Tron: Ares (2025) Review

After 15 years, we finally have another Tron film and with our huge advances in technology there should be big hopes for Tron: Ares and I managed to finally give it a review today so here is my review for Tron: Ares. The premise of the film sees a programme from the grid sent into the real world in order to undertake a mission. 

Main Character

Jared Leto plays Ares and he does an okay job. Now, though his career recently has been a bit of a mixed bag, I really do think he is a great actor and he is really trying his best here to make this character interesting. But Ares just falls a bit flat for me, his character arc is really rushed through and it makes him a pretty forgettable protagonist. 

Supporting Characters

Greta Lee plays Eve Kim and I actually like her character. She is the new chairwoman of Encom and she is looking to help the world but she actually has some personality to her and somebody who actually seems worth rooting for. 

Jodie Turner-Smith plays another programme called Athena and I thought she was great. There was just a presence about her intimidating role and there was definitely some development in her character, I just wish there had been more. 

Evan Peters plays Julian Dillinger and he was an over the top generic bad guy. I mean Peters is a good actor and he is clearly committed here but there is nothing for him to really do in the film and he kind of gets forgotten about. 

The great Gillian Anderson plays his mother in this film and she is completely wasted, she could have been played by anybody and she was just a pointless character that was super cliché and poorly written.

Story 

The story has some good themes to it and at least tries to give some of the characters arcs throughout. It also tries some new things in an attempt to refresh the franchise. But this story has no meat on it and feels incredibly rushed, it moves so quickly through it that it doesn't give us anything to make us really care, it is definitely style over substance. 

Script

The Script has some decent moments, I actually chuckled a few times which I wasn't expecting from this film. But the writing is overall pretty weak and doesn't allow the characters or plot to shine in a way that it could have. 

Style

The style of this film is beautiful. Tron films have always really focused on its style but this film really nails it. It feels really grand in scale and finally delivers on what it wanted to back in the 1980s. The film flowed really well and it is just hard to take your eyes off of this beautiful film. 

Overall

Overall, Tron: Ares is an Above Average Film and is actually my favourite film in the franchise. It is frustrating as I truly believe this could have been a fantastic film and it falls way short of that. But when it comes available on a streaming service I would say it is potentially worth a watch. 

Rating - 6/10

Tron: Legacy (2010) Review

I am going to watch Tron: Ares tomorrow, so before that I thought I had to watch the film in the franchise before it in Tron: Legacy and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees the son of a computer programme go into the grid in order to try and track him down. 

Main Character 

Garrett Hedlund plays Sam Flynn and he is a pretty dull character. Hedlund tries his best and he seemed to really dive into the role and give something to it. It is just there isn't really anything interesting about Sam at all. He is the most generic protagonist for a film like this and it takes away from the film when you really just don't care about the main character. 

Supporting Characters

Olivia Wilde plays Quorra and I really liked her here, to be honest with a bit of a rewrite she could have been the main protagonist as she is a way more interesting character the Sam and offers a lot to the film. 

Michael Sheen appears in a small role but it certainly is memorable. He seems off his rocker and is having the time of his life and he isn't in it enough to make it an issue but he is a lot of fun. 

Now Jeff Bridges plays two roles here in Kevin Flynn & Clu and it is a mixed bag. He is decent as Kevin and there are shades of his performance from the original film and some charisma there. But as Clu he is really cheesy and the CGI used is some of the worst CGI I have seen in a long time and made his character even more jarring to watch. 

Story

The main positive I can say about the story is that it is way more coherent then the previous Tron film. I like how it shows the progression of the grid and how Kevin really failed in what he was attempting to do in the original film. However, the film is pretty cliché and I just really didn't care about Sam's character development. The film also has a really frustrating ending that is just in the business of setting up sequels then giving a satisfying ending.  

Script

The film is written okay, it has some good moments of character, mainly for Quorra and everything about her when she is introduced. But the film falls a bit flat when it comes to really looking at its themes and overall writing of the characters. 

Style

The film is visually stunning. It looks like what the filmmakers wanted the original Tron to look like and it is fantastic to see this world really come to life with more modern technology. However, there is one character that relies on CGI and it just looks awful and like something out of a dodgy game. Also the aspect ratio kept changing for me and it was super annoying and really felt quite jarring which is such a shame because the film does look great. 

