Starring: Ryan Corr, Alyla Browne and Penelope Mitchell
Directed by: Kiah Roche-Turner
Rated: R
Running Time: 91 minutes
Well Go USA Entertainment

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Very few times can I describe a film with these words: heart-warming, funny and skin crawling. “Sting” is the story of a peculiar preteen girl, Charlotte (Alyla Browne) who makes friends with a spider, at least what we think is a spider. You see, on a snowy, icy night in New York City, a tiny meteorite smashes through a window at an apartment complex. The rock cracks open, revealing the dime sized spider that quickly makes friends with Charlotte. Since we know up front that it’s from space, we know that this isn’t an ordinary spider, but of course no one else knows this. Charlotte doesn’t even seem to mind too much that the spider doubles in size in hours, and suddenly requires more than just apartment lurking bugs to devour.

I’d say the majority of “Sting” hinges on the likability of Charlotte as a character and Browne’s acting abilities. It’s a difficult character to tackle because Charlotte is dealing with the loss of her father and isn’t as emotionally connected as she once was with her mom. It doesn’t help that her stepdad is a little bit aloof when it comes to Charlotte, talking to her but not actually listening to her. So when Browne interacts with her new pet spider, we truly understand why and actually believe it. I actually believed it, especially since I feel like people who own spiders are pets are sociopaths. As for everyone else who encounters the spider, it’s like midnight at the drive-in.

Part of the inherent cheesy fun of “Sting” is watching all the characters come into focus, while figuring out who’s going to be eaten first. There’s a baby, some elderly ladies, an exterminator who hates coming out to the apartment, a yappy dog and plenty of other tenants that could potentially become spider food. It’s the same formula as the a lot of 80s slashers, but instead of a knife wielding maniac, it’s an eight legged monster.

There is a sense that “Sting” is lacking something. It’s lacking a cast of characters we should all care about, but there’s inherently nothing wrong with watching the spider pick them one-by-one. “Sting” is more of a comedy than a horror first, but it’s not consistently fun. What I’m trying to say in so many words is that “Sting” isn’t perfect, nor is it great, but I admire that it seems like everyone knows they’re making a modern creature feature with chuckles and a cast that will put a smile on your face.

• GODZZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE
• Starring: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry
• Directed by: Adam Wingard
• Rating: PG-13
• Running Time: 3 hrs 25 mins
• Warner Bros.

This will date me, but when I was in grade school the teachers would sometimes give us a free Friday afternoon by showing us black and white films on a 35 mm projector. And sometimes, those films involved Godzilla, which everyone found mesmerizing even though the special effects were cheesy by today’s standards. My fascination with mega monster movies continues to this day. It was reenergized by the 2014 film “Godzilla,” which contained a terrific cast, good character development, and an entertaining story to go along with its visual effects. Several chapters later we have “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which is the opposite of what I just wrote. With a few of the main characters returning from 2021’s “Godzilla vs Kong,” this newest incarnation is indicative of multiple series that may start out strong but quickly being to limp along with little to no redemptive value.

To be succinct, three years after the events of “Godzilla vs. Kong,” Godzilla lives on the Earth’s surface protecting humanity from other, not so nice mega monsters. Conversely, Kong lives in Hollow Earth, which allows for a sort of truce between the two. Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) becomes concerned when her adopted daughter, Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last known member of the Iwi tribe from Skull Island, begins to have weird dreams and begins drawing three triangles. Meanwhile, the Monarch corporation begins noticing that Godzilla is preparing himself for something that is coming, presumably a big bad mega monster. It all leads to a Temple of Doom type discovery involving a prophecy and an angry, giant orangutan with a glowing crystal thing that controls a mega monster who spews freezing breath.

It has reached a point that the Godzilla movies moving forward should just forego having any human characters and just have the mega monsters in them. Kong especially can communicate everything we need and can do it better than the actors and actresses in the film. It would be more entertaining than the complete lack of anything resembling character development or arcs. Stylistically, “The New Empire” is crowd pleasing fun and the battles remind me of the ones I used to watch in black and white long ago. However, it’s not enough to keep this particular film from being almost ridiculous, which is not helped by a main antagonist who is almost laughable compared to Godzilla and Kong.

Overall, “Godzilla x Kong” may be good to munch popcorn along to but that’s about it.

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” receives ★ out of five.

