What to Watch in the Theater:
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (PG13) is in theaters now. Interesting sci-fi that’s visually both stunning and overwhelming. We were split across the board on this one but agreed the Rihanna performance was one of the best parts. Its length may keep some away, but the premise is entertaining.
Our rating: 4 out of 5

Atomic Blonde (R) opens today. If you like spy movies and kick-butt female protagonists, this film is for you. Full of action, intrigue and a killer 80s soundtrack, this film also provides a small cold war history lesson. Despite the violence, we’d happily watch Charlize Theron in a sequel.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Collide (R) Sir Ben Kingsley MAKES this movie, as a campy drug dealer. The romance seemed out of place in this thriller, even if it did provide the reason behind the main action.  Solid entertainment, even though Felicity Jones’ character was a bit of a disappointment.
Our rating: 4 out of 5

Battlefield Earth (PG13) Sometimes you just gotta watch movies that have a bad reputation, to see for yourself. Yep, this one’s as bad as they say, but it’s still an entertaining watch, even if only to see John Travolta’s dreadlocks and giant boots!
Our rating: 3 out of 5

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What to Watch in the Theater:
The Big Sick (R) is in theaters now. This movie is heartwarming, funny, and full of the true-to-life awkwardness that goes with new love and dealing with families. It’s a love story with a twist, and enough laughs and unresolved issues to keep you engaged till the very end.
Our rating: 4.83 out of 5

Dunkirk (PG13) opens today. Neither one of us likes war movies, but this one blew us away. We were engaged throughout by the terrifying ordeal these servicemen endured, presented in such a powerful way, from three different perspectives. Who knew that a movie with so little dialogue and no character development could convey so much? Well done, Christopher Nolan!
Our rating: 5 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
The Comedian (R) Our second movie about a stand up comic this week, it’s an entertaining vehicle for Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann. There are some really funny moments in this unique story (although if they went head-to-head, we’d pick The Big Sick).
Our rating: 4 out of 5

Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale (no rating) Netflix is on to something with this “choose your own adventure” story. Fans of the Puss in Boots movie will be drawn to the characters, although Antonio Banderas is not reprising the role of Puss. This is a good choice for family-friendly entertainment, although we had some challenges viewing it on a laptop.
Our rating: 3.83 out of 5

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What to Watch in the Theater:
War for the Planet of the Apes (PG13) opens today. This film answers many questions left by the original 1968 movie, giving us darkest chapter in Caesar’s legacy. Full of sadness, struggle and hope for a better future, this story brings new perspective to the apes’ journey toward world domination.
Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Okja (TV-MA) Part warm and fuzzy animal buddy movie and part political message, this Netflix original has some fun moments and quirky characters. Okja and Mija are adorable together, and the comedic roles Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton take on are amusing, but the movie takes a dark turn, which is a bit jarring.
Our rating: 3.67 out of 5

Shut In (PG13) This thriller goes for some cheap scares and then switches up the premise partway through. After the mid-movie reveal, the story gets creepier, but the action turns familiar (maybe even cliched), so it’s not as scary as promised.
Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

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What to Watch in the Theater:
The House (R) is in theaters now. We still love Will Ferrell, and there are definitely some funny parts, but  this movie doesn’t do much to help the slipping adult comedy genre. Wait for this one on DVD or streaming.
Our rating: 3.33 out of 5

Spider-Man: Homecoming (PG13) opens today. If you’re attached to the origin story, you may feel something’s missing, but if you’re a fan of the Marvel Universe, this film brings Peter Parker into the fold nicely. Action-packed but down to earth, we can’t wait to see what happens next for this web-slinging teen. And who knew Michael Keaton could be such a good bad guy?
Our rating: 4.33 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
The Girl with All the Gifts (R) Not your typical zombie movie, this film has an interesting premise and an interesting twist. Melanie is an appealing, although overly chatty, lead character, who makes it hard to root for Glenn Close’s as the doctor.
Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Shack (PG13) This religious movie gets a little heavy-handed at times. Good casting and interesting premise, but it felt like there was something missing. The movie would’ve been more believable if Mack’s supposed anger were more visible. However, Octavia Spencer as God is genius casting.
Our rating: 3 out of 5

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