Touch Heights

It hasn't been a typical, routine year for going to the movies so far. Release dates have changed often, with many key releases shifting to 2023 because of its safer environment. The number of significant new releases is still slightly lower than usual. Even still, the aftermath of Covid hasn't prevented it from being an often entertaining and occasionally exhilarating six months so far. There has been much to celebrate, from critically acclaimed films like Turning Red and Top Gun: Maverick to virtuosic independent treasures like British chef thriller Boiling Point and Aftersun . Here are our top picks for the year thus far. 1.  Turning Red Uncomfortably, no Pixar picture had ever been solely directed by a woman up until Chinese-Canadian director Domee Shi came along with this endearing creature narrative about a 13-year-old girl who turns into a red panda when powerful emotions beckon. Despite not being the primary part, it is based on her childhood and has many of the genui