• CIVIL WAR
• Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura
• Directed by: Alex Garland
• Rating: R
• Running Time: 1 hr 49 mins
• A24

In a time when America is more divided politically since before the 20th century, the near dystopian future of “Civil War” seems like an all too scary proposition of a possible reality. However, the film’s brilliance is derived from largely staying away from the weeds of political discourse and instead focuses on the impact the story’s bloody conflict has on the people – specifically the journalists who try to cover it. With brilliant cinematography, “Civil War” captures the horrors of war through a rarely used perspective. A perspective that is shown in a profound way by talented cast headlined by a standout performance by Kirsten Dunst.

Like Morpheus from “The Matrix,” who tells us they know little about mankind’s fall, we only get to know scant pieces of information why America has become engulfed by a civil war. What we do know is that the dictator-like, third term President of the United States (Nick Offerman) started America’s downfall with a series of actions, few of which we are privy to, but one does stand out – launching air strikes against American civilians.

Legendary war photojournalist Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and her colleague, Joel (Wagner Moura, “The Gray Man”) are determined to drive to D.C. to interview the president, although it’s clear that Lee has become exhausted by covering the worst of humanity. They are warned of the dangers of doing so by Sammy (Kansas City, Missouri native Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Dune: Part One,” “Fences”), a longtime journalist with “The New York Times”. Lee and Joel do not heed his advice, but they end up complicating their journey further by allowing Sammy to join them for a ride to the front lines as well as a young, aspiring photojournalist named Jessie (Springfield, Missouri native Cailee Spaeny, “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” “Priscilla”), who happens to be from Missouri.

During their several hundred-mile journey, the quartet encounters several scenes of carnage during which Jessie earns her red badge of carnage, in a manner of speaking. Ultimately, it is through their eyes and lenses that we see America’s second civil war in both haunting black-and-white and bloody color images. It’s a unique perspective and a bold one as writer/director Alex Garland, who also wrote 2014’s brilliant “Ex Machina” and 2002’s “28 Days Later,” stayed away from making political stances that could have enraged one side or the other in society and instead chose to focus on the depravity that humanity is sometimes capable of.

Dunst is tremendous as her feelings of exhaustion are tangible just by the thousand mile look in her eyes. Moura is a nice counterpart to her as he demonstrates a solid handle on a wide range of emotions, especially those that are more visceral. And Spaeny shows that she is an up-and-coming star who is going to be gracing the silver screen for a long time to come. Lastly, it should be noted, to tamper the enthusiasm of his fans, that Offerman is barely in the film despite the prominence of his name. He is more heard than seen to put it in simple terms.

Overall, “Civil War” is one film not to be missed.

“Civil War” receives ★★★ out of five.

• MONKEY MAN
• Starring:  Dev Patel and Sharlto Copely
• Directed by: Dev Patel
• Rated:  R
• Running time:  2 hrs, 1 min
• Universal

Here are four words I thought I’d never see together:
“Dev Patel – Action Star.”  Yet, in the new film “Monkey Man,” Patel proves he can kick ass both on screen and, as the film’s director, behind it.

Meet Kid (Patel), a man trying hard to forget his past, no matter the nightmares.  To earn money, he participates in unsanctioned UFC-style battles with very few rules.  And he fights wearing the mask of a monkey.  Meet the Monkey Man.

Basically a young-man-seeking-revenge thriller, “Monkey Man” is far superior to many films of that type thanks to Patel’s work both as actor and director.  I’ve always been a fan of Patel on screen.  From “Slumdog Millionaire” to his Oscar nominated (and BAFTA winning) performance in “Lion,” he has been an actor whose work I admire and actually look forward to seeing.  This film is no different, as he gives another fine performance.

But it is Patel the director who is the real star here.  The film is full of non-stop action, with each encounter more thrilling then the last.  Patel allows his cameras to become part of the on-screen ballet, capturing the fury of every punch.  With the use of Go-Pros, the viewer is put directly into the action with such realism that you may find yourself ducking in the audience.

I will note that the film is quite brutal in some of it’s depictions of violence so be prepared to squirm in your seat a little.  But squirm away because I can guarantee you this isn’t the last time you’ll see Patel behind the camera.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “Monkey Man” ★★★★

Starring: Samara Weaving, Vic Carmen Sonne and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
Directed by: E.L. Katz
Rated: NR
Running Time: 85 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Movies being shelved is nothing new. However, the legend and infame of those films remains. Depending on the genre, that movie can spend years being whispered about before it ever sees the light of day or is shown beyond secret Hollywood home screenings. The latest potentially shelved and never to be seen again (I’ll get to this later) film is “Azrael,” a post-apocalyptic film that uses Biblical theology to tell a wordless story splattered in blood and shockingly delivers unexpected supernatural thrills without a single syllable of discernable dialogue.

