Mission Impossible 8: The Final Reckoning

Mission Impossible 8: The Final Reckoning (2025)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This ties directly to events from the previous movie Dead Reckoning and the race against the Entity. While the title and indications are that this is meant to be the end of the MI movie series, the ending is along the same vein of all the other endings where it could continue in the future, though likely with some changes given allegiances that are tested and damages the team takes in the course of the mission. As usual, there is lots of action and seeming impossible situations that must be navigated to try and achieve their goals with the mission before they run out of time. In this case, stakes are higher than ever with earth's destruction and/or a new world war on the verge of breaking out if a different alternative can't be found to stop the Entity and save the world. Any one of the close calls in this film could have gone very wrong, and some certainly did, leaving some unlikely allies and unexpected decisions along the line as trust is tested and time is running out.

Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning

Mission Impossible 7: Dead Reckoning (2023)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Hunt continues to end up in insane scenarios where missions never go as planned and he must beat death defying odds to achieve MIF's goals. Of course it's not an MI adventure without a girl to protect and enemies coming from multiple directions, including sometimes from within their own ranks. More than one familiar face returns from previous films. It's amazing the number of stunts they manage to come out of in one piece, let alone survive at the end of the day. Unlike many of the other movies, this ends on a clear cliff hanger note, where the mission is not entirely over yet, and it's clear there is still more to come tying directly into the narrative and next steps set out in this film chasing the AI Entity. It's an unusual type of ending, but makes sense especially to those watching it after the last film was released in 2025. It may even have more of a ring at this day and age given the increased AI movements across tech and increasing platforms to support such functions online.

Mission Impossible 6: Fallout

Mission Impossible 6: Fallout (2018)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


The CIA seems to cause more trouble than be of any help when it comes to MIF and Hunt's operations, which is not helped at all by suspicions fed into the organization suspecting him as the leader of the very Apostles he has been trying to take down. We see some unexpected characters come back to the main screen, and plenty of tight situations that seem impossible. Even the CIA has to admit MIF has a purpose at the end, especially once they realize just how far Hunt will go to save those he cares for - a heart and purpose that it seems many in these intelligence agencies are lacking.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (2024)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This follows the same story flow as the previous Sonic movies, where some big disaster strikes, usually correlating with something Doctor Robotnik has done, and they meet someone else like them along the way, though that person is just as likely to be an enemy at first as they are to be a friend later. So far Tails is the only one who has shown up intentionally as an ally; a trend that could be changing with the end credit scene leading into the next movie (fans of the franchise will recognize Amy if they stick around, but there are 2 end scenes, so don't walk away too early). I'll admit to not being a fan myself other than recognizing Sonic from the classic Sega games in my youth, but the kids love the series and are always eager to tell me about the different characters out there. From the descriptions, Shadow had always sounded like an evil clone of Sonic, however, from this tale, he is actually much older than Sonic is, possibly making him the original hedgehog? It's also curious how these new characters have the metal rings around their wrists, and even ankles at least for Shadow, yet the original trio don't. It's unclear the significance there, but indications that there is something they represent given when Shadow removes his. It will also be interesting to see if the way these supersonic creatures fight together changes if they really are out of the magic rings, but somehow there always seems to be just one more for that critical moment, so are they truly? All in all, there's a lot of action, lots of comedy, and an extra heavy side of emotions driving this story along.

Indiana Jones 5: The Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones 5: The Dial of Destiny (2023)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Indy thought he was retiring, but as usual, ends up in a much larger adventure than he thought he had bargained for, complete with Nazis, time travel, living history, and somehow unintentionally restoring the fragments of his family. Of course they also found a reason to get Harrison Ford on a horse, and he's one actor that really can ride. It's a rather hilarious chase scene and there is one part that you can just about see the green screen in use, but otherwise the film itself is high action and entertaining with a side dish of emotional drama. We have lots of bugs, and eels, which seem to take the place of snakes in this edition, but no actual snakes or the catch phrase "why did it have to be snakes". We do, however, get Indy's traditional gear, including his whip action and his iconic hat.

