The Odyssey

The Odyssey (Christopher Nolan, 2026)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Can’t Get Enough

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Epic, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Adaptation

Synopsis: After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

I had heard many mixed reviews (some very negative) about Christopher Nolan’s new film adaptation of the Odyssey. As a rule, I don’t like reading reviews or film analysis before I see a film. And I certainly try not to have any expectations for films, especially ones that are adapting complex or very familiar stories. Each filmmaker has a duty, in my opinion, to tell a story in THEIR way. They set out to make art, not a report. Film adaptations should not strive to be perfectly “accurate” (which isn’t really possible) or to replicate source material. What would be the point? It is more meaningful to blend and connect and craft something new from something old, I think.

That being said, I really enjoyed The Odyssey. It is a spectacle. It is masterful art on camera. The atmosphere is heavy and chilling. It has spellbinding moments that literally shake you. It left me contemplative and amazed at what cinema can do and how the stories from an ancient poem are still captivating. The script is unexpected, but far from poor—it’s quite thought provoking. Yes, it is star-studded and the dialogue and acting feels weak at times, but the characters do still have motivations and depth. Yes, it isn’t the same as the epic poem and that is a good thing.

Hamnet

Hamnet (Chloe Zhao, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=12, P=8 / Decadence

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Shakespeare, Adaptation, Biopic, Grief, Complex Relationships, Storytelling

Synopsis: In late 16th-century England, Agnes, a healer sensitive to the world around her, builds a home with William, a local tutor and aspiring playwright. As their lives fracture, they are tested by distance, silence, and grief.

“Our children’s hearts beat, they smile play. Never forget for a moment they may be gone.”

I wept. More than once. My attention was rapt. I was overwhelmed with emotion. Every scene in Hamnet is powerful. This is a story of love, grief, family, sickness, storytelling. It is humanity. It is powerful. This is the most beautifully moving film I have ever seen. Chloe Zhao has done something miraculous. Even if you don’t know Shakespeare, even if you don’t usually like emotional/dramatic films, you will find something in this film that speaks to you. We have all known loss and we have all struggled to cope in our own ways. This film reminds us that people don’t truly die or fade away—they can live on. Storytellers tell, artists show, and both let us feel. And this is why all art is so valuable to human beings.

Masters of the Universe

Masters of the Universe (Travis Knight, 2026)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=12, P=8 / Decadence

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Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Synopsis: Prince Adam discovers that the strange memories shaping his life are real when the lost Sword of Power resurfaces, forcing him to return to Eternia and challenge the tyrant who shattered his family in kingdom.

OK, I love this film SO much. I really do. I did not grow up playing with He-man or watching the cartoon, though I did see it occasionally, but I am a child of the 1980s and so have a fondness for practical effects. I also love nerdy comedies. So, maybe all of these things explain why Masters of the Universe just hit the right notes, for me. It’s silly in all the right ways , it’s stunning and bright, it has lots of practical effects, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it embraces the true escape that movies and toys can be—to kids AND adults. Absolutely loved it.

One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Decadence

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Thriller, Politics, Crime, Complex Relationships, Dark Comedy

Synopsis: When their enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

I went into this film with absolutely no expectations, even though I knew that it had one the Best Picture Academy Award. I’ve always liked Paul Thomas Anderson’s films. He has an uncanny ability to pick the right actors and cast to make an impression, and to leave viewers questioning systems and rules and human behavior. One Battle After Another is a thrilling adventure with politics and crime and intrigue. It’s also incredibly funny and, at times, goofy. It’s hard to blend so many different themes and genres together, but he does and it makes the story feel more real despite its incredible plot. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn performed their roles and newcomer, Chase Infiniti, is really fun to watch. Highly worth multiple viewings.

Bugonia

Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can’t Get Enough

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Thriller, Crime, Complex Relationships, Philosophical, Dark Comedy

Synopsis: Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

I’m not sure there are words to describe the strangeness of this film. Despite feeling anxious the whole time, I enjoyed every minute of it. There’s a tone to the film that is extremely unnerving. We never know exactly what’s going on which creates an ever-building tension. There are moments of realization that are then turned around and confused even more. I wasn’t prepared for the twists, even though I knew there would be some. Fantastic acting, disturbing, creepy yet funny, full of mystery, and with a lot to say about the state of our world. I highly recommend this one.

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Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring Revisited

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring (Kim Ki-duk, 2003)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Buddhism, Philosophical

I first saw Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring not too long after it was released while I was in graduate school. I loved it then and my re-watching of it was even better. I've since become more focused on simple things and Buddhist teachings, so that resonated with me more. And I'm older, of course.

This film has few words. It is all about observation and reflection. All life is precious and miraculous. Go into this with an open mind and heart. You'll be glad.

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The Naked Gun 2025

The Naked Gun 2025 (Akiva Schaffer, 2025)

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Rating: Q=4, P=5 / Average OJ

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Comedy, Spoof, Crime

Comedy remakes don't usually work, in my opinion, but this time I think it did. The Naked Gun (2025) is ridiculous, silly, crude, dumb, and full of gags. And that is what you want from a good comedy. You'll chuckle if you liked the first film and any of the original Zucker brothers films.

