Home Game (2020) Series Review

This documentary hit Netflix on Friday and after a long weekend I have now watched Home Game and here is my review for it.The premise of the show looks at some of the most unique and dangerous sports in the world and how they affect the people who play them.

There are some fascinating sports showed here, my favourite being Calcio Storico and Makepung Lampit. They are just so unique and mad that it draws you in and you can't keep your eyes off of them. I mean I would never want to try these sports but it is great to see these people taking part and what it means to them on a personal level.

It is also really interesting seeing how these sports affect the cultures of the people that are a part of them. It makes them feel better and brings a sense of pride for country and everybody involved, even in some cases breaking down stereotypes and changing people ideas on certain subjects. 

Also it really helps this show that Mark Strong narrates it, he has a great voice and it fits in the style for this show and does a great job of explaining the different sports.

But there are negatives here, with any documentary like this there will be some sports that you don't find that interesting. For me it was the Catch Fetiche and The Roller Derby, I wish this show had maybe focused on a fewer number of sports but gone into more detail on them.

Also I don't know why but I found this show a bit difficult to binge watch, as I said maybe with a few less episodes but with more depth it would have felt better paced. 

Overall, this is a decent documentary, if you are a sports fan and want to learn a bit about some lesser known sports then this could be worth a watch but maybe not for anybody else.

Rating - 6/10

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga (2020) Review

This film hit Netflix on Friday and being British I know what The Eurovision Song Contest is so I decided to watch this film and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees two Icelandic Musicians given the opportunity to represent their country in The Eurovision Song Contest and attempt to achieve their dreams. 

Main Character

Rachel McAdams plays one of the main characters here and I thought she was really good here. She is the character that I cared about the most here and her journey is the most interesting part of the film. She is a great actress and even though this film doesn't take itself too seriously she tries too at times. Will Ferrell plays her partner and I thought he was fine here, this is nowhere near his strongest performance but he does have some funny moments and even though his story arc is cliche it does work for the film.The two's chemistry is good and they bounce off of each other well, which is good as it is the part of the film that you have to be invested in. 

Supporting Characters

Dan Stevens is one of the best actors going around today and for me he was the standout for this film. He is uber charismatic and really balances on the borderline of being super cool or super annoying but he nails it and oozes style in every scene he is in. Pierce Brosnan plays Ferrel's dad and he is good here, again he isn't the most interesting part of the film but for the role he has to do he does it effectivley. Everybody else also does good jobs and it is nice to see Graham Norton have his real life role here. 

Story

The story here is pretty basic, but the chemistry between the two leads is really good plus it is great seeing the song contest being played out in all of it's glory. But there is this side arc involving the Icelandic government that had potential but it feels really out of place. Plus as I have mentioned there are parts of the film that are very generic leading to it being a predictable film. 

Script

The script has some funny moments in it and some nice drama to it. But there just aren't enough of those funny moments, I am pretty sure this film is trying to be a comedy but it isn't funny enough to be a great comedy unfortunately. 

Style

The style of this film is absurd, you see just how crazy Eurovision is, and what is funny is that this film doesn't even make it much crazier then it is in real life. The song sequences are fantastic, they feel grand on scale and feel epic in nature. But the issue is that you can tell that every actor is lipsyncing and it does take you out of what is happening. Also I felt like the last act is rushed a little bit and it leads to a pretty abrupt ending.

Overall

Overall, I feel like this is a very entertaining film, I think if you know little about Eurovision this might not be a film for you. But if you know about the show then this is a fun if not flawed experience that could be worth a watch. 

Rating - 7/10

Margot Robbie set to lead a new Pirates Of The Carribean Film and why I don't care 

So there has been quite a bit of movie news this week and this is the newest one. It was confirmed last night that Margot Robbie will be the lead in a new Pirates Of The Carribean Film, this news isn't that suprising as it has been rumoured for a while. I just wanted to give my thoughts on it and why this news doesn't interest me and why The Pirates Of The Carribean franchise either needs a long break or to be stopped completley. 

Margot Robbie is not a bankable movie star

Margot Robbie is a fantastic actress, her performances in films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood prove she is a great actress, when amongst bigger names such as Leonado DiCaprio. But with her role of Harley Quinn as good as she is in the role it is clear her star power isn't enough for fans. Suicide Squad & Birds Of Prey failed both commercially and critically and it just gives me the feeling that this film will do similar. 

Johnny Depp is this franchise

Lets face it the main reason that people have watched 5 of these films already is that of Johnny Depp's enigmatic performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. But even that failed, his performance in Salazaar's revenge felt flat and like he was just phoning it in at that point. Obviously, due to Depp's legal issues there is very little chance of him appearing here and I wonder whether audiences are going to care as much. 

What is left to tell? 

It's hard to remember but this film's origins come from a ride at the Disney theme park, the first film was one of the biggest suprises in film history being a fantastic film and a cult classic. But it amazes me that they have managed to get 5 films out of this concept, a trilogy would have been perfect but they had to force 2 more films that felt unnecesarry and now this film that I feel like is just a cheap cash in on this franchise.

Overall, this news doesn't excite me one bit. The Pirates Of The Carribean has it's moments but it risks being dragged down and remembered for being a poor franchise which it is already at the risk of doing. 

Sam Raimi is officially confirmed as director of Doctor Stange: In The Multiverse Of Madness

So it has been long speculated that Sam Raimi would be taking over the Doctor Strange sequel from Scott Derrickson but to my knowledge nothing had been confirmed. But in the last 24 hours Mordo actor Chiwetel Ejiofor not only confirmed his return but also that Raimi will be the new director, here are some of my thoughts on the choice.

He deserves another chance at a Superhero Movie

So for most people Sam Raimi is most known for the Evil Dead or franchise or like me the Spider-Man trilogy from the mid two thousands. Even though those films haven't exactly aged very well, the first two films are fantastic, and stories have come out that the reason the third film failed was because of too much studio interference. Those successful films mean he deserves a chance at a new comic book franchise and what better then Doctor Strange.

How will this film differ to Derrickson's vision?

Scott Derrickson who I thought did a great job with the first film was let go recently, reports have come out that he wanted to make a pure Horror film but Marvel didn't want to stray too far away from their franchises vision. Now Reimi does have some Horror background but with the Spider-Man he shows he knows how to movie away from it. But maybe if a balance between the two could be hit then there is potential for this to be a truly unique experience. 

What role will Mordo play?

