With this highly anticipated fourth movie of the Rambo franchise, Sylvester Stallone, now in his 60s, reprises his role as John Rambo, an elite soldier helping aid workers reach oppressed people in Myanmar. Plenty of entertaining action thrills fans and casual viewers alike, without allowing the movie to become pointless.

Grade: A-.

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Hayden Christiansen, Jamie Bell, and Samuel L. Jackson lead a very attractive cast in this superhero flick about a group of genetically anomalous kids who can teleport anywhere. The story is fairly predictable and the acting on par with a picture of this type, but the special effects are wonderful.

Grade: B.

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Jim Croce was a one-of-a-kind songwriter whose unforgettable craftsmanship makes his music transcend the decades. This album features thirteen of his most enduring classics, along with his short anecdotes about how they came into being. This wonderful set is essential listening for all connoisseurs of good music.

Grade: A+.

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This debut album from a French ensemble of producers feels like the soundtrack to a very dark, yet deliciously colorful, avant-garde film. It is reminiscent of the downtempo instrumental tracks of Zero 7. The orchestration is lush and the imagery of the music makes this an interestingly listenable album.

Grade: B.

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Bill Evans leads a legendary trio in this spectacular live set of standards, recorded at the Village Vanguard. In the CD release, the grateful listener is treated to multiple distinct takes of three of the tunes and a bonus favorite. Every note of this amazing recording delivers an unforgettable time.

Grade: A++.

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This solid collection of house grooves delivers twenty-five tracks that show off the deep house sound. The punchy Chicago sound is evidenced here a little, but it’s primarily a jazzy deep sound that feels very San Franciscan. Many of the artists here live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Grade: B.

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This Oscar-nominated documentary, originally aired on PBS, examines the arrest, trial, and conviction of the “Scottsboro Boys” — nine young African-Americans accused and sentenced to death for the alleged rape of a pair of white women. This important historical document is essential viewing for anyone interested in civil rights.

Grade: A-.

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Imagine Pan’s Labyrinth without the startlingly original script and without the engaging story line. Mix in a group of characters who are sadly uncreative caricatures who speak and act in clichés and are forgettable in every way. You end up with cinematic junk food, delicious in a garish, unrefined way.

Grade: B-.

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Winona Ryder, Jason Robards, and Rob Lowe star in this thankfully obscure picture about a teenage girl whose lives with her cranky grandfather in the country, dealing with the sudden appearance of her estranged mother. None of the acting performances are believable for a second and the script trudges needlessly.

Grade: C-.

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Clint Eastwood directs an all-star cast in this Western masterpiece, filling the starring role with astonishing realism. With a supporting cast that includes Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris, this virtuoso film hits all the right notes — spectacular script, phenomenal acting, and flawless technique that should be studied.

Grade: A+.

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