Netflix

Locke and Key (Season 1, Netflix) - 4/5

This is the best young adult fantasy I’ve seen in years. Where Stranger Things is a show about kids made for adults, Locke and Key is made for teens, though it still has that tense, thriller vibe. It’s refreshing so see a new fantasy concept so well-conceived with plenty of room to grow into later seasons. The characters are compelling and even when they make bad decisions the show naturally incorporates clear motivations, showing the audience why each character does what they do. There is a casual attitude toward teenage drinking and sex, and though some is addressed in the show much of it goes unresolved. Still, the special effects are well above average, and each episode leaves you wanting to watch the next.

Closest comparison: It goes Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy, Locke and Key.

Setting: Family Drama
Plot: Hidden World
Tone: Domestic Thriller

Klaus (2019, Netflix) - 4/5

This is a solid re-imagining of the origins of Santa Claus. It’s pleasant and funny without being obnoxious (for the most part), though there is an overbearing anti-tradition subnarrative that’s shoehorned in. Apart from that there’s a lot to like: alternate explanations of Santa lore, endearing characters with growth, and gorgeous animation. It’s bound to become a classic in some households, but in any event it’s worth a watch.

Closest comparison: It’s like Frozen by way of The Emperor’s New Groove.

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Rich Jerk Get a Heart
Tone: Family Comedy

Always Be My Maybe (Netflix) - 3/5

This movie is a pretty standard post-modern West coast rom com with all the witty anecdotes and unusual-but-not-unbelievable situations you’d expect. Everyone is sleeping around, for one thing, and the film provides an unexpected sardonic evisceration of the high class West coast lifestyle which may hit audiences differently depending on differences in personal worldview. The humor for me was more smirk than laugh out loud, which will hit everyone differently, but the inevitable awkward humor wasn’t as forced or as awkward as I was expecting so it was a fun watch overall.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Big Sick, but with food instead of chronic illness.

Setting: Yuppie Drama
Plot: Will They Won’t They Romance
Tone: Romantic Comedy

The Night Comes for Us (Netflix) - 4/5

This is a martial arts-heavy protect-the-girl gangster movie, which tells you almost everything you need to know about it. The fight choreography is excellent, for the most part, but those who are squeamish at the sight of blood will want to pass on this one. A few of the fights have the classic one-at-a-time issue and there are definitely some eyebrow-raising “He’s not dead from that?” moments, but the movie deftly avoids allowing those issues to impact the plot at all. The characters are complex and conflicted enough to keep the audience invested and thinking, ticking it up from a 3 to a 4 out of 5.

Content warning: violent, bloody

Closest comparison: It’s like Safe (2012) by way of The Raid: Redemption.

Setting: Crime Action
Plot: On-the-run Action
Tone: Brutal Martial Arts

In the Shadow of the Moon (Netflix) - 3/5

The audience reception of this movie is going to vary wildly by political affiliation, as to whether the heroes or the villains win in the end, though the film certainly portrays them as heroes. The setup is clever and the core ideas intriguing, but unfortunately it ties its resolution too closely with preconceived notions of social issues that aren’t addressed within the film, only taken as a given. There are distinct similarities both visually and thematically to other high-concept sci-fi films, but the film falls victim to some huge sci-fi plot holes in the process. For all that, though, it still has a compelling story, very solid acting, and a high level of overall polish.

Content warnings: blood, some language.

Closest comparison: It’s like Mr. Nobody or Predestination by way of The Place Beyond The Pines.

Setting: Police Drama
Plot: Social Sci-fi
Tone: CSI Drama

Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus (Netflix) - 4/5

This movie is basically a long episode for the original show and feels a lot like just another episode, which is impressive given the 18 year time difference in production. For those unfamiliar with the show will probably be lost, because the movie doesn’t really try to explain what’s been going on apart from a few expositionary jokes. It has a strange sense of humor with a bizarre art style and often gross super-antics, but if that’s what you’re looking for then this movie delivers in spades.

Closest comparison: It’s the rivalry of Step Brothers with the strange artistic sensibilities of something like Spongebob Squarepants and the manic energy of The Lego Movie (2014).

Setting: Sci-Fi Action
Plot: One-up-manship
Tone: Bizarre Comedy

Revenger (Netflix) - 2/5

This movie tries to hide the huge spaces between the mediocre action by covering them with a weak, uninteresting plot. The ‘people stuck on an island’ survival themes are undercut by the fact that they keep getting airdrops of supplies. The ‘one good person in a sea of evil’ is undercut but they whole tribe of anti-heroes. Everything this movie purports to have going for it, it undercuts with a less interesting version than promised. Even fans of martial arts B-movies are going to be disappointed, and that’s saying a lot.

Closest comparison: It’s like a cheap knock-off version of The Raid: Redemption or Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior.

Setting: Survival
Plot: Cop Adventure
Tone: Action Drama

Next Gen (Netflix) - 4/5

Not only is this movie a lot of fun, it has better story telling in the opening credits than most blockbuster movies these days have in their entire runtimes. The world-building is seamless and avoids being preachy, advocating for temperance where lesser films would have aimed at vilification. It’s funny, with precise timing and delivery that made me laugh a lot. The central conflict is interesting and unique, but also integrates with the characters’ history and motivations. The bully side plot was unfortunately not handled well, with its resolution being so simplistic and hand-waved that it is almost insulting to both bullies and their victims. Still, there are so many other things that are good about this movie that they overshadow its flaws.

Closest comparison: Its premise is similar to Big Hero 6, but it plays out more like I, Robot (2004)

Hilda (Netflix) - 4/5

On the surface it seems like this is just your average kids show, what with the colorful animation and child protagonists. But the story is much more nuanced than others of its kind. Why doesn’t she go to her mom first when this or that happens, but tries to deal with it herself, as per the trope? That issue is addressed directly in conversation later, something I’ve rarely seen a show do. Of course some of the scenarios wrap up a little too neatly and two episodes in particular treat massive property damage like fun adventurous hijinks with no consequences for those involved, but on the whole this is a great show with positive messages for the whole family.

It’s like a cross between Adventure Time and Steven Universe, but with more nuance.

The Cloverfield Paradox (Netflix) - 3/5

This is a fun sci-fi disaster movie and wisely moves fast enough to keep the audience questions to a minimum. By avoiding specifics the plot is able to adopt a 'here's what's happening, just go with it' attitude that works well enough. Lots of fun sci-fi ideas, most of which have been done before. Like many disaster movies it suffers from character contrivances that put themselves in more danger than necessary, but if that doesn't bother you then you may really enjoy this one.

Stanger Things: Season 2 (Netflix) - 4/5

The Duffer Brothers did it again! Season 2 is really good in so many of the ways the first one was: cinematography, writing, acting. The pacing wasn't as good (one episode, though iconic, didn't have a lot to do with the rest of the season), but they managed to subvert my expectations over and over again which is always important. The main flaw comes in the form of what they did with a certain character's story arc, which was just not ok (at the lab). All in all there's lots to like and it is a surprisingly good follow-up to the first season.