With the other news about Ejiofor returning the question has to come too what role will he play in the film. At the end of the first film Mordo had completed his turn to the dark side, looking to get role of all magic users. The question here is whether he will be the main villain or a supporting villain to a character like Nightmare who was originally rumoured to be the main villain.

Overall, I feel like Raimi is a good choice for this film. and with things like Scarlett Witch and Mordo's appearance it could be a real hit when it hopefully hits the cinema in 2022. 

The Luminaries Mini Series (2020) Review

This show hit BBC last Sunday and after a long slog I have now finished The Luminaries and here is my review for the mini series. The premise of the show is set in the midst of New Zealands Gold Rush, a man and woman arrive and end up having their lives linked in a magical way. 

Main Character

Despite the advertising, Eva Green is not the main character here, that goes to Eve Hawson and the best I will say is she is functional. She has some moments of emotion and through some of the actions that take place you do feel some sympathy for her though it does feel forced at times. My issue is just that she is really dull and boring here, there is very little energy to her performance and she isn't charming enough for a lead performance to truly make you invested in her or the character. 

Supporting Characters

Himesh Patel is an up and coming actor and he is also functional here, he is just a good actor and no matter the content he is given here he tries to rise above it. But he just isn't an interesting character and honestly the show never gives you a good reason to care or have sympathy for her. It also doesn't help that I didn't believe in their chemistry together and really felt forced here. As mentioned Eva Green is here and she is good here, it is nowhere near her best work but she shows her star power and is the most charismatic actor here. But then again, her character has very little to get you interested and it feels like a bit of a waste of a fine actress. Marton Csokas & Callan Mulvey have good roles here and do well for the roles that they are given. Though there are way too many characters here and most of them have very little character development here. 

Story

The story isn't well delivered at all, I get that this show is based on a book but I assume it is better conveyed in the pages of the book. The connection between Hawson and Patel had an interesting premise but fails to deliver due to the storytelling. The show also delves in different timelines and it doesn't always do this well, plus the ending is generic and feels like it doesn't hit the mark that it wants. It is funny though that this show has so much going on that the last episode has a character run through everything that has happened which feels really forced. 

Script 

For me the script isn't particularly interesting. There are no really memorable moments, it is a dark show and lacks any humour to help make the characters feel more real and more complex. Plus the drama is dull and doesn't do a good job in it's execution. 

Style

A positive thing for this show is that the setting of New Zealand is really nice to look at. It sucks you into it's world and does a good job of dragging you in, also I enjoyed the layout of the final episode and I wish this show had more episodes like that. But this show is so slow and boring, it has 6 hour long episodes and it feels like this show could have achieved the same with half the episodes for sure. 

Overall

Overall, this is a show with potential but it really fails to execute it and I don't feel like this is worth spending your time on and I would avoid it. 

Rating - 3/10

7500 (2020) Review

This film hit Amazon last week and has a big star in Joseph Gordon-Levitt in it so I was interested, I have now watched 7500 and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees an American pilot forced to attempt to save his passengers lives when his plane is taken over by hijackers.

Main Character

As mentioned above Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the lead character and he is just fabulous here, this is easily one of the best performances I have seen all year. The guy is just a movie star and he just nails it here, you feel so much sympathy for him and he manages to make you care about him in literally every scene that he is in. He delivers a very powerful performance and he carries this movie and drags every little bit out of every scene that is possible. 

Supporting Characters

There is one of the terrorists that Levitt has to connect with and for a young foreign actor I thought he did a decent job. He does shout a bit much, but the film does a good job with his character as you see he maybe isn't into the terrorism as his older partners and that makes it an interesting scenario. I mean there aren't too many other supporting characters here but they all do good jobs and add to the emotion for Levitt which means they manage to do their job well. 

Story

The story is really thrilling for me, the fact that the film takes place in just a cockpit of a plane adds to the intrigue as it makes you feel very clostraphobic and like you are stuck in with Levitt. This feels like a very real scenario compared to something like the Liam Neeson film Non-Stop which has a similar premise which is absurd. It takes it's time and puts you in the shoes of Levitt and makes it a character piece in a really intense film. But I felt like this film could have done a bit better with the terrorists motivations as it isn't explored at all. Also the ending is quite abrupt, I get why it is like it but I could have maybe done one or two more scenes with Levitt to truly finish his story.

Script 

The script is great, there is so much fantastic drama and intense scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I also love the fact that when some characters are speaking German there are no subtitles so we don't understand them just like Gordon-Levitt, it puts you in his role and makes you as confused by certain aspects which was a fantastic choice. Also when the humour is used at the beginiing of the film it does a good job in building the rapport between Levitt and his colleagues. 

Style

This is one of the reasons I feel like this film has been criticised, it is methodical and a slower pace. Do not expect this high octaine action film, expect a slower intense character study that will grip you. But this film is 90 mins long and honsestly I could have done with an extra 10 mins which could have fleshed it out a bit more and raising the overall quality.

Overall

Overall, this might be the sleeper hit of 2020 for me, other people might not enjoy this film but I was gripped throughout. If you are looking for an intense slighlty slower thriller then 7500 is a must watch.

Rating - 8/10

Henry Cavill says he wants to come back as Superman - Does this mean we are getting Man Of Steel 2? 

So today when talking about The Snyder Cut version of Justice League Henry Cavill revealed that he wants to play the characte of Superman for many years to come. This is a change from last year where he said he had no interest in reprising the role, also we heard a few weeks back that DC were interested in bringing him back but Cavill wasn't. So now that it seems that both parties are in agreement what does that mean for the character in the DCEU and does it mean Man Of Steel 2 is on the table? 

Will he only have a supporting role?

As mentioned above there was a rumour a few weeks back that DC wanted to use Superman as there version of The Incredible Hulk, he wouldn't have a solo movie but would appear in other DCEU films. Initially, it was thought that Cavill wasn't interested in that and honestly I wouldn't be either. It works for Hulk but I feel like the character of Superman deservers better and I feel like Cavill would only agree to this if he was given the chance at his own sequel.

Will he appear in The Flash?

Though I am about to contradict myself, with Michael Keaton's Batman reportedly set to reprise his role as Batman in The Flash film could The Man Of Steel join him. I thought in the little part they had together Ezra Miller & Cavill had good chemistry together and I'm not saying it should be a huge role but it would be cool to see him pop up, it could even be a more villanious role due to Flashpoint. 

They left him an interesting point in Justice League

One thing that Cavill was criticised for was being a very moody version character, but I feel like at the end of Justice League that had changed. He was a more likeable and charismatic version of the character and I really feel like the character could be more developed with more appearances in the future. 

