To this day, the Sonic video games are still very popular—and addicting. With Sonic the Hedgehog 2, director Jeff Fowler has shown that he knows how to make a video game adaptation faithful to its nostalgic fan base. People around the world who love the Sonic video games and the first Sonic film will love Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The quirkiness and creativity of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 make the film a joyful and lighthearted experience.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Ben Schwartz is back to play Sonic, who has adapted to a life of being a hero and living with Tom, played again by James Marsden. Tom is living a great life with his new love Maddie, played by Tika Sumpter, and they decide to go on a getaway without Sonic. Unfortunately, the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, shows up and is back for revenge. This time Ivo has a sidekick, Knuckles, played by Idris Elba. The planet is once again at risk, and the job of stopping Ivo and Knuckles is in the hands of Sonic. Fortunately, Sonic also has a sidekick, Tails, played by Collen O’Shanussy, to help him; although Sonic and Tails are really put to the test. Everyone is absent-minded in some area, and that is one of the things that makes the Sonic franchise a fun and joyful ride.

The hysterical situations of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the hidden gems are unexpected and entertaining, and several of the main character performances are stellar. Carrey has those clever one-liners and wit, Marsden has just the right nice guy vibe, O’Shanussy is the ideal sidekick for Sonic, and Elba makes the perfect evil partner for Carrey.

I loved reliving my childhood with Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It’s a positive adventure and a rollercoaster of fun—a lighthearted kick that kids and adults will love and cherish, making it great family entertainment. Three stars for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Jared Leto is often disfigured or killed in his films. In Panic Room (2002), his arm was badly burned, In American Psycho (2000) he was brutally killed with an axe, and in Lord of War (2005) he was shot. With his newest, Morbius, it is the film itself that is disfigured—the storyline, the screenplay, and the continuity are a mess. Despite the Marvel hype, Morbius is a trainwreck.

In Morbius, Leto is Michael Morbius, a biochemist studying blood diseases who himself contracts a deadly blood disease. Morbius develops a cure for his disease that causes him to turn into a vampire. Morbius’s friend Milo, played by Matt Smith, contracts the same blood disease.

The chemistry between Leto and Smith are a highlight of Morbius, but there is not much beyond that. The pacing of the film is off and the storyline is rushed. It has some cool visuals, but they don’t blend with the storyline, and the plot is predictable. It really is just a cheesy thrill ride that relies on visuals for its entertainment. It’s not as bad as the Fantastic Four reboot from 2015, but close.

While watching Morbius I found myself thinking that the filmmakers really needed to look back to previous Marvel films to have an idea of how to build a storyline. There was a definite disconnect to previous amazing Marvel films. I have no doubt that most fans of Marvel and superhero films will still go to see Morbius, and maybe some will love it. But I don’t think so, and I don’t think it does justice to the franchise. In my view, it is disaster after disaster. Having said that, and trying to end on a positive note, I didn’t totally hate the film; I was just very disappointed. Two stars for Morbius.

One of my guilty pleasures is watching films about witches and evil powers. With his full-length feature film debut, writer and director Goran Stolevski brings us You Won’t Be Alone, a film that includes these elements and much more. It is also visually enticing and emotionally moving.

Although this was Stolevski’s first full-length film, he has done a series of short films with emotional themes that loosely tie into You Won’t Be Alone. His short films include: Blood (2008), which involved an affair, a disease, a birth, and a death; Today Is Not the Day (2015), about someone losing a good friend and a couple’s relationship falling apart; and You Deserve Everything (2016), about a doctor having a relationship with an interpreter who works at his hospital.

You Won’t Be Alone is set in Macedonia in the 19th century. We are introduced to Nevena, played by Sara Klimosksa, who is kidnapped by an ancient spirit known as Maria, played by Anamaria Marinca. Nevena is tormented and abused by Maria, and Novena begins to develop her own witch powers, including the ability to shift herself into someone else’s body. Nevena’s abuse at the hands of Maria leaves her in despair and makes her feel disconnected. She’s desperate for a change in her life and ends up killing a peasant girl named Bosilka, played by Noomi Rapace, and shifting into her body to experience life as an actual human. Nevena just wants a normal life where she can feel loved.

You Won’t Be Alone reminded me in some ways of the movie Room (2015). It was similar in that Room was also about a young person who was stuck in in a world of isolation and abuse, and was desperate for a normal life. Fantasy films have often been overdone by the big franchise studios, but You Won’t Be Alone has an exhilarating screenplay and is authentic and creative without being overdone.

I did not expect the emotional component of You Won’t Be Alone, but it certainly added to the experience. Fans of witchcraft, vampires, or ancient spirits will love the surreal aspects of the film. Like many such fantasy films, it has some disturbing moments. But the focus on Nevena striving to find a happy place and escape Maria’s evil world takes it to another level. Three and a half stars for You Won’t Be Alone.