The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Rating: ★★
Dec 15, 2005Epic Fantasy Adventure/Magical Otherworld
The film adaptation of C.S. Lewis's book sought to appeal to audiences for the Lord of the Rings films but between Lewis's heavy-handed Christian allegories and Andrew Adamson's inexperience as a director fails to fly

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Rating: ★★★
Dec 30, 2008Man Ages in Reverse
David Fincher makes a surprisingly positive and upbeat Academy Awards crowd-aimed film in which Brad Pitt is a man who ages in reverse, born as an old man and progressively getting younger as he goes through life

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Rating: ★★
Dec 13, 2010Epic Fantasy Adventure/Magical Otherworld
Another lacklustre entry in the banal Lord of the Rings Lite franchise from C.S. Lewis's books, a plodding run of the mill fantasy adventure for the most part. The mediocre reception killed off interest in the series

Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer (2013)
Rating: ★★★★
Jul 19, 2014Train Containing the Last Survivors of Humanity
One of the most original science-fiction films of recent years. Set aboard a train where the last survivors of humanity circle a frozen globe, this is less an action film than something like Runaway Train turned into a unique conceptual breakthrough story, all rent through with a fierce parable about social revolution

The Zero Theorem (2013)

The Zero Theorem (2013)
Rating: ★★★
Aug 3, 2014Dystopian Future/The Meaning of It All
This is Terry Gilliam largely going back to revisit Brazil, albeit having been updated to the 2010s and the era of the internet. A renaissance of many Gilliam themes, nevertheless this feels like one of his slighter works

Doctor Strange (2016)

Doctor Strange (2016)
Rating: ★★★½
Nov 19, 2016Marvel Comics Magician Superhero
Scott Derrickson acquits himself well taking on one of Marvel's magician superhero. He replicates well the psychedelic esoterica that gained the comic book a cult following and Benedict Cumberbatch anchors the show perfectly

Isle of Dogs (2018)

Isle of Dogs (2018)
Rating: ★★★★
Nov 17, 2018Stop-Motion Animation/Talking Dogs
Wes Anderson is a critical darling with his unique brand of banal whimsy. He is at his best when he does stop-motion animation as in Fantastic Mr. Fox and here. Essentially a Disney talking animals animated film where the animals talk like real people, this comes with charms that make it out of the standouts of the year

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Rating: ★★
Aug 10, 2019Marvel Comics Superhero Team-Up
Marvel conclude the cliffhanger they left Avengers: Infinity War on and offer up a bigger-than-big line-up, overspilling with just about every MCU character to ever appear on screen up to that point

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Rating: ★★★½
Dec 17, 2022Living Puppet Boy/Stop-Motion Animation
Guillermo Del Toro offers up his dark, more adult take on the classic children’s story in this beautifully made stop-motion animated film. Winner of that year's Academy Award for Best Animated Film.

Asteroid City (2023)

Asteroid City (2023)
Rating: ★★★
Jul 21, 2023Retro 1950s Comedy/Alien Visitor
Wes Anderson’s quirky individualistic films can be an acquired taste. This is set in a stunningly designed retro 1950s town as various oddball characters intersect in between the appearance of an alien visitor