Overall

Overall, Tron Legacy is an average film that looks fantastic but falls flat in pretty much every other department. It is such a shame as there is a lot of potential here but it just doesn't hit those levels and it took them 15 years to make another one of these films. 

Rating - 5/10

Chad Powers (2025) Review

For the last month or so, I have been watching a new show on Disney Plus call Chad Powers and the finale was today and I have watched that so here is my review for the whole season of Chad Powers. The premise of the show sees a disgraced former quarter back aim to get back to playing football under a new identity. 

Main Character

Glen Powell is one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood at the moment and can pretty much pick any project he wants and he is Chad Powers. He is easily the best part of this show and his star power shines through some of the other elements of the show, he really delivers a mix between comedy and drama and really excels, especially at the surprising dramatic moments. 

Supporting Characters

Perry Matfield plays Ricky a female coach who takes a liking to Chad. Though there is more to her character then that, she is going through her own character arc and that works alongside the arc of Chad. The two of them have great chemistry and are a real highlight of the show. 

Steve Zahn plays Coach Hudson and he is a fun character here. He is really feeling the pressure of being the coach of an American Football Team and he really sells it well. He is pretty charming but always on edge and it works for him. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast aren't so good. Wynn Everett plays Tricia and she is super unlikeable. She sees herself above everybody else in the show but not in a charming way but in a way that made me dislike her character. 

Frankie A. Rodriguez plays Danny and he is the closest friend to Chad and honestly I found him quite over the top and annoying for the most part. I just didn't really buy into their relationship and it is the one part of the show that didn't quite hit for me. 

Story

The story has some good character arcs that make you care about Chad and some of the people around him. The finale has some interesting turns that really subvert expectations of a show like this and I really appreciated that. However, this show is pretty predictable throughout and some of the character were pretty annoying throughout. Also, the ending of the show is disappointing and feels like it is just setting up a second season. 

Script

This show has some really surprising heartfelt moments that are written really well and flesh out the characters. But this show is focusing on comedy and I barely laughed throughout, the writing is weak and just not very funny which is a big shame when your show is mainly a comedy. 

Style

The show flies by with its pacing which is both good and bad. Certain episodes, especially when it focuses on the actual football, I really enjoyed the fast pace and way the show is shot. But at times it feels like it is rushing itself and doesn't give certain aspects of the show the time that it needs. 

Overall

Overall, Chad Powers is an above average show that has some potential. Some good performances and surprisingly heartfelt moments help this but it isn't funny enough or memorable enough to watch. If a second season gets announced then maybe give it a go as it is an easy and quick watch. 

Rating - 6/10

Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)

It has taken me a while but the new series of the anthology Monster focusing on Ed Gein has been out and I have now watched the series. So here is my review for Monster: The Ed Gein Story. The Premise of the show focuses on Ed Gein who was the first real serial killer and how his impact affected people over the next number of years. 

Main Character

Charlie Hunnam plays Ed Gein and I am really conflicted about his performance. There is no doubt that he fully commits to the role and there are some times when he is super chilling and really uncomfortable. But there are times when it is just too over the top and the accent that he is doing made me laugh. I think he does improve as the episodes go on but I can't get over how silly he can be, especially in those first few episodes. 

Supporting Characters

Laurie Metcalf plays Augusta Gein and I thought she was pretty good in the show. She is really over the top and controlling but it kind of works and the relationship between the two of them was a better part of the show. 

Suzanna Son plays Adeline Watkins and she is also pretty good. Her relationship with Gein is a major part of the show and it is pretty well realised and actually gives time to flesh out her character. 

There are a large group of people on the show but none of them stand out and do very little. Tom Hollander plays Alfred Hitchcock but the overuse of makeup and his weird performance was really distracting and took away from those scenes. 

Story

The story is clearly trying to document this crazy man and the legacy that he left for other people with issues. But I have to be honest, I just don't think the show does a particularly good job at it. It is so all over the place and tries to cram so much into it that it just really feels like nothing gets the time to be that interesting or something worth caring about. The Finale also is underwhelming and doesn't really do enough to justify this show existing. 

