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.

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.

 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.  

If you like your zombie movies with a side of Zack Snyder, then “Army of the Dead” is most definitely the film for you. It’s long and all over the place at times, but it’s also extremely well-shot and action-packed from start to finish. Dave Bautista is incredibly good as the leader of a group of mercenaries who are assigned a very dangerous mission: to infiltrate a quarantine zone in Las Vegas to pull-off one hell of a heist. Cue the zombie mayhem, skillfully staged by Snyder himself. There’s nothing truly original about the plot itself, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s still plenty to enjoy here, and zombie fans will especially get a kick out of all the pulse pounding action sequences. Nothing more to add except to say that “Army of the Dead” delivers on its promise. You know what to stream on Netflix this weekend with your beer and pizza.