Apollo 13

Wow!  I am so thrilled my daughter had to watch this film for homework from school.  We watched it again with her and it was just as awesome, 5/5 stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4IBT5e60uI

"With all due respect, sir.  I believe this is gonna be our finest hour."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2YZnTL596Q

"Well, gentlemen, I suggest you find a way to put a square peg in a round hole -- rapidly."

"If they could make a washing machine fly, Jimmy could land it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhoXFVQsIxw

"Failure is not an option."

Empire of Light

The thrilling conclusion to the Schoal trilogy is as good as the first two, with a bit too much deus est machina and an odd introduction of yet another ancient power with its own motivation.  Still awesome, though 4/5 stars.  The English title is "Empire of Light."

Nova War

I really enjoyed Gary Gibson's "Schoal" books.  It is fun, action-packed space opera, complete with mysterious ancient powers and brilliant, manipulative aliens.  4/5 stars.

American Ultra

I enjoyed this one. 3/5 stars.  Jesse Eisenberg is great.

Ant Man

The first 45 minutes are terrible.  But the last hour of the film are great.  3/5 stars.

Heist

Although I agree with all of the criticisms that gave this film bad reviews I still loved it and recommend it highly!  4/5 stars.  Extremely enjoyable.  Great story with a fantastic ending.  Cliche? Yes.  Old retread bromides?  Yes.  Love it.  Watch it!

Kreuzweg

Puke awful horrible.  0/5 stars.

Trainwreck

I did not find this film very appealing but it was not bad, either 3/5 stars.

The End of the Tour

This film was not bad.  We enjoyed it.  3/5 stars.

Fiasco by Stanislav Lem

I enjoyed reading the translated works of Stanislaw Lem 45 years ago in English and more recently read some of the German translations of his later works that I had not read previously.   His last novel, translated in 1986 is a typical, paranoid, depressing story and I enjoyed it.  5/5 stars.

Man from U.N.C.L.E.

We really enjoyed this one!  It was extremely nostalgic.  I grew up watching the original TV series and the (many) 1960's cinematic techniques (off-camera deaths, split screen, long shots) went perfectly with the terrible fashion, values, and cold war.  4/5 stars.  It's not a 5 because they cast Hugh Grant as Alexander Waverly, yuck!

Evolution

A billion year historical fiction novel that is unsatisfying, dated, boring, and disengaging.  2/5 stars.

Komische Geschichte, nicht gut 2/5 Sterne