He does the chance at a proper sequel.

I have to be honest I love Man Of Steel, I believe that it is one of the most underrated films that there is. But I felt Batman V Superman came too soon and the character needed his own sequel first. Now I think is the time to give him that chance, there is so much potential for the character and I want to see him go against Braniac and I feel like a Man Of Steel 2 is a great chance to do that.

Overall, I really hope that Cavill and DC can come to an agreement and we see Man Of Steel 2 as I really like the actor in the role and he deserves a chance for another solo movie, hopefully directed by somebody who isn't Zack Snyder. 

Athlete A (2020) Review

This documentary hit Netflix today and I had the chance to watch Athlete A and here is my review for it. The premise of the film documents the real story of Dr Larry Nassar and how he molested young gymnastics for 30 years and how US Athletics covered it up. 

Now this film deals with a really intense and disturbing subject matter and it does it really well. As you learn more and more you realise just how disgusting and horrific the actions by Nassar was and just how badly run the US Gymnastics was and how they aided this pedophile which is just truly horrifying. 

The thing that makes this really awful, is that by all accounts Nassar seemed like a nice guy and the nicest guy at US Athletics. But he used this to break all the trust issues that there was and let him commit these horrible acts and it is so satisfying seeing him get taken down. 

But this film did have some negatives and it is mostly due to it's pacing. I felt like there was some background information that was presented here that didn't add that much to the story. It would have been fine for a mini series but this is only a 1 hour 45 film so it dawdles at times when it shouldn't be. Also if feels like it skips over the really interesting parts involved in this whole case. 

Also, obviously seeing all these gymnasts revealing their stories are highly emotional I just wish they could of got Simone Biles to take part. She revealed to the court that she was a victim and with her being the most famous gymnast in the world it would have added more star power here. 

Overall, this is a good documentary with a disturbing subject matter. But it has some pacing issues which hurts it and would have maybe been better as a mini series.

Rating - 7/10

Michael Keaton is in talks to return as Batman for The Flash film - what does this mean for the DCEU

So huge news came out of Hollywood last night is that Michael Keaton is in talks to reprise his role as Batman from the 1989 film in the upcoming DC film The Flash which will focus on the comic book story Flashpoint. Here I am going to look at the ways they could use Keaton and what his casting would mean for the future of this cinematic universe. 

This means The Flash film is still happening

A few years ago it was announced that after his appearance in Justice League Ezra Miller's Flash would be getting his own solo move called Flashpoint. However, since then the film has suffered more then one delays and changed directors a few times, plus there was a controversial video of Miller seemingly attacking a woman. But it now seems that the film is back on track and hopefully this is the first of many exciting casting additions for the film. 

Keaton will be working for both DC & Marvel

Keaton was an iconic Batman in his two roles and for the most part was seen as a success. Many years later he took up the role as The Vulture in Spider-Man Homecoming. What is suprising about this as we know he is set to have as role as Vulture in the film Morbius next year, so you would believe Marvel have future plans for the character. So it could be that Keaton will do both DC and Marvel projects at similar times which isn't seen very often.

It feels like a way to get rid of Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck did a great job as Batman, but we know he doesn't have any interest in reprising the role. We also know that Robert Pattinson's Batman will be a standalone character like Joker was last year, but this universe needs a Batman. By introducing Keaton's Batman using the Flashpoint story it gives the DCEU a chance to move on from Affleck while having Batman still in this universe. 

Keaton's Batman can be the DCEU'S Nick Fury

One thing that the DCEU has missed is having the character that connects the film like Marvel Studios has Nick Fury. They did this a bit with Affleck but Keaton gives them a larger chance of this and a more experienced hand could be seen as an interesting choice to possibly even lead a future Justice League film.

Overall, this is pretty exciting news and has me more excited for The Flash film then I was before. 

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian (2020) Mini Series Review 

 

So over the last couple of months this show has been streaming on Disney+ but I decided to wait and watch all the epiosdes at once and now I have watched all Eight episodes of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian. The premise of the show looks at the hit show The Mandalorian and shows the behind the scenes action from cast, to special effects to the directors. 

This show did a great job in showing just how talented the group of directors for this show were and just how different they were. Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Taika Waittiti, Rick Famuuyiwa & Deborah Chow were the directors here and I think the best part is seeing there utter passion for Star Wars and their work on this show. The different ideas they have shows how good an idea it was for this show to have directors with different experiences and backgrounds to make this feel like a truly unique experience.

Dave Filoni is really the star here, his knowledge of Star Wars is huge and more then anybody else you can just see his passion as it oozes out of him. After this show I have heard people suggest that he should take over Star Wars for the future and I am not sure whether he would want to do that but I would definitley be fine with it.

This show also does a great job of showing just how influentual George Lucas was and still is to Star Wars and technology. Yes I am not a huge fan of the prequel films but you can't deny how important this man has been to film and filmaking and it is great to see that here. 

The show also does a great job of showing how the special effects whether CGI or practical were done and I loved seeing how the score was composed as it is one of my favourites of years gone by.

Overall, this is a fantastic Documentary that if you are a fan of Star Wars and The Mandalorian in particular then this is a must watch and something that will further enhance your love for it. 

Rating - 9/10

Lost Bullet (2020) Review

This film hit Netflix over the last few days and I have now had the chance to watch the French film Lost Bullet and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a criminal have to go on the run when his mentor is killed. 

Main Character

French actor Alban Lenoir plays the main character here and he does a fine job here. He is really good in the action scenes and looks like a legit action here. But his character isn't particularly interesting, we don't learn much about him and the film skips over really any character development here. 

Supporting Characters

The one supporting character who was interesting was Areska who was a villain, he isn't the most interesting character but he gives a strong performance and I enjoy his ending in this film. But the rest of the cast didn't have much about them, there is your generic action characters and the ones they try to give depth to it just doesn't work or make you care. 

Story

The biggest positive of the story is that is moves very quickly, it is pretty relentless and always keep you on your toes with some great action scenes. But as mentioned the relationships are not well developed and it really made it hard to care about pretty much all of the characters. 

Script

The script here isn't particularly good, there is not one bit of memorable dialogue here whether it is dramatic or humourous. If the script had been better then there was potential for the characters to be enhanced and made more interesting. 

Style

The style has some really great action scenes whether they be hand to hand or in cars. They feel violent and very brutal and really raise this above average action scenes. It also doesn't go on too long, it knows exactly what it is and keeps it's pacing moving on throughout. 

