adamsmith-51004 Reviews

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

You should have stayed out of Poland

[6/10 · 20 January 2024]

A new Indiana Jones film. The Fifth in the series. And hopwfully this is the last one.

Unlike the previous films this one is not directed by Steven Spielberg.

We begin with a long prologue scene. Set back in World War two, Indy and a colleague (Toby Jones) are on a daring mission behind enemy lines. Action takes place. This is setting up things that become important later. The villains are Nazis. Which is always going to work. The action isn't bad at all.

Indy in this scene is Harrison Ford still. His face de-aged by computer trickery. You have to just go with it. How successful this ultimately is will be a matter of opinion.

Then to the main body of the film: set in the late 1960's, Indy is down on his luck and at a dead end. When Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) daughter of the colleague from the earlier scene, comes looking for him. Which leads to both of them getting caught up in a quest for an artefact and having to deal with a villain with evil henchmen and a specific plan. Is Indy too old for one last adventure?

It's great to hear the music again. There's something gloriously nostalgic about that. Which is what I liked about the film. It was nice to have one more go at this franchise.

While it's not Spielberg, the directing is capable. Harrison Ford does his best and since the writing does remember how old the character is, it works. Mads Mikkelsen is a decent enough villain.

There's a globe trotting narrative which does progress in a decent manner. One supporting character is reasonably well used.

But:

The big problem with this is Helena.

Audience for Crystal Skull: 'Boo! We hate Shia Labeouf as this character who is clearly meant to take over the franchise!.'

Disney: 'Alright then, let's try that again but with a female character.'

Internet: 'Boo! We hate said character even though we've not seen the film yet!"'.

Helena is a three dimensional creation. The acting is capable. But she is rude and arrogant throughout and becomes a thoroughly unsympathetic character as a result. That's not to do with her gender, it's just her personality. Her backstory gives reason for this and it works, but it doesn't make her someone you want to spend time with or see more of.

She does develop a bit over the course of this. But frankly not quite enough by the end to have got me past those issues.

The final quarter of the film is quite clever. I liked what it did plot wise because it was very logical and had some good surprises. But it does make one very big error in the writing. Let's just say I now understand what people mean about someone having agency.

The ending is not bad. Although it doesn't quite close the door as it could have. Even though this really is by all accounts it.

This is not a bad watch if you want a good nostalgia fix. I am glad I gave it a go. But more Helena? No thanks.

The fate of one character is perhaps a bit too graphic for the very young. And there is a moment with flashing lights, thus not good for epileptics and those who can't handle strobe lighting.

Overall a decent film but nothing brilliant and once again falls quite a bit short of the quality of the original trilogy.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

The emperors new clothes.

[4/10 · 31 December 2023]

So once again Zack Snyder has a huge budget and a big cast and once again serves up a film that is just plain boring. How and why studios keep backing him is a mystery to me.

One of the problems of the movie is the plot. It is just boring and unoriginal. And it's not just the main storyline which makes little sense, the villains are comedic and not interesting, a mix of Nazis, star wars villains and just like stormtroopers seem incapable of hitting any of our heroes.

The assembly of heroes which is the main point of this part 1 is what the movie is about, is also rushed and the motivation of the people to join is straight-up nonexistent in most of the cases and is simply skipped entirely. Think a poor imitation of Magnificent Seven/Seven samurai and you kinda get the idea.

As for the villain who comes to find mysterious troubling rebels, apparently every single person knows who are the rebels and how to find them and shares that information to the first stranger they meet. It's not like they are even hiding.

Next, combat and action scenes. Blasters that penetrate people in armor through, but can't penetrate a thin piece of wood. Remember when in the new Star Wars trilogy a red guard could strike Ray but was just making dumb random moves to simulate action? Well, it's absolutely the same here. Maximum drama, lots of slow motion, frequent switch of the scenes every few seconds and very little sense.

The acting is ok, but it's difficult to judge the actors due to the poor script tells. Kora is just a poor character who feels out of place and a character who I just didn't feel any connection to.

It's not all bad. The visuals are good but like most Snyder films I felt it was a 2 hours and 15 mins long that could quite easily have been done in 30 to 40 mins.

I'd say it's the most disappointing Snyder's movie so far and that's saying something given Sucker Punch, Batman v Superman etc.

Murder Is Easy (2023)

Murder is boring

[4/10 · 29 December 2023]

Firstly I'm a big fan of the whodunit period drama. From Miss Marple to Poirot etc. When I saw this advertised on the BBC over the Christmas period I was hoping for a good watch.

This starts off intriguing with Miss Pinkerton boarding a train, making her way to Scotland Yard. On the train, she meets Luke Fitzwilliam, whom she tells her tale of a murderer in her village. Fitzwilliam, an investigator himself, who is frustrated at a delay in starting his new job and so goes to Miss Pinkerton's village to investigate her claims.

To be honest, I found this one a bit boring. The way it played out and was acted it almost felt like a parody of Agatha Christie rather than a serious drama.

Although David Jonsson carried the lead well enough it didn't really suit the story to have Fitzwilliam's character changed to Nigerian. It made it difficult to believe the setting where the story takes place and that it was 1950s Britain.

I would recommend spending two hours doing something better than watching this. There are much better adaptations of Agatha Christie's work than this and time would be better spent watching them. Sadly yet again another Christmas and another sub par BBC adaptation.