Transformers 5: Rise of the Beasts

Transformers 5: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


While this is part of the Transformers series, it could also stand on its own aside from Bumblebee's offhanded remark that the humans were his friends. Optimus himself seems colder almost, insisting that they can't rely on humans and conveniently forgetting that he himself has fought with them and protected them as friends as well. The Maximals are also a new addition to the lineup, along with a new enemy as Scourge replaces Megatron from the earlier films. As with other movies in the lineup, the CGI is well done, however, the story itself seems repetitive and the acting isn't the best. How many more "last chances" will there be for the Autobots to return home only to end up still stuck on Earth? Not to mention Optimus apparently has some pretty deep regret over leading them all to Earth now. There's a tie in to a potential GI Joe movie in the future with the card drop at the end as well. If nothing else, at least most of the characters seem to learn, and Mirage has gained a new friend that has learned how to work with a team.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 31: Ant-Man & the Wasp 2 [Quantumania]

MCU 31: Ant-Man & the Wasp 2 [Quantumania]

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Wow there's a lot of tie-ins in this movie while also still being a tad off the rails, like most Ant-Man films seem to end up being. Of course it wouldn't be an adventure without adding yet another Ant-Man suit to the group as well, though they never seem to come up with a name for Cassie. Scott's dialogue is, as usual, both on-point and slightly off at the same time, resulting in a unique sort of comedy in these stories. This addition to the series does not include his best friend with the rambling intros and end summaries however, leaving Scott to fill that gap in his own unique way. Teasers with both Kang and Loki towards the end would indicate the story isn't over either.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 29: Thor 4 [Love & Thunder]

MCU 29: Thor 4 [Love & Thunder] (2022)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This has got to be one of the strangest MCU films I've seen to date. It feels like it could have had a lot of potentially, but so much was crammed into it for the sake of the storyline that it just feels haphazard and chaotic. The screaming goats and constant rainbows and flashing lights don't help with these impressions. It seems as if there will be a focus on the children possibly going forward in the movies as well, though time will tell if this holds true or is only the focus for this one film. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As with most things in the Sonic franchise, there is a lot of humor and Sonic is a bit over the top. As always, he manages to pull things together, making some unexpected friends and allies along the way. They also leave the ending open for a potential third installment in the series. Tales and Knuckles may have a lot of learning to do on Earth, but they've joined a pretty good family sticking with Sonic and his chosen family. It's a special touch to see Sonic going from trying to pretend he's got it all down and telling his "Donut Lord" he's not his dad, to actually calling him Dad and admitting he still has some growing up to do and likes being a kid. That's some pretty hefty power they're all guarding now - so long as they don't forget it somewhere along their adventures. Good thing they're all faster than normal to hopefully beat any opponents along the way, though this movie also proves that even Sonic may be forced to slow down as he will eventually run out of speed. 

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Similar in style to Detective Pikachu, this is another combination of CGI animation with live action for a game to movie adaptation. Wouldn't say it's the best adaptation movie out there, but it's fun and fairly lighthearted despite all of the action packed in as well. Sonic is somehow both knowledgeable and clueless at the same time, leading to some interesting shenanigans as he goes down his bucket list and enlists the help of the "donut lord". Sonic also ends up managing to bring the town together even more than originally as they all claim their "little blue devil" as one of theirs. Sonic may have spent most of his life fairly literally on the run given both his instructions from his teacher and his powers, but he also may have just found a new home along with people who not only sometimes need his help and protection, but are willing to help and protect him in return.

White Christmas

White Christmas (1954)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is one of the old classic Christmas movies that has really aged well for its time. The story still is well done, especially for the time period in which it is supposed to take place, as well as the music still being engaging and fitting for the rest of the story. There are more than a few mix ups and misunderstandings in the mix of the entire thing, but in the end of course, it all works out for a wonderful Christmas.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

When I think of Star Trek, this is usually the segment that first comes to mind. It was what commonly was airing on TV if I stumbled across an episode growing up, and of course Patrick Stewart is memorable (one of my favorite actors). The Enterprise is already active and in flight when this arc picks up, starting with Riker joining the crew and moving on from there. This cast also includes Data (A.I.), Worf (Klingon), and La Forge (human with his distinctive visor to see differently as he's blind) - three characters who have very distinct appearances for their race and functions on the Enterprise crew. While I might generally enjoy the overall story and it's different adaptations, it's unlikely to change that this is what I fall back on as my staple when I think of this particular series.

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Enterprise makes up the sixth segment of the Star Trek saga, covering what would be seasons 20-23 in total. Captain Archer and his crew are piloting the first warp 5 engine to explore space and make first contact with other species. Some of those meetings go well, others.... not so much. The Klingons especially always seem to be keen on causing trouble. The series is so expansive it can be difficult to keep straight which segment or reboot pertains to which story arc. They all have similarities and differences at the end of the day, though the Star Trek universe has always been entertaining and diverse.