Overall

Overall, this is an average action film, it has great action scenes but lacks depth to rise it to a high standard of action film. If you want to watch a film where things crash and blow up then this might be worth having on in the background.

Rating - 5/10 

Wasp Network (2020) Review

This film made it's way to Netflix today and here is my review for Wasp Network. The premise of the film is based on the true story where Cuban Political Pisoners find home in the US and get up to schemes to assist Cuba. 

Main Character 

Edgar Ramirez has not had a great few weeks, first The Last Days Of American Crime and now this film. But I actually thought he was okay here, I usually say he is a boring one dimensional actor but he actually showed some heart and emotion here to make you care a bit about him. But you literally learn nothing about his motivations or his character, he isn't particularly interesting and comes across as a one dimensional character when there was more potential here. 

Supporting Characters

Penelope Cruz plays his wife in the film and she does a good job here, she is a strong performer here and you see how she is affected by her fathers actions and how it drives her character and her motivations. It is funny this is the second time this year that Ana De Armas and Wagner Moura have played love interests, first Sergio and now this film. They have good chemistry as you would expect as they have enough practise at it and Moura in particular has some strong scenes here. 

Story

Now I know the story that this film is based on is interesting but this film's story isn't. I have to be honest I was watching this film and I have finished it and a few hours later I am still not exactly sure what the plot was. There are supporting stories I understood but didn't really care about but nothing interesting happens. Actually something potentially interesting does happen, but it happens with 15 minutes to go and the film breezes over it leaving anything interesting to rot away.

Script

The script is super generic, there is not one bit of memorable dialogue in this film at all. The film is all over the place in terms of its storytelling and it makes this a difficult film to follow and a difficult one to care about. 

Style

The style of the film is very bland, it feels very low budget in the way it is filmed and there is nothing about it that stands out. The pacing of the film moves so slowly and jumps all over the place that you never get truly invested in any part of the film which makes it a tough 2 hours to get through.

Overall

Overall, a film that wastes its potential and delivers a really boring film that if it didn't have some good actors in it wouldn't be worth a thing, this film isn't worth a watch and one that should be avoided.

Rating - 3/10

Justice League - Snyder Cut (2021) Trailer 1 Review

So last night Jason Mamoa shared the first footage from the Snyder Cut and even though it is short in length I thought it showed enough to talk a bit about it. 

Could see more Lex Luthor

In the theatrical cut Lex Luthor played by Jessie Eisenberg only appears in the post credit scene which was suprising due to his connection with Darkseid in Batman V Superman. His last bit of dialogue from that film is used to narrate this clip which means maybe more of that connection will be explored here seeing Luthor in a larger role. 

Explains how Diana knows so much about Steppenwolf

In the original cut, Diana knew plenty about Steppenwolf and his forces with very little explanation but it is clear that in this version of the film she will be doing some research. This is a simple thing but it explains exactly how she knows so much and can explain it to Bruce Wayne. 

We will see Darkseid

From everything that we have heard we were pretty sure that we would see Darkseid here but this trailer just confirms it. It's not a clear look, but the image that Diana looks at is pretty comic accurate so lets hope unlike Doomsday from the previous film he will look more comic accurate and will do some cool things. 

Will his appearance further hurt the character of Steppenwolf

Now the main villain of the film is Darkseid's minion Steppenwolf and he was pretty dull and boring with literally no character. It reminds me of the first Guardians Of The Galaxy film because we know Ronan is just Thanos' minion because we see Thanos which means we wish he would just do more. This could be a similar issue, if we see Darkseid will that just make Steppenwolf more of a dull minion with literally no character. 

Overall, this trailer does get me a bit more hyped to see this film and I think this is going to be an interesting build to it with hopefully a great pay off. 

The King Of Staten Island (2020) Review

This film hit demand last week and I have now had the chance to watch The King Of Staten Island and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees A 24 year old weed smoker Tatooist with no ambition have to face his grief and try and make a step forward in his future.

Main Character

I feel that Pete Davidson is one of those people that comes across as either a love or hate mentality and honestly I find him really funny and I thought he really worked for this film. Yes he basically plays himself, but I found him really interesting here and I felt plenty of sympathy for him as a character. I like his dark humour here and it is clearly seen as a defence mechanism which just adds to his performance and character. 

Supporting Characters

Marisa Tomei plays his mother in the film and she is fantastic, the chemistry the two of them have together is really good and I actually felt a bond between these two as in they were believable as mother and son. She is such an important part of his life and so nice that you see Davidson's point of view and want to just see her go the film and be happy. Bill Burr plays her love interest and he is awesome here too, he has great chemistry with Tomei and they just have a really nice relationship here and you want to see everything work out. His dynamic with Davidson is also a real highlight and does a great job of pushing both of their story arcs. Steve Buscemi has a smaller role here and he does a really good job in the role adding quality to his character. 

Story

The story of trying to see Davidson's character trying to get his life together is the driving force of this film. You do sympathise with him and you really want to see him get his life started and turned around and that is the real highlight here. However, this film's first act takes a bit to get going and tehre are some parts of the story that aren't concluded and feel open ended with a bit of an abrupt ending to boot. 

Script

The script is really good, there is just fun dialogue. Not a lot of really funny moments but this film is consistently chuckle worthy and that is enough to get you through easily. Plus there is a suprisingly large amount of heart and drama here that rises this above a pretty generic comedy that they make plenty of. 

Style

The film just looks really cool, it has a fun style mixed with some really tension filled moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. However, this film is way too long, it could easily have had 20/30 mins chopped off and it would have been paced perfectly but it just ends up dragging at times.

Overall

Overall, this is a great suprise for me and is easily a great film to watch. If you are looking for a fun comedy with a bit of heart to it then The King Of Staten Island is worth a watch.

Rating - 8/10 

The Salisbury Poisonings (2020) Series Review

This show hit the UK this week and I have now had the chance to watch the 3 episode long show The Salisbury Poisonings and here is my review. The premise of the show is based on the real life events of the 2018 Novichock Poisoning crisis that took place in Salisbury. 

Main Character

Anne Marie Duff plays the main character here and I thought she did a great job. You see how the stress of this whole crisis really takes a toll on her both physically and emotionally, her relationships with her son and husband are affected and it makes you sympathise for her. It is obvious this event is the biggest she has dealt with and Duff does a great job of seeming in control even though you can tell she is struggling with the whole situation. 

