Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) Review

Another game that I have played before, but I recently replayed Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and thought the game deserved a review as it seems not too many people have actually played it so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees the newly formed Guardians of the Galaxy attempt to raise their profiles when they get drawn into an intergalactic threat which threatens the entire Galaxy.

Characters

Jon McLaren plays Peter Quill/Star-Lord and I love the depiction of the character here. He has that boyish charm and swashbuckling nature but there is also a real depth to his performance and is a character that I really rooted for and wanted to see him succeed as the leader of this ragtag group. 

Kimberly-Sue Murray plays Gamora and I really liked her performance. She is really struggling with her previous role as an assassin and sees the group as a fresh start and Murray really sells the emotion and issues that the character has gone through and I really liked Gamora. 

Alex Weiner plays Rocket and he is a loudmouth annoying little racoon but it just really works and Rocket goes through some serious character development throughout the game and I really liked how he was used during the game. His relationship with Groot who is also great, is another big highlight. 

Jason Cavalier plays Drax and he is easily my favourite character in the game. He is a warrior but has quick comedic timing and you really get lots of information about the character and he is depicted amazingly well. 

There are other great characters too such as Mantis and Lady Hellbender and I love the way this game fleshes out the characters and the universe. 

Last thing is obviously people will compare this group to the version from the films and I just think they are completely different and great in their own ways. I really grew attached to the version in this game and that is down to the smaller names but fantastic voice performances. 

Story

The story is awesome, as I mentioned above I really enjoyed the world building that this game does and ensures that it has its own identity compared to other Marvel properties. The characters are handled really well and all have development throughout the game, I really cared about this ragtag bunch and thats a big thing for me. The story has twists and turns, comedy and real emotion and is a wonderful story about these people. 

Side Content

Unfortunately, the one big criticism of the game is that it is a pretty linear experience and is quite one dimensional. There was some really great collectibles, Peter can collect items throughout the game and then when you are back on the ship you can talk to the other characters about them and it really fleshes them all out even more. But I wish this game had a little more of a RPG feel as that could have made this game truly perfect. 

Gameplay

This game decides to only have Star-Lord as a playable character and I think this was the right decision. We have seen in Marvel's Avengers that making more characters move sets can cause other areas of the games to be lacklustre but that is not the case here. The gameplay is good and I like how they use the other Guardians to assist with Quill and his own abilities which evolve during the game. 

Graphics

The game looks great, it gives all the characters definitive looks that make them stand out and as I have mentioned I really liked the way the world is presented and it really got me invested in the game and its characters. 

Overall

Overall, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a fantastic game that really stands out in the super hero genre. It is such a shame that people didn't support this game as I think there was potential to get a real franchise here and I would highly recommend giving this game a go. 

Rating - 9/10

Mass Effect 3 (2012/2021) Review

It has finally happened that I have finished playing the Mass Effect trilogy and after two really good games we will have to see if the trilogy can finish it off in style and here is my review for Mass Effect 3. The premise of the game sees The Reapers finally invade the galaxy, Shepard must recruit the other species to work together to ensure they stand a chance against the greatest threat of all time. 

Characters 

For the final time, we get to play as Commander Shepard and once again I am a Male Shepard voiced by the excellent Mark Meer and he absolutely nails it in this game. You really feel the wear and tear that goes on this character as he has to deal with this war. He has great emotional moments and quick humour that makes this a legendary character that encapsulates this overall franchise. 

This game has an insanely large cast bringing characters back from the previous two games and they are all pretty much the same as they have been but a lot have them have way less time to shine here which sucks. One character that gets plenty of time is Liara T'soni played by Ali Hillis, she is back as a full time squad member this time around and she is a great character that sees progression here. She was my romance choice and I think she is one of the most fleshed out romances of the franchise. 

Brandon Keener is back as Garrus Vakarian and once again he is awesome, he is just such a cool character and I really like how they show how the war affects people through him. He is a bit more ruthless with his thinking and is dealing with the greater responsibility that he is given. 

Ash Sroka is also back as Tali and her story is actually quite similar to Garrus. She is given more responsibility in her government and she really struggles with it and isn't sure exactly what the best way to help her people is. She is once again a great character and even though she isn't introduced till later there is still plenty of time for her. 

There's some new squad mates in this game. Starting with James Vega played by Freddie Prinze Jnr and I must say I enjoyed having him around more in this playthrough then I have previously. He is quite charming and I like his relationship with Shepard, he is probably the best Alliance squad member that we have had in the franchise. EDI played by Tricia Helfer gets a body this time and joins the squad and similar to James I enjoyed her more here, she has a dark sense of humour and her development is really clear and I thought it was well handled. Ike Amadi plays Javik the last Prothean, he was originally DLC but in the Legendary edition he is in the game proper and he is fantastic. He is a very angry and violent character that also has a clear development over the course of the game. 

One last character to mention is The Illusive Man played by Martin Sheen, I forgot to mention how amazing a character he was in the previous game so I am going to mention it here and say that I love this character and the performance of Sheen. They make some questionable character decisions with him here but Sheen still delivers an effective performance. 

Story

The story is a real mixed bag. I love the feeling of this game and the tone of just how massive this war is and how it totally affects everybody in the galaxy. I also really liked how the two big storylines involve the Genophage & The Quarian/Geth war which are two things that have been talked about since the first game. However, it is the last act of storytelling is where it falls off a cliff. Turning Cerberus into moustache twirling villains was a real mistake and the ending just falls incredibly flat which is such a shame for this amazing franchise. 

Side Content 

This game has lots of side content and for the most part it is very good. This is where you meet the majority of characters from previous games including squad mates from Mass Effect 2 such as Jack, Grunt & Samara. There are some annoying mini games where you cna collect objects to help the war effort, but these aren't essential and can be skipped. The 3 DLC's Leviathan, Omega & The Citadel are all brilliant and worthwhile editions that are now a part of the game due to Legendary Edition. 

Gameplay 

From a pure gameplay perspective this is the best game so far in the franchise. Shepard is way more athletic and he can move a lot better which allows you to execute different moves. There is also a way better melee weapon which sometimes encourages play that gets you close to the enemy. The dialogue is also at its best and characters usually have something to say and actually interact with each other which is a big upgrade on the previous games. However, this game tries to limit how much fun you can have to play. For example, they add weight to the weapons which means you are incredibly limited to what weapons you can use as it affects your power use which I need being a Biotic. 

