THOR: RAGORAK

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger.  Thor's quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.  A fun, fun movie with great special effects.  One can lose themselves in the action.  I give it a six.  Stars Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blachett.

WONDERSTRUCK

Ben and Rose are children from  two different eras who secretly wish their lives were different.  Ben longs for the father he has never known, while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook.  When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his home and Rise reads  an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out on quests to find what they are missing that unfold with mesmerizing symmetry.  The movie would be better on DVD since Ben and Rose are deaf and write many notes.  DVD allows one to pause to read the notes.  Okay movie and at times confusing with flipping between decades.  I give it a 6.  Stars Oakes Fegley, JulianneMoore and Michelle Williams.

LOVING VINCENT

I can not rate this movie because it excels on so many techniques--from art to video to acting.  It is an animate biopic that recounts the life and last days of tormented Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh,  Each frame of the film, consists of an oil painting executed in the master's style and a plot based on letters he penned.  The great art will mesmerize you and it is hard to concentrate on the story which is fascinating.  There has never been a film like this.  You walk out of the theater in awe.  Stars Douglas Booth, Jerome Flyn, Robert Gulaczyk.

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

THE FLORIDA PROJECT tells the story of precocious six year-old Moonee who lives with her unemployed single mother Halley in an extended stay motel on the outskirts of Disney World.  The film delves into impoverished America through the eyes of Moonee and her friends,  whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder and possibility, while the adults around them struggle to make ends meet.  The movie is a real eye opener and not just in Florida.  The movie finds reality in a real social situation.  Many kids do not have homes and a stable life  with socially functioning adults in charge.  I give it an 8.  Stars Brooklyn Prince and Bria Vinaite.

LUCKY

This wry character study follows Lucky, a lonely 90-year-old living in a dusty desert town, as he meditates on his inevitable death.  Despite his strong belief  that God does not exist, Lucky isn't ready to make the jump into nothingness.  Lucky played by Harry Dean Stanton is the movie.  He died the month before this movie was released.  Kudos for his performance.  My age group will love it.  I give it a 7.  Also stars David Lynch.

VICTORIA AND ABDUL

Kind of a true story about Queen Victoria and her unexpected friendship in the later years of her rule with a young clerk named Abdul who travels from India to participate in the Queen's Golden Jubilee.  He is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself.  As she questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge a devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy.  As the friendship deepens, The Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes.  Just a delightful movie and true Judi Dench performance.  I give it a 7.  Stars Judi Dench and Ali Fazal.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

The electrifying 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ Bobby Riggs was billed as THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sporting events of all time, and sparked a global conversation on gender equality.  King and Riggs were on opposite sides of a binary argument, but off-court each was fighting more personal battles.  The fiercely private King was struggling to come to terms with her sexuality, while Riggs gambled his legacy in a bid to relive the glories of his past.  Together, they served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis courts and animate the discussions between men and women in bedrooms and boardrooms around the world.  The movie is delightfully entertaining and give a big boost to the women's movement.  I give it a six.  Stars Emma Stone and Steve Carell.