It's nice to finally see a Hobbit film with a conclusion... Now if only it had a beginning and a middle. I'm not a fan of the idea of splitting this story into three parts and I am not a fan of seeing characters that weren't in the book added, (or created even), just to increase the running time of these films. This one at least was the shorter of the three, but it felt very much like a long ending. There was little time for build-up or retrospect. It jumped into the action and never let go, but not in a good way. In any case, at least it's over now and I'm happy to see it go. I love Martin Freeman's Bilbo. it is the only thing that allows me to actually feel something during these films, and luckily, unlike the last one, he's actually in most of this one.

2.5 Stars (out of 5)

All the hubbub aside, the film isn't that great. It certainly has its funny moments. I always enjoy the comedic chemistry between Rogen and Franco. Unfortunately the film relies too often on really dumb butt jokes for its tent-pole laughs. The funniest parts to me were the throwaway lines like Franco's character claiming this will be bigger than Frosty/Nixon. The smart stuff was smart, but the butt stuff was more front-and-center. Towards the end things get a bit violent and Rogen plays it straight, reacting to every horrific act he sees the way I might in the situation, which was great, and actually pretty funny. Overall, they make some decent points about North Korea, and even illustrate how they're able to win over visiting media (or people like Dennis Rodman) in a salient yet hilarious manner. It would've benefited from a tighter cut of the film and just a couple less butt jokes.

2.5 Stars (out of 5)

Chris Rock's writing style is spot on. His deliveries of jokes as if they were part of everyday conversation is impeccable. Unfortunately the film tends to fall flat in some areas, suffers from a predictable story arc, and drags in a couple of places, otherwise this might've been a truly standout milestone in Rock's career. The story feels semi-autobiographical, at least in the way it describes his feelings about the industry, but it tries a bit too hard to tie everything up with a pretty bow and goes for the romantic comedy conclusion rather than a more existential one. Regardless of its shortcomings, it's filled with laughs, both clever and low-brow, and is a lot of fun, even when it's down-right depressing.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

A shockingly good time. I haven't seen all the Madagascar films, and never seen the Penguins' television show, so my expectations weren't too high for this. It was really funny, super cute, and had a decent story structure, especially for a spin-off film. The film is fast-paced and full of delicious silliness. It might be meant for kids, but I had a great time the whole way through. It doesn't delve too deep emotionally, the way a good Pixar film might, but it's more fun than I'm used to from the usual Dreamworks offerings.

3.0 Stars (out of 5)

I really do love watching these movies. I find them exciting and having not read the books myself, I genuinely cannot wait to see what happens next. It probably has a lot to do with Jennifer Lawrence's enigmatic portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. She's an extremely talented actor and her take on the character is an interesting mix of endearing yet distant. By the time this story begins she is suffering from PTSD, waking from nightmares, and feeling hopeless much of the time. In true hero-story fashion she does find the courage and energy to stand up for what she believes in, and takes the audience along with her.

The film features some great action, suspense, and some well-placed levity, just as the prior two, but some scenes fall flat or feel redundant. Many people have suggested that the final story did not need to be split into two films, but I am happy to see it as two. I'll take as much of this universe as I can get. With the author producing and adapting the story for the film I get the feeling she's including what she thinks is important. It doesn't just feel like a studio cash-grab to me, just pure popcorn entertainment. Looking forward to the conclusion next year.

3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Big Hero 6 is a fun adventure film for kids that features superheroes that get their superpowers from real science rather than fiction. Set in the make-believe mash-up city of San Fransokyo, the film follows young robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada as he tries to uncover the truth behind his brother's demise. At his side is the personal healthcare robot Baymax, who really does steal the show, (and your heart), along with a group of his geeky pals, each with their own scientific specialty. I enjoyed the magnificently detailed city environments. It was fun to see how they merged two different cultures to make a futuristic San Francisco with an Asian flare. While the story was tight and it hit all the right marks, it wasn't always as entertaining as I hoped it would be. It's still at least a great looking film, with a positive message and some heartwarming moments, mainly thanks to the adorable Baymax.

3 Stars (out of 5)