Star Trek: Beyond

        A perfect film for a "30 Second Critic" review. The third in the Star Trek reboot series is directed by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious series) and features the original reboot cast. It does not need a deep analysis. It is pure fun from start to finish and the closest any Star Trek film has gotten to recreating an actual episode of the beloved series.

        The crew go on a rescue mission, things turn bad, a villain appears, etc... It is easy to sit back and enjoy. The villain this time out is played by Idris Elba, who, unfortunately is wasted under tons of makeup and restricted speech. But no matter, he is still threatening enough and creates enough havoc to keep the film suspenseful until the end.

         There is plenty of action and typical Star Trek humor and even a heartwarming nod to the original cast. I saw it in iMAX 3D and while the iMAX was terrific, I don't think the 3D did anything to really enhance the film. If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed.

The Secret Life of Pets

         If you have seen the trailer for this new animated film, then you have seen the majority of best parts. The beginning of the film represents the "secret life" best but after a while it turns into a frenetic, elongated chase that loses its charm and wears you down.

         Max. a cute little terrier enjoys his life with his owner, Katie. When Katie brings home gigantic and shaggy Duke, Max's idyllic life is severely threatened. Circumstance finds the two lost in the city and ending up as part of a gang of rogue pets turned out by bad owners, and led by a psychotic bunny named Snowball. Max's friend, Gidget, a Pomeranian, along with an assortment of other friendly animals journey out of their comfort zones to find Max.

         The celebrity voices include Louis C.K. as Max, Kevin Hart as Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, and Jenny Slate as Gidget...just to name a few. As with most animated films , the actors are paired perfectly with their characters. The animation itself is good but not up to the standards of Pixar (with the exception of the East river which seems very realistic).

          Jokes, both visual and spoken come fast and furious. While they don't all work, there are some very funny lines to be found throughout the film (some aimed directly at the adults in the audience). The film relies heavily on the "cute factor" of all the animated animals. Younger kids will enjoy it ( although there are some "scary" parts) but it lacks the smart humor of "Zootopia" and some of the better animated films to come along recently.

The Infiltrator

         Bryan Cranston channels his most arrogant "Walter White" in this new crime drama, based on a true story. The compelling story of Bob Mazur, an undercover DEA agent combined with a very talented cast make up for any plot weakness and execution.

          Mr. Cranston, playing Mazur goes undercover as Bob Musella, "cleaning" dirty drug money for the Colombian Cartel. Wheeling and dealing with drug lords and dirty bankers, Mazur as Musella flaunts his abilities behind mansions, expensive clothes, jewelry and cars all previously confiscated by the U.S. government. As usual Mr. Cranston is exceptional and a riveting actor to watch. His co-stars here are John Leguizamo as his fellow agent Emir Abreu, Diane Kruger as another agent posing as his fiance, Benjamin Bratt as a high level Cartel member, and Amy Ryan as Mazur's no nonsense boss.  The film also features Juliet Aubrey as Mazur's wife Ev and Joe Gilgun (Cassidy on AMC's Preacher) as Dominic, a criminal Mazur frees in order to help him undercover. 

           The true story gets a bit muddy over the course of the film, bogging down in unnecessary detail and extraneous story elements. Things are not always so clear as we follow the money but the cast is so good, you go with it and are easily caught up in the mounting suspense. Director Brad Furman does a good job of recreating the look and feel of '80's excess but other drug related "true story" films have had stronger screenplays.

            The film relies heavily on Mr. Cranston to carry it's weight and he doesn't disappoint. He is excellent at conveying the dilemma of an undercover operative who gets too comfortable in his role, becoming too close to his targets.

The Legend of Tarzan

         Warner Brothers re-imagines an ancient icon for a new generation and hopes to find an audience. Can a jungle lord raised by apes find his place among todays superheroes? He can if he's played by Alexander Skarsgard. Mr. Skarsgard has plenty of female fans from his time on cable TV and he doesn't disappoint, swinging through the jungle, half naked. Although, sorry ladies, no loincloth for this hero.  For the men in the audience, the lovely Margot Robbie, plays  Jane Porter, Tarzan's love interest and for this version, quite the feminist. 

          The film also stars Samuel L. Jackson as an American government agent helping Tarzan and serving as light comic relief. The villain of the film is played by Christoph Waltz, who can do these roles in his sleep. Dijimon Hounsou also co-stars as a tribal chief with a grudge again Tarzan that sets the plot in motion.

