Moon Knight - 4/5

This show is carried by the absolutely spellbinding performance from Oscar Isaac. The action is sparse but solid, and the archaeology is fun but about as historically accurate as Indiana Jones. There are a few places where the show cuts away from what promises to be a really cool action scene, only letting the audience see the aftermath which is unfortunate. It’s adventurous, but with deep, strong characterization for the main hero and villain. It’s a big step up in quality from the other Marvel and Star Wars shows Disney has created in the past several years.

Content warning: child abuse

Closest comparison: It’s like Deadpool by way of Daredevil.

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Super Hero
Tone: Action

The Kid (2019) - 3/5

This is a solid modern western that has a lot going for it. In some ways it’s a mashup of other westerns, but with its own fresh shootouts and getaways. Chris Pratt has an excellent turn as a bone-chilling villain, and Dane DeHaan is clearly having a lot of fun as Billy the Kid. The plot rambles a bit too much and at least one key moment is unearned, with muddled motivation. Sill, this film is definitely worth a watch for fans of Westerns, but it’s not going to bring anyone to the genre.

Content warning: rape

Closet comparison: It’s like The Night of the Hunter by way of 3:10 to Yuma.

Setting: Western
Plot: On the Run
Tone: Thriller

Gattaca - 3/5

This movie is a docutopian thriller, where humanity has legislated and scientifically classified itself into a moral corner. It feels like an Ethan Hawke film, sufficiently art-house and comparable in some regards to Predestination. The plot is more moralistic than it is fun, and the film’s message is apparent very early on with little added beyond the requisite conclusion to those threads. Dystopian sci-fi enthusiasts should definitely check this one out.

Closest comparison: It’s like the bureaucracy of Brazil with the clean futurism of Paycheck. Or, to put it another way, it’s like October Sky by way of Predestination.

Setting: Sci-Fi Drama
Plot: Espionage
Tone: Thriller

Predestination - 4/5

This is the weird sci-fi time travel movie to beat all others. Its intriguing beginning keeps the audience interested through the slow build-up, and once it takes off we’re all along for the ride. It doesn’t go the action route that Minority Report and Total Recall do, but the cerebral sci-fi pays off in a mind-bending short-story kind of way.

Closest comparison: It’s like Primer by way of Mr. Nobody (2009).

Setting: Time Travel
Plot: Weird Sci-Fi
Tone: Thriller