‘Lightyear’ has some buzz, but inexplicably, this space tale doesn’t soar

“Lightyear” (2022) – Andy must have spent the first six years of his life living under a rock.  In “Toy Story” (1995), his mother bought him a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his sixth birthday, and the young man was over the moon.  You see, Buzz Lightyear – an all-American space ranger donning a high-tech white astronaut suit with purple and green trim and a roomy, crystal-clear dome covering his head – stars as the main attraction in his favorite movie!  Andy’s favorite movie.  Twenty-seven years later, director Angus MacLane…

‘Jurassic World Dominion” introduces chaos reality: a crowded, convoluted movie experience

“Jurassic World Dominion” (2022) – In 1993’s “Jurassic Park”, Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking thrill ride, mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) conveyed doubts about opening a dinosaur theme park.  He contended that the dinos’ behavior and biology are volatile, and Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) hadn’t accounted for all of the forthcoming-prehistoric scenarios.  “See, the Tyrannosaur doesn’t obey any set patterns or park schedules.  The essence of chaos,” Malcolm says and adds, “It simply deals with the unpredictability in complex systems.  The shorthand is the Butterfly Effect.  A butterfly can flap its…

‘The Phantom of the Open’ scores a heartfelt birdie

“The Phantom of the Open” (2022) – Maurice Flitcroft’s (Mark Rylance) sports story can’t be true.  No way.  It’s impossible. It couldn’t have happened, except it did. Maurice Flitcroft, a crane driver from the seaside town of Barrow-in-Furness, England, entered the 1976 British Open without ever playing a round of golf before in his 40-something years on Planet Earth. He’s an athletic underdog of the highest order.  In some ways, not unlike the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team, Rudy Ruettiger, James ‘Buster’ Douglas, or the fictional Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), except…