The How to Train Your Dragon series has come to an end. This last film stands out for its stunning visuals and touching story, making it a proper “moving grand finale.” It highlights the best in animation, shows how much the characters have grown, and ends on a surprisingly emotional note. For longtime fans, it feels like the perfect reward.

Ambulance is a mid-budget action movie directed by Michael Bay, famous for his explosive visuals in the Transformers and Bad Boys series. This film is a remake of a 2005 Danish movie. Even with a $40 million budget, which is modest for Bay, the on-screen destruction feels much bigger. The movie drew attention for promising a return to Bay’s gritty action roots, similar to his 90s hits like The Rock and Armageddon. With new FPV drone shots, constant chase scenes, and tension inside the ambulance, the trailer set up expectations for a classic Bay blockbuster. But while the film delivers on action, it also brings some unexpected frustration.

‘Beast’ is a gritty survival thriller set in the African savanna. In just 93 minutes, Idris Elba plays a doctor and father fighting a deadly battle with a huge man-eating lion, alongside his two daughters. The plot is predictable, but the film still entertains. Its biggest strengths are the tight pacing and Idris Elba’s strong performance. The CGI lion and some character choices can be questionable, but the sound design, clearly made for Dolby Cinema, and the immersive long takes are excellent. While critics and audiences are split (Rotten Tomatoes: 69% vs. IMDb: 5.9), the movie offers solid B-movie action fun for those who enjoy that style.

Director Jordan Peele, who delivered the striking social horror films Get Out and Us, has finally taken on a true spectacle blockbuster with this ambitious project. While appearing to be a UFO movie at first glance, it is actually an intensely meta work that deeply questions cinema itself and the very act of “seeing/being seen.” It is Peele's new signature film, a stunning fusion of overwhelming visual beauty captured in IMAX and his most emotionally resonant story to date. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Twenty-five years after The Sixth Sense, director M. Night Shyamalan returns with a new challenge: a psychological thriller set in a single room, focused on a family's ultimate choice. The film’s intense 100-minute runtime is impressive, but its approach to religious themes and changes from the original story have stirred debate, making it a polarizing film. Shyamalan’s trademark visuals and direction remain strong, but the film’s lack of social awareness diminishes its overall impact.

Director Robert Eggers, known for his distinct style in ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ tackles a Viking revenge story with a huge $70 million budget. The film brings to life the Norse legend that inspired Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet,’ using intense violence and mythic fantasy. The visuals and historical detail are stunning, but the story structure is divisive, making this a classic Eggers film that sparks debate.

When ChatGPT took the world by storm after 2020, an AI horror film emerged that captured the cutting edge of the era. That film is M3GAN. This ambitious work avoids the grotesque horror tropes common in the genre, instead presenting a new form of terror: the runaway consequences of love. While accessible even to horror newcomers, it masterfully balances entertainment with social commentary, embedding sharp critiques of modern society within its narrative.

“TAR” is Todd Field’s first feature film in 16 years, and it’s an ambitious psychological thriller about the fall of the Berlin Philharmonic’s first female principal conductor. The film captures the spirit of the 2020s, especially the rise of cancel culture. Cate Blanchett’s powerful performance and the film’s visual style stand out, but its long runtime and complex structure mean it will mostly appeal to a select audience. By focusing on artistry rather than entertainment, it’s the kind of film that “critics rave about while general audiences are left perplexed.”

This film earned over ¥100 billion worldwide and stands out as a heartfelt achievement in the fan film genre. Thanks to the close teamwork between Illumination Entertainment and Nintendo, a simple story filled with love for gaming becomes a magical, engaging experience in just 90 minutes. Its success shows the power of passionate, collaborative adaptation. The film focuses more on character charm and nostalgia than on critical perfection, sparking some debate. Still, seeing Mario's world on the big screen is an emotional experience that feels like a true love letter to youth, much like receiving a New Year's gift.

The movie marks the first live-action version of DreamWorks Animation's hit series. Dean DeBlois, who directed all three animated movies, returned for the live-action version. He was hesitant at first, but his love for the series convinced him to take on the challenge. The most exciting part of the film is watching Hiccup and Toothless fly together. Filmed in Scotland and Finland, these scenes feel more real and lighter than anything in the animated movies. When they shoot out of the sea and glide through the clouds, it’s as thrilling as a roller coaster.