Samara Weaving plays the titular Azrael, who roams the woods dodging mud covered looking creatures with disfigured twitching torsos and milky zombie eyes, and other humans looking to sacrifice her to those previously described creatures. All the humans we encounter, except for one, have removed their vocal cords, leaving a cross as a scar over their throat. You see, this film takes place after the Christian rapture, the supposedly end-of-times day where all of God’s believers are taken to Heaven before good and evil lay waste to the Earth in battle. So, as the movie goes, you automatically know nothing is off the table in terms of supernatural shenanigans, morality, and what happens to the pregnant villain of the story. That being said, nothing is officially known.

You will learn nothing as the film goes along and at times it’s almost like watching someone choose their own adventure based on knowledge they’re not telling you. Besides onscreen text, the magnificent facial acting of the entire cast (especially Weaving) the privileged few who attended a director screening of the cut (Me!), you will not ever 100% (maybe even 50-90%) know what is actually going on. It’s entirely possible that multiple people with different theories as to what is happening aren’t wrong. Even at the Panic Fest screening, the film’s writer, Simon Barrett, was mum on the more specific plot details and ideas.

“Azrael” deserves a proper autopsy if it is never released, but right now, it’s an unseen circus act I’m guaranteeing is worth the price of admission. It’s difficult to glow about a film that may never see the light of day because, as Barrett also stated at Panic Fest’s “Azrael” screening, the movie is currently in limbo. Just a little after it’s SXSW premiere, the distributing company for “Azrael” seems ready to do what other distributors have done recently, just like with “Batgirl.” Whether it’s because shelving the film will save “save money,” “trim fat,” or whatever potential lie the millionaire powers to be are claiming, it’s frustrating. Even if someone disagreed with me about “Azrael,” they deserve the opportunity to watch it. “Azrael” is more than a silent gimmick, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Buoyed by Weaving’s face, the film is relentless, even as it blows past questions it’s never going to answer.

• SPACEMAN
• Starring: Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan
• Directed by: Johan Renck
• Rating: R
• Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins
• Netflix

It has been a long time since his days starring in such notable comedies as “The Waterboy,” “Billy Madison,” and “Happy Gillmore.” However, what has always been the real strength of Adam Sandler’s talents is his ability to do drama. Whether it was in “Punch-Drunk Love” or “Reign Over Me” or “Uncut Gems,” Sandler has demonstrated a terrific ability to delve into all the nooks and crannies of a character without having to be silly. His dramatic brilliance is able to shine once more in the new, slow-paced and somewhat dull sci-fi film “Spaceman.”

A mysterious pink cloud, named Chopra, has entered our solar system just beyond Jupiter. Visible in the day and nighttime sky from Earth, a solo space mission has been organized by the Czech government to gather particles from Chopra and return them back to Earth for study. One step ahead of a South Korean ship sent to do the same thing, Czech astronaut Jakub Prochazka (Sandler) is six months into his mission and his sense of loneliness threatens to overwhelm him. What makes matters worse is that his pregnant wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan) has decided to divorce him just as he is on the precipice of the greatest achievement in human space exploration. Concerned that her deep space “Dear John” letter to Jakub will shatter what’s left of his mental stability, flight commander, Commissioner Tuma (Isabella Rossellini) decides to withhold the message in the hopes she can convince Lenka to change her mind.

Meanwhile, Jakub struggles to keep his sanity as he gets closer to Chopra without any word from his wife. It is at his most vulnerable that he encounters a spider-like, telepathic alien onboard his ship that he eventually calls Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano, “The Dark Knight”). Intrigued by this lonely human, Hanus begins to poke and prod at Jakub’s memories to figure him out. This ranges from examining the consequences of Jakub’s father being murdered because he had been an informant for the Communist government of Czechoslovakia to why Jakub pushed away Lenka.

To say that “Spaceman” is slow would be an understatement and it may serve to drive away some viewers’ interest after just a few minutes into the film. The actual science the film appears a little iffy, especially considering why in the world would such a long mission be attempted with just one astronaut. And unfortunately, the supposed climax of reaching Chopra is more like a whimper than a bang.

Another detriment to the film is the monotone voice work by Dano as Hanus. It’s like listening to HAL 9000, but not as sinister. There is a sense of mystery about Hanus that provides a little intrigue because it is seemingly impossible for the creature to have gotten on the spaceship. As for Sandler, he exhibits sheer brilliance as he pulls us into his character’s self-imposed loathing and despair. However, while he does not share a lot of scenes with Mulligan, their shared chemistry is a little flat.