Graphics

The game looks beautiful, the new weapons and armour really adds plenty to the game. The vast battlefields that shows the destruction by The Reapers is realised really well for the majority of the game. The character models also look great and I really enjoyed the look of the universe that is plagued by war. 

Overall

Overall, Mass Effect 3 is a great finish to the Mass Effect trilogy, it just falls a little short of expectations. I had a great time playing a game and think it still has plenty of merit despite its poor ending. 

Rating - 8/10

Mass Effect 2 (2010/2021) Review

After playing through the first Mass Effect game, I knew I had to get started on Mass Effect 2 and mainly because of my enjoyment of this franchise, I have completed Mass Effect 2 and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees the return of Commander Shepard where he must recruit a team to take down The Collectors who are the agents of The Reapers. 

Characters

Once again I played as a Male Shepard who is voiced by Mark Meer and I loved playing as his character. He is just a great lead character and even though I played as the paragon character I still enjoyed the Whitty banter and the heroic nature of Shepard. 

There are a huge amount of characters in this game, there are 12 squad mates and other characters so I obviously won't be able to talk about them all but just know that pretty much every new and returning characters are great (apart from Jacob Taylor who sucked)

Miranda Lawon is Shepards new second in command played by Yvonne Strahovski and she was a great character. She is obviously meant to be the attractive female character but there are real layers to her character and you see the complexity to Miranda and why she is so interesting. 

Garrus Vakarian makes his return voiced by Brandon Keener and he is excellent here. He is so much better in this game and you really feel the chemistry between Garrus & Shepard and their banter is one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. Garrus is way more hardcore here but there is a story reason for it and it really fits his character. 

Tali also makes her return played by Ash Sroka and she is also so much better in this game and much more fleshed out. She comes across as less naïve and more adult and I liked how she is more confident in her ability and that her relationship with Shepard has developed. 

Mordin, Grunt, Jack, Thane, Samara, Kasumi & Zaeed are also really fleshed out characters with distinct personality and these are some of the best squad mates in any game possible. 

Story

The story is amazing in this game and I think that is because of the stakes that are put on it and that the game constantly reminds the player of the threat of The Collectors. As I said before, the characters are fantastic and their unique personalities makes this a way more interesting group of people compared the previous game. The final mission is possibly the greatest final mission in video game history and utilises all of the characters so well and makes the tension feel massive and that you want to keep all of the characters alive. 

Side Content

This game has fantastic side content. There are a bunch of loyalty missions that further expand all of the characters and makes you truly care about them and their personal issues. My favourite ones being Garrus, Tali & Miranda. There are other lesser important side missions and they are fun and probably overall better then the previous game. 

Gameplay

This is probably the part of the game that is most improved from the previous game and the action flows so much better then the previous game. There are so many different weapons and they feel really different and unique that makes gameplay enjoyable every time. 

Graphics

Just like the first game, I played the legendary edition of Mass Effect 2 so the graphics were vastly improved from the original game but even then the game looked better then the first Mass Effect game and the planets were way more unique and showed the different cultures that populated this universe. 

Overall

Overall, Mass Effect 2 is an epic game and a huge improvement of the first game. This is one of my favourite games ever and I just love this universe and the cast of characters that are introduced here that really improve this game. 

Rating - 10/10

Mass Effect (2007/2021) Review

When I was younger, one of the first games I really got invested in was Mass Effect and I have played through the whole trilogy many times. I decided to once again go through the trilogy and the spinoff Andromeda and review them. I really got back into the franchise when the legendary edition was released and all of the reviews will be the legendary versions of the game, so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees in a future where humans discovered they weren't alone in the universe, an elite human soldier must lead a team to save the world from a rogue agent. 

Characters

For this playthrough I decided to play as a Male Commander Shepard, but I have done previous playthroughs as a Female Shepard and Jennifer Hale is fantastic in the role and in the near future I am sure I will do another run-through as this version of the character. Mark Meer plays the Male version of the character and he is also fantastic, he feels really believable as this soldier and as the squeaky clean soldier is good. He is also really funny with his deadpan lines and Meer nails it for sure. 

My favourite character from this game is Urdnot Wrex who is voiced by Steven Barr. He is a Krogan mercenary and he is the coolest character, he is the most intense and renegade character in the game but he has a sense of honour and the relationship that he builds with Shepard is really well handled. 

Brandon Keneer plays Garrus Vakarian and he is decent here, he is a character that is clearly struggling with his place in the galaxy and sees working with Shepard as an opportunity to find his way. There is very much a professional relationship between him and Shepard which mean he doesn't quite have the chemistry that would be developed in future games. 

Ali Hillis plays Liara T'Soni & Ash Sroka plays Tali and they are both good in the game but similar to Garrus they don't fully hit their stride in this game and are setting up the intrigue and they are good character but we only start to really delve into their character here

Last of the squadmates is Kimberly Brooks playing Ashley Williams and Raphael Sbarge playing Kaidan Alenko. As the only human squadmates they are naturally less interesting then their alien allies but the game does give them character and the voice actors do good enough work to make them valued part of the team. 

There are so many fantastic characters in this game. Saren is a brilliant villain for this game and is perfect for this story. Captain Anderson played by the legendary Keith David is an awesome mentor for Shepard and Joker played by Seth Green is a great addition to the group. 

Story

This story is fantastic, it really does a great job of introducing us to this universe and cast of characters. The different species and motivations are well realised for sure. The main character being on the hunt for a rogue agent sounds quite simple but it really works and the more focus on the main plot with a few longer main missions is an interesting but effective choice. The ending is pretty epic and does an amazing job of setting up the future games with lots of effective choices for the player to make that will also affect the future. 

Side Content

There is plenty of side content in this game and some of the missions have really interesting subject matter that keeps things interesting when not focusing on the main plot. It allows the player to make their own decisions and gets to learn some more stuff about your squadmates. However, some of these missions are quite repetitive, the bases look the same and a lot of them just feel very similar which is a shame. 

Gameplay

The gameplay has definitely been improved with the Legendary Edition. The gunplay is good and this game has the most RPG feeling of the trilogy, you get plenty of armour, weapons and mods to use which makes the gameplay feel fresh as you play. However, it still isn't that great and it is the weakest part of this game, it is weaker gunplay then most modern shooters that you get today. The Mako is brought back and again, even though it is improved it is still frustrating to use and hindered my enjoyment of the experience. 

