Curtis Woo

Classic Wes Anderson/Roman Coppolla script and peak level Wes Anderson direction results in the usual polarizing film. Fans who embrace and are accustomed to dropping in the middle of the eclectic and rapid fire dialog of Wes Anderson will enjoy this latest foray into his world. Those who are looking for a classic first, second and third act movie arc will be frustrated. As expected, the pastiche of excellent actors made this a fun and frenetic film that lends itself to multiple viewings to pick up all of the detail and nuances. The interaction of the three central characters was fun and interesting to watch. We have absolutely not seen the last of Michael Cera in Wes Anderson's movies. He is a welcome addition and show more range than Jason Schwartzman but his character is definitely cut from the same cloth. In short, if you are a fan of Wes Anderson, you won't be disappointed. If you aren't then this should be a "pass" for you.

A rich and full look at Jim Henson’s life, this documentary shows the flawed but driven man behind the Muppets and so much more. Having grown up like so many with Sesame Street and the Muppet Show, it’s easy to overlook Jim Henson who breathed life into so many beloved characters. Idea Man gives us a glimpse into his motivation and creativity. Highly recommended

Well written and unexpected frankly given some of the subpar efforts by Netflix. What I expected to be another perfunctory telling of triads struggling for power was more interesting and even surprising at times. While some of the characters were one dimensional, Led by Michelle Yeoh's intelligent and restrained performance as something other than an action role, Justin Chien and Sam Li play off of each other effectively as two sides of the same coin. Drama is nicely balanced with comedy and most of the plot twists proved interesting and held my attention throughout the episodes. I am looking forward to a second season to the really let Michelle Yeoh shine. With nods to shows such as The Sopranos and films such as the Godfather, there is certainly more to tell in this world.

As a science fiction fan, and a Phillip K. Dick fan in particular, this story was deceptively packaged in a compelling action framework. Once you get your mind past the surface humor and the well choreographed impressive martial arts scenes, the deeper heart of this film demanded a "decompression" period afterwards to fully digest the broader meanings of the film. That being said, if you are looking for an easily digested version of the multiverse and string theory in general, watch the latest Dr. Strange. This thought provoking story does not lend itself to an easy three act narrative despite the "three part" title. Without giving too much away, if you enjoy films such as Blade Runner or Interstellar, then Everything Everywhere all at Once will be an intriguing film to watch and digest. The questions it raises concerning our own existence and the effect of focusing on the immediate cause and effect of our choices in life are compelling to say the least.

Definitely a marked improvement over the original film, this James Gunn script is frenetically paced and non-linear. So if you can't handle time jumps, look elsewhere. If you can follow along, be prepared for copious amounts of graphic violence and foul mouthed humor. Good performances from a strong cast help elevate the popcorn flick story. While not as quick witted as Deadpool, it's refreshing to see something from the DCEU that doesn't take itself so seriously.