The intensity of "The Gray Man" is not to be underdone. It is a bombastic tour de force technically but devoid at many points of substance. In a film like this, the key is to play to the anti-hero and keep moving. But even with something to fight for and a lack of any romance at all, there is an emptiness to it.

Taika Waititi's approach to story is refreshing but it depends on the level of control and checks and balances. “Thor: Ragnarok” was much more comprehensive and tight per se in its approach of bedlam. “Thor: Love And Thunder” seems more freeform but in many ways is extremely messy in its execution.

The aspect of the Minions is always trying to understand what they are saying and how their shenanigans will unwind everything they try to accomplish for their master: Gru. With "Minions: The Rise Of Gru",the story is brought back to the villain's tween years where he is just trying to find his identity but also looking for mentors.

Making an action film that is accessible both to young women and cool enough to appeal to the young male demographic is few and far between. "The Princess" does it admirably while still sticking to its mid-range budget guns and almost despite a high body count keeping it relatively bloodless

The ideal of “Elvis” is based in the context of telling a story of progress and yet depth. Moving in with a sense of perspective, Baz Luhrmann's “Elvis” takes the approach of a man pushed by love, eventually enveloped by demons but with the relevance of a soul that changed perspectives.

The setting and tone of “The Black Phone” seems to be a interesting quandary. The trailers painted it as a really dark horror film and with the Blumhouse label, that also means approaching it under a specific budget constraint. Add to the fact that this is directed by Scott Derrickson who made the first “Doctor Strange” with Ethan Hawke here as the antagonist.

"Lightyear" knows what it wants to be and it has it down pat. It needs to be something different from the "Toy Story" movies and that is clear from the outset. It is a film about inspiration and forming a found family, warts and all. That is what "Toy Story" was about.

The approach is closing up a trilogy per se is all about context, where the story is, how it pertains to the rest of the story and how people will remember it. . There are some beautiful moments here which make one think of the best elements of the original. There are also bigger themes but this is a bigger world now.

With the new remake of "Firestarter", there is potential and a necessary possibility of doing it in the more low budget Blumhouse tradition. But the reality is that the pull of the story never feels wrenching and particularly well-executed