Overall, “Spaceman” has some pretty visual effects and a couple of extraordinarily good emotional moments that will pull at the heart strings. Yet, it’s still not enough to make the film more than something average.

“Damsel” receives ★★1/2  out of five.

• DAMSEL
• Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Robin Wright
• Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
• Rating: PG-13
• Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins
• Netflix

So many fairy tales contain damsels in distress who end up having to be rescued by some handsome prince or noble knight. The new Netflix fantasy tale “Damsel” attempts to put that tradition on its head by having the endangered female lead save herself rather than someone else doing the job. However, the movie falls rather flat with old video game visual effects, almost non-existent character development, and little to no suspense. It is more like the viewer is the one in distress and therefore needs to be rescued.

After a brief introduction to allegedly the last dragon in existence, the story travels centuries into the future where we go to a kingdom that is nothing more than a barren, cold wasteland. It is there that Elodie (Millie Bobbie Brown, “Stranger Things”) demonstrates that she is much more rough and tough than your normal princess. While she is not keen on the idea, she goes along with her parents (Ray Winstone and Angela Bassett) plans to marry her off to a faraway prince, which will mean a replenishment of gold in the unnamed kingdom.

After a long voyage, Elodie and her family arrive at a lush and prosperous kingdom ruled by the rather callous and forceful Queen Isabelle (Robin Wright) and her husband, who is given almost nothing to say. Elodie gets to meet her future husband, but everything feels awkward and not quite right. The reason for this is that during a weird, “Eyes Wide Shut” type of mountain ceremony, Elodie is tossed into a deep hole as a sacrifice to the dragon (Shohreh Aghdashloo). The reason for this is straight out of a below average Dungeons & Dragons role playing campaign.

Brown burst onto the scene with her role as the heroine, Eleven on “Stranger Things” and while she certainly has a bright future in cinema, “Damsel” is a waste of her talents. Her director falters with pacing and he asks Brown to do too much whimpering and screaming after initially presenting as tough and determined. The supporting cast are forgettable, and Wright’s performance is just an amalgamation of every evil queen stereotype from Disney. Worse, the dragon is a bad rip-off of “Lord of the Rings.”

Overall, “Damsel” may be one of the most boring films you could see all year. 

“Damsel” receives ★ out of five.

• DUNE: PART TWO
• Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya
• Directed by: Denis Villenueve
• Rating: PG-13
• Running Time: 3 hrs 26 mins
• Legendary Pictures

Rare is the film that achieves cinematic perfection. It takes a uniquely superb combination of writing, acting, directing, and cinematography, among other things, to pull it off. Having exceeded all expectations with 2021’s “Dune,” which received 10 Academy Award nominations and won six including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, director Denis Villenueve’s follow-up, “Dune: Part Two” exceeds its much-praised predecessor, a rare feat in the world of cinema.

Based upon the 1965 novel by the late American author Frank Herbert (1920-86), for which he was a co-winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel, “Dune: Two” is the second half of the original book, the first installment of what became the “Dune Chronicles.” The story picks up on the desert planet of Arrakis where Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), who had the help of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), has solidified his rule after wiping out House Atriedes. Or at least that’s what he thinks.

The Fremen, the native blue-eyed population of Arrakis, suspect Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) and his Bene Gesserit mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) as spies despite the endorsement of Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Paul goes on to endure many trials to prove that he is worthy to fight alongside the Fremen, which earns the respect and love of Chani (Zendaya). Some, like Stilgar, believe Paul is the Chosen One while others are skeptical, like Chani. Meanwhile, Jessica, who is pregnant, must drink the Water of Life, which is poisonous for males and the untrained, to become the Fremen’s new Reverand Mother, or religious leader. After this process, Jessica and her unborn daughter begin to make maneuvers to ensure Paul is indeed accepted as the Chosen One by all Fremen and therefore lead them into an open revolt against the Harkonnen rather than just hit-and-run guerrilla warfare.

That is a bare bones description of the script for it can be complicated, but in a fantastic, sophisticated type of way. Intelligent. Brilliant. Imaginative. Those are all words that can be used to describe Villeneuve’s adaptation. Brimming with much more suspense than the first part, “Dune Two” is a Harvard-educated roller coaster which stimulates both the mind and the senses. Chalamet burns up the screen with his ferocity while Zendaya infuses her character with a tangible sense of independence. The other supporting cast members are delightful, especially Austin Butler (“Elvis”) as the Baron’s new favorite nephew. Visually, the film is nothing short of stunning as it blows the doors off anything to have hit the silver screen since the first “Dune.”

