“DOCTOR STRANGE”
Special effects rule this film. Think Inception meets The Matrix meets Marvel. But what’s important, is how Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the other characters use and interact with the powers in spectacular visuals to tell the story. The mind blowing scenes of skyscrapers folding in on themselves and transforming like huge legos is scintillating. It’s like watching a giant M.C. Escher surreal painting come to life. These effects are a nice alternative to the usual array of explosions and fireballs that are the standard fare in superhero battles. This is one movie where the 3-D effects not only work, you’d miss a lot without seeing it with the glasses.
“TROLLS”
This film is cute, colorful, musical and glittery, but the predictable story line is one you’ve seen many times before. But for families with little ones, it’s perfect. There’s also some humor that will keep parents entertained. Most of all, the music and voices from Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, Zooey Deschanel, James Corden, John Cleese, Jeffrey Tambor and more add a lot to this film.