(EDITOR’S NOTE: View From The Pugh is a journalism project from Chris Pugh. Subscribe to his daily newsletter and podcast, follow him on YouTube and sponsor his work)
This week on our movie review roundup, national film critic Bob Garver returns to the mic with thoughts on some of the biggest titles currently in theaters. From Pixar’s latest space adventure to the newest Jurassic World installment, we dive deep into the hits—and misses—of summer 2025.
The conversation starts with Jurassic World: Rebirth, which brings dinosaurs back for another round of chaos. Featuring big names like Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, the movie focuses on a mission to extract dinosaur DNA to cure heart disease. While some suspenseful moments work—especially one cliffside scene reminiscent of West Virginia’s famous bridge walk—Bob found the movie predictable and uninspired. Final Grade: C
Shifting to animation, Pixar’s Elio may not be crushing the box office, but it earns a warm recommendation from Bob. The story follows a young boy abducted by aliens and thrust into an intergalactic United Nations. It blends the emotional heart of Lilo & Stitch with the buddy dynamics of How to Train Your Dragon. Bob found it touching and visually stunning—deserving of more love than it’s currently getting. Final Grade: B-
In the horror world, 28 Years Later marks the long-awaited return of director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. Set in a post-zombie-apocalypse world, the story follows a teenager raised in isolation from the infected mainland. With standout performances from Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes, the film blends thrilling zombie action with emotional depth. Final Grade: B
Brad Pitt's F1 takes the high-speed action of Top Gun: Maverick and transposes it to the world of Formula One racing. Unfortunately, Bob found it derivative, overlong, and visually overwhelming without substance. If you’ve seen Top Gun, or any racing movie really, this one won’t feel fresh. Final Grade: C-
M3GAN 2.0, the sequel to the viral 2022 hit, takes the franchise in a more action-oriented direction—much to its detriment. Bob felt the sequel lacked the original’s charm and horror balance. While the killer doll Megan is still entertaining, the rest of the cast phones it in. Final Grade: C
Bob concludes the episode looking forward to more promising titles coming later this month, including Fantastic Four and Superman. His advice? Skip the reboots and sequels unless you’re a diehard fan, and don’t overlook the underrated gems like 28 Years Later or Elio.
Comments
Post a Comment