The dinosaurs are back in action, the excitement is high, and the title Jurassic World: Dominion speaks for itself. The film melding the stories of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World has finally arrived. And while it can be an exhilarating adventure at times, Jurassic World: Dominion is not quite the level of exhilaration that I anticipated.

Again, while there is a generous level of excitement, I had to ask myself a few questions. Are the dinosaur visuals still invigorating? Is the storyline grasping my full attention? Or is the reunion of many of the original Jurassic actors the main source of excitement?

Where I found the exhilarating and monumental moments in the film was the reunion with Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattier (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). Bringing these icons back is what kicks the action into gear. Neill and Dern bring back that classic love for dinosaurs and the whole dinosaur culture in this continuation of the Jurassic World franchise

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In Jurassic World: Dominion, the film picks up from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom(2018). The characters Owen Grady and Claire Dearing (Chriss Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard) find themselves in a new world where dinosaurs have become the norm. They are everywhere—in cities, zoos, etc. On top of that, there are new experiments on the horizon, and Grant, Sattier, and Malcolm know the keys to the experiments. Unfortunately, the film focuses too much on the reunion of classic characters, versus the plot itself. Jurassic World: Dominion also struggles with its pacing and continuity.

I love films with dinosaurs and monsters, but the originality of the dinosaurs in the Jurassic franchise have decreased over time. And the script is just so predictable, with its good guy/bad guy formula—save the good people from the dinosaurs and the destruction, and the bad guys are not so lucky.

Don’t get me wrong, Jurassic World: Dominion is not a bad movie. It just felt rushed, the classic characters were not integrated into the film very well, and the visuals were not quite up to my expectations. Some fun memories, and it was impressive how Neill, Dern, and Goldblum can still portray their roles. In fact, they provided a bigger rollercoaster for the film than the dinosaurs. Two and a half stars for Jurassic World: Dominion.

Films that present challenges faced in the 20th century speak to me. This is especially true when it comes to issues of power and authority. In these movies, one or more of the characters are typically on a quest to seek some accomplishment. In Benediction, however, it is about acceptance. Benediction is a tale that evokes many emotions, and its introduction is like the opening of a program on The History Channel. By showing war archives, the audience feels they are in the period in which the film is set. For Poet Siegfried Sassoon, the story of Benediction tells a melancholy tale that is one of most beautiful and heavy themes I have seen presented recently in dramatic filmmaking.

Director Terence Davies is known to direct films where emotions run deep. Benediction presents fragments of different emotions in various time frames in the eyes of Sassoon. I experienced mixed emotions throughout the film because I kept wondering what my gut was telling me during the melancholy scenes. The film is audacious with negativity, happiness, and withdrawals. The film portrays a positive outlook, and then heartbreak. That goes on repeatedly, and there is no clear answer for whether Benediction is designed to make its viewers feel upbeat or down. My mind is still boggling from the roller-coaster of mixed feelings in Benediction. Davies is amazingly effective at giving a kick in the head of extreme sadness with this one.

Benediction focuses on Siegfried Sassoon. Jack Lowden plays the young Siegfried and Peter Capaldi plays the old Siegfried. Sassoon is a survivor of the First World War and finds himself in awe in the years after his survival. He grows to be someone critical and vocal regarding the war after his service. He also finds himself frustrated with his relationships. As he navigates relationships with different men in his life, he struggles to come to terms with himself. His emotions can be felt through his poetry in the film. The primary struggle for Sassoon is self-acceptance. With many dark fragments scattered throughout the movie, Benediction is bursting with emotion.

Davies’ portrayal of self-acceptance is the heartbreaker for Sassoon and the film’s viewers. There are moments which show him dealing with anger as he reconnects with people in his life and realizes some have moved on or question him. In a time where sexuality and identity were controversial subjects, Sassoon finds himself enduring the process of self-awareness. By sharing his challenges with those he feels connected to throughout his painful journey, he eventually moves towards self-acceptance.

The era of the first World War plays into the movie’s turmoil. Sassoon, in the old and the young version, finds himself exploring past relationships and discovering where things went wrong. Benediction is about having a voice, however, there is ultimately no light for Benediction. The poetic story of Sassoon will grow on the audience. It is not a pleasant film, but it is authentic in the way is showcases self-awareness and acceptance. Lowden and Capaldi both have the emotional acting chops to play Sassoon, and no one directs this film better than Davies. Benediction weaves history, relationships, and politics into an interesting tale of discovery set in a bygone era. Three stars.

Basketball is one of the highest paid sports in the world, and when basketball players get drafted into the NBA their lives are changed immediately and dramatically.

In Hustle, Adam Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a basketball scout who has been around pro basketball all his life. He’s dealt with the politics, the favoritism, and the many other frustrations that exist in today’s world of sports. But his outlook changes when he takes a trip to Spain and discovers a basketball player with tremendous potential—Bo Cruz, played by Juancho Hernangomez,. As Bo puts his trust in Stanley’s hands, both begin the journey to get Bo to the NBA. There are a lot of steps to go through, and nothing is certain, but Hustle has a positive message to its audience to not give up, to never throw in the towel or give up on a dream.

The process of training that Bo goes through in the film was fascinating. Bo sometimes struggles with his emotions on the court as Stanley pushes him to the limit. But Stanley is not going to let Bo fall apart, and the audience will find itself hoping and praying for Bo to not lose himself and burn his chances for the NBA.

Growing up as an avid fan of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and other Chicago Bulls players, Hustle spoke to me. It’s a one-of-a-kind sports flick, and Adam Sandler delivers a performance that is riveting and encouraging. Hustle is a film that centers on patience, self-motivation, and succeeding. Sandler delivers all those elements in this engrossing drama from Netflix. People who love sports, especially basketball, are going to love Hustle.

Hustle may actually be one of the best films about sports from Netflix that I’ve seen, and it’s probably Adam Sandler’s best film since Uncut Gems (2019); but this one is more uplifting. Hustle is in select theaters now and it will hit Netflix on June 8. Whether in the theater or at home, don’t miss it. Three and a half stars for Hustle.