Rush Hour 3 (2007)

So, Agent Carter is the actual worst (here’s a Triad for you: racist, sexist, and obnoxious!), and Agent Lee’s straight man doesn’t offer enough in the way of countering his shit this time around, so with the trilogy’s now completely uninspired lead duo, it’s harder than ever to stay engaged with the uninteresting and unintelligible detective plot, especially when Chan’s action sequences feel fewer and farther between and the translating nun is the only good comedy bit worth mentioning.

2

Magnolia (1999)

An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley. (IMDb)

The book-ending narration is unnecessary. The frogs are a bit out-there. But the bulk of this 3-hour epic truly is a masterpiece of dramatic storytelling, as multiple poignant narratives–superbly acted–are brilliantly woven together in both stark and subtle ways, in the script and on the screen (see the swirling montages of tracking shots and an ever-building soundtrack found throughout; the character voice-overs lengthened into other scenes; the unique and moving cross-character sing-along).

9.5/10 (Breathtaking)