Script

The script has some okay writing, some really chilling pieces of dialogue are in here. But the writing suffers from the fact that it is trying to cram so much in here and make it so outlandish that it kind of comes across as a bit of a caricature. 

Style

The show certainly doesn't shy away from violence and the gore. You really feel the terrible things that this guy did and the gruesome way that he did them. However, this show has a really slow pace about it and I found myself pretty bored throughout with storylines that I really didn't care about. 

Overall

Overall, Monster: The Ed Gein Story is a Below Average Show that missed the mark for me. This show had poor pacing and a bad story that didn't all connect. Mixed with a strange lead performance and it just isn't worth your time. 

Rating - 4/10

Tron (1982) Review

I am looking to get the chance to watch Tron: Ares at some point in the next week, so I thought in prep I would go back and watch the original film as I actually have never watched Tron. So I did that today and here is my review for Tron. The premise of the film sees a computer hacked abducted by a Digital Programme and is forced to try and survive with the aid of some new allies. 

Main Character

Jeff Bridges plays Kevin Flynn and he is great here. He is the person who is enjoying himself the most and I think with that it makes him the most fun person to watch. I mean his character isn't the most interesting but he manages to make it work just about enough to make me care about his story. 

Supporting Characters 

Bruce Boxleitner plays Alan Bradley/Tron and I thought he was also really good, especially as Tron. He plays the AI really well and the fact that he is basically the saviour of the universe was handled pretty well. 

David Warner plays a pretty entertaining villain in Ed Dillinger/Sark. He is a pretty generic character but he ate up all of the scenes that he was in and provided some much needed entertainment on screen. 

The rest of the cast aren't so lucky, I mean the only real ones to talk about are Cindy Morgan as Lora/Yori & Dan Shor as Ram. The first is just their as a love interest really and she is a boring one of that, especially with some weird writing for her towards the end of the film. Ram is fine but I never really cared about him and I just think the film needed a 3rd member of our heroic group of male AI's so they added him. 

Story

The story heavily focuses on AI and its relationship to humans which is quite funny as it probably fits more with modern times then it did in 1982. I think it achieves this in an okay manner but the majority of the plot is either cliche or just not very well explained. It fails to really delve into its subject matter enough like other films and has a really abrupt ending that leaves us with more questions then answers. 

Script

Unfortunately, the worst part of the film for me was the script and writing. It really feels like this film went for a style over substance philosophy and that was really realised with the lazy and dull writing. A few good moments here and there, but it just doesn't have anywhere near enough depth for it to be worthwhile. 

Style

For a film that was released in 1982, the CGI and Style is amazing for this film. It has great colours and some really unique ideas that were ahead of its time. It also has a great score and sci-fi feel that is rare to see even amongst current films. However, the film is really short, barely making it to 90 mins and thus everything feels really rushed and the story is just forgotten about in order to show these pretty revolutionary computer effects. 

Overall

Overall, Tron is an average film that doesn't really stand out in todays market. I am sure in 1982 that this film was revolutionary and that should be appreciated. But when you look at the film as a whole it doesn't really stand up and is one I wouldn't rush to see. 

Rating - 5/10

One Battle After Another (2025) Review

This film has been out for a few weeks and I have finally found the time to go and see One Battle After Another and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a Father go on the hunt for his daughter when an old enemy returns. 

Main Character

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob and he is fantastic. I don't think there is too much surprise to hear this as he is one of the best actors of this generation but his performance here is really great. He is the bumbling fool but he plays it really well and there is just such pace about his performance that you can't help but keep your eyes on him throughout. 

Supporting Characters

Sean Penn plays Col Steve Lockjaw and this is one of the best villain performances that I have seen for a long time. He is super intense and scummy but there is some uniqueness to him that makes him really stand out. He is a real star of this film and I have a feeling there could be an Oscar Nomination heading his way. 

Benicio Del Toro plays Sensei Sergio St Carlos and he is his enigmatic best. Del Toro is one of the most charismatic actors around and he really owns that in this film. His delivery of lines is so quick and his dynamic with DiCaprio is one of my favourite parts of the film. 