Graphics

Because I played the Legendary Edition version of this game, it looked fantastic. The character models are much improved and the planets themselves look a lot different and just feel unique. The cutscenes are really well rendered and it just made everything more exciting. 

Overall

Overall, Mass Effect is a great game. It rises above some of its weaknesses and introduces people to this amazing world and franchise that will continue to provide great content. If you haven't played this game then get The Legendary Edition a go and start this trilogy. 

Rating - 8/10 

The Book of Boba Fett (2021) Series Review

After 7 weeks and much hype and discussion we have come to the end of The Book of Boba Fett and I have watched all of the episodes and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees Boba Fett return to Tatooine and take over Jabba The Hutt's thrown, he now has to deal with the issues that come with power and the enemies that brings. 

Main Character 

Temuera Morrison reprises his role as Boba Fett from The Mandalorian and I personally think he is fantastic. He adds some real intensity and ferocity to the role while actually managing to give the former bounty hunter a character. I really like how he portrays the character and he just fits into the role naturally and I enjoyed learning more about what has happened to him that makes him more then just this cool looking guy who had nothing to do in the films. 

Supporting Characters

This show had a huge cast and by now I don't think any of them are spoilers so I will talk about as many as I think are appropriate. Ming-Na Wen is back as Fennec Shand and she is also great, I really like the dynamic between the two of them and exploring the duo is one of the highlights of the show. She is also great in the action scenes and I swear that women will never age as she is clearly doing the majority of her own stunts. Pedro Pascal voices Din Djarin and it is great to see him back and seeing how he has progressed since the end of the Mandalorian season 2. He gets way too much screen time but there is no denying that the show does a great job of showing his character at his best. We also see the debut of Krrsantan, a wookie from the comics and it is really cool to see this guy in action and seeing this fearsome more intense wookie on screen is something we haven't really seen before. The rest of the cast are all solid with many cameos that was enjoyable to watch. 

Story 

I really enjoyed the flashback story of seeing how Boba escaped the Sarlaac and made his way to finding Din Djarin in The Mandalorian. I also liked seeing Boba trying to establish a new rule in Mos Espa with this more honourable mentality. I then liked all the stuff involving Din Djarin and some of the wider Star Wars stuff. But the issue is that it doesn't quite work together, all this stuff is good but it feels like 3 different shows at time and I think they took on way too much for the show and it ended up leaving me a little confused as to why the show was called The Book of Boba Fett. The finale delivers though and ends up on a positive note. 

Script

The script is good, I feel like Boba is a character that doesn't need to talk that much and he still doesn't really but when he does it feels effective. The drama worked for me and the bits of humour is a nice addition. It just feels like Star Wars and that is the job that is required for sure. 

Style 

The show looks fantastic, the budget is huge and the effects are top of the range. Seeing Boba and the other characters in full flight is really fun and I love watching this Star Wars adventure. But there are a few issues, the first one is that after all these years I am a bit fed up of Tatooine and this show is mostly set there and it becomes a bit dull. The other issue is the overall pacing of the show, it links to the story and that so much is packed into the show that at times it loses focus on the story that it is trying to tell. 

Overall

Overall, The Book of Boba Fett is a great show that has some great Star Wars fun. It has some issues but if you are a fan of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian and Star Wars then this is a must watch for sure. 

Rating - 8/10

Cobra Kai Season 4 (2021) Review

Over the last few years, Cobra Kai has been one of my favourite shows and season 4 has just come to Netflix on New Years Eve and I have now watched it all and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso being forced to team up to attempt to take down the rising power of Cobra Kai. 

Main Character 

William Zabka and Ralph Macchio have been great returning as these two characters over the last few seasons and that continues here. It is fun watching them to co-exist with their very different teaching styles and I like how both of these characters do stick to their core beliefs and don't give into each other easily. They are both great again and it always amazes me that this show has managed to turn these two into interesting characters. 

Supporting Characters

Tanner Buchanan as Robbie and Peyton List as Tory have been some of the less interesting characters for me but I thought they both really shined this season. They both go through interesting character arcs and you see how especially Tory isn't just a pure villain and has a real depth to her. Martin Kove is back as John Kreese and he is just really fun to watch, that maniacal calculating manipulator comes through really well and even he is given more time and care to make you more interested in John Kreese. Thomas Ian Griffiths reprise his role of Terry Silver from Karate Kid 3 and he owns the screen, he is the perfect addition to this show and I really think he was a shot in the arm and different dynamic that aided the show overall. The whole cast is great and it is so large to go through everybody but everybody has a role they fill well. 

Story 

The story is interesting, seeing Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang attempt to co-exist is a fun watch and shows the real issue in rivalry. When the show leads to The All Valley Tournament it is at its very best and keeps you guessing as you have no idea what is going to happen. But this show does have some issues with its storytelling, there is a story involving the LaRusso Son and I really didn't like it and felt it took way too much story time away from other characters who are way more interesting. Also after 4 seasons it does feel a little bit tiresome watching Johnny and Daniel arguing so much as it feels like maybe it is a bit too much. But by the end of the season I was very satisfied with way the season finished. 

Script 

The script is really good, it is cheesy but I guess I think this show has cheesiness that manages to work because of the overall absurdity of the show's premise. The drama really does hit this season and I felt like especially in the last two episodes that there was so much heart involving these characters. 

Style 

The action scenes have never been better then they are in this season. The Karate is filmed so well and the athletic prowess is really well realised here with some really memorable moments. There is a good balance between humour and drama as well and it does feel in sync. But there are some pacing issues here and I think that is probably due to the amount of characters that there is on the show and that the spotlight is put on so many of them and that does make it a bit all over the place at times. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai Season 4 is a great season of the show. For me it is the weakest season of the show but that doesn't stop it from being really entertaining and a great watch. 

Rating - 8/10

Hawkeye Season 1 (2021) Review

Marvel Studios managed to fit one more show on Disney+ into 2021 and Hawkeye has now finished and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees Clint Barton forced out of retirement to clear his name and help a young new archer from a dangerous new world. 

