The Fate of the Furious:

Don’t go looking for a lot that’s different from the previous seven movies in this high-grossing series of action films from Vin Diesel and company.  If anything, this one takes something of a look back at earlier instalments, focusing once more on the street racing that originally enthralled movie-goers before the stories became law-and-order issues.  We find Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) on their honeymoon in Cuba, with all the other members of their crew forgiven for past misdeeds, and everyone settling in like family.  A big change occurs though, when Dom is visited by a mysterious woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron) who recruits him into some very nasty business that forces Dom to turn his back on his crew.  There appears to be some romantic involvement as well, which doesn’t impress Letty.  Soon, Dom is involved in what appears to be high-tech espionage, which gets the attention of the FBI’s Hobbs, and now the chase is on.  What does Cipher have on Dom?  Old flame?  Blackmail?  Doesn’t’ take long to find out.  Lots of car action, motorcycle action, and some air action too.  Rated 14A.

The Lost City of Z:

Based on the actual explorations and writings of real-life early 20th Century explorer and adventurer Percy Fawcett, this portrayal of events in the Amazon circa 1925 offers interesting insight of several issues – what it took to mount expeditions to previously unexplored regions, the workings of British colonialism and the raising of funds for such ventures.  Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) is Fawcett, and Sienna Miller plays his dutiful wife who supported his ventures, but spent months and years alone at home while he mapped the jungles of South America.  Looking for what he believed to be a lost city far more sophisticated than anything seen by previous centuries’ Conquistadores and later explorers, Fawcett made several trips back to the area, the final one being in the company of his son.  A picture of a man so obsessed by discovery that he barely knows the names of his own children emerges, but unfortunately, I did not find the payoff worth the journey.  And researching the actual story after seeing the movie left me disappointed in the parts that were clearly made up.  Rated 14A.

Smurfs: The Lost Village:

Not a lot new here, even for the most ardent fans of Smurfette, and Papa Smurf, but for those who like the cute little blue people, mostly kids of course, they will find happiness here. The story focuses on the thought that there is a lost tribe of Smurfs out there somewhere, in a lost village … not unlike, perhaps, the Lost City of Z, only much gentler.  An expedition goes out, has to deal with the wrath of Gargamel (voice of Rainn Wilson) and the extreme optimism of Smurfette (voice of Demi Lovato), and it’s no surprise that, yes, there are other Smurfs out there.  Good family fun, with all the right things happening for all the right reasons.  Rated PG.

War Machine (2017):

This Netflix original is all about Brad Pitt.  He's the star, his company, Plan B productions produced it, and it spins a barely-veiled tale of an American general, Stanley McChristal, sent to Afghanistan to bring the war there to an end, who finds himself under fire instead.  Pitt secured the rights to the non-fiction book on which the story is based, made a few changes, likely to prevent lawsuits, and plays the lead character General Glen McMahon.  Supporting cast includes Anthony Michael Hall and Topher Grace, and plays out as a satire on government and news.  Rated 14A. 

Crossing Point (2016):

This thriller stars new talent Shawn Lock (who also co-wrote the script) as one half of a couple on a Mexican vacation.  When his girlfriend suddenly disappears, he learns that she has been kidnapped by a drug cartel who wants him to smuggle a large about of cocaine in order to buy her freedom.  Although the plot is fairly standard, the performance of Lock, who becomes a surprisingly strong protagonist, is worth seeing if you like a good action-adventure movie with a lot of tension. Tom Sizemore also stars.  Rated 14A.