Blink Twice.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 42 M.
Stars: Naomi Ackie (I Wanna Dance with Somebody/Master of None/Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker), Channing Tatum (Fly Me to the Moon/21 & 22 Jump Street/Foxcatcher/Magic Mike Films), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development/Whip It/The To-Do List), Christian Slater (True Romance/Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves/Broken Arrow), Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense/A.I. Artificial Intelligence/Pay It Forward), Adria Arjona (True Detective/6 Underground/Father of the Bride 2022), Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise/The Fly/The Long Kiss Goodnight/A League of their own) and Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks/Dune 1984/Fallout).
Directed By: Zoë Kravitz (Best Known for her Acting work in: The Batman/Mad Max: Fury Road/X-Men: First Class/Divergent).
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Dark Comedy.
Synopsis: When tech billionaire Slater King meets cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala, he invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. As strange things start to happen, Frida questions her reality.
Review: Zoë Kravitz made her directorial debut with a film she wrote and directed, and she managed to gather a truly stellar cast. Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, The legendary Kyle MacLachla and many more. Above all, Naomi Ackie manages to carry the film in an amazing way, with a captivating, impressive, and very charismatic performance. Since the movie has so many plot twists, it's difficult to praise the other performances without getting into spoilers, but I can only say that the impressive cast does a really successful job here. It's truly surprising to think that this is the first film Kravitz has written and directed because it feels like the work of a very experienced and talented screenwriter and director. The movie is made and structured very well, and it seems that during her years as an actress, she learned a lot from the people she worked with, and her debut film is far from looking like the first film of a filmmaker. A very professional job from all angles. If she continues in this direction, I see great achievements in her future. Although the film is a psychological thriller, Kravitz managed to blend the genre with a lot of humor. There are several moments in the film that will surely shock many viewers, especially with the way they come out of nowhere, and the fact that they are flanked by humorous scenes on both sides is quite unusual, reminiscent of early Guy Ritchie films or even Quentin Tarantino's extreme dark humor. The film's length is very compact, and I feel that its pacing was just right. Although it took a little too long to "get into things," the tension and mystery are built very effectively throughout the film, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat, eager to see and know more. Additionally, the very ending of the story feels a bit odd and even slightly rushed, containing two or three holes and points that raise questions ("how and why did this happen if such and such?").
In my opinion, this is one of the most surprising and entertaining films of the past year. I really enjoyed watching it, but it's important to come prepared for a pretty wild film that's completely without restraint. On the one hand, the movie is full of humor, but on the other hand, expect some pretty harsh things to watch. Zoë Kravitz pleasantly surprises with her first film, and I hope that beyond a successful acting career, she will continue in this direction as a director/screenwriter and bring us more original and surprising films like this one.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26/08/24.
Critics: 77%. Audience: 67%.
Similar Movies: X, Get Out, Fresh, Barbarian, Oddity, Men, The Invitation, Swallow, The Rental, Antlers, Saint Maud, Orphan: First Kill, The Lodge.  

The Crow.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 1 H 51 M.
Stars: Bill Skarsgård (It & It Chapter 2/John Wick: 4), FKA twigs (Honey Boy/Mostly Music Videos), Danny Huston (The Aviator/21 Grams/Yellowstone/The Constant Gardener) and Laura Birn (Purge/Void/A Walk Among the Tombstones).
Directed By: Rupert Sanders (Ghost in the Shell/Snow White and the Huntsman).
Genre: Horror/Crime/Fantasy/Action.
Synopsis: Soulmates Eric and Shelly are brutally murdered. Given a chance to save the love of his life, Eric must sacrifice himself and traverse the worlds of the living and the dead, seeking revenge.
Review: I'm trying to be as impartial as possible about this film. The original movie had such a deep gothic atmosphere that really resonated within the 90s. The current rendition of The Crow is a true showing of giving a property to a group of people who just don't get it. We definitely need to commend those who worked on the film because it's frankly beautiful, and you can tell a lot of care was put into the making of it. Sadly, a beautiful picture doesn't make up for crap storytelling or characters, and this is where the film ultimately fails. You remember in Austin powers when Dr. Evil asks if he's hip and cool? It felt like the studio was doing a vote on what would make the main protagonist "edgy" with giving him a bunch of tattoos' and problems to show he's really in some deep times. This is precisely what they do, but yet the main characters honestly give you little to no reason to care about them because they aren't likable In my honest opinion (I also couldn't tell you the antagonist's character name because that's how little I cared). At the end of the day is this movie a 1 star? No! Like a lot of the other Reviews out there are saying but I believe a lot of these Reviews are written by people with agendas and they want certain Films to fail, I always go into Movies wanting to like them and try to find positives in each Film I see.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26/08/24.
Critics: 20%. Audience: 64%.
Similar Movies: The Punisher, Dark City, Underworld, Existenz, Disturbing Behavior, Queen of the Damned, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Craft, Point of No Return, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant.     

The Union. (On Netflix).
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 47 M.
Stars: Mark Wahlberg (The Departed/Boogie Nights/The Fighter/Ted), Halle Berry (Monster's Ball/X-Men Movies/Die Another Day/Catwoman, J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man Movies/Whiplash/Juno), Mike Colter (Luke Cage/other Marvel Series).
Directed By: Julian Farino (Entourage/Marvellous/Giri/Haji).
Genre: Spy/Thriller/Action/Comedy.
Synopsis: Mike, a down-to earth construction worker, is thrust into the world of super spies and secret agents when his high school sweetheart, Roxanne, recruits him on a high-stakes U.S. intelligence mission.
Review: For a Netflix movie it had big screen action and actors and great locations. Very cool to finally see Berry and Wahlberg doing something together - on-screen professionals doing what they do best, they make it look so easy and believable which redeems the weak script. You kinda wonder, if they are throwing all this money into big names and big action, why wouldn't they do better with the script and storyline? Script and storyline 3/10, actors, action and locations 8/10. So this gets an overall 6. It has quite an impressive cast, but this is not something to watch for deep character development. Something to kill time. I'm assuming it is direct-to-Netflix. Kick off the shoes and travel back to a time when entertainment was meant to entertain. If you want to watch a fast, fun and engaging movie give this one a watch. Halle Berry is her usual beautiful and charming self and Mark Wahlberg is his likeable and engaging self. I was happy to see A. K. Simmons in the cast who is always a winning character as far as I'm concerned. Watch it and I think you'll enjoy it! For what it is don't go in expecting a masterpiece. I was quite surprised by its low scores on Rotten Tomatoes and bad Reviews, I have seen a lot worse but just my opinion, I think I have a bit of nostalgia for like 90's Thrillers. 
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 25/08/24.
Critics: 37%. Audience: 23%. 
Similar Movies: True Lies, Central Intelligence, Get Smart, My Spy, I Spy, The Tuxedo, Bad Company, Knight and Day, The Spy Who Dumped Me, The In-Laws.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. (On Amazon prime video).
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 2 M.
Stars: Henry Cavill (Man Of Steel/Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice/Justice League/Argyle), Alan Ritchson (Reacher/The Fast and the Furious/The Hunger Games: Catching Fire/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 and its sequel), Babs Olusanmokun (Dune Part 1 & 2/Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Eiza González (Baby Driver/Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw/Godzilla vs. Kong), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride/Robin Hood: Men in Tights/Saw), Henry Golding (The Gentlemen/Crazy Rich Asians/Last Christmas/Snake Eyes), Rory Kinnear (The Imitation Game/Penny Dreadful/Skyfall) and Freddie Fox (House of the Dragon/The Great/King Arthur: Legend of the Sword).
Directed By: Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen/Sherlock Holmes 1 & 2/Snatch/Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).
Genre: Action/War/Comedy.
Synopsis: The British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.
Review: Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization; the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations. Some good performances and a good story but it's let down by poor pacing and an almost complete lack of flair. It's feels like an 'action movie by numbers'. If you're bored and want to watch Alan Ritchson play a Scandinavian Jack Reacher going on a nazi killing spree with the help of some friends then you might enjoy it. The fact that it's based on true events doesn't make it feel any more believable than any number of b-movie war films. It *could* have been great but it's a misfire. Perhaps a director who approached the subject more seriously would have had more success. Guy Ritchie seemed torn between doing a 'proper' war movie and doing his usual stylish blokey silliness, and the result is that this is neither. The absolute worst thing about it is Rory Kinear who is horribly miscast as Winston Churchill. He's shocking. He looks nothing like him, despite mountains of prosthetics and he sounds like a northern comic doing a bad impression.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 24/08/24.
Critics: 69%.  Audience: 93%.
Similar Movies: The Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape, Kelly's Heroes, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The King's Man, Jojo Rabbit, The Italian Job, The Hunt for Red October, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Das Boot, Inglourious Basterds, The Longest Day. 

Alien: Romulus.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 59 M.
Stars: Cailee Spaeny (Civil War/Bad Times at the El Royale/On the Basis of Sex/Priscilla), David Jonsson (Rye Lane), Archie Renaux (The Greatest Beer Run Ever/Catherine Called Birdy/Voyagers/Morbius) and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold/Instant Family/Sicario 2: Soldado).
Directed By: Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe/Evil Dead.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Thriller.
Synopsis: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonists come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Review: I hope you are sitting comfortably because Alien: Romulus is one hell of a ride. I like how everything in the Alien universe feels dirty and lived in, everything is very industrial and has a function. The plot is really simple, as it should be. A group of people exploring a space station. Been there, done that. However, I really liked the use of temperature and gravity in this film, those were something not seen much in this universe. And there were plenty of jump scares. I'm not usually a fan of those, but this time they worked well. If you love the Alien franchise, there's a big chance this movie is gonna satisfy you quite a bit... Because it combines most of the notable elements that made the franchise oh so popular across the years. It is of course a product of our modern era (the filming techniques, the effects), while keeping most of the classic atmosphere and tone of the Alien movies...The visual language is pretty excellent overall, with some really striking shots here and there (great framing and composition). Yes it might disappoint some, who have a feeling of ownership towards the franchise, because it definitely expands and explores the lore quite a lot (which is what I personally am looking for with sci-fi sagas that go on and on over decades)... Also, the lead actress (Cailee Spaeny) carries the movie really well, with silent strength, subtlety and intensity. So if you're looking for an Alien movie that uses most of the old ingredients while reintroducing and/or reinventing them, and exploring beyond what we've been used to... Then you're up for a great time !
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/08/24.
Critics: 81%. Audience: 88%.
Similar Movies: Other Alien Movies, Pandorum, The Faculty, The Last Days on Mars, They Live, Sunshine, Species.

It Ends With Us.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 10 M.
Stars: Blake Lively (Gossip Girl/The Town/The Age of Adaline/The Shallows), Justin Baldoni (My Last Days/Jane the Virgin/Clouds/Five Feet Apart), Jenny Slate (Zootropolis/Marcel the Shell with Shoes On/Obvious Child/The Secret Life of Pets), Brandon Sklenar (The Offer/Westworld) and Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting/Kingdom of Heaven/Brave/Dog Soldiers).
Directed By: Justin Baldoni.
Genre: Drama/Romance.
Synopsis: Adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel, Lily overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life. A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection but Lily begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents' relationship.
Review: IT ENDS WITH US, the first Colleen Hoover novel adapted for the big screen, tells the compelling story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly renters her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, and Lily realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.
Wonderful acting, lovely soundtrack, and it just slammed you in the face with emotion. It hits all the right notes and important scenes. A touching film with an important story. It is a hard watch because of the heavy subject matter as it deals with domestic abuse. This Film brought me to tears and is such an emotional rollercoaster of a ride it will definitely have an effect on you. Don't go in expecting a Rom/Com it definitely isn't that!
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 15/08/24.
Critics: 57%. Audience: 93%.
Similar Movies: The Notebook, Anyone But You, Blue Valentine, Revolutionary Road, Safe Haven, Sleeping with the Enemy, What's Love Got to Do with It, An Unfinished Life, Enough, Float, Which Brings Me To You, The End Of Us, Forever My Girl, The Longest Ride.        

TRAP.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 45 M.
Stars: Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down/Oppenheimer/Lucky Number Slevin/The Black Dahlia), Ariel Donoghue (Wolf Like Me/High Life/Blueback), Saleka Shyamalan (First Real Role as an Actress), Alison Pill (Star Trek: Picard/Scott Pilgrim vs. the World/Milk) and Hayley Mills (Tiger Bay/Pollyanna/The Parent Trap/That Darn Cat!).
Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense/Signs/The Village/Unbreakable/Split/Glass).
Genre: Thriller/Crime/Mystery.
Synopsis: A father and his teen daughter attend a pop concert only to realize they've entered the center of a dark and sinister event. 
Review: In M. Night Shyamalan's latest outing, everyone in a large city is in a frenzy. Why? That's because they're up and ready to watch a concert performed by famous pop star Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan). Two of her fans, a man named Cooper (Josh Hartnett) and his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue), attend the concert with high spirits, but things slowly begin to change their tune. Amongst the screams of adoration and sounds of applause, the concert itself has a hidden identity: a front to fish out an infamous serial killer known as The Butcher. With security cameras rigged, armies of policemen with weapons at the ready, and police vehicles surrounding the venue, will anyone survive their concert experience or is there more to The Butcher than meets the eye?
I am really shocked from the low ratings that are given to such a movie, I guess there is a real problem in overall taste... I can admit for sure that the movie is not a masterpiece, and I hate comparison to previous M. Night Shaymalan movies, yet I enjoyed it so much and I was impressed by Josh Hartnett performance.. The movie was quite calm in the beginning and took somehow more time than needed but I felt no boredom whatsoever. Interesting concept though. A concert event evolving around a trap for a serial killer. Think of this Movie as "Silence of the Lambs at a Taylor Swift concert". Trap is a throwback to high concept thrillers from the pre-franchise era, and while it does have some pretty glaring flaws it ultimately results in a fun B-movie thriller.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 14/08/24.
Critics: 55%. Audience: 65%.
Similar Movies: Don't Breathe, Split, Crawl, The Weekend Away, The Killer, Thirteen Lives, Ava, Beckett, The Mother, Intrusion, Locked In, Purple Rain, The Fugitive, Werewolves Within, Ready or Not, Hush, Cape Fear, Green Room, Grand Piano.   

Borderlands.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 42 M.
Stars: Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings Movies/The Curious Case of Benjamin Button/Blue Jasmine), Kevin Hart (New Jumanji Films/Central Intelligence/Ride Along), Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie/Ahsoka/65), Jamie Lee Curtis ((True Lies/A Fish called Wanda/Halloween Films), Edgar Ramírez (Carlos the Jackal/Gold), Florian Munteanu (Creed 2 & 3/Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Gina Gershon (Bound/P.S. I Love You/Killer Joe) and the voice of Jack Black (Jumanji Films/School of Rock/High Fidelity/King Kong).
Directed By: Eli Roth (Hostel Films/The House with a Clock in Its Walls).
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Comedy.
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling videogame, this all-star action-adventure follows a ragtag team of misfits on a mission to save a missing girl who holds the key to unimaginable power.
Review: I will start off by saying I have never played any of the games and I don't know anything about the story which in one way helps as I didn't have any expectations going in to see it. I saw all the bad Reviews and I don't see it as being as bad as they all make out, yes it isn't a classic but it is Okay and Jack Black is only slightly annoying lol. Storyline:  Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home, Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. Her mission is to find the missing daughter of Atlas (Ramírez), the universe's most powerful S.O.B. Lilith forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits - Roland (Hart), a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral preteen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina's musclebound protector; Tannis (Curtis), the oddball scientist who's seen it all; and Claptrap (Black), a wiseass robot. Together, these unlikely heroes must battle an alien species and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora's most explosive secrets. The fate of the universe could be in their hands - but they'll be fighting for something more: each other. The movie is short so it moves pretty quickly, which is good because it keeps things moving, but it's bad because there wasn't enough time for us to get to know the characters. The action scenes were nothing new or impressive but they were still fun because, well, they were actions scenes in a Borderland world. They were not in short supply so if you're looking for an entertaining popcorn movie, but aren't looking for the next great classic, then you'll have fun. It's missing some things, but it still provides entertainment and I'd recommend watching it.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 13/08/24.
Critics: 9% (Erm Okay!). Audience: 51%.
Similar Movies: Mad Max Movies, The Book of Eli, Waterworld, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, Serenity, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, John Carter, The Chronicles of Riddick, Alita: Battle Angel, Dread, Escape From New York. 