Main Character

Jeremy Renner reprises his role as Hawkeye and he really shines with the spotlight put onto him. You see how being this veteran Avenger has really affected him and mixing that with his role as a father clearly makes the whole situation difficult. His character is really well developed and it shows that when given the time and effort to shine. Hailee Steinfeld makes her debut as Kate Bishop and she is such a fantastic addition to The MCU. She brings so much life to the role and her energy is hard to ignore and really raises the quality of the show. I said in my trailer review that the dynamic between the two of these would be what carries this show and it absolutely does with them being the real highlight of this show.  

Supporting Characters

Florence Pugh makes her return as Yelena Belova and she is brilliant, she has so much energy and charisma on screen. Some of my favourite scenes are the ones between her and Steinfeld, they are fantastic to see on screen together and I am glad Pugh was given the chance to have a future in The MCU. Vera Farmiga plays Eleanor Bishop and she is a pretty complex part of the show, she is clearly very protective of Kate but there is something slightly off with her and Farmiga does an effective job with this. Tony Dalton plays Jack Duquesne and he is really charming and charismatic in his role, you also aren't really aware of his motivations and Dalton is just so likeable that it adds to the intrigue and complexity. Alaqua Cox makes her debut as Maya Lopez/Echo and she is a really good character, the fact that she is a deaf character allows for some really interesting sequences and she has her own motivations and character development too ahead of her own show heading to Disney+ over the next year or so. 

Story 

The story is effective, it deals with Barton's guilt over his time as The Ronin and the events of Avengers Endgame. The chemistry between Kate and Clint is fantastic and it is really fun watching them navigate New York and the criminal underworld. All the characters have really interesting individual stories and characters arcs but the issue is that it doesn't quite mesh together. The show has so much going on in it that it can't balance it all in 6 episodes and it does make certain things feel a bit rushed and undercooked by the time the show finishes. 

Script

The script is also good, there is some great banter between Kate and Clint and the show is actually pretty funny. Some of the drama does work and you feel the emotion but again some of the dialogue doesn't earn the emotion that they clearly think it does and I think this could have been fixed with either more episodes or less things being put into show. 

Style 

There are some really fun and creative action sequences in Hawkeye and the Christmas theme actually really worked for me which was something I was worried about. But the pacing isn't quite there, again it is just due to the amount the show tries to cram in, for a short amount of time. 

Overall

Overall, Hawkeye is a good fun show. It does a lot of things really well but maybe overdoes it and it will be interesting to see where  the characters and stories come out of this show and progress in The MCU. 

Rating - 7/10

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Review

Finally, the biggest film Spider-Man: No Way Home has hit cinemas and I had to go see it as early as possible. Now I have watched it, here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Spider-Man's secret identity revealed, he tries to get Doctor Strange's help to fix things but this leads to some unwanted visitors from other universes to cause problems for both of them. 

Main Character 

Tom Holland has played Spider-Man for a while now and for me this is his best performance in the role. You really see how he has grown and this film shows real depth to the character and how he has kind of grown up into this crazy world. He doesn't have much rest in the film and it really pushes Holland to impress in the majority of his scenes and I thought he was great in really making Spider-Man a top hero in The MCU. 

Supporting Characters

Zendaya plays MJ and I was just really happy to see the dynamic between her and Peter in this film. Despite everything that goes on they are a pretty strong couple and it is just nice for a comic book film to have a relationship that feels natural without overpowering the main plot. Benedict Cumberbatch reprises his role as Doctor Strange and he is really good, I really like how despite being a hero he has a more mature and different viewpoint to Spider-Man. He adds some really interesting parts to the film and plays a unique role in the progress of the story and Spider-Man as a character. Jacob Batalon is back as Ned and he is much better then the role he played in Far From Home. He is just a fun character that supports Peter, he is way more involved with Spider-Man and that improves his character so much. Marisa Tomei is back as Aunt May and again she is more involved this time out and is just a really great person for Holland to bounce off and the dynamic just really works and makes their relationship feel very real. Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx reprise their roles as Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Electro. Dafoe and Molina are great and really flourish in their roles, but the surprise is Foxx as Max Dillon/Electro. He is so much better then he was in Amazing Spider-Man 2 and I am glad he got given this 2nd chance here. 

Story 

The story is really great, I was worried with all of the multiverse elements that the focus could have been taken off of a character arc for Spider-Man but it nails this element. Peter has a real arc and it develops incredibly well and for me was a real highlight. It is obviously great seeing the returning villains and they are treated with respect and their characters are further explored. The ending feels deserved and because you are so invested it feels really earnt. 

Script

MCU films often get criticised for their scripts including too much humour in them, but I actually think the balance is really handled well here. Yes there are funny moments here but for me they didn't outweigh the serious and darker parts of the film. 

Style 

The film looks great, the actions scenes are all really fun and seeing The MCU Spider-Man going against villains from the other franchises works very well and allows for some fun sequences. The pacing for the film is also really good, despite being 2 hours 30 mins it never felt too long and I honestly believe that there isn't really any filler here which is an impressive feat. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: No Way Home is an epic film that really lives up to the hype. I am possibly still buzzing because I have just watched the film but I can't find too much fault and this is a Spider-Man fans dream film and anybody will find this film plenty of fun. 

Rating - 10/10

Arcane Season 1 (2021) Review

I have never played or know anything about League of Legends but I saw this show was blowing up online and decided I had to watch Arcane and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees two lands separated with different champions trying to survive and thrive. 

Main Character

The popular Hailee Steinfeld plays Vi the lead character and she is really good. She is a rough, gritty hero who is trying to do the best for her and her family. I ended up caring about her plight and story which saw some clear development over time. Kevin Alejandro plays Jace, he is basically the leader of the high society but you see how much of a burden his position is to him and how his one discovery changes his life forever. The two characters don't have much screen time together, but their stories are intertwined and they bounce off of each other very well. 

Supporting Characters

Jason Spisak voices Silco and this is a really fun bad guy, he is slimy and twisted but also has a sense of honour and loyalty that makes him more then just your generic bad guy. Ella Purnell plays Jinx and she is a huge part of the show, she really transitions as a character and you see her descent into madness. It reminded me of watching a version of The Joker or Harley Quinn and it is handled really well and was very effective. Harry Lloyd plays Viktor, he is a real tragic character in this show. His body is deteriorating but his mind is strong, it drives him down a rabbit hole of science and it is a character you want to see succeed despite the risks that he decides to take. This is a huge cast and the rest of them also do a good job, nobody stands out as bad and that is a welcome thing in an animated show. 

