that allows the writers to re-work some of the character dynamics. Also, several notable guest stars are featured, including Carol Kane, Alison La Placa, and Michael Richards. After three seasons, Cheers remains incredibly funny and keeps getting stronger as it goes along.

Sarah Shahi stars in the USA legal drama Fairly Legal. Season 1 follows a former lawyer turned mediator named Kate Reed as she struggles to get along with her stepmother when she assumes control of her father’s law firm after his death. Shahi gives a great performance and has a lot of charisma. And a solid list of guest stars are featured, including Ethan Embry, Richard Dean Anderson, Peter MacNicol, and Gerald McRaney. Also, the writers come up with a number of interesting cases and do a good job at balancing the drama with some lighthearted comedy. Fairly Legal delivers a strong first season and has a lot of potential.

From USA come the quirky and exciting law drama Suites. Season 1 follows a lawyer named Harvey Specter who, when promoted to partner is forced to hire an associate to mentor, choses a college dropout named Mike Ross who he sees potential in but isn’t a lawyer. Starring Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, and Gina Torres, the show has a pretty good cast and features an impressive list of guest stars that includes Victor Garber, Titus Welliver, Abigail Spencer, Tim Russ, and Chi McBride. Also, the writers come up with some interesting cases-of-the-weak, and do a nice job at balancing the cases with the continuing story arc of Mike breaking away from his old life and making a new one with the law firm. Additionally, the show has a clever, sardonic humor to it that helps to offset some of the more heavy dramatic elements that comes with some of the cases. Fresh and entertaining, Suits delivers a strong first season and promises bigger things to come.

Leverage steals a third season as the team comes back together for more heists. When Nate gets sentenced to a privately run prison with a corrupt warden the Leverage team works to break him out, but to stay free and off law enforcement’s radar they make a deal to take down a powerful international businessman named Damien Moreau. With Gina Bellman back full-time the cast feels complete once again, and the Eliot/Hardison buddy/rivalry relationship is explored more with a lot of fun pair ups. Also, the list of guest stars is quite impressive, and features Richard Chamberlain, Alona Tal, Clancy Brown, and Tom Skerritt. And the writers do a good job at coming up with new and interesting heists, including a holiday episode and a flashback episode in which the team crossed paths before they knew each other. However, the continuing story arc of the team taking jobs that help them work their way up Moreau’s organization comes off as a bit forced. Yet despite having a few weaknesses, Season 3 of Leverage is incredibly ambitious, entertaining, and full of thrills.

The Christmas Calendar is a fairly by-the-numbers holiday rom-com. When Emily receives a Christmas calendar from an anonymous secret admirer, her small town becomes engrossed with figuring out the mystery. Leads Laura Bell Bundy and Brendon Zub are both charming and have pretty good chemistry together. But, the plot is incredibly predictable and is full of the usual clichés. Also, the sets and costumes look rather cheap. Yet while it has its weaknesses, The Christmas Calendar is an entertaining film and has its heart in the right place.

Kristin Chenoweth and Scott Wolf star in the Hallmark holiday film A Christmas Love Story. When a choir teacher attempts to recruit a young boy with a talented voice to join her Christmas choir, she most first convince his father, who’s trying to keep his son on track to an Ivy League college. Chenoweth and Wolf both give solid performances and are charming together. The plot, of course, is predictable and the romance is rather effortless (lacking any real conflict), but there is kind of a nice twist at the end. And there are some touching dramatic Christmassy moments that are rather heartwarming. A Christmas Love Story is a pretty by-the-numbers Hallmark film, but it’s well-made and celebrates the spirit of the season.

Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz bastardize the beloved Steven Spielberg anthology series Amazing Stories for Apple TV. Season 1 consists of five episodes involving time travel, aliens, and super powers. However, only one or two are any good; the rest are predictable, uninspired tripe. And the show is pretty heavy handed in pushing its liberal politics. Also, the casts are rather lackluster, putting forth middling performances at best. Failing to capture the magic and wonder of the original series, Apple TV’s Amazing Stories was quickly cancelled and forgotten.

There are no words for how offensive and appalling The Legend of the Titanic is. It’s astonishing how the filmmakers twist the tragic story of the Titanic and make it about whale hunting; with an oil tycoon intentionally sinking the ship (with the help of a gang of sharks) in order to kill his would be father-in-law to get whaling rights. The level of crazy is so dialed up, with talking mice, magic dolphins, and a giant octopus, that it boggles the mind. The film is just incomprehensible, and what’s more, the animation is garbage. Defiling the memory of one of the most tragic events of the 20th century, The Legend of the Titanic is an abomination.

“Party time! It’s party time! Everybody’s feelin’ fine ‘cause it’s party time!” Titanic: The Legend Goes On… is a mildly inappropriate and poorly made animated film that tells a Cinderella story aboard the ill-fated luxury liner. When a young orphaned girl named Angelica meets a rich and handsome young man named William, the two fall in love while traveling on the Titanic; meanwhile an elderly dowager works with a pair of bumbling thieves to rob first class passengers. The animation is substandard, with rather generic and cartoonish looking character designs. And the script is incredibly weak, doing very little character building and leaving tons of loose plot threads. At times it kind of works and is fun to laugh at (there’s a rapping dog for goodness’ sake), but Titanic: The Legend Goes On… is just too much of a mess.

Based on the Clive Cussler best-selling novel, Raise the Titanic is an exciting Cold War thriller. While tracking down a shipment of a rare mineral with military potential, retired Navy captain Dirk Pitt discovers that it was lost in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, leading him to propose the impossible…Raise the Titanic. It’s a fairly interesting story that’s full of mystery and intrigue; especially given that this fictional account of Titanic’s discover and raising was written before the real-life discovery in 1985. Additionally, the model work and set designs are rather impressive, as is the film’s score. Raise the Titanic is a little contrived at times, but it’s also a fun piece of pulp fiction.

A Night to Remember recounts the tragic tale of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic on its maiden voyage after it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Based on Walter Lord’s bestselling book, the film follows various Titanic passengers and crew throughout the sinking, along with the rescue efforts (or lack thereof) of the Californian and Carpathia. This is simultaneously the film’s greatest strength and weakness; as it allows for an expansive overview of events, but also makes it difficult to get to know individual characters. The model work and special effects are pretty good (for the time), and give a real sense of scope to the tragedy. However, the score is rather bland and doesn’t have much emotional resonance to it. Still, while A Night to Remember has some weaknesses, it delivers a compelling depiction of one of the greatest maritime disasters in history.

From Twentieth Century-Fox comes Titanic, the first major motion picture about the Titanic disaster. The story follows a society couple that attempts to reconcile their estranged marriage on the maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic. Clifton Webb and Barbara Stanwyck both give strong performances and have tremendous screen presence. Additionally, the writing (which won an Academy Award) is quite compelling. However, the film glosses over a lot of the actual people and events of the real sinking. Yet despite the lack of historical accuracy, Titanic is an especially well-made film that’s dramatic and exciting.