               CGI is the other star of the film. So much so that is becomes hard to tell reality from the created reality. CGI has come such a long way that this film could have easily been shot in a back lot in California and all the animals and scenery added later. I actually started to wonder if the actors were real.

              What is real, however, are some truths behind the fictional story of Tarzan. King Leopold of Belgium actually did rule the Congo and slaughtered and enslaved millions to rape the land of minerals and other natural resources. His chief agent in the Congo was a sadist named Leon Rom, who is gleefully played by Mr. Waltz. Even though Tarzan triumphs (no surprise) there is a sadness that permeates throughout the film, watching people as well as animals slaughtered by greedy, ignorant men that stains the "action adventure" and love story, the studio was hoping to achieve.

The Conjuring 2

     Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators, Lorraine and Ed Warren in this scary new sequel.  Once again directed by James Wan, the undisputed king of modern day horror movies, "Conjuring 2" keeps up the suspense with just enough moments to have you jumping out of your seat.

       Like the original, this sequel is based on a "true story" of a paranormal incident that took place in 1977 England. Mr. Wan and his team get the period right and draw the audience in with just the right amount of dread and foreboding. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Farmiga both act with conviction as well as Francis O'Connor as the mother of the terrified family. Credit also goes to Madison Wolfe who has the unfortunate role of Peggy Hodgson, the possessed daughter. Ms Wolfe endures quite a bit through the course of the film.

        Mr. Wan builds his suspense very well jolting the audience quite a few times throughout and he does it with very little, if any bloodshed. His one flaw here is overextending himself. The film could easily be cut by 15-20 minutes and still be a very effective chiller. He has a winning franchise here and I look forward to seeing more of Lorraine and Ed Warren.

The Shallows

         Blake Lively is basically a one woman show in this aptly named survival thriller. The film is paper thin.  It's stranded surfer vs. tenacious shark for 87 minutes.

             After a stretched out set up, surfer Nancy begins to enjoy the waves on a secluded beach in Mexico (actually Australia). With only two other surfers around, it seems like an idyllic spot. Pretty soon, the dead carcass of a whale floats into view along with the shark that killed it. Things go downhill from there until Nancy finds herself only 200 yards from shore, wounded on a rock outcrop that is slowly disappearing under the rising tide. 

             Ms. Lively is a very attractive actress who does an admirable job of struggling mightily against the shark and the elements. The scenery is beautiful, the shark realistic, and the tension palatable. It tries hard to be "Jaws" for a new generation but it's a one trick pony...er shark. 

Our Kind of Traitor

         Based on the novel by John le Carre, this is a more of a cerebral spy thriller than an action piece.  It offers a picturesque tour of Europe and a decent amount of suspense. It is a serviceable adult drama sandwiched in between aliens, animated fish and low brow comedies.

            The film has a pedigree cast. It stars Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris as a British couple on vacation in Morocco dealing with some marital issues. They soon find themselves entangled with a Russian mobster played by a scenery chewing Stellen Skarsgard. Once the plot thickens, they seek out the help of British intelligence in the form of a buttoned up Damian Lewis. 

             It's an intriguing plot and holds your attention but it all balances on the unlikely idea that a college professor and his lawyer wife can easily morph into "spy like" behavior to help someone they barely know. If you buy into the concept, you will become much more invested in the characters and care more about the eventual outcome.

Finding Dory

       This sequel to the beloved "Finding Nemo", once again written and directed by Andrew Stanton (along with help from Angus MacLane, Victoria Strause and Bob Peterson), is another winning addition to the Pixar family.

        The central plot revolves around Dory (Vocals once again by Ellen DeGeneres), the little blue Tang with short term memory loss, who begins to remember her past and decides to seek out her parents with the help of Nemo and his father, Marlin. Their search takes them pretty quickly across the ocean to Morro Bay California and the Marine Institute, Dory seems to remember in bits and pieces. Hayden Rolence is the voice of Nemo this time out but Albert Brooks returns as the voice of the nervous Clownfish, Marlin. Mr. Brooks and Ms. DeGeneres have wonderful chemistry together that is evident even through their animated characters.

         The story has many flashbacks to when Dory was a child with her parents (voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy) and how she eventually got separated from them. Little Dory is absolutely adorable as is pretty much the entire film. It is a warm, funny, bittersweet, exciting and emotional film. Just what we've come to expect from the minds at Pixar.