Supporting Characters

Rafe Spall plays a policeman on this show and I thought he also does a really great job. I won't go into too much about his character as it is pretty spoilerific but yeah he did a great job and made really care about his character on the show. His wife played by Annabel Scholey also does a great job, she goes through alot on this show and she delivered a strong performance that added to the drama of the situation. MyAnna Burings plays a character on this show, portrayed as a troubled mother and this show really tries to make you care about her and I just didn't, her character wasn't interesting and really the show never gives you a huge reason to start liking or care about her. There are also some other supporting characters here that I get were involved in the real event but felt like a distraction here and weren't dealt as particularly important. 

Story

The main story involving the whole conspiracy and poisoning plot is really well handled. The main characters gret acting really elevate the story and see the extreme circumstances that they are in, if this story was made up I would say it is a great idea but it is just crazy that this pretty much really happened. However, as I mentioned above there are some side stories that aren't particularly interesting and the story kind of brushes over some things to speed up the plot and I felt left some details out especially at the end of the show. 

Script

The script is very grim and dark which honestly makes sense because of the premise of the show and it is really well handled. It really added to the drama and the intensity of the whole situation that is going on with the plot. 

Style

The style does move quite quickly, it is interesting seeing how this poison went from a single incident to something larger especially as this didn't happen too long ago and pretty much everybody who watches this show from the UK remembers it. Though it is strange, I am usually the guy who complains about shows having a few too many episodes but I felt like this show had too few episodes. It feels like there was at least enough material to get one maybe two more episodes out of this show and I felt like it would have made it a more comprehensive show. 

Overall

Overall, this is a good show, it does a good job of detailing this tragedy and makes you interested in it. Though there were some elements that weren't done as well this was a decent show that if you have a few hours could be worth a watch.

Rating - 7/10

Opinion - Why it is time to see a live action Miles Morales Spider-Man

So after the announcement that one of the new games on the Playstation 5 will be Spider-Man: Miles Morales and with the succes of Spider-Man Into The Spiderverse I had a think and here are my reasons why Miles Morales should be introduced in the 3rd Tom Holland led Spider-Man film and have his own trilogy afterwards. 

Would be a fresh take for the character of Spider-Man

Let's face it at this point we have had 7 Live action Spider-Man films and every time the character of Peter Parker has been used, which makes sense as he is the version that the majority of people associate with. Tom Holland has and still is great in the role and I think he can continue for time to come but adding Morales as a new character would freshen up the role and give new storytelling options.

Would add Diversity to the Marvel Universe

A fair criticism towards Marvel, especially at the beginning was a lack of diversity amongst there heroes, this has been improved with such characters as Black Panther, Falcon & War Machine and the upcoming Shang-Chi but this would add even more. With the current climate, seeing a young African American as a superhero could really be a great move for Marvel and draw in a huge audience.

Would change up Peter Parker's character  

As mentioned, Tom Holland has been really good as Spider-Man and one of the best parts of that has been seeing his relationship with Tony Stark and there mentor-student relationship. So seeing Peter as a mentor for Miles would really be a nice change for his character and really show development from the first time we have seen him to that point.

Allows the opportunity for other new characters

If this happened, it would also give Marvel a chance to introduce some other Spider-Man characters such as Spider-Gwen and Ben Riley. Plus maybe using villains that haven't been seen on the big screen before such as Chameleon, Kraven or Aleister Smythe.

Overall

Overall, I wouldn't be suprised if we saw this happen in the not to distant future and I think this would be an easy way for Marvel to gain a new Superhero and do something interesting with one of their current heros too. 

The Hangover (2009) Review

The whole Hangover trilogy recently hit Netflix so I have decided to go back and watch the first film The Hangover and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees 3 guys wake up from a Bachelor party not remembering a thing and with the Bachelor missing. They must go through Las Vegas and find out what happened in order to find him before the wedding. 

Main Character

For me this was the film where Bradley Cooper really stood out, and he is really good here. He is just so charismatic in his role and lets face it he is the guy that we all want to be in this film, and he really shows his superstar talent. He is really funny here and I thought he was just a funny character in a funny film.

Supporting Characters

Ed Helms possibly does some of his best work here, he has a very obvious character arc here and really the only person with one but it works well. He bounces off of the other two guys really well and it raises him up to a really fun performance. Zach Galifianakis plays the third member of the crew and he is the shock humour character and he does it really well, some of things he says are so outrageous annd hilarious. The crew work extremely well together and their chemistry is what really drives the film and rises it above your average comedy. The rest of the cast fill their roles well with Ken Joeng having a particularly funny role. Plus this film has one of the best celebrity cameos I have seen in a film in recent times. 

Story

The story is really simple it is crazy nobody thought of it before, it keeps you invested as you really want to find out exactly what happened to these guys on this night out. Things get crazier and crazier and you are just entranced by how mental things get, plus you want to find out where the bachelor actually ended up. This film succeeds by not giving the audience much if any information and having them react with the characters. 

Script

The script has some hilarious dialogue in it, honestly it is a really funny film and if you are up for a straight up comedy then this is one to watch with clever writing and great ad-libbing. But for me a comedy needs to have some dramatic moments in it, especially for character progression. However, this film doesn't really have any of these moments which lead this to be the weakest element of the film. 

Style

The style of the film really focuses on the raunchy side of comedy and for this film it really works. As the film gets more shocking, the style gets more shocking leading to crazy moments. Also the pacing is excellent here, it doesn't take any time getting going and pretty much never stops moving which is great for a comedy.

Overall

Overall, this is a truly fantastic comedy, one that is raunchy but one that if you are a fan of comedies is a must watch and one that should be kept in a collection.

Rating - 9/10

 

13 Reasons Why Season 2 (2018) Review

Before watching the fourth and final season of this show I have to catch up and I have just finished the second season of 13 Reasons Why and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees the trial between the school and the Bakers begin while Clay attempts to prove that Bryce is a rapist.

Main Character

Dylan Minette is back as Clay Jensen this season and I have to be honest I didn't like his performance or character as much as the previous season. He still does a fine job and seeing him try and go after Bryce makes it really easy to root for him which you do, it's just certain ways he tries to go about it. He makes other people who could be seen as good guys feel uncomfortable and he even acts out which makes him much less likeable. Throughout the first season he was the character we followed, but he has less screen time this season as it becomes more of an ensemble cast and I think that maybe hurt the character as some of the time we see him he is just being aggressive to other characters for bizarre reasons.