Secret Invasion (2023)

"This is my war"

[5/10 · 13 August 2023]

In short, there was absolutely no weight to the show or the deaths in it. They did several characters dirty; for example Soren, Talos, Maria Hill, Everett K Ross, Pagon, Beto, Jack Hyuk-Bin (the Asian man on the Skrull Council with no lines). So much more could have been done with everyone I have listed and it was such a shame not to see more character development, or at least the beginnings of it.

The best part of the show was without question the acting. Sam Jackson, Olivia Coleman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Don Cheadle all gave outstanding performances.

I loved the addition of Vara (not going to spoil who this is) and it was fun to see the interactions between Nick and Sonya. The scenes with Don and Sam J were also some of the best moments.

Overall, however, the story lacked any real gravity. There was little to no real tension that one would expect from a spy thriller and as I have said earlier, a lot of the characters were massively under-utilised. The writing and editing really let the show down which is such a shame because I really feel like this could have been Marvel(Disney)'s chance to show critics that they can nail espionage. It wanted to be Captain America Winter Soldier, which is arguably the closest Marvel has come to making a true spy thriller, but ultimately failed to match that. More explanation of the science was needed too.

The best release since End Game has been GOTG3 and that was James Gunn's project which I know he guarded as best he could. Marvel need to centralise their story telling a bit more because right now they are flailing in lots of directions creating cash grabs and it really feels like they have lost the passion for bringing fandom to life and making fans proud, which was made the MCU so magical in phases 1-3.

The Flash (I) (2023)

"You wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts"

[7/10 · 13 August 2023]

Barry Allan uses the speed force to travel back in time and save his Mum. But on his return to the present timeline he gets knocked off course and finds himself stuck in an alternate timeline where Superman is not around to stop Zod's invasion of earth.

I was not expecting much when I went in to watch The Flash, so I was pleasantly surprised when I walked out having enjoyed this so much! The Flash is sort of like the DCU's version of Avengers Endgame in that it references and rewrites various events from movies past... and not just recent movies either but ALL DC related films or shows going back to the 50s. The humour can be a bit on the nose at times, but there's also some genuine comedic observations about the other Justice League characters. Although the overall plot is quite emotionally heavy and deals with loss, grief and the role pain plays in our development as people, the story is told in a light and breezy way making it very easy to watch. Generally time travel storylines get very confusing, but the explanations given in this film are quite different to how other films deal with time travel and I found it slightly refreshing. It did start to get a little confusing right near the end with what was happening inside the time bubble thing and worlds were crashing into one another but outside of that small sequence, everything else made perfect sense to me. It was great to see Michael Keaton return to his role as Batman. There are a few other interesting faces that show up and events refrenced from movies past and I don't want to spoil it for others but it was fun pointing them all out. That was also the movies biggest let down. The CGI was generally alright I thought but the faces on the de-aged characters and the ones with actors whom have passed away looked noticeably fake. Not horrible, just not great either. I get they were trying to do a heartfelt homage to Reeves but the poor CGI made it look almost embarrassing. I also think the return of Zod was... underwhelming. I get Zod was not really that big of a part of the overall story anyway as it wasn't about him, but if you bring the original actor back then at least give him more to say and do!

Final Verdict: Action packed, funny, emotional when it counts and just an all round easy watch. It does start to get a bit self-indulgent right towards the end, the CGI at times was iffy and the humour didn't always land but its one of the better DCU films in a long time! DC fans should love it.

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

I won't be back

[5/10 · 12 July 2023]

Like most terminator fans I was excited about the return of James Cameron to the franchise he created way back in 1984. And what was being said about this being a direct sequel to T2 and ignoring the previous three films helped me to believe this would be great and the best news, Linda Hamilton was returning. But the warning signs were there, James Cameron was one of the few people who praised Terminator Genisys and the direction it took. Also the fact that Deadpool director Tim Miller was at the helm was also good.

But then I went to see the film and discovered that this was not a continuation of the story after T2 but just another reboot. And the start looked promising, Linda Hamilton from T2 explaining the events of judgement day for about a minute and a half. Three minutes later of course the unthinkable, John Connor(Edward Furlong) is shot and killed by a terminator, the same make and model as the first two. This act renders T1 and T2 pointless and seems to be used only as a way to get Annie into this thing as ridiculous as the plot hole it creates. How could this terminator exist if skynet was defeated, was there more than one time displacement facility and the resistance just did not know. But my biggest issue with the death of John Connor is that it was Cameron's idea. Remember back in 1992 when Alien 3 was released and Newt and Hicks were killed in the opening credits and fans of Aliens and JC himself were not happy about it at all(I was one of them by the way). So given the reaction then what made JC think he could get away with it with the terminator now? And it is a shame because this is the best made terminator movie since T2 and gets a lot of things right, mostly the return to an adult rating the terminator was never meant to be family friendly. Linda Hamilton is the best thing in the film despite what was done to her character. Arnold is also good but his terminator story arc in the film is utterly unbelievable. Remember back in T2 when John Connor had to pull out the terminator's processor and alter it so the the terminator could learn to be more human, clearly the writers of this movie did not. Turning one of the best movie villains ever created into a drapes salesman just for laughs is unforgivable. Mackenzie Davis as Grace an upgraded human protector from the new even darker future puts in a fine performance given the limits of her character and do not get me started on how pointless the subplot of Grace needing several medications regularly because of her upgrades and how Sarah Connor is able to guess the dosage of each of these which makes this subplot pointless as well. Gabriel Luna is convincing as the Rev 9, he clearly watched Robert Patrick's T1000 from T2 for inspiration. Natalia Reyes as Dani the new saviour of the human race is pretty good but the scenes of her in the future do not do her any favours. The action and special effects are well produced but the OTT sequence on the plane feels out of place and only there to increase the spectacle. So overall a good film that could have been great if it was what it said it was going to be a continuation of T1 and T2 and not what we got a Genisys inspired reboot of a classic that fails to hit the same heights and if James Cameron cannot save the terminator franchise maybe it is time to say hasta la vista baby!

