Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025) Review

After 30 years, it seems like all the previous Mission Impossible films have been building to this film, The Final Reckoning. I have enjoyed this franchise overall and was excited to see this film, well yesterday I got that chance and here is my review for Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. The premise of the film sees Ethan Hunt and his team attempt to stop The Entity from destroying the world once and for all. 

Main Character

Tom Cruise is once again back as Ethan Hunt and he is fantastic. His dedication to this role is off of the charts and I just love his portrayal of the character. This film does a great job of showcasing the legacy of the character and Cruise really delivers here. 

Supporting Characters

Alongside Cruise, the only person to be in all of the Mission Impossible films is Ving Rhames who plays Luther Stickell and he is great in this film. The bond between him and Hunt is a real core of this film and I love the chemistry that the two of them have. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast doesn't actually have much to do here. Hayley Atwell is back as Grace, Simon Pegg as Benji & Pom Klementieff as Paris but none of them get a chance to shine. The actors really try their best but the material they are given is weak and none of them really get any character development. 

Esai Morales is back as the villain Gabriel and I feel very similar about him. I really like Morales and his performance is good enough but his character is a small part of this film and it just feels like he isn't given enough to interest the audience. 

All the characters in the US Military Team are dull. Angela Bassett as The President and Nick Offerman as a general isn't enough to make their plight interesting or something that needed to be here. 

Story

The story has some good themes to it and I liked the overall feeling of it, especially with a pretty satisfying ending that really fits the narrative of both this film and the franchise. But this film really loses its way with the actual plot. The entity is more dull then the previous film and Gabriel's motivations are half baked at best. The team gets split up and it feels like the focus is really on Ethan Hunt and taken away from other members of the team which is a shame. 

Script

The script is also a real mixed bag. There are some real heart-warming moments that make you really care about the situation that the characters are put in. I also liked how this film is linked to previous ones even if it does get a bit hand fisted at times. But the dialogue mostly feels really robotic and unrealistic that it just makes characters feel bland and not human, also as mentioned the villains whole plot is pointless and doesn't add anything. 

Style

Continuing in Mission Impossible fashion, this film has some fantastic action sequences. The last one in particular is amazing and one of the greatest set pieces I have ever seen on film and this film deserves huge credit for that. But this film has pretty terrible pacing, its nearly 3 hours long and I swear they could have cut almost an hour of stuff here. The first hour basically feels like a recap of previous films and it beats you over the head with exposition which means it takes way too long to really get going. 

Overall

Overall, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is an Above Average film that has amazing action scenes but is way too long and lacks interesting characters. If this is the final film in the franchise then it is disappointing that this film is just okay instead of fantastic. 

Rating - 6/10

Black Bag (2025) Review

Recently, I saw the trailer for Black Bag and decided that I had to watch it. It has an all star cast and looked like a cool spy thriller so I went to the cinema today and watched the film and here is my review. The premise of the film sees a secret agent come under suspicion of betrayal, her husband who is also a secret agent must decide what is more important - his marriage or the world. 

Main Character

Michael Fassbender plays George and Cate Blanchett plays Kathryn and I think they were great together in the film. Fassbender in particular gets plenty of time to develop his character and I really like how they made him interesting. Their relationship is interesting and they have this really great subtle chemistry together that makes them great together on screen. 

Supporting Characters

As mentioned this film has a great cast including Marisa Abela who plays Clarissa, she is probably the one we spend the most time with and I think she was pretty fascinating to watch on screen and she had a real presence especially around these other bigger name actors. 

The issue is that this film doesn't really care too much about its supporting cast and wastes all this talent on screen. Tom Burke, Rege-Jean Page, Naomi Harris and Pierce Brosnan are all in this film and are all good in terms of their performances but I didn't care about any of their characters. They are incredibly generic and due to other issues with the film we never get enough with them to truly care. 

Story

The best parts of the story is when the film focuses on the intense talking situations such as a couple of group dinners and a polygraph sequence that I really liked and that is due to some good dialogue and acting. But the actual premise of the film is overly convoluted and had me not really caring. No spoilers but I found the ending really predictable and because of the short runtime I never grew to fully care and I felt like the film needed to be longer in order to tell its story fully. 

Script

This film was written by David Koepp who is a great writer and there is some great dialogue here and some really intense scenes that are the best parts of the film. However, the films plot is all over the place and it feels like it was an afterthought compared to the dialogue. 

Style

The film looks great and possibly my favourite part of the film is the music. It all really delivered on making this film feel like a spy thriller and something that you don't see very often these days. But as I have mentioned a few times, this film barely hits 90 mins and it is just too short to make you fully buy into the story that is being told here. Also, if you saw the trailer and thought this would be an action thriller you will be disappointed as this is a film all about dialogue and mystery. 

Overall

Overall, Black Bag is an above average spy film. Some great acting and dialogue rise this up but it falls below expectations due to some generic storytelling and short runtime. Probably one to watch when it ends up on a streaming service but I wouldn't rush to the cinema for it. 

Rating - 6/10

Nosferatu (2025) Review

This film came out in the United States in 2024, however Nosferatu was only released in The UK in 2025 and I have watched it, so here is my review for this film. The premise of the film sees a newly married man travel to meet a count who is looking to buy a house, he doesn't realise that there are other things at play. 

Main Character

Lily Rose-Depp & Nicholas Hoult play Ellen & Thomas Hunter and they are the main characters here and they are both very good in their roles. We spend the majority of the first act with Thomas and the mental torture that he is going through and Hoult does a great job in selling this for an audience. The second act more focuses on Ellen and you see her go through her own mental trauma and she really fits into the film and does a great job. Then the final act shows them both together and they both really shine in their roles. 