Supporting Characters

For me probably the best supporting characters this season was Brandon Flyyn as Justin Foley, he goes on a real redemption arc and even though he mistakes mistakes, especially in the finale I felt myself drawn to his character and wanting to see him succeed. I also thought Alisha Boe who plays Jessica was a character that was easy to root for, after what she goes through in the first season you see her having to try and deal with it and it is really a tragic watch for sure. Also credit to Justin Prentice who plays Bryce as I swear I haven't hated a character this much for years, he is truly despisable and the actor does a great job in making you love to hate him. Also the actors for Mr Porter, Zach & Mrs Baker all do really great jobs this season and give you easy reasons to care and adds depth to the show. But there were also some performances that I didn't care for, Alex survived his attempted suicide from the finale of the first season and I thought his character wasn't particularly well written this season and I didn't really care that much about him. Tyler was a strange character in the first season and honestly his arc isn't interesting for most of this season but it was the one interesting plotline in the finale so there was that. Now onto Hannah, the show finds a way to bring Katherine Langford back and for me it felt forced and it felt weird, her interactions with Clay didn't really work for me and actually made her come across as more annoying. 

Story

I love a Court Drama show and the story this season thrives when it focuses on these scene as it is really intense and puts the characters under the spotlight builds the tension. Some of the character arcs such as Justin and Jessica that makes them more interesting and likeable people then they were in the previous season. But there are some real issues, there is just so much going on that it feels very disjointed, also some of the character stories aren't interesting and don't really do anything for their characters. Also there are some things revealed here that pretty much goes against what we learned in the first season which is an issue. Plus the finale is also disjointed, it feels like the story is over after 30 mins and the second half just didn't do enough for me.

Script

The script has some decent drama in it, there are some really sad moments and moments that are gutwrenching for sure. But not all of it hits and it's tough for a show so dark it feels like these teenagers aren't funny at all which I don't buy especially amongst the popular kids as that is just not realistic. 

Style

The style has a really dramatic tone to it and it works, especially as I mentioned in the courtroom scenes which take up the majority of the season. But the pacing doesn't quite work for me, it just feels like a lot of episodes and the vast amount of stories means few of them are given the time and depth that they deserve. 

Overall

Overall, for me this is a much weaker season of this show. It doesn't have the intrigue and interest that the first season had and the mixed bag of stories really add to a mixed bag of a second season. 

Rating - 5/10

Da 5 Bloods (2020) Review

This film hit Netflix yesterday and I have now seen Da 5 Bloods and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Four African American Vets return to Vietnam to find the remains of their old leader and the gold that they hid together.

Main Character

Delroy Lindo plays the most fleshed out character and he is amazing here. He owns every scene he is in, there are times where you can't take your eyes off of him, he is the one most affected by the war and he does a really good job of portraying this. He is the most interesting character in the film and I thought he was the best part of this entire film. 

Supporting Characters

The rest of the crew have good chemistry together, but there is no doubt that I didn't care about them anywhere as much as Lindo and I felt like as the film progressed I cared less and less about them. Chadwick Boseman is in this film and does a decent job when he is on screen but he doesn't really have much of a character, we are told all these good things about him but we never see him so it makes you question just how good he is. The rest of the cast didn't do much for me whether they were protagonists or antagonists they were pretty dull and generic. 

Story

This story has an interesting premise to it, as you see these guys hunt for this gold you see how it affects them and how there lives have changed and it is done well. Also this film has plenty of moral and political questions to ask and some of it was handled well, others not. This film has too many side plots that feel pointless and it takes up a good part of the first act making it pretty much an hour in before they actually go on their journey and by then I was a bit bored. Also this film tries to mix real life issues with this film and I thought it was handled very clumsily, it feels like Spike Lee the director was trying to send a very clear message but in my opinion it took away from the movie and felt like he was just was trying to tell the history of black culture which is obviously important but I am just not sure if it was needed in this film. 

Script

The script has some really grest dramatic dialogue, it has some really memorable moments and builds the tension really well. The humour used here didn't really work for me and I think that will be a subjective thing but I think it also had something to do with how it was used sometimes leading to a clashing of tones.

Style

The film as mentions does a great job in building suspense and tension, there are some really uncomfortable scenes and this film did a great job with it. Also there are a few good shootouts here when they happen and this film is filmed really well with a unique style to it. But I can't help but mention that the pace is just off, the first hour is so slow and with the film being 2 and a half hours it needs to grip you early but for me it just didn't. 

Overall

Overall, this is clearly a passion project by Spike Lee and there are some highlights for sure mainly being his style and the lead performance. Though, I don't believe this will be remembered as one of his greats as sometimes his beliefs overpower the story and this is a longer film then it needed to be. If you are a fan of war films then this might be for you and it is a decent watch but I wouldn't say it is one to rush to see. 

Rating - 6/10

Artemis Fowl (2020) Review

This film was meant to be released to cinema around this time but due to the pandemic Disney decided to put it on there streaming service Disney+ so here is my review for Artemis Fowl. The premise of the film sees a young man have to hunt down a secret society of fairies in order to locate his missing father. 

Main Character

Young actor Ferdia Shaw plays the titular character and I don't want to be to harsh but he is not good in this film. He is such a bland character and you are literally given no reason to care at all, that is due to the poor pacing of the film but also due to his performance which isn't inspired at all. It takes all the interesting parts of the character from the book and waters them down to make him a really boring character. 

Supporting Characters

Josh Gad has a pretty big role here and he did a good job here, not his best work but he is the most entertaining character here and the one who looks like he actually wants to be there and wants to try and make the film decent. Nonso Anozie does a decent job here too, we don't learn much about him but he has some moments to shine. Now onto the rest of the cast, Lara Mcdonell is here as a fairy and I didn't really care for her as a character, she doesn't get much development and the performance didn't do anything to stand out for me. Colin Farrell is in this film and he tries but he has nothing to work with and he is wasted here making it more frustrating to why he was even cast in this role in the first place. Then we get to Dame Judi Dench and wow she is terrible here, she has some weird Irish accent and has the worst dialogue imaginable to make this easily one of the worst performances that she has ever given.

Story

The story is so chopped up that you won't care about anything. First of all there is no indication as to really why Artemis is so intelligent and why exactly everything is going on, you are given no reason to care about anybody here and the plight that they are in. The issue is that with this film being rushed out I feel like plenty of scenes were left out which included character development scenes but they are not here and the film just makes no sense at times with a cringeworthy sequel bait ending which will never be followed up on. 

Script 

The script here is really poor, there is no humour and the drama is really weak as I said earlier which makes you not care about any of the characters. The screenplay is really poorly written and deserves all of the crticism that it gets.

