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.

Death on The Nile has an appealing premise and an A-list cast, but the plot lacks at times and it almost seemed like a repeat of another of director Kenneth Branagh’s recent films, Murder on the Orient Express (2017).

Branagh is not just the director
of Death on The Nile, he also stars as Detective Hercule Poirot, who is vacationing on a Nile River steamer when a young heiress is murdered. There are many possible culprits, and Poirot is tasked with putting the pieces together. Along on the cruise is Poirot’s friend Bouc, played by Tom Bateman, and Bouc’s mother, Euphemia Bouc, played by Annette Bening. Also along is Windlesham, played by Russell Brand, and husband and wife Simon Doyle and Gal Gadot, played by Armie Hammer and Gal Gadot.

I found the performances of Branagh, Hammer, and Gadot to be where the best chemistry is in Death on The Nile. But the film just seemed out of focus at times. It was also, again, a little too similar to Murder on the Orient Express. And despite the who-done-it theme, it was too predictable for my tastes. I did enjoy some of the outstanding cinematography and scenery, however. In my teen years I traveled to Egypt and I have many good memories of seeing the pyramids and other attractions along the Nile.

To be honest, Death on The Nile is not terrible, but it could have been so much better considering the cast. Branagh still has a brilliant mind for directing and acting, and his performance as Detective Poirot is solid. But given its problems, I’m giving Death on The Nile just two and a half stars.

For a few decades the Jackass franchise has delivered creative yet sometimes highly dangerous stunts. It did so with the TV series that went just a few years, until 2002, but the movies were where the true Jackass experiences grew. The newest and possibly last version, Jackass Forever, had me laughing like crazy. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Ehren McGhehey, Rob Dyrdek, and Dave England have still got it. Jackass Forever is an experience that will give die-hard fans the time of their lives.

In Jackass Forever, it has been eleven years since the previous Jackass film and the crew decides to return for their final installment in the franchise. Fans may have thought the boys went too far with Jackass 3D (2010), but they take the craziness to new heights in some of the most daring and revolting stunts yet. Some scenes may be hard to bear, but I was dying with laughter. Expect the usual horseplay with dangerous animals, crazy inventions that go overboard with being unsafe, and just be ready to fasten your seat belts for this wild adventure many years in the making.

The film really has an ensemble cast, but if there is a “star”, it would be Johnny Knoxville, who has really hit his stride at 50 years old. I’m actually surprised some of them agreed to do this movie, especially Ehren, since he always gets the worst of the pranks.

Jackass Forever is what I would call a buddy movie. And by that I mean it’s a film best watched with friends who can laugh together, jump out of their seats at the startling moments, and wonder together just how bad things can get—bad in the best sense, of course. I had that experience with Jackass Forever. Everyone asking each other what could possibly happen next and gasping together at the outrageous stunts. It sometimes felt like we were in the crew together with Knoxville and the gang but, thankfully, we were safely in the audience.

Jackass fans simply can’t miss Jackass Forever. It’s the nostalgic final installment of a unique comedy genre. And fans need to see for themselves how out of hand the stunts can truly get. Believe me, it is going to be a wild ride. Three and a half stars for Jackass Forever.