Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) Mini Series Review 

After years of hype, Obi-Wan Kenobi has had its run, with the show finishing on Disney+ today and here is my review for the whole show. The premise of the show sees Obi-Wan Kenobi dragged into a new adventure while trying not to expose himself and be hunted by Darth Vader. 

Main Character

Ewan McGregor is back as the title role and I thought he was fantastic. He slips back into the role really well and he sells the pain and troubles that he has gone through since the events during The Clone Wars. He still has some comedic charm to him, but it is really cool seeing this slightly older and more jaded character being dragged back in really against his will. Just seeing this guy who clearly loves the character get the chance to continue his story is great to see. 

Supporting Characters

Hayden Christensen reprises his role as Darth Vader and it is amazing to watch. The way Vader has been handled the last few years has been incredible and for me this is probably the best he has ever been. He has basically been turned into a horror villain and he is just such an intimidating presence that it really works and obviously there is the emotional connection with him and Kenobi. Vivien Lyra Blair plays the young Leia Organa and I thought she was fantastic, it felt like she was born to play this role and the chemistry between herself and McGregor is excellent. Indira Varma plays Tala and I really liked her performance, she is a strong female character and you can see how her character affects both Leia and Obi-Wan. Moses Ingram plays Reeva and I have to be honest for the first 4 episodes I thought she was the worst part of the show, but they finally give her some character and development that definitely makes her more bearable. O Shea, Jackson Jr, Rupert Friend and Joel Edgerton also do good jobs in their smaller roles. 

Story   

The story is good, I really liked the focus on Obi-Wan's regrets from the prequels and how it basically moulded the villainous Empire and Vader. The focus of the show is at its best when it really delves into the relationship between Obi-Wan & Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, it is some fantastic stuff and progresses both characters well. But the show doesn't do this enough, it focuses on a few too many areas, with some of it not being that interesting. I wish the show had focused on Vader more and trimmed the fat on some of the other elements of the show. 

Script 

The script is good, the dialogue is really well handled and I thought there was a great blend of drama and humour. It never feels like an over the top melodrama or a full on laugh out loud comedy and balances them well. Even though there is too much going on, it is all written pretty well and is entertaining enough. 

Style 

The show looks amazing, the fight scenes are grafted incredibly well and especially with Vader this is some of the best Star Wars action that has ever been put on screen. The CGI and effects are obviously great and it is cool to see some new locations that really stand out. The show is paced well and kept me invested throughout the 6 episode run. 

Overall

Overall, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fantastic show that feels like it was made for fans of this character and Star Wars. If there is future series then I would be highly excited for it. 

Overall - 9/10

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Review 

Even though it has been out for a few weeks, I have now had the chance to watch Top Gun: Maverick and here is my review for it. The premise of the film is set 30 years after the original film with Maverick having to teach a new group of recruits to give them the best chance of surviving a dangerous mission. 

Main Character

Tom Cruise is back as Maverick in one of his most iconic roles and he knocks it out of the park. This version of the character is really well realised, he still has that cocky bravado towards him but there is more pain to his role and he is thrust into this position that he is not completely comfortable with. This is one of his strongest performances over the last few years and it is great to see him really committed here. 

Supporting Characters

Miles Teller plays Rooster, the son of Goose from the previous film and he is fantastic in the film. There is real heart to his performance and the dynamic between himself and Cruise is done really well in the film. It was probably my favourite part of the film and that is a credit to the two actors to deliver emotion to both of the characters. Jennifer Connolly plays Maverick's new love interest and I thought they worked really well together and it was just nice to see. She is a pretty cool character in her own right and it is a nice part of the film instead of being a boring side plot. Jon Hamm basically plays the military boss who disagrees with Maverick and though he is frustrating, Hamm does a really good job and he is a good contrast to Maverick in the film. All the young pilots are really great too and I can see big futures for their careers, especially Glenn Powell who plays Hangman. Probably one of the best parts of the film is seeing Val Kilmer reprise his role as Iceman, due to his real life illness it is difficult but I cant deny and say it is really well handled and adds plenty to the story. 

Story 

The story is really well handled, it is way more serious then the original Top Gun and that was definitely the right root to take. There is a real raw emotion to the characters here and the situation they are put in, it feels like this group are training for a high stakes mission and the film did a great job of that. You really will care about them and want to see the twists and turns that the film is going to take. 