Deadpool & Wolverine.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 7 M.
Stars: Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool 1 & 2/Free Guy/Buried/Green Lantern), Hugh Jackman (Logan/X-Men Movies/The Greatest Showman/Les Misérables), Emma Corrin (The Crown/A Murder at the End of the World/My Policeman/Lady Chatterley's Lover), Matthew Macfadyen (Succession/Pride & Prejudice/Operation Mincemeat), Morena Baccarin (Deadpool 1 & 2/Firefly/Gotham), Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2/Catastrophe/Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One), Plus many cameos (See the Spoilers section if you have seen the Movie).
Directed By: Shawn Levy (Free Guy/The Adam Project/Stranger Things).
Genre: Superheroes/Comedy/Action/Sci-Fi.
Synopsis: Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.
Review: Deadpool & Wolverine does not let you get comfy in your seat, the opening action is mega intense. That being said the Film does have some slow points for you to catch your breath with plenty of exposition. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life with his days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. But when his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctant Wolverine. I feel like they have swapped out Josh Brolin (Cable in Deadpool 2) for Hugh Jackman in this one, I think they like the formula of a grumpy guy to play off the Merc with the Mouth *not saying Josh Brolin isn't in this one but I mean as the 2 lead roles. Deadpool & Wolverine is so violent and the comedy is tone perfect, the Film also has heart to it. Deadpool & Wolverine is as exciting as you're expecting it to be. It manages to have the same tone as the previous 2 Deadpool Movies with super funny jokes and a story that will have you laughing and crying. Deadpool & Wolverine goes beyond the MCU timeline, it's beyond even FOX's "X-Men" movies. It's about all the kids who grew up with these movies and these characters. The kids, who are now adults, but still love every bit of it. You know it's going to be fun with these two, but man... I laughed so hard, even my stomach was feeling it. And the jokes... be sure this is not Deadpool watered down in the MCU, it's Deadpool at its best. The inevitable bromance unveiled before our eyes. The story is fine, nothing special, but you feel it, and knowing the past knowledge about these characters and their respective universes makes everything hit the emotions. The action and the visuals are beyond amazing. There are some really, really creative scenes, where adamantium swords and claws create such a mayhem, that makes everything so bloody! The music choices are great and fun, and at times crack you up so much. Hugh Jackman delivers one of his best performances as Wolverine and the Film is packed with great surprises that thankfully don't affect the course of the story. The MCU has been struggling of late with recent Movies feeling very lackluster, Deadpool & Wolverine puts Marvel right back on track. Recency bias is a thing but I haven't felt this good coming out of a Marvel Movie since Avengers: Endgame (2019). This Movie leaves me with a sense of excitement and anticipation I haven't felt from the franchise in a very long time. Deadpool & Wolverine holds nothing back delivering on everything fans want with maximum effort. It is obvious that Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) really had a blast making this Film. Newcomers Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen are fantastic in their roles. Emma Corrin is super menacing as Cassandra Nova. Rob Delaney (Peter) and Dogpool steal every scene they are in, even if I think they overdo the same Dogpool scene maybe a little too much it was funny the first time but then they repeat it I think twice more. If you are wondering which Films to re-watch before Deadpool & Wolverine then I would recommend the first Deadpool Movie and Logan, also stuff within the two Series of Loki. Now with the Cameos, everyone who has ever been in a Marvel Movie has been rumoured to be in this. I know this is maybe not the general opinion from other Critics but I was left a little disappointed, but I guess they never could have afforded everyone. There are a couple of Cameos that I thought were nailed on that are not in this. As all Marvel fans know do not leave your seat until after the end credits have completely gone. 
************************************************SPOILER SECTION (Please do not read on if you haven't watched Deadpool & Wolverine)
************************************************I'm going to get straight into the Cameos, I thought Dafne Keen (X23) and Chris Evans (The Human Torch) were the highlights. I would have loved to have seen more of X23 and I hope we get to see more of her going forwards it is set up so we can. Chris Evans was awesome in his little screen time he got but it is like Deadpool said his eating up the budget. Henry Cavill as a version of Wolverine was a nice little scene that was kind of blink and you miss it. The scene with Sabretooth played by Tyler Mane is a fun little cameo. I was surprised at how big a role they gave to Aaron Stanford as Pyro he did his job really well as the mole for Paradox. I thought Blade (Wesley Snipes), Elektra (Jennifer Garner) and Gambit (Channing Tatum) were a little unnecessary in the Film. I would have rather seen some of the original X-Men, I really thought we were going to get Halle Berry but any of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden or Famke Janssen would have been good. Ray Park as Toad didn't really have anything to do, I don't think he had a speaking part. I also thought that maybe we would have got to see Mr Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) again. When they were attacking Cassandra Nova's base (Giant Man's corpse we got a very strange team up of Deadpool, Wolverine, X23, Blade, Elektra and Gambit. This would have been great to have seen the original X-Men instead but that's just my opinion, maybe the actors were too expensive to get. At the end when we get the Deadpool Corps according to the end credits Lady Deadpool was played by Blake Lively and Cowboy Deadpool was played by Matthew McConaughey but I don't know if they were actually in the suits it could have just been done as voiceover parts. In the Special Thanks section of the Credits Truthful Timmy, the Blowjob Queen of Saskatoon gets a Thanks lol. Ryan Reynolds proves once again he is God's Perfect Idiot lol.
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26/07/24.
Critics: 80% (we all know they don't like Superhero Movies). Audience: 97%.
Similar Movies: Deadpool 1 & 2, Logan, Other Marvel Movies.

Twisters.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 2 M.
Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People/Cold Feet/War of the Worlds), Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick/Hidden Figures/Hitman/Anyone but you), Anthony Ramos (Hamilton/In the heights/A Star is born/Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Maura Tierney (ER/Beautiful Boy/Insomnia).
Directed By: Lee Isaac Chung (Minari/Munyurangabo/Lucky Life/The Mandalorian).
Genre: Action/Thriller/Adventure.
Synopsis: A retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies.
Review: As storm season intensifies, the paths of former storm chaser Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), lured back to the open plains after a devastating encounter years prior, and reckless social-media superstar Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) collide when terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed. The pair and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives. In 1996 we got the Jan de Bont Directed Movie Twister, Starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In 2024 we get Twisters which is loosely a remake of the original Movie with updated technologies, we have drones and Glen Powell plays a famous Youtuber. The Film is really good at sticking to its simple and effective story which is they chase tornadoes. The chemistry between the main cast is off the charts. The special effects are well done and never suspend belief in the disasters happening on screen. The story makes clear the objective from the beginning and doesn't take its foot off the gas from there. It's also nice to see some Oklahoma (I loved the song you can't have a home without Oklahoma or something like that lol.) representation in a major production. However, the movie isn't perfect, of course. Some of the story is predictable at times, characters motivations flip flop, and some of the science in the movie may just be movie magic. Despite all of that, Twisters is easily a summer blockbuster done right and a great time at the movies. So if you feel these types of movies, chase them!
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 19/07/24.
Critics: 77% (Boo! The Critics) Audience: 93% (Much Better!).
Similar Movies: Twister, Dante's Peak, Volcano, The Day After Tomorrow, Into the storm, Supercell, 13 Minutes, Greenland, Geostorm, 2012, The Perfect Storm, Night of the Twisters.

Despicable Me 4.
Certificate: U.
Runtime: 1 H 34 M.
Stars (The Voices Of): Steve Carell (The Office USA/40 Year Old Virgin/The Big Short/Bruce Almighty), Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty/Bridesmaids/Ghostbusters 2016), Pierre Coffin (Other Despicable Me Movies/Minions), Will Ferrell (Elf/Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy/Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), Sofía Vergara (Modern Family/Chef) and Steve Coogan (Philomena/24 Hour Party People/Stan & Ollie/Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa).
Directed By: Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage.
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure.
Synopsis: Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run.
Review: Okay so this is a kids Movie but it is damn funny, Comedy Movies don't seem to get made much today so these animated Movies seem to be where some of the best Comedy is being made today. Yes this Film is kind of dumb but that doesn't stop the laughter. This Film has elements of the Mission Impossible Movies and some Superhero Films, mostly The Incredibles. "Despicable Me 4," the latest installment in the beloved animated franchise, delivers more of the same zany antics and heartwarming moments that fans have come to expect. Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, returns with his lovable Minions in tow, ready to embark on yet another wild adventure. The movie introduces a few new characters, adding fresh dynamics to the familiar mix. The plot, while somewhat predictable, is packed with enough humor and action to keep viewers entertained. The Minions, as always, steal the show with their slapstick comedy and nonsensical chatter, providing plenty of laughs for both kids and adults. However, "Despicable Me 4" struggles to break new ground. The storylines feel recycled at times, and the emotional beats, though effective, lack the impact of earlier films. The animation quality remains top-notch, and the voice performances are consistently strong, ensuring that the film is enjoyable even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessors. Overall, "Despicable Me 4" is a fun, family-friendly movie that offers a good time, despite its familiarity and lack of innovation.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/07/24.
Critics: 55%. Audience: 89%.
Similar Movies: Other Despicable Me and Minions Movies, IF, Migration, Mission Impossible Films, The Incredibles, Megamind, Madagascar, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Monsters vs. Aliens, Monsters Inc, The Lorax. 

Fly me to the Moon.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 12 M.
Stars: Channing Tatum (21 and 22 Jump Street/Foxcatcher/White House Down), Scarlett Johansson (Marvel Movies/Lost in Translation/Her), Woody Harrelson (Cheers/True Detective/Natural Born Killers/The People vs. Larry Flynt), Ray Romano (The Irishman/The Big Sick/Ice Age Films).
Directed By: Greg Berlanti (DC TV/Love Simon/Green Lantern).
Genre: Comedy/Romance.
Synopsis: Marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis's already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, the countdown truly begins.
Review: Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum's, Fly Me To The Moon is a sharp, stylish romantic comedy set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA's historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Brought in to fix NASA's public image, sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis's (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, the countdown truly begins. This Film is really good in parts, Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson seem to have quite good chemistry on the screen. Woody Harrelson steals all the scenes he is in, his role is fairly small in this Film, he plays a character working for the government in a classified role. I would love to see a spin off Film with his character he hints at the existence of Area 51 in this so there is definitely has potential. This movie is NOT generic as some Critics have called it. At all. If the premise of faking the moon landing is not in this movie than yes it's a pretty generic rom com but because that's the entire movie I don't get how this is generic. The other surprise for me was how great Woody Harrelson and Scarlett Johansson are together. That was the secret sauce of the movie. Not just their acting chemistry but the idea of a Nixon enforcer and fixer battling with this con artist type advertising saleswoman is beautiful stuff. It's really breathtaking to witness.
The other part of this movie that provides some fun for all ages is the stuff with the cat in the movie. This is such a cute and realistic use of a cat who just lingers around an area getting in the way just in the smallest way.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/07/24.
Critics: 66%.  Audience: 89%.
Similar Movies: Wag the Dog, Down with Love, First Man, Capricorn One, How to Steal a Million, Moonwalkers, The Dish, Operation Avalanche, Argo.      

Longlegs.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 41 M.
Stars: Maika Monroe (It Follows/The Guest/Independence Day: Resurgence/The 5th Wave), Nicolas Cage (The Rock/Con Air/Face/Off/Leaving Las Vegas), Blair Underwood (Gattaca/Rules of Engagement/Just Cause/Deep Impact) and Alicia Witt (Dune 1984/Last Holiday/88 Minutes/Urban Legend).
Directed By: Oz Perkins.
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Crime.
Synopsis: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.
Review: FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family. Saturated in disquieting mood while leveraging a nightmarishly gonzo performance by Nicolas Cage, Longlegs is a satanic horror that effectively instills panic. With all the hype I was excited to go in and be scared. This was not scary. Very weird. The filming and acting were outstanding.....the story was strange and lacked a strong flow. It's a great original story, not another remake. The scenes are set perfectly to give the set of dread and that evil is around. It's not scary, there are not really any jump scares. But the characters make the movie come to life. It shows you what you thought you were going to see in the beginning and then it makes a turn to something that was always in the background but you didn't want to really take in. Could have been great if there was more information on Longlegs, yes, some background on how we got here . But that is for another movie?
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/07/24.
Critics: 87%. Audience: 64%.
Similar Movies: The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, Zodiac, Se7en, Manhunter, Memories of a Murderer, Humane, The Moor, New Life, Insomnia, Fallen. 

Sleep.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 35 M.
Stars: Jung Yu-mi (Train to Busan/Kim Ji-young: Born 1982/Our Sunhi), Kim Gook Hee (1987), Yoon Kyung-ho (My Name/Okja/Kill Boksoon/SF8), Lee Sun-kyun (Parasite/The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince/Pasta/A hard day).
Directed By: Jason Yu.
Genre: Mystery/Horror.
Synopsis: A young, expectant wife must figure out how to stop her husband's nightmarish sleepwalking habits before he harms himself or his family.
Review: A pregnant wife who becomes worried about her husband's sleeping habits. What starts out as some light sleep-talking soon escalates to unexpectedly grotesque behaviour. They consult a sleep clinic without success and as his nightmarish behaviour escalates, they desperately seek help from a shaman. Sleep has probably one of the best premises for a horror film that I've ever seen. The idea of the person sharing your bed doing strange and sometimes terrifying things in their sleep is almost a *primal* fear, something inherent to every and anyone who shares a bed with their partner: "What are they doing in their sleep? Am I safe with this person next to me?" The performances are also quite excellent; Jung Yu Min in particular carries a lot of this movie on her shoulders and she's absolutely EXCELLENT. I just felt like all the other characters weren't fleshed out enough for me to really connect with them. Korean horror is renowned for its character work, slow pace, and shocking twists. I wish this movie took its time more and did a bit more world building. At a scant 95 minutes, it certainly could've used another 15-20 minutes to do that, and it wouldn't have made the movie worse. However, I can't pretend like this isn't a good time. The film is creepy, effective, and again, just has that killer premise that's inherently good. Is it perfect? No. Could it have been even better? I suspect so. But given this is Jason Yu's first film, it's not a bad debut at all.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/07/24.
Critics: 94%. Audience: 80%.
Similar Movies: Sweet & Sour. Movie, Love and Leashes, What Happened to Mr Cha?, Cheer Up, Extreme Job.

MAXXXINE.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 1 H 43 M.
Stars: Mia Goth (Pearl/X/Infinity Pool/Suspiria), Simon Prast (X/Go Girls/When Love Comes), Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown/The Great Gatsby/Tenet/Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad/The Mandalorian/The Usual Suspects) and Kevin Bacon (Footloose/A Few Good Men/Sleepers/Mystic River/Tremors).
Directed By: Ti West (Pearl/X/The House of the Devil/The Innkeepers).
Genre: Horror/Crime.
Synopsis: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.
Review: MAXXXINE is the 3rd Film in the X franchise, with 2022's 'X' and 'Pearl,' Ti West created two extremely entertaining, wickedly clever horror comedies, honouring two specific types of films. 'X' is a homage to- and pastiche of- 1970's grindhouse tropes, most obviously 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' while 'Pearl' is a like a warped, 1950's Technicolour melodrama, like the cinematic child of Walt Disney and Dario Argento. Both films are prime examples of satire, successfully implementing elements of the object they are satirising without becoming that object themselves. With 'MaXXXine,' the newest addition to the 'X' franchise, West aims to send-up giallo and exploitation films of the late 70's, as well as the video nasties of the 1980's and Hollywood set slashers in general. Taking place in 1985, six years after the events of the original, the film follows Maxine Minx, who is trying to make a go of it in the pictures. After landing her big break, she is blackmailed by someone threatening to reveal her participation in the 1979 massacre. Meanwhile, the Nightstalker roams the streets, and Maxine's friends are dropping like flies. Will Maxine finally become a star, or be forced to live a life she doesn't deserve? Mia Goth's commanding central performance as Maxine is where the film's greatest strength lies. As in her two previous collaborations with West, her intrepid character shows through clearly. Goth is not afraid to go all out and risk being called over-the-top. Surely, after all, with material like this, she's meant to be grandiose? Even in its weakest moments, Goth keeps 'MaXXXine' from becoming uninteresting; remaining a pivotal figure in modern horror cinema. Opposite her, Kevin Bacon is excellent as a sleazy, Southern P. I., making a one-note character arguably the most entertaining in the picture. Elizabeth Debicki does assured work as the director who gives Maxine her big break, though the role doesn't give her much to work with. Giancarlo Esposito is clearly having a ball in the all-too small part of Maxine's agent, while Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale are all but wasted as the cops; getting nothing to do but doing it well. Ti West's 'MaXXXine' is an entertaining comic-horror, but lies in the shadow of its predecessors, which were considerably more cohesive, original and accomplished. Despite striking visuals and a stirring score, its narrative underwhelms, teetering between clever and clunky. Although Mia Goth and her supporting cast- most notably Kevin Bacon- do strong work, unfortunately 'MaXXXine' falls short of exxxcellent.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/07/24. 
Critics: 72%. Audience: 78%.
Similar Movies: Pearl, X, Suspiria, Inferno, Las Vegas serial killer, Psycho, Tenebrae, Body Double, 8 Million Ways to Die, The Witch.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. (On Netflix)
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 58 M.
Stars: Eddie Murphy (Other Beverly Hills Cop Movies/Coming to America/Dreamgirls/The Nutty Professor), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From the Sun/ Inception/ Looper/Don Jon/The Dark Knight Rises), Taylour Paige (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom/Zola), Judge Reinhold (Other Beverly Hills Cop Movies/Fast Times at Ridgemont High/The Santa Clause), John Ashton (Other Beverly Hills Cop Movies/Midnight Run/Some Kind of Wonderful), Kevin Bacon (Footloose/A Few Good Men/Sleepers/Tremors) and Paul Reiser (Aliens/Other Beverly Hills Cop Movies/Whiplash/Stranger Things).
Directed By: Mark Molloy.
Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime.
Synopsis: Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter's (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, and works with old pals John Taggart (John Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) to uncover a conspiracy.
Review: It's been a while but here we have it another Beverly Hills Cop Movie, it feels like every Movie made in the 80's and 90's are getting new versions made of them. The Music in this is a walk down memory lane. This is a decent enough Action Film but if it didn't have the name: Beverly Hills Cop attached to it would it even have been made?  Same characters, same sound track it's absolutely fantastic. In all honesty I reckon outside of the original, this is the best. It was laugh out loud funny at times. A couple of classic scenes included the woman who played the unhinged real estate agent, just brilliant stuff, as well as the hideously underrated Luis Guzman completely dominating his three minutes as the supposed drug cartel Uncle of the wrongly convicted dogsbody. In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Axel Foley is still a detective with the Detroit Police Department. He is older, somewhat wiser, still has the same wisecracking humour, but still the same hellraiser that bends the rules and tears up the streets of Detroit. His boss is his former partner Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser) has now risen to the rank of Deputy Chief. Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills when he receives news from his old friend Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) who is now a Private Investigator that his estranged daughter Jane Saunders (Taylour Page) who is a defence lawyer has been threatened by a group of criminals after agreeing to defend an accused cop killer who claims he is innocent. Axel runs afoul of a group of gangsters pursuing Jane and have now kidnapped Rosewood. The situation worsens when it is revealed that Captain Cade Grant (Kevin Bacon) of the Beverly Hills Police Department is in charge of the criminal organisation and is willing to do anything to prevent being exposed. Axel manages to find an ally with Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who agreed to help him and also returning to being dragged into the mayhem is John Taggert (John Ashton) who is now a Chief after returning to the Beverly Hills Police Department following the events of the third movie it was stated that he had retired. Eddie Murphy did really well returning to his classic role as Axel Foley. It was easy not to worry about the third movie seeing him back in action. It was good to see Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser return for the fourth movie. Bronson Pinchot returns in a small cameo as Serge from the first and third movie. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is always enjoyable on screen and he was good as Detective Abbott who would become an ally to Axel Foley. Kevin Bacon who is the lead villain as Captain Cade Grant chewed up every scene with his expensive snake like charm. Taylour Page as Jane Saunders did well and you could see that she had parts of her estranged father's personality. I really enjoyed Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. I was very pleasantly surprised and I was glad to see that the movie just didn't wring out every last drop of ideas. The movie kept everything going and I had a lot of fun. There was new humour as well as a nod to the original movies by taking a trip down nostalgic lane with the humour that the audience really enjoyed. For all Eddie Murphy fans and fans of the original Beverly Hills Cop movies, have fun with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 09/07/24.
Critics: 66%. Audience: 80%.
Similar Movies: Other Beverly Hills Cop Movies, Bad Boys Movies, Another 48 Hrs, Rush Hour, 21 & 22 Jump Street, The Rookie. 