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Frankenstein

Frankenstein (Guiklermo del Toro, 2025)

IMDB film information

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can’t Get Enough

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Horror, Fantasy, Psychological, Adaptation

Synopsis: Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Everyone knows the story of Frankenstein because it is so engrained in pop culture. There have been so many film and television and other adaptations over the years. It’s not my favorite story, but I find it intriguing how the major themes and the big question of what it means to be human can be tackled in so many ways. Guillermo del Toro’s version is splendid. It perfectly blends horror and beauty, power and weakness, light and dark. Marvelous acting by Oscar Isaac and Christoph Waltz. And Jacob Elordi as the creature is vivid and inspiring.

Train Dreams

Train Dreams (Clint Bentley, 2025)

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Rating: Q=8, P=7 / Obsession

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Philosophical, Period (19th and early 20th century), Lumberjack, Complex Relationships

"There were once passageways to the old world; strange trails, hidden paths. You'd turn a corner and suddenly find yourself face-to-face with the great mystery, the foundation of all things. And even though that old world is gone now, even though it's been rolled up like a scroll and put somewhere, you can still feel the echo of it."

These opening words are perfect. Train Dreams is truly the story of the life cycle--birth, change, death, rebirth. It shines a light on one man's cycle and all the sorrow and joy and confusion in it. The film is a quiet and exceptionally beautiful reflection of the human experience. I cried more than once. I appreciated the simple and somber tone and emphasis on visuals. Few words speak volumes. I hope, like the narrator says, that this old world isn't completely gone. We need to hear and see the stories of regular folks in the past to appreciate and cherish what we have and what we, as human beings, always will be.

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Samurai Marathon: Three Outlaw Samurai

Three Outlaw Samurai (Hideo Gosha, 1964)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Samurai, Action, Complex Relationships

I enjoyed this one. It felt similar to many of the other samurai films--Ronin who are in the wrong place at the wrong time (or perhaps right place at the right time?). Questing honor, coping with guilt, and the ever-present corruption of those in power are all present here.

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Wake Up, Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2025)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Comedy, Satire

This third movie in the Knives Out universe was great. I enjoyed the theme, the well-constructed plot for ultimate mystery and suspense, and the great acting. Josh Brolin is fantastic as a cynical, cruel priest and Glenn Close is... well, creepy and glorious as ever. I also enjoyed watching Josh O'Connor as the main character. Also some good satire and hilarious moments throughout. Another fun escape!

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Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares (Joachim Rønning, 2025)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Science Fiction, Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Action, Adventure

I have always enjoyed the idea of artificial intelligence, from the first instances that I encountered the concept. Computers and robots are cool with seemingly limitless potential. The show Reboot was one of my favorite cartoons growing up and I love the original Tron and Tron: Legacy even more. The latest film in the series seemed very timely given that our world is now immersed in AI and is wrestling with the consequences. Tron: Ares is visually exciting, tackles some philosophical and ethical questions, and is a fun escape. There are some cheesy/sappy moments but the film isn't meant to be revelatory, so it works. Not as well-written as Tron: Legacy, but the visuals and music made up for that. I thought the music was the best part ;) I'd watch it again.

Here's how I rated Tron and Tron: Legacy (with updated ratings from 2025 included)

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Samurai Marathon: Zatoichi

Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano, 2003)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Samurai, Comedy, Action

A fun film--a departure from the very serious samurai films we'd been watching. Zatoichi pays tribute to samurai films, but also lightens the mood with silly and even outrageous moments. There is extreme blood and gore, but also music and dance and great gags. Pure escape.

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SPECIAL: Coen Brothers Films, Ranked

This spring we felt like watching as many Coen Brothers films as we could in chronological order. I had already seen 11 of the 18, which actually surprised me. Four films didn't get viewed, sadly, due to not being able to easily watch (and we didn't want to pay a fee to rent). But I did watch four films for the first time. My favorite of the bunch is still O Brother Where Art Thou, simply because of the glorious combination of Homer's story, the 1930s time period, and the incredible music. All in all, it was a fun experience. Here's the complete list of all Coen Brothers feature films, followed by my rankings. We didn't watch the films highlighted in yellow.

• Blood Simple (1984)
• Raising Arizona (1987)
• Miller's Crossing (1990)
• Barton Fink (1991)--we weren't able to watch
• The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
• Fargo (1996)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
  
• The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
• Intolerable Cruelty (2003)--we weren't able to watch
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Burn After Reading (2008)
• A Serious Man (2009)--we weren't able to watch
• True Grit (2010)
• Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
• Hail, Caesar! (2016)
• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

#14 The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ
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#13 Blood Simple (1984)
Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ
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#12 Burn After Reading (2008)
Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
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#11 Miller's Crossing (1991)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
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#10 The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
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#9 Raising Arizona (1987)

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
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#8 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
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#7 Hail Caesar! (2016)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
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#6 Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
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#5 The Big Lebowski (1998)
Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ
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#4 Fargo (1996)
Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough
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#3 True Grit (2010)
Rating: Q=6, P=7 / Comfy Old Standard
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#2 No Country For Old Men (2007)
Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Can't Get Enough
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#1 O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession
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The Dig

