ENCANTO REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

There’s no denying that Walt Disney owns one of the most successful animated studios and it’s easy to see why as they tell original and enjoyable stories through imaginative animation. This is definitely the case with their latest animated feature, Encanto.

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift except Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

Encanto tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family through visually stunning animation. The story, written by Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith, focuses on Mirabel, an ordinary yet lovable individual who is an outsider as she doesn’t have a unique gift unlike her family members. However, Encanto isn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift in order to feel as special. Rather it’s about Mirabel accepting herself, which makes for a heartwarming and inspiring watch. Most of Disney’s early animated features focused on a female character falling in love with a Prince whilst a menacing villain tried to interfere. While their early films were well made and featured stunning hand drawn animation, their story became formulaic. Disney’s most recent animated films have focused more on telling original and meaningful stories that can be enjoyed not just by children but by older viewers as well. Most people think that animated films are just for children, as a lot of them tell a predictable and safe story and feature immature jokes, however, although Encanto will be enjoyed more by children, it will also, most likely, enchant older viewers. 

The imaginative and unique world of the Encanto is brought vividly to life through Disney’s trademark three dimensional animation and is filled with bright and colourful visuals. Encanto is worth watching just to appreciate the hard work that has gone into making one of the most visually stunning animated films of the year.

Disney are known for their inspiring and leading female characters, including sisters Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Moana from their 2016 animated film of the same name and Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon. That’s still the case with Mirabel who, although she doesn’t have any special gifts like her family, is still an interesting individual. What I liked most about Encanto was that it wasn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift, rather it was about repairing her relationship with her family and accepting herself. Mirabel is the same at the end as she was at the beginning, however, that’s not a bad thing as there was nothing about her that needed changing. Mirabel is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz who is best known for her role as Rosa in the popular sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She had a small role in Destin Daniel Cretton’s moving 2013 drama, Short Term 12,  and also appeared in Jon M. Chu’s feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical, In The Heights, which was released earlier this year. In Encanto, Beatriz delivers a warm and bubbly vocal performance as Mirabel making her an easy character to like. She also impresses with her singing skills during the lively musical numbers. Unlike a lot of Disney’s previous films, there are no famous actors that distract from the story, which makes the characters all the more easy to accept. What’s refreshing about Encanto is that there’s no villain that is simply created in order to provide conflict. The writers know that there’s already conflict between Mirabel and her family and they focus more on the former trying to make amends with the latter. 

Encanto is at its most entertaining during the energetic musical numbers. The songs are written by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who is one of the most talented and successful musicians working today. He is best known for his Broadway show, Hamilton, and for writing the songs that featured in Moana. Although Miranda’s songs aren’t as memorable as the ones featured in the latter film, they’re still a lot of fun, especially the opening song, The Family Madrigal, which focuses on Mirabel introducing her gifted family to a small group of children. 

Filled with lively musical numbers and featuring imaginative animation, Disney’s latest film, Encanto, tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family.

8/10

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following its release in 1984, Ivan Reitman’s supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters, was a success both at the box office, making over $295.2 million, and with critics who said that it was “an infectiously fun blend of special effects and comedy, with Bill Murray's hilarious deadpan performance leading a cast of great comic turns”. A sequel was released five years later, however, while it benefited from the amusing performances by its cast, it was mostly a disappointment. In 2016, Paul Feig released an all-female reboot starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Although I personally enjoyed it, the reception from audiences was negative. Now, almost four decades after the release of the original, Reitman’s son, Jason, has created a follow up, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

After being evicted from their home, a single mother, Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) are forced to move to a decayed farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma, left to them by the children's late grandfather, where a series of unexplained earthquakes are occurring despite not being situated on any fault and strange things are happening in an old mine which once belonged to the alleged occultist Ivo Shandor. The children discover the history of their grandfather with the original Ghostbusters, who have since been largely forgotten by the world beyond their fan base. When supernatural phenomena relating to New York City's "Manhattan Crossrip of 1984" occur and threaten the world, the kids, along with their family and friends, must solve the decades-old mystery of the relocation of their grandfather and use the equipment of the Ghostbusters, and become their successors to save it.