Chase Infiniti plays Willa and she is fantastic. She is a new actress but she has a huge future and she is a real shining light here. She isn't just a damsel in distress but she has strength and Infiniti really plays the role well. 

Teyana Taylor plays Perfidia and even though it is a smaller role in the film she is fantastic to watch and eats up the screen for the opening sequences of the film and is a crucial part of the overall film. 

Story

I really liked the story, It feels like it moves at a brisk pace and we are on the run with DiCaprio and we really feel like we are part of his mission. Characters motivations and beliefs are pretty basic but they work for this film and the poilitcal nature that is hovering in the background. 

However, I wasn't as big a fan of the final act and I think the story makes some odd decisions. There is one part of the film in particular that is underdeveloped and I think if you have watched the film you will know what I mean. Certain characters don't really get any closure and it just would have been nice to have got that. 

Script

The script has some tight writing. The dialogue is fantastic and it makes these characters feel like real people with some real crazy stuff said. As I said above, I have some issues with the plot but I can't deny that the film does a great job in balancing its characters story and keep what could have been a confusing story relatively simple. 

Style

The film is absolutely beautiful. It feels somewhat old school in the way it is shot and presented just really stands out and it is all the better for it. This film is pretty long, it clocks in at over 2 hours & 30 mins and I was never bored. The pacing is great and the film moves well, keeping me invested throughout. 

Overall

Overall, One Battle After Another is a fantastic film that should be seen by all movie goers. I think it will be one of the frontrunners at the Academy Awards next year and it is such a great watch that will end up being one of the best of the year. 

Rating - 9/10

The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025) Review

For many years, Netflix have been making films with some big names and The Woman in Cabin 10 is no different. This film is based on a novel and has a huge cast filled with lots of talent and I watched the film today and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a journalist invited on a luxury Yacht, an event causes her to question everything and everyone around her. 

Main Character

Keira Knightley plays Lo and she is perfectly adequate in this film. I mean she is a great actress and she delivers a performance that is something she can do pretty easily. It is just her character is really dull and there isn't enough in this film to really make me care about her, which is a real shame. 

Supporting Characters

Guy Pearce plays Richard Bullmer and he is really similar to Knightley in that he plays the character well but there just isn't anything really interesting about him and it just feels like Guy Pearce is delivering the minimum that he is capable of which is still decent. 

David Ajala plays Ben Morgan and he is meant to be a love interest for Knightley but it doesn't really work. There chemistry just isn't there and the film isn't written well enough to get the audience invested in them. Ajala is okay but it does feel like he could be played by numerous people. 

Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario & David Morrissey are big names but are given absolutely nothing to work and I didn't care about any of them and I don't understand why as these are super talented people. 

Story

The story is not particularly interesting, as I have said above the characters are super weak and obviously add nothing. The film doesn't give us enough time to know the characters and the big twists was pretty predictable to me leading to a rushed and bland ending. 

Script

The film has some okay dialogue, especially at the beginning of the film. The best character interactions come in the first act and it made me feel that this film would be better. But the next 2 acts are boring, predictable and as cliché as you get with a big part of that having to go to the writing. 

Style

The film looks pretty good, it has some nice views and it just comes across as pretty sleek with its filmmaking. But the film is super short, barley clocking in at 90 mins. This means everything is underdeveloped and doesn't give the characters time to become interesting which is the biggest weakness of the film. 

Overall

Overall, The Woman in Cabin 10 is a Below Average Film and just another copy and paste release for Netflix. This film has a superstar cast but they didn't bother to focus on other elements of the film and t is just a big disappointment. 

Rating 4/10

The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014)

Pretty quickly after the initial release of The Last of Us, a DLC Expansion was released call Left Behind. This DLC further expands the story and gives us a bit more time with Ellie and really focuses on her character. The DLC goes through her origin and bridges the gap between some events in the main story. Here are my thoughts on this DLC Expansion. 

We play as Ellie

In the main game, we have a bit of time to play as Ellie but the majority of it we play as Joel and I really feel like the main game is Joel's story. Left Behind is Ellie's story and playing as her helped with that as we learn more about her and her relationship with Riley and taking down infected and humans alike. 

