The 5 a.m. Critic

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If you were dying to spend another 3.5 hours in the world of Avatar, your prayers are answered. I will at least admit that, despite the predictability and lack of imagination in the plot, it only feels like about 3 hours. My biggest gripe with Avatar is that there is so much possibility and so little of anything new in it, other than the technology to create the film. And, yeah, that's something. My only suggestion... if you are going to watch this, rewatch what came before first. I had a heck of a time remembering a lot of the salient points after the 4 year gap between films. And the script does a horrible job of reminding you of what went on before to get us to this starting point. The movie could have been saved with a bit more focus on the acting. And, surprisingly, a bit more effort on some of the animation. There were definitely some scenes with issues in syncing voice and clumsier movement. But, overall, it is a gorgeously created and engineered world. And while the world is intended as a character, this third installment backs off that aspect more than the previous two in many ways even though it's at the center of the story. If you were hoping for the humans being less stupid this release, you'll be disappointed. Apparently not only do we learn nothing from Earth, we actively attempt to repeat it. Mind you, that could work if humans were well established on many planets, such that they look at some planets as just raw material (regardless of the consequences to the indigenous life). But that isn't the universe of Avatar. Or, if it is, it hasn't been made very clear yet. But the level of stupidity is beyond credulity. So go for the visuals, squint through the plot. There is plenty of action and some minor plot advances. Will 4 and 5 ever be made? Probably, but I've given up trying to predict an industry that is changing by the hour. My life would not be less for this being the last of the series, but it would slow the technical advances in the industry. Remember, Abyss wasn't such a great movie (even the original cut, though that was better), but it did produce Morph, which forever changed gaming, movies, and animation. Such events have their purposes. Where to watch

If you were lucky enough to have friends or a trusted critic to suggest this film, you've likely already seen it and discovered its joy. If not, let me be that person for you. Every good thing you've heard  (or haven't yet) about this film is right. It is delightful, and fun, and clever, and heartwarming. It's a perfect escape that will make you smile without being overly cloying. And it is loaded with voice talent... none of which I'll disclose here, but pay attention and have fun picking them out. And the live actors handle the tone and comedy well. Molly Gordon (Shiva Baby) probably toplines the results, but Nicholas Braun (Freaks of Nature), Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You), and Emma Thompson (Down Cemetery Road) add to the tapestry. Not brilliant performances, mind you, but very much in service to the story. There is a whole subgenre of printed cozy mysteries with animal detectives. Some anthropomorphized, some just as sidekicks. Capturing that sensibility without it feeling like a kids film is no easy task. And you'd not expect such a sweet and silly script from the co-creator of The Last of Us, Craig Mazin. But perhaps having Kyle Balda (Minions: The Rise of Gru) direct helped both the creation and execution. Whatever the alchemical process, the result is simply wonderful. When you need relief from the world, but don't want to go totally brainless, turn this on and relax for a couple hours. You won't regret it. Where to watch

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The little town of Grantchester has been dealing with murder and quiet mayhem in its midst, not to mention a good dollop of personal crises and modernizing culture, for over a decade. In other words, it has been a ride...and it has come to an end. I will say that that the finale season, while fair to the roots of the series, ended up a little imbalanced for my taste. One of the things I liked about the show was how it balanced the secular and the religious. The latter took the stage a bit more than usual for the finale. It wasn't entirely unfair given the character struggles, but it was heavy handed and it lost me for a while during the final moments of an 11 year journey, which was a miscalculation on their part, I think. However, I will also admit that they tackled subjects many of its brethren on BBC mysteries haven't touched since Gently was on the scene. Albeit a bit more quietly. One of the secrets to the show's longevity was the clever construction of the concept. While there was a core scaffolding, led primarily by Robson Green, Tessa Peake-Jones, and Al Weaver (Colette), the center was filled with, over time, a number of different priests. The latest, Rishi Nair (Marlow Murder Club), brought the small collection into 60s and an opportunity for an examination of various social challenges. And each of the core group had partners who's characters got fleshed out in some wonderful ways over the years. While this structure may seem a little soapy, and it certainly had elements of that, the focus was always on the mystery at the center of each episode which kept that sensibility from overwhelming the series. Grantchester was essentially a cozy, but it had enough bite and bravery to elevate it above the simple, domestic mysteries that that genre can become. And the final season works hard to give us a sense of closure so that we don't feel cheated or left hanging in a bad way. Where to watch

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Sometimes you just need a high-octane story with just enough brain exercise to keep it all interesting. At least I do. And it isn't always an easy balance to find. However, Howard Overman (War of the Worlds) delivers that again with an action/spy drama based on the "Fallen" series (Olympus, London, Angel, etc). The streaming series adaptation is driven by clever plotting and some solid performances by two main pairings. Tewfik Jallab and Ritu Arya (Umbrella Academy) drive the government side as unlikely, but solid partners. Each has both professional and personal issues that intersect with the 8 episode story. Opposite them are Sean Harris (Macbeth) and Emmanuelle Bercot. Harris, frankly, steals both the focus on his side of the plot and the show overall. It's a haunting and powerful delivery from start to finish. And Overman directed him to stay massively controlled; a walking bomb with a broken heart. Notice I didn't label either side as good or bad. One of the best aspects of Overman's work is that good and bad are relative and, often, mixed. Definitely the case in this series. You understand both sides, and neither has clean hands. Honestly, I only gave this show a shot because of Overman, but had very low expectations. It quickly won me over, however. It certainly leans heavily on the action, but given its international intent, that's not a surprise. It jumps through several spoken languages, though primarily English and some French. But it also relies heavily on the unspoken, universal language of violence. And the stunts are impressive, without veering into the completely unbelievable. If you like political thrillers with plenty of action, this is a series for you. It will keep you guessing about how it will resolve and also struggling to figure out which characters you want to support. And the next sequence is already in production, which I am looking forward to. Where to watch