Story

The main story is interesting, it is not the first time that we have seen a class system divided but it just works here. It spans a large time period but it allows to see these characters grow and how the situation has moulded them into the people that they are. The ending of the show is fantastic and does an amazing job of getting you excited for a potential second season. But as you can see in the poster above this is a huge cast of characters and the show sometimes struggles in balancing all of their stories and it means a few of the characters don't get the attention they need or deserved.

Script  

The script is well written, especially for an animated show. The drama is really mature and deals with themes that some shows don't and that drives it towards a really interesting show. There are little sprinkles of humour that make it work and I think this is a really well written show. 

Style

The animation style is amazing, it is really easy on the eye and it flows incredibly well. The action scenes are pretty hardcore and brutal but are choreographed and animated very well. The show keeps the pacing up over the 9 episode runtime and I hope it can keep this strong showing up in the future. 

Overall

Overall, Arcane is a fantastic first season of a show. It does a really good job of introducing the audience to this world and once you start you won't want to stop. 

Rating - 9/10

The Power of the Dog (2021) Review 

This film has been gaining a lot of claim from all of the film festivals and today The Power of the Dog made its way to Netflix, so I watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a rancher motivated by his work attempt to ruin the lives of his brother's new wife and son in law. 

Main Character

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the best actors on the planet and he really proves it here with a mesmerising and brilliant performance. He is not a likeable guy in this film but he totally owns the screen and you can't help but watch him and care about his character. As the film goes on the real genius of this character comes into the light and he is easily the star of the show here. 

Supporting Characters

Jesse Plemons plays his brother and I really liked the juxtaposition between the two of them as you see the intense Cumberbatch mixed with the calm and collected Plemons and it works really well. He does fade into the background at certain points in the film but it feels appropriate to the story that is being told. Kirsten Dunst plays his wife and I also thought she was really effective in her role, I am not always her biggest fan but here I thought it worked and you see her character really spiral and the tension between her and Cumberbatch is sometimes tough to watch but in a good way. Kodi Smit-McPhee is a young actor who is growing in reputation and I think he was better as the film went on and he shared more scenes with Cumberbatch. Another up and coming performer Thomasin McKenzie has a small role and she is decent but I kind of wonder why they got her when she had very little to do in this film. 

Story  

The story is affective in showing how one person can cause a lot of issues for another without laying a finger on them. The acting really raises this material up and you see how these characters minds work and it really hits its stride in the last act with a really interesting ending. But the film takes too long to get going, the film could have done a better job in setting out its narrative flow and overall themes. 

Script 

The script is okay, there are some really good lines and moments. The plot is pretty clever with interesting storytelling being on display. But as I mentioned above, it seems to plod along a bit too much and this film takes itself so seriously that it can be a bit of a hard watch for sure. 

Style 

The film looks beautiful, the cinematography is fantastic and it really is a marvel to look at the backdrops and the world that has been created here. Mixed with a really effective soundtrack, it was a key thing to bring me into the film. But the film is very slow in its pacing, it feels at least 30 mins longer then it actually is and that hurts the overall quality of what is an interesting watch. 

Overall

Overall, The Power of the Dog is a good film. If you want to watch a film that wants to win Oscars and have great acting and filmmaking then this could be one for you. 

Rating - 7/10

House of Gucci (2021) Review

So with Oscar season coming around the films that are expected to compete for the major awards are set to be released and House of Gucci has come out and I have watched it, so here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees the rise of an ambitious woman as she infiltrates The Gucci family and organisation. 

Main Character

Lady Gaga has been gaining rave reviews for her performance as Madame Gucci and she is really good here. She plays this aggressive person really well and you see just how manipulative she can become in order to get what she wants. She does have a presence on the screen and there is no denying that your eyes are drawn to her during the film. I am not sure this is the groundbreaking performance that I was expecting but there is no denying that she does a really good job and considering she was just a singer a few years ago it is very impressive. 

Supporting Characters

In terms of acting the star for me was Adam Driver playing her husband. This guy has so much range as an actor that he can go from the bad guy in a Star Wars film to a kind of calm and measured powerful man in this film. Their dynamic is really good and I think both of them do a really great job of building the dynamic in the film. Jared Leto looks almost unrecognisable in the film but has some pretty good lines. He sometimes comes across as a caricature but he manages to balance it just well enough to be a fun part of the film. Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons play senior members of the Gucci family and they are obviously very good, Pacino in particular has a strong presence in the film and is an intriguing aspect of the overall story.  Salma Hayek has a smaller role in the film and she also does a decent job though it is a slightly weird role that comes out of nowhere. 

Story 

The story is really interesting in seeing the rise of the Gucci brand and all of the moving parts that take place in a massive company like this. All the actors play their role well and the family dynamic with real trust issues taking place between the characters. But this isn't the story I was really expecting, it feels like a long build up to the really interesting stuff which we never get to see. It focuses on so many broad subjects that it seems to struggle to focus on the more engaging parts of the plot. 

Script

The script is good, there is drama, intrigue and bits of humour there. It never becomes confusing when it really could of with all the business jargon But I felt like it never hit the top in terms of the dialogue, its good but its not great and for a film that I expected huge things from that is a let down. 

Style 

The film looks fantastic, it feels really glamorise just like the lifestyle that these people and organisation had in real life. The choice of song and music really added to the feel of the film, and changed the dynamic compared to the scenery of the film. But the film is way too long, the runtime really holds the film back and I thought it could have done with a shorter runtime that really focused on the more interesting parts of the story. 

Overall   

Overall, House of Gucci is a good film. It falls short from being a film of the year contender but if you are interested in this story of the rise of a fashion empire then go and watch it. 

Rating - 7/10

Red Notice (2021) Review

Over the years Netflix has been getting bigger and bigger and Red Notice is the biggest film project that they have ever done and I have now watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a police profiler have to work with a thief to clear his name. 

Main Character

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson plays the lead character and he is exactly what you would expect. He is charming and cracking one liners left right and centre as you would expect by Johnson as he is a pro at doing just this. But I just feel like this is expected by now and the actual character here is really dull, I know this isn't a film to be taken too seriously but I just need some more character depth or else this is just another Dwayne Johnson action film with no substance. 

