No Time To Die [2021] ★★★½

It’s been 15 years since Daniel Craig made his 007 debut in “Casino Royale”. Now 5 movies later, it’s time to bid farewell to one of the finest actors to ever portray James Bond (I think we’ve settled this after “Skyfall”). And what an ending it was. Action-wise, the film’s a masterclass in pulse-pounding sequences, brilliantly staged by director Cary Joji Fukunaga, who truly gives it his very best. But fans are in for something more, much much more. Looking for a villain? Try Ramy Malek’s delicious performance as Lyutsifer Safin, a mysterious killer with an agenda of his own. We learn right from the start that Bond has left active service following the events of “Spectre”. But it doesn’t take long for him to get right back in the game, for one last hurrah. No spoilers here, since we already know that this will be Craig’s final outing. But the sendoff is fitting, and, might I add, quite emotional. How? I won’t say. But I will tell you that at 163 minutes, this is the longest 007 film to date. I will also tell you that you’ll be glued to your seat from start to finish. Much like “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall”, “No Time To Die” delivers spectacular sequences, worthy of the best Bond movies. Credit Craig for being one hell of a 007 since 2006. A few bumps on the road made “Quantum Of Solace” and “Spectre” less than great movies. But Craig gives it his absolute best in “No Time To Die”, and die-hard fans of the franchise will be grateful for that. I don’t know what the future holds for Bond, but I do know that Craig’s tenure was truly unforgettable. Same goes for this movie.

Schumacher [2021]★★★

To miss a documentary about 7 time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher would be the equivalent of skipping a Martin Scorsese film. It might not be as compelling as 2011’s “Senna”, but it’s still a phenomenal look at Schumi’s career, from his time with Benetton in the early 90’s, to his unforgettable years at Ferrari. As someone who grew up in the 90’s, I remember very well his rivalry with the likes of Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen. But even the most avid McLaren fan at the time knew that Schumacher was special. And this documentary is a testament to that. Fans might be looking for more updates about his current medical condition, but the movie doesn’t really focus much on that. Instead, it shows us what truly made him tick. If you’re a fan of Schumacher or just curious about Formula One in general, you can’t possibly miss this documentary. It’s a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

Dune [2021] ★★★½

No surprises there: Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve delivers yet another knockout with “Dune”, an epic Science-Fiction saga that gives you everything you would expect from the man behind “Blade Runner 2049”, “Arrival”, “Sicario” and “Incendies”. Villeneuve isn’t the first one to adapt Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel (David Lynch tried and didn’t entirely succeed in 1984). But he’s certainly the first one to make it look so visually appealing. But all of this wouldn’t mean a damn without a compelling narrative, and this is where this version of “Dune” truly succeeds. The film is not only stunning to look at, but it also sucks you in and holds you spellbound from start to finish. That’s no easy feat, especially for a movie that runs for 150 minutes and yet never feels long. In terms of story, what you need to know is that Timothée Chalamet is perfectly cast as the gifted son of a noble family. Circumstances force him to travel to a dangerous planet in order to fulfill his destiny. There’s a lot to say and discuss here, but that would require me to enter spoiler territory. I will say this though: prepare yourself for an incredible ride, fueled with twists and turns you don’t always see coming. Add to it Hans Zimmer’s superior score and a supporting cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Zendaya, and you get one of the year’s best movies. Word of advice: watch it on the biggest screen possible. It’s an unforgettable experience.

The Suicide Squad [2021] ★★★½

The new “Suicide Squad” is a phenomenal action movie that gets almost everything right. It’s fast-paced, constantly exciting, and has enough action sequences for two movies. But none of this would have happened without a visionary director like James Gunn, who truly knocks it out of the park. His film bears little resemblance to the 2016 version, and that’s probably for the best. The only remaining character is, of course, Harley Quinn, and she is joined by a very impressive array of colorful characters, including Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena) and colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman). The movie cuts right to the chase by throwing all these characters on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese for a deadly mission. Let the games begin. By staging some pulse-pounding action scenes, James Gunn delivers the most enjoyable action movies of the year so far. Best of all, every character gets the chance to shine in a movie that clocks in at 132 minutes but never feels long (in fact, I wanted more). Will there be a sequel? I sure hope so, because I loved every minute of this crazy rollercoaster ride.