Overall, “Dune: Part Two” is one of the greatest achievements in film this century and surely there will be plenty of anticipation for “Dune Messiah.”

“Dune: Part Two” receives ★★★★★ out of five.

• ARTHUR THE KING
• Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel and Simu Liu
• Directed by:  Simon Cillan Jones
• Rated: PG 13
• Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
• Lionsgate

Did you know that there is an annual race in the Dominican Republic called the Adventure Racing World Championship?  Neither did I.  And I can tell you, as someone who used to enjoy running 5K races…I want to part of it.  Five days.  Over 400 miles on land and water.  Yikes.

Mikael (Wahlberg) used to enjoy Adventure Racing.  At least until his last race ended with he and his team stuck in a dry river bed because Michael led them in the wrong direction.  Now Mikael lives with his wife and daughter in Colorado and, while he no longer competes, he trains hard because the desire is still inside him.  He decides to put a team together for one last adventure.  An adventure that continues to influence his life today.

A story of faith, both in yourself and others, “Arthur the Kind” is an inspirational story of endurance, both physical and mental, and what it takes to succeed at both.  Mikael’s team is a mashup of personalities:  a former teammate with a bad knee, the up and coming daughter of a famous rock climber and a racer who spends more time on social media then he does in the gym.  At one of the rest areas they are approached by a stray dog.  Mikael gives it a meatball and the team heads back out, traversing dense jungles at night.  Miraculously, after trekking another hundred miles they are surprised to learn the dog has followed them.  Mikael gives the dog the name Arthur, as in King Arthur.  Now a quintet, the team forges on towards the finish line.

I have never been more exhausted at the end of a movie.  Director Jones puts his camera smack dab in the middle of the action and you feel the aches and pain caused by every step…every stretch….every stroke of an oar.  Like the race itself, the film keeps a fast pace and never slows down.

If there is a message here, it is don’t judge a book by its cover, whether the book is a man or a stray dog.  The script, by Michael Brandt and Mikael Lindnord, is based on a true event.  Lindnord – on whose story the film is based –  is honest, and strays away from the usual inspirational tropes similar films have.  Whatever their goals are, Mikael and Arthur will only achieve them on their terms.

With the Easter holidays approaching, “Arthur the King” is truly a film for the whole family.

On a scale of zero to five I give “Arthur the King” ★★★★

• KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
• Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone
• Directed by: Martin Scorsese
• Rating: R
• Running Time: 3 hrs 26 mins
• Paramount Pictures

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is one of the most audacious, sprawling epics director Martin Scorsese has ever created. With 10 Oscar nominations under its belt, including Best Picture, Director, and Actress, “Flower Moon” is a film every American should see to get a better understanding of the atrocities that have committed upon Native peoples. (Ideally, Americans would also go out and do research on their own to learn more.) Compelling and revolting at the same time, Scorsese’s work is filled with unforgettable performances, terrific dialogue, and wonderful homages to the Osage people of Oklahoma.

The story’s details are mostly common knowledge at this point so, in brief, it is based upon the praised, groundbreaking 2017 historical work “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by American journalist David Grann. The book detailed the multiple murders of Osage people in Osage County, Oklahoma during the 1920s as part of a scheme orchestrated by cattleman William King Hale (Robert De Niro) to gain access to their oil headrights. A key part of this was Hale’s nephew, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) marrying Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone in a performance for the ages) so that Hale could eventually get access to her family’s wealth, which was done by methodically killing off her relatives one by one. The scheme begins to unravel after an agent (Jesse Plemons) with the Bureau of Investigation, the forerunner of the F.B.I., arrives in the area to investigate the murders.

A common criticism of “Flower Moon” is its length and its supposed slow pacing. Perhaps it’s the age-old beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder thing, but to chop anything out of this story would have been a disservice to the Osage people, with whom Scorsese reportedly worked extensively with to get his film as accurate as possible. It’s impressive that he got in as much detail as he did, although it does, like even the best historical films do, take bits of dramatic license here and there. Now, could it have been told more from an Osage point of view rather than focusing more on Hale and Ernest, probably, but this dark story does a wonderfully nuanced job of delving into the complexities of Ernest and Mollie’s relationship.

