Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a live-action take on the classic tabletop RPG. It stands out as a high-quality fantasy comedy, even for those who don’t know the original game. The film’s character chemistry is similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, and the jokes feel natural, making it more entertaining than I expected.

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.

Where the Crayfish Sing, based on the bestselling novel with over 15 million copies sold, is a touching drama. Although it has a mysterious atmosphere, it mainly tells the complex life story of one woman. The film stands out for its stunning wetland scenery and Daisy Edgar-Jones’s excellent acting. The plot is straightforward, and the ending is easy to guess, but I was drawn in by the film’s substantial psychological depth and beautiful visuals.

Brahmastra made history as the first Indian film to debut at #2 on the US box office chart. This epic superhero fantasy brings ancient Indian mythology into the modern world. Director Ayan Mukerji spent 11 years creating this first part of a trilogy, using Hollywood-level visual effects and a star-studded cast to deliver a unique Indian cinematic experience. Even with its long 167-minute runtime, the story about Shiva’s growth and the power of love keeps viewers engaged. Some weak dialogue and a familiar romantic plot hold it back from perfection, but as a showcase of Indian cinema’s technical progress and creativity, it is sure to be remembered.

“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.”

The story takes place in 1994 New York, where the Autobots join forces with the animal-shaped Maximals to face Unicron, a planet-eating villain. Fans of the Japanese series “Beast Wars” will be happy to see these characters appear in a Hollywood film for the first time. Director Steven Caple Jr. sets the action seven years after “Bumblebee,” giving the series a new feel. The movie blends old memories with new ideas, but it delivers only about 60% of what fans might hope for.