Sleeping Dogs. (On Prime Video).
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 1 H 50 M.
Stars: Russell Crowe (Gladiator/A Beautiful Mind/L.A. Confidential/Les Misérables), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who/Guardians of the Galaxy and other Marvel Movies), Marton Csokas (The Equalizer/The Amazing Spider-Man 2/xXx/Æon Flux), Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy/Gladiator/Braveheart/Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2) and Harry Greenwood (Hacksaw Ridge/The Nightingale).
Directed By: Adam Cooper.
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Thriller.
Synopsis: An ex-homicide detective with memory loss is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past.
Review: In this gripping crime thriller, Russell Crowe stars as Roy Freeman, an ex-homicide detective with a fractured memory, forced to revisit a case he can't remember. As a man's life hangs in the balance on death row, Freeman must piece together the brutal evidence from a decade-old murder investigation, uncovering a sinister web of buried secrets and betrayals linking to his past. With only instincts to trust, he faces a chilling truth - sometimes, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. This project from writer-director Adam Cooper (writer, EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS, 2014) and his frequent writing partner Bill Collage has been adapted from Eugen O. Chirovici's 2017 novel, "The Book of Mirrors". It's Cooper's directorial debut, and it's entertaining enough, especially if one can avoid comparisons to other similar crime drama films, especially the classic MEMENTO (2000). In this one, Crowe stars as Roy Freeman, a former homicide detective who lost his badge after a drunk driving accident. He has recently undergone an experimental brain procedure designed to help him regain some of the memories Alzheimer's has robbed him of. Roy's apartment has notes posted everywhere. These notes remind him of his name, remind him of his shoe size, and remind him that his Hungry Man dinners are hot when they come out of the microwave. Turns out, it's too late for a note to remind him not to put the TV remote in that same mircrowave. A ten year old case he worked is brought up by a group looking to prevent an innocent man from being executed. Roy has no memory of the case, so he re-visits the files and tracks down his old partner, Jimmy Remis (played by Tommy Flanagan, in a reunion of GLADIATOR actors). What follows is a sufficiently intricate web of characters to keep us interested and guessing. The murder victim was Professor Wieder (Marton Csokas), and the usual suspects include his PTSD-suffering handyman Wayne Devereaux (Thomas M Wright), Wieder's research assistant and lover Laura Baines (Karen Gillan, Nebula in the Marvel Universe), Laura's other lover Richard Finn (Harry Greenwood) who is writing a book on the murder, and a couple other characters tossed in to knock Roy and us off track. It's Gillan's Laura that seems to offer the most intrigue - changing names, locales, and personalities, all while publishing a book on a theory of how 'bad' memories can be replaced with good ones, or erased altogether (think of another classic film, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, 2004). Roy's flashbacks are handled by quick spurts of moments that he struggles to assemble, which allows us to struggle right alongside him. Roy's plight leaves us with the thought that it's possible to find yourself, and not like what you see. Memory is obviously crucial to the story, and for a second-level crime thriller, there is enough here to keep us going until the conclusion. It is very easy to predict where this Film is going but I still enjoyed it.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 09/07/24.
Critics: 39%. Audience: 85%.
Similar Movies: Momento, Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind, Heat, John Wick, The Departed, Drive, Payback, Max Payne. 

Under Paris (On Netflix).
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 44 M.
Stars: Bérénice Bejo (The Artist/The Past/A Knight's Tale/OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies), Nassim Lyes (The Spy/Mayhem!/Birds of Paradise/All-Time High) and Léa Léviant (I Am Not an Easy Man/Savage Days/La nuit rebelle).
Directed By: Xavier Gens (Hitman/Frontière(s)/The Divide/Cell).
Genre: Action/Horror/Drama.
Synopsis: To save Paris from a bloodbath, a grieving scientist is forced to face her tragic past when a giant shark appears in the Seine.
Review: Summer 2024. Paris is hosting the World Triathlon Championships on the Seine for the first time. Sophia (Bérénice Bejo), a brilliant scientist, learns from Mika (Bérénice Bejo), a young environmental activist, that a large shark is swimming deep in the river. To avoid a bloodbath at the heart of the city, they have no choice but to join forces with Adil (Nassim Lyes), the Seine river police commander. This Film does borrow heavily from JAWS, IN JAWS they won't close the beach down and in this they won't close the Seine River down as the Olympics are about to start there. Will this movie win any awards? No It was a full of your standard shark movie cliches and the middle drags a little, but I have to admit I was surprised in the last quarter of the film, and even though I was cheering for the shark (there was just too many stupid people waiting to be eaten) I did end up enjoying the film. I love shark movies though, so if you aren't generally into shark movies then this probably won't float your boat. A lot of action at the beginning and end, lots of blood, heavy dose of environmental message which is very topical. Would I watch it again. Yeah I would. And I'd watch a sequel if that happens too, which is heavily set up at the end.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 09/07/24.
Critics: 62%. Audience: 31%.
Similar Movies: JAWS movies, The Meg, Deep Blue Sea, The Shallows, Something in the Water, The Last Breath, The Reef Strikes, Mako, The Requin, Oxygen, Notre-Dame on Fire, Only the Animals, Furie, Overdose, Acid, The Wolf's Call.     

Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter One.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 3 H 1 M.
Stars: Sienna Miller (American Sniper/Burnt/G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra/Layer Cake), Sam Worthington (Avatar Films/Under the Banner of Heaven/Wrath of the Titans), Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves/Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves/The Bodyguard/The Postman/Waterworld/JFK), Danny Huston (Yellowstone/Children of Men/The Aviator/The Constant Gardener/21 Grams), Tom Payne (Prodigal Son/The Walking Dead), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy/The Walking Dead), Will Patton (No Way Out/The Postman/Armageddon).
Directed By: Kevin Costner (As a Director: Dances with Wolves/The Postman/Open Range).
Genre: Western/Drama.
Synopsis: Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west.
Review: Westerns maybe a bit old fashioned and it will be interesting to see how this does with today's audience. Kevin Costner proves yet again he is one of the most underrated Directors in Hollywood today. I like how he doesn't make a lot of Films, he is more focused on making quality Movies over quantity. The Western Film formula is a path well trodden so this Film isn't anything new really but it is so well made you have to admire the Filmmaking. Explore the lure of the Old West and how it was won-and lost-through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, embark on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America. It's important to approach this film as a multipart series and this first film, while long and slow in places, is basically the character introduction phase of multiple simultaneous plot lines. I found the soundtrack to be interesting and the locations and cinematography to be outstanding, one can see how carefully each location was chosen and how diverse the locations are. There is a bit of commentary on long-standing social issues, i.e., were the Indians noble savages or cold-blooded killers of the white settlers? But not too heavy-handed, and I really felt that all the characters were treated by the script in a fair and balanced manner, in fact I was a bit surprised that I wasn't inundated with modern messages. It is a little unusual that Chapter Two comes out in around 3 Months (the planned release date is Aug. 16th), Films have been shot at the same time before but they usually make you wait at least a Year before getting the next part, I will keep an eye out as this could easily change and the release date could move. But we are definitely getting more of these Horizon Movies, Part Three is said to be Filming now and Part Four is also in the works. There are a lot of characters in Chapter One, I would say Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington probably were the standout performances for me. Kevin Costner's character comes into this Film about half way through and is very important to the plot of this and I predict the Films going forward, also at the end we get a glimpse of some of the new characters to come in Chapter Two. 
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 29/06/24.
Critics: 40% (So Low?).  Audience: 68%. 
Similar Movies: News of the World, The Harder They Fall, Deadwood: The Movie, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Concrete Cowboy, First Cow, The Old Way, Desperate Riders.     

A Quiet Place: Day One.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 40 M.
Stars: Lupita Nyong'o (Black Panther/US/12 Years a Slave/Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things/Dickensian/Overlord), Alex Wolff (Hereditary/Pig/Patriots Day), Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator/Blood Diamond/Guardians of the Galaxy/Amistad).
Directed By: Michael Sarnoski (Pig/Fight Night Legacy).
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Sci-Fi/Drama.
Synopsis: A woman named Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages of an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing.
Review: Experience the day the world went quiet. This Film goes back and tells the story of the day the Alien Creatures came from the sky and the world went Quiet! It started out like you would want to see an origin story start out; strong entry for our monsters and strong character introductions with solid acting. You have a mystery surrounding her drive to get... well.... pizza. It sounds weird but you can assume there is a story behind it. Unfortunately, it becomes the only story as the movie progresses. The monsters and their catastrophic effect on the world start out beautifully. They bombard Manhattan and begin their attack. The city is full of dust from the impacts making it more terrifying because all you hear is screaming. It's scary and tense up through the next big scene with the people quietly walking the streets. Sadly, this is where things start to go wrong with the script. The aliens attack, of course, but it's glossed over. Frankly, the story of the aliens is completely ignored from here on out which is the rub. The aliens are left to uselessly run around chasing helicopters which are often times off screen. They struck me more like dogs chasing ambulances than the monsters we feared during the first two movies. Everything that happens with the aliens after the initial invasion exists only to further our main character's story arc; to get pizza. When you have an origin story, it has to be about the origin of the main story. Not about some character that has no history to the main story. The monsters and the world as a whole take a huge back seat halfway through the movie and that is where they are left. They become useless props that ultimately have no real effect on the story. There's no revelation to the story which this series is known for. This movie simply borrows on what has already been revealed in the first two movies and gives nothing in return. Honestly, the characters in this movie could've been cut and pasted into any other movie and nothing would've changed for them. Like I said before, the acting was solid and I was invested in the characters (yes, especially the cat). However, I was looking for an origin story to A Quiet Place, not an independent drama where the monsters are left to their own quiet place in the background. I did enjoy this Movie and I think fans of the franchise will get a kick out of it. Not sure if you haven't seen the other Quiet Place Movies that this would be a good place to start from, I feel like the other 2 Movies are much stronger than this one.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 29/06/24.
Critics: 84%. Audience: 72%.
Similar Movies: A Quiet Place and Part Two, Cloverfield, 28 Days Later, Don't Breathe, Crawl, 65, Bird Box, US, Annihilation, The Others, Edge of Tomorrow, Prey, No One Will Save You.   

Kinds of Kindness.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 2 H 44 M.
Stars: Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad/Civil War/The Irishman/The Power of the Dog), Emma Stone (Poor Things/Cruella/The Favourite/La La Land/The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man Films/The Lighthouse/At Eternity's Gate/Poor Things), Hong Chau (The Whale/The Menu/Downsizing), Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls/Poor Things/Maid) and Mamoudou Athie (The Burial/The Front Runner/Unicorn Store).
Directed By: Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things/The Lobster/The Killing of a Sacred Deer/The Favourite).
Genre: Drama/Comedy.
Synopsis: A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.
Review: I found this Film to be quite complicated, it's truly a surreal experience. It is split into kind of 3 short Movies, each part is very different and has the same actors in playing different parts. I'm not sure if this Film will be that well received by a General audience it is quite arty and something that could do well at next Year's awards. Emma Stone could pick up another oscar for this it wouldn't be a surprise although it would have to be Best Supporting Actress as I don't believe she is in it enough for the Best Actress category, Jesse Plemons is the main focus of the Movie or Movies depending on how you view it and he is very good in this. I thought the best scene in this Movie was right at the end with Emma Stone dancing (it is in the trailer so I don't consider this a spoiler)  This describes the 3 parts of this Film well: A triptych fable, following a man without choice (Jesse Plemons) who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman (also Jesse Plemons) who is alarmed that his wife (Emma Stone) who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman (Also Emma Stone) determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader. The idea to create an anthology movie was brilliant and effective. Three stories with a thinly visible thematic connection, offer an almost 3hr long journey through Lanthimos' wide and wild imagination. The gore is generously poured all over the place, sometimes for serving a cause... or just for fun. The string that ties all three stories though, is the robust essence of decay that modern human relationships strongly consist of. The idea of manipulation, blind dedication, enslavement of someone's free will, greedy desires, hypocrisy and lack of empathy are so blatantly obvious, that it's really hard to not notice. It's this slowly rotting world that keeps these phenomenally separate stories together, and I'm here for it! The first part, tells the story of an employee so ridiculously castrated by his hyper-manipulative boss, to the point where the lines between obedience and free will, seem to be devoured by a psychotic love triangle. The second tells the tale of a police officer, who rejoins his wife, who almost lost her life in a tragic accident. She's welcomed home and everything seems to go back to normal, but something seems off... And lastly, the third and final part of the anthology is about an absurd, muscle car driving, sex cult and their desire to find the "higher human" who can grant life through his touch. All these short, sexually charged stories, beautifully shot and directed, offer a great time at the movies; an experience like no other. I don't believe this Movie will be for everyone it is a little strange in parts and not the easiest to follow.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 29/06/24.
Critics: 73%. Audience: 58%.
Similar Movies: Cloud Atlas, Saltburn, Finch, CODA, Poor Things, Leave the World Behind, Fancy Dance, Drive Away Dolls, Hustle, The Unforgivable, Turtles All the Way Down.   

The Bikeriders.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 56 M.
Stars: Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road/Venom 1 & 2/The Dark Knight Rises/Inception), Jodie Comer (Killing Eve/The Last Duel/Free Guy), Austin Butler (Dune Part 2/Elvis/Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood), Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water/Boardwalk Empire/Midnight Special), Mike Faist (Challengers/West Side Story), Boyd Holbrook (Logan/Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny/The Sandman), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead).
Directed By: Jeff Nichols.
Genre: Crime/Drama.
Synopsis: After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
Review: A Very Good Film, but not one for the squeamish, it has a couple of scenes of very graphic violence that caught me and the audience I watched it with a little by surprise (judging by the sharp intaking of breath). Two of the lead Actors in this give Very good likenesses of Hollywood greats, Tom Hardy reminds me of young Marlon Brando and Austin Butler gives off definite James Dean vibes. Jodie Comer is also absolutely outstanding in this and shows yet again that she is the ascents Queen. The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club. 'The Bikeriders' was the name of the 1967 photo-book by Danny Lyon but always intended as a working title during production. However nobody could think of anything better so the name was kept for the release. The Bikeriders is a magnetic exploration of loyalty, violence, and the burden of leadership. Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy deliver captivating performances, making this film a thrilling ride through the gritty world of motorcycle gangs. This is a phenomenal period piece with a unique and compelling storyline, especially when you realize it is based on a true story. The narration, cinematography, attire, acting, and soundtrack are all top-notch. There's also an excellent use of a shovel that was memorable. The film immerses you in the era. The cast was brilliantly selected and delivers authentic, compelling performances. Norman Reedus adds a fun character to the mix. The storyline becomes more compelling as the film unfolds, and the Vietnam subplot is handled excellently. The ending feels realistic in its dramatic execution and in the evolution of the characters and gang.
In conclusion, The Bikeriders is a magnificently crafted film with a unique storyline, excellent cinematography, and compelling performances. I strongly recommend this Film.
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 24/06/24.
Critics: 81%. Audience: 75%.
Similar Movies: Easy Rider, The Wild One, The Wild Angels, On Any Sunday, The Loveless, Akira, Roadside Prophets, The Motorcycle Diaries, 12 O’Clock Boys. 