Supporting Characters

After Kraven the Hunter, it was nice seeing Aaron Taylor-Johnson do a great job in Nosferatu in the role of Friedrich Harding. He is the most sceptical character here and Johnson nails being that slightly mistrusting character and he deserves real credit here. 

Willem Dafoe plays Professor Von Franz and he is a lot of fun here. He is introduced quite late in the film but you can see that Dafoe is really enjoying his work and embraces with the absurdity of the premise of the film. 

Unfortunately, though I was disappointed in the performance of Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok. He is just a weirdo with no real depth or intrigue to him and when he is on screen I find him pretty weird to look at and that the idea of taking him down is more interesting then him as a whole. 

Story

The film does a great job of building intrigue and atmosphere for its story. Seeing the journey that Thomas goes through is pretty interesting and as the threat grows I liked the group that was trying to stop Orlok. But this film has a really dull ending that feels rushed and ends abruptly, we are left with more questions then answers and considering how this film is made I think that was the wrong way to go. 

Script

The script was okay in terms of dialogue, there was nothing truly memorable for me but it was written well enough. It is just character decisions and motivations aren't written particularly well and it doesn't quite match with some of the really good performances that are on show here. 

Style

The style of the film looks really good and does a great job of building the tone and atmosphere that the film wanted. I was creeped out throughout and the excellent score and sounding played a big part of that. But this film is sometimes overly violent for violence sakes and the film is pretty poorly paced and we could have cut some runtime off of the film to make it more cohesive. 

Overall

Overall, Nosferatu is an above average film and a pretty big disappointment for me. If you are a big horror fan then you might love this film but for me there just wasn't enough here and I think this is just an okay film that could have been a lot better. 

Rating - 6/10

 Moana 2 (2024) Review

After a big release in 2016, we now have the sequel for the hit Disney animated film Moana. I watched the film today and here is my review for Moana 2. The premise of the film sees Moana forced to go on a journey to unite the people of the ocean. 

Main Character

Auli'i Cravalho plays Moana and she is great again as she was in the first film. She has a bit more of an arc in this film and Cravalho does deliver in this role. Moana is a great lead character and one that is pretty easy to root for and care about. 

Supporting Characters

Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui and though his role is slightly reduced he is still really fun to watch and he is also given a bit more depth towards him. He just oozes charisma on film and Maui is a great character. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast really does suffer. This film sees Moana take on a crew of characters called Moni, Loto & Kele but they are all pretty boring and offer very little in this film except being a reason for Moana's development which is a shame. 

There is a villain, but they are really underdeveloped and it just doesn't have enough to really make you care or understand them. 

Story

The story is okay, there is some better development for Moana & Maui in this film which I can give credit to. But overall, similar to the original this film is incredibly paint by numbers and doesn't offer much new. In fact if you examine it, the plot of the first film and this one are pretty much identical and it did make me sigh and notice the predictable nature of the film. 

Script

The film probably does have a bit more drama to it but in the end it does come across as a bit forced and lacks the stakes to deserve it. Also the humour just doesn't have the same feel to it here and definitely feels like it has been dumbed down to younger children. 

Style

The film continues to look beautiful, the colours are really well realised and it is lovely to see such fantastic animation on the big screen. However, the pacing is a little bit off and there were some large lulls in the film. Also the songs are just not as good here, the departure of the great Lin Manuel Miranda is sorely missed. 

Overall

Overall, Moana 2 is an Above Average Sequel. It is a decent film and will fill its job of being great for young children and families. But it doesn't do enough to make it stand out and lacks the joy and feel of the first film which means this a less enjoyable time. 

Rating - 6/10

Venom: The Last Dance (2024) Review

With good box office performances but pretty weak acclaim, the Venom films have been interesting over the last few years and now we have the third and possibly last film in the franchise with Venom: The Last Dance and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Eddie & Venom on the run when they are hunted by an intergalactic hunter and The U.S Government. 

Main Character

Tom Hardy is back as both Eddie Brock & Venom and I really like his performance and the buddy performance that he has captivated here. He is less weird in this film and though they bicker, this is the film where both Eddie & Venom feel like friends and that they have a singular goal and that is a nice change of pace. Hardy adds a lot to the performance and this is probably my favourite performance that he has as the character. 

Supporting Characters

Rhys Ifans plays Martin and he is probably my favourite supporting character in this film. He is an Alien enthusiast that bumps into Eddie on the road with his family and he just came across as pretty likeable and endearing and I actually cared a little about him. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast do not do so well. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays General Strickland and he just feels like a really generic character which is such a waste of his talents. He is this typical army guy and he offered very little to this role, especially with the ability of the actor. 

Juno Temple plays Dr Teddy Paine and I really don't like this character. She is introduced into this film and they give her this really weird backstory and tries to make you care about her character and I really didn't. She offers incredibly little and her character isn't given any satisfying conclusion here. 

Stephen Graham reprises his role as Mulligan and he is totally wasted here, this is one of the most talented actors out there and he is just here for exposition and that frustrates me, especially where they set his character up in the previous film. 

Story

The film does a great job in continuing the relationship between Eddie & Venom and this is where the film is at its best. The duo are at there best here but the rest of the story just falls short. The whole reasoning as to why they are on the run doesn't quite make sense and feels like a last minute decision and certain storylines and characters are weak and not given enough time and complexity. The films ending mostly works but I just think it could have been better if certain things happened in the film. 

Script

This film has a good blend of humour and drama but that mostly takes place between the characters of Eddie & Venom. It is inconsistent with the other characters as the majority of humour doesn't work and only a little bit of drama works and that is just strange. 

Style

The film is a comic book film and does embrace that, especially over its last act where we see all these aliens fighting in comic books style. The film is pretty brisk and moves at a fast pace but that has its pros and cons, it makes it an easy watch but it also tries to balance too many things and thus things feel undercooked and are not developed enough. 

