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The Kill Team (2019)

Directed by: Dan Krauss

Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Nat Wolff, Adam Long

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Violent Content and Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 27

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Themes, Directing, Cinematography, Alexander Skarsgard

WEAKNESSES: Emotional Connection, Mild Acting

The Kill Team (2019)

August 4, 2019

An young American soldier faces a moral dilemma when his commanding officer starts to use questionable methods in their missions.  

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In Adventure, Action, Crime, Drama, Coming of Age, Mystery, Thriller, War Tags Alexander Skarsgard, Nat Wolff, Adam Long, Dan Krauss
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Threads (1984)

Directed by: Mick Jackson

Starring: Karen Meagher, Reece Dinsdale, David Brierly

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Disturbing Content and Images)

Running Time: 1 h 52 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Realism, Story, Structure

WEAKNESSES: Some Dated Moments

Threads (1984)

July 22, 2019

A mockumentary about the long-term effects of a nuclear holocaust on the occupants of Sheffield, England.

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In Drama, Fantasy, Documentary, Horror, War Tags Mick Jackson, Karen Meagher, Reece Dinsdale, David Brierly, NR, 4.5 Stars
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Europa Europa (1990)

Directed by: Agnieszka Holland

Starring: Marco Hofschneider, Andre Wilms, Julie Delpy

Rated: R for Mature Treatment of Holocaust Issues

Running Time: 1 h 52 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Themes, Story

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Melodrama, Coincidence

Europa Europa (1990)

July 11, 2019

A young Jewish boy joins Hitler’s Youth Army in an attempt to conceal his identity.

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In Adventure, Coming of Age, Crime, Drama, Biographical, Romance, Thriller, War, Foreign Film Tags Agnieszka Holland, 1990, Marco Hofschneider, Andre Wilms, Julie Delpy, R, 3.5 Stars
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They Shall Not Grow Old (2019)

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Starring: -

Rated: R for Graphic War Images

Running Time: 1h 39m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Everything

WEAKNESSES: -

They Shall Not Grow Old (2019)

July 2, 2019

A bold and innovative new look at the British side of World War 1.

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In Documentary, War Tags Karl Nagurski, They Shall Not Grow Old, Peter Jackson, War, War Film, Documentary
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Das Boot- Director’s Cut (1981)

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

Starring: Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Klaus Wennemann

Rated: R for Some War Violence and Brief Language

Running Time: 3 h 28 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Direction, Story, Cinematography, Atmosphere

WEAKNESSES: -

Das Boot- Director's Cut (1981)

June 26, 2019

A German U-boat is tasked to destroy British naval and supply ships during WWII. 

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller, War, Foreign Film Tags Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, 1981, Wolfgang Petersen, 5 Stars, Germany
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Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud

Starring: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Ron Pearlman

Rated: R for Strong Graphic War Violence and Some Sexuality

Running Time: 2 h 11 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Production Design, Some Action, Some Acting

WEAKNESSES: Writing, Some Acting, Emotionally Distant, Pacing

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

June 24, 2019

A Russian and a German sniper play a game of cat and mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad. Inspired by the true story of Vasily Zaitsev.

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Ron Pearlman, Jean-Jacques Annaud, R, 2.5 Stars, 2001
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Starship Troopers (1997)

Directed by: Paul Verhoeven

Starring: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside

Rated: R for Graphic Sci-Fi Violence and Gore, and For Some Language and Nudity

Running Time: 2 h 9 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, World Building, Directing, Satire, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Pacing During First Half

Starship Troopers (1997)

June 21, 2019

A satire on fascism where humans wage war against giant alien bugs. 

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In Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller, War Tags Paul Verhoeven, Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside, R, 4 Stars, 1997
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A Bug’s Life (1998)

Directed by: John Lasseter

Starring: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Richard Kind, Denis Leary, John Ratzenberger

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 h 35 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Themes, Humor, Originality, Story, World Building, Characters

WEAKNESSES: -

A Bug's Life (1998)

June 19, 2019

A misfit ant travels to the bug city to find warrior bugs, but mistakenly hires a failing circus crew instead. 

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In Action, Adventure, Animated, Children's Movies, Comedy, Epic, Fantasy, War Tags John Lasseter, 1998, 4.5 Stars, Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Richard Kind, Denis Leary, John Ratzenberger, G
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Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Directed by: Michael Dougherty

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang, Bradley Whitford, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Sally Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr.

Rated: PG-13 for Sequences of Monster Action Violence and Destruction, and For Some Language

Running Time: 2 h 11 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Kaiju Stuff, Special Effects, Fun

WEAKNESSES: People Stuff, Story, Plot Holes Galore, Harebrained Schemes and Ideas, Dialogue

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

June 4, 2019

Godzilla faces off against a wave of monsters as humans from Monarch try to figure out a way to communicate with the beasts. 

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Epic, Monster Film, Thriller, War Tags Michael Dougherty, Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang, Bradley Whitford, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Sally Hawkins, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
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Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Directed by: Isao Takahata

Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi

Rated:NR (Suggested PG-13 for Disturbing Content and Images)

Running Time: 1 h 29 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Perspective, Animation, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

May 29, 2019

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

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In Anime, Drama, War Tags Isao Takahata, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, NR, 5 Stars
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The Wind Rises (2013)

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Starring: Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 2h 6m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Animation, Main Character

Weakness: Not Enough Time Spent on Early Love Story

The Wind Rises (2013)

May 29, 2019

A fantastical character study of Jiro Horikashi, the man who designed the Mitsubishi Zero Fighter Plane.

