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Memorial Day Weekend always presents plenty of blockbuster movie options and this year didn’t disappoint. Below is a look at the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Atlas (Netflix)
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Sterling K. Brown, Simu Liu, and Mark Strong
Synopsis: We’re firmly in the summer movie season. That means a season of ambitious, CGI-heavy blockbusters. But, as has been the case for the past few years, you don’t have to exclusively travel to theaters to get your blockbuster fix. In fact, Netflix has an option for those looking to enjoy a blockbuster story from the comfort of home this Memorial Day Weekend. The newest film from Netflix, Atlas, streams starting May 24. It has a star-studded cast led by Jennifer Lopez and including Brown, Strong, and Liu. It’s got a unique concept, a strong look, and plenty of high-octane action. The film is set in an alternate world where A.I. has risen with dire consequences. The first major A.I. creation, Harlan (Liu), gained control over his fellow A.I. warriors and quickly turned-on humanity. It sparked a war and, when Harlan was losing, he and his soldiers fled the planet. Now, 28 years later, the hunt for Harlan continues. But humanity is better prepared. Earth has developed defenses against the return of A.I. soldiers and has better learned to incorporate the technology in its weapons. Yet, Atlas (Lopez) remains skeptical. Her mother—Val (Lana Parrilla)—created Harlan, and the technology. So, as a young girl, Atlas saw just how quickly it can all go wrong. Now an adult, she’s guarded but remains the most dogged hunter of Harlan. When Harlan is discovered on a far-off world, a mission is sent to capture him and end his threat. It’s led by Colonel Elias Banks (Brown), who believes his new technology is the trick to beating Harlan. Atlas is less convinced, accompanying the team. When things go awry, she’s forced to confront her past and this new technology—an A.I. named Smith (Gregory James Cohan)—in order to complete the mission and save Earth. We’ve seen Lopez in many different kinds of roles in recent years, but this is decidedly a high-octane blockbuster. She’s the anchor and focal point, carrying much of the narrative and the big action sequences. She does a nice job in the lead role, and her back-and-forth with Smith is one of the more engaging pieces of the film. The supporting cast does a fine job, too, though none are given a lot of character depth. This is mostly about a concept and the CGI-heavy world and action sequences. Those sequences work well enough to keep your attention and keep the action moving forward. I enjoyed the ride with this film. It’s an interesting concept that has some strong moments. It felt like a solid and enjoyable blockbuster despite being a somewhat familiar concept. Director Brad Peyton does a nice job crafting the story and the action sequences. It moves at a good pace and doesn’t wear out its welcome. This will make for a satisfying watch for those looking for a little taste of summer blockbusters on stream at home.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong sci-fi violence, action, bloody images and strong language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Beach Boys (Disney+)
Synopsis: We’ve enjoyed their music for more than 60 years, but the story of the Beach Boys is long, complex, and layered. As we hit Memorial Day Weekend, many will likely be focused on beach outings and the joy of summer. That makes it a perfect time for this new documentary—which provides the inside story of the Beach Boys—to be released to audiences. The documentary, The Beach Boys, drops on Disney+ today. It’s a chronicle of the band, its music, and the behind-the-scenes tension and drama that led to the group coming apart. We know the songs, but this is an inside look at the story. We’ve gotten glimpses before through scripted dramas about the band and its members. But this new documentary includes archival footage, interviews with bandmembers and fans, and a deep dive into the real story. Through it all, we get a great exploration of the timeless songs that have entertained audiences for generations. The documentary comes from directors Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny, with a script from Mark Monroe. I was moved by the way it chronicled the story and provided insight from the band members, along with recollections from audiences. Coming into the film, I was somewhat familiar with the Beach Boys music. But what struck me in this was the story of the band, their creative process, and the tension that led to its end. There are a number of moments and interviews that are stirring and emotional as we take this journey. The best documentaries inform, entertain, and tell you something new. I felt like I got that with this story of a band I’ve heard but didn’t know. For fans of the Beach Boys, or those that just want an interesting trip down memory lane, this is worth checking out.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for drug material, brief strong language and smoking.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Theaters)
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Burke
Synopsis: Since 1979, George Miller has brought the dystopian world of The Wasteland to life. It started with Mel Gibson as Mad Max, starring in a trio of films. In more recent times, we got a re-boot of the franchise with Tom Hardy in the role. But the real find of Fury Road was the character Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. Now, we’re getting an origin story for Furiosa, one meant to explain how she got to be the talented and driven warrior we saw in the last installment. This one goes back to the beginning, when a young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) is living with her family in a land of abundance. When she’s kidnapped by raiders, her mother (Charlee Fraser) sets out after her. It’s part rescue mission, part mission to kill anyone who knows how to get to their richly abundant home. The second part succeeds, but thanks to Dementus (Hemsworth) and his band of marauders, Furiosa is captured, and her mother killed. Later, in order to retain control of Gastown, Dementus trades Furiosa. In her new situation in the Citadel, after escaping the unwanted attention of Imorten Joe’s son, she makes an ally in Praetorian Jack (Burke), the top driver who makes runs along the Fury Road. He offers to teach Furiosa everything he knows, helping turn her into the fierce warrior we saw in the previous film. This film does a nice job as a prequel, filling in the story of Furiosa. I appreciated that back story and learning more about her and how she got to where she is in this brutal world. The world is still brutal and some of it feels like a bit much. There are some good action sequences, and Miller clearly has a feel for the world he’s building in the Wasteland. I was taken with Furiosa’s story, but some of it dragged a bit as the film runs nearly two and a half hours. Still, Hemsworth is strong as the villain and Taylor-Joy is great in the main role. I wasn’t an incredible fan of Fury Road, but I liked this film a bit better. I don’t think its exceptional, but I appreciated the craft and enjoyed the story a little more than previous installments.
Rating: Rated R for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Garfield Movie (Theaters)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, and Nicholas Hoult
Synopsis: Just in time for the holiday weekend, we get this new animated re-boot of the classic orange cat who loves lasagna and hates Mondays. This time, Pratt serves as the voice of Garfield. We get a brief origin story, where he meets Jon (Hoult) and finds a new home after being abandoned by his father (Jackson). When his father re-appears, it throws Garfield’s new life out of balance, and soon he and Odie are pulled into a scheme. His father’s old partner, Jinx (Waddingham), wants retribution for a failed job that landed her in jail and it’s up to Garfield to help his father pull a major heist. Can they repair their tattered relationship in the process? That’s part of the story and the charm of this film. I enjoyed the back-and-forth with Garfield and his father, Vic. The rest of the plot is fairly predictable. There are some fun sight gags and some great moments for Odie, the secret MVP of the film. It feels like a different kind of Garfield take, which works OK. This is watchable and will likely appeal to younger viewers but it’s a middle of the road reboot of the franchise. You can safely wait for it to drop to streaming.
Rating: Rated PG for action/peril and mild thematic elements.
Verdict: Two stars out of five