Brent Northup

1 week ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"How To Train Your Dragon" (PG)At the CinemarkGrade: BBoth father and son have a plan to train the dragon. Dad’s a good Viking, with ax at the ready to slay the beast. Son prefers to pet the dragon’s nose, talk sweetly — and make friends. So, we have a warrior and a Quaker engaging in a spiritual discussion about how best to treat our enemies. Ultimately, young Gandhi prevails — and the Vikings and the dragons live happily ever after. More or less.

2 weeks ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Ballerina" (R)At the CinemarkGrade: B“Ballerina” chronicles the traditional training of a classical dancer: plie, arabesque, assassin. “Ballerina” is a volunteer branch off the John Wick tree. Keanu has a pivotal, but not central, role in this spinoff. This time, Eve takes center stage. When we first meet pre-teen Eve, she’s clutching her precious ballerina “snow globe,” with a twirling dancer inside. Moments later her father will be killed. The theme is set: Eve’s revenge.

3 weeks ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Karate Kid: Legends"At the CinemarkGrade: C+The seeds of the “Karate Kid” were planted in the life and films of Bruce Lee. So let’s revisit Lee’s life first. I have visited Bruce Lee’s grave on Capitol Hill in Seattle. I admired Lee (1940-1973) not because of his grunts and twirling kicks, but because he walked the walk – or perhaps, we should say he kicked the kicks. Lee was not an actor pretending to be a martial arts fighter.

1 month ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" (PG-13)At the CinemarkGrade: B-That sonic boom heard last weekend came from local movie theaters showing “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.”The film’s mind-blowing budget of $400 million now seems justified with ticket sales surpassing $200 million on opening weekend. Crowds seem pleased, and the body of critics are applauding — some politely, some enthusiastically. Well, I’ll confess. I’m the outlier. I was disappointed.

1 month ago | helenair.com | Brent Northup

"We Were Dangerous"At the Myrna LoyGrade: B+“We Were Dangerous” is a courageous film about young women who rise up against institutional abuse in New Zealand in the 1950s. They had been relegated to an island school for “incorrigible and delinquent girls.”The school was run by a Maori woman. The Matron channeled her own style of conversion therapy, weaponizing the Bible to “transform” the wayward ways of these young women.