The 21-Word Review: Hail Mary by Andy Weir

While not a sequel, certainly a worthy followup to Mr. Weir's first novel. I look forward to the Matt Damon movie.

The 21-Word Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Disney+)

I was ready to give it a poor review, then Evangeline said, "I love you, Scott" and now that's my ringtone.

The 21-Word Review: The Great Bridge by David McCullough

Engineering without computers or CAD, built without modern tools, and it's still standing. There were once giants among us. (Engineers rule!)

The 21-Word Review: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Amazon)

Yeah, it's pretty good for a sequel to a sequel (to a sequel?), but it's still just a cartoon cat eventually.

The 21-Word Review: Violent Night (Delta In-Flight)

Attempting to silence the "is Die Hard a Christmas movie" debate, here's Die Hard with a Candy Cane. With less charm.

The 21-Word Review: Vengeance (Amazon)

I'm writing this with dilated eyes, squinting to make out the words. So it's shorter than usual. Good movie, bad marketing.

The 21-Word Review: Don't Worry Baby (HBO Max)

Stepford Wives meets The Matrix meets Gaslight meets any recent A24 movie. Mr. Stiles exceeded (very low) expectations and Florence shines.

The 21-Word Review: Your People (Netflix)

A romantic comedy where the main characters don't do something mind numbingly stupid halfway through to build tension. What a concept.

The 21-Word Review: The Cartel by Don Winslow

Every casual drug user should be required to read this novel to understand the horror inflicted on innocents by their habit.

The 21-Word Review: Amsterdam (HBO)

A brilliant cast, interesting time period, and plot that starts well and gets too overweight by the end. What a shame.

The 21-Word Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney +)

Marvell's writers turned a relatively silly plot into something captivating and heartbreaking without schmaltz. An amazing feat, truly. Chadwick Boseman Forever.

The 21-Word Review: Banshees of Inisherin

Magnificent and original. One does wonder if it would work without the Irish accents, though. Banshees of New Orleans?

The 21-Word Review: The Pale Blue Eye (Netflix)

It is pretty amazing that both of the main actors started working as children in movies, but in very different decades

The 21-Word Review: What If 2 by Randall Munroe

While I very much enjoy Mr. XKCD's books, I cannot help but be intensely jealous that gets to do this professionally.

The 21-Word Review: After Life (Hotel Showtime)

An interesting idea, and I won't spoil it, but as a grown man I feel icky seeing Wednesday walking around naked.

The 21-Word Review: The Ladies' Man (Hotel Showtime)

The SNL subreddit recommended this as one of the better character movies. It ... isn't. I like the actors, not the movie.

The 21-Word Review: The Mod Squad (Hotel Shotime)

I wasn't allowed to watch The Mod Squad. I thought it was too cool for kids. Maybe it was just bad.

The 21-Word Review: The Menu (HBO)

One feels guilty watching the movie while eating a large burrito in aluminum foil and cinnamon roll in a cardboard box.

The 21-Word Review: All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

Remember the old movies that glorified wars and sanitized the violence? The current trend is much worse and very much better.

The 21-Word Review: Glass Onion (Netflix)

What a waste of talent. And a chance to resurrect Christie-esque mysteries. And I still can't get over the  southern-ish accent.

The 21-Word Review: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book by Jerry Seinfeld

A gift from my daughter's boyfriend, so I can't gush. However, I really enjoyed reading how the comedy sausage is made.

The 21-Word Review: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Netflix)

The important part of the title is the "Guillermo del Toro" part, not the "Pinocchio" part. Amazing, but this ain't Disney.

The 21-Word Review: The People We Hate at the Wedding (Amazon)

When the women of the house decide on a movie for the evening, the man of the house must play along.

The 21-Word Review: Black Adam (HBO Max)

One of the great mysteries of the universe is why a big star like Mr. Johnson can't make a great movie.

The 21-Word Review: Hustle (Netflix)

My suspicion is that Adam made this movie as an excuse to get to hang out with all his NBA heroes.