           Most of the story takes place at the Marine Institute where we meet new characters including Hank, a cranky Octopus (with seven tentacles) voiced perfectly by Ed O'Neill,  Destiny, a near sighted Whale Shark voiced by Kaitlin Olson, and Bailey, a Beluga Whale with a hearing problem, voiced by Ty Burrell. There is also a "Wire" reunion of sorts as Idris Elba and Dominic West voice two silly sea lions. The vocal casting is exceptional as the actors match their characters perfectly.

             The animation as usual is excellent, in particular, Hank the Octopus who has amazing fluidity. The poignant story will affect a viewer of any age and there are plenty of visual gags and verbal jokes aimed at adults in the audience. Take a child or not, the film has universal charm and appeal and is that rare thing, a sequel that really works.

               

Genius

          Behind every great writer is usually a great editor. This new biographical drama is based on the true story of Max Perkins, the editor at Scribner Sons publishing house. Mr. Perkins was the editor for some of the most influential writers of the 20th century including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe. "Genius" centers on the story of the relationship between Max and Thomas Wolfe.

          The film stars Colin Firth as Max and Jude Law as Thomas Wolfe. Mr. Firth plays Max with calm cool restraint as opposed to the loud, boisterous Mr. Wolfe. Also starring are Laura Linney as Louise Saunders (Mrs. Perkins) and Nicole Kidman as Wolfe's lover, Aline Bernstein. It is a joy to watch these actors inhabit these characters. There is great chemistry between the leads. Guy Pearce co-stars as F. Scott Fitzgerald (appearing in just a few scenes) and Dominic West makes a one scene cameo as Ernest Hemingway. 

          Director Michael Grandage faithfully recreates 1930's New York, despite being filmed in Manchester, England (CGI can be a director's best friend). The film itself, is a low key but interesting period story of a simpler time, when books were still a valuable source of entertainment and knowledge.

X-Men: Apocalypse

        Director Bryan Singer knows his subject matter so well, nine films into this franchise,  that his ease of storytelling has become second nature. Building upon the mythos of earlier X-Men films, Mr Singer and screenwriter, Simon Kinberg have crafted a terrific addition to the series. The one caveat, going in you better know your X-Men mythology otherwise you may find yourself lost navigating the characters.

          James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are back as Charles "Professor X" Xavier. So are Jennifer Lawrence as Raven, Nicolas Hoult as Hank McCoy, Rose Bryne as CIA agent,Moira MacTaggert, Lucas Till as Alex Summers, and Evan Peters as Quicksilver. New faces include Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Kodi Smit- McPhee as Nightcrawler, Ben Hardy as Angel, Olivia Munn as Psylocke, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, and Oscar Isaac as  mega-villain, Apocalypse.

          Many superhero films attempt to take the comic characters into the real world and sometimes fail when they forget the source material. This film works beautifully as an X-Men comic (or if you prefer, graphic novel) come to life. It's the closest you can come to reading the book and seeing the action as you imagine it in your head, played out on the screen.

           It's a long film ( 2 and 1/2 hours) but its a very full story that takes its time bringing all its pieces together for a terrific climax. There is  plenty of action, drama and humor through out. It even manages a surprise or two. And stay through the credits for an important clue for the ongoing saga.

Alice Through The Looking Glass

        Director Tim Burton steps aside and just produces this sequel to his imaginative take on "Alice In Wonderland". While new director, James Bobin does a credible job, the films sorely lacks Mr. Burton's macabre sensibility and humor.

         Mia Wasikowska returns as Alice and is joined again by Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Ann Hathaway as The White Queen, and Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen.  The vocal talents of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Timothy Spall, and Michael Sheen also return as the various CGI characters of Wonderland. Joining the cast for this sequel is Sacha Baron Cohen as the human/machine hybrid, Time.

           The plot has very little in common with the original story.  Instead, Alice returns to Wonderland to help the Mad Hatter, who has grown despondent and physically ill after discovering his family may all still be alive but with whereabouts unknown. Alice must borrow the Chronosphere, a device which powers time itself to help the Hatter. Time, of course can't exist without the device making it very dangerous for Alice to use it.

             Far removed from the original plot, the story builds up the character of Time and Mr. Baron Cohen is very good in the role but it diminishes Mr. Depp's role as The Mad Hatter, who ends up with little to do. It's really a waste of Mr. Depp's talent and instead gives Mr. Baron Cohen a chance to really shine. Ms. Wasikowska is a stalwart Alice and a role model for pre-teen girls everywhere.  Ms. Hathaway has little to do as The White Queen. Ms. Bonham Carter as the crazy and villainous, Red Queen chews up the scenery.