Overall

Overall, Venom: The Last Stand is an Above Average Film and in my opinion is the best Venom film. It is messy but is pretty entertaining that at some point is probably worth a watch but it still falls way short of being a great or even good comic book film. 

Rating - 6/10

Alien: Romulus (2024) Review

After a few years, we have a new Alien film and though inspiration from Ridley Scott, the franchise is in new hands and we get a film that is made my new people who are passionate about the franchise. I saw Alien: Romulus yesterday and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film is set between Alien and Aliens and sees a group of young people trapped on a station with organisms that are out to get them. 

Main Character

Cailee Spaeny plays Rain and she is the main character of the film and I thought she was great here. I know very little of her work but she definitely gives a strong performance here and is a great lead character that we are meant to care about and I think that I did for sure. 

Supporting Characters

My favourite character in the film is Andy played by David Jonsson. Early on we find out that he is a synthetic and I think the film is really clever in the way that it handles his character and his role amongst the group of young people. He deserves a lot of credit for playing this pretty emotionless character and manage to make him one of the most interesting parts of the film. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the group fair a bit worse and I really didn't care about any of them. The young cast come across as annoying especially the one played by Spike Fearn who feels like he should be in a completely different film. 

There is an appearance that is a big spoiler but made the film much more interesting and I thought it added a lot to the film but yeah I can't really talk about it so you will have to see the film to find out what I am talking about. 

Story 

The story is interesting, the reason for these kids being on the station isn't that deep but when they get there, these characters encounter interesting things and there are valid and logical reasons as to why these Aliens are on the station. However, this film has a twist towards the end of the film and it just felt really weird and out of place for this film and that took me out of this pretty enjoyable experience. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some good dramatic dialogue and moments that made at least some of the characters interesting and made me care about them. However, there was a lot of weak dialogue, the build-up of the side characters and the introduction of our gang isn't handled particularly well. 

Style

The film takes stylistic choices of a mixture of Alien, Aliens & even a bit of Prometheus and I thought it really worked. The action is fast paced, but there are those slower more horror based elements and the fact that the film has both makes it more interesting. But the film does have a bit of a pacing issue and that is mainly from the first and last act that don't quite work and I wish they could have been handled differently. 

Overall

Overall, Alien: Romulus is an above average film that when it is at its best it is really good. However, there was enough that I didn't like to hold the film back from hitting the heights that I think it was capable of. I do hope that this franchise can continue but improvements will be needed for sure. 

Rating - 6/10

Mothers' Instinct (2024) Review

I saw a trailer for this film earlier this year and I found the time to watch Mothers' Instinct and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees after a tragic accident, two lifelong friends lives seem to change and cause more suspicion. 

Main Character

Anne Hathaway plays Celine and Jessica Chastain plays Alice and they are both really great in this film. The chemistry between them really drives the film forward and even though their actual characters aren't the best the quality of these two performers really drives it up and makes these great performances. 

Supporting Characters

Anders Danielson Lee plays Simon & Josh Charles plays Damian who are the husbands of the two lead characters. They both have smaller roles but they are both very good and give strong performances in this film. 

Young actor Eamon Patrick O'Connell plays Theo and I don't want to be too harsh but I thought this was a weird and weak performance. This kid is really strange and I don't think he was strong enough to fit the role he was given. 

Story

There is no denying that this story is interesting, it has twists and turns throughout keeping you guessing. Both Celine & Alice have good character arcs and the performers do a good job with it. But the film is a little bit confusing and doesn't quite work, the ending of the film falls a little flat and doesn't have quite the impact that they think it does. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some really good dramatic scenes that made me care about the situation that the characters are put into. This film is really grim though and at times a tough watch, it also doesn't exactly deliver on all of its twists which is a bit of a shame. 

Style

The film is directed by Benoit Delhomme who is mainly known for his cinematography which is shown by this film being very beautiful and well shot to keep the suspense up throughout the film. But this is also the 1st film he has directed which is probably why the film isn't paced that well and was actually pretty boring throughout. 

Overall

Overall, Mothers' Instinct is an above average film. It has plenty of intrigue and suspense to it with two fantastic lead performances. It's not one to rush out to find but I think down the line it could be a good watch for people. 

Rating - 6/10

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) Review

When growing up I was a big fan of The Kung Fu Panda films and this year we have the fourth film in the franchise and recently I found the time to watch it and here is my review for Kung Fu Panda 4. The premise of the film sees Po needing to train a new Dragon Warrior while attempting to stop a sorceress looking to seize the powers of Kung Fu Masters. 

Main Character

Jack Black is once again back as Po and I feel like he could play this role in his sleep and he does a good job here, it is just like he has done in the previous films. The character does clearly go through a character arc and I felt like the film did a good job in conveying that and he feels like a different character by the end of the film. 

Supporting Characters

Viola Davis voices the villain The Chameleon and this is a pretty cool villain and it seemed like she enjoyed her work in the role. I mean there isn't much depth to her character but her motivations were fleshed out just well enough that it worked for me. 

Dustin Hoffman is back as Shifu and his chemistry with Jack Black is great and Hoffman is enjoying himself. I do wish he had been in the film a bit more as his role is largely reduced compared to what it was before. 

Awkwafina plays Zhen and she spends the majority of the film alongside Po and I really found her annoying. She is meant to also go through a character arc but hers just did not work for me, she isn't funny and I did not like Zhen as a character. 

James Hong as Mr Ping and Bryan Cranston as Li are back in their roles and I enjoyed seeing them but their characters were more annoying in this film and they get way more screen time then they should. I just found myself annoyed watching them go on their journey compared to the main story. 