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

"I have holes"

[7/10 · 26 March 2023]

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumanis is a good film and a good start to the MCU's Phase 5. Would rate it either a 7/10 possibly 6/10 due to some questionable choices in pacing, comedy and it's Villain. By no means was Kang Terrible, as Jonathan Majors performance as him was one of the highlights of the film, he is a great actor and will be interesting to see more of him. "He who remains" wasn't a good showing. But the film somewhat has inconsistent tonal shifts and pacing of the movie from being somewhat slow at the start, to fast in the middle and rushed high octane towards the end. Also the lack of supporting characters mostly Janet, hurts this movie.

The comedy didn't hit for me asides from a few jokes directed at a specific character but some of the dialogue and interactions between characters felt forced. The new characters felt like I've seen them before due to the marvel formula, asides from Jentorra, but even she is debatable I liked her character/actress and Cassie as she has potential to grow but she was annoying at times in the movie but as a "Young Avenger" the potential is there.

The CGI and VFX Effects weren't as Laughable or down right terrible as people had described as any Marvel movie they were good in some scenes yes they weren't the best with a certain character the element of realism had already gone out the window. Some scenery and environments whilst in the quantum realm looked highly detailed and immersive. The overall set pieces/ships did provide a Star Wars vibe, which isn't a bad thing.

This film yet again proves that knowledge of the TV shows is starting to be required just like Dr Strange and The Multiverse Of Madness having watched WandaVision helped my understanding of the topics with Ant Man 3 watching Loki does better the overall viewer experience but enough explanation is provided in the film to make it watchable for newcomers even still there is a reliance on the viewer having watched or is caught up with Loki which knocks off a point.

Overall, Its a good watch with a friend or someone who likes the MCU's Ant-Man and its movies as this lays the foundation of the Big Bad to be Kang and his plans to conqure. It has some emotional heartfelt moments, engaging performances, high stakes and seemingly lasting consequences it's still fresh so my opinion may change but its between a 6 or 7 out of 10.

Elvis (2022)

If I can't move, I can't sing.

[7/10 · 28 October 2022]

This film captures the magnificence of Elvis Presley and the tragedy, as told through the eyes of his manager, but who got left behind by the changing times and his lack of understanding of creative genius.

He only became interested in the money and drove Elvis to keep touring and playing Vegas until even Elvis got tired of being Elvis, whilst trying not to show it publicly.

These are two complex characters, both geniuses in their field and both flawed. As villainous as Parker seems even the likes of Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling acknowledge that he was not all bad.

It is easily forgotten that Elvis was a pioneer and the first true mega star of music. Parker had the knowledge on how to break out of the southern USA and expose him to the world audience. At this stage he could be considered a pioneer himself. Then the greed clouded his judgement together with a lack of understanding of the contemporary culture that he helped Elvis create. This was a major contributing factor to Elvis's demise, due to sheer frustration. It was a frustration that remained hidden from the world until it was too late.

This film tells the story brilliantly and Austin Butler plays the principal role with uncanny accuracy. Also, the production quality that Baz Lurhman has created from the sets to the costumes and the overall feeling shines through.

It's a story that would be unbelievable if it were fiction, it's a Shakespearian Tragedy that is beyond what could have been imagined. But, at the core the talent that Elvis had shines through at all times, and endures today, which is why this film could be made over 40 years after the Elvis died.

There are some in Elvis's personal life who are reported to have been disappointed by not given much of a mention. Linda Thompson, being one of the most vocal in this respect, as usual Ginger Alden gets overlooked. But remember this is being told mainly from the viewpoint of Parker who by and large did try to stay clear of Elvis's personal life except for some notable occasions.

There is enough in this story to make a whole series of films, but for a movie you have to have a focus and not lose the audience. There are rumors of a 4-hour directors cut.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now it's here. Or should I say, I am.

[8/10 · 26 October 2022]

This is the most intense, complex, and stirring Marvel Cinematic Universe film yet -- though the sheer number of characters and storylines make it a bit confusing for anyone who's not a hard-core fan. Avengers: Infinity War is also the grimmest MCU movie so far, with consequences unlike any that have come before in this massive franchise. Much of the talk about the film will centre on those events (no more details here, to avoid spoilers), but there's more to it than that. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were already responsible for two of the best MCU entries to date, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. With Avengers: Infinity War, they continue to respect viewers' intelligence while giving their characters deep motivations and presenting knockout action scenes. It's as lean as epics get; none of its nearly two-and-a-half-hour running time feels wasted. While the many characters and intersecting plots may confuse casual viewers -- the filmmakers assume audiences are familiar with all that's come before -- for fans, it's one mind-blowing moment after another, starting with a jaw-dropping fight in the first minutes. Plus, Infinity War is also one of the funniest MCU movies yet, relying on character-based humour rather than some of the wacky flights of fancy of, say, the also excellent Thor: Ragnarok.

