Movie & Television Reviews

Thanks to its rich blend of ethnicities, the United States has long been referred to as a melting pot. In the animated romantic comedy “Elemental” (Disney), director Peter Sohn substitutes for that metaphor a fable featuring embodiments of the four elements, using the dynamics of their imaginary world to explore the immigrant experience.

We know, going in, what to expect from the seventh installment in the big-screen franchise, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (Paramount). Namely, a story based on the Hasbro toy line about the heroic Autobots battling a malignant plan for world domination.

Beautiful artwork is one of the few assets “Death or Treat” (Perp Games) has going for it. But that’s not enough to redeem this slightly macabre 2D action game, which otherwise feels feeble.

The parade of Spideys is something of an inside joke and may prove confusing to the uninitiated. But the film overall – which is safest for grown-ups but also possibly acceptable for mature adolescents – is a lively crowd pleaser and will likely be catnip for hardcore fans.

Director Rob Savage’s feature-length screen version of horror-meister Stephen King’s yarn arrives as the above-average chiller “The Boogeyman” (20th Century).

While this chapter of Zelda’s story includes little in the way of inappropriate content, the challenges within it are too taxing for little kids.

There’s nothing shopworn about Marshall’s skilled and sprightly repackaging – old-fashioned in the best sense, it’s a high-quality, family friendly summer treat.

“Mrs. Davis” is not anti-religious in any sense. But it’s clear that showrunner and co-writer Tara Hernandez – along with her principal script collaborator, Damon Lindelof – is out to break boundaries and flout convention in her presentation of faith as well as in her approach to storytelling.