Story

The story is functional, the best part is clearly Po's character arc and how he develops over the film which I did enjoy but there is plenty wrong. Zhen's character arc was dull and predictable and the story involving Mr Ping & Li is frustratingly mediocre and takes up way too much screen time. The ending manages to bring things together but it just doesn't make you feel much. 

Script

The script has some funny and heartful moments that are mainly aimed at children and when it does that it works. But there is an equal amount that just don't pay off and I think that is because the writing for some of the characters and the fact that this film doesn't have the detail that other films in this franchise have. 

Style

The film keeps up the similar style from the previous films and it does work. The action scenes flow really nicely and if you have been a fan of the franchises action scenes then you will enjoy this. But the pacing of the film isn't that great, despite the fact it clocks in at 90 mins the order of certain scenes doesn't allow the film to flow that well which is a shame. 

Overall

Overall, Kung Fu Panda 4 is an above average film. It continues the legacy of this franchise well and does just about enough to be watchable, if you are a fan of the franchise then you will like this film, if not then it is one to skip. 

Rating - 6/10

The Idea of You (2024) Review

The Idea of You has been one of the most popular films this week and with being available on Amazon Prime, I decided to sit down today and watch the film and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a 40 year old woman unexpectedly end up in a relationship with a 24 year old lead singer of a world famous boy band. 

Main Character 

Anne Hathaway is a great actress and plays the lead character Solene here and I thought she did a really great job in this film and really added a lot to this film. Hathaway adds to the real emotion of her character and takes this one dimensional person and turns her into an interesting character that you actually can care about. 

Supporting Characters 

Nicholas Galitzine plays Hayes who is the love interest in the film and I actually thought he did a really good job too. He was a charming young man and I really saw the depth of his character and that he truly cared about Solene in the film. Hathaway & him had great chemistry in the film and I genuinely felt like these were two people who cared about each other. 

The rest of the cast don't really offer a lot because the film doesn't really care about them. Ella Rubin as the daughter Izzy & Reid Scott plays the ex husband Daniel and they are both okay but the film doesn't give enough reason to care about them or give them much to work with. 

Story

The story is interesting and I think the chemistry of the two main leads made this story a lot better and easier to understand and follow. It also briefly looks at how something like this affects others but doesn't go far enough with it. I do wonder what the response to this film would be if the genders were reversed of the two characters but it wasn't an issue to me. However, this film is pretty predictable and at times pretty cheesy. It holds the film back and makes it feel like one of those romance films that you see released all the time which is a shame and the ending totally nails this. 

Script

This script is similar to the story in terms that it has promise but ultimately gives into the basic nature of romantic films. There is some dramatic moments that are good and some funny moments but it overall falls a bit flat and again feels pretty cliché. 

Style 

The film looks decent in terms of how it is presented, there isn't really anything special about it but it just comes across as a nice looking film. But this film has serious pacing issues, it goes on for way longer then it should and really drags. It doesn't give some interesting ideas the weight it needs and focuses on silly parts of the relationship. 

Overall

Overall, The Idea of You is an okay film. The two main characters have really good chemistry but the film is let down by just being quite formulaic and not really adding anything new to the genre. 

Rating - 6/10

The Beekeeper (2024) Review

Over the years, Jason Statham has been a part of plenty of action films which have differentiated in quality. We have another one with The Beekeeper and I have watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees after someone close to him is robbed and killed, a Beekeeper goes on a revenge mission showcasing his former skills. 

Main Character

As mentioned above, Statham has played the lead role in an action film many times and he does a great job here, it feels like he can play this role in his sleep. It isn't the toughest role he has ever taken on but it just works and he adds some legitimacy for this role and it is fun to see him play a Beekeeper. 

Supporting Characters

Josh Hutcherson plays an annoying bad guy here and it took a while but I liked his performance here. He is just so arrogant and annoying that you really want to see him get taken down and this made me root for Statham even more in this film.  

Jeremy Irons plays the head of the company that Statham is after. He again is good in the role and is charisma is on full display here. It is probably one of the easiest pay checks that he has ever got but he is clearly enjoying the role. 

Emmy Raver-Lampman plays a cop and I didn't really care for her performance. She is a bit over the top and her character just makes some strange decisions and it is kind of convoluting as to why she does certain things in the film. 

Bobby Naderi plays her partner and he is also cheesy and really over the top. The two of them have decent chemistry but for me it doesn't really work in this film. 

Story

The story is pretty basic here and focuses on this guys revenge mission and in that it is pretty cool and exciting seeing Statham's character go after the people that have wronged him and the people he knows. There is also a pretty cool twist towards the end of the film that made things way more interesting. But some of the others character motivations are pretty strange and the overall explanation for Statham's training doesn't work with other things that happen in the film. Worse of all is the really abrupt ending of the film that doesn't really answer any questions and feels really out of place. 

Script

This is where the film really falls flat and that is the writing. This film has some real cringe worthy dialogue here, especially when it comes to the bee metaphors. But it is like the film doesn't have an ending and like the writers weren't sure what to do. 

Style 

The film has some really great action sequences. The majority of people are just here to see Jason Statham beat up and kill people and you get that here in spades and it is easily the highlight of the film. The film also has pretty good pacing, it doesn't overstay its welcome and I thought moved pretty well. 

Overall

Overall, The Beekeeper is an above average action film. Statham is great and the action is fun to watch but it is exactly what you would expect. This is probably one to watch when it comes to streaming at home instead of rushing to the cinema to watch it. 

Rating - 6/10

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Review

After 10 years the DCEU has finally come to its end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The first film was a big success both in terms of quality and financially but lots has happened since then and I watched the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film is set four years after the first with Arthur Curry as the King of Atlantis and a new father when a ghost from his past in Black Manta returns to try and destroy his world. 