             Visually the film is a kaleidoscope of color and movement. The CGI work is excellent but unfortunately even the colorful characters of Wonderland, (Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit etc...) are given a back seat to the main plot.  It's a good concept but it belongs in a different film. Time, his seconds,  his grand clock and castle are amazing but it's not a Wonderland story. It bogs down in dreary details but does pick up enough for an exciting climax.

              If Alice ever decides to return to Wonderland, I hope the studio decides to keep the story about Wonderland and all it's outrageous characters.  Don't mess with the Classics. 

The Man Who Knew Infinity

       Buried among the start of the summer "blockbuster" season is this gem of an Indie film, based on the true story of Indian Mathematician, Srinivasa  Ramanujan, the first Indian to be awarded a Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge.

        Fans of "A Beautiful Mind" and "Good Will Hunting" will certainly appreciate a story centered around mathematics. But rest assured, you don't need be a math scholar to appreciate the moving and human story of this brilliant man. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) plays Ramanujan, and once he leaves India for England in 1918, he begins a five year collaboration with the mathematician G. H. Hardy (played by Jeremy Irons).

        The friendship that develops between the two men is the core of the story. The very human drama doesn't shy away from the racism and class struggles of the period. Mr. Ramanujan's life in England is far from easy but his early critics and scholarly snobs soon can't ignore his brilliant mind. Mr. Hardy and John Littlewood remain his biggest supporters and working together amass volumes of work that are still studied and applied in today's mathematics.

          Mr, Patel and Mr. Irons have wonderful chemistry together and Mr. Patel is such a charming and engaging actor, it's easy to root for his character to succeed. While the script focuses on the two men, there is a sub-plot of Mr. Ramanujan's wife, (Devika Bhise) and mother (Arundhati Nag) that he left behind in India that becomes integral to the story.

           The is a terrific drama anchored by two excellent performances and a story not easily forgotten.

Money Monster

     Director Jodie Foster brings out one of George Clooney's best performances in years in this new thriller. Mr. Clooney plays Lee Gates, the host of a TV financial advice show, high on entertainment as well as stock tips. His director, Patty Flynn, is played by a very effective Julia Roberts. 

      What starts out as typical episode for them soon escalates into a tense hostage situation when a young man named Kyle ( Jack O'Connell) takes over the studio with a gun and an explosive packed vest. Ms. Foster balances comedic moments with real suspense as she brings together the puzzle pieces of a story more complicated than it seems.

       Mr. Clooney completely disappears into his role and is generous sharing his screen time with Mr. O'Connell. Except for two short moments, Mr. Clooney and Ms. Roberts have no scenes together. Her character Patty spends most of her time talking into Lee's earpiece, keeping him focused while investigating Kyle's motivation for his desperate action. Mr O'Connell's Kyle is all blue collar and jitters as he stalks the TV studio with his finger on the detonator, demanding answers.

       Co-starring is Giancarlo Esposito as the police captain in the street trying to avoid a violent end, Dominic West as the oily CEO of the company that lost all of Kyle's savings, and Caitriona Balfe as Mr. West's Communications Director. Also co-starring  is Christopher Denham as a sorely put upon producer and Lenny Venito as a gutsy cameraman, both providing welcome comedy relief.

        This fast paced thriller with a cautionary message is a safe investment of your time at the movies.

Captain America: Civil War

         The Marvel Studios juggernaut rolls on.  This latest installment in the Marvel film universe does not disappoint. Filled with terrific action sequences but anchored by an strong and emotional script, the film works on every level.

        While Captain America may be in the title, make no mistake, this is a full blown Avengers outing with the team choosing sides after the U.S. Government decides Superheroes should be regulated and not given free reign to act on their own. The concept is taken from a terrific event story line in the comics that was so successful, Marvel is launching a "Civil War II" this summer in the books.

       What works so well is the balance of screen time for the characters. While Captain America, The Winter Soldier, The Falcon and Iron Man have the majority of screen time, all the characters have excellent moments of their own including an "amazing" cameo or two. And the additional balance of emotion and gravitas to the action all make for a very well rounded film.

