Underrated/Overrated

UNDERRATED

‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998): Now that Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” has arrived to confound audiences, it’s a perfect time to revisit his sprawling and unconventional WWII epic. Released in a gorgeous Criterion edition last year, this film’s left-field cameos from John Travolta and George Clooney can be jarring, but not to be lost is a poetic grace that defined this film as the rare war movie whose lingering impression is one of quiet beauty and peace.

My Morning Jacket’s ‘Holding on to Black Metal’: Halfway through this band’s sixth studio album, “Circuital,” you can’t help worrying if these reverb-soaked Bonnaroo favorites have run out of new things to say since their monstrous 2006 live album, “Okonokos.” Then this song starts. Full of brash horn hits and a groove borrowed from a vintage Thai pop compilation (seriously), its echoing chorus and sea of “oh-oh-whoa-ohs” could become this summer’s soundtrack.

OVERRATED

James Blake: This lauded U.K. producer-songwriter may have set hearts aflutter with a pair of recent L.A. shows, but 22-year-old Blake’s debut album doesn’t live up to the hype. While its laconic take on electronic soul could certainly soundtrack a red wine-fueled night of regret or two, it’s too reminiscent of the xx without a discernible groove and the digitally twisted vocals of Bon Iver stripped of their rustic warmth. Interestingly sad sound, but there’s something still missing.

‘Avatar,’ again: To the surprise of no one, we haven’t seen the last of James Cameron’s billion-dollar blue people. Last week’s news that the sequel will be filmed in Manhattan Beach surely inspired a nation of Na’vi-heads to mark a 2014 release date on their calendars, but watch the original again for a reminder of what’s coming. Minus all those next-level 3-D effects, this film is like watching someone else play a video game, and a poorly written one at that.

—Chris Barton