Main Character

Jason Momoa is back as Arthur Curry/Aquaman and once again he is really good here. He is just clearly having a blast in the role and I think that really helps in terms of making you like the character. You can see that Arthur is really struggling with all of his responsibilities and though that is kind of pushed aside at certain parts I did like that it was included. With this probably being his last time playing the role, it is easy to say that Momoa has been great in this role and has added much needed freshness to the DC universe. 

Supporting Characters 

Patrick Wilson reprises his role as Orm and he is a real highlight here. Momoa and Wilson's chemistry is easily the best thing about this film, there is charm but anger still there from the first film and both of them deliver there. I mean it is way to similar to Thor & Loki but that isn't Wilson's fault and he does an admirable job in the role. 

Randall Park made his return as Dr Stephen Shin from the post credit scene in the first Aquaman and he gets a sizeable role here which is great and he is a fun aspect of the film. He gets plenty of screen time and Park chews up the screen and just conveys his character really well. 

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gets a bigger role as the main villain Black Manta this time and I have really mixed feelings here. I think Abdul-Mateen is doing his best and has a real presence on screen it is just the writing for his character that doesn't quite work. Black Manta is given plenty of screen time here but the film never evolves his motivations and his link to a certain object makes him feel like a secondary part of the film. 

Nicole Kidman and the much maligned Amber Heard are back from the first film as Atlanna and Mera but there roles are basically cut in half which in Heard's case makes complete sense. But it means they are really insignificant here and feel like they are just here because they were in the first film and not for any narrative reason. 

Story

The main factor of the story is the dynamic and relationship between Arthur & Orm and that is handled pretty well to be honest. The two of them have good chemistry together and it does feel like they are genuinely growing as people and with their relationship. The rest of the story is a mess, as mentioned above Black Manta's character is all over the place and isn't well written. Other characters are given nothing to do and it has an ending that is literally ripped from another comic book film. 

Script

This film isn't as serious as some of the other films in the DCEU. It has that banter in it and it is chuckle worthy for sure, but falls flat of really funny moments and writing that makes these characters really fun. The emotion also falls short and actually comes across as quite cringy which is a shame because there was quite a bit of potential here. 

Style 

Recent comic book films have had some poor CGI but this films CGI is pretty good especially with the difficulties that come with a film that takes place underwater for a majority of it. Black Manta's costume in particular is awesome and one of the better designs in any recent comic book film. But the film is paced poorly, it was just pretty boring at times, especially in the first act. I felt like the film was way longer then it actually was and that is never a good thing. 

Overall

Overall, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is an above average sequel. It is a big drop off from the first film but it still is a pretty fun time at the cinema and has all the things you would expect from a superhero film in 2023. It certainly isn't one to rush out too but maybe down the line it could be worth a watch. 

Rating - 6/10

Hatton (2023) Review

A documentary about famous British Boxer Ricky Hatton has been marketed heavily by Sky and has been released. I sat down today and decided to watch it and here is my review for the documentary. The premise of the documentary looks at the long career of Ricky Hatton as he faces the highs and lows that came out of his career. 

This documentary should receive praise for the fact that it doesn't really hide back from the dark times that Hatton has gone through and makes it clear that at least in his eyes he kind of sees himself as a bit of a failure despite the fact that he was a World Champion in Boxing. But seeing his drinking and drug abuse issues brings it into the light just how tough being this figure can be. 

It does a good job in showing the rise of Ricky Hatton from an amateur to being the world champion. We see the relationships he builds up such as with his trainer, his parents and his ex fiance and how they are all affected by things that happen in his life. 

Though my biggest criticism of this documentary is that it is a bit short, with the adverts it only clocks in at 90 minutes. This means that they try and go through so much but the majority of it just feels a bit undercooked and like we only get the minimal of information from it. 

Overall, Hatton is a pretty simple and short review because it is an above average documentary that is a quick watch. It deals with some pretty dark stuff and shows how Hatton's life was affected by big events but it needed to be longer or even turned into a 3 or 4 episode series to really give you more depth on certain factors. 

Rating - 6/10

 The Equalizer 3 (2023) Review

I have enjoyed the previous Equalizer films and finally we have a third film in this franchise and possibly the final film of the trilogy and here is my review for The Equalizer 3. The premise of the film sees McCall end up in Southern Italy where he becomes a part of the community, it ends up this community is run by the mafia which springs him into action. 

Main Character

Denzel Washington once again reprises his role as Robert McCall and he is fantastic. I feel like there are few true movie stars left and Denzel is one of them and oozes charisma in this role. He is believable in both the nice guy and as this menacing killing machine. This film is truly elevated by the performance of Denzel Washington and I am glad he agreed to do this film. 

Supporting Characters

Dakota Fanning plays a CIA agent and she is good in the role, she has good chemistry with Washington and it is nice to once again see her acting. Her role and character aren't particularly interesting but Fanning is good here. 

The rest of the cast suffer a bit though, everyone just feels incredibly generic with no character. All the people, protagonists and antagonists in Italy are by the numbers and they offer very little to this film, though everyone is really trying their best. 

Story 

The story is okay, I do like the story that involves the development of Robert McCall and it is always fun seeing Denzel Washington taking down bad guys in the pursuit of justice. It is just a bit like we go through the motions here and don't get much that is new here. Plus they have a story involving terrorists and it brings Dakota Fanning's character into the film and it doesn't need to be here, it doesn't really affect the film and I wonder what the whole point of it was. 

Script

The script is functional, there are some alright dramatic scenes and humour, though I think it was raised by Denzel Washington's performance. There isn't much meat here and it dulls it down to your pretty generic action film. 