Inside Out 2.
Certificate: U.
Runtime: 1 H 36 M.
Stars (The Voices Of): Amy Poehler (Inside Out/Saturday Night Live/Parks and Recreation/Baby Mama), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things/Do Revenge/Fear Street: Part One - 1994/Maestro/Asteroid City), Kensington Tallman (Home Sweet Rome/Drama Club/That Girl Lay Lay), Lewis Black (Jacob's Ladder/Accepted/Man of the Year), Phyllis Smith (The Office USA/Inside Out/Bad Teacher).
Directed By: Kelsey Mann.
Genre: Animation/Family/Comedy/Adventure.
Synopsis: Follows Riley, in her teenage years, encountering new emotions.
Review: I really recommend if you haven't seen the first Inside Out Movie that you watch it before you see Inside Out 2. Riley ( Kensington Tallman) has just reached her teens (13th Birthday) Joy (Amy Poehler) and the other four emotions from the first Movie think they have everything under control. But then 5 other emotions start to turn up. Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who've long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren't sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she's not alone. lead by Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and they take over and imprison the older emotions. Of the new emotions that turn up I really liked Nostalgia (June Squibb) who is this dottery old lady who keeps showing up and the other emotions have to keep telling her not yet! Envy (Ayo Edebiri) is so cute lol it is the turquoise one in the picture with the big eyes. Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is like a teenage who is always ready with a sarcastic comment, top left of the poster on his phone. Embarrassment ( Paul Walter Hauser) is the big pink guy holding his head in the top right of the poster.
Riley is about to go to high school but the story focuses on her preparation to officially join the FogHorn Hockey team. As the story progresses, Riley finds herself challenged with her hopes to join the team. Her friendship was wounded, her emotions went all over the place and the pressure got into her head. But eventually, everything goes into their proper places. This sequel film may be animated and made for kids but as an adult, it just hits differently. I can say that this film was partially made for adults and for anyone who is in a bad mental situation. It reminds its viewers how growing older can be tough, how overthinking affects everything else, how decisions that are made today may affect what's next. But it is also a strong reminder that problems, fear, worries and anxieties will come. They are all inevitable but everything will pass. Take a deep breath, stay calm and do not overstress everything. Having a calm mind also affects the way we think. We may feel pressure at any given time but we have to sit back and relax. Inside Out 2 is a great film. Every audience will have a different way of enjoying this.
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 23/06/24.
Critics: 91%. Audience: 96%.
Similar Movies: Inside Out, IF, UP, Toy Story Movies, Turning Red, Soul, Luca, Bombay Rose, Coco, Brave, Elemental, Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 55 M.
Stars: Will Smith (Men in Black/Independence Day/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air/King Richard), Martin Lawrence (Big Momma's House/Other Bad Boys Films), Vanessa Hudgens (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island/Beastly/Spring Breakers/High School Musical 3: Senior Year), Alexander Ludwig (Vikings/The Hunger Games), Paola Núñez (The Son/The Purge), Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy/The Last Ship/X-Men: The Last Stand), Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four 2005/Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer/Titanic/King Arthur), Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), Joe Pantoliano (Bad Boys Movies/The Matrix/Memento/The Fugitive).
Directed By: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
Genre: Action/Comedy/Adventure.
Synopsis: When their former captain is implicated in corruption, two Miami police officers have to work to clear his name.
Review: When I heard they were making another Bad Boys Movie I wasn't very interested and I thought it's time had come and gone. When I saw it I have to say I loved it, I really wasn't expecting the Music and score to give me the massive chills and nostelgia buzz. Throughout his career I have never been a big fan of Martin Lawrence but I have to say he is great in this, he got all the funniest lines. Will Smith still has that air of a big Movie Star about him, he kind of plays a straight man for Lawrence to bounce off/of. The fourth entry in the revitalised buddy cop, action, comedy franchise. Bad Boys: Ride or Die sees wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) embark on a dangerous mission to clear the name of their late police captain when he gets linked to drug cartels. Miami looks beautiful with the Orange and Teal tones. The two lead characters really are great and they play off each other so well. And even if they wrote something in the script that was so-so, you know you've got a couple of great actors who will make it work. There were a couple of lines in this movie where I thought to myself, on paper that probably wasn't all that funny, but they found a delivery that got a chuckle out of me. There's everything you could want out of a 'Bad Boys' movie in this one. The action is there, the laughs are there, there's a great menacing villain and there are some fun side characters to help carry the load. We are four movies into the series and have yet to see a drop-off in standard whatsoever.
My Rating: 8/10. 
Rotten Tomatoes: 07/06/24.
Critics: 65%. Audience: 97%.
Similar Movies: Other Bad Boys Movies, Other Bruckheimer & Michael Bay Movies, John Wick Movies, National Security, Blue Streak, Rush Hour Films, The Last Boy Scout, Ride Along, Bulletproof.

The Watched.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 42 M.
Stars: Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer 3/Twilight Movies/Man On Fire), Georgina Campbell (Bird Box: Barcelona/Barbarian), Olwen Fouéré (Tarot/The Northman/Mandy), Oliver Finnegan (Outlander/We Are Lady Parts).
Directed By: Ishana Shyamalan.
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Fantasy.
Synopsis: A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
Review: Really atmospheric Horror, which has a good story with a few twists. This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams. Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn't reach the bunker in time. The creatures are amazing, I always like Horror when you don't actually see the Monsters and it is all in your head and done with sounds off the camera. Eventually they do show you the Monsters in this which I guess needed to happen for how the story went. It is a little confusing because in some countries I believe the title for this Movie is The Watchers which is the title of A.M. Shine's book The Watchers which is what this Film is based off.  "The Watchers" provides an interesting premise at face value. Horror movies that involve a twist on folk stories accompanied with an eerie location usually pair well together and in this case, it does. But honestly I quite liked it. First of all, it's not super scary but it's moody and it has its quite unsettling moments. Sound design is top notch. The story is sufficient but also interesting, in general the movie keeps you hooked till the ending. The film's greatest strength lies in its initial setup. The dense, uncharted forest evokes a sense of primal unease, and the concept of unseen entities lurking just beyond the window is undeniably creepy. Ishana Shyamalan keeps the creatures shrouded in shadow for a good portion of the film, relying on suggestion and flickering lights to build tension. This approach is reminiscent of classic monster movies like Alien or Jaws, where the unseen threat is often more terrifying than a fully revealed one. The Watchers is a promising debut from Ishana Night Shyamalan. It showcases a clear understanding of suspense-building and a willingness to experiment with genre tropes. If you're a fan of slow-burn horror with a dose of mystery, this might be worth a watch. But if you're expecting a truly terrifying experience, you might want to look elsewhere. It's an intriguing film with a great central premise.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 07/06/24.
Critics: 30%. Audience: 51%.
Similar Movies: Disturbia, Rear Window, Blue Velvet, A Knock at the Cabin, Fright Night, The Burbs, Blow Out.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 28 M.
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit/The Witch/The Super Mario Bros. Movie/Peaky Blinders/Last Night in Soho/The Northman), Chris Hemsworth (Thor in Marvel Films/Snow White and the Huntsman/Star Trek 2009), Tom Burke (The Musketeers/Mank/The Wonder/The Souvenir), Alyla Browne (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart/Nine Perfect Strangers/Three Thousand Years of Longing/True Spirit), Lachy Hulme (Offspring/Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story), Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road/Fargo Series/The Lincoln Lawyer Series/Where the Wild Things Are), Nathan Jones (Mad Max: Fury Road/Fearless/Warrior King).
Directed By: George Miller.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure.
Synopsis: The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and team up with Mad Max.
Review: The latest instalment from the Mad Max franchise and it's creator George Miller. The vehicles, action and atmosphere are so uniquickly Mad Max and George Miller, I don't think this style can be mistaken for anything else. The Action is Furious in this! The first Hour of this Movie we get a younger actress playing Furiosa: Alyla Browne, she does an amazing job building up the back story for Anya Taylor Joy to take over as an older Furiosa. Anya Taylor-Joy only has about 30 lines of dialogue in the film. Speaking to the New York Times, Taylor-Joy said that she would often spend months on set without having spoken one line, explaining, "I've never been more alone than making that movie. I don't want to go too deep into it, but everything that I thought was going to be easy was hard. I do want to 100% preface this by saying I love George and if you're going to do something like this, you want to be in the hands of someone like George Miller. But he had a very, very strict idea of what Furiosa's war face looked like, and that only allowed me my eyes for a large portion of the movie. It was very much 'mouth closed, no emotion, speak with your eyes.' That's it, that's all you have." She added, "there's one scream in that movie, and I am not joking when I tell you that I fought for that scream for 3 months. With George it's a long game." Miller revealed the reason for Furiosa having little dialogue was simple - for him, movies should be fast. He believes that dialogue slows them down. The Film is split into Chapters which makes the story so easy to follow. Mad Max isn't in this Movie. Furiosa ends when 2015's Fury Road begins loosely. As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home. I found Chris Hemsworth's Over the top acting in this a bit cheesy and slightly annoying. The film's action sequences are nothing short of spectacular. Miller's direction ensures that every chase, fight, and explosion is not only thrilling but also coherent and impactful. The practical effects and stunts are awe-inspiring, creating a visceral experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Visually, "Furiosa" is a masterpiece. The cinematography and production design transport viewers to a desolate yet strangely beautiful wasteland, where every frame is meticulously crafted to immerse the audience fully. The score, too, complements the film perfectly, enhancing the tension and emotional beats with its powerful compositions. Beyond the action, "Furiosa" offers a compelling story of resilience, rebellion, and redemption. It delves into the origins of one of the franchise's most iconic characters, providing a rich backstory that fans will find deeply satisfying. The film balances its high-octane sequences with moments of genuine character development and emotional resonance. Overall, "Furiosa" is a triumphant return to the world of Mad Max. It's a must-watch for fans of the series and a standout action film in its own right, combining breathtaking action, strong performances, and a gripping narrative to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.     
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26/05/24.
Critics: 89%. Audience: 91%.
Similar Movies: Other Mad Max Movies particularly Fury Road, Children of Men, Waterworld, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Road, The Book of Eli, Doomsday.

The Strangers: Chapter 1.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 31 M.
Stars: Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale/Sightless), Ryan Bown (Everything I Know About Love/Perfect Addiction/Home and Away), Matus Lajcak (Known for his Stunt work), Richard Brake (Game of Thrones/Kingsman: The Secret Service/Hannibal Rising/Doom/31).
Directed By: Renny Harlin.
Genre: Horror.
Synopsis: After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.
Review: Seemed to me to be very generic Horror Movie that we have all probably seen hundreds of times. I guess you can say this about any type of Genre Movie and by bias against Horror Movies maybe colours my opinion a bit. I guess they are banking on this being a hit as the Director Renny Harlin simultaneously filmed all three films of this trilogy at the same time. Even though it is in the title that it is Chapter 1, when it ended and said To Be Continued I did let out a bot of a groan saying you can't end there! Which I guess means I was more invested in the Film than what I thought. The Strangers: Chapter 1' embarks on a journey to rekindle the chilling essence of its predecessor, yet it stumbles into the abyss of the overexploited home-invasion genre. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film attempts to lay the groundwork for a new prequel trilogy but does so with a palpable lack of originality and an overreliance on worn-out tropes. The narrative follows Maya and Ryan, portrayed by Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez, whose road trip takes a detour into terror. Stranded in a remote Airbnb, they become the prey of the franchise's notorious masked antagonists. While the setting is ripe for tension and fear, the execution falls short, with the film succumbing to predictable jump scares and a script that lacks the subtlety required for a truly harrowing experience. The performances, while earnest, are hindered by characters that are crafted more as archetypes than as fleshed-out individuals, leading to decisions that serve plot convenience over logical storytelling. The antagonists, once symbols of random and unfathomable violence, are now reduced to mere shadows of their former selves, lacking the enigmatic terror that once haunted viewers. In its endeavor to pay homage to the original, 'The Strangers: Chapter 1' instead echoes its scenes and dialogues without capturing the same suspenseful atmosphere. It's a cinematic paradox; a film that is both a retread and a step backward, leaving audiences with a sense of déjà vu rather than dread. In conclusion, 'The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a reminder that many efforts of success is to revive a franchise that perhaps should have been left undisturbed. It serves as a reminder that not all chapters are worth revisiting, but especially when the story has nothing new to say. Chapter 2 here it comes...
My Rating: 4/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 25/05/24.
Critics: 20%. Audience: 43%.
Similar Movies: The Strangers, A knock at the cabin, Who invited them, Open 24 Hours, He's watching, Cabin 28, No Exit, Somewhere Quiet, Hush , The Purge , You 're Next , The Collector, Eden Lake, Killing Ground, Wolf Creek.

IF.
Certificate: U.
Runtime: 1 H 44 M.
Stars: Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool/Free Guy/Buried/The Adam Project), John Krasinski (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan/The Office USA/A Quiet Place), Cailey Fleming (The Walking Dead/Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens/Preacher), Voices Of: Steve CarelL (The Office USA/The Big Short/The 40 Year-Old Virgin), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag/Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny/Solo: A Star Wars Story/Killing Eve), Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman/Roots/Enemy Mine), Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer/Mary Poppins Returns/Edge of Tomorrow/The Devil Wears Prada), Matt Damon (The Departed/Good Will Hunting/The Martian/The Talented Mr. Ripley), Jon Stewart (Chat Show Host), Sam Rockwell (Argylle/Moon/Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Awkwafina (The Little Mermaid/Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings/Quiz Lady).
Directed By: John Krasinski (See Above).
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Drama.
Synopsis: A young girl who goes through a difficult experience begins to see everyone's imaginary friends who have been left behind as their real-life friends have grown up.
Review: I was very impressed with some of the acting, John Krasinski and Fiona Shaw are delightful in particular and the stacked cast is a wonder of "I know that voice" all of which are charming. But it seemed the key function of pairing imaginary friends with kids to be a very child friendly line. The way it takes it in reality is far more adult while still being a little confusing. I got about 70 minutes into this film and started wondering why, if anything other than a 1 sentence summary John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds had said this was a live action Pixar filmhttps://uk.movies.yahoo.com/movies/exclusive-john-krasinski-addresses-pixar-221100472.html?guccounte... . During the first Hour I was confused about the vast demographics the film was trying to appeal to. Maybe there could've been some improvements there. Once the 2nd act started, I slowly started to find myself more and more invested in the characters. However, I was still questioning potential plot holes in the story and the films demographic. During the 3rd act, it really tied itself together and started to make a lot more sense. I want to rewatch it knowing how well it ends, similar to a Christopher Nolan film. I'm curious what a child would think of this film because it deals with some adult themes and subject matter that only an adult would relate to. It isn't crude, it's very family friendly. A child might find it slow and boring at times. The moral of the film might go over a child's head but there's plenty of humour and subject matter aimed at children.
Overall, I was very impressed with this film, and I'll be watching it again. Take your kids to it. If they don't enjoy it now, it'll definitely have a completely different meaning to them in 10, 20, or 30 years. As an adult, you'll almost definitely enjoy it.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 12/05/24.
Critics: Not enough Reviews Yet it is still listed for release next Friday so, I'm glad we got it a little early.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2h 25m.
Stars: Owen Teague (It Chapters 1 & 2/Bloodline), Kevin Durand (Abigail/X-Men Origins: Wolverine/Robin Hood), Freya Allan (The Witcher/Gunpowder Milkshake/The Third Day), William H. Macy (Fargo/Shameless/Boogie Nights/Jurassic Park III).
Directed By: Wes Ball.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure.
Synopsis: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Review: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is set around 300 Years after the last instalment of the franchise; War for the Planet of the Apes. In this time the human race is virtually extinct and some of the Apes even question if they existed as they haven't seen any echoes as they call the humans. Cesar has become a Jesus like figure for the Apes with some of the more war like tribes doing some nasty things in his name. The apes have kind of developed the caste like system and some of the tribes have even been made into slaves. The new Apes movie is set many years after the conclusion of 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes. Many apes societies have grown from when the Moses-like Caesar brought his people to an oasis, while humans have been reduced to a feral-like existence. Some ape groups have never heard of Caesar, while others have contorted his teaching to build burgeoning empires. In this setting, one ape leader begins to enslave other groups to find human technology, while another ape, who watched his clan be taken, embarks on a journey to find freedom. A young human woman becomes key to the latter's quest, although she has plans of her own. This Movie has amazing cinematography and great acting. Some movies just deserve to be watched on a big screen, and this is one of them. The movie had me intrigued, and interested in the storyline.  I'm looking forward to what they will come up with after this as it definitely sets up more to come. Like previous versions of Planet of the Apes, it uses state of the art special effects to wittily investigate contemporary questions of ethics, humanity, status and prejudice while distracting the popcorn crowd with an engrossing adventure of exploration, captivity and escape in a make-believe world that, in what is a strong science fiction tradition, is recognisably a few "what if?"'s away from our own. Unlike the original five movies, where each sequel was originally unplanned, this is clearly a new "chapter one", taking the time to introduce some elements that will feature in the upcoming sequels. Over and over it evokes the sense of wonder of the original handful, with plenty of specific visual, musical and thematic evocations. There are recognisable influences from the 1970s TV show and even some of the Apes comic book stories of that era. But, it is also unmistakably a post-Lord of the Rings epic, the influence showing up in how various action and travel sequences have been shot. While there is not nearly so much sly humour as the originals, the socio-historic themes are more nuanced, closer to the surface and harder to miss. Questions of defining civilisation in terms of laws are answered in a way that will ultimately resonate with modern audiences; a layered and varied spectrum of responses to enslavement is shown. The various fight scenes are competent without being overly thrilling (the most exciting action is a cornfield chase vaguely inspired by the original 1968 film), but the deeper probing into the various sub-texts and a fine selection of minor characters keeps the interest levels up. One could pick nits about some of the physics shown in the last twenty minutes, but it's hardly the first Hollywood film to sacrifice strict logic for spectacle and it surely won't be the last. Overall, this does a good job of working on several levels and should appeal to a good range of audiences.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 12/05/24.
Critics: 80%. Audience: 79%.
Similar Movies: Other Planet of the Apes Movies, War of the Worlds, Fantastic Planet,King Kong, Lost in Space, 28 Days Later, The Road, Prometheus, Arrival, The Time Machine, The Hunger Games, Mortal Engines, The Maze Runner, I am Legend, Divergent.  