The Dig (Simon Stone, 2021)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Historical, Archaeology, War, Grief, Complex Relationships

The Dig is so much more than just the story of the archaeological dig site, Sutton Hoo, in 1939. It is a story of why we study anthropology--to remember and honor the humans that have come before us. This film is marvelous in how it juxtaposes the digging up of relics--true buried treasure-- with the reality of human mortality. It is beautiful to see Edith Pretty's story and watch the unfolding of both her decline and the discovery of the past beneath her land. We see how strong the human desire for legacy is --especially in the face of war or disease or age. I find this story revelatory and poignant in so many ways. It is a striking reminder or how we are all one family of humanity and we all will leave our legacy and impact in our own way. As Basil Brown says, "From the first human handprint on a cave wall, we're part of something continuous. So, we... don't really die."

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A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown (James Mangold, 2024)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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Biopic, Bob Dylan, 1960s, Music

I am a huge Bob Dylan fan and student of his work. As a songwriter and musician, he has always been somewhat godlike, to me. So, I wasn't sure what to think when I heard Timothee Chalamet would be playing him in a film. I love Chalamet but I still thought, "sure, he looks the part and probably can act like Dylan, but can he sing and play like Dylan?" As soon as he started to sing "Song for Woody" near the beginning of the film, I gasped. I knew it wasn't actually Dylan singing and playing, but wow. He nailed it. The intonation, the cadence, the way he emphasized words. I can't really fathom the sheer amount of work involved in learning to play guitar and sing and on top of that, sing like one of the most well-known and iconic people in music history. Truly remarkable.

I was also pleased to learn that Dylan supported the script and choice of actor in Chalamet. And the film itself is really quite good. It's paced well, has lots of great moments and music, and feels immersive. It is a little meandering and there isn't much character development, but that's kind of the point. After all, Dylan has always been enigmatic and mysterious.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Tim Burton, 2024)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Fantasy, Horror, Comedy

As a fan of the original Beetlejuice movie (I grew up watching it every year!) I had some expectations for this sequel-- I hoped it would be just as zany and crazy, not trying too hard to do something special or meaningful. After all, the best part of Tim Burton's classic was that it was just strange and unusual. It didn't try to do anything too deep. It was about entertaining. Well, in my opinion, the new movie succeeded. It is a fun re-entry to Burton's weird world for a new generation. I liked it quite a bit. It's not better than the first film, but it does stand on its own to a certain degree (but it is best with prior knowledge). A fun escape!

Superman

Superman (Richard Donner, 1978)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Superhero, Action, Adventure, Comics

I've seen so many action and superhero films in the last eight years, but surprisingly I hadn't watched one of the first. Superman is fun and enjoyable, a somehow nostalgic film (even though I hadn't seen it before) that has aged but only a little. I liked the structure of the film--begin on Krypton (with Marlon Brando!), show his childhood on Earth, move on to his adult life with a mission, etc. There isn't anything special about this plot--it is straightforward but that is comforting and works. There are some silly, zany moments and fun effects. A good, old-standard comic book movie. 

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (George Miller, 2024)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

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Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival, Neo-Western

My first viewing of Mad Max: Fury Road, which was not long after the film came out, gave the film an average rating. Let's be honest...I wasn't really into action movies as much back then. I've since rewatched that film multiple times and have a much greater appreciation for the genre and the filmmaking. I would give it a much higher rating now.

I went into seeing Furiosa with the expectation that it would be good, probably not as good or iconic as Fury Road, but I was optimistic it would be not only fun to watch but thoughtful and interesting. But I was also just along for the ride. I was blown away. This film truly exceeded all my expectations.

The film is more than just a backstory of Furiosa. The backstory part is quite good, too, but it fills in the universe a bit more and provides more motivation for the character(s). It has some very grueling and gruesome scenes, some hilarious moments, phenomenal performances by Chris Hemsworth (not typecasted!) and Ana Taylor-Joy. I was sucked into the world and wanted more when it was done.

Probably the most telling part of my reaction to Furiosa, was that I immediately wanted to rewatch Fury Road when it was over. And after I watched Fury Road again, I appreciated both of the films even more. They build on each other in unexpected ways, which is wonderful filmmaking. A fantastic story, escape, and film.

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Coming Home

Coming Home (Hal Ashby, 1978)

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Rating: Q=7, P=4 / Can't Get Enough

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Vietnam War, Drama, Complex Relationships, Grief

I have a hard time watching typical war films, because the majority of the story is usually set on the front lines or in the action. But few war films focus on the veterans when they return and/or the people they leave behind. Coming Home is perhaps the best film I've seen that truly discusses what war does, its impacts, its legacy. Jon Voight and Jane Fonda are phenomenal in their roles. Bruce Dern is also memorable. And the actual veterans in the film make this a pseudo-documentary, at times, with incredibly powerful effects. I was moved by the brutal honesty of this film and I think it is quite important to see.

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