Style

This film is easily the most violent of the trilogy and when the action is taking place it is very cool and seeing Washington take down these mobsters is very fun. But the pacing of the film is a bit all over the place, after the first action sequence there is a big lull and it really took me out of the film. 

Overall

Overall, The Equalizer 3 is an above average film. It is one of those generic action films that works well for the fans of the franchise but isn't one that you need to rush out and see. 

Rating - 6/10

Blue Beetle (2023) Review

DC is in a bit of a flux right now as they are between the end of DCEU and the start of the new DCU, but we have Blue Beetle now and I saw it last night and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young man become combined with an alien scarab that gives him special powers, this causes him to be hunted down by nefarious enemies. 

Main Character

Xolo Mariduena has been a young actor mainly known for his really good work on Cobra Kai. He plays Jaime Reyes here and he is great in the role. He brings plenty of vibrance to the role of Jaime and he nails the emotional scenes too. This is just a really likeable main character and I thought he did a really good job of being a lead for a character that I am pretty sure the majority of mainstream viewers no very little about. 

Supporting Characters

This has a large group of supporting characters and some of them work, some of them don't. Bruna Marquenzie plays Jenny Kord and is a big ally to Jaime Reyes, she was good in the film and I liked the chemistry between the two of them. It was nothing special, but it worked in this film and I think she has a pretty decent future ahead of her. 

This story really focuses on family, the main one being the Reyes family and all of them do a fantastic job in really building that bond. George Lopez is probably my favourite as his uncle and he provided the most laughs in the film. But all of them were great in their roles. 

But the villains of this film fell flat for me. Susan Sarandon plays Victoria Kord and she is just really dull, she doesn't really add much to this role. It's not that she is terrible or anything like that it is just she is the most forgettable part of the film. They try to give the other villain Carapax some character but it is way too late to get the impact that I think people wanted. 

Story

The best thing I can say about the story is that it is pretty functional. It does a good job with the Reyes family and how their bond strengthens Jaime and his ability as Blue Beetle with this linked to Jenny and her family it works too. But this is a really generic story, it would have been way better if it came out 15 years ago but we have seen everything here before in other films. It tries something towards the end of the film to rise it up but it doesn't quite work and makes the film feel a bit cheesy and predictable. 

Script

The script is okay, there is some decent humour and drama in there that makes this an entertaining watch. But sometimes, the humour feels a bit forced, I mean it feels like some of the weaker MCU films with comedy that doesn't quite work. The drama also is a mixed bag with some of it not really working in the context that they want. 

Style

The film looks pretty good. I like the design of the Blue Beetle suit, especially with it being a mostly practical suit, the film has some real exuberant colour and feel to it which is really great to see. Though, as I kind of mentioned before, the pacing and structure of the film doesn't quite work and is quite generic with a few lacklustre action scenes. 

Overall

Overall, Blue Beetle is an above average film. This is an entertaining watch, especially for a new character on the big screen, but it plays it pretty safe and never does enough to push itself into a better film. If you are interested in this film then I would say give it a chance, just don't expect the next Dark Knight. 

Rating - 6/10

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) Review

I was always a fan of the original Indiana Jones trilogy, they are some of my favourite films ever made and then Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out and was just really bad. But after all these years we finally have the 5th film in the franchise The Dial of Destiny and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Indiana Jones race against time to find an artifact that could change the course of history.

Main Character 

Harrison Ford once again reprises his role as Indiana Jones and I thought he was really good here. In Kingdom of The Crystal Skull he sometimes looked like he wasn't interested but here he does really seem to care. It's a really great showing of an old school action hero, it very much brings back memories of previous films of the franchise and Ford provides plenty to this performance despite his age. 

Supporting Characters

Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Helena and she is fantastic in this film. Over the films there has been a mixed bag of associates with Jones but Waller-Bridge's character has to be one of the better one. She is fun and comedic but a strong character, the dynamic and chemistry between her and ford are excellent and to me the real highlight of the film. 

Ethan Isidore plays plays Teddy and he kind of reminds me of Short Round from The Temple of Doom. He gives a decent child performance and the group dynamic between the three protagonists works and I am glad he was an addition to the film. 

Mads Mikkelsen is a great actor and he plays the villain here, I just didn't find his character to be particularly interesting. He tries his best but he is just an evil doctor that I feel like plenty of actors could have filled the role. I feel similar to Boyd Holbrook who plays his henchmen, they just could have been played by other characters and aren't that interesting. 

The film also underutilises certain characters and performers such as Toby Jones and Antonio Banderas. They are a fun part of the film but they are barely in it which is a shame. 

Story 

The story feels very familiar to Indiana Jones fans, it focuses on history and archaeology while being a fun adventure film. It does a pretty decent job of showing relationships between the main heroes and there is some development for sure, the last 20 mins or so are great and feel like a fitting finale for the film. It is just some of the greater aspects of the film that don't quite work, the whole thing involving the villains is dull and is overcomplicated for no real reason. Also, I just feel like parts of the film went on a bit longer then they needed to which could have trimmed the overall story. 

Script

The script has some funny moments in it, the character banter mostly works and I felt like it was a return to form for the franchise in that way. Also when the film wanted us to care about the characters, I did. It was well done and established how much Indiana Jones has been through in all these films. Though some of the films writing falls flat, it adds unnecessary things to the film that clog it down and hold it back a bit. 

Style 

The film looks pretty good. There are some really fun action sequences that take place in interesting locations all across the world. Despite Harrison Ford being the age that he is, they do a good job of hiding it and having him involved in these scenes. This is also probably the most I have ever seen the de-aging technology used and for the most part I think it is used well but shows there is still a bit of a way to go. My issue is that the pacing isn't quite there, some of the scenes are exciting but they could have had some time taken off of them that would have trimmed it down a little and made it a superior film. 