Style

The style has some okay action sequences and some of the designs are good to see and have real potential. But the CGI doesn't always hold up and makes this film feel like it was from the 90's instead of 2020. The pacing of this film is also awful, it clocks in at 90 minutes and with the rush it feels like you learn nothing and aren't given a reason to remember this film. 

Overall

Overall, this film is a waste of time. This film was clearly meant to be a start of a franchise but it won't be because it is a terrible film that had potential but was executed poorly and is not worth a watch.

Rating - 2/10

Inception (2010) Review

With Christopher Nolan's new film Tenet set to hit the cinemas hopefully some time soon I have decided to watch the film it has already been compared to in Nolan's big hit Inception. The premise of the film sees a thief who is tasked with stealing secrets using dream like technology have to gather a team to plant an idea into a mind of a CEO of a huge company. 

Main Character

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Cobb and he is as usual excellent in this role. He is the soul of this movie and you really care about his character and want to see him succeed, he has such emotional depth to him but a mix of charisma that makes him a true leading man here. I don't want to go into too much depth about his character but he is fascinating and you learn more and more as the film progresses and it adds layers to his performance. 

Supporting Characters

Ellen Page plays the main supporting character and she is really good here. She is the new member of the team so she is our insight into this world but she has plenty of heart and her relationship with DiCaprio is a real strength to the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in this film and also does a great job, his character does plenty of exposition but it never feels boring and it fits his character well. Also when it comes to the action scenes he is the standout here and has some truly memorable moments. Tom Hardy plays a big role here and he is the most charming character, he oozes charisma and is just a really fun character to watch do his thing. Ken Wantanabe, Cillian Murphy & Marion Cotillard are also great in there roles. 

Story 

This story is hard to talk about to say the least so I won't go into it too much but it is incredibly innovative. The story keeps you on your toes throughout and keeps you fascinated, it combines excitement, emotion and intrigue superbly. It takes a bit of time to get to the main crux of the story but every part of the setup is really interesting and just being put into this world is so unique. The ending of the film is also amazing, it has been debated for years and I love how this ending is thought provoking and makes the audience talk about it. 

Script

The script here is great, it has the issue with having plenty of exposition but it does a really good job of it, making those scenes as interesting as the shootouts. The emotion and humour is a really good blend to make these characters feel like real people even though the concept is crazy. 

Style

The style of the film is brilliant, the action scenes are fantastic to watch and all feel very different and really unlike anything we have seen before. The score by Hans Zimmer really adds plenty to the film and really makes it feel epic, even though the film is 2 and a half hours it never felt slow or boring and kept my interest throughout.

Overall

Overall, this is a truly special film, it is one of them most unique ideas ever put on the screen and it really delivers. This film is not a casual watch, it is one you have to pay attention to throughout and it might be complicated at times but it will be worth a watch for sure. 

Rating - 10/10

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil (2019) Review

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil (2019) 

This film got added to Disney+ this week and I have now watched the sequel to Maleficent, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Maleficent's Goddaughter Aurora becoming engaged to the Prince, which causes both of them to question where there loyalty lies.

Main Character

Angelina Jolie is back as Maleficent and it was like she was born to play this role. She visually owns the screen as the character and she mixes the humanity and evil side of her character really well. She doesn't do that much these days but this role is one of those that really fits her as an actress. 

Supporting Characters

Michelle Pfeiffer plays the Queen in this film and she is great here, she owns her role as the snarky evil old hag and you just really don't like her. Her character isn't that unique but there is enough about her to make her interesting and she is a worthy adversary here. Elle Fanning plays Aurora here and I thought she did a good job, her character is pretty generic but her relationship with Maleficent is well done here and I actually found myself caring about there relationship. Ed Skrein, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Robert Lindsay also all do good jobs in there small roles here adding plenty to the film.

Story

The story here has plenty going on but really the highlight is Aurora & Maleficent's story. They feel similar and mirror each other well, you see there loyalties split here and you feel for both the characters as the film does a good job in making you care about there relationship here. But as mentioned there is more going on in this film, some of it isn't really fleshed out and feels like maybe it could have been left out here. Also no spoilers but this film has a very Disney ending, with a film with a titular character that is mostly seen as a villain it plays it really safe and refuses to take any risks.

Script

The script has some good moments to it, there are some chuckle worthy moments and some decent drama. But overall it isn't that great, there is some humour that doesn't quite work and some of the drama that doesn't hit mainly in the supporting plot lines.

Style

The style is mostly good here, the costume design is fantastic, it looks brilliant especially for Maleficent who really stands out. Some of the action scenes are good aswell and feel really large scale fitting this film. But the issue is that sometimes the CGI doesn't exactly hold up and this film has some scenes that are in darker lighting that are actually quite hard to follow.

Overall

Overall, this is a good sequel here that will be entertaining for families and adults alike. If you liked the first film then this film is worth a watch for sure and a decent sequel.

Rating - 7/10

365 DNI (2020) Review

This film recently hit Netflix and has been seen by quite a few people so I have now decided to watch it and review 365 DNI. The premise of the film sees an Italian mafia boss kidnapp a woman and give her 365 days for her to fall in love with him. 

Main Character

The main girl in this film is called Laura and I checked the actresses history and she has done nothing before this film and it really shows as she is terrible here. It feels like she was hired just because she is attractive and was willing to do things that maybe other performers wouldn't be. Her character is laughably bad and has no depth to her at all, she is so weak and you really wonder why you should care about her in the film. Then there is the main guy who is probably even worse, he is so aggressive towards her and unlikeable, the fact that these two people would have any type of relationship is absurd and is hard to watch as it is all the film gives to you.

Supporting Characters

There are literally no interesting supporting characters, it is all the stereotypes you would expect. The ex partners of both people, the crazy bestfriend and the old school gangster but none of them are performed well at all and you are given no reason to care.

Story

There is a slightly interesting premise here but it requires good acting and good storytelling which this film has neither. The two leads have no chemistry together and actually their relationship is pretty abusive and really hard to root for even though the film tries to make you. There are some generic side plots that are there to pad out the film and play no part of the main plot, plus the ending is awful with no explanation at all. 

Script

The script is shocking, the dialogue is truly laughable, there is no hu,our and no drama which makes the film even worse then it should be. 

Style

The film's style mainly focuses on it's sex scenes and yeah they are well done but honestly it is not worth the time, you can find things on the internet that is the same and quicker to watch. This film forgets what it is, it goes on for two hours which is way too long and makes this film feel longer then it has any right to be.

