In X-Men: Apocalypse, an ancient cyber-mutant Apocalypse awakens, doesn't like what he sees and decides to take over the world and destroy the human race, so, the more peaceful X-Men decide to stop him and defeat his team. The cyber-mutant goes to the far reaches of the world to identify, recruit and train what will become his team – and then the battle is on.

Frankly, I have never been a fan of the X-Men series. It stretches credibility that these mutants each of which has his, or her own, unique super power are somehow rivals to humans who lack such powers. And also, as I point out in every review, cast diversity is important and the X-Men: Apocalypse conspicuously lacks diversity. There's Storm (Alexandra Shipp) who is black but even she turns blond at the point in which she comes into her own and fully embraces her mutantism. Also, the other mutants discovered around the world are engaging in noble pursuits, while Storm has to be rescued from a street vendor she has just stolen from.

But for those of you who are X-Men fans, you won't be disappointed. The same plot that makes the series popular are in full bloom here. There is the battle between the mutants who advocate peace with the humans, and those who embrace a more confrontational attitude. There's plenty of action with characters being beaten to a pulp, then amazingly brushing it off and then are up and around in few minutes.

X-Men: Apocalypse gets a split review. If you are an X-Men fan by all means See It! If not, don't bother.

X-Men: Apocalypse is 144 minutes in length. It's rated PG-13 (for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief strong language and some suggestive images)

While nations around the world appreciate the brave heroics of The Avengers, the leaders from the international community become weary of the collateral loss of innocent lives and the massive property damage resulting from the superheroes' otherwise effective crime fighting efforts. The United Nations proposes a new law to curb what some governments see as the group's heavy-handed tactics. The proposal divides The Avengers into two camps: those supporting the regulations as reasonable and those who see them as an unnecessary interference. This disagreement leads to an all-out Civil War, with Iron Man leading one group as a supporter of the UN's efforts and on the other side is a group led by Captain America.

Captain America: Civil War works on multiple levels and it gets a "See It" rating. It raises the very basic question, at what point does crime prevention become criminal activity? That debate coupled with a virtual smorgasbord of action, special effects and a star-studded cast makes this an exceptional production.

They're all here: Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Vision (Paul Bettany), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and also swooping in is Spiderman (Tom Holland).

One great development in the evolution of this film genre is the kick-ass female superheroes. They do battle just like men. There is even humor in this film when two of these globally known champions of law and order ride in a car and argue over whether the one riding in the front should move his seat forward to give more room to the rear riding passenger!

As to cast diversity, Captain America: Civil War, gets a "B". As I have noted with other films, this is a very diverse movie in terms of black and white cast members but not so with Hispanic and Asian characters.

Captain America: Civil War is two and half hours in length and is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action, and mayhem. It gets our highest rating: "See It!"

Lee Gates (George Clooney) hosts a TV show in which he's part, showman, part financial advisor. He livens up the program with visual and sound effects, like hens clucking as he tells viewers "not to be chicken" when he suggests a risky stock.

It's all a lot of fun until a disgruntled and unstable investor, Kyle (Jack O'Connell) storms the set. Kyle lost all the money he had - a $60,000 inheritance from his recently deceased mother – having invested in a stock recommended by Gates. Armed with a gun and vest loaded with bombs, Kyle insists that his complaints be heard by the national viewing audience. The show's director, (Julia Roberts) speaks to Gates through his earpiece trying to keep both Kyle and Gates calm as she communicates with the police. She then tries to appease Kyle by finding out what did happen to his investment.

Money Monster ultimately fails to live up to the hype and promise of its thrilling commercials and its cast which includes Hollywood royalty, George Clooney and Julia Roberts. It garner's a "Rent It" rating.

The plot trips through an international explanation as to why the stock that Gates said was as safe as a saving account and in which Kyle invested in, went awry in total to the tune of $800 million. Money Monster does have some unexpected twists and turns but they are not enough to salvage this story.

The film is adequately directed by Jodie Foster. And the real stars here are Jack O'Connell as the troubled and overreacting but justifiably outraged stockholder and Julia Roberts as the stabilizing and rational thinking TV director.

George Clooney turns in a sufficient but unexceptional performance. In the show's introduction, Clooney does some shadow boxing and dancing - and he was frankly not up to either activity. There was laughter in the audience and those scenes were not supposed to be funny.

Money Monster gets a "B" for cast diversity. (Half black/half Italian) Giancarlo Esposito plays Police Captain Marcus Powell. Condola Rashad (Ahmad and Phylicia Rashad's daughter) is the show's production assistant, Bree. Asian-American actress, Greta Lee has a small supporting role. There are a number of black actors in roles as cameramen and stage crew. The film is set in New York City and ironically, Hispanics are conspicuously absent in this film.

Money Monster is 98 minutes in length and is rated "R" (for language, brief sexuality, and violence).

It gets a "Rent It" rating. It's lightly entertaining but not worth the trip to the theater.

This trip to the barbershop is worth it

It's been a long time – 10 years to be exact – since Calvin's Barbershop last opened. The two stalwarts, Calvin (Ice Cube) the owner, and Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) who has worked in the shop since Calvin's father was owner are back in their lead roles in Barbershop's third iteration, Barbershop: The Next Cut. Common and Lamorne Morris play Rashad and Jerrod, two of the other barbers at Calvin's.

Barbershop: The Next Cut cast from left to right: Common, Cedric The Entertainer, and Ice Cube

The shop which in an earlier version expanded to include a salon for the ladies has also expanded discussion topics from the old list of politics, social issues, and the opposite sex. Those same topics are now enhanced by a verbal battle of the sexes. Angie (Regina Hall) is co-owner and runs the salon. Nicki Minaj and Margot Bingham play stylists on her staff.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is the best one yet! It's funny, dramatic, well-written enriched by great performances. It deals with a catalog of compelling issues: marriage, parenting, dating, urban violence, interpersonal relationships and racial stereotypes.

I am usually not a big fan of films telling urban stories. They often project images with racist stereotypes just as offensive as those that were commonplace in the 1930s and 40s: black characters who are dumb; steal; lie; and who are excessively violent.

This story is about people who range in intellect, values, and goals. It accurately reflects the complex and diverse variety of people in the black community.

The writing is one of the keys to this film's success. The funny lines come at a machine gun rate. Eddie describes the young thugs in the neighborhood as "a bunch of conjugal visits gone wrong". There is the use of the "N" word. And I have always maintained that is not necessary. A creative writer can pen authentic dialogue without using that slur.

The director Malcolm D. Lee takes full advantage of Minaj's "assets". Her breast and butt are on screen so often that they could have been listed as co-stars!

As to our cast diversity rating, Barbershop: The Next Cut, gets a "D". Truthfully, this is not a diverse cast. It is almost an all-black cast, save an Indian-American barber who works at Calvin's and a few white characters thrown in at the end.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is more than just a comedy. It's exceptional filmmaking. It's rated P-13 and is 152 minutes. It gets our highest rating: See It!