Supporting Characters 

Ryan Reynolds plays the thief in the film and I kind of feel similar with is performance. He is entertaining as he pretty much is in everything with one liners a plenty and the two of them have some decent chemistry. His character is handled better but it still leaves quite a bit to be desired and the humour was the thing that was chosen instead. Gal Gadot plays the antagonist and she seems like she is having a lot of fun. It did feel like something different for her as an actress and it made her performance stand out more to me then the other two more prominent characters in the film. Ritu Arya from The Umbrella Academy plays an interpol agent and she is functional but I guess I wanted to see more of her and what really motivated her to the plot of the film.

Story  

The story of the film has some fun and exciting set pieces with decent chemistry between Johnson, Reynolds and Gadot with the situations that they are placed in. But the film is so generic that it makes the whole thing worse. If you have watched some films you have seen plenty of story elements from this film and then they throw in a twist that makes little sense just to try and spice up the story a bit more. 

Script

The script has some funny lines and interactions in it, which considering this is a film that sees Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds share the screen you would expect that. But the film is pretty illogical and the drama falls really flat that by the end I kind of wondered what was the entire point of it overall. 

Style 

The film does have some good action scenes, they are fun and have lots of great stunt work and action co-ordination in tact. But there is just something a bit off, the pacing is okay though I think even the style is quite generic and it hurts the overall feel of the film. 

Overall

Overall, Red Notice is an average film. Despite the A List cast and heavy financial backing it falls short and needed better writing and creative decisions being made. 

Rating - 5/10

Eternals (2021) Review

After what feels like forever, Marvel Studios newest characters The Eternals have come to the big screen and I have watched the film today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film documents the story of thousand year old powered individuals and their fight against their sworn enemies The Deviants. 

Main Character

Gemma Chan plays Sersi and she is the main character here and she is fine. Chan does an effective job in the role and she is just a decent character. She is by no means the best Marvel lead protagonist but considering this is a real ensemble cast she fits in very effectively. Richard Madden plays Ikaris and I thought he was great, it took me time to get on board with his character but he really starts to thrive as the film progresses and you learn more about him and his motivations makes him stand out from the rest of The Eternals. 

Supporting Characters

Angelina Jolie plays Thena and I thought she was effective here. She is basically the films Wonder Woman and thus has some good action scenes but she has an interesting character that is somewhat developed and obviously Jolie can pull this off well. Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry are more of the comic relief and they are really good at it and they are just fun additions to the cast. Lauren Ridloff is really good too and she is really important as the first deaf actress to play a superhero and it feels like an important moment here. Barry Keoghan as Druig is a really effective character, he plays it really well and I really liked the twists and turns that were given to his character. Salma Hayek & Kit Harrington are also good in their smaller roles here and I kind of wish we could have spent more time with Harrington in particular. 

Story 

The individual stories for each member of The Eternals are well done, Ikaris, Thena and Druig in particular have really good arcs and make them interesting characters. The whole romance dynamic between Ikaris and Sersi is also really well done too and made it a romance that I actually cared about in The MCU. It has nuance in its storytelling and the motivations of different groups and people is well handled and made me care. But this film has a few too many characters in it and it does slow down the story telling, I also thought the whole ending sequence was a bit lacklustre and fails to deliver completely on the epic levels it should have. 

Script

The script has some chuckle worthy moments and some complexity too it when it comes to a few of its characters. But it falls short of doing enough to really make you care about the overall situation, it seems so large scale but at times the dialogue is rigid and it digs its heels in, especially in the past scenes. 

Style 

The film looks brilliant. The CGI is breathtaking and the action scenes are fantastically made and flow incredibly well. The film is 2 and a half hours and it didn't feel too long for me and it felt like an appropriate length. But the pacing of the film gets let down due to its editing of the plot, it jumps all over time periods and it feels very choppy which did make the film feel disjointed with its feeling. 

Overall

Overall, Eternals is a good film. It has a hard job of introducing so many new characters and story elements to an established universe, it has issues but overall I saw this as a pretty positive experience. 

Overall - 7/10

Dune (2021) Review

It has felt like forever but Dune is finally out and I have now watched the film and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young man attempting to find his place and learn how to be a leader while staving off enemy forces. 

Main Character

Timothy Chalamet plays the lead character Paul and he is good in this film. He just portrays the role well and you can see him struggling with his identity and the pressure that is put onto him, as the film progresses he grows in confidence and capability and he really does a great job of that. He isn't a character you will get that invested in emotionally but he has an interesting character progression and is an effective lead. 

Supporting Characters

Rebecca Ferguson plays his mother and she is really good. For me she was the real emotion of the film and you see this woman really get broken down due to her allegiances and loyalty to two different ways of life. She is a really strong actress and manages to stand out despite the top quality talent on show in this film. My other two favourite performances were from Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin, they don't get tonnes of screen time but I really like the heroic awesome warriors and they both do a great job at it and add some life into the film. Oscar Issac plays Paul's father and he is good in the role, I don't think it's his best performance ever but he is solid and you believe in his relationship with Paul and the dynamic that they have. Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem and Zendaya also all do good jobs but they have pretty small roles here. 

Story 

The story is a real coming of age story for Paul and in that I think it is effective and does its job really well. It introduces us to this new world and as an introduction I think it was also good at making me interested in the world and how things were done and run. But this film does have some issues, as a novice of the source material, I felt like so much was being thrown at me that it was hard to take it all in and really get to grips with exactly what character motivations are. Also the story feels a bit all over the place, it wants to fit lots in and it gets lost within each other. 

Script 

The script is very dramatic and dark and it mostly works, I wanted to see these characters succeed in what they were doing but I did feel like that was mostly due to the quality of the acting. The humour is barely here, I am not asking for a laugh fest but it feels awkward when all the people are always monotone and incredibly serious. 

Style

This film looks gorgeous, the real star of the film is the cinematography and sound design as I was in awe watching it and listening to this incredible soundtrack. I liked all the technology and fight scenes too with some really interesting ideas put on the screen. But I had a real issue with the pacing of this film, it has a slow pace and it turned this 2 and a half hour film feel like a 4 hour film. I think this film could have ended at a certain point and I would have enjoyed it so much more, but it ended up dragging and overstaying its welcome. 

Overall

Overall Dune is a good film but for me felt short of my expectations. It feels like it is setting up the now confirmed sequel so much that it doesn't focus on the film at hand, it is still a good film and if that sequel really delivers then maybe it will all be worth it. 