       You can argue illogical plot points but it's a superhero movie after all and you have already checked your logic at the door. This is pure escapism and fun so I can't argue a few origin changes to suit the story or illogical actions by the characters. Fans should be attending with full knowledge of the characters and backstories. If you are coming in as a novice, it's best to brush up on earlier films or the comic archives.

       Kudos to everyone at Marvel studios for getting their movies right. There is a grand plan in motion and so far, there hasn't been a misstep unlike a certain other brand. As they used to say in the old days, "Make Mine Marvel".

Elvis & Nixon

 It's not an easy task to create an entire film around a famous photograph but that's what director Liza Johnson and writers Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal and Cary Elwes manage to do successfully in this lighthearted romp down memory lane. The story is true but entirely surreal.

     The year is 1970 and Elvis Presley decides he wants to meet with President Richard Nixon to convince the President he should become a "special agent at large" to fight the war on drugs. The film is not a traditional comedy per se but the events and story itself are so comedic, you can't help but laugh throughout the film. 

      Kevin Spacey is absolutely spot on as Nixon and Michael Shannon does an excellent job channeling the essence of Elvis, even if he really looks nothing like him. The supporting cast of Nixon's aides are Colin Hanks as Egil Krogh, Evan Peters as Dwight Chapin, and Tate Donovan as H.R. Halderman. Tracy Letts is John Finlator, the head of the Bureau of Narcotics in a very funny scene when Elvis pays a visit. Best friends, Jerry Shilling ( Alex Pettfer) and Sonny West ( Johnny Knoxville) accompany Elvis to Washington and help facilitate the historic meeting.

       The film is a time capsule of a specific event and era that is captured perfectly. It's fun and very entertaining.

Sing Street

      Writer/director John Carney ("Once" and "Begin Again") scores another hit with this joyous coming of age story set in Ireland in 1985.  The comedy/drama is filled with great music from the period as well as terrific original songs that play a major part in the story.

       15 Year old Connor (Ferdia  Walsh-Peelo), to impress Raphina ( Lucy Boynton), decides to start a band from scratch so she can be in their videos. Connor's older brother, Brendan ( Jack Reynor) teaches him about music and he recruits a bunch of misfits from his school to form "Sing Street". There are predictable ups and downs and some moments of melodrama but the overall mood of the film is very uplifting.

         Mr. Walsh-Peelo is charming as Connor and his singing improves as the film goes on. The rest of his band all have their quirky attributes and are fun to watch as their confidence grows with each new song. Ms Boynton is a young actress to watch and there is true chemistry between her and Mr. Walsh-Peelo.

         Mr. Carney knows his formula well and stays true to his vision. The original songs are terrific and he enlists some well known talent to help out on the soundtrack, including Adam Levine and Glenn Hansard. If you are looking for a feel good film, take a walk on "Sing Street."

Demolition

      Even a fine acting turn by Jake Gyllenhaal cant save this metaphorical mess of a film. Mr. Gyllenhaal plays Davis, living comfortably numb as an investment banker working for his father-in-law, played by Chris Cooper. When his wife dies in a car accident (no spoiler, it happens minutes into the film and is the catalyst for the plot), Davis is forced to face his cold existence, find his emotional center and learn to live again. This is serious stuff.

        Davis begins to take everyday things apart. He starts small but eventually, rather than just take them apart, he actively begins to demolish things in his life. Only by breaking everything down, does he think he can start to put things back together...we get it...literally and often. 

        Finding an unusual outlet for his buried feelings, Davis expresses his thoughts in letters to  a vending machine company when his candy gets stuck in a machine at the hospital. Naomi Watts plays Karen, the customer service rep at the company that is moved enough by his letters that she reaches out to him. Karen is, of course, living her own numb existence with a brutish boyfriend and her troubled 15 year old son, Chris.

        Karen, Davis and Chris begin an odd friendship. There are some interesting twists, especially in the third act but they can't disguise the plot holes or the irrational path the film takes to reach it's conclusion. Plot threads dangle and some strain credibility. The film tries so hard to express itself, it collapses under it's own weight just like it's protagonist.

The Clan

      This new foreign crime drama is based on the true story of the Puccio family who kidnapped and murdered people in Argentina in the 1980's. The patriarch, Arquimedes  finds himself unemployed and turns to a life of crime. He enlists the aid of his wife and sons, keeping his two daughters oblivious to the new family business.