It may sound ageist, but Scorsese unfortunately adhered more towards loyalty to his usual stable of actors rather than getting his story even more accurate. DiCaprio, who was 46 during production, is not believable as someone who just returned from World War I, especially since the real Ernest was 27 at the time. While Gladstone, who should be a lock to win an Oscar for Best Actress, is similar in age to Mollie, 78-year-old DeNiro was portraying someone who was 45 in 1919. Still, the two veteran actors’ performances are strong enough to overlook this disparity.

Overall, while you may have to put it on pause to go to the bathroom at some point, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is too important of a story about a dark chapter in America’s history to be missed or overlooked.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” receives four-and-a-half stars out of five.

Starring: Jonathan Lipnicki, Bonnie Aarons and Andrew Divoff
Directed by: Thomas Walton
Rated: NR
Running Time: 90 minutes
Deskpop Entertainment

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 Stars

The slasher genre is no stranger to parody. 2023 ended with “Totally Killer,” the “Scary Movie” franchise was built on slasher tropes, “Club Dread” was Broken Lizard’s follow-up to their smash hit “Super Troopers,” etc. The examples are endless. So, while “Camp Pleasant Lake” might have an interesting concept, an understanding of the slasher genre, and a cast that’s more than willing to slop it up with blood, the film barely tickles the funny bone and barely offers up anything remotely new or fresh.

“Camp Pleasant Lake” is about the titled summer camp, the site of an infamous murder from decades before, reopening under new management. The new owners are interested in cashing in on Camp Pleasant Lake’s horrific history by serving as an immersive horror attraction. Attendees are brought in on school bus, ready to see some fake blood and guts. What the owners aren’t expecting is an actual killer to show-up, who starts butchering camp workers and attendees. What follows is all promise and no payoff.

The biggest issue with “Camp Pleasant Lake” upfront is the cast. There are way too many characters and none of them are the lead. We don’t get any alone time with any and most of the time when they do talk, it’s awkward, forced, wooden and unfulfilling. The only time where “Camp Pleasant Lake” feels like a film with living breathing characters is in a flashback to the infamous incident that made Camp Pleasant Lake so…well…infamous. Even then, that flashback basically tells you who the killer is, quite easily. The only way you wouldn’t notice is if you were asleep.

Like I stated earlier, the movie just isn’t funny. The jokes are one note. If characters thinking an actual murder is fake because it’s a fake camp causes you to have giggle fits, I’d recommend this movie. For everyone else, you’re going to be wondering how many times characters can see this happen and still think it’s all staged. In fact, at one point, the killer goes to a group of remaining attendees and workers, at least 20 or more, and begins stabbing indiscriminately. At no point does a victim let out a “oh no, this is real” or anything to alert everyone living that the killer is a real killer. Nope, this just happens over and over again until the credits arrive.

All-in-all, “Camp Pleasant Lake” is empty on laughs, empty on suspense, and sometimes empty on gore despite the killer slashing his way through 30 people throughout its runtime. It’s really unfortunate because the idea behind the film is fantastic, the look of the killer is great for being low budget, and the killer’s origin story could easily be built into a franchise, but it never blossoms. Since you’ll have an unpleasant experience with “Camp Pleasant Lake,” I’d recommend a film like “Hell House LLC” or “Ruin Me,” because they do a much better job with the premise of a fake horror experience going awry.

• BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE
• Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch
• Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
• Rating: PG-13
• Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins
• Paramount Pictures

Nearly 42 years after his death, Reggae music pioneer Bob Marley (1945-81) continues to be legend of near-mythical proportions on a global scale. The only child from a brief marriage between a middle-aged, white British plantation overseer and an 18-year-old black Jamaican girl, Marley grew up in poverty and was bullied because of his mixed ethnicity. Despite this, he went on to have a life that Jim Morrison would have quipped was good enough to have a movie based upon it. Unfortunately, while it contains a near-Oscar worthy performance by British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir (“Secret Invasion,” “One Night in Miami”), “Bob Marley: One Love” falls far short of being a triumphant biopic.

With the involvement and oversight by members of his family, “One Love” delves into a specific timeframe of Marley’s life from his rise to global fame following an assassination attempt in late 1976 to his triumphant return to Jamaica in 1978 to perform the “One Love Peace Concert”. The film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (“King Richard,” “Monsters and Men”), mistakenly does not provide much detail about Marley’s previous 30 years of life other than some repeated imagery that implies a sense of isolation and abandonment within the famed singer. The decision to fly through his trials and tribulations as a young man significantly weakens the sense of his ultimate triumph.