Rating - 7/10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) Review

It's been a busy week but I have finally found the time to watch Venom: Let There Be Carnage and now here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Eddie Brock and Venom have to figure out their relationship while going against a serial killer and his own symbiote. 

Main Character

Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock and voices Venom and he does a pretty good job. I just find his performance as Brock entertaining and clearly somebody who is enjoying himself. He doesn't get much character development but I think there is just about enough here to give Hardy props for his role in the film. Venom is actually given more development and it is executed pretty well, I actually felt feeling towards the symbiote. He is also pretty funny and for me the dynamic between Venom and Eddie Brock is probably the highlight of the film. 

Supporting Characters

The first Venom film suffered from not creating interesting supporting characters and it is a shame that this film is the same. Woody Harrelson reprises his role of Cletus Kassidy/Carnage from the post credit scene of the first film and I just never got invested in his character. He just came across as a weirdo and a guy with no character. Harrelson is clearly enjoying himself but the character of Carnage is not given the justification that he deserves here. Naomi Harris plays Shriek and unfortunately, she is even worse. She just has these terrible one liners and her over the top bizarre performance is just too much for me and does nothing for me. The great Stephen Graham plays a police officer and it's not even that he is bad, he is actually alright but his character is dull and there is literally no reason to care and it is a shame that such a talent is wasted here. Michelle Williams is back as Anne from the first film and she is just as boring here, I just don't like the character and I have felt like Williams phones it in and signed a contract that she had to be here as she does very little here. 

Story 

The relationship between Eddie and Venom is represented quite well here and I like how we saw more things from Venom's point of view this time around. But it is flawed, the dynamic between Carnage and Venom fails and the dynamic between Brock and Cassidy doesn't work either. The characters don't get enough time to develop and you won't care about anybody apart from Venom and maybe Eddie. 

Script

The script is okay, the humour was something I was worried about in the trailer but I can't deny that it worked for me. I chuckled quite a few times with Venom having some funny one liners. But the drama falls really flat and is so rushed that when it comes to the big showdown I kind of didn't care. 

Style

Both Venom and Carnage both look great and the clash between them is way easier to follow then the action in the first film. But the pacing is all over the place, it starts off at 100 miles an hour and then slows down and ties to focus on way too much. It needed a longer runtime to make the audience care about the characters. 

Overall

Overall, Venom; Let There Be Carnage is an average film that doesn't rise above its predecessor. It is okay and I don't think will bring any new fans but there is a huge post credit scene and that is all that people will be talking about coming out of this film. 

Rating - 5/10

Squid Game Season 1 (2021) Review

So Squid Game has taken over the world these last few weeks and I thought that I had to watch it and I have now finished it and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a large group of down on there luck Koreans assembled to play childhood games with a deadly twist for a huge cash prize. 

Main Character

Lee Jung-Jae plays the lead character Gi-Han on the show and he is fantastic. At first he seems like this arrogant lowlife, but as you get to know him you see that he has just been really unfortunate and made some poor decisions. As he faces the games his character really starts to grow and he becomes an interesting protagonist and one you can support. 

Supporting Characters

There is a huge cast of people in this show and everybody acts there role really well. Oh Yeong-su really stands out as an old man involved with the game and the relationship between him and Lee Jung-Jae is superb and I really grew to care about this dynamic and for me they were the best characters on the show. There are so many other amazing characters that I think you just need to watch the show and experience them for yourself and the great writing that is done for each person. 

Story 

The story is fascinating, seeing these different personalities forced into these games causes natural conflict and tension. The different games are really great in there own unique ways and do a really brilliant job of pacing them out really well. The only issue I had was a big twist that happens towards the end of the show, it just didn't work for me and I think it could have been handled better. Also there are these English speaking VIP's and they are really bad and took me out of the show for sure. 

Script 

The script is fantastic, and that is if you watch it in Korean with subtitles. For the love of everything holy don't watch it with English dubbing, it is bad and it is nowhere near as effective and feels unnatural for the performances. There is some nice humour and the drama is ramped up ten fold, the chemistry between the performers is really good and drives you to keep watching. 

Style 

The show is really brutal, the violence is graphic but feels appropriate for the show as a whole. It is shot beautifully and feels epic in scale. The pacing is effective and you will want to binge this show for sure with each episode feeling different and great in there own way. 

Overall

Overall, Squid Game is a truly fantastic show that was so close to getting my 10/10 score. It is a must watch and don't let the language barrier turn you off and get started with it as soon as possible. 

Rating - 9/10

The Green Knight (2021) Review

This film had plenty of buzz about it when it just disappeared off of the UK release calendar. But The Green Knight has finally come to Amazon Prime and I watched it today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees one of King Arthur's Knights sent on a quest to prove himself. 

Main Character  

Dev Patel plays the main character Gawain and he does an alright job. Patel is a really good actor and he does manage to show that here with a decent performance, but the issue is I never cared about the character and despite Patel clearly trying I just found him quite unlikeable. You spend the majority of the film with this man and I guess I never felt a real connection with him and it just bought down my entire enjoyment of the film. 

Supporting Characters

There are some big names in this film, Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton are the best of the bunch. It's not there best work but they deliver some good moments and the film became more interesting once they were given more to do in it. The rest of the cast offer little whether it be Sean Harris as the king or some of the B list MCU actors such as Barry Keoghan and Erin Kellyman who get little to work with. 

Story

The story actually does some interesting things at the end, it isn't an easy watch for sure. You have to work out what is going on, but the last 15 mins or so are fascinating and it feels like with a better film it would be a perfect ending. But the rest of the film is just a bit strange and unfocused, as he meets people on his journey it is just too broken up and confusing. It really tries to make this a really deep film, but I think it just went too far and gave pretty much nothing definitive on screen and made it all open to interpretation which makes it a very hollow experience. 

Script

The script is just nothing, as I said above, the majority is made to be open to interpretation which just leads to a lot of big words that mean nothing. The drama fails to deliver and this is a very humourless affair. 

Style 

Easily the best part of this film is the visuals and score, they are literally incredible. If I was just rating these two factors this film would be a 10/10 but there are way too many other issues. A big one being the pacing of the film, it just drags a lot. This isn't an action or fantasy action film and it never really picks up the pace with it feeling like a slog. 

Overall

Overall, The Green Knight is a below average really disappointing film. With all the build up I was excited to finally watch The Green Knight but it just over-reached and tried all these wacky ideas with a weak execution. 

