I recently had the privilege of attending a Fathom event screening for the 35th anniversary of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The first three films in the series have always spoken to me the most, but this anniversary edition included a discussion with the filmmakers that made it very special, and really drove home what an epic conclusion The Voyage Home was to the series.

To recap the plot of The Voyage Home, Admiral James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner, and his crew go on a mission to San Francisco in 1986. Their mission is to retrieve humpback whales, because only that species can communicate with an alien probe that may attack Earth. With the help of Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, they embark on a treacherous ride, but one that is all fun for us. With so many iconic characters, ranging from Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, Sulu, played by George Takei, and many others, The Voyage Home is a true adventure, one that really makes us appreciate the franchise.

While at this screening I thought a lot about the success of Star Trek. In the pre-recorded discussion the filmmakers pointed out that the key film in the series was Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan (1982), because that was where the big adventures really took off. It got even better in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), and the fun took a twist into endless galactic entertainment with The Voyage Home.

Overall, the 35-year anniversary screening was well worth a viewing, and I learned a lot about the origin Star Trek film series. It had me anxious to know what will happen with the series, especially after the death of Anton Yelchin, who played Pavel Chekov in several recent Star Trek films. But whatever happens next, I’m sure the fan base will be in for a treat, because Star Trek is always a fun ride. Four stars for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 35th year anniversary edition.

Films about death and grief are always harrowing. The Night House takes those two elements, adds in horror, and brings it all to a disturbing, though somewhat disappointing, level.

In The Night House a woman’s husband has committed suicide and she is alone in her remote house in the forest. The widow is Beth, played by Rebecca Hall, and her husband is Owen, played by Evan Jonigkeit. As she processes Owen’s death, Beth discovers disturbing secrets that may have led to Owen’s suicide. With the help of neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, Beth must try to figure out whether Owen’s dark secrets played a role or not.

Rebecca Hall delivers a realistic, bordering on brilliant, performance in this horror flick, but her role was more of a solo performance and her acting was about the only thing that made the film enthralling. The rest of the film is clever jump scares and discoveries, but they are all over the place, happening at times that don’t add up, and there are periods where the movie is just plain boring. The Night House has the more common shock value of a horror or psychological thriller, but it is just an average film from my perspective. I believe the film’s failure was in its writing.

The Night House will likely find its audience, and I did find it intriguing at times, but it just did not grab my attention like I anticipated. I give The Night House 2-1/2 stars.

I have always been a lover of musical theatrical productions. In Annette, Leos Carax directs a musical that is an auteur masterpiece. It is truly a spectacle to behold—a musical and cinematic experience like no other. It is breathtaking in its cinematography, and its beauty and plot will take viewers through a range of emotions.

Annette opened the Cannes Film Festival this year. It is about a stand-up comedian named Henry, played by Adam Driver, who falls for opera singer Anne, played by Marion Cotillard. They are in the public spotlight because of their high profile careers, and soon their daughter Annette comes along. The couple quickly realizes that there is something very unique about Annette, but her birth also drastically changes the chemistry between Henry and Anne. The dramatic changes in their lives are emphasized through song, and the director’s use of transitions between scenes.

Although Annette focuses on the many struggles between Henry and Anne, there was a still a light that shines throughout the film. The emotional impact of the film comes from the unpredictable problems that arise between the couple, shown first through the eyes of Henry and Anne, and then through Annette. Driver and Cotillard both deliver masterpiece performances in Annette, and it is a brilliant tearjerker.

Annette is truly a poetic achievement. At its core it is about soul-searching. It is an emotionally intriguing journey through the lives of a father, a mother, and their daughter, that will take your breath away. It is a journey for the ages. Four stars for Annette.