Movies rarely profoundly resonate with me as Pig does: memories of the loved one eclipsing all, and yearning to relive them, good food and music the essentials defining those memories. A pet to love and connect with to ease the pain of grief and loneliness. The main character Rob, soulfully and convincingly played by Nic Cage, has not fully mourned the woman he loved because his pig helps ease the loss and hold it at bay. He feels the same loss anew when she's stolen, so goes to any lengths and suffering to find her. Throughout the course of Pig, fake personas are visibly stripped from the young man who buys the truffles -- whose intellectual absorption with classical music mirrors a subconscious struggle to make sense of his past with his parents -- from his father, and from the chef Rob once fired, as Rob guides them back to who they really are and what's truly meaningful. A one-of-a-kind movie, Pig is heartwrenching, thematically transcendent and ultimately life-affirming. Criticism: the movie is more like short, raw -- albeit deeply affective -- poetry than a full-fledged more involved story with enough compelling crafted drama to make it rewatchable. I rate Pig 95%.

Also the crew time-traveling to the 1980s created a new feeling among fans of the era -- of which I am one -- of affinity with already beloved characters, plus each one plays a memorable role interacting with the others. Along with the environment message, the theme touches on the whales having intelligent awareness, language and emotions -- concepts developing with scientists in the '80s now proven and advancing in 2025 -- Voyage Home as well as a classic is true to the visionary nature of Star Trek.

I recall watching ST 4: Voyage Home when it premiered at the cinema, and laughed throughout with the rest of the audience, though Voyage has its poignant and serious moments, an important theme and social statements. Easily best of the franchise, ST 4 Voyage is a heartwarming, rewatchable, nostalgic, 100% instant classic that remains time-honored, further buoyed by a perfect feel-good musical score. #5 is the worst of the ST movies including the muddled premise and plot. I think every movie needs a little comic relief at appropriate points, but no humor could help this movie, which also focuses too much on Kirk, then Spock. McCoy at least plays a role with some meaning, while the other crew are little more than props. ST The Motion Picture is better than ST 5, yet still subpar, albeit with transcendently beautiful music. ST 6: The Undiscovered Country is entertaining and well-made, as are ST 2 and ST 3 -- superior to mediocre films though not rising above the ST sci-fi movie genre. Whereas Voyage Home is a great movie among all genres.

Though I resisted watching Exterritorial -- family abduction plots wear thin -- think I'll look at it before checking out Leave the World Behind, and The Mule, another movie held off, as Eastwood's Sully underwhelms when it should be most intense, and I heard the same of his juror film. The real Sully story had to be more dramatic than the movie. Eastwood acts in The Mule, though; the films he stars in are usually well-made and memorable.

Not planning to tune in as reviewers warned about Ransom Canyon's soapy romance ahead of time. I only like romance if it's dark, chillingly contentious or part of another major premise. As it is, the soap audience often succeeds in seizing for its addiction imaginative drama and convincing producers to change captivating series to syrup.