Searching (2018)

The solution to the mystery when it comes (a good deal earlier than the film intends) doesn't stand up to a quick credit-roll dissection but otherwise this thriller, told entirely via computer and phone screen activity, about a father scouring online social media accounts to find his missing teenaged daughter, is entertaining in the way it cleverly justifies the constant presence of a camera to capture events no matter where any of the characters are and no matter what they are doing, and the wobbly mystery is easily overlooked thanks to a moving opening sequence, a brisk pace, and the very likeable John Cho's performance as desperate dad.

★★★☆☆

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Gemini (2017)

The mesmerising start in which we are introduced to the neo-noir world of movie star and tabloid-headliner Heather Anderson and her personal assistant Jill LeBeau is this 2017 movie's strength and then it shifts gear from atmospheric thriller to run-of-the-mill mystery as the personal assistant goes all Nancy Drew and starts an amateur murder investigation with goofy suspects, glaring red herrings and a not very satisfactory denouement.

★★★☆☆

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Star Trek Beyond (2016)

That scene, barely a second long, showing Sulu when he is not at the helm of the Enterprise is a brilliant addition to a series that at its core is a celebration of universal diversity and inclusion, with this particular episode also succeeding where perhaps Into Darkness didn't, delivering good old reliable Star Trek space exploration, action, humour and philosophy — the franchise doesn't need too many tweaks or new skins or tricks, as its fifty year anniversary this year clearly demonstrates.

★★★★☆

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Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

A terror attack sets in motion the convoluted events of this 2013 Star Trek episode which eventually ties together a number of plot threads about warheads, cryogenically frozen superhumans and an Enterprise stopover at Kronos where the Klingons live, but in Director J J Abrams' hands, this scifi action is punchy, fun, exciting and full of ace special effects even if it apparently disappointed Trekkies and contains no openly gay Starfleet officers.

★★★☆☆

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A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

Harold and Kumar embark on another adventure, this one Christmas-themed (instead of a White Castle, they are seeking a last-minute Christmas tree) and if you can see past a distasteful sexual assault scene and the franchise's problematic portrayal of women generally, this instalment is pretty funny, at least for those who have acquired the politically-incorrect Harold and Kumar taste.

★★★☆☆

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Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)

Number one was more Chevy Chase/National Lampoons crossed with stoner comedy whereas this second Harold and Kumar movie is more Kevin Smith/gross out/political crossed with stoner comedy and fans will concede the humour is slightly tired here and that H&KEFGB tries too hard to elaborate unnecessarily on the good ideas (like Neil Patrick Harris) from H&KGTW.

★★☆☆☆

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Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)

Clark Griswold stopped at nothing to get his family to Walley World; Harold and Kumar with the munchies must reach a White Castle burger joint and despite my hating nothing more than stoner comedies, I find Harold and Kumar's juvenile antics actually very funny - a crude new-generation National Lampoon's Vacation...to White Castle.

★★★☆☆

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