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In Anime, Biographical, Drama, Foreign Film, War Tags Michael McDonald, Hayao Miyazaki, 2013, Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, PG-13, 4 Stars, The Wind Rises
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Godzilla (2014)

Directed by: Gareth Edwards

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Wantanabe, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche

Rated: PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Destruction, Mayhem and Creature Violence

Running Time: 2 h 3 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Visual Effects, Godzilla Action

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Not Enough Godzilla, Boring Protagonist

Godzilla (2014)

May 24, 2019

Giant creatures begin appearing across the globe, and a giant lizard named Godzilla rises to fight them.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Gareth Edwards, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Wantanabe, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, PG-13, 3 Stars, 2014
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Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura

Starring: Masahiro Matsuoka, Rei Kikukawa, Don Frye, Kazuki Kitamura

Rated: PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Violence

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Scenes With Kaiju

WEAKNESSES: Scenes With People

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

May 23, 2019

Godzilla, whom has been imprisoned for years in ice in Antarctica, might be humans’ only hope against a wave of angry kaiju bent on destroying the earth. Also, some aliens show up. 

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In Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci Fi, War Tags Masahiro Matsuoka, Rei Kikukawa, Don Frye, Kazuki Kitamura, 2 Stars, PG-13, 2004
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Shin Godzilla (2016)

Directed By: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi

Starring: Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Editing, Score, Direction, Scope/Scale

Weakness: Certain Effects Shots, Any American Character

Shin Godzilla (2016)

May 22, 2019

When an immense mysterious evolutionarily advanced creature emerges from the sea and begins walking to Tokyo, the government and people of Japan must band together to save their country and the world.

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In Epic, Foreign Film, Monster Film, Sci Fi, War Tags Michael McDonald, Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, NR, 4 Stars, 2016, Shin Godzilla, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi
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Godzilla (1954)

Directed By: Ishiro Honda

Starring: Takashi Shimura, Ahihiko Hirata, Akira Takarada, Takashi Shimura

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 36m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Theme, Legacy, Soundtrack

Weakness: Pacing, Some Poor Effects Shots

Godzilla (1954)

May 21, 2019

Ships off the coast of one of Japan’s islands are being mysteriously destroyed. When the cause turns out to be an immense fire breathing lizard, all of Japan seems doomed.

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In Epic, Foreign Film, Sci Fi, War, Monster Film Tags Michael McDonald, Takashi Shimura, Ahihiko Hirata, Akira Takarada, Ishiro Honda, Godzilla, 1954, NR, 3 Stars
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How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

Directed by: Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harrington

Rated: PG for Adventure Action and Some Mild Rude Humor

Running Time: 1 h 44 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Animation, Production Design, Visual Storytelling, Final Scenes

WEAKNESSES: Uneven Pacing, Uninteresting Villain

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

May 20, 2019

After a dragon hunter threatens Berk, Hiccup and Toothless search for a place where dragons and humans might live together in peace.

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In Action, Adventure, Animated, Children's Movies, Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, War Tags Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harrington, Dean DeBlois, 2019, 3.5 Stars
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How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Directed by: Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wigg, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harrington

Rated: PG for Adventure Action and Some Mild Rude Humor

Running Time: 1 h 42 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Worldbuilding, Story, Consequences, Characters, Emotional Connection, Music

WEAKNESSES: Supporting Character’s Subplot

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

May 20, 2019

After Hiccup and Toothless discover a mysterious new Dragon Rider, they find themselves at the center of a battle.

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In Action, Adventure, Children's Movies, Animated, Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, War Tags Dean DeBlois, Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wigg, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harrington, PG, 2014, 4 Stars
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How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Directed by: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, America Ferrara, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wigg, T.J. Miller, David Tennant

Rated: PG for Sequences of Intense Action and Some Scary Images, and Brief Mild Language

Running Time: 1 h 38 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Music, Cinematography, Production Design, World Building, Themes

WEAKNESSES: -

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

May 20, 2019

A young Viking who lives in a village that is perpetually attacked by dragons takes a new approach to handling the beasts.

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In Action, Adventure, Children's Movies, Animated, Comedy, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Epic, Mystery, Romance, War Tags Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, America Ferrara, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wigg, T.J. Miller, David Tennant, 5 Stars, 2010
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John Wick Chapter 3- Parabellum (2019)

Directed by: Chad Stahelski

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacasocos, Asia Kate Dillion, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas

Rated: R for Pervasive Strong Violence, and Some Language

Running Time: 2 h 10 m

TMM Score:4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Action, Cinematography, Worldbuilding, Story, Themes, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Wick is Invincible, Some Acting

John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum (2019)

May 17, 2019

Super-Assassin John Wick flees as the members of the International Assassin’s Guild seek retribution for the death of one of their leaders.  

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller, War Tags Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacasocos, Asia Kate Dillion, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Chad Stahelski, R, 4.5 Stars, 2019
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Mulan (1998)

Directed by: Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook

Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Soon-Tek Oh, James Hong, Pat Morita, Miguel Ferrer

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 h 28 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Music, Animation Style, Song, Excitement, Themes

WEAKNESSES: -

Mulan (1998)

May 7, 2019

Based on a Chinese legend, about a young girl whom disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father’s place in the army, and in doing so becomes one of China’s greatest heroes. 

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In Action, Adventure, Children's Movies, Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Romance, War Tags Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Soon-Tek Oh, James Hong, Pat Morita, Miguel Ferrer, 1998, 4.5 Stars, G, Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
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