“One Love” tries to prevent the complicated marriage between Rita (played wonderfully by Lashana Lynch, “The Woman King,” “No Time to Die”) and Bob in some meaningful way, yet it too is glossed over with their underlying problems just briefly hinted at. Yes, there is a big scene involving them arguing but its impact is insignificant.

The highlights of “One Love” include Ben-Adir’s performance and, of course, its music. The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission and should serve to continue to perpetuate Marley’s legacy. However, it you want to know the man on a more in-depth and intimate level, I would highly recommend the 2012 documentary, “Marley.” It is a riveting and detailed account of his life and music from his humble beginnings to his musical triumph to his untimely death.

On a scale of zero to five, “Bob Marley: One Love” receives ★★

• BOB MARLEY:  ONE LOVE
• Starring:  Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, and James Norton
• Directed by:  Reinaldo Marcus Green
• Rated:  R
• Running time:  1 hr 47 mins
• Paramount

As a father I’ve tried to share my love for musicians I grew up listening to to my son.  It’s a family tradition.  My father introduced me to Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.  I introduced my son to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and many others.  But there was one artist I neglected to share with my son, so it was with great pride when, at the age of 14, he asked me if I’d ever heard of Bob Marley?  Of course I had.  He was another favorite.  The pride I felt came from the fact that my son, without my input, was now listening to the music of a man who had passed away three years before he was born.

It is a tough time to live in Jamaica.  With two very opposite people trying to take power, the citizens of the Island country are caught between both factions.  Enter Bob Marley (Ben-Adir) a Rastafarian musician who, despite his sometimes political posturing in his music, only wants to bring the people of his country together.  He and his band, the Wailiers, are currently getting ready for a large concert when their rehearsal is interrupted by gunfire.  Marley and his manager are shot, as was Marley’s wife, Rita (Lynch).  But Marley will not be deterred in his quest to share his music and his message of peace with the world.

Produced with the approval and input of Marley’s son, Ziggy, “Bob Marley: One Love” takes a look not only at the man, but at the rise of a new music genre’ including the creation of, in my opinion, Marley’s greatest album, “Exodus.”  But don’t take my word for it.  “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time lists “Exodus” at number 71.

While the music is important, it is the man we learn about.  As portrayed by Ben-Adir, Bob Marley is a man like every other man.  He has his faults, and the film does not try to hide them from the audience.  He knows what he has to do to get his music heard – mostly traveling constantly – yet sometimes questions the methods of how his popularity is being achieved.  When Rita reminds him, “if you’re going to swim in pollution, you’re going to get polluted,” he realizes that, try as he might, he can’t control everything.

The performances are outstanding, with Mr. Ben-Adir seemingly channeling the spirit of Bob Marley.  From the way he moved to the way he spoke and sang, it is an amazing performance.  Ms. Lynch gives Rita Marley her own voice, playing her as both a loving and supportive wife as well as a no-nonsense woman who is not afraid to speak her mind.  The music, of course, is pure bliss.  Most people can tell you that Bob Marley sang “I Shot the Sherrif,” “Jamming,” and “No Woman No Cry” and the film highlights those songs but you also get a taste of some of Marley’s lesser known songs, all of them enjoyable.

Thanks to the hard work of Ziggy Marley, “Bob Marley: One Love” is a loving and inspiring tribute to a man who left this world much too soon.  But his music, and his message, lives on.

On a scale of zero to five, I give “Bob Marley: One voice” ★★★★

Starring: Christian Friedel and Sandra Huller
Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 106 minutes
A24

Our Score: 2 out of 5 Stars

Watch Nazis raise a family. Watch Nazis play with their kids. Watch Nazis tend to their garden. Watch Nazis get short with their Jewish house servants. Watch Nazis plan a children’s party. Watch Nazis discuss their career paths in the war machine. “Zone of Interest” is a lot of watching Nazis do mundane things while the unthinkable genocide at Auschwitz takes place just over the hedges, over the fence, in the background, or just upstream from children horsing around. That’s “Zone of Interest” for 106 minutes, nothing less, and unfortunately, nothing more.

“Zone of Interest” is visually disgusting because the family, made up of Rudolf Hoss (Christian Friedel), his wife, Hedwig (Sandra Huller), and their five children seem to live this simple life. The children are oblivious, even when they sift through prisoner possessions, to the atrocities happening next door. Of course, if the kids did know, could they fully comprehend the extent of what’s happening?

