We’re cruising toward the end of the year and we’re getting a steady flood of new releases. Below is my take on the new movies in theaters and streaming from last weekend. You can follow all my recent viewing on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The Boy and the Heron (Theaters)
Starring: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Yoshino Kimura, and Takuya Kimura
Synopsis: This new animated film released this weekend. It comes from filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and is sent in Japan in during World War II. Mahito (Santoki) loses his mother during the fighting. Some time later, but still during the way, Mahito and his father move to the country for his new factory. There, he is still grieving the loss of his mother while adjusting to the new stepmother (Yoshino Kimura) who is about to give birth to his new sibling. He’s also plagued by a boisterous gray heron (Suda) who tries to pull him into a secret world. Miyazaki is a renowned filmmaker in the animated space. He creates lavish worlds and stories that pull you in. This latest is no different. It’s a well-constructed narrative with some solid performances and some interesting new worlds. It’s engaging visually and emotionally. This will doubtless be among the contenders for animated films in 2023. It’s an engaging and unique film that is worth checking out, especially for fans of Miyazaki’s previous work.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some violent content/bloody images and smoking.

Leave The World Behind (Netflix)
Starring: Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Myha’la
Synopsis: This latest Netflix film comes from writer/director Sam Esmail. It is based on the novel from Rumaan Alam. It focuses on a couple (Roberts and Hawke), who want to get out of the city for a while and head on a family vacation with their two children. Things don’t turn out as planned. First, an oil tanker careens into the beach where they are recreating. Then, as the city endures a blackout, the owner of their vacation rental (Ali) and his daughter (Myha’la) show up needing a place to crash. Is it a simple blackout? Is it the end of the world? Will they all survive? That’s what the film aims to sort out. There are some good actors and some interesting performances here. I liked much of the writing. There is a bit of dialogue from Roberts in the opening of the film that made me chuckle. But ultimately, it doesn’t feel like it has a full direction. In fact, just as it seems like things are getting going, we’re done. It almost felt for me like it ended mid-sentence. That will likely impact how some people feel about the film. For me, it left me wanting like the film was a little incomplete. There are some pieces that work and some things I liked but it doesn’t all come together.
Rating: Rated R for language, some sexual content, drug use and brief bloody images.

Merry Little Batman (Prime Video)
Starring: Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, Yonas Kibreab, and David Hornsby
Synopsis: Just in time for the holidays Prime Video is releasing a special Christmas-themed Batman animated film. In the film, crime has nearly been eradicated in Gotham. That leaves Bruce Wayne (Wilson) free to be a father to his eight-year-old son Damian (Kibreab). The problem is Damian wants to be a hero working alongside his father. On Christmas Eve, Batman is called into action, leaving Damian home alone. Turns out, the mission given to Batman is a distraction as the supervillains, led by Joker (Hornsby), try to make a comeback. Damian springs into action, but can he make it until his father returns? This is an interesting addition to the Batman world. I love Batman as a hero and was excited for this dive into the world. The voice work here is solid enough, but the story drags at times. It’s a fun concept and a nice little holiday watch.
Rating: NA

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock)
Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, Hector Elizondo, Ted Levine, James Purefoy, and Caitlin McGee
Synopsis: For eight years, Shalhoub starred as detective Adrian Monk on the series Monk. It was a popular fixture on USA during an era when USA turned out several hits. Now, more than a decade after the series ended. After getting through the pandemic with the help of Molly (McGee), Monk is getting ready for her wedding. He also has plans of his own. Monk is ready to be with his departed wife Trudy (Melora Hardin), planning to end it and meet her again once Molly is set and married. But, when Molly’s fiancé dies mysteriously on the eve of the wedding, Monk is called back into action. By solving the case, can he find a new sense of purpose? This film reunites the cast of the show. It’s fun to see these characters back to together again. There are some humorous beats, as there were in the original series, but this is a bit more somber and emotional story. That includes Monk and his plans to be with Trudy. Through it all, we’re reminded of how great a performer Shalhoub is. The story here works and is engaging, but it was the surprisingly emotional nature of the construction of the film that helped it stand out for me. I enjoyed this return to the world.
Rating: TV-PG

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.