Transformers 0.5: Bumblebee

Transformers 0.5: Bumblebee (2018)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This isn't a seamless prequel add-on to the original start of this Transformers story, however it is true to character and maybe explains how Bumblebee comes to speak through his radio. Charlie is a walking contradiction, and despite ultimately trying to do the right thing, has more than a few issues of her own that need working on throughout the film. Overall, taking the movie in for it's own value, it's enjoyable. If you want a perfect fit to the established universe for this set, you might go a little crazy with some of the inconsistencies.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of the Shadows

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of the Shadows (2016)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


We meet Rock Steady, Bebop, and Baxter in this one as well as Casey making a new appearance in yet another original form. This film takes a unique turn in that the city authorities turn form hunting the turtles, to knowing about them and willingly working with them, also aiding in their cover with the rest of the city. A rather nice turn of events after so many others time they're denied credit for their work. Krang even makes an appearance this time around, though the technodrome has been completely revamped as well. There's enough similarities to recognize it as part of the fandom, but enough differences that it feels like something completely new as well. It can be a little confusing if you're stuck on the original formatting.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is the first reboot live movie of the series and it is leagues different from anything previously established in the fandom. First off, April names the turtles and Splinter when they are her pets in her father's lab rather than Splinter finding and naming them after their encounter with the mutagen (this also happens in the lab instead of in a sewer accident). April herself has now changed drastically as well, going from a red head with a short bob headlining as Channel 6's top reporter to a reporter begging for a story with brunette long hair. She also apparently has a few issues with the "accident" at the lab that resulted in her father's death. The turtles themselves also got a major makeover, making them look even more inhuman than previously and enlarging their shells considerably. They also wear a lot more clothes than they used to, forgoing their basic weapons harness for ballistic vests, goggles, and even jewelry. Overall the movie is amusing, but I can't say it appears to have the same draw that the original series did, at least not for me.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 17: Thor 3 [Ragnarok]

MCU 17: Thor 3 [Ragnarok] (2017)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is an interesting mix as we see Thor focused largely on Aasgard despite ending up on multiple planets. He does much better recognizing Loki's ploys this time around, yet at the same time the brothers perhaps seem to be the closest they ever have been. On top of the story with Hela (who I have to admit I did not like despite the phenomenal acting and effects), there's the rather large reference to Planet Hulk and finding the last living Valkyrie. The Grandmaster especially is a rather disturbing character whom I can't seem to decide what I think about. His entire world is beyond backwards and strange. Perhaps lucky for Thor that Hulk appears to have crash landed there, though how he managed that is still rather confusing despite his brief description of events. Supposedly there will not be any more solo Hulk films despite the many sequel films for other Avengers, so we need side plots like this in the other movies to fill in the blanks between the actual Avengers movies. The movie originally starts very slowly, which lost a lot of my first interest. A little past the halfway point, it picks up significantly, bringing in the tight story line and high action mostly expected of the MCU.

X-Men 10: Logan

X-Men 10: Logan (2017)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


We start seeing Mr. Sinister here, though he goes by his real name still (Nathaniel Essex). Logan's healing abilities are fading and Xavier's Alzheimer leaves him with a spotty memory at best. When a little girl ends up dropped in their laps, it becomes apparent that she needs them as much as they need her... specifically she needs Logan's help. Being Logan's clone, she resembles him a lot, though there are some differences. In the recent Marvel spirit, this film upped the rating from PG-13 to R in order to stay more in context with the violence originally part of Logan's rage and "animistic" nature after the success of Deadpool with similar reasons.

Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation

Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation (2015)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


Mission Impossible has always been a source of amusement in the action film genre. The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) came about because of that first daring stunt in the original film (not touching on the TV series at all here as far as the franchise goes). Cruise has been a big proponent of doing a lot of his own stunts in these films as well, which likely helps as far as continuity despite how good graphic and make-up artists are these days. This film also has a lot more humor thrown into the mix, making it an interesting combinations of laughs and thrills that wasn't the case in previous stories. Add in that we have William Brandt playing the director of the IMF (who also plays Hawkeye in the the Avengers), and you have a whole barrel of laughs with his auto-matron responses to government inquiries. Hunt's team may have slimmed down drastically, but it's still a thrill watching them work. One thing that might have slipped everyone's notice is the absence of Jane since MI3. Curious.

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The dinobots are interesting, but kind of an afterthought at the very end of the movie. The main human counterparts have all been replaced. The only returning autobots are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The overall story seems to be more of a reason to blow things up than any cohesive tale. Of course Megatron would find a way to come back again... what is a hero without a villain, even if there is a hunter after Prime already on the loose. The humans trying to literally recreate the transformers but thinking that they wouldn't also be sentient just the same is laughable in it's sheer naivete. Overall not the best movie, but sadly probably better than Dark Side of the Moon.