The performances benefit from the strong script, no-nonsense direction, and the growth the actors have experienced in their roles over many years. It's fun to watch two of the MCU's biggest egomaniacs, Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange, bump up against each other -- and then for Pratt's off-kilter Star-Lord to crash into the mix. Relationships are deepened, and it's a huge relief to see the Avengers working together again after the events of Civil War. Thanos, as voiced by Brolin and brilliantly animated by the VFX team, is perhaps the most frightening villain ever in a comic book film, largely because he's so thoroughly convinced that he's actually a good guy who's willing to make hard choices and impossible sacrifices in the universe's best interests. Without spoiling anything, the film's dire consequences feel almost Game of Thrones-like, with well-known characters defeated as never before. Some kids will likely be upset by that. But keep in mind that this is a comic book world (so things aren't always what they seem), and -- in the meantime -- appreciate the fact that the overall effect gives Infinity War the highest stakes and biggest wow factor of the MCU so far.

The Batman (2022)

I'm vengeance!

[8/10 · 26 October 2022]

I'm going to be honest I did not have high expectations for this film. I have my gripes with all the adaptations not just this one.

Let me just say (for those that haven't read the comics) it really is the most faithful adaptation to date, as a detective film noir and played as more of a thriller with some action thrown in - but even the visuals - I mean Gotham City looks and feels like it unlike any film before. Robert Pattinson is Batman/Bruce Wayne and he grows towards the end into as close to the caped crusader as one could hope. He doesn't quite nail the billionaire playboy philanthropist alter ego of Bruce Wayne in this film but something tells me that is why the movie is called The Batman - because the sequels will give the character a chance to evolve.

Jeffrey Wright plays Jim Gordon and he plays it very well, Zoe Kravitz is excellent and sassy as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano is incredible as The Riddler (especially at the end when you see him unmasked - what a phenomenal scene it is), and also unrecognisable is Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin - who while brief is absolutely mind-blowing with the few minutes screen time he has. I wasn't entirely sure on Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth but I did like him, I guess I had always pictured Alfred as much older - unfortunately he isn't in the film as much as one would hope to get a good feel of his character, I hope they rectify that with the sequel.

A lot of people are screaming about how the cast was race-swapped - I don't know and I don't care, everyone pulled off great performances, some with very little they had and they felt very much like the characters from the comics so I can kind of brush it aside. I mean Harvey Dent was race-swapped in the original Batman (1989) and nobody seemed to mind there.

As for the best Batman I appreciate it is subjective. I have a soft spot for Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns as I grew up with them. The major selling point is Gotham City - this is Batman's world, the city has to feel like an extension of him, and it has to draw me in,

So if I am going to compare it to anything it would be Batman Begins - I would say it is better - but only just. It is a lot darker, much grittier, akin to the movie Se7en with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, the Batmobile is done well and feels like an extension of Batman and his rage and the score by Michael Giacchino is epic and worth a listen! And I thought Danny Elfman's and Hans Zimmer's were great in their own way.

The film is incredible and I urge you all to see it on the big screen. The Batmobile scene alone will have you glued to the seat.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Hey, is that the Necrosword? That's cool. I've only ever read about it in stories.

[7/10 · 26 October 2022]

Thor Ragnarok gave Thor's world the shake up it / he needed to keep the character interesting. Undercutting the requisite heroism with sly, at times anarchic, humour, Ragnarok delivered one of the freshest and best movies in the MCU.

So how does Love and Thunder get it all so wrong? One word: Comedy. Whereas it's predecessor balanced the story and action almost perfectly with it's humour, here Thor's world is turned into an almost slapstick farce with every actor involved seemingly out to prove they can do 'comedy ' (yes, even Natalie Portman, unbelievably). Unfortunately, most of the humour falls flat as a pancake.

Love and Thunder also manages to waste two of the biggest recent storylines in Thor's comic history and squander one of his best villains in Gorr the God Butcher. Thor himself has been reduced to a bumbling man-child, who spends the entire movie staring at Jane Foster like a lovestruck teenager with a hammer fetish.

Talking of fetishes, someone involved in the film also has a serious Guns 'n' Roses obsession. The band are plastered all over this movie to a distracting level for some bizarre reason - tunes, posters. T-shirts all feature prominently, with even one character insisting he be called Axl! No doubt it helps Slash's retirement fund, but it's just another strike against the film.

Overall, it's a massive disappointment and Thor needs a giant course correction if the character is to stay relevant and have any real heroic purpose within the MCU.

Suspect (I) (2022– )

A missed opportunity

[4/10 · 23 June 2022]

When the trailer for this came on channel 4 it looked very good as well as showcasing an all star cast. I said to my wife before we started watching how often films etc with all star casts end up being poor.

Unfortunately this is the case with Suspect.

On paper this should be excellent which makes it all the more disappointing that it isn't.

James Nesbitt plays a detective who is a grief stricken father after discovering that a young girl who committed suicide is his daughter. Not convinced that she would commit suicide he starts to investigate despite everyone else, work colleagues, his daughters partner, his ex wife all insisting that it was.

The storyline is a bit predictable and despite such great actors never becomes much watch TV. The half hour episodes are a positive and help break it up otherwise I don't think I would have watched it all.

With very little else on it was watchable and wasn't awful but wouldn't really recommend it.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean they're lost forever

[7/10 · 17 June 2022]

Directed by Sam Raimi, who is making his first Marvel movie and first superhero outing since completing his pre-MCU webslinging trilogy in 2007 with Spider-Man 3, Multiverse of Madness lives up to its title in all sorts of ways. This is indeed a ride through a weird and often bonkers house of mirrors known as the multiverse, full of mind-bending moments, trippy twists, and a fistful of surprises.