The Fall Guy.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 6 M.
Stars: Ryan Gosling (Barbie/La La Land/The Notebook/Drive), Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer/Edge of Tomorrow/The Devil Wears Prada/Salmon Fishing in the Yemen/Mary Poppins Returns/A Quiet Place Parts 1 & 2), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass 1 & 2/Nocturnal Animals/Nowhere Boy/Tenet), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso/Game of Thrones), Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies/Lights Out/Berlin Syndrome), Winston Duke (Black Panther/Us/Nine Days).
Directed By: David Leitch (John Wick (Producer)/Bullet Train/Atomic Blonde/Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw).
Genre: Action/Comedy/Drama.
Synopsis: A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend's blockbuster film.
Review: The Chemistry and Comedic Timing between the two leads (Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt) in this is amazing. He's a stuntman (Ryan Gosling), and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right? What a ton of fun!! Its packed with incredible stunts - none of them CGI, its funny and charming and exciting in every second. The camera work is flawless, the cinematography beautiful, the casting perfect, the costumes cool af, and they have a DOG! that is only trained to follow French commands lol. I loved the movie for its celebration of stunt craft and its people. A film that welcomes you without prerequisites, "The Fall Guy," seeks to reignite that spark of unadulterated entertainment. It aims to dazzle with the sheer magnetism of its leads, thrust into a whirlwind of romance and adventure, harking back to the days when stunts were real and filmmaking was a team sport, offering a joyride that's as heartwarming as it is thrilling. Yet, beyond the adrenaline, there's a poignant commentary on the digital age's challenges to authenticity, making "The Fall Guy" a vibrant counterpoint to the prevailing trends of faceless, CGI-dominated blockbusters. It's a film that doesn't just want to entertain; it wants to remind us of the value of genuine connection, both on the screen and in the stunts that make us hold our breath. In doing so, it doesn't just invite audiences to have fun; it demands it, championing the kind of cinema that's been overshadowed by the gravitas of today's tentpoles.
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 03/05/24.
Critics: 83%. Audience: Not enough Reviews yet.
Similar Movies: The Stuntman, Argylle, The Hitman's Bodyguard, Central Intelligence, The Nice Guys, The Other Guys, Hot Fuzz, Miami Vice, Get Smart, The Transporter, The Cannonball Run, Bullitt, Once Upon a time in Hollywood.

Tarot.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 32 M.
Stars: Olwen Fouéré (The Northman/Mandy/The Survivalist), Avantika (Diary of a Future President/Spin), Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man Movies), Humberly González (Workin' Moms/In the Dark/Ginny & Georgia), Harriet Slater (Pennyworth/Belgravia: The Next Chapter/Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Larsen Thompson (Boléro/The Midnight Club/Pearl), Wolfgang Novogratz (The Half of It/Assassination Nation/Sierra Burgess Is a Loser).
Directed By: Spenser Cohen (Written By: Classified/Extinction/Expend4bles/Moonfall) and Anna Halberg (Produced By: Classified/Faster/Extinction/Expend4bles).
Genre: Horror.
Synopsis: When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot readings, they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death.
Review: Overall I thought this movie was good, there wasn’t a moment where I was bored in anyway throughout the movie. I genuinely was impressed with the special effects and makeup of the different characters based off the different tarot cards brought to life. Good amounts of jump scares and jaw dropping moments for me. Had some really funny moments which is appreciated in horror, but the scares were what really impressed me! Stuff I haven't seen in other horror films. New concepts which was nice for once. Kept thinking about the movie after watching it which is what a good movie does. All around the special fx and cinematography were amazing. I would recommend this to anyone that loves horror. I can see this being a horror fan Favorite and would definitely watch again!
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 03/05/24.
Not Enough Reviews have been left yet for it to be rated.
Similar Movies: Final Destination Movies, The Cleansing Hour, The Offering, Seperation, The Knocking, Speak no Evil, Elevator Game, The Assent, Be careful of Spells, The Craft, Spirit of the Glass, Visit, Barang, Ouija, TxT.     

Challengers.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 11 M.
Stars: Zendaya (Dune: Parts One and Two/Spider-Man Movies/The Greatest Showman), Josh O'Connor (The Crown/God's Own Country/Emma) and Mike Faist (West Side Story/Bikeriders*Coming out 21st June).
Directed By: Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name/Bones and all).
Genre: Sport/Romance/Drama.
Synopsis: Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, turned her husband into a champion. But to overcome a losing streak, he needs to face his ex-best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend.
Review: Two rival tennis players (Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist) vie for the affections of the same woman (Zendaya). This is a tough one. I liked the concept and the overall story. However i feel like it missed the mark on occasions. The acting was decent. Felt like each character was built upon chemistry and realism. It kept me entertained for the most part. I didn't like all the time jumping shenanigans it got a bit hard to follow, I guess the Filmmakers wanted it to stand out but I would have preferred it if they had just shown the Film in chronological order, maybe with a time jump at the beginning but I just got annoyed with the constant time jumping. The Music is a little crazy it feels like you are in a nightclub or something it was very intense. The overall audience and the critics seemed to enjoy this Film more than me see below for the Rotten Tomatoes scores. I think the target audience for this is probably 15-25 maybe 30. I am also not a big fan of tennis so that is probably another target audience that I don't fall into. It was an Okay film and if you want to listen to other Reviews/Critics then you might enjoy this more than I did.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten tomatoes: 01/05/24.
Critics: 89%. Audience: 76%.
Similar Movies: Match Point, Wimbledon, Passages, Battle of the Sexes, King Richard, Reality Bites, Sweet Home Alabama, 3-Iron, Never Let Me Go, Burning, Whiplash, Sound of metal, Malcolm & Marie.

Abigail.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 1 H 49 M.
Stars: Melissa Barrera (Scream 5 & 6/In the heights), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey/Beauty and the Beast/Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire/Legion), Alisha Weir (Matilda: The Musical/Wicked Little Letters/Don't Leave Home), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania/Big Little Lies/Lisa Frankenstein/Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), Kevin Durand (Guardians of the Galaxy/*released 9th May Kingdom of the planet of the Apes/Robin Hood/X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul/The Usual Suspects/The Jungle Book).
Directed By: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Scream 5 & 6/Ready or not) and Tyler Gillett (Scream 2022/Ready or Not/V/H/S).
Genre: Horror/Thriller.
Synopsis: After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they're locked inside with no normal little girl.
Review: The premise is simple, yet enticing. A group of criminals kidnap a little girl who's the daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Left with this girl as they prepare to collect the ransom from her father, they eventually find out that this little girl has quite the bite to her, and they must band together if they hope to survive the night together. Fortunately, this film is a blast and a half. This team have delivered what I'd argue is their best film since Ready Or Not. The action takes a second as the movie develops its central characters and gives us reasons to know them beyond their Rat Pack-inspired names. When the blood starts flowing, though, this movie takes off and flies with absolute gusto! The comedy lands SO many times here, and the actual action/gore sequences deliver in SPADES! The all-star cast excels with this. Melissa Barrera, reuniting with Team Radio Silence after the SCREAM films, shines as the central protagonist. We feel for her and why she does what she does, especially when we learn of her past. Dan Stevens is a foul-mouthed scene-stealer in this, and Kathryn Newton has a number of her own moments here. Giancarlo Esposito and the late Angus Cloud do just as well in smaller roles. The absolute standout, though, is Alisha Weir as the titular vampire. She knocks it out of the park in every scene she's in, and really makes the whole experience worth it. After the derivative but mandatory first half hour (criminals showing off, traumatic background stories, pinky swears, ...) "Abigail" turns into a fast-paced and gore-soaked horror crowd pleaser with funny one-liners and superior make-up effects. The vampires don't look like traditional counts in cloaks, but more like demons with filthy teeth and blood red eyes. There are good performances from familiar faces (Kevin Durand, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton) and particularly the young Alisha Weir is impressive as the titular monster in her uncanny ballet dress. Good splatter fun, nothing more but certainly nothing less.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 28/04/24.
Critics: 83%. Audience: 86%.
Similar Movies: Ready or Not, M3GAN, Ginger Snaps, Renfield, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Day Shift, Jennifer's Body, The Lost Boys, Let Me In, Scream Movies.

The Book of Clarence.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 9 M.
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield (Knives Out/Haunted Mansion/Selma/Short Term 12), Omar Sy (Untouchable/X-Men: Days of Future Past/Jurassic World/Transformers: The Last Knight), Anna Diop (Titans/US/24: Legacy), David Oyelowo (Selma/Silo/Lawmen: Bass Reeves), Micheal Ward (Empire of Light/Top Boy/The Old Guard), Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave/Star Trek: First Contact/K-PAX), James McAvoy (X-Men Movies/The Last King of Scotland/Atonement/Split), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock/Doctor Strange/The Imitation Game/Star Trek Into Darkness/The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug).

Directed By: Jeymes Samuel.

Back to Black.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 2 M.
Stars: Marisa Abela (Barbie/Industry/Cobra/Rogue Agent), Eddie Marsan (Guy Ritchie Movies/21 Grams/The World's End/Happy-Go-Lucky), Jack O'Connell (Ferrari/Starred Up/Unbroken/'71), Lesley Manville (Another Year/Phantom Thread/Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris).
Directed By: Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy/Love you more/A Million Little Pieces/Fifty Shades of Grey).
Genre: Biography/Music/Drama.
Synopsis: The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.
Review: A celebration of the most iconic - and much missed - homegrown star of the 21st century, BACK TO BLACK tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse. Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, BACK TO BLACK honours Amy's artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent. "Back to Black" delivers a heartfelt tribute to Amy Winehouse, brilliantly capturing the essence of an icon whose talent and personal struggles left an indelible mark on the music world. This film doesn't merely navigate through the vibrant life Amy led amidst Camden's gritty charm; it delves deep, portraying not just her artistic brilliance but also her profound vulnerabilities. It masterfully showcases the overwhelming pressures of fame and scrutinizes the relentless nature of the celebrity machine, presenting a narrative that's as compelling as it is heart-wrenching. This isn't just a recount of a music legend's life; it's an invitation to see beyond the performer to the person, offering a richly nuanced appreciation of her life, her sharp wit, and her brutal honesty. Marisa Abela's portrayal of Amy is captivating, embodying the singer's raw and fragile essence in a performance that's incredibly authentic. She brings to life Amy's desperate longing for love and acceptance, along with her profound sense of loneliness, making her portrayal deeply resonate. Abela's Amy is not just a public figure but a person seeking connection in a world that often feels cold and unforgiving. While the film does dwell on the more tragic aspects of Amy's story, including her struggles with a toxic relationship, it's this exploration of her search for love and the stark loneliness she faced that adds a profound layer of depth to the narrative. The movie, despite its flaws and sometimes narrow focus, manages to strike a chord, particularly for those moved by Amy's music or touched by her life story. "Back to Black" might not capture every nuance of Amy's life with perfect clarity, but it's a deeply moving portrayal that echoes the bittersweet reality of her extraordinary yet tragically short journey.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26/04/24:
Critics: 38%. Audience: Not enough Reviews yet.
Similar Movies: AMY, Fatal Addiction: Amy Winehouse, In memory of Amy Winehouse, Walk the Line, ELVIS, Bohemian Rhapsody, I wanna Dance with somebody, Ray, The Runaways, Respect. 

Rebel Moon: Part Two: The Scargiver (On Netflix).
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 2 M.
Stars: Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service/Argylle/Star Trek Beyond/The Mummy), Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator/Guardians of the Galaxy/Blood Diamond/In America), Ed Skrein (Game of Thrones/Deadpool/Midway), Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones/The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society/The Invitation) and the voice of Anthony Hopkins (Odin in Marvel Movies/The Silence of the Lambs/Nixon and Much More).
Directed By: Zack Snyder (DC Movies/300/Army of the Dead).
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Western.
Synopsis: Kora and surviving warriors prepare to defend Veldt, their new home, alongside its people against the Realm. The warriors face their pasts, revealing their motivations before the Realm's forces arrive to crush the growing rebellion.  
Review: This is a Space Western and it borrows heavily from The Magnificent Seven. A rag tag group try to defend a Town against a much bigger attacking force who are coming in prescribed amount of time (5 Days) giving the defenders time to discuss why they are fighting for the rebellion and to train the villagers. The slow motion shots become a bit overused in this and start to become annoying. The Film has a VERY slow first half which is a bit frustrating as you just want it to get going. If you rate the Film in two halves the first half would get 2/10 and the second 6 maybe 7/10. The Film ends by saying oh guess what there is going to more of these Films. Which I feel is a bit presumptuous and I'm not sure the audience really wants more of these?  Slightly more interesting than the first, as it slightly deepens the characters. For now, the film series is looking like a TV series with exaggeratedly long episodes, as few facts relevant to the story occur in each film. I believe that the two films could even be summarized in one.
My Rating: 4/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 23/04/24.
Critics: 15% Audience: 52%.
Similar Movies: Magnificent Seven (In Space)/The Seven Samurai/Star Wars/Heavy Metal/Guardians of the Galaxy/Jupiter Ascending/The Fifth Element/Flash Gordon/Time Masters/The Last Starfighter.

Civil War.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 49 M.
Stars: Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man Trilogy 2002-07/Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind/Interview with the Vampire/Fargo 2015), Wagner Moura (Narcos/Elite Squad 1 & 2/Marighella), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation/Dumb Money/Devs), Cailee Spaeny (On the Basis of Sex/Bad Times at the El Royale/Priscilla), Jesse Plemons (The Irishman/Love & Death/Killers of the Flower Moon/Breaking Bad).
Directed By: Alex Garland (Ex Machina/28 Days Later/Annihilation/Men).
Genre: Action/Drama.
Synopsis: A journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.
Review: Beautifully Horrifying. 
America is getting sick. Alex Garland has offered us a vaccination for what ails us. Like a serum for snake bite made of venom itself, this film grabs us by the shoulders and screams "You got a civil war fantasy? Fine, I'll put it on a 40 foot screen and dare you to cheer." Civil War finds it's foundational vision in the eyes of those who for decades have brought us the soul shattering reality of war, free from the romance of Hollywood patriotism- war journalists whose frenzied, conflicted odyssey plunges them into a mad gauntlet of fire and film, killing and kodachrome. Like soldiers in a war of attrition, they must constantly reassess the purpose of their risks and sacrifices as they watch their colleagues fall for the sake of the priceless pictorial story of war. Three generations of war correspondents traveling together into the insanity becomes the testament to three phases in the life of such a calling. We are introduced to the strangeness of how soldiers, out for blood, tolerate and facilitate the presence of these unarmored observers every step of the way through the hell of combat. Garland seems to tap into some unspoken ethos of universal creedance among combatants that the history of it all must be seen and those who record it must survive to tell of it. It is never explained, merely displayed. When they go into a room journalists and soldiers both go in shooting one with cameras and one with guns. Which I know is probably unrealistic and that they would clear the room as best they can before letting the journalists in but it makes for amazing imaginary on the screen and is a good way to show that the journalists have to follow orders the same as the soldiers because if they don't then people will possibly die. Some people may find this Movie a little slow the Action scenes are spread out throughout the Film. The genius of this film rests partially in an absurd alliance between California and Texas, two of the most opposite states in the Union. By joining this ideological odd couple, the story immunizes itself against accusations of partisanship or cultural favouritism. Yet it also beckons us to imagine what kind of national crisis could bring such opposites together. The performances were amazing as well! Kirsten dunst gives a raw and well executed performance to grab the audience and you really believe she is this character she is portraying. Calling the film CIVIL WAR (in a US context) is a bit of a misnomer. The film is about a small team of war photographers who go on a risky road trip to Washington to "interview" the president, while a civil war is going on in the background. The film's focus is primarily on the ethics of war photography and the personal costs for the photographers. There is almost no political content in the film, so it is a quite different film than most people would probably expect. The ongoing civil war in the film is completely unclear and undescribed. California and Texas are allied with each other. The New People's Army (which appears on a promotional map graphic for the movie) is not mentioned in the film, and we don't hear who Florida is supposed to be siding with either. The photographers seem to be following soldier teams from several of the warring parties, which further adds to the confusion. This Film is a kind of warning against what could happen without it actually telling us what happened in the events that lead up to the Movie, it is also a love letter to war journalists/photographers.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 14/04/24
Critics: 83%. Audience: 77%.
Similar Movies: Hotel Rwanda, City of God, Munich, Full Metal Jacket, The Salt of the Earth, Blow-Up (1966), Hearts and Minds (1974), Born on the Fourth of July, Eye in the Sky, The Killing Fields (1984), 20 Days in Mariupol, Come and See (1985).

