Fast Color

In a future where we are in the middle of an 8-year drought, a young woman is returning home, ready to reconcile relationships which her mom and daughter. And to gain help/training with her special gift. The women in this family can disassemble objects into colors and then reassemble them again... or something like that. Kind of a slow developing sci-fi, coming of age story which doesn't have a strong enough plot hook to ever really have a purpose. Someone had a clever "sci-fi idea" and made it into a movie based only on the idea, instead of integrating the idea into a story.
2 stars (out of 5)

Little Women

I remember almost nothing from the 1994 version (other than I like it) so this was basically a fresh story of civil war family of 4 sisters who go about their lives as their father is away at war most of the time. They are poor, but know rich people. The sisters are all artists (writer, painter, musician, actress) and this story is told from the perspective of the eldest (the writer), but not in linear time. We bounce back and forth between the present and flashback, with each editing transition well done enough to make you think about where you are and what information you need to acquire from this particular flashback to complete the story. It is hailed as feminist before its time (strong, independent women) and because of that, it necessarily feels a bit preachy in that area. But good sermons have good jokes, as does this, so I was carried along and entertained throughout.
3 stars (out of 5)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The final installment of the original 9 movie storyline. I would say that this movie is quite good for fans. Not fanatics, and not for newbies. If this is your first Star Wars movie, you will be lost and have no context for 90% of the storyline. If you are a fanatic, you will be disappointed with too many important connections left out, or too many unnecessary nods to the past. But for the moderate fan, it is pretty good. Rey finishes her Jedi training and has a special connection with Kylo Ren. There are lots of personal connections revealed and personal demons needing to be excised. The battle gets taken directly to the Sith homeworld and while in the end, lots is resolved, lots is still left open for future storytelling. Well done.
4 stars (out of 5)

It's a Wonderful Life

Amazingly, I had never seen this completely through. I have several iconic scenes in my memory, probably from their being used in other contexts. So it was fun to watch the whole story through. George Bailey is the good son, always making decisions for the good of the family, or the town, or his friends. When he gets fed up, feeling like he has wasted his life, unconventional angel Clarence helps him to see his impact.
3 stars (out of 5)

While You Were Sleeping

A holiday favorite in our house, Sandra Bullock works in a fare booth for Chicago Transit. When she rescues a rider who fell onto the tracks, she becomes enmeshed with the family and mistaken for the fiancé. But then falls in love with the brother. Classic 90's rom-com, but many of the one liners have become part of our family lexicon and, similar to Pieces of April, is watched ever few years.
5 stars (out of 5)

Better Than Us (Serial)

A Russian sci-fi series with the same lead as in Sniffer which I also liked. In this show, Georgy is a former neurosurgeon currently working as a coroner. In this world, humanoid robots are common as household and workplace assistants, but they are quite obviously robots with limited functionality. When gigantic tech company Cronos imports a new robot with higher functioning neural networks and disabled robot laws, and said robot attaches itself as a family member to Georgy and his kids, the story is set in motion. In Russian, and much better with sub-titles than with english dubbing. I quite enjoyed this.

4 stars (out of 5)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Serial)

Season 3

I guess I haven't listed the first couple of seasons here. Mrs. Maisel is a 1960's wealth NY housewife who has decided that her passion is stand-up comedy. This in a world where women aren't really invited to do anything, and the standup world is really quite regulated for morality. So off-color is simply illegal. Mrs. Maisel jumps into the world with an easy manner and ability to riff on her life and whatever the audience throws at her. This comedy storyline is paralleled by the rest of her life, and her family life, and her ex-husband, and manager, and ...  Definitely one of the shows I look forward to another season dropping.
5 stars (out of 5)

The Tunnel (serial)

Season 1

The setup for this BBC series is a dead body found exactly on the border between France and England in the Chunnel. So detectives from both jurisdictions show up. When it is decided that the crime should be investigated by the French since the victim is a French dignitary, all agree and the body is moved... only to find it is two halves (and hence two separate bodies). So the French and English detectives work together. With no love lost across the channel, and a great character in the French detective, this crime drama is fabulous. I would guess that the French/English viewers look at it like LA viewers see Bosch.
5 stars (out of 5)

6 Underground

Not a new idea, people fake their own deaths so they can be ghosts in society and become benevolent vigilantes for criminals that are above the law. Here the group is sponsored by billionaire Ryan Reynolds, and the style of the film is Deadpool violence and language and action beyond compare. It is clearly Michael Bay and Reynolds cut loose of any studio restrictions. I think maybe a few restrictions aren't a bad thing? If you like action that pummels you, this is for you.
3 stars (out of 5)