It's also very much a Sam Raimi movie, and perhaps the most singularly identifiable vision of an MCU director since James Gunn sprang Guardians of the Galaxy on us nearly eight years ago. And more to the point, it's a Sam Raimi horror movie, or at least what one would look like in the Marvel sandbox. Demons, monsters, reanimated corpses, jump scares, doppelgangers, and supernatural manifestations fill every corner of the screen, as Raimi races from scene to scene with barely a breath in between.

At the the centre of the madness: the unworkable and out-of-reach love affair between Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) and, more importantly, the obsessive quest of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) to find her children somewhere out there in the multiverse... children that her fraying mind refuses to believe don't actually exist.

It's Wanda's search for her two sons, directly following up the events of 2021's WandaVision TV series, that makes it fortuitous when she crosses paths with America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a young woman who seems to be the only person in existence with the ability to travel between universes. But America's power is also exceedingly dangerous to the existence of any universe through which she passes, forcing Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong), and Wanda to face some hard, strange choices as they realise the fate of all the realities is at stake.

I won't reveal much more than that, but Multiverse of Madness rolls out its narrative in fits and starts, and Raimi's headlong, head-spinning approach to storytelling occasionally leads the director to get in his own way. Reflecting its own title, Multiverse of Madness has a frantic, on-the-edge-of-losing-control feel that sends it careening toward its next set-piece while the rest of us catch up.

Later on Doctor Strange is introduced to the famed Marvel Comics tribunal known as the Illuminati, that will make a number of heads in the audience explode. There is fan service here aplenty, some of it already hinted at and some unexpected.

It's also a moment that feels like it's right out of the comics, and if anything, Raimi leans hard into comic book imagery, even more so than in any of his three Spider-Man movies. In fact, Multiverse of Madness might be the most outright comic book-y film in the entire MCU to date, not an easy task in a film series based on more than six decades of the damn things. But whereas earlier MCU installments might have held back or spoon-fed their more bizarre elements, Multiverse of Madness throws it all against the wall in often messy yet gloriously bizarre fashion.

Cumberbatch has grown increasingly comfortable in Strange's cloak with each of his now six live-action appearances in the MCU, and he's ably assisted by Wong, who throws off a lot of his previous "funny sidekick" vibe in favor of a more substantial presence. McAdams, reduced to little more than a stand-in in the original 2016 Doctor Strange origin story, is also given more to do. Gomez, who's got appealing screen presence and fits the part, is too often reduced to the role of exposition machine in the course of the film's events, and her performance suffers for it.

The top acting honours, however, go to Olsen as Wanda, who brings real, palpable, heartbreaking grief to the part along with an electrifying single-mindedness that makes you believe she's one of the most powerful people in the MCU. The arc started for Wanda way back in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron reaches its summit here, and Olsen gives it her all with raw force.

Visually the film isn't always striking but there are Raimi trademarks aplenty, including whip pans, sudden tilts, zooms, and inside-out viewpoints. It comes to life the most during its trippier sequences, including one showstopping plunge through a cascading series of universes that is psychedelic and strangely unnerving.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness probably won't earn any new fans for the MCU, and it may even turn some moviegoers off as it's definitely a harder, more violent, and macabre outing than we've seen from Marvel to date. It also doesn't always land right; it's shaggy and occasionally jumps its own tracks. But it will please the legions of established fans by embracing the comic book weirdness of it all with vigor and abandon, as Sam Raimi creates possibly the MCU's most off-the-wall entry yet. Ironic that it would take such a crazily unsteady but rich movie to help steady the Marvel ship.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

"It's one of life's mysteries sir"

[9/10 · 17 June 2022]

After a long period of development, production finally started in 2018. After filming was completed the following year, the release was postponed several times for post production and Covid-19 it finally saw release in 2022...and was worth the wait.

After a fun prologue, the film has a fairly straight forward plot-Maverick training a younger generation to pull off a mission- but the writers do fit in a good character arc for Maverick (dealing with his aging and his relationship with Goose's son) and similar to McQuarrie's work with Mission Impossible work, the mission has it's own complications, especially in the extended climax. While a little cheesy at times it succeeds in being very entertaining and surprisingly very funny at times.

Cruise put a lot of energy into promoting the film and is clearly having fun reprising the role. The character is very enjoyable and pushing him into a mentor role he's clearly not comfortable with leads to some great character moments. Miles Teller is great as Goose's son who's journey-while predictable at times-is convincing and well performed. The rest of Cruise's team are a likable bunch and get an extended scene together acting as an introduction but in a film running only slightly over two hours, it's perhaps inevitable some of these parts are a bit thin. Jennifer Connelly is very charming as Maverick's old flame Penny (a character mentioned but not scene in the original) though it does feel like the role was a re-cast. Val Kilmer gets a short cameo as Iceman which, in acknowledging his real life health issues-is very touching and the emotional high point of the film.

As to be expected in a belated sequel to a beloved film, there are plenty of call backs (especially a very similar opening/credits sequence set to 'Danger Zone' again), with some 80's nostalgia. There is lots of good use of action with some stunning plane sequences. Joseph Kosinski previously collaborated with Cruise on the visually stunning 'Oblivion' and the film looks fantastic, especially with the use of desert in the training and snow at the climax.

There are flaws-the opening sets up a 'humans vs drones' idea which-other than to establish Maverick and 'Top Gun' itself as out of there time doesn't get much further exploration and it can be a bit predictable at times but is fun enough to ride out the cliche's.