Monkey Man.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 2 H 1 M.
Stars: Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire/Lion/The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel/The Green Knight), Sharlto Copley (District 9/Chappie/Hardcore Henry/The A Team), Pitobash (Shor in the City/Million Dollar Arm/Go Goa Gone/Mirch).
Directed By: Dev Patel.
Genre: Action/Thriller.
Synopsis: An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.
Review: An audacious effort from debuting director Dev Patel, Monkey Man dispenses action and sociopolitical commentary with equal aplomb. Monkey Man is a tense, engaging thriller where people are stabbed, shot, dismembered, and killed in a variety of graphic and unspeakable fashions. Monkey Man may be a silly-sounding title but the story it tells is anything but silly. While not a superhero story in the traditional sense, Monkey Man faithfully follows the arc of despair, false start, further despair, training, realization, and validation (??), but with a healthy smear of grit and a lot of broken bones.  Kid (Dev Patel), an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city's sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. The film starts off well and builds momentum for a decent revenge arc although it is hard to follow sometimes. The Shakey camera work contributes to this as well as the dialogue not being particularly clear. Parts of this Film are a bit trippy during the training scenes. Monkey Man has is a High Intensity Watch at Times. It has an Effective Display of Energy up on the Screen. A Mix of Indian Mythology, Hand to Hand Combat and Great Sound Design and Score. The Plotline is Interesting Enough, as I said it's a Mix of Indian Mythology, Some Real World Indian Political History, Brutal Hand to Hand Combat (Some Gun Play too) and a Revenge Story. Overall, a very High Intensity Watch at Times. 
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 12/04/24.
Critics: 88%. Audience: 84%.
Similar Movies: The Man from Nowhere, The Raid, The Night Comes for Us, Fist of Fury, Ong Bak, Ballerina, John Wick Movies.     

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 55 M.
Stars: Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs. Kong/The Prestige/The Town/Vicky Cristina Barcelona/Christine), Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs. Kong/Eternals/Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse/Bullet Train), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey/Beauty and the Beast/The Guest/Legion) and Alex Ferns (The Batman/Andor/Chernobyl).
Directed By: Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong/The Guest/You're Next/V/H/S).
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure.
Synopsis: Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island's mysteries.
Review: The new installment in the Monsterverse puts the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal deadly threat hidden within our world that threatens the existence of their species and our very own, as well as diving deep into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond. Delving straight into the origins of Hollow Earth, this film will explore the ancient Titan battle that brought man and monster together forever. Yes this Film is a little bonkers it is over the top in parts, Lots of Titans fighting. That's why we go to something like this, right? But I wasn't expecting it to have heart and there is a scene towards the end that hit pretty hard. Sometimes there is a lot happening on the screen during the fight scenes it got a little hard to follow.  It's hilarious that these Titans seem to really enjoy having their royal rumbles in the biggest cities on the planet, or while destroying some of the world's most revered structures. Like really guys, you couldn't have thrown down in the middle of the Sahara? More destruction equals more entertainment I suppose. Also, Godzilla just casually murders hundreds if not thousands just walking around from point A to point B. This Film is more Kong's Film than Godzilla's, Godzilla is kind of a side character. Kong feels like a human character sometimes and they definitely try to make him the hero of the Film. Dan Stevens seems to borrow heavily from Chris Pratt's performance as Starlord in The Guardians of the Galaxy Movies. They even try to play the older songs and make them cool.I might be the only person who sees this, so it's cool if you don't agree. It's not the kind of Monster Movie where people will complain that "there weren't enough monsters." I feel like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire provides plenty of dumb entertainment, ridiculous spectacle, and action to the point where watching it was never dull for a minute. I had fun, but looking back on it now, it does feel like the cinematic equivalent of (a lot of) empty calories.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 04/04/24.
Critics: 53%. Audience: 92%.
Similar Movies: Godzilla vs. Kong, King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and other Kong and Godzilla Movies.

Mothers' Instinct.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 34 M.
Stars: Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables/Interstellar/The Dark Knight Rises), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty/Molly's Game/Interstellar), Josh Charles (Dead Poets Society/Four Brothers/S.W.A.T), Caroline Lagerfelt (Minority Report/Gossip Girl) and Anders Danielsen Lie (The Worst Person in the World/Oslo, August 31st).
Directed By: Benoît Delhomme.
Genre: Drama/Thriller.
Synopsis: Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life's perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond.
Review: Mothers' Instinct does a good job of making you think which of these women is crazy and who you should believe. Stella performances from the two leading ladies , Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. The Film starts off like The Stepford Wives and ends up more like Misery. A thriller that is intense and feels incredibly REAL! The Film deals with Mental Illness and Loss in a very extreme way. Mothers' Instinct is set in suburban America and it feels like the 1960's but I don't think the Year is ever mentioned. The first half of this movie is very good stuff. The introduction is an exercise in exposition: it does the job slickly and quickly. Then, after the accident, the depiction of how everyone deals with grief in the context of their own relationships is complex, painful and entirely convincing. Then the movie enters psychological thriller territory. Is Celine up to nefarious shenanigans? Is it just her dealing with her grief? Or is Alice manifesting unnamed issues which she apparently suffered from in the past?
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 04/04/24
Critics: 57%. Audience: Not enough data yet.
Similar Movies: Motherly, Some Other Woman, Somewhere Quiet, Private Property, A Mothers' Instinct, The Captive, I Came By, Nexus, Cyber Case, Galentine's Day Nightmare, The Mark of the Angels, Troubled Waters, The Killer Downstairs, The Stepford Wives, Misery.    

Road House (on prime video)
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 1 M.
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko/Prisoners/Nightcrawler/Brokeback Mountain/Source Code/Zodiac), Daniela Melchior (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3/The Suicide Squad/Fast X), Conor McGregor (Fighter).
Directed By: Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow/Swingers/Fair Game).
Genre: Action/Thriller.
Synopsis: Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
Review: I don't really remember the original I presume I watched it but it was a long time ago in a galaxy far away, so I will just be reviewing this Film as a stand alone Movie. Part fight showcase, part generic crime thriller, the Roadhouse remake tosses its plot this way and that. Road House is exactly what it needs to be. A self-serious yet simultaneously very silly modern day riff on the Western that's packed with testosterone, crunchy action and jokes in the most unexpected places. It feels like a streaming movie in some distracting ways but it still remains one of the better ones. The movie's saving grace is Jake Gyllenhaal who is clearly having a lot of fun in the role. Jake Gyllenhaal brings a natural intensity to Dalton as well as an impressive physical commitment. It's the possibility of his rage that he always keeps at bay that makes him so watchable in this role as he beats up his enemies and then makes sure they're okay before actually driving them to the hospital. From the moment he's introduced, Conor McGregor is definitely something. It's the kind of performance that's never boring and never good. Every single line is delivered in hilariously awful fashion and yet he's one of the best parts of the film as he takes a very generically unhinged villain and makes it his own. Doug Liman's direction certainly has a lot of energy as it alternates between fights in the first person, drone shots and simply getting as close as possible to the action. The fights themselves have a real weight to them with the heaviest blows really being felt however, some of the CG flourishes used to stitch them together distract rather than enhance. To sum up I would recommend this as it is on Prime Video so you don't even have to leave the house.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 24/03/24.
Critics: 63%. Audience: 59%.
Similar Movies: Original Road House, Bloodsport, Southpaw, Point Break, The Terminator, Robocop, Cocktail, Fire down below, Above the law, Commando, Walking Tall, The man from nowhere, The Marine.  

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 55 M.
Stars: Paul Rudd (Ant-Man/FRIENDS/The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters:Afterlife/Gone Girl/Avengers: Infinity War), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things/It/Pinocchio), Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters:Afterlife/The Handmaid's Tail/i Tonya), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick/Life as we know it/Stuber), Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille/The Secret Life of Walter Mitty/Seeking a Friend for the End of the World), James Acaster (Comedian), Dan Aykroyd (Original Ghostbuster/The Blues Brothers), Ernie Hudson (Original Ghostbuster/Champions), Annie Potts (Original Ghostbusters Films/Pretty in Pink/Toy Story 4), William Atherton (Original Ghostbusters Movies/Die Hard Movies) and Bill Murray (Original Ghostbuster/Groundhog Day/Lost in Translation).
Directed By: Gil Kenan (Ghostbusters: Afterlife/A boy called Christmas).
Genre: Fantasy/Comedy/Adventure.
Synopsis: When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
Review: Fans of the Ghostbusters franchise will love this but I'm not sure how well it will go down with the general audience. The Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age. It's fun, funny, at times scary and just a joy to watch. It's great seeing their world expanded. You get so much more lore, and new stuff added that would fit right along with themes from Real Ghostbusters. I can't even really fathom why this is getting negative reactions. I guess post COVID movies aren't supposed to be fun and take the audience on a ride anymore. There's a lot to love here, die hard or casual fans, and it's worth your money to see it on the big screen. A worthy sequel and I hope we get more. It was especially fun to see so many actors reprising their characters from the very first Ghostbusters movie. Even though the critics didn't like it I think it will be popular enough to merit a continuation of the franchise, I for one will be a returning viewer.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 23/03/24.
Critics: 43%. Audience: 85%.
Similar Movies: Other Ghostbusters Movies/Addams Family Values/The Haunted Mansion/Casper: The Friendly Ghost/Beetlejuice.

Drive Away Dolls.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 24 M.
Stars: Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood/Kenzo: Kenzo World/Fosse/Verdon), Geraldine Viswanathan (Janet King/Blockers/Emo: The Musical), Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart/Lady Bird/How to build a girl), Colman Domingo (Selma/Lincoln/The Colour Purple 2023), Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian/Game of Thrones/The Last of us), Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting/The Departed/The Martian/The Talented Mr. Ripley/Saving Private Ryan).
Directed By: Ethan Coen (Fargo/The Big Lebowski/No Country for Old Men/The Ballad of Buster Scruggs).
Genre: Thriller/Action/Comedy.
Synopsis: Jamie regrets her breakup with her girlfriend, while Marian needs to relax. In search of a fresh start, they embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee. Things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.
Review: This movie I felt was trying more to shock us then being funny. Had promise but got wasted on lazy storytelling, and two characters who are amusing but then quickly I was feeling smothered by. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan are talented, and have good chemistry, but the problem is I wish they where better written, Qualley overacts and Viswanathan underacts. Other actors come into the story and do very little.
This looks more like a cheaply produced television or streaming movie than a real feature movie. It lasts only 1 hour and 24 minutes and still I got bored. Drive-Away Dolls has some laughs, but they're too few and far between to keep most viewers entertained during the meandering stretches that make up the rest of the movie. It's a b-movie that's a raunchy, adventurous lesbian comedy-drama road trip. So creatively it sorta has a lot going for it. It has some funny bits, but it's not as fun and funny as i thought it'd be. It is a pleasant contrast to most self-consciously serious movies out there currently though. The movie had these transitions that reminded me of That 70's show. Miley Cyrus makes an appearance in these Very trippy cut scenes which really served no purpose. It's a movie that doesn't take itself seriously at all, and I think that works in its favor. Yet, I find myself slightly disappointed, thinking what the film could have been. As I said, creatively it had a lot going for it, but doesn't feel like it tried to push the envelope at all. It could've been a lighthearted 'Saltburn', or it could've been more goofy and funny, or way more vulgar and chaotic, or it could've been really thrilling like if some of the bad guys were actually frightening and intimidating. The girls never felt like they were in any danger. It feels like they could've pushed the movie in different directions but instead it's somewhere meddling in the middle. The movie played it safe. The plot meanders through ridiculous scenarios on a purposeless road trip, intentional in its pointlessness. It is a short movie, but I also think there were some conversations that didn't really add much; scenes that wouldn't make much difference if removed. Jamie and Marian weren't the most interesting of characters and didn't have much of a spark. Their relationship could've been written better. The movies not too terrible, I just think it had the potential to be more fun, funny and charming. Something that would light you up. The movie exudes pizazz but feels like it's missing it at the same time.
My Rating: 5/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 19/03/24.
Critics: 63%. Audience: 36%.
Similar Movies: Thelma & Louise, Bonnie And Clyde, The Sugarland Express, True Romance, Mark Antony, Nun of That, Freelance, Baby Money, Gun Shy, A cold day in August, The man in the hat, Jailor, The Throwaways, Double Threat, One day as a lion, Pulp Fiction (in parts).

Imaginary.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 44 M.
Stars: DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion/ Fatherhood/The Harder they fall/Someone Great), Taegen Burns (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers/Blue Ridge), Pyper Braun (Superkitties/ Desperation Road/Erin & Aaron), Betty Buckley (Spilt/Carrie/Frantic), Tom Payne (The Walking Dead/Prodigal Son/The Physician).
Directed By: Philipp Stölzl (North Face/The Physician/Goethe!).
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller.
Synopsis: A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him.
Review: Imaginary's core concept is solid enough to produce a handful of scares, but too much of its potential is lost in a clichéd story that gets bogged down in world-building. Imaginary passes the time painlessly and has some scary moments, but in the end, this is a pretty basic horror movie. Imaginary is a movie that keeps consistent in keeping the story moving with minimum divergence to complicate matters. The faster pacing allowed the movie to feel less sluggish, which made it more enjoyable for me. I enjoyed Pyper Braun's acting merits to many levels as she captured a girl caught between traumatic sessions and finding a means to cope. Her voice work holds borderline creepy elements, and she displays terror and hurt to a believable level that helps capture that sincerity. Chauncey's games and taunts are very childlike, but then receive an adult twist that spices things up and adds extra laugh power, or perhaps you'll just find the looks of the monsters to be laughable as well, many of them a parody that reflects what imagination can craft when at a young age. Chauncey can be creepy at times. The way those eyes stare and the looming shadowy presence are a few examples of a horror element done right for me. But it never elevates much past that, often delivering lackluster jump scares or comical moments that were supposed to be scary.
Imaginary takes some of the playbook tricks and manages to nudge them to an original setup that shows promise for a memorable bout of terror. When you have an imaginary friend, the sky is the limit for ways to open up putting our "heroes" in peril, and there were times I was impressed with the start of the scare and how creative they got. Like many movies in this genre, Imaginary's characters have to address some things in their past to recover and thrive in the future. Two character arcs in particular had moments that I resonated with, fantastic presentations of the trauma, combined with authentic portrayals of the hurt they can bring. The movie tries to give more to the story than other horror films though, something I appreciate very much in a very expansive genre.
This story does have elements that work well with the drama and horror elements and help enrich the characters past the usual fodder status that is seen.
However, the movie tends to waver to the more CW-esque drama patterns, becoming more about over-expression than an engaging plot. For Imaginary, I think the rating dulled the film, allowing for too much silliness that got in the way of the horror elements. Horror movies are all about the scare's or thrills for most of the entries in the genre. In this movie, I felt that only about ten percent of the movie had traces of these elements for me to enjoy and contrasted the trailer's promises. The result becomes a mundane film that could be a beginner-level horror movie that only stands out in a few spots as the creepy piece it aspired to be. I can't recommend this movie for a theater showing, instead looking to a night at home as your venue of choice. Who knows, being at home might enhance the scare factor a bit.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 19/03/24.
Critics: 25%. Audience: 53%.
Similar Movies: M3gan, Five Nights at Freddy's, Scream Movies, Evil Dead Rise, Totally Killer, The Midnight Swim, Beetlejuice, House of darkness, The Boy behind the Door, Devil's Island, No escape room, Don't look back, Dream Scenario.     

Origin.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 21 M.
Stars: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (King Richard/Ray/Men of Honour), Jon Bernthal (The Punisher/The Walking Dead/The Wolf of Wall Street/King Richard/Fury/The Accountant), Niecy Nash (Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story/Reno 911!/Claws), Vera Farmiga (The Departed/Bates Motel/Up in the air/Orphan), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation/Dumb Money/Pam & Tommy/Devs).
Directed By: Ava DuVernay (When They See Us/Selma/Queen Sugar).
Genre: Drama/History.
Synopsis: The unspoken system that has shaped America and chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
Review: At first the movie was slow, I understood that it started with the retelling of Travon Martin, then just bounced between time periods to show injustices during Nazi Germany and the following times from many different points of view. The main character went through a lot of personal turmoil but her purpose was clear, she felt there was an underlying connection between a lot of the injustices and mistreatment among many different sect of people. I have to say this is not an "easy" or "light" movie but it needs to be shown. The pacing of Isabel Wilkerson, her work, the research and her findings are all laid out. Books are different from films. I'll admit, I had not read it before seeing the movie so I do not have any prejudices about the story. I learned about Ms. Wilkerson but also more about myself. She is alive folks! Not an imagined character or a dead one either. Relatively young. I hope she continues her work. Opening people's eyes is worth the entire trip of emotions this adventure took me on. This Film isn't being widely shown in the UK for some reason, so if you get a chance to see this Movie I highly recommend it. It is a very powerful and moving Movie which is beautifully shot and very understated in places.
My Rating: 9/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 17/03/24.
Critics: 81%. Audience: 97%.
Similar Movies: Harlan County U.S.A, Losing Ground, 12 Years a slave, The Zone of Interest, Gandhi, Daughters of the Dust.

