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

The Invite (2026) Review

Wasn't sure what really to see at the Cinema this week, so I remembered that I saw the trailer for The Invite and was quite intrigued so I found the time to watch the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film sees a struggling couple have their neighbours over for dinner where things take some interesting turns. 

Main Character

Seth Rogan & Olivia Wilde play Joe & Angela and they are both really good. 

Starting with Rogan, he kind of plays the same role that he always does but it really works here. He gives charm and anger to his role and it just felt like a really human performance. Credit to Rogan for somewhat stepping out of his comfort zone for this role. 

Wilde not only stars but does a great job at directing the film. She is really struggling in the film and you can just tell that she is frustrated with her lot in life. She conveys it incredibly well and this is a great comeback for her. 

Supporting Characters

Penelope Cruz & Edward Norton play Pina & Hawk and they are excellent. 

They work so well in tandem here and the film does a great job in making them seem really interesting and making you question their characters and motivations. This is the best work that either performer has done in years and it is great to see them work. 

There is literally nobody else in the film and credit to the 4 actors for their excellent performances that really carry the film. 

Story

The story is interesting. It is intense throughout and keeps you on your toes. It has twists and turns and this is really driven by the excellent acting. However, by the end of the film it feels pretty low stakes and though I liked the ending it definitely made me question parts of the film. 

Script

With a film that has very few actors in one location it heavily relies on the writing and this film excels at it. It is so well written and has a great mix of humour and drama, the biggest credit I can give is that it feels very real and just like people would talk in real life. 

Style

The style of the film is pretty fascinating. It is really well directed and I really liked how the film flowed as a whole and took this interesting concept and run with it. But it does have a slight pacing with it, I mean it barely goes above 90 mins but it still lulls at times. 

Overall

Overall, The Invite is a Great Film that really forces you to focus. It has great acting and writing and if you have patience then it is really worth a watch. 

Rating - 8/10

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 (2026) Review

After watching the first season of the show for preparation, I have now watched the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender and here is my review. The premise of the season sees Aang continue to learn to bend the different elements, when he must try to find a new Earthbending teacher. 

Main Character

Gordon Cormier is back as Aang and he is a lot older here. It actually took me a minute to get used to an older Avatar but it really worked and I felt like this as a more mature version of the character. He feels more human this season and as he grows up he makes mistakes and realises what is important. 

Supporting Characters

Kiawentiio is back as Katara and she is a good character. She has a story arc that involves her trying to step us and being more of a hero. It continues her arc from the first season and I think she does a pretty good job with it. 

Ian Ousley reprises his role as Sokka and he is a fun part of the show. He is kind of given a story arc but it isn't really in depth and it feels like he is slightly moved to more comic relief. I like him in the role and think he is clearly having fun. 

A real show stealer is Miyako as Toph and she was such a fun addition to the cast. She has great lines and a great character and I think this show really needed her. She adds so much and she really owns every scene that she is in. 

Dallas Liu is back as Zucko and they decide to take the character in an interesting direction. Liu does his best and does a good job in the role and I thought like they added some depth to the character. 

The rest of the cast are all also great and the acting and characters are the real strength of the show. 

Story

The story has some okay character arcs, mainly for Aang, Katara and Toph. They are developed and given enough time to make you care about their progression. But some of the character arcs aren't handled so well, mainly Zucko's. The ending of his arc was just confusing and I didn't like it at all. The story feels like its just build-up for another season and I thought the ending was incredibly rushed and forced. 

Script

The script is okay, it is more serious this season and has quite a bit of seriousness to it that is handled well. The humour is a mixed bag and okay at times, but it is the inconsistency of those character arcs that left me frustrated with the writing. 

Style

The show has clearly got a bigger budget this season and it looks amazing. The action scenes are so much better then the first season and way more creative. It was great seeing more action and different powers being used. However, the season has awful pacing. The first few episodes move at a breakneck pace, but then it really slows down and then the last episode rushes towards its conclusion. 

Overall

Overall, Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is another good season of television. It hasn't really improved from the first season which is a shame. But it is still an enjoyable watch and a fun time. 

Rating - 7/10

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 (2024) Review

The 2nd season of Avatar: The Last Airbender came to Netflix recently and I am interested in the franchise, so I thought that I would go back and watch the first season, so I can watch the new season. I finished the season this morning and here is my review for the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The premise of the show sees after 100 years missing, The Avatar returns and aims to save the world from The Fire Nation. 