Overall

Overall, this is one of the worst films I have ever seen, this film is there for it's sex but the rest of them film has the porn level of acting and storytelling that comes with it making it a truly awful film.

Rating - 1/10

Alex Rider Season 1 (2020) Review

There was an attempt many years ago to try and make Alex Rider a film franchise but it failed and now Amazon have taken a chance and looked to launch a TV series with the same character and here is the review for the first season. The premise of the season sees after his uncle is mysteriously killed Alex Rider is recruited by a shady organisation to infiltrate a school and find out there intentions. 

Main Character

Pretty unknown actor Otto Farrant plays Alex Rider and the best thing I will say is that he is functional in the role. He is fine in pretty much everything, fine in the action scenes, fine in making you care and fine in keeping you interested. But that is it, he is just fine, there is nothing remarkable about him at all and it is hard to buy him as this spy because he spends no time training and you just aren't given a great reason to overly care about him. 

Supporting Characters

Brenock O'Connor who played Olly on Game Of Thrones plays his best friend and he does a decent job here. You buy into their relationship and believe that these two would be friends, he plays the geeky sidekick which we have seen before but he does it well here. Stephen Dillane who played Stannis Baratheon also on Game Of Thrones is here as the head of the organisation and he is fine in his role, you don't learn too much about his character but he is good in the role and you want to learn more about him. But the rest of the cast aren't so interesting, the villains are generic and the rest of the good guys don't have much about them and again it doesn't give you enough of a reason to care. 

Story

The story actually has some interesting moments to it, the premise of being in this school is great as you aren't exactly sure what is going on but when it is all revealed it is actually a good reveal that will suprise you. It's just there is too much going on in the background, the stuff in London isn't that interesting and I felt like the finale was weak and the show could have actually ended the episode before and that would have set up a more interesting second season. 

Script

The script is okay, it builds the suspense and tension really well, by hiding the true motivations of the story it leads to interesting reveals in the later parts of the season. But overall, the drama and humour isn't there to a high enough level making the characters less interesting for sure. 

Style

This show has some impressive set pieces too it with good action scenes here. But there aren't enough really, plus the pacing of the show lets it down. It just takes way too long to get going and this season could have been 6 episodes long which I think would have made it much better and more exciting.

Overall

Overall, this is a very average show, there is nothing insultingly bad about it but also nothing particularly memorable about it. I would say avoid this one unless you are a fan of the books or are a huge spy fan it might be okay but there is better out there. 

Rating - 5/10

Ranked: Jurassic Films 

So there have been 5 films made in the franchise starting with Jurassic Park and now I rank them from the worst to the best. 

5. Jurassic Park 3 (2001)

 The first Jurassic film that wasn't directed by Steven Spielberg was truly awful. The film is really short and there aren't really any likeable characters here, Sam Neil tries as Alan Grant but it is not worth spending any time watching this film as it is truly terrible.

4. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

 A really lacklustre sequel to Jurassic World saw a much slower more boring film that didn't hit the mark. There are a few okay things here, but the characters are pretty one dimensional and everybody is an idiot which doesn't help. The ending of the film leaves some interesting future prospects but this film will go down as one to skip.

3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

 This film was the sequel to Jurassic Park and I would describe it as a fun but flawed movie. Jeff Goldblum is great as Dr Ian Malcolm and really carries this film, having a second island allowed for fun ideas but the rest of the cast wasn't that great and the last act could have been handled much butter. Though is is a fun sequel and one that could be worth a watch if you enjoy the first film.

2. Jurassic World (2015)

 A good return for this franchise, it is great seeing a theme park based on the original finally built and flourishing. The film is at its best when it shows the dinosaurs going through and destroying the park. Though there are some unlikeable characters and some plot points that brings the film down but it is an entertaining watch for sure. 

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

 What other film could it be, as they say you never forget the first and this film is a great example of it. The awe and wonder of seeing the dinosaurs for the first time using mostly practical effects makes it stand out as really ahead of it's time and a pioneer for future cinema. But this film also has great characters and a really interesting story that focuses on nature vs nurture. This is a must see film for any film fan and one that in my opinion is up there with the best films ever made. 

Overall

Overall, this franchise started with a truly amazing film which they have just never been able to replicate. It is mixed with some decent and some poor sequels and hopefully if this franchise has a big future they can try and strive for the levels of the original film. 

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Review

 

After watching the previous films in this franchise I have come to watch the newest Jurassic Film - Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees the island being destroyed by a volcano which causes Claire and Owen to return and try and save the dinosaurs. 

Main Character

Chris Pratt is back as Owen Grady for this film and he is fine here, he mostly has the charm and charisma that he usually has and it makes him likeable enough. It's just hos character has no development over this film after the last film, his motivations at first are pretty poor and you wonder why he really goes on the journey. 

Supporting Characters

Bryce Dallas Howard is back as Claire and the one thing I can say is that her character actually had some development here, she is a more loving person for the dinosaurs then the previous film. But she does spend plenty of this film just screaming and I just don't feel her and Pratt have any real on screen chemistry and that continued in this film. Rafe Spall plays a really generic character here and you really won't care at all, you know what his motivations are and you know where is character is going. Also if you are watching this film because you saw the trailer and saw Jeff Goldblum back as Dr Ian Malcolm then don't because he is literally in two scenes that are both in the trailer which was hugely disappointing.

Story

The story is where the film really falls down, the characters motivations for going to save the dinosaurs is really mixed and you find it hard to believe. All the characters who seem like villains are and they all have really poor motivations and basic performances. There is also this story involving this young girl that feels really tacked on and there is a twist involving it that is absurd and even worst it literally plays no part in the story at all. The ending sets up an interesting idea for future films but it also feels silly and over the top and after watching the plot you have checked out by then. 

Script

The script is really poor too, the romance between the two main characters is really poorly written and it feels like we wasted our time dealing with it in the previous film. Plus characters are written to do really stupid things and the humour doesn't work especially with a couple of characters that are literally in there to try and be funny but they just fail.

Style

The style of the film is where the film kind of improves, the dinosaurs look great here and there are some fun action sequences. Plus this film maybe does the best job in the franchise at building tension and focusing on the more horror elements which is a nice thing to see. But also this film is pretty slow and its pacing holds it back, the slower parts of the films aren't interesting and it holds the film back. 

Overall

Overall, I was really disappointed by this film, it is much slower then its predecesor and the film isn't as exciting. It is a poor film and not worth a watch even if you are a big fan of this franchise.

Rating - 3/10