The conceit of a new action franchise is dependent on the strength of the story involved. With "Heart Of Stone", premiering on Netflix,Gal Gadot flushes out an interesting character: a spy hiding in plain sight within the halls of espionage.

The intensity of "The Gray Man" is not to be underdone. It is a bombastic tour de force technically but devoid at many points of substance. In a film like this, the key is to play to the anti-hero and keep moving. But even with something to fight for and a lack of any romance at all, there is an emptiness to it.

The spectre of a greater war and where the balance lies creates an interesting parallel of what people are willing to die for and what makes a difference. Noomi Rapace as an actor has always been interested in talking chances and moving against the grain while still exploring basic psychology and physical parameters.

Here Jonathan Larson gets the biopic treatment in a specific way in that Lin Manuel Miranda directs his story and semi adaption of the play "Tic Tic Boom" in an interesting meld of vignettes that sometimes hit hard but are, at the same times, jarring. What is utterly apparent is the magnificent and transformative performance of Andrew Garfield as Larson.

The aspect of big star vehicles made because of a good relationship between partners can either be great or a miss in certain ways. "Red Notice", an uber budgeted action comedy on Netflix starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot has a good concept and just wants to have fun but is that needed for such a large scale film? Yes and no.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has always moved to the beat of her own drum, not adhering to what anyone should think about who she is or the choices she makes. She likes bad asses, understated but also strategic.

In "The Swarm", hailing from France, there is a sense of loss and longing in the character of Valerie (played Suliane Brahim) who is growing locusts to create flour. But like anything...too much becomes overwhelming.

But for general entertainment of the action bent with a genre twist, "Blood Red Sky" does deliver but not overtly beyond its intended means.

The texture of "Deep", a psychological thriller of sorts from Thailand that Netflix acquired is interesting in its mix of new tech, almost "Escape Room" ideas mixed with "Flatliners" and a grounded focus that makes sense.