Glass:

This sequel to both 2000's "Unbreakable," and 2016's "Split" marks the 13th movie that M. Knight Shyamalan has directed ... and it's the 12th one which has tried, unsuccessfully, to match the outstanding first mainstream film "The Sixth Sense" from 1999.  Shyamalan was 29 when he wrote and directed The Sixth Sense ... but he has never been able to recapture that thrill of an ending that staggers the viewer ... not with "Signs," not with "Unbreakable," and not with "Lady in the Water."  In this film, he brings together Bruce Willis from The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, Samuel L. Jackson from Unbreakable, and James McAvoy from Split.  They either are or are not real superheroes.  And this is either a sequel or an origins film ... we are kept guessing all the time, as we see Willis as David Dunne, a vigilante of sorts, McAvoy from Split in his 23 different personalities, an amazing acting job, and Jackson as Mr. Glass ... all finding themselves confined to a mental hospital because of their apparent delusions that they have special powers. No complaints about the acting and the direction, no complaints about the substance that we get on screen ... but at the end of it all, was it worth two hours and nine minutes?  Well, not really, although I am very happy to have seen the film ... but it's a little like a meal that you anticipate, which looks great on the menu, but doesn't really offer much special by the time dessert rolls around.  Rated 14A.

Replicas:

The first hour of this sci-fi dramatic thriller was beyond tedious. Keanu Reeves, who also produced the film, is Will Foster, a scientist working in a biotech lab, the main project of which is to implant the thoughts and experiences of recently deceased combat soldiers, into  mechanical bodies.  Failure after failure is recorded, and the company's shareholders are on the verge of shutting the project down. When a tragic event occurs that takes several lives, Foster becomes a part of a Frankenstein-like project, working against the clock to try to breathe life into flesh-and-blood clones that have been lab-created.  The early going is plodding but the third act picks up finally, and we now have an action-adventure thriller with a gripping series of chase scenes, and a surprising and satisfying outcome.  This was the worst opening at the box office for a Keanu Reeves film ever!  Rated 14A. 

The Kid Who Would Be King:

In this movie, which is a delightful update on the legend of King Arthur, 12 year-old Louis Ashbourne Serkis stars.  His father is Andy Serkis, the genius who was Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies, Caesar in the Planet of the Apes movies, and Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars.  Son Louis is the star of this surprisingly intriguing story set in London, present day, as his character, a schoolboy named Alex, who, along with his friends, is bullied regularly.  While crossing a vacant lot soon to be a condo project, he finds a sword imbedded in a stone.  Alex immediately thinks "Excalibur" and he is exactly right.  He's also the boy who pulls the sword from the stone, which starts a series of events that begins with the appearance of Merlin, who has his magic chops finely honed, and who is both a boy as well as the older Merlin (Patrick Stewart).  Good thing for Merlin too, because, as modern humanity has become more and more weak, leaderless, and without direction, the evil Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson), imprisoned by Merlin and King Arthur centuries ago, becomes stronger the weaker we all become, and soon her fire-breathing self is on the loose.  This movie is bloodless, but that doesn't mean it isn't full of drama, tension, and great action sequences.  Alex puts together his own version of the Round Table, and soon the boys, and Merlin, are off to fight the good fight.  Great movie for preteens and teens, as well as for adults, The Kid Who Would be King is one of those rare treats that doesn't come along often enough.  Rated PG.

The Silence (2019):

This Netflix original is a sci-fi thriller that has many similar elements to last year's exceptional movie, "A Quiet Place."  Once again, in this film, earth has been invaded by aliens, and like those in "A Quiet Place," the creatures hunt their human prey using sound, which puts those who are deaf and communicate by sign language, at a distinct advantage, also a theme found in "A Quiet Place."  Kiernan Shipka, who plays the title character in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, is that star here, who, along with her family, tries to find a safe haven to wait out the invasion.  Should the creatures ever leave, they wonder what kind of world will be left.  Rated 14A.

The Perfect Date (2019):

Another Netflix original film, we are introduced to Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo), a bright young guy looking for the right college opportunity.  What's missing in his life is a significant social aspect, and when he, by happenstance, has a chance to pick up some spare cash posing as the boyfriend of a young woman who needs his help, he comes up with a big idea - and he goes to work with a techie friend and creates an app that will offer up the perfect temporary boyfriend for any event.  The business takes off, and Brooks finds himself wondering what's next.  Rated 14A.