The 21-Word Review: Days Like These by Brian Bilston

I diligently read a poem a day for all of 2024. (OK, I missed a few and had to catch up.)

The 21-Word Review: Lift (Netflix)

Kevin Hart's not a bad action movie star, it's just not what I expect. But ok - it's a decent heist movie.

The 21-Word Review: Subservience (Netflix)

Because of course if you make a robot to help with childcare while your wife is sick, you make Megan Fox.

The 21-Word Review: Predestination (Netflix)

Stuck in a hotel room while my son attends class in Boulder, I think the digital gods that Netflix was created.

The 21-Word Review: Slingshot (Delta)

When you fly a lot, sometimes you have to dig deep into the movie library and occasionally there are interesting nuggets buried.

The 21-Word Review: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Delta)

The producers must have seen Jenna Ortega and thought, "ok, finally we can make a sequel with a next generation Deetz."

The 21-Word Review: Gladiator II

No cinematic level of charisma will again match Russel and Juaquin, so a sequel was bound to pale somewhat in comparison.

The 21-Word Review: Fly Me to the Moon (Delta)

Scarlett is a national treasure that only gets better with age. And her character said she graduated from Georgia Tech. Perfect.

The 21-Word Review: Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Following the disappointing movie, I needed to know more - and this massive biography fit the bill. One of history's true geniuses.

The 21-Word Review: Jumanji: The Next Level (Netflix)

In Japan, Netflix has a whole different and fascinating set of viewing options, but I watched this instead. And liked it.

The 21-Word Review: Hard Home (Delta)

I like an engineer girl boss protagonist as well as the next guy, but the revenge torture porn not so much.

The 21-Word Review: Breathe (Delta)

A movie based on the "I can't breathe" protest, but set in the future where people literally can't breathe doesn't work.

The 21-Word Review: 5 Nights at Freddie's (Delta)

Remember the old time monster movies that had misunderstood monsters, innocent children, and only mild violence? This is reminiscent of those.

The 21-Word Review: Red Rooms (Delta)

Once can more easily accept a supermodel, master hacker, professional poker playing protagonist in French, I suppose. Definitely not in English.

The 21-Word Review: Inside Out 2 (Delta)

Cute. Not as cute as the first one, but cute enough. Part 3 will add revenge, jealousy, prurience, self-loathing, and addiction.

The 21-Word Review: Longlegs (Delta)

From the hype, I expected Silence of the Lambs, not Omen vibes. And yes, I cheated by watching on a plane.

The 21-Word Review: Twisters (Delta)

Since I know very little about meteorology, this was a fun escape movie that I could mindlessly accept without scientific criticism.

The 21-Word Review: Borderlands (Delta)

Yet another video game adaptation, this time one I was not familiar with and had to ask my son to explain.

The 21-Word Review: Wicked

Try to refrain from applauding after every blockbuster, roof-raising, overpowering musical performance. It won't be easy. Totally gravity defying performances.

The 21-Word Review: Maxxxine (Max)

The series finale delivers more gore and sex, as expected, but also the unpredictable - but not supernatural - plot dynamics and writing.

The 21-Word Review: The First Omen (Hulu)

I imagine youngsters who were not traumatized by the first Omen movie will be less enthralled with this similarly imagined prequel.

The 21-Word Review: Constantine (Amazon)

The benefits of this list: I was sure I had seen Constantine, but it wasn't on the list. Now I have.

The 21-Word Review: The Witch (Amazon)

Having been told how terrifying it is, I've avoided it until it's about to leave streaming.

Scary, yes, but not terrifying.

The 21-Word Review: The Purge: Election Year (Hulu)

I think these movies are popular because we can point to them and say, "At least we haven't gone that far."

The 21-Word Review: Thelma (Delta)

Marvelous, wonderful, little movie that you will exit happier than when you entered. The transformation of John Shaft is particularly glorious.