Overall

Overall, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an above average film. For fans of this franchise this will be a fun experience but there are some issues that it can't quite get over. It is a positive film which is something I am happy with despite not being as good as I wanted. 

Rating - 6/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Review

Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania is released today and before having a chance to go and see it, I decided to go back and rewatch the previous film Ant-Man and The Wasp and here is my review for it. 

The premise of the film sees after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang is under house arrest when he is recruited to once again venture into the Quantum Realm. 

Main Character

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily play the roles of Ant-Man and The Wasp and they are both really good here. They get more screen time together in this film and their dynamics are great. Their romance at the end of the previous film didn't quite work for me but it progresses nicely here and feels more earnt. They are both entertaining and it feels like a natural development from the first film. 

Supporting Characters

Michael Douglas is back as Hank Pym and he is really great. As I mentioned in my previous review, it seems like he really cares about the role and wants to sink his teeth into what he is given here. He has to provide quite a lot of the emotion here and his character has plenty of the limelight shined on him. Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost and I thought she was an okay villain, I think she is better then Yellowjacket but not by much. Everything was there for her to be a great villain but she feels a bit like an afterthought and something that just didn't quite click. Michael Pena is back as Luis and this is a film where I actually found him quite annoying, they took everything that I liked in the first film but ramped it up and made it too obnoxious and like they didn't quite understand what he was good at in the first film. Walter Goggins plays Sonny Burch and he was a bad villain, he is just some businessman but there is nothing unique about him and he comes across as quite annoying throughout. Laurence Fishburne plays Bill Foster and he is fine but completely underutilised in a role that could have been really good. Fishburne is a great actor but for me he wasn't given enough to work with. 

Story

The story has a mixed time, it is interesting seeing our 3 main characters trying to get back into the Quantum Realm and showing how the effects of a previous film affected the story being told here. There is some heart and emotion, though I do feel like this is more of a Wasp film then an Ant-Man one but maybe that is just me. There is just way too much going on here, there are multiple villains that have nothing in common and are just there and the rushing of the final act also didn't really work for me. 

Script 

The script is decent, there is good humour as you would expect and also some decent drama. But this film does fall fowl of a common MCU trend of not really knowing how to balance humour and drama. It clashes at times and considering the stakes of the film I felt like this was a bothersome thing. 

Style 

The film looks great, the action scenes are still fresh and unique. The addition of The Wasp adds some freshness and seeing the pair fight Ghost is some of the more entertaining parts of the sequences. This is a pretty short film and it does fly by, but the pacing isn't that great with the focus being in the wrong places at times. Also, I don't know if it is just me but I really struggle with films that constantly change aspect ratio and this film does it a lot, I would rather a film pick one or the other. 

Overall

Overall, Ant-Man and The Wasp is an above average entertaining film. It is a bit of a let down of a sequel but I think fans of the original film will like this one. 

Rating - 6/10

Black Adam (2022) Review

After what feels like forever Black Adam has finally made its way to cinemas and I managed to find the time to watch it today and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees an individual with the power of a god released in order to provide justice to his land. 

Main Character

Dwayne Johnson has been set to play Black Adam for years and finally he has been given the chance and I thought he was really good in this film. He provides more then his generic performance that he has become known for, he is intimidating as Adam and adds plenty of depth to this character. He still has those elements of charm there but it doesn't overshadow the nuance of the character. 

Supporting Characters

Pierce Brosnan plays Dr Fate and I thought he was really good. He actually seems to care about the character and the role, Fate is a really interesting character in the comics and though he doesn't get enough screen time to truly flesh him out it does enough here. Aldis Hodge plays Hawkman and he was decent in the role, he plays the hero well and though the character is barely fleshed out but he uses his natural charisma to get him by. But the rest of the cast don't fare as well. Noah Centineo plays Atom Smasher & Quintessa Swindell plays Cyclone, these two feel like they are in a different movie and it doesn't work. They come across as annoying and like they are in a Marvel film while the rest of the film is pretty serious. The villain is one of the weaker ones that are seen in a DC film, he is clearly an afterthought and is really bland. There are a few generic human characters and they didn't offer anything particularly interesting either. 

Story 

When Teth Adam's backstory is explored in this film it was interesting to see and see this protagonist who is really brutal and does some things that wouldn't be seen by a traditional superhero. The issue with the story is that the rest of the film is really generic, with how many super hero films that have come out I feel like I have seen this final act done better in other films for sure. 

Script 

This film is at its best when it focuses on the dark side of the story. But it has some awkward use of comedy and not all the drama hits, the humans aren't interesting and their annoying exposition doesn't help rise it up. 

Style 

The film has some pretty impressive action sequences and it is paced pretty well throughout. A big issue is that my favourite action scene was probably the first one which is never good for a super hero film. Also again the final act CGI fights don't really stand out, there is one in particular that rips off specific action scenes from another comic book film. Also there is one instance of truly terrible CGI which you will notice straight away. 

Overall

Overall, Black Adam is an above average super hero film. It is entertaining but falls way short of living up to the hype, if you want to entertain yourself for a few hours then maybe give it a go but I wouldn't rush to see it. 

Rating - 6/10

Nope (2022) Review

On Monday I decided to go back to the cinema to watch the new Jordan Peele directed horror film Nope and now I have got around to reviewing it so here it is. The premise of the film sees a small community in California come across a crazy discovery. 

Main Character

Daniel Kaluuya is reunited with the director who really gave him his big break and I really enjoyed his performance here. OJ is a bit stoic but has that quite charisma towards him that made him a character that I cared about, his character goes through quite a bit of development and Kaluuya brings plenty to the performance. 

