Just from the Blacklight trailer I knew this Liam Neeson suspense film would be a repeat of Taken (2009), Non-Stop (2014), Run All Night (2015), and other Neeson films about time running out to save someone or something. Despite the repetitiveness, Neeson can still pull these films off. He’s an outstanding actor with the attitude, the mindset, and the seriousness that has served him well for many years. But Blacklight, unfortunately, is far from his best film.

In Blacklight, Neeson is Travis Block, a government operative trying to walk away from a past that has haunted him. His world is turned upside down when he realizes his former director, Gabriel Robinson, played by Aidan Quinn, has been committing crimes against U.S. citizens. Dusty Crane, played by Taylor John Smith, is another operative who is put at risk with Robinson’s corrupt operations. There is also reporter Mira Jones, played by Emmy Raver-Lampman, who believes there is a story that can go public. And there is Travis’s daughter Amanda Block, played by Claire van der Boom, who gets tangled up in Robinson’s web while her father tries to protect her and his granddaughter.

These are the principal characters, and I’ve described the basic theme, but the plot of Blacklight jumps around a lot. It seemed like they were focusing more on Neeson rather than a cohesive story. And although there were many actions sequences with Neeson, at 69 he can’t run as fast or jump as high as he once did. His classic voice is still strong and authoritative, though, and that’s a selling point for the film.

Overall, I would say that Blacklight is just above average. Clever at times but with a somewhat dry plot that can be out of focus. Some decent chase scenes, and I always enjoy Neeson’s performances. Other than that, not much. Two and a half stars for Blacklight.

Films with treasure and clues have always appealed to me. And a film with Tom Holland dangling by ropes and crates from a plane in peril is even more my kind of treasure hunt flick. Unchartered fits this bill.

Fans of the Uncharted video games will also love the Uncharted movie. Holland goes from jumping and slinging webs as Spiderman in the video games to jumping and swinging from planes as Nathan Drake in Uncharted. I loved the Uncharted video games and that definitely added to my enjoyment of this film. It helps that the film also has a better story line than the games ever had.

In Uncharted Nathan Drake is a smart kid who also happens too be a thief. He is recruited by Victor “Sully” Sullivan, played by Mark Wahlberg, to assist in hunting for a fortune that was lost 500 years ago by Ferdinand Magellan. Drake and Sullivan could become extremely wealthy if they find the treasure, but greedy and ruthless millionaire Santiago Moncada, played by Antonio Banderas, stands in their way. The plot is a little cheesy at times, but the film has a clever premise and the interactions between Holland and Wahlberg are entertaining.

Unlike the video games, which were skewed toward young people, Unchartedthe film is a fun ride for all ages. It’s a cat and mouse game at times and the tactics they employ are creative and visually funny, yet suspenseful. It is also witty, heartfelt, and adventurous. This film isn’t without flaws, but I still found it entertaining. Three stars for Uncharted.

Director Roland Emmerich has made several end-of-the-world type flicks, including Independence Day (1996), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and 2012 (2009). Moonfall may be his best yet.

Emmerich’s first two end-of-the-world films have a similar science and mission as Moonfall, and both of those were well received. But Moonfall has blockbuster potential and is a fascinating look at yet another possible cataclysmic ending for the world.

Moonfall introduces us to NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler, played by Halle Berry, another former astronaut, Brian Harper, played by Patrick Wilson, and conspiracy theorist KC Houseman, played by John Bradley. These three brilliant people discover that some force has shifted the moon from its natural orbit, causing natural calamities on Earth and posing an immediate threat to our survival. The three of them put their heads together to figure out what to do, and they end up on a daring, if not impossible, space mission to fix the problem.

Moonfall is yet another thrilling and daring rollercoaster ride from director Emmerich. Despite the dire topic, I found the film to be a lot of fun. It was visually stunning and there were actually, surprisingly, quite a few laughs. Some of the science behind the premise was slightly over-the-top, but that didn’t interfere with the enjoyment. Seeing it in IMAX, as I did, definitely adds to the fun. For fans of disaster films, Moonfall is one they’ll enjoy. Three stars for Moonfall.