       The film starts slowly and is a bit confusing and erratic at first but it does settle down to riveting story anchored by an unforgettable performance by Guillermo Francella. Mr. Francella is ice cold as he goes about the business of kidnapping and murder while playing the loving husband and father. His eldest son, Alejandro, played by Peter Lanzani, is torn between his love and dedication for his father and family and a chance to start a new life with his girlfriend, Monica. 

         The film has a great score and terrific soundtrack that fuels the action. The relationship between father and son is powerful and engaging. Without knowing the outcome, the drama will hold your attention until the very end. The film is in Spanish with subtitles but you don't need to understand the language to feel the emotional suspense of a family torn apart by violence of their own design.

Miles Ahead

      Actor Don Cheadle stars and also co-writes as well as directs this unique interpretation of the life of music's  legendary, Miles Davis. As an actor, Mr. Cheadle is terrific as Davis but as a director and writer, he unfortunately misses the note.

       The film starts with Mr. Davis's life in the 70's but also includes earlier flashbacks to the 60's. By jumping around so much, it never gives a full portrait of the artist and completely avoids his early career. This is far from a standard "bio-pic". The writing is erratic with Mr. Davis acting more like a gangster than a musician. His coke fueled paranoia leads to car chases and shoot outs which may or may not have really happened. It seems Mr. Cheadle and his co-writers have made a deliberate attempt to create a cinematic version of improvisational jazz using bits and pieces of Mr. Davis's life.

        Ewan McGregor co-stars as a writer who gets close to Davis when he tells him he is writing an article for Rolling Stone. At first dismissed, Mr. McGregor wins favor after he manages to score cocaine for Davis. They spend the rest of the film together like some bad buddy comedy. The film also co-stars Emayatzy Corinealdi as Frances Taylor, Mr. Davis's first wife and Michael Stuhlbarg as a seedy record producer.

         Mr. Cheadle does give a wonderful performance, completely inhabiting the role. Unfortunately as written, the role never really defines the man or the artist. What can be really appreciated though is the soundtrack. It's a terrific compilation of music made famous by Mr. Davis and other Jazz greats.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

        Director Zack Snyder goes bigger, louder and more bombastic in this overstuffed 2 1/2 hour infomercial for the new "Justice League" movie coming next year. Don't get me wrong, there are some bright spots but overall it's hard to get past the boredom and disconnection of the first half of the film.

        The movie opens with a tired retread of Batman's origin. How many times do we need to see that? However, the film redeems itself in the very next clever sequence where we see the end of "Man of Steel"from Batman's perspective.  This sets up Batman's anger towards Superman which is further fueled by villain Lex Luthor.  Lex's plan is to eventually pit the heroes against each other in a fight to the death. Why, is never really made clear. 

         I always thought in the DC universe, Metropolis and Gotham City were a great distance from each other but in this film, they are just across the river (who knew?). That makes it easy for Batman and Superman to find each other quickly to fight over who is the bigger vigilante and menace to society (oops, wrong film). The film is dark, both in mood and visuals. You can't even tell where the climatic fight takes place. Mr. Snyder throws everything he can into this film, including the proverbial kitchen sink (in an effort to be funny). Humor is sorely lacking in the film. Even when a joke is tried, it falls flat.

        Much was made over the casting choice of Ben Affleck as Batman. He actually is not that bad falling somewhere between Christian Bale and George Clooney in the role. Superman is once again played by Henry Cavill, just a step up from a cardboard cutout. He's much better in the Clark Kent scenes. Lex Luthor is played by Jesse Eisenberg, who seemed like an odd choice but he grows into the part and ends up truly evil.  Amy Adams reprises her role as"plucky" Lois Lane and Jeremy Irons joins the cast as Alfred the faithful Butler. Mr. Irons is just too majestic an actor to fill the Alfred role. Bring back Michael Caine. Laurence Fishburne is a generic Perry White and Holly Hunter is a senator with an agenda. The freshest face in the cast is Gal Godot, who plays Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman. She only has a few minutes of action screen time but she definitely makes an impression and that sets up her solo film coming next year.

               Even if you were sleeping through the first half of "Yawn of Justice", the second half of the film wakes you up faster than a speeding bullet. It's why you bought your ticket and it doesn't disappoint. There is plenty of action and even a surprising ending. 

               Unlike in a Marvel film, there is no need to sit through the credits waiting for an extra scene. The surprise cameos happen during the film and act to wet your appetite for "Justice League". The best I can really say about Batman V Superman is...bring on "Captain America: Civil War".