Ending with an enjoyable Lady Gaga song [if not quite as memorable as 'Take my breath away', this is a really fun time. It would have been easy to cobble together a rushed sequel/rehash back in the day but this, while respectful of the original, is a great film.

As for Tom Cruise, he seems to be at the receiving end of some very bitter, cruel and vile comments at times, especially due to his private life. Yet he has an acting career nearly spanning five decades. All he has done for me is entertain with some brilliant and at times incredible films, especially with the last few Mission Impossible films where he has taken stunt work to a whole new level to give the cinema audience the best experience.

Although he's approaching 60, I hope he has a few more films left in him like Top Gun: Maverick which is without a doubt my film of the year so far and one of the best sequels ever made.

Sing 2 (2021)

Dream big dreams. That's what they always said, right?

[7/10 · 21 February 2022]

Sing 2 is a great sequel and in my opinion one of the rare occasions one that is better than the first. This movie has a nice mixture of storytelling, well balanced and dynamic character development, and well paced plot progression. There was never a moment that I was watching where I was bored or thought the film was becoming stale. Every moment of this film was full of great animation, funny and humorous characters, and a tale that can be enjoyed in multiple viewings. The sequel to the sing franchise really took the bare bones of the first film and built heavily upon that foundation. Each character is given much more story emphasis, without feeling as if one is more important than the other. The whole movie was well scripted so that all of the cast was given just enough screen time to allow the viewers to gain an appreciation for what the character brings to the production, without stating a clear protagonist, and with a cast as full as sing 2, that is impressive. Speaking more on the cast, it was wonderful to see favorites like Rosita, Johnny, and Ash return to the ivory screens as well as new faces being added to the troop. New characters like Porsha and Clay Calloway were wonderful additions to the full cast of characters, and even with the already full roster, these characters didn't feel as if they were pushing the others out of the spotlight. To have a massive amount of characters like Sing 2 has, and to not have it feel crowded or competitive, is an impressive cinematic achievement to say the very least. Sing 2 is a perfect sequel to its predecessor, bigger stages, larger stakes, and vaster unknowns for our characters to explore. In the first film we see Buster Moon and his rag tag group of talented performers tackle the criticism and challenges of a small town theatrical performance. In the second movie we see them move to a much larger production in Red Shore City, with thousands to millions more watching, my question is where do we go from here. The way I see it, the last film should take place on the global stage, a massive production taking the talents of the world, one from each country and putting them head to head in one last talent show, on last performance to take it all. After all, as Mr. Moon would say, there's only one way left to go, Up. Sing 2 is a fantastic movie full of fun, in-depth, and dynamic characters, stunning visuals and sound design, and creative, imaginative, and illuminating storytelling. I would recommend to anyone looking for a great film to watch for the new year!

Around the World in 80 Days (2021– )

Bumbling around the World

[3/10 · 28 December 2021]

A really poor adaptation of a classic novel. As with most new BBC adaptations this has very little to do with the novel of the same name and has had characters changed completely such as Inspector Fix being changed from a policeman to a female reporter. Fogg is nothing like the character in the book and is instead a bumbling Englishman who you would expect to be played by Hugh Grant rather than David Tennant. If they are going to change things so drastically wouldn't it be better just to do a brand new drama with an original storyline rather than yet another "reimagining"

Close to Me (2021)

Can I have those six hours back?

[5/10 · 27 December 2021]

After watching 6 hours of this and hoping with each episode for some real drama and excitement after a build up to some big ending we end up with a dull ending.

As it got closer to the last episode I kept saying to the Mrs there must be more to it than it simply being the husband. But no, there was zero twist in the tale and no Agatha Christie style end.

What has happened to British drama recently? Yet another poor one.

WandaVision (2021)

Slow burn thar gets better

[8/10 · 25 December 2021]

Wandavision is Marvel's first outing into the streaming world (if you don't count the Netflix stuff) and they take a bold risk with their mysterious series built on sitcom homages throughout the decades that mostly pays off. The series is well made with impressive visuals and recreations of classic sitcom sets to painstaking detail, giving the show a unique flavour and look from other Marvel properties. It is also extremely well acted, especially by its two leads, which is accompanied by strong writing in regards to a character study for the two, often sidelined heroes, especially Wanda, serving as the series strength. Unfortunately the show suffers a lot due to the constraints of weekly released episodes, that are far too short to be completely satisfying and pacing is a glaring issue, and can often make the viewing experience feel sluggish with the seven day waits. The series starts slow, but gains traction towards the middle, peaking at episode 5 and 6, before falling into a formulaic and somewhat unsatisfying finale. Also re-watchability is not very strong here as there are not many details to be picked up upon a series binge that you wouldn't have noticed the first time around.

Hawkeye (2021)

Slightly misses target

[6/10 · 24 December 2021]

Starting off strong, Hawkeye produces the same cliché-like formula that is found in most Marvel projects; yet, unsurprisingly, it works. As the series progresses, it starts to feel a bit rushed and feels like it's a way too elaborate story to be folded out in just six episodes; specially if they try to end all three stories that are going on at once in a 1 hour super-episode that was episode 6: "So This Is Christmas?" Yet the episode (and most of the series) doesn't lose time focusing on the details and the whole series just takes a dramatic turn to quickly end the story. Gladly though, all the plot misinputs (between itself and other Marvel projects) are overwhelmed by the strong charisma shared between the main stars. So while Hawkeye does not necessarily hit bullseye, it does hit the spot to create enough laughs and thrills to make it an enjoyable holiday series.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

"I'm something of a scientist myself"

[9/10 · 24 December 2021]

Finally, a really great entry in the current phase of the MCU. It's become bogged down in the wake of the Infinity Saga. We had bland, unimaginative superheroes trying to replace people we came to love over a decade.