Damsel. (On Netflix).
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 50 M.
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things/Enola Homes/Godzilla: King of the Monsters), Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast/The Departed/The Gentleman (TC)/Beowulf), Angela Bassett (Black Panther/Contact/Strange Days), Robin Wright (Forrest Gump/The Princess Bride/Unbreakable/Beowulf).
Directed By: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Action.
Synopsis: A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt.
Review: I found this a bit bland and very by the Numbers however the person I watched it with loved it. I didn't think it was terrible I just didn't enjoy it as much as they did, it just shows not to just trust one person's opinion and always watch a Film for yourself.
Damsel really isn't as subversive as it thinks it is and takes way too long to get going, wasting the first 30 minutes on a twist so obvious the trailer didn't even bother to hide it. Once it actually gets to the central idea of cat and mouse between a Princess and a Dragon it's a lot stronger, powering through on the momentum of the endless chase.
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's direction does a lot to help this Netflix original come closer to looking like a real movie compared to a lot of what's come before. It essentially spends the entire run time alternating between some solid sets, locations and distractingly low quality CG with some good individual set pieces and ideas.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 16/03/24.
Critics: 56%. Audience: 67%.
Similar Movies: The Princess, Maleficent, Into the Woods, Snow White & The Huntsman, Stardust, Pan's Labyrinth, The Brothers Grimm, Ella Enchanted, Ever After, The Princess Bride.      

COPA 71
Certificate: PG.
Runtime: 1 H 30 M.
Stars: Elvira Aracen, Brandi Chastain and Birte Kjems.
Directed By: James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay.
Genre: Documentary/Sport.
Synopsis: Told by the pioneering women who participated, this is the extraordinary story of the 1971 Women's Soccer World Cup, a tournament witnessed by record crowds that has been written out of sporting history - until now.
Review: The film has one primary focus, as shown in the title: In 1971, in Mexico City and Guadalajara, a non-FIFA Women's World Cup was held. Six teams were invited, and where the tournament holders imagined it a sideshow, they had dollar signs in their eyes and stadiums to fill (FIFA denied them the use of the regular stadiums, so they were 'forced' into the two largest stadiums in the country). The open sexism these women had to deal with is really repulsive but I guess it was the time they were living in. The very real fact that even in 1971, women playing soccer sold out a 110,000 seat stadium. It is sad that FIFA still to this day does not recognize this as an official World Cup. The fact that it was hidden and not acknowledged for so long is really sad and the fact that FIFA (men) felt so threatened by its mere existence is today unfathomable. FIFA went even further after this World Cup banning any team from having a women's Football team and not allowing them to play on any accredited FA Football Ground, setting Woman's Football back around 20 Years as the 1991 Women's World Cup is the first World Cup officially recognised by FIFA.
So if like me you had never heard of the Women's World Cup in 1971 this Film is a real eye opener.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 08/03/24.
Critics: 96%. Audience: Not enough Rating yet.
Similar Movies: In the Rearview, Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros, Silver Dollar Road, Songs of Earth, Stamped from the Beginning, Vindication Swim, Queendom, The Mission, Every Body, The Damned United, The Football Factory, Bend it like Beckham, Escape to Victory.            

Dune: Part Two.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 46 M.
Stars: Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part One/Wonka /Lady Bird), Zendaya (New Spider-Man Trilogy/ The Great Showman), Rebecca Ferguson (The Greatest Showman/Mission Impossible Movies/ Reminiscence/Doctor Sleep), Javier Bardem (No Country for old men/Skyfall/Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Josh Brolin (Marvel Films as the voice of Thanos/No Country for old men/The Goonies), Austin Butler (Elvis/Once upon a time in Hollywood), Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer/Black Widow/Don't worry Darling), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter and so much more in an amazing career), Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel Films particular Thor/again he has been in so much).
Directed By: Denis Villeneuve.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure/Drama.
Synopsis: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.
Review: Dune: Part Two is packed full of Political Intrigue and Cosmic Wonder.
This Movie does a great job of bringing a Sci-Fi Classic Book straight from the pages onto the Cinema screen, it matches the images you get in your imagination when reading the Book to what you see on the screen.
Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavours to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee…
Even if you have seen Part One, I highly recommend you watch it again as Part Two really picks up straight after the end of Part One. Some people complained Part One was too slow, but you needed all that build up and introduction to the characters and world of Dune to get Part Two. Part Two same as Part One looks stunning. Part Two is more of an Action/War Movie but it still has all the political intrigue of the first Movie. Some people have compared this Movie to Empire Strikes Back, but I think it more like Return of Jedi. Other Movies I have seen it compared to are, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King/The Godfather: Part Two, Gladiator and The Dark Knight.
We have just started March and I think we have seen next Year’s Oscar Winner for many of the category’s, if there is a better Movie comes out in 2024 then we will have had a great Year at the Cinema. Oppenheimer should thank the Hollywood Gods that this Movie moved from its original release date of December 2023 because this Movie is that incredible, it especially excels in its visuals. All the actors are incredible in this, led by Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides who really shows levels in this that I didn’t know he was capable of. Whilst I don’t want to go through every Actor, I will pick out 3 more: Rebecca Ferguson as The Lady Jessica gives an assured and commanding performance who no one would dare to cross. Newcomers Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha is brutal and menacing as Part Two’s new Villian and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan exudes an old-fashioned Hollywood class and elegance. Okay I lied I will pick out a fourth performance, Javier Bardem’s performance as Stilgar is vital to Paul’s success in this Movie, his religious devotion and belief in Paul are absolutely unshakable and he helps lead the Fremen into following Paul.
The Pacing of this Movie is impeccable, Director Denis Villeneuve is maybe the best Director currently working at Pacing his Movies.
I loved the gladiatorial scene in this movie and the choice to almost make it black and white is a genius move to juxtapose it against the usual colours of the desert planet of Arrakis.
This movie takes the aspects of the first movie and improves upon them in almost every way possible, already writing itself into the books of greatest sequels of ALL TIME!!
My Rating: 10+/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 03/03/24.
Critics: 94%. Audience: 95%. 
Similar Movies: Dune: Part One, Stargate. Battle Beyond the stars, John Carter of Mars, Dune (1984), Ender's Game, Gladiator, Starship Trooper's, Silent Running, Treasure Planet, The Last Starfighter, Star Wars Films, The Godfather Part 2, The Lord of the rings Films, The Dark Knight.     

Lisa Frankenstein.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 41 M.
Stars: Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania/ Freaky/Pokémon: Detective Pikachu/Big Little Lies), Liza Soberano (Everyday I love you/Alone/Together/Must be....Love), 

Jenna Davis (M3gan/Raven's Home/Stay at Home),  Carla Gugino (Watchmen/American Gangster/San Andreas), Joe Chrest (Stranger Things/21 Jump Street), Henry Eikenberry (Euphoria/The Crowded Room), Cole Sprouse (Riverdale/Friends/Big Daddy).

Spaceman. (Netflix)
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 47 M.
Stars: Adam Sandler (The Waterboy/The Wedding Singer/Uncut Gems), Carey Mulligan (She Said/The Great Gatsby/Drive) and the voice of Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine/The Batman/Love & Mercy).
Directed By: Johan Renck (Chernobyl/The Walking Dead/Breaking Bad).
Genre: Sci-Fi/Drama/Adventure.
Synopsis: Half a year into his solo mission on the edge of the solar system, an astronaut concerned with the state of his life back on Earth is helped by an ancient creature he discovers in the bowels of his ship.
Review: An intergalactic odyssey of love, ambition, and self-discovery. Orphaned as a boy, raised in the Czech countryside by his doting grandparents, Jakub Procházka has risen from small-time scientist to become the country's first astronaut. When a dangerous solo mission to Venus offers him both the chance at heroism he's dreamt of, and a way to atone for his father's sins as a Communist informer, he ventures boldly into the vast unknown. But in so doing, he leaves behind his devoted wife, Lenka, whose love, he realizes too late, he has sacrificed on the altar of his ambitions. Alone in Deep Space, Jakub discovers a possibly imaginary giant alien spider, who becomes his unlikely companion. Over philosophical conversations about the nature of love, life and death, and the deliciousness of bacon, the pair form an intense and emotional bond. Will it be enough to see Jakub through a clash with secret Russian rivals and return him safely to Earth for a second chance with Lenka? 
This is a heavy film that asks a lot of the audience. Anyone who sticks with it the whole way will be rewarded with a nice story of friendship and hope. Spaceman drags at points, can feel a bit claustrophobic and is honestly hard to wrap your head around. This Film will be too slow and boring for some people, deffo not for everyone. This isn't really a science fiction movie, it just happens to take place in outer space. It seems cliche to say a film is dreamlike but there is no other way to describe Spaceman. Imagine watching an entire movie through a Kaleidoscope. Not just through the lens of said scope, but also the lens of childlike wonder. The Spider which is voiced by Paul Dano doesn't look real and the Movie does really heavily on this creature unfortunately. Would I recommend this Movie probably not, I didn't enjoy it and the slowness will bother a lot of people.
My Rating: 2/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 03/03/24.
Critics: 51% Audience: 65%.
Similar Movies: Gravity, Ad Astra, Interstellar, First Man, Apollo 13, Moon, The Right Stuff, October Sky, The Astronaut Farmer.   

Wicked Little Letters.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 40 M.
Stars: Olivia Colman (The Favourite/The Lobster/The Lost Daughter/Empire of light), Jessie Buckley (Women Talking/MEN/Fargo/Wild Rose), Anjana Vasan (Spider-Man: Far from Home/Cinderella), Timothy Spall (Mr Turner/The Last Bus/Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street/Harry Potter Films/Auf Wiedersehen, Pet).
Directed By: Thea Sharrock.
Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama.
Synopsis: When people in Littlehampton--including conservative local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that something is amiss, the town's women investigate.
Review: Thanks largely to a strong cast that leans into the story's humorous side, Wicked Little Letters is a diverting comedy even if the mystery at its core isn't particularly engaging. Wicked Little Letters follows a series of bizarre events as the pious and reserved Edith receives a string of crude letters, supposedly from her boisterous neighbour Rose. It's one of those delightful British films that brings to a light a surprisingly true story and packs it full of brilliant British talent. Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman as the two leads are both brilliant as expected. They each bring a different style of comedy to their characters, elevating the witty dialogue superbly. They are just such great fun to watch. Timothy Spall does a great job as an old fashioned man of the house is outraged by these Wicked Little Letters. Overall this film is just an absolute hoot. It's fun and quirky and boisterous and just a really good time.
My Rating: 7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 23/02/24.
Critics: 69%. Audience: None Yet.
Similar Movies: See how they run, Moriah's Lighthouse, International Falls, Deadloch, Angry Annie, How To Get Rid Of A Body (and still be friends), Fisherman's Friends: One and All. 

Bob Marley: One Love.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 47 M.
Stars: Kingsley Ben-Adir (Barbie/Marvel's Secret Invasion/King Arthur: Legend of the Sword), Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel/No time to die/Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical/The Woman King), James Norton (Happy Valley/Little Women/Mr Jones/McMafia), Tosin Cole (Till/Doctor Who/Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens).
Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard/We own this City/Monsters and Men).
Genre: Biography/Music/Drama.
Synopsis: The story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music.
Review: A fully committed performance by Kingsley Ben-Adir in the title role bolsters this otherwise conventional biopic of the inspirational reggae legend that seems to capture only fragments of its subject’s spirit and essence. A lot of the dialogue was very hard to understand and I know this is how Bob spoke and Kingsley Ben-Adir wanted to remain accurate to the way he spoke -but I would have preferred it if I could have followed all the dialogue. The only good thing that will come out of this film is an introduction to Marley’s music to a new generation. It is good music, but the film doesn’t provide any glimpses into how that happened. Lashana Lynch gives a good performance, spearheading the rest of the cast who are alright; interesting to see James Norton. Overall, it does feel like the film only scratches the surface of Marley's life. I wanted more from it, but to be fair it is still a decent flick in my opinion.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 18/02/24.
Critics: 43%. Audience: 93%.
Similar Movies: Elvis/Bohemian Rhapsody/Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody/Rocketman/Respect/Straight Outta Compton.

Madame Web.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 57 M.
Stars: Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey/The Social Network/The Peanut Butter Falcon), Sydney Sweeney (Anyone but you/The White Lotus/The Handmaid's Tale), Isabela Merced (Transformers: The Last Knight/Dora and the Lost City of Gold), Celeste O'Connor (Ghostbusters: After Life/Freaky), Tahar Rahim (Napoleon/The Mauritanian).
Directed By: S.J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones/The Defenders/Life on Mars).
Genre: Superheroes/Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure).
Synopsis: Cassandra Webb is a New York metropolis paramedic who begins to demonstrate signs of clairvoyance. Forced to challenge revelations about her former, she needs to safeguard three young women from a deadly adversary who wants them destroyed.
Review: In a switch from the typical genre, Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing's most enigmatic heroines. The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who develops the power to see the future... and realizes she can use that insight to change it. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women bound for powerful destinies...if they can all survive a deadly present. Okay so the Reviews of this Movie are bad, I thought it was Okay, not a Classic just Okay and I feel some of the other Reviews go over the top a bit. The story is all over the place, it's basically about Madame Web who is a paramedic and develops powers and can see into the future, with a current threat she tries to change the future, teaming up with 3 powerful characters who are yet to develop into their full potential so she must shield them and change the future to protect them. The Commentary At Times -Some lines in this movie are startling at how funny they were for me, a fantastic bout of teenage emotions with a less than thrilled babysitter. Madame Web's origin story is almost like an anti-hero tale to Charles Xavier idea, and though it's not fully fleshed out, there is emotion, fun, and what felt natural angst and vulnerability into it. The Movie does lack a bit in Star power but I found it Okay.
My Rating: 6/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: (17/02/24)
Critics: 13% (WOW!). Audience: 54% (Closer to reality).
Similar Movies: Other Marvel Superhero Movies, Next, Déjà vu.

The Iron Claw.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 12 M.
Stars: Zac Efron (17 Again/Hairspray/Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear/Shameless/The Rental), Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats/Where the Crawdads Sing), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter/Fight Club) and Lily James (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!/Cinderella/Yesterday/Pam & Tommy).
Directed By: Sean Durkin (The Nest/Martha Marcy May Marlene).
Genre: Biography/Sport/Drama.
Synopsis: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.
Review: Powerfully acted and profoundly sad, The Iron Claw honors its fact-based story with a dramatization whose compassionate exploration of family ties is just as hard-hitting as its action in the wrestling ring. Please don't be put off by this being a wrestling Movie it is more about family and loss, yes there are some wrestling matches in there but I don't think it is the Films main theme that is just kind of what they do.
A quote from the Film: Kevin Von Erich: [narrates] Ever since I was a child, people said my family was cursed. Mom tried to protect us with God. Dad tried to protect us with wrestling. He said if we were the toughest, the strongest, nothing could ever hurt us. I believed him. We all did.
The story is centered around Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron), mostly because the tale can only be told through his window. A Texas family whose father Fritz (Holt McCallany) desperately wanted to be at the top of the game. He molded his sons to follow in his footsteps. Cold and focused, he is the father of that era that most today would consider abusive. Back then, to get greatness, sacrifice must be endured. In this case, the early wild death of the eldest brother Jack (who is never really addressed completely) since he was a baby when he passed from an electrocution accident. From that point on, the family presses forward.
I would recommend this Movie to All, but I guess wrestling fans will get more from it.
My Rating: 8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: (15/02/24)
Critics: 89% Audience: 94%.
Similar Movies: The Wrestler, Foxcatcher, Cinderella Man, The Hurricane, Bleed for this, Fighting with my family and Rocky Films I guess.   

The Zone Of Interest.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 45 M.
Stars: Christian Friedel (13 Minutes/Babylon Berlin/The White Ribbon), Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall/Requiem/Toni Erdmann), Johann Karthaus (SOKO Hamburg).
Directed By: Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin/Sexy Beast/Birth).
Genre: History/War/Drama.
Synopsis: Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp.
Review: This Movie is incredibly hard to watch, it tells a story of a normal everyday family doing normal things they just happen to share a wall with Auschwitz. Throughout the Film you can hear firing squads and screaming it is harrowing and the fact that this family just goes about normal everyday life is horrifying. This incandescent film portrays the idyllic life that the family of Nazi commandant Rudolf Hoss enjoyed in a sumptuous house right next to the concentration camp in Auschwitz right in the middle of the Holocaust. There is very little soundtrack and it all unfolds at a deliberate pace that is in keeping with Jonathan Glazer's slow-burn, disquieting style. A rigorous sense of order and calm is prevalent throughout.
You never actually see any of the Holocaust taking place even though it's right next door. The barbarism and butchery are only apparent from the screams in the distance or from fires at night or smoke during the daytime. The pristine, lush surroundings of this family bely the mass extermination that is taking place in the immediate vicinity. It's a masterful work in which conveys horrible events by leaving them to the imagination.
My Rating: 8/10 It is a very good Movie but it is one I won't be in a rush to see again.
Similar Movies: 12 Years a slave, The Auschwitz Report, Shoah, Schindler's List, A Hidden Life, Under the Skin, The Memory of Justice, The White Ribbon, Night and Fog, The boy in the stripped Pyjamas, The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank: The Whole Story.

