Iron Man 3

Marvel has officially moved into "Phase 2" of their multi-film "Avengers" saga with "Iron Man 3".  This is the fourth time Robert Downy Jr. has portrayed billionaire philanthropist turned superhero Tony Stark and he's as good here as he's ever been.  The humor and charm of the character hasn't worn off but it's really starting to feel like he's spinning his wheels in terms of story arc.  There's only so many of these stories that can be told about this character before he becomes stale and it's starting to get to that point.  These movies are feeling more and more like the comic books that inspire them - a never-ending series of meandering installments with no over-arching story structure.  That being said, this is a decent action movie with enough entertainment value to justify a rental.  However, Marvel needs to find a way to keep these stories fresh or audiences may check out sooner than expected.

Bryce **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

Monsters University

One of Pixar's most beloved films gets a prequel in "Monsters University", a follow-up to the hit 2001 film "Monsters, Inc."  While not quite as fresh as its predecessor, Mike and Sully's new adventure is still wildly creative despite its pretty cliche and formulaic story structure.  The Pixar charm is here in spades and there are plenty of laughs to be had by all.  The new supporting cast of misfits in Mike and Sully's oddball fraternity really steal the show and provide most of the humor.  The film's message about hard work and not taking short cuts in life is as refreshing as it is profound.  It may not break a whole lot of new ground, but "Monsters University" is definitely worthy of the Pixar brand.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Ender's Game

One of the most beloved sci-fi novels of all time finally gets a big screen adaptation in "Ender's Game". Director Gavin Hood nails the look of the film and basically hits all the major story points, but unfortunately fails to capture the spirit of Orson Scott Card's groundbreaking novel. Asa Butterfield ("Hugo") is good as Ender but is limited by a shallow screenplay that only scratches the surface of the story's brutal themes. Those unfamiliar with the source material won't know the difference, but this is not a great film any way you slice it. Overall, a decent effort, but fans of the novel will inevitably pine for what might've been.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2