Then, along came a spider. I can't quite remember when I left a movie theatre buzzing after seeing something special. There are genuine stakes and consequences. Drama that is played well and redemption arcs for not just heroes who never got a chance, but for some of the villains.

It's not perfect, but the issues are minor, and Tom Holland's engaging. We pick up immediately after Mysterio outs Peter's identity. He needs to find a solution so he goes to see Dr Stephen Strange. Because, as pointed out during battles, Peter cannot control his mouth, things don't get fixed in the way intended. Previously this Spider-Man didn't face the consequences that other film versions have, personally or professionally. Now every choice has a consequence.

Tonally this is the closest to Raimi's Spider-Man great power messaging.

We have the return of some familiar faces, reprised by their original actors. These are good actors who can deliver great performances and have all grown in talent in the 20 years since some played these parts. And it seems like they turned up with that mindset here. Their characters are fleshed out further, and they maintain the characters as they were and are allowed to grow further. Andrew Garfield relishes his time and delivers a better performance than in either of his own films.

Tom Holland is given a lot to deliver and pretty much nails the demands of the director. The script requires high stakes and delivers them. Benedict Cumberbatch shows his comedy timing, delivering dry laughs and some really great gags, you know it's MCU when they get the comedy just right. Alfred Molina delivers fantastically, and he said he was there just for the money. Well, the studio got their dollars worth. Willem Dafoe has chewed scenery in too many films. He is 100% committed here and absolutely delivers.

The digital de-ageing looks good. MCU effects can be hit and miss, here they delivered. Jamie Foxx was hammy, but it's okay because he's surrounded by actors playing their roles straight. Marisa Tomei and Jon Favreau aren't just the uncomfortable couple they have been in previous films and help deliver moments of high risk and demands for Spider-Man.

The score works well, I mostly don't register the music, unless it's songs I know, the effects are great. Too many MCU films are obviously on sound stages, and it's just a CGI fest. Here there are elements of practical effects that keep it grounded.

Each villain is given moments, something other recent ensemble films have failed to do with stuffed casts. The final battle has a genuine payoff allowing one of the most scenery chewing actors to be regretful, compassionate then swinging to evil in the blink of an eye.

Is this the best Marvel movie to date? Maybe not, but it leaves enough hanging to make the universe worth getting back into. Some threads are left hanging for Doctor Strange which will be worth watching as a follow up.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Calm down mate, I'm not dead it's just a performance

[7/10 · 26 November 2021]

Another Marvel comics movie. This one takes one of their lesser known characters, martial artist Shang-chi. And gives him a film of his own.

This is not a jumping on point to Marvel movies, as pre knowledge of some other ones will help.

Shang-Chi lives in America. He has a past he thought he left behind. He enjoys karaoke with his best friend (Awkwafina) and he just lives. He has martial arts movie posters on his bedroom wall.

But then his past catches up with him and he is forced to fight. Head across the world. Discover his past. And his destiny...

Like the Black Panther film, this does a good job of showing this world outside of America. It's very stylish in representing it's culture and has some great art direction. It does manage to get a lot of exposition in without being overwhelmed by it, which is not something all comic book movies that have to do that manage.

Awkwafina is quite entertaining playing a character who could easily be very annoying. The first action set piece is terrific, original gripping and really well done.

And all in all, it does succeed by being a little bit different to what has come before.

There is an entertaining surprise as well. Which succeeds in doing some good continuity.

Minor quibbles: it's ten minutes too long. My attention did wander during some of the quieter moments and scenes of people talking. One flashback is a bit extraneous. The character of his sister ends up being rather underused.

And outside of the first set piece I mentioned, they forgot to put any other bits of jeopardy in here. Of the other two set pieces, the first doesn't carry any because you don't believe people are going to get hurt. And the final big battle set piece is yet another of these. We've seen them all many times now, and even though this has some different elements, it's still too same old same old.

But all in all an entertaining watch, and those who like their martial arts movies, or who like to pretend to do such things when watching fight scenes, will be entertained.

Do as ever keep watching to the very end of the closing credits for a couple of extra scenes.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Who ya gonna call?

[7/10 · 26 November 2021]

After leaving the cinema screening I have to say I was pleasantly surprised how good the film was and was a lot better than I thought it would be. A real, heartfelt movie that not only repeatedly pressed my nostalgia button but also gave a fully realised sequel that felt earned, rather than churned out. Maybe I'm getting old, maybe I'm becoming soft but hey ho. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

When single mother Callie (Carrie Coon) discovers she has inherited a rundown, dilapidated house in Summerville from her late father - she decides her current life owing rent and aimlessly existing is for the birds. Whisking her two children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) along for the ride, they begin a new adventure acclimatising to the backward feel of the new location and coming to terms with their recent life change. However, when things begin to inexplicably take a spooky turn for the worst - the resourceful Phoebe soon discovers her wayward grandfather's home holds a secret mystery that not only involves her but also connects to a long forgotten incident in 1984 where a team of parapsychologists saved New York from a spectral menace - its all hands on deck to right a few wrongs, save the town and meet a few faces from the family's past...

I have to say, this was a surprise. Following the good but but not as great as sequel in 1989 and the lazy reboot from 2016, I went into the ''official'' third movie with my expectations fairly low. How wrong was I? Director and co-screenwriter Jason Reitman (along with Gil Kenan) have delivered a lovingly made sequel that not only moves the admittedly uneven series along, but also treats the original players with reverence and respect. The movie is steadily paced for sure (which may put some off) and acts more like a character driven piece rather than an effects-laden tentpole - with enough Lucas/Spielbergian touches to fill a hundred 'Poltergeists' or 'Gremlins'. Sure, you get your ghosts and supernatural shenanigans but there's plenty of 'story' stuff to chew on too - feeling like a movie from the '70s at times, allowing the characters enough screen-time to grow and develop and actually make you care for their plight. Lead Mckenna Grace is a revelation and makes for the strongest female lead I've seen in a major movie for years - her performance is pitch perfect and interaction with Paul Rudd's almost stoner-like teacher, Gary Grooberson makes for many of the funnier moments. Yet for all the witty banter and comedic interplay, it's the heart that this movie gets right: A joyous ride that looks to the future but never forgets the past. Those who adore the original movie will get a kick out of revisiting that world in a movie that hints at the familiar but also doesn't forget to offer something new. Highly recommended with enough wit and smarts to entrance a modern audience.

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Down the river

[6/10 · 18 November 2021]

The story is hardly ground breaking with just about every part of it having been seen in other films before, however, it's all stitched together seamlessly and in a way that carries you along at a good pace with no boring bits and a fair bit of humour along the way.

If one is to compare this film then it is basically a mix of Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Goonies. If you liked any of them and chances are you probably did then this film will seem familiar.

Dwane Johnson plays Dwane Johnson in exactly the way he does it in every film he makes. He's basically a modern John Wayne. He plays himself in every film he is in.

Blunt works well in the film and thankfully this does not turn into the modern version of an action film where the female is the hero and the bloke an inept fool. She and Johnson work well together although I'm not sure their is that magic that suggests romance really.

Jack Whitehall plays the comic relief sidekick to Blunt in the way that Denholm Elliot played the inept help to Indiana Jones in Raiders.

Effects are very good and don't overwhelm the actors and actresses unlike some films. There's tonnes of it but mostly used to portray the scenery.

Overall an enjoyable and watchable family film.

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021 TV Special)

👻 spooktacular

[7/10 · 9 October 2021]

Set on Halloween night, Gonzo and Pepe skip out on Kermit and Miss Piggy's big party to accept the challenge of staying overnight in the creepy mansion of famed magician The Great MacGuffin on the 100th anniversary of his disappearance. Since Gonzo has proven over and over again that he has no fear, he figures the night will be a lark. Pepe, not so much.

The mansion itself is modeled on the much-loved theme park ride, The Haunted Mansion, with The Muppets slipping into the iconic characters found inside and outside of the ride. The swaps are pretty inspired, from Fozzie as the Hatbox bear (including teeth!) to Piggy as the disembodied crystal ball head of Madame Pigota. The Muppet wit is particularly funny and ranges from the extremely clever to the familiar, like Waldorf and Statler as heckling ghosts inside the ride carts, down to the incredibly silly; wait for the goat.

There are also three new original songs that lend themselves nicely to the Mansion theme, with some gifted pun usage. They may not be instant classics on par with recent efforts for the last two Muppet films, but they are a lot of fun and utilize the depth and breadth of the Muppet bench to bring them to life. A great Muppet special which includes some deep cut appearances like the ghosts in the mansion (going back to The Muppet Show days) to newbies like Walter and Joe the Weasel.

As for the humans, Will Arnett is great performing with the Muppets. Taraji P. Henson is also having a great time as resident widow ghost, Constance Hatchaway. Her side story goes on a little too long in parts but her storyline will appeal to the hardcore Haunted Mansion fans. The rogue's gallery of other human talent are basically relegated to very small cameos but that means the focus can remain on Gonzo and the other Muppets, as it should.

The Muppets at their best are timeless, and this special captures much of that spirit.

The Muppets have had some bumpy years under their Disney ownership with the company trying to reinvent them for contemporary audiences. What they keep forgetting is that The Muppets at their best are timeless and this special captures much of that spirit because of the performances and writing. The old-timers of the current Muppet crew, they convey the right blend of Henson heart and silliness that makes this offering one worthy of a yearly watch.

Muppets Haunted Mansion gets the right mix of The Muppets with the classic Disney theme parks ride. It works really well because of the ingenious mix of Halloween with two much-loved properties that all blend together perfectly. From the production design to the cameos, all down the way to Gonzo's impactful and wee bit scary lesson about the importance of your family, this whole special lands the trick of being a huge treat.

Free Guy (2021)

What the s***?

[7/10 · 1 October 2021]

Not quite as edgy as it might have been, Shawn Levy's video game comedy still gets by on an unwavering cheerfulness, likability and a steady stream of solid giggles. Reynolds is the real selling point of Free Guy. He avoids a repeat of his snarky, look-at-me Deadpool humour and nails a new kind of sweet naivety that's not unlike that of Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. Comer is also quite wonderful as Molotov Girl/Millie and is a fully fleshed-out female co-lead rather than simply a romantic sidekick. They make a fantastic pair.

Bits and pieces do feel borrowed from many, many other movies. And Levy's careful, streamlined flow prevents Free Guy from ever becoming hugely outrageous, zany, or gut-bustingly funny. Perhaps all that wasn't necessary, however, to maintain the movie's sweetness. The films overall messages of kindness, nonviolence, and free choice are always refreshing.