Argylle.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 19 M.
Stars: Henry Cavill (Man of Steel/Justice League/Mission: Impossible - Fallout), Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World Films/The Help/Rocketman), Sam Rockwell (Moon/Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri/Confessions of a Dangerous Mind/Seven Psychopaths), Dua Lipa (Barbie/Singer), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story/Wish/Hamilton), Richard E. Grant (Withnail & I/Saltburn/Gosforth Park), John Cena (The Suicide Squad/Fast & Furious Movies/Bumblebee), Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone/Beetlejuice/Schitt's Creek), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad/Your Honor/Malcolm in the Middle), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction + Other Tarrantino Films/Marvel Films).
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass/X-Men: First Class/Kingsman: The Secret Service/Layer Cake).
Genre: Action/Thriller.
Synopsis: A reclusive author who writes espionage novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate realizes the plot of the new book she's writing starts to mirror real-world events, in real time.
Review: This movie makes the word "ridiculous" woefully inadequate. But it's a fun ridiculous. There are so many laugh out loud moments that it makes up for a lot of the flaws. A lot of these actors get to play James Bond in this Movie and they also get to play the bad guy too, it is a little hard to keep track of who everyone is in the Movie, no one is quite what they seem. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Ellie Conway who is an author of espionage novels that somehow are coming to life. I really enjoyed this Movie it was a lot of fun.
My Rating: 8/10.
Similar Movies: Kingsman: The Secret Service, True Lies, Out of Sight, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Burn After Reading, Central Intelligence, Spy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and James Bond Movies.  

Poor Things.
Certificate: 18.
Runtime: 2 H 21 M.
Stars: Emma Stone (La La Land/Easy A/The Help/The Amazing Spiderman 1 & 2), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk in Marvel Movies/Spotlight/Foxcatcher/Begin Again.Now you see me 1 & 2), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man/At Eternity's Gate/The Lighthouse), Ramy Youssef (Ramy/Mr Robot).
Directed By: Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster/The Killing of a scared deer).
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Romance.
Synopsis: The incredible tale about the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.
Review: Poor Things is a thoroughly outrageous romp. It's trippy, disturbing and brutally funny. This Movie won't be for everyone it is very strange and a little bit macabre and it has some very graphic sexual content.
Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is a woman with the mind of a child- literally. The product of a Frankensteinesque experiment by eccentric surgeon Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), Bella has spent all her life locked in his mansion, surrounded by his other creations. After Godwin hires medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) to be his assistant, Bella begins to develop, her intelligence increasing rapidly. Craving autonomy and wanting to see the world, Bella decides to travel with Godwin's slick lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), although life outside the mansion proves to be strange and harsh; and Duncan's charm only skin deep.
My Rating: 8/10.
Similar Movies: Frankenstein (1931),The Lighthouse, The Elephant Man, Ex Machina, Edward Scissorhands, The Favourite. 

American Fiction.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 57 M.
Stars: Jeffrey Wright (What If.../The French Dispatch/The Batman), Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-Ish/Becoming), Erika Alexander (Get Out/Deja Vu), Issa Rae (Insecure/Little) and Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther/The Predator).
Directed By: Cord Jefferson (Watchmen TV Series).
Genre: Drama/Dark Comedy.
Synopsis: A novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Review: Smart, funny, and poignant, American Fiction will make you laugh as often as it makes you think. Yes I am a white man writing this Review so I get the irony. The film opens with a college professor pushing back on a student's overly emotional reaction to his use of a certain word in class. What strikes us in the scene is that the professor is black and the student is white. The confrontation costs Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (the always great Jeffrey Wright) his job at a New England university, and perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the story - much of which centers on Monk's incredulity at the progression of events around him. He writes a Book as a joke in which he uses all the black stereotypes he can think of because his last book submission wasn't deemed "black enough" To his utter dismay his publisher loves and even Hollywood comes calling. The best comedies have something to say, and the best satires are often quite cynical as they expose the absurdity of our world. Monk is dumbfounded at many of the same things that dumbfound us, and this peaks at his meeting with an aptly named movie producer, Wiley Valdespino (played by Adam Brody, READY OR NOT, 2019). Myra Lucretia Taylor (THE BIG SICK, 2017) has a supporting role as the housekeeper, and there are too many terrific scenes to count. One of the best is a debate between Monk and Sintara, and the writing is priceless and brilliant. An intelligent man like Monk cannot wrap his head around the fact that black books pandering to white readers who are trying to follow the rules is the new path to success. Filmmaker Cord Jefferson delivers the message (warning?) in a smart, funny movie featuring a wonderful lead performance by Jeffrey Wright.
My Rating: 7/10.
Similar Movies: Dear White People,Watermelon Man (1970), Blazing Saddles, Tropic Thunder, Sorry To Bother You, Bamboozled, Putney Swope (1969), Hollywood Shuffle, Dream Scenario and Adaptation.

The Color Purple.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 21 M.
Stars: Fantasia Barrino (The Butler), Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button/Hidden Figures), Danielle Brooks (Orange is the new Black/Peacemaker), Colman Domingo (Lincoln/Selma) and Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid).
Directed By: Blitz Bazawule (The Burial of Kojo/Black Is King).
Genre: Drama/Musical.
Synopsis: A woman faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Review: It's hard not to compare this to the Steven Spielberg 1985 Movie and this isn't quite of that level. I felt this Movie was beautifully shot and the colours really pop! I am not really a big fan of Musicals so when people start singing for no reason and try to pretend it is normal, I find it a bit odd and very old fashioned Film making. The story plods along at times incoherently. The rawness of the novel, left out presumably to making it 'family friendly' which is a major mistake. The rawness of this story, or this novel, of these iconic and remarkable characters is the foundation of the entire point of why the colour of Purple is so important as an analogy of God and His Grace. Since I have read the book and seen the first adaptation from Steven Spielberg which I really liked, I felt the emotional core and writing isn't as strong as it could be as there were some elements that felt thin and could have been explored a bit more. Since this is based on the broadway version, I haven't seen the broadway version so that might explain the disconnection. There were some pacing issues and some of the dialogue moments were a little odd. Overall, it's a decent adaptation but I prefer to watch Steven Spielberg's version.
My Rating: 7/10.
Similar Movies: The Color Purple (1985), 12 Years a slave, Till, The Help, A Time to Kill, West Side Story.

The Holdovers.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 13 M.
Stars: Paul Giamatti (Sideways/Cinderella Man/American Splendor), Da'vine Joy Randolph (The Lost City/Dolemite Is My Name) and Dominic Sessa (Made in Hollywood).
Directed By: Alexander Payne (Nebraska/Election/Sideways).
Genre: Drama/Comedy.
Synopsis: A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go and a grieving cook.
My Quick Opinion: It is easy to see why this Movie is nominated for so many Oscars. The cast lead by Paul Giamatti are all incredible. My only gripe is that this Movie should be seen in December it is a Christmas Movie but it didn't come out near me until the middle of January?
My Rating: 9/10. 

The Beekeeper.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 45 M.
Stars: Jason Statham (Fast & Furious Films/The Meg/Wrath of Man) , Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games Films/Zathura: A Space Adventure), Jeremy Irons (The Lion King/DC Films), Jemma Redgrave (Doctor Who/Howard's End), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting/Grosse Pointe Blank/Sleepers), Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy/Central Park) and Bobby Naderi (Bright/Black Summer).
Directed By: David Ayer (End of watch/Suicide Squad).
Genre: Action/Thriller.
Synopsis: One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as "Beekeepers".
My Quick Opinion: Was better than I was expecting it to be.
My Rating: 8/10. 

One Life.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 50 M.
Stars: Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the lambs/Nixon/Odin in MCU Films), Johnny Flynn (Emma/Operation Mincemeat/The Outfit), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street/Les Misérables/Fight Club/The King's Speech) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes/Tomorrow Never Dies/The Crown).
Directed By: James Hawes (Slow Horses/Black Mirror Episodes).
Genre: Biography/History/Drama.
Synopsis: The story of Sir Nicholas 'Nicky' Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued Jewish children from the Nazis.
My quick Opinion: Amazing true story which is incredibly emotional with some amazing acting performances.
My Ratting: 10/10 (Seems disrespectful to give it anything else).

Aquaman and the lost kingdom.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 4 M.
Stars: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lundgren, Martin Short and the voice of  John Rhys-Davies.
Directed By: James Wan.
Genre: Superheroes/Fantasy/Action/
Adventure.
Synopsis: Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman's family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
My Quick Opinion: Good, Stupid Comic Book Fun with some impressive visuals.
My Rating: 7/10. 

Rebel Moon, Part One: A child of fire. (netflix)
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 13 M.
Stars: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam and the voice of Anthony Hopkins.
Directed By: Zack Snyder.
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Action/
Adventure/Drama.
Synopsis: When a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, a mysterious stranger living among its villagers becomes their best hope for survival.
My Quick Opinion: Very Good, Star Wars -like (it was originally written to be a Star Wars Movie).
My Rating: 8/10. 

Godzilla Minus One.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 4 M.
Stars: Minami Hamabe, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki and Munetaka Aoki.
Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama.
Synopsis: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
My Quick Opinion: Feels like a classic Godzilla Movie.
My Rating: 8/10.

Maestro. (netflix)
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 9 M.
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan and Matt Bomer.
Directed By: Bradley Cooper.
Genre: Biography/Drama/Music.
Synopsis: This love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.
My Quick Opinion: If you like your Movies at a fast pace this Movie is NOT for you, it is a bit slow but I still found it interesting.
My Rating: 6/10.

WONKA.

Certificate: PG.
Runtime: 1 H 56 M.
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, 

Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, Matt Lucas, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Grant.

The Hunger Games:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 37 M.
Stars: Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage.
Directed By: Francis Lawrence.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama.
Synopsis: The story of Coriolanus Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. He is handsome and charming, and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, Coriolanus sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor a girl tribute named Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12.
My Quick Opinion: I really enjoyed this prequel Movie to the original Hunger Games Movies. I really liked Rachel Zegler singing in the Movie. Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis are really solid in their supporting roles in this Movie.
My Rating: 8/10.   

Saltburn.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 7 M.
Stars: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Archie Madekwe, Reece Shearsmith, Richard E. Grant, Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan.
Directed By: Emerald Fennell.
Genre: Drama/Thriller/Comedy.
Synopsis: A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family's sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten.
My Quick Opinion: This is an amazing Movie if a little macabre.
My Rating: 9/10. 

The Killer.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 58 M.
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton and Charles Parnell.
Directed By: David Fincher.
Genre: Crime/Action/Drama/Thriller/
Adventure.
Synopsis: After a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.
My Quick Opinion: I had high hopes for as I love David Fincher's other Movies Seven/Fight Club ect. But this is a bit slow and a bit of a let down.
My Rating: 7/10.

Foe.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 50 M.
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Aaron Pierre.
Directed By: Garth Davis.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Drama/Thriller.
Synopsis: Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior's family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal.
My Quick Opinion: Very good Sci-Fi story.
My Rating: 8/10.

Anatomy of a fall.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 31 M.
Stars: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Antoine Reinartz  and Samuel Theis.
Directed By: Justine Triet.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller.
Synopsis: A woman is suspected of her husband's murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.
My Quick Opinion: I really enjoyed this Film which is a court room drama trying to decide if a man jumped or was pushed out of an attic window.
My Rating: 8/10.

Broker.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 9 M.
Stars: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won and Bae Doona.
Directed By: Kore-eda Hirokazu.
Genre: Drama/Crime/Comedy.
Synopsis: When a young mother reconsiders abandoning her baby, she discovers a scheme selling foundlings for adoption.
My Quick Opinion: I enjoyed this it is very emotional, kind of a road trip movie with some surprisingly funny moments.
My Rating 7/10.

The Miracle Club.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 30 M.
Stars: Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith and Stephen Rea.
Directed By: Thaddeus O'Sullivan.
Genre: Drama/Comedy.
Synopsis: There's just one dream for the women of Ballygar to taste freedom: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes.
My Quick Opinion: It is a very nice little film with good performances for all the Actors.
My Rating 7/10. 

The Marvels.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 45 M.
Stars: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson.
Directed By: Nia DaCosta.
Genre: Superheroes/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/ Action/Adventure.
Synopsis: Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
My Quick Opinion: Marvel continues to disappoint, it feels like this Movie is trying to copy Guardians of the Galaxy a bit and it isn't as good. Although this Movie does have Marvel's best Mid-Credit Scene in awhile, don't bother waiting until the end credits have finished it is very disappointing.
My Rating 7/10. 

Dream Scenario.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 42 M.
Stars: Nicolas Cage and Julianne Nicholson.
Directed By: Kristoffer Borgli.
Genre: Horror/ Dark Comedy.
Synopsis: A hapless family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. When his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
My Quick Opinion: It is quite a strange Film, I felt like they could have taken it a bit further.
My Rating: 7/10.

Quiz Lady. *Disney+
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 39 M.
Stars: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh and Will Ferrell.
Directed By: Jessica Yu.
Genre: Comedy.
Synopsis: A gameshow-obsessed woman and her estranged sister work together to help cover their mother's gambling debts.
My Quick Opinion: Had some really funny moments. A nice feel good movie that doesn't offer much in way of surprises. 
My Rating: 8/10. 

Pain Hustlers *Netflix.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 2 M.
Stars: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia and Catherine O'Hara.
Directed By: David Yates.
Genre: Crime/Drama.
Synopsis: Liza dreams of a better life for herself and her daughter. Hired to work for a bankrupt pharmaceutical company, Liza skyrockets with sales and into the high life, putting her in the middle of a federal criminal conspiracy.
My Quick Opinion: I enjoyed it the main cast all put in good performances lead by Emily Blunt.
My Rating: 8/10.

Five nights at Freddy's.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 49 M.
Stars: Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard.
Directed By: Emma Tammi.
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller.
Synopsis: A troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes that the night shift won't be so easy to get through. Pretty soon he will unveil what actually happened at Freddy's.
My Quick Opinion: It was Okay, I guess. Horror isn't really my Genre.
My Rating: 6/10.

Killers of the flower moon.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 3 H 26 M.
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser.
Directed By: Martin Scorsese.
Genre: Crime/Drama/History.
Synopsis: When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
My Quick Opinion: Very Good with some amazing Acting and Direction from some of the greatest talent in Hollywood. Yes it is long, so be prepared. 
My Rating: 9/10.

The Burial. *prime video.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 2 H 16 M.
Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx.
Directed By: Maggie Betts.
Genre: Drama.
Synopsis: Inspired by true events, a lawyer helps a funeral home owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth, exposing a complex web of race, power, and injustice.
My Quick Opinion: Fantastic Court Room Drama.
My Rating: 8/10

The Old Oak.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 53 M.
Stars: Dave Turner, Ebla Mari, Claire Rodgerson.
Directed By: Ken Loach.
Genre: Drama.
Synopsis: The future for the last remaining pub, The Old Oak, in a village of Northeast England, where people are leaving the land as the mines are closed. Houses are cheap and available, thus making it an ideal location for Syrian refugees.
My Quick Opinion: Amazing Social Commentary from a master of the Genre Director. A little hard to watch at times as it is very honest and real to life.
My Rating: 8/10.

The Great Escaper.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 36 M.
Stars: Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson.
Directed By: Oliver Parker.
Genre: Drama.
Synopsis: Bernard Jordan escapes from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France.
My quick opinion: Was Okay, this will be both actors final Movie.
My Rating: 7/10.

The Creator.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 13 M.
Stars: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan and Ken Watanabe.
Directed By: Gareth Edwards.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure/
Drama.
Synopsis: Against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence, a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child.
My Quick Reaction: Amazing Sci-Fi if a little formulaic.
My Rating: 9/10. 

Dumb Money.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 45M.
Stars: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Seth Rogan, Vincent D'Onofrio, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan and Shailene Woodley.
Directed By: Craig Gillespie.
Genre: Biography/Drama/Comedy.
Synopsis: Dumb Money is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world's hottest company.
My Quick Reaction: Very Good Movie with a Great cast.
My Rating: 10/10.

Expendables 4.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 43 M.
Stars: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, 50 Cent, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren and Andy Garcia.
Directed By: Scott Waugh.
Genre: Action/Thriller/Adventure.
Synopsis: Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on, the Expendables are the world's last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table.
My Quick Reaction: Predictable but fun Action Movie.
My Rating: 7/10.

A Haunting in Venice.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 1 H 43 M.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey and Kelly Reilly.
Directed By: Kenneth Branagh.
Genre: Crime/Horror/Drama.
Synopsis: In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.
My Quick Reaction: Good Who Dunnit' with Horror elements.
My Rating 8/10. 

The Equalizer 3.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 49 M.
Stars: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning.
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua.
Genre: Crime/Thriller/Action.
Synopsis: Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.
My Quick Opinion: Very Good Film, Denzel Washington is simply amazing and he continues his partnership with the Director.
My Rating: 8/10

The Blackening.
Certificate: 15.
Runtime: 1 H 37 M.
Stars: Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg.
Directed By: Tim Story.
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Comedy.
Synopsis: Seven friends go away for the weekend and end up trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not.
My Quick Opinion: Doesn't really offer anything new to the Horror Genre.
My Rating: 4/10. 

Blue Beetle.
Certificate: 12A.
Runtime: 2 H 7 M.
Stars: Xolo Maridueña, Susan Sarandon, Bruna Marquezine.
Directed By: Angel Manuel Soto.
Genre: Superhero/Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure.
Synopsis: An alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.
My Quick Opinion: Pretty standard Superhero Film.
My Rating: 6/10.

STRAYS

Gran Turismo

Haunted Mansion

Meg 2: The Trench
Certificate: 12A
Runtime: 1 H 56 M
Stars: Jason Statham.
Directed By: Ben Wheatley.
Genre: Action/Horror/Adventure.
Synopsis: A research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.
My Quick Opinion: Okay Then lol. This Film is exactly what you expect it to be. 
My Rating: 6/10

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