The Game is split into two timelines

The game flashes between two different time periods in the games timeline. We start off in Winter with Ellie looking after Joel when he got injured in the main story. The other is a flashback that shows Ellie's origin with Riley and how they both got infected. The Flashbacks are incredibly engaging with the story, whereas the other story is focused on the gameplay and the balance is pretty good. 

The Gameplay is still strong

The gameplay is pretty much the exact same, just without all the weapons that Joel uses. It is still great and the more mini games in the flashbacks breaks up the action and makes it feel different to the main story. 

The Relationship between Ellie & Riley is really well done

We get a brief mention of Riley in the main story and how she got bitten alongside Ellie. But this DLC does a great of showing the two of their characters and the chemistry they have together. Despite the lack of time we see of them, I really cared about their relationship even though I knew where it ended. 

The Pacing is a bit slow and it is way too short

The only thing is that the flashbacks have no combat and that makes this slow game feel even slower. I appreciate the story and the focus on it but I could have done with a bit more of creative gameplay. Also it is super short, I wouldn't say I am great at the game but I finished it in 3 hours which is just way too short and I could have done with even a few more hours. 

Overall

Overall, The Last of Us: Left Behind is a great character piece for Ellie and does a great job of showing her past. But it is a bit boring and is way too short, it is a good companion place that should be played after finishing the campaign but it falls a little short of the main campaign. 

Rating - 7/10

The Last of Us (2013/2014) Review

For years I have heard that The Last of Us is one of the best video games ever made, I've tried to get into it before but I never quite got too grips with it. But recently, I decided that I was finally going to play the game to completion and I finished the main story last nice and its DLC story today, so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees a deadly disease destroy a chunk of humanity, a rugged man goes on a mission that might give the human race a second chance. 

Characters

The Prolific voice actor Troy Baker plays Joel Miller and he absolutely knocks it out of the park. He is a gruff, angry man who seems to lack humanity but as the game progresses you really see Joel grow as a person. He has so much depth to him and Baker plays it superbly, this is one of the best video game protagonists that I have ever seen. 

Ashley Johnson plays Ellie, she is a vital character in the game and is so much fun to be around. Though the situation is pretty dire, she has plenty of wise cracks and jokes to get her by. The chemistry between Johnson & Baker is brilliant and really carries this game.

The rest of the cast are way smaller in the size of their roles but are also really well acted. Henry & Sam are two brothers that the protagonists meet and they are really well acted and reflect the two of them really well. 

Tommy & Tess are allies to Joel & Ellie and both have pretty fiery personalities that make them memorable and fun additions to the cast here. 

Story

The story is really where the game truly thrives here. The main characters are so enriched and developed fantastically. The world is built incredibly well and it really feels fleshed out which adds even more to the performances. I really cared about Joel & Ellies story and the large amount of cutscenes didn't upset me and had me gripped to watch. 

Side Content

This game is pretty linear, it is a very story driven game and focuses on its characters, gameplay and story. There are some pretty cool collectables and some good crafting mechanics that can be done. There is also a multiplayer, however, nobody is playing it anymore so I can't really comment on it. 

The fact that this game is so engaging means I can overlook the fact that there isn't too much side content and I would rather have a game like this then a massive game that fails to provide the depth that this game has. 

Gameplay

The game's gameplay is a little bit different to what I am used to. It is a real Survival Game, you have limited resources and this really forces you to cherish your ammunition and really plan your attacks. Though there is a large variety of weapons and gear that keeps the game fresh and unique. You fight both humans and the infected monsters and the game balances these incredibly well, you have your more action missions against humans compared to your horror missions with the infected and it is balanced in a way that both are engaging. 

Graphics

I played the first remaster of The Last of Us that was made for the PS4 and it looks fantastic. The character models looks great and the designs of all of the infected are horrifying and fit the world perfectly. Also, this game has tremendous sound design that just adds to the creep factor of certain elements of the game. 

Overall

Overall, The Last of Us is as good as people say and is an Epic Video Game journey that has some of the best character and story work that I have ever seen in a Video Game. It is a must play for anybody that enjoys single player video games and I can't recommend it high enough. 

Rating - 10/10