Main Character

Gordon Cormier plays Aang and he is good in the role. I liked Aang and I thought the balance of likeability and depth was there and credit to the young actor for delivering that. I do wish there had been more focus on Aang's story but it is nothing to take away from a good lead character. 

Supporting Characters

Kiawentiio plays Katara and she did a really good job here. We get a lot of character development with her and she saw the best progress over the show. I mean, I wish more focus had been on Aang instead but she did good work with what she was given. 

Ian Ousley plays Sokka and he was a good character and part of the crew. He has some character development but it isn't as strong as some of the other characters but he was a fun addition and a good character. 

Dallas Liu plays Prince Zuko and I thought he was a really cool character. Though he clearly has villainous origins, there is a lot of depth to him that makes him more then just a straight up villain. I liked the comparisons and mirroring between him and Aang. 

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays Iroh and I really liked him here. His relationship with Zuco adds humanity to both of them and expands the idea of The Fire Nation not being completely evil. He also adds some humour which is nice in a show like this. 

Story

The story is interesting. There is a lot of lore put onto the screen and I found a lot of it interesting as you get to learn about the world and how these different nations have ended up at war with each other. But, the story feels a bit like a side mission building towards a bigger event which I assume will happen in the second season, which made it a bit episodic. I also felt the development of Aang wasn't as big as I wanted and again feels like it is taking its time to get going. 

Script

The script is again okay, it has some funny moments and some dramatic moments but none of it really sticks. It isn't very memorable and holds back the story and characters from being better presented. 

Style

The show has pretty good action scenes that use the different powers pretty well. It makes for pretty creative and exciting action sequences. But the pacing is a bit slow, it does feel like the main story moves at a snail pace and it is all just set up for a second season. 

Overall

Overall, Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 is a good show and a fun watch. It does plenty right but it also makes some misfires and feels like setup, so hopefully the second season really delivers. 

Rating - 7/10

Supergirl (2026) Review

After her small cameo in Superman last year, I have been heavily anticipating Supergirl and the film came out last week. After getting through the heatwave, I found the chance to watch the film earlier today and here is my review for Supergirl. The premise of the film sees Supergirl team up with a new ally in order to aid her and save her closest ally. 

Main Character

Milly Alcock plays Supergirl and she is the best part of the film. She has lots of charisma and charm here and it makes her a fun character to root for. I think the film does a decent job in explaining her story and I thought this was a really fun new protagonist. 

Supporting Characters

David Corenswet as Superman was involved in the marketing and he is a glorified cameo but actually, I think it was a really effective appearance. They explore some interesting concepts and ideas and Corenswet is still awesome in the role. 

Jason Momoa gets his wish to play the Bounty Hunter Lobo and he is awesome in all the scenes he is in. He isn't in the film loads and there isn't really a great reason for him to be in the film but who cares because he is really good. 

Eve Ridley plays Ruthye and unfortunately her character is one of the weak elements of the film.  She is meant to be a sidekick to Supergirl but she is so bland and the writing for her is really undercooked. This made her an important part of the film that didn't click for me. 

Matthias Schoenaerts is the villain here as Krem and he is super bland and just you generic supervillain. There is nothing unique about him and nothing memorable about him which makes him utterly forgettable. 

Story

The story is okay. I liked Kara's story and I thought the mixture of her present day arc and her flashbacks on Krypton worked really well and I kind of wished we got a little more of it, and her character motivations are very personal and something everyone can relate to. But the rest of the story is bland and lacking any real substance. The villain is just here because we need a villain and the rest of it has little depth. 

Script

The script does have some fun and emotional dialogue. But I can't really tell if it is just Alcock's charisma or if it is good writing. It definitely missed at times and I would have liked some better writing to really give the actors more to work with. 

Style

The film looks decent enough, with different locations and some decent action scenes. I also thought the film breezed by and it is nice to have that. However, there was some really poor CGI used and there isn't really any memorable action scenes. The pacing, though fast is a bit all over the place and I think the film tries to do so much that it can't fit it all in. 

Overall

Overall, Supergirl is an Above Average Superhero Film. I think it is just totally serviceable which is a shame. Decent lead but I think this is a step back for the relatively new DC Universe. It is okay and I think it has good bits but I wouldn't rush to watch it and just wait for it to come to HBO Max. 

Rating - 6/10