Rudolf and Hedwig know good and well about the insufferable cruelty and mass death. Rudolf is one of the architects, but he views this simply as his work duties. Hedwig knows of her husband’s work, and what’s happening, but she’s enjoying a somewhat extravagant life with a vast, adorable cottage to raise her family with an army of trembling servants constantly cleaning, cooking and washing. So, we have to ask, do Rudolf or Hedwig care?

As I stated, Rudolf appears to have the nature of Adolf Eichmann, simply doing his job and unfortunately, being damn good at it. We never get a vibe for his feelings on it all. It’s possible he’s simply doing it because that’s what society, his government, and his wife expect him to do. While this may be horrifying, the worst part is that Rudolf never seems to reflect or realize the Holocaust he’s perpetuating. Ultimately, this makes Hedwig worse because she is personified privilege. She lords over the servants with threats of sending them to the crematorium herself or upset that her idyllic perspective and life isn’t as lavish as it could be.

What are we supposed to take away from a film like “Zone of Interest? That evil isn’t necessarily evil, more than a mass number of individuals doing a horrific thing to serve their own self-interest, whether it’s career goals, enjoying the benefits of new life, or reaping benefits from chaos? Is it that this can happen again because family responsibilities can force the average worker to become a cog in a sociopathic machine? “Zone of Interest” is actually so banal in discussing the banality of evil, it fails to deliver anything meaningful or even lasting.

I wanted to like “Zone of Interest” because it was telling an untold story of the Holocaust. When the final solution is discussed, it’s always the major players, the big wigs and Hitler. Never is it discussed or talked about how often average people did horrible things in seemingly quaint areas. Years and years ago, I visited the concentration camp Dachau and the biggest impression left on me wasn’t the crematorium where countless bodies were burned, the showers where people spent their last minutes on Earth in terror or the vast dormitories used to store thousands of starving, hopeless humans. It was how this camp of misery and death sat nestled in such a picturesque town. Dachau was in operation for over a decade and I could only imagine the people at home nearby who eventually became used to this horrific sight and went about their day. That kind of horror and shock isn’t in “Zone of Interest.”

• AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM
• Starring: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson
• Directed by: James Wan
• Rating: PG-13
• Running Time: 2 hrs 4 mins
• Warner Bros. Pictures

After lots of lows and some highs, the DC extended universe of films is ending with its 15th and final installment in the form of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” Currently in theaters, “Lost Kingdom” ends the franchise on a solid note with two hours of pure popcorn fun. While Jason Momoa is no Laurence Olivier or Sidney Poitier, he does not pretend to be and instead infuses a genuine enthusiasm into a performance which does not require a lot of range. Bolstered by some enjoyable supporting performances, fun action, and few laughs, “Lost Kingdom” is an improvement over the first “Aquaman”.

Voiceover narrations are often so dullish that they impair a film’s progression, which is the case in the beginning with “Lost Kingdom.” Momoa provides a reflection of where his character of Arthur Curry/Aquaman has been over the past few years, and it comes across as stilted. Regardless, we learn that Aquaman has married Mera (Amber Heard) and had a son while at the same time trying to lead a double life as a reluctant king of Atlantis.

Concurrently, we see that David Kane/Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is still hell bent on avenging the death of his father no matter what the cost. Amid his quest, Black Manta, with the assistance of a marine biologist, stumbles across an ancient Atlantean artifact in the form of a black trident. Like something out of a D&D game, the trident possesses Black Manta and its trapped creator, who resembles the King of the Dead from “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” offers Black Manta glorious purpose if he frees him.

Black Manta’s subsequent actions with other forms of ancient technology threaten to destroy the Earth’s environment. To prevent it, a war with the surface world, and save his family, Aquaman must turn to his imprisoned, disgruntled brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson) for help.

For someone who has been a fan of at least some of the DC movies, or the Zack Snyder universe, it is a bit sad to see the unfinished storylines come to an end. It is at least going out on a decent note as “Lost Kingdom” provides a fun way to spend just over two hours at the movie theater. There are several laughs to be had throughout its running time with plenty of action, albeit nothing we have not seen before, and decent enough special effects. The thing about “Lost Kingdom” is that it does not take itself too seriously, which would have caused it to be a complete dud if it had.

Abdul-Mateen II stands out once again as a man so blinded by rage and revenge that he become something less than human. Wilson is also fantastic with some great comic relief with good timing in support of Momoa. Overall, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is a nice swan song to a franchise that had its fair share of severe ups and downs.

“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” receives ★★½ stars out of five.