With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jason Reitman has created a follow up that will almost certainly be enjoyed by fans of the franchise, including the original film. It features many of the elements that made the first Ghostbusters so successful including exciting ghostbusting action, amusing comedy and fun performances by its cast. It’s not without its flaws, including a predictable story, however, these are easily overlooked as, for the majority of its 124 minute runtime, Ghostbusters: Afterlife makes for a highly entertaining watch.

Unsurprisingly, like the previous films, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is at its best when it’s focusing on its characters battling the ghosts. After Phoebe and her new found friend, Podcast (a scene stealing Logan Kim), discover a ghost, the famous green Munchler from the first film, Phoebe fights it off using her late grandfather’s proton pack in an exhilarating action sequence featuring the famous Ecto-1 car, driven by Trevor. This sequence is one of the many highlights of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, alongside the final battle against returning evil supernatural gods, Zuul and Gozer. What was most surprising about this climatic battle was that, not only was it thrilling, it was also quite emotional as it saw the return of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson as the remaining Ghostbusters. It also featured an appearance from the late Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014, via impressive special effects and the use of archived footage. I can imagine those who watched the original Ghostbusters being moved by their appearances.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduces several new characters to the franchise who are all memorable and interesting individuals with the cast delivering performances. The standout is McKenna Grace who, despite only being fifteen years old, has had an impressive acting career, appearing in Gifted, alongside Chris Evans, I, Tonya, Ready Player One and Captain Marvel. As Phoebe, Grace is socially awkward yet incredibly likeable. Known for appearing in the hit fantasy series. Stranger Things, on the streaming service, Netflix, and for his role as Richie Tozier in Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel, It, Wolfhard leaves a lasting impression as Phoebe’s older brother, Trevor. Rudd provides most of the comic relief with his performance as the laidback school teacher, Gary Grooberson. Aside from Murray, Aykroyd and Hudson, other familiar faces include Annie Potts who appears early on in the film as Janine Melnitz, and Sigourney Weaver who doesn’t appear as Dana Barrett until midway through the credits. 

Speaking of, Ghostbusters: Afterlife features two bonus scenes that take place during the middle and after the credits and are worth watching. The first scene, as previously mentioned, takes place in the middle of the credits and sees Weaver and Murray that is an amusing nod to a memorable scene from the first film. The second sees Zeddemore talking about how he’ll always be a Ghostbuster to Melnitz. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is written by Reitman and Gil Kenan, who directed the 2006 animated horror comedy, Monster House. Their script pays tribute to the original film and one of its stars, Harold Ramis, in a heartfelt way. Although the original film was simply a supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is surprisingly thematic as it explores themes of family, especially through the character of Phoebe who is Doctor Egon Spengler’s granddaughter. Throughout the film, Callie resents her father as she believed that he abandoned her, however, it’s revealed that he was trying to protect her. Following the action packed climatic battle, Callie is able to forgive her father. I can imagine that Jason Reitman was inspired by his relationship with his father, Ivan, who directed the original Ghostbusters, to write this script. With films such as Juno, Up In The Air (which were both nominated for Best Picture Oscars) and Tully, Jason Reitman has established himself as a talented filmmaker who is skilled at both drama and comedy, making him the right man (pun intended) to direct a follow up to Ghostbusters. With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, he has succeeded and created a sequel that is packed full of ghostbusting action, fun performances by its cast and should satisfy fans of the original film.

7/10

LUCA REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Pixar Animated Studios are at their best when they’re creating films based on original stories that are meaningful and thematic. This is certainly true of their previous animated feature, Soul. Because of its deep and thought provoking story, it was enjoyed more by critics. Pixar’s latest film, Luca, will appeal more to families as it tells a simple story about friendship. 

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Luca is a coming-of-age story about one young boy, Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with pasta, gelato and endless scooter rides. He shares these adventures with his new found best friend, Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Luca is directed by Enrico Casarosa who previously made the Pixar animated short, La Luna, which was told a peculiar story about a young boy coming of age. In just six minutes, Casarosa was able to create a meaningful film that featured beautiful animation. A decade later, Casarosa has created Luca which is a warm and enjoyable animated film. Although it doesn’t represent Pixar at their best, it’s far from their worst films and provides viewers with ninety minutes of