Isle of Dogs

Writer/Director Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs is a wonderfully charming Japanese-based tale of 12-year-old Atari (voice of Koyu Rankin), the ward of Trumpian despot Mayor Kobayashi (voice of Kunichi Nomura), who has banned all dogs to an isle off the coast that had been used as a garbage dump. 

Atari’s dog Spots (voice of Liev Schreiber) was the first to go and Atari steals an airplane to go in search of Spots.   On the isle, he meets up with a stray named Chief (voice of Bryan Cranston) and four other victim dogs, including Tracy (voice of Greta Gerwig), Boss (voice of Bill Murray), Duke (voice of Jeff Goldblum) and King (voice of Bob Balaban), who aid him in his often grueling search.

 

Anderson’s genius is in his use of the Japanese lore and music in the telling of this fascinating tale, co-developed with Roman Coppola, Kunichi Nomura and Jason Schwartzman.  The animation is unique and extremely interesting.

Isle of Dogs should appeal to audiences of all ages, but does, ideally, require reading ability on the part of the children.

I give Isle of Dogs a 4.2 out of 5.

Tomb Raider

Director Roar Uthaug’s Tomb Raider is an action-filled film depicting the adventurer Lara Croft, when she was green and not very wise. 

Alicia Vikander is admirable as the novice Croft, who comes into her own in her search for her father (Dominic West), who had disappeared seven years earlier, while searching for the tomb of a Japanese witch.

 

Though some may have hoped for Vikander to be as tough as Angelina Jolie’s more mature version of this character, I enjoyed watching her mistakes and foibles as she stepped into her power.  And, let’s face it, I could look at Vikander all day.

While Tomb Raider is no Wonder Woman, it should appeal to its audience.  

I give it a 3.8 out of 5.

Death Wish

Director Eli Roth’s Death Wish is a modern update of the 1974 classic, starring Charles Bronson, in which a mild-mannered man becomes a vigilante after thugs kill his wife and permanently hospitalize his daughter.

Though Writer Joe Carnahan’s script has a few improvements, Roth’s pacing is a bit slow in moving the story forward and it is not as gritty as the original.  Still, those who are fans of crime thrillers and haven’t seen the older version will enjoy this current rendition.

Bruce Willis is in form as Dr. Paul Kersey and Elisabeth Shue and Camila Marrone are excellent as his wife and daughter.

For the fan base, I give Death Wish a 3.5 out of 5.