Dark Phoenix
It's good to be Sophie Turner these days. She just married Joe Jonas and wrapped up the epic series "Game of Thrones." Now she plays the title character in the swan song of the current X-Men franchise.
After two decades, it's a wrap on the mutants as we know them. Disney now owns the rights, so we'll see where it goes from here. In "Dark Phoenix," Turner's character, Jean Grey, comes into some incredibly destructive powers, and they have something to do with an alien race led by an albino-looking Jessica Chastain who wants them back. Look, when you come out of a movie and say "'it's not as bad as I thought it would be,' it's hardly high praise." But Turner is very watchable. So are Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender, for that matter, even though they've way outgrown it. Maybe we all have!
20th Century Fox - Rated PG-13
The Secret Life of Pets 2
You didn't know you asked for a sequel to the hugely popular animated movie "The Secret Life of Pets," but when movies are hugely popular, that's what you get! City dogs Max (Patton Oswalt replacing Louis C.K.) and Duke ("Modern Family's" Eric Stonestreet) get some competition on the homefront when their owner gets married and has a baby. The family heads to a farm for a vacation where Harrison Ford shows them who's boss and steals the show in his first animated role.
Meantime Kevin Hart is back as the hyper bunny and Tiffany Haddish debuts as a no-nonsense pup. Both are in a side story about rescuing a circus tiger. The movie's cute, albeit all over the place. Be sure to stay for the funniest part: the credits!.
Universal Pictures - Rated PG
Pavarotti
There are three cool documentaries to check out, including the Ron Howard-directed "Pavarotti." An unexpected choice to direct? Well, Howard likes to stretch past his comfort zone. The result is satisfying and informative, if not entirely immersive. You'll learn the famed tenor suffered from stage fright, was shrouded in scandal and left an incredible imprint on the world as a philanthropist. Need I say, no one sings "Nessun Dorma" like him. It will bring you to tears.
CBS Films - Rated PG-13
Echo In The Canyon
More music? "Echo In The Canyon is about the birth of the 60s music sound in California. Bob Dylan's son Jakob produces and hosts. He also brings together artists from his generation to recreate songs from groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys and Buffalo Springfield. And because his last name is "Dylan," he gets some incredible star testimonials with fabulous stories. To use the vernacular, I really "dig" this music. Bittersweet is all the remarks by another fan, the late Tom Petty in what is his final film interview.
Greenwich Entertainment - Rated PG-13
Halston
"Halston" looks at the rise and fall of the iconic fashion designer who started in millinery at Bergdorf Goodman and wound up the talk of New York City and the world. He was one of the first celebrity designers, and they loved to hang with him. His downfall: wanting to provide his free-flowing fashions to the masses through a deal with J.C. Penney. Big mistake.
The Orchard (NR)