Supporting Characters

Keke Palmer plays his sister and I thought she was good, at first I thought she was just really annoying but as the film goes on I liked her more and thought the dynamic between her and Kaluuya was well realised by both of them. The rest of the cast does there job well such as Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott and Steven Yeun, the issue is that none of their characters have any depth or interest about them. Yeun in particular is really underutilised and it is a shame considering how great an actor he is. 

Story 

The story is interesting in terms of not revealing everything at first and making you really pay attention to every frame. The main two characters are well realised and their chemistry is undeniable and makes them film much more enjoyable to watch. But this film has too much in it that doesn't really matter, the 2nd act in particular really drags the film down and made me a bit bored, the last act brings it up a bit but not enough. 

Script 

The script has some decent drama in it and it builds the intrigue of the whole plot well. It has some humour but I think this is one of those films that thinks its funnier then it actually is and there was never that dialogue that made me truly care about what was going on which is a shame. 

Style 

The film is shot beautifully, there is no doubt that plenty of love and craft was put towards the making of Nope as it looks great throughout. The main issue is in its pacing, its that middle section for me, it just derails the film and had me yawning, I am all for character development but it just felt misplaced here. 

Overall

Overall, Nope is an above average film that makes its audience really think and care. It just misses the spot quite a few times so I can't fully recommend it. If you are interested then it may be for you, otherwise I would skip it. 

Rating - 6/10

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Review

One of the most hyped films, Thor: Love and Thunder is out and I have now finally had a chance to watch it and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Thor attempting to work himself out when he must team up with his ex Jane Foster in order to stop a new enemy. 

Main Character

Chris Hemsworth has now played Thor for 11 Years and he could play the role in his sleep. He is great in this film and he is just so good as the character and has made him into a really fun lead character. Thor had a great story arc in Avengers Endgame and it kind of continues here with his character getting an interesting deep dive with a continued progression which is good to see. 

Supporting Characters

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster was a pretty dull part of the previous Thor films but I actually liked her here and I definitely feel like this is the best she has done. Seeing her take up the role of Mighty Thor is really entertaining and seeing the two Thor's in action adds something fresh to the film. The story between the two of them is well handled and I thought this was the most chemistry that Portman and Hemsworth have had. Tessa Thompson is back as Valkyrie and she is pretty fun once again, her character doesn't get much development but she is always entertaining and Thompson is clearly having a lot of fun in the role. But there are some falters here, Christian Bale plays Gorr The God Butcher and it just didn't work for me. He was a dull villain who wasn't given enough time for you to really care and Bale switches from intense to goofy too often for me and it just makes his character feel inconsistent. Korg is one of my favourite characters in the MCU but he is in this film way too much and his overuse of comedy is too forced and takes away from the overall product. I think it shows that he is best in smaller doses and they shouldn't have him as front and centre as he is here. 

Story 

The story is at its best when it focuses on the relationship between Thor and Jane. There is some real drama here mixed with some nice humour, in interviews it was claimed it would be the biggest part of that film and it succeed here. But the story just feels incredibly rushed and a bit all over the place, it tries to balance really serious moments with comedy and it really doesn't work at all with an ending that also didn't quite work for me. 

Script 

The script is actually quite funny, its not as funny as Ragnarok but there are some chuckle worthy moments. There is some good drama here that is actually quite dark which I don't think people would be expecting to see here. But the film goes way too hard on the comedy and it just doesn't work, the two things clash and create this mess of a script. 

Style 

The film looks really good, the action is pretty exciting and in this day of age the CGI looks really good. Seeing the two Thor's in action is really fun and made the action scenes a bit more fun then it would have been if it had just been Thor. But the film isn't paced very well, it clocks in at around 1 hour 45 and it feels rushed. Also as good as it is, there wasn't one action set piece that really stood out for me. 

Overall

Overall, Thor: Love and Thunder is an above average film that has its moments but it falls way short of expectations and I think only big MCU fans will appreciate it as much as me. 

Rating - 6/10

Munich: The Edge of War (2022) Review

Munich: The Edge of War has been very anticipated and it recently made its way to Netflix and today I watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a British and German diplomat travel for peace talks before World War 2, both with their own agendas. 

Main Character

George MacKay shot to fame for his role in 1917 and he is really good here. On paper his role isn't that in interesting but he adds plenty of depth to it and gives everything to make this an interesting character and a solid performance. German actor Jannis Niewohner was really great as well, for me he was the most compelling part of the film and I liked the way they took his character as it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. 

Supporting Characters

The legendary Jeremy Irons plays Neville Chamberlain and obviously he is great in the role. It just fits him really well and having his level of star involved with this project really elevates it. It is funny, there isn't really another fleshed out character but the acting is top notch by everybody involved and I think the acting from everybody involved is something that should be commended and highlighted here. 

Story 

The story does some interesting things, it has two layered main characters that have interesting motivations and you see these play out. But I guess I just wasn't interested enough, this film is set just before WW2 which means you know what the outcome is which makes it sometimes a frustrating watch. It just doesn't do enough to make it stand out amongst the large amount of films that deal with this subject and time period. 

Script

The script is okay, it lays it on very heavy and there is some decent dramatic dialogue involved. I liked how the film didn't shy away from characters speaking the native language of the characters instead of all speaking English for no reason. But this film is just too bleak for me and I felt like it just didn't always work with it becoming a bit mundane and repetitive at times to pad out a runtime. 

Style 

This was where the film fell down for me. It just did nothing to make me keep interested in terms of its style. It doesn't look that great and the pace is so slow, it moves at a snails pace and I just got bored. These WW2 films need to start doing more to keep them interesting as media has overused it and unfortunately this film can't rise above. 

Overall

Overall, Munich: The Edge of War is an above average film that is really well acted. I thought it was alright but I think it is for a particular taste of film fan and people might not get on with it. 

Rating - 6/10