Script

The script is fantastic, the charm and humour that you would want from a Top Gun film is here. But it is the extra layer of emotion and care that rises it above, the characters are well written and the story is well crafted and built up well. 

Style 

The films style is incredible, the flying scenes can now truly hit their true potential with todays technology and they are amazing. The cinematography is some of the best you will ever see and it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. The film is also incredibly well paced and I was never bored with it being a brilliant film. 

Overall

Overall, Top Gun Maverick is an Epic film and one of the best films in the last few years. It maybe the best sequel of an older film that has been made and this is a must watch for everybody in my opinion. 

Rating - 10/10

Black Adam (2022) Trailer Review

After a really long wait, we are finally going to see Black Adam this year and today we have the first trailer for the film and here are my thoughts on it and why I am actually quite excited for this film. 

Is there a more scientific background to Black Adam's Powers?

Right at the beginning of the trailer we see Adam getting dragged and put in a chamber that fills with water. This seems to be before he really gets powered up but it does raise a question that is there more science involved with his powers or is it all magical like it is in the comics. 

Adam was a slave that was killed

It is explained that Adam was a slave, that was murdered by his masters. This possibly explains that he has some powers of resurrection and long life. Potentially he is resurrected through a mixture of science and magic which leads to him getting his abilities. 

His son was also killed

He also then goes on to explain that his son died saving him which again is probably he has his powers. This tragedy probably links to his more brutal side that we see later on in this trailer. 

The Justice Society of America Arrive 

We are introduced to the JSA. We see Hawkman played by Aldis Hodge, Atom Smasher and Doctor Fate played by the great Pierce Brosnan. It seems they have moral issues with Black Adam and this will probably lead to them clashing, I am really excited to see Dr Fate in particular as I think this is a character with great potential. 

Black Adam kills people

He makes this very clear in the trailer that Adam isn't what you would call a clear hero. He kills people that he sees as his enemies which fits with his character in the comics. This is probably how he ends up fighting the JSA as they are more traditional heroes that are against the idea of killing completely.

Black Adam will be the ultimate Anti Hero 

There is a part in the trailer where Doctor Fate explains that Adam could be a destroyer or hero. This is clearly meant to show that Adam blurs the line between good and evil in the film, with the JSA being more traditional good guys. I hope they don't make Adam a traditional good guy cause that would be pretty dull and boring. 

Overall 

Overall, I really liked this trailer. Black Adam is a character I have always found interesting and I really hope they give him a film worthy of his character that could see him have clashes with characters like Shazam! or Superman in the future. 

First Impressions: Ms Marvel 

So today saw the first episode of Ms Marvel make its way to Disney+ and I watched it today, with these being my thoughts on the overall episode with some spoilers for the episode ahead. 

Iman Vellani is really good as Kamala Khan 

She may be a newcomer but Iman Vellani really slots into the role of Ms Marvel well. She is likeable and an easy character to like, she is pretty different to the majority of heroes that we have met over the MCU and the show does a good job showcasing that. 

The show has a creative style

Something that came across really well is that this show is unique in terms of its presentation. The way of filmmaking and use of effects worked for me and made it stand out from the rest of these Marvel Disney+ Shows. It showcases a young Pakistani hero really well and gives her real character. 

Its pretty slow and boring though 

As good as she is and as nice as the show looks, I couldn't help but find myself bored throughout. It is your usual high school drama, with a kid who rebels against her parents. There are no action scenes to speak of and it takes way too long for Kamala to get her powers. 

There is no villain yet

Another big issue is that the show doesn't really set up an antagonist at all. Apart from a bit of a bully there is nothing here and not really a hint at one. Obviously, I expect this to change over the next few episodes but it feels like something that could have been done quicker here. 

The FBI seem to be going after Khan now

Ever since the events of Avengers Endgame it seems like the FBI are looking into powered people more and that is teased in the post credit scene here where it shows two agents looking into Kamala and her powers. Hopefully, this adds more complexity and depth to the series. 

Overall

Overall, Ms Marvel is clearly a show designed for a younger demographic and I wasn't a huge fan of it to be honest. I like Kamala as a character and hope this show gets way better because it needs to do more at the moment.