Jungle Cruise [2021] ★★½

 Part “The Mummy” and part “Indiana Jones” (with a dose of “African Queen”), Disney’s Jungle Cruise emerges as an old-fashioned summer adventure that will most likely satisfy audiences of all ages. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are both likable as a pair of explorers looking for a hidden treasure deep in the amazon jungle. Cue the dangerous animals and the German enemies who would stop at nothing to kill them. It’s a fun ride, for sure, but not without its flaws. I guess you could say that it’s bumpy at times, and it goes on for way too long. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy here, mainly the chemistry between the two leads, who really seem to be having the time of their life . So If you’re looking for a true summer blockbuster to keep you entertained, Jungle Cruise more than fits the bill. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it gets the job done.  

The Last Letter From Your Lover [2021] ★★

I like a good old-fashioned love story as much as the next person, but Netflix’s “The Last Letter From Your Lover” misses the mark on multiple occasions, despite a good cast. Felicity Jones is wasted as an ambitious journalist who discovers a pile of love letters from 1965, which leads her to investigate the mystery at the center of this forbidden love. The movie borrows a lot from such classic love stories as “Brief Encounter” and “An Affair To Remember”, especially when we go back in time to learn more about these characters. Shailene Woodley is good as the married woman who falls for another man. And the film is well-shot, but there’s never a sense that we’re watching something special, or at least memorable. If you’re curious about it, it’s still an entirely watchable film. But just know that you may or may not remember it the next day.

Fear Street Part Three: 1666 [2021] ★★½

In this third and final installment, we travel all the way back to 1666 in order to witness the origins of Sarah Fier and the curse that was cast upon her. The film also wraps things up in a neat way, keeping you on the edge of your seat with a totally entertaining climax that should satisfy fans of the trilogy. Basically, if you’ve made it thus far, then you’d want to see how things end here. Overall, I think Netflix did a good job with this horror trilogy, and I would like to see more of the same in the future (perhaps during Halloween season?).

Fear Street Part Two: 1978 [2021] ★★½

If you’ve seen last week’s slasher film on Netflix, then you probably know what to expect from part two. The only difference this time around is that we’re in 1978, and a group of teenagers at a summer camp come face to face with a psychotic killer on the loose. Ring a bell? Of course it does, since Fear Street’s sole purpose is to pay tribute to such classic slasher films as “Friday the 13th”, “Halloween” and more. Again, if this sounds like your cup of tea, then you’re in for some fun. Personally, I feel this sequel is more of the same, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it doesn’t add anything new to the table, and we already know what’s going to happen, but it’s still a decent attempt at delivering a slasher film for a new generation of streamers. Part three, which streams next week, will take us back to “1666” in order to wrap things up. It’s been an enjoyable ride so far and I’m looking forward to the big finale. Watch out!

Black Widow [2021] ★★★

After countless delays, Marvel’s highly anticipated “Black Widow” finally hits cinemas this week. Was it worth the wait? I’d say yes, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. As far as standalone movies go, “Black Widow” delivers blockbuster entertainment, the kind we’ve missed seeing on the big screen. It helps to have Scarlett Johansson on top of her game. It also helps to have an incredible array of colorful supporting characters, including Florence Pugh as Yelena, and David Harbour as the Red Guardian. As you might have guessed, the story takes place way before the events of the last two Avengers movies. Natasha Romanoff has to confront her past and reunite with her “family” in order to destroy “The Red Room”, a Soviet program designed to train and control women into becoming assassins. It’s straightforward stuff, for sure, but director Cate Shortland delivers the goods by staging plenty of exciting action sequences that will most definitely satisfy fans of the franchise. In true blockbuster fashion, “Black Widow” globe trots from one location to the next, throwing everything on the screen as we move along. It can be too much at times, but overall, I think the film delivers on its promise. It might not move the franchise in completely unexpected ways, but it’s rock solid summer entertainment, and sometimes that’s good enough.

Fear Street Part One: 1994 [2021] ★★½

Welcome to “Fear Street”, Netflix’s latest slasher trilogy event, which starts this week with “1994”. From the title and the font, you can already tell that this trilogy is tailor-made for fans of retro slasher flicks. It also helps that they’re based on R.L. Stine’s popular books, which were huge in the 1990’s. The film itself is well made and thoroughly enjoyable, even if it doesn’t have a lot of twists and turns up its sleeve. In true “slasher” fashion, we’re in a small town called “Shadyside”, where a masked killer has been terrorizing a group of teenagers. It’s exactly how you would imagine it, with blood, gore, and a killer soundtrack to accompany it. Of course, the story doesn’t end when the credits start rolling (we’ll have to wait for “1978” and “1666”, out this month as well), but so far, the stage is set for something truly memorable. Minor criticism: why wasn’t this trilogy released on Halloween? No matter. If you’re a fan of corny 1990’s horror films, then “Fear Street” will more than keep you busy this month on Netflix.