Rating - 4/10

What If...? Season 1 (2021) Review

After 9 weeks the first season of the highly anticipated Marvel Animated Show What If? has ended and it is time for me to review it. The premise of the show looks at different universes where there have been slight alterations which cause big changes to characters and events. 

Main Character

There are so many characters here that it becomes difficult to distinguish main characters to side characters but the main thread line of the show is The Watcher voiced by Jeffery Wright. He doesn't get involved too much but Wright brings a real unique sense of calm and composure to the role that it really sells him as the Watcher of the Multiverse. If you read the reports Wright was heavily involved in crafting The Watcher and he did a fantastic job. 

Supporting Characters

This show has its emotional sequences with this being the final performance in the MCU by Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa. You can really see the love he has for this role and especially in the Star-Lord episode you see his charisma and natural care to this show and it is a great thing that we were treated to this great man getting one last ride as this character. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Strange in multiple episodes and they do a great job with his character and for me he was easily the most interesting character in this show and the episode revolving around him is the best of the show. There are other good performances from actors reprising there roles such as Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Michael B Jordan as Killmonger and Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter. Also the voice actors taking over from the film ones do a decent job too and it only sometimes takes away from the show. 

Story  

This show is incredibly episodic, every week there is different stories involving different characters from the MCU and with that comes mixed results. There are some really interesting new and fresh stories here, mainly the Doctor Strange, T'Challa Star-Lord and Finale episode, they enhance these characters and put them in interesting stories that add to there lore in the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. But there are some stories that aren't so great, like The Killmonger and Thor episodes that don't hit the mark and feel like filler. Also with the episodic theme it feels like it is hard to get invested until they eventually bring things together later but it feels a little late. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some good dramatic moments and some chuckle worthy moments. But both are inconsistent and it feels like it changes from each episode to the next and it is a bit jarring with some cheesy dialogue which seems more aimed to a younger audience. 

Style 

The animated style looks fantastic, it really works for The Marvel Cinematic Universe and these larger then life characters. The action is buttery smooth and flows very nicely for every character and that is one of the benefits to the different types of episodes as pretty much all the characters get a chance to shine. But the pacing isn't that great, the episodes are only 30 mins long and some of them really could have done with a longer runtime to go into way more detail in the stories that are being told. 

Overall

Overall, What If...? is a good show with some fun Marvel action. The episodes range in quality but this is a must watch for Marvel fans and a fun addition to the MCU. 

Rating - 7/10

The Guilty (2021) Review

This film has had big advertisement on Netflix and I have now watched The Guilty and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a police officer on Dispatch faced with a dilemma when a woman calls him claiming she has been abducted. 

Main Character

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favourite actors operating and he is brilliant in this film, the different ranges of emotion is displayed perfectly and I felt the stress that his character was meant to this entire night. He gives everything and in his hands he creates a film that you can sink your teeth into and remain invested in. 

Supporting Characters

There are plenty of supporting characters here but they are mostly voices on the phone so I won't spoil who these people are as there are some pretty big names here. Everyone plays there role effectively and it makes every call feel believable and not like some pantomime. 

Story 

The story is really effective, it builds the tension expertly and you really sympathise with the situation that Gyllenhaal is put into. Though it ramps it up really well and it is pretty much all between this guy and these people that are on the phone. But I do have some issues, mainly that the actual storytelling becomes a bit convoluted and there are some elements of the plot that are underdeveloped and rushed. 

Script

The script is really good, it is a really serious film and it does those scenes really well but there are small sprinklings of humour that actually made me laugh and I think it is a really well written film. 

Style 

The film is shot really well, and by using camerawork and sound it makes the situation even worse then it is. It is only 90 mins and that is good but it does slow down a bit at times and maybe could have been even better if it was even a little bit shorter or cut one or two elements out of its story. 

Overall

Overall, The Guilty is a Great film. I have seen some real negative reviews but I am not sure what film they watched as it is really well acted and pretty much kept me invested throughout. 

Rating - 8/10

No Time To Die (2021) Review

After 4 films and 15 years we are finally at the end of Daniel Craig's run as James Bond with No Time To Die and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Bond attempting to start a new life with Madeleine when he is dragged back into the fray. 

Main Character

Daniel Craig has been James Bond for so long and you can tell he really wanted to go out on a high and he does a fantastic job here. He really gives it his all and manages to combine the charisma and grit that has defined his time as the character, this might even be his best performance in the role. The character goes through a lot in this film and you see just how much he has progressed since Casino Royale and real credit has to go to Craig for that. 

Supporting Characters

I admitted that I wasn't a huge fan of Lea Seydoux's character of Madeleine in Spectre but I thought she did a much better job here. I actually bought the chemistry between her and Craig and the whole romance option was much improved and it actually provided a lot of great dramatic moments. Lashana Lynch plays a new 00 here and she is also great, I really liked her competition with Bond and how her character shows how the world has changed even since the Craig films started. Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Ben Whishaw and Jeffery Wright reprise there roles from previous films and they are all great and actually get some decent screen time and plenty to do. I also just wanted to give a shoutout to Ana De Armas, she is barely in the film but she gives a really great performance and is so fun and likeable, it is just a shame there wasn't more of her here. Rami Malek plays the villain here and you can tell he is clearly trying, but the character is so poorly written that it gives him no chance, at the end his acting isn't the issue but this is a weak villain for sure. 

Story 

The film delivers a really good and personal story for James Bond and the characters that are around him. It feels like a big deal and the chemistry between the characters is what drives it through and things are just improved from some of the other films. But the issue is that there is just too much here and some doesn't make much sense, take the bad guys plan, it makes zero sense and it makes it hard to care about that element of the film. The story could have been tightened up and shortened the run time which would have benefitted the overall film. 

Script

The script is great, there is some real drama here that adds real depth to the characters and there individual stories. But the playfulness and slight bits of humour are there too and it really builds this great script that will keep you invested in this really long film. 

Style  

The action scenes are great, they have been the biggest strength of Craig's time in the role and they are once again great with the stakes being really high and the stunts really delivering. But the biggest issue in the film is the length, its nearly 3 hours long and it really doesn't need to be, if the plot had been more cohesive you could have shaved plenty of time off of the film. 

Overall

Overall, No Time To Die is a great film that ends Craig's time in the role in a satisfying and enjoyable way that is a good time in the cinema. 

Rating - 8/10