Micro Reviews #19: American Made & Ingrid Goes West (Micro Reviews)

American Made:

Thor: Ragnarok (Film Review)

Thor has always been the black sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  His films are often considered the MCU’s weakest, and are polarizing among fans and critics alike.  I like both Thor and Thor: The Dark World, as I do with 94% of the MCU’s library, regardless of their noteworthy flaws—such as weak, non-Loki antagonists, overly convoluted storylines, bland settings, etc.  The MCU appears to have taken note of such weaknesses and completely revamped Thor in his latest feature, Thor: Ragnarok.  Such restyle has proven to be both a major improvement and complete success, making Thor: Ragnarok the best Thor film yet, 2017’s best MCU film, and the best MCU release since Captain America: Civil War.

Columbus (Quick Review)

Columbus has a distinctly similar feel to Lost in Translation.  Both films follow two characters—a middle-aged man and a young adult female—experiencing a personal crisis in their lives.  By chance the two characters meet and begin interacting, growing closer in an ambiguously-romantic relationship set in an aesthetically pleasing region.  Now comparing Columbus to Lost in Translation does not mean Columbus is on Lost in Translation’s level—but to be fair, I never expected such.  Lost in Translation is both my favorite film of the 2000s and one of my favorite films of all time—Columbus being on its level would have been quite the remarkable achievement.  Nevertheless, Columbus succeeds as a very good story with some visually gorgeous cinematography.

The Girl with All the Gifts (Film Review)

Obligatory The Last of Us reference.