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This week, we feature a sweet family comedy about a bear and his adoptive family, and a World War II drama set in Burma’s steamy jungles.
New Release
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) face trouble when Earth is threatened by Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). The Fantastic Four must rely on more than their powers.
The visuals pop but the heart is missing. Sue and Ben get real moments, but most of the others come off flat. The gender swap for Silver Surfer (from the original cartoon) feels forced and adds nothing. The film is a flashy start to a series, but I’m curious to see if future installments are better.
Action | Adventure | Superhero
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Director: Matt Shakman
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Running Time: 1 hour, 54 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 2 1/2 stars out of 5
Family Pick
‘Paddington 2’
Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is living his best life with the Brown family, until the perfect birthday gift for Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) vanishes. To get it back, he follows a trail of clues, spreading good cheer and warmth wherever he goes.
Fortunately, this effort lives up to the original: It’s a full-on joyride. Somehow, it manages to be even funnier, warmer, and sillier. Paddington still sees the good in everyone, even if his well-meaning mishaps send half of London spinning.
Adventure | Comedy | Family
Release Date: Jan. 12, 2018
Director: Paul King
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville
Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Exes, Excess, and a Wedding Deadline
‘The Bachelor’
Jimmie (Chris O’Donnell) isn’t exactly racing to the altar—until a $100 million inheritance gives him a serious deadline. With less than 24 hours to get hitched and his dream girl, Anne (Renée Zellweger), uninterested, he scrambles through old flames and increasingly desperate measures.
This romcom will make you smile more than you expect. It’s not a comedy heavyweight, but it’s got charm and a wedding-dress stampede you won’t forget. Nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a fairly entertaining watch.
Comedy | Romance
Release Date: Nov. 5, 1999
Director: Gary Sinyor
Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Artie Lange
Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
Jungle Sweat and Grit
‘Objective, Burma!’
Capt. Chuck Nelson (Errol Flynn) leads a tough squad through the Burmese jungle to smash a Japanese radar. They nail the job, but extracting the men goes sideways—now it’s a brutal trek through hostile territory to survive.
The film skips the usual gore but doesn’t shy away from war’s raw brutality. Shot mainly outdoors, it nails that jungle vibe and packs in tense, gritty action.
Action | Adventure | War
Release Date: Feb. 17, 1945
Director: Raoul Walsh
Starring: Errol Flynn, James Brown, William Prince
Running Time: 2 hours, 22 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc
