Star Wars Zero Company (2026) Review

It has been a really interesting time for Star Wars Video Games and I think it is fair to say that it has been a mixed bag.  I am a big fan of strategy games and this is the most strategy turn based game we have had with Star Wars so I had to play Zero Company and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees a rogue group of criminals hired by the republic to take down a dangerous separatist cult. 

Characters

You play as a character called Hawks, I chose to make a human male character and I really enjoyed his characterisation. He is a really interesting character and as the game progresses you learn more and more about his history and why he feels personally connected to the narrative. 

There are 6 main squad mates and I will go through a few of them and why they are so good. You have Trick who is a former clone trooper and I really enjoyed his journey in the game and his relationship with Hawks. If you know anything about Star Wars Lore, you will know that bad things happen to the clones and I love how this affects Trick.

Kabb Uppercut is the old man of the team and I loved the way he spoke in the game and how much of a grandad he feels to the group. He is a fun character and a great addition. 

Tel-Rea is a former Jedi Padawan who ends up joining the team and I think her addition really added another side of the Jedi and how a young padawan feels about what exactly goes on with the order. 

Jae, Cly and Luco are the other 3 teammates and though they maybe don't have as much of a presence they are all fantastic. Jae is probably the most dull but even she has a good character and motivation. Cly is a bounty hunter, who's reasons for being on the team are what makes her interesting. Similar with Luco who is a former Separatist but is hell bent on revenge. 

I give huge credit to this game for all of the original operators that it has in the game, so many interesting characters that are fully voiced and makes the game feel alive and really makes you want to keep them alive throughout. 

 Story

I really liked the individual stories for the characters and how you get to know your crew and their strengths and weaknesses. The story has some truly emotional moments and its links to The Clone Wars TV Show really strengthens its lore to bug fans of the franchise. But the overall narrative is pretty weak and the villains are easily the dullest part of the game. The game has a lacklustre ending and feels like its story should continue after the main story, but it just doesn't. 

Side Content

While you are going through the main story, you have options to complete other missions that don't link to the main story but are just to gain resources. It isn't the most creative but it is fun to just play the game. But it just feels like there was more they could have done with side content, for example there is no multiplayer which feels like a missed opportunity and it just feels like the team either run out of time or didn't have the resources to do this. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is excellent. The different characters and powers mean you have to think about your decisions and how to get the best out of your team. You have to use all your characters to your advantage against a good variety of opponents who offer different challenges. 

Style

The game looks pretty good and has numerous species both as allies and enemies. A good customisation system in both looks and weapons adds a lot and there are some really crisp cutscenes. The really sad part is that the game has way too many bugs and glitches. I suffered from 7 game ending bugs which made me replay large portions of the game which was super frustrating. 

Overall 

Overall, Star Wars Zero Company is a good game. It is a really fun experience and really gets you engrossed in the characters and the interesting gameplay. However, it just feels like the game was rushed out of the door and just didn't get the chance to be legendary like I think it really could have been. 

Rating - 7/10

Chad Powers Season 2 (2026) Review

I was one of the people that quite enjoyed the first season of Chad Powers but also accepting it wasn't exactly a show that you had to rush out and watch. But the second season of the show came out last week and with this season dropping all the episodes at once, I have watched the whole season and here is my review. The premise of the season sees Chad attempt to continue his success while deceiving his team and dealing with his new relationships. 

Main Character

Glen Powell is back as Russ Holiday/Chad Powers and he once again shows why he is one of the best leading men in Hollywood with a truly brilliant performance. We get more Russ this season and it really allows Powell to show his acting chops and really deliver both elements of the character to make this somehow one of the more interesting characters on TV. 

Supporting Characters

Perry Matfield plays Ricky and her character development is really good. Following the dramatic finale from last season, I am glad that it does feel pretty natural with their development and it isn't something that is just pretty generic and she is a great character in her own right. 

I found Danny Cruz played by Frankie A. Rodriguez really annoying in the first season but I am happy to say that he is much better here. I think they tone the character down a bit and give him proper development, especially with his relationship with Chad which is really well handled. 

Steve Zahn is back as Coach Hudson and his development is fantastic and he has real character development. He provides so much emotion to his performance and provides real heart as his character goes through a lot of issues himself. 

But the real surprise this season was the extended role for Gerry played by Colton Ryan. He becomes more of an antagonist to Chad and though he is clearly deluded and a bit crazy, there is some real sympathy for him and understanding of why he goes about his actions and Ryan deserves a lot of credit for that. 

Story

The show really changes its story from this silly comedy on whether Chad will be caught but into a story about people and the struggles they really go through and this is when the show is at its best. There is real character development and this is better then anything the comedy could ever do and I am really happy the show went in this direction. However, the show does occasionally have something that is just so ridiculous that it takes you out of the show or a generic plot point that isn't really necessary and that is a shame. 

Script

As I have alluded to above, the show moves more towards the dramatic nature and it knocks it out of the park and creates some truly emotional moments and dialogue that really makes these characters great. But, in its essence it wants to be a comedy and I just didn't really dig that much of it and only chuckled a few times. 

Style

The tone of the show is just a remarkable change into the dramatic and it is just what it needed and made it a better show. The American Football is still well made and the pacing of the show is excellent, especially with it all being dropped at the same time. 

Overall

Overall, Chad Powers Season 2 is a Great Season of Television. It is a huge improvement on the first season and makes this must watch TV, I had such a great time with it and I genuinely think it is the surprise of the year so far and I give it great credit for that and hope we see more Chad in the future. 

Rating - 8/10

The Dog Stars (2026) Review

Whenever Ridley Scott directs a movie, it is one that should be seen and I found the time to watch The Dog Stars in the cinema and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a virus destroy the majority of humanity, but a grieving mechanic aims to look for a better life. 

Main Character

Jacob Elordi plays Hig and I thought he did a great job. It definitely took its time to make me care but as you learn more about the character and see Elordi's confidence grow it makes this a good lead character. 

Supporting Characters

Margaret Qualley plays Cima and I thought she was really good. We meet her character a bit later into the film but she adds some much needed energy and her chemistry with Elordi is really good. 

Josh Brolin plays Bangley here and he was just awesome. Brolin was clearly having a great time filming this and I thought he showed the most charisma. To be honest, I kind of wish he was in the film less but he is still entertaining when he is here. 

Guy Pearce plays Pops and he is also a great part of the cast. He comes in alongside Cima and I think he added a lot an had a strong relationship and dynamic with both Elordi and Qualley. 

Story

The story is a real mixed bag and that is going to be something to be said for the next three sections. 

It does a really good job of exploring grief and how humans react in a post apocalyptic world. However, the overall story is very drab and not cohesive at all. The side plot with Brolin is bizarre to say the least and at the end I wasn't really sure what exactly the point of the overall journey. 

Script

The script is okay, it does have some good emotional writing and makes you care about a few of the characters. But it just doesn't create a great story and it felt like a bit of a drab script that lacked a real punch which had the potential to really deliver. 

Style

The film looks good, but the style is easily the weakest part of the film. The pacing is incredibly slow and it felt like a much longer film then it actually is. It has a weird conflict of tone and it was just a weird watch in terms of its direction. 

Overall 

Overall, The Dog Stars is an Above Average Film. It has really good acting but falls pretty short on everything else. It is one of Ridley Scott's weakest films and it is a disappointment that is only worth giving a go when it comes to streaming and you like the book. 

Rating - 6/10

House of the Dragon Season 3 (2026) Review 

Ever since Game of Thrones ended, HBO have been looking for a new powerhouse in this universe and we are now into the third season of House of the Dragon and today saw the season finale and here is my review. The premise of the season sees after the events of season 2, Rhaenyra is mustering her forces together with the aim to take Kings Landing, finding new and old enemies knocking at her door. 

Main Character 

Emma D'Arcy is back as Rhaenyra and I thought she was great this season. It is a very different role for her then in the previous seasons. She has to really deal with more of the political side of the game and she becomes a bit more cold and calculated as the show goes on and I liked that about her character. 

Matt Smith plays Daemon again and he is my favourite character once again. He is no longer side lined like he was in Season 2 and he is back to his awesome and brutal self. He has a good character arc and it shows some new sides to the character and Smith just totally nails it. 

Supporting Characters

The newest character is Ormond Hightower and he is played by James Norton, with him being one of the best characters in the season. He is so smarmy but charismatic and it is hard to take your eyes off of this guy when he is on screen. 

Tom Glynn-Carney plays Ageon and though he was in a bad way at the end of last season he is still given a really interesting story here. It really seems him at the lowest of the low but I just think by the end it really is worthwhile and puts him in a really good position. 

Olivia Cooke plays Alicent again and she has way more scenes with Rhaenyra, which for me is when the character is at its best. She is solid in her role and though her story isn't the most glamorous it works and she gives it her all. 

I wanted to give a shout out to Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole. He has been a hated character over the last 3 seasons and I genuinely think this is due to his quality as an actor. He gives such a confident but unnerving performance this season and I really felt this was the most interesting he has ever been. 

I just wanted to say credit to every actor and actress for their performances this season and I still think the acting is the best part of the show. 

Story

The story is a bit of a mixed bag. It has much higher stakes then the previous season and I felt like they progressed the character development quite a lot and got the audience to a much better position then it was in last season. But, I still think the season wasn't as big as it could have done and there are just so many characters and arcs that it once again struggles to balance them. 

Script

The script is much better for this season. I think the dialogue is much more effective and really fits the characters. There were big moments and big character development that maybe wasn't present last season and that is good to see. 

Style

The show still has a a huge budget and it is really effective in the action scenes. They are brutal and really effective. However, the pacing isn't always great and I found certain parts of the show to be pretty slow and paced poorly. 

Overall

Overall, House of The Dragon Season 3 is a Great Season of Television. It gets back to the quality of the first season and does deliver for the most part. My hope is that they can improve more and really give us an even better season. 

Rating - 8/10

The Odyssey (2026) Review

For many years now, Christopher Nolan films have become a huge part of the Movie calendar for every film fan and this year we have the newest film in his directorial filmography - The Odyssey. I realise that I am super late to see this film but I have now watched one of the biggest films of the year and here is my review for The Odyssey. The premise of the film sees a Greek Commander and his crew attempt to make their way home, while trouble at home causes others to take big risks. 

Main Character

Matt Damon plays Odysseus and he is fantastic as the lead here. His character goes through a lot during the film and you really gain sympathy for him. He is more then this solider, he is quite a tragic character, he really cares about his soldiers and he just really struggles throughout the film and Damon really nails it and truly delivers as the main character here. 

Supporting Characters

Robert Pattison plays Antinous and boy if he wasn't there before this is a real star making performance for Pattison. He is one of the most hated villains I have seen in a movie and he really nails ever scene that he is in. I loved his performance and every scene that he was in. 

Tom Holland plays Telemachus and he is really great too. This is a really strong performance from him and it is genuinely really nice to see him thrive in a role that isn't Spider-Man. He has a solid story arc throughout the film and it was a nice coming of age story. 

Anne Hathaway plays Penelope and she is really great in this role. She really gives the emotional side of the character really well but is also strong and really feels like the strong queen that she is. It isn't a huge role but she is great and I think gives everything she has. 

This film has a huge cast and everybody is fantastic. Himesh Patel and John Leguizamo had surprisingly larger roles then I expected and really did great stuff. Elliot Page and John Bernthal added plenty to their roles as well. Charlize Theron and Zendaya have smaller roles but do some solid work. 

Story

The story has plenty going on and in my opinion it was all done really well. I was fascinated in watching Odysseus and his crews journey and it kept going with the twists and turns. The stuff involving Antinous and Telemachus could have been a bit dull but it really wasn't and added so much contrasting well with the main plot. It also has a really satisfying final act that really brought everything together really well. 

Script

The script is really good. There is so much drama here and really thought provoking which really established these characters. It has some really interesting writing and it didn't feel overplayed which I really appreciated and fit with the overall tone of the film. 

Style

The film looks absolutely stunning. It really takes some risks with its filmmaking and it really worked for me. It truly feels epic and fits the bill of this huge blockbuster and I feel like it has to be appreciated on the big screen. This film is almost 3 hours and the biggest compliment I can give it, is that it didn't feel like it and really had me engrossed throughout the entire thing. 

Overall

Overall, The Odyssey is an epic film that has to be seen on the big screen. Nolan has knocked it out of the park again and I loved watching The Odyssey and feel like this film will be remembered for a long time to come. 

Rating - 10/10

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) Review

It has been five year since the excellent Spider-Man: No Way Home and we now have got our next Tom Holland led Spider-Man film with Brand New Day. I went into a packed cinema to watch it today and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Peter Parker attempt to navigate adult life alone as he tries to balance being Spider-Man with the new things going on in his life. 

Main Character

I feel like every time there is a solo Spider-Man film led by Tom Holland, I always say that it is his best performance in the role and this is no different. He is excellent here and this is easily the darkest portrayal of the character that he has had to portray. There is so much going on with his character and Holland nails it and makes me really care about Peter and the struggles that he is in. 

Supporting Characters

Zendaya is back as MJ and I actually found her part in the film to be really well realised. Obviously, she can't remember who Peter is and I think that made the dynamic really different here and it felt like a natural progression for her character and their relationship. 

I was nervous when Jon Bernthal was announced to be playing The Punisher here, that they would neuter him. But I am happy to report that they don't and it feels like a slightly toned down version of the great character we have. The chemistry between Holland & Bernthal is off the charts and for me is one of the aspects that carries the film. 

Sadie Sink plays the villain here and I won't mention her role as it wasn't revealed before the films release. She was really good in the film, I think her character had a few issues but that doesn't take away the really good performance by Sink. 

Smaller roles for Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and Liz Colon-Zayas as DeWolff were fun characters and even though they weren't in the film that much, they added just about enough. 

Story

The story is good. I really liked the personal nature of Peter's story as he goes through these mental and physical issues that really change how he is seen as Spider-Man. I also liked Sadie Sink's characters overall story and arc throughout the last arc of the film. However, the film has way too much going on in it to really develop everything as much as it should. There are a few characters and story bits that could have been cut out of the film to give the major story beats a bit more depth and make it a really amazing story. 

Script

The script is great. As I mentioned above, this is probably the darkest Spider-Man film that has ever been made and the dialogue and writing really sells that and takes this usually light hearted character into some dark places. But it also knows when to have fun and the humour still works, making it an overall great experience. 

Style

The action scenes are superb. We had a change in director for this film and Destin Daniel Cretton who directed Shang-Chi shows his skill in directing action scenes and really adding some uniqueness to the character who has been on the big screen for over 25 years. The pacing is really good too, I was never bored and it kept me engaged throughout. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a Fantastic Film that does the character justice. It keeps up the strong run of Tom Holland's Spider-Man films and is a really fun watch in the cinema. It is a truly great comic book film and definitely worth a watch. 

Rating - 9/10

Mexico 86 (2026) Review

I love Football and it has been great watching this World Cup and seeing the sport really thrive. I saw that there was a new football film coming to Netflix, so eventually I decided to watch the Spanish film Mexico 86 and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film shows how one man masterminded his way to get Mexico the World Cup in 1986. 

Main Character

The great Diego Luna plays Martin De La Torre and he is great. It is nice seeing him speak in his native tongue and really seem energised in the role. He is clearly passionate about playing this character and he gives it his all to give a pretty memorable main character. 

Supporting Characters

Karla Souza plays Susana and I thought she was good. She had good chemistry with Luna and their scenes together really added a lot to the film and some of the more impactful scenes. 

Daniel Gimenez Cacho plays Emilio Azcarraga who is basically De La Torre's boss throughout the film. He was pretty good and fit into the role well. He is a pretty generic character but I did like his character and the way he is used here. 

There aren't really any other characters who have prominent roles which is a shame, and I wish we could have seen some more characters developed but the film rushes through to avoid all of that. 

Story

The story is easily the weakest part of the film. I have no doubt that this could be an interesting story and I am sure the real story had its twists and turns. But the film rushes through everything and it doesn't allow anything to linger. When you start to get slightly interested in something, the film moves onto another aspect and it just doesn't give it the time it needs. 

Script

There is some decent dialogue here both from a comedic and dramatic effect. Obviously, it is a bit different when you are reading subtitles but I think again due to the pace of the film it led to things missing the mark and not quite delivering. 

Style

The style of the film at times does feel very slick, it has good direction to it and is pretty nice on the eye from a visual point of view. But as I have mentioned, its pacing is really poor. It rushes through so much and I really do feel like this could have been a Mini Series to fit in all of the interesting content. 

Overall

Overall, Mexico 86 is an Average Movie. It has a really good lead actor but other then that it doesn't offer to much. Even if you are a big Football fan like me, it isn't really worth your time. 

Rating - 5/10