Everything about this Star Trek installment is bigger and better especially the addition of the classic villian Khan played by the marvelous Benedict Cumberbatch.  If you are not familiar with the star of the BBC's Sherlock Holmes fame then you are about to fall in love with this bad guy.  As for the good guys, the enchanting Chris Pine suits up as Captain Kirk complimented by a splendid supporting cast .  Karl Urban as Bones and Simone Pegg offer big laughs. Note, this film is much darker as the name suggests but not without well placed comedic timing. 

Beasts of the Southern Wild is a layered tale about family and survival. It definitely seems to illustrate a not so abstract survivor of the fittest concept.  Furthermore, it provides a brilliantly different angle of demonstrating a tale with Hurricane Katrina as plot point twist  while giving a unique view of the unity of the poor and a people not looking for hand outs despite their hard circumstances.  In the words of Patrick Henry,  "Give me liberty or give me death comes to mind."   Quvenzhané Wallis gives an Oscar nominated engaging performance as Hushpuppy a surprisingly strong heroine all of 5 years old.

“This is a story of how the wizard came to be the wizard; of how a smalltime carnival magician- a faker, a charlatan- came to a fantastic world and was just the thing that they needed to save the day. It’s the tale of how an average man who was selfish became a great wizard who is selfless.” – Sam Raimi; Director

The idea of a modern day post cold war spy story is outdated but some action and charm of Bruce Willis doesn't seem to grow old.  After 25 years, the "Die Hard" franchise seems to take a licking and keep on ticking.  What mainly works in this film is some of the fresh action concepts.

On so many levels Silver Linings Playbook is a great film. It is a dynamic comedic, dramatic love story and more.  Bradley Cooper plays a man placed in a mental institution over an incident.  Like his dad played by Robert DeNiro he has some anger management issues. Silver Linings Playbook offers a look a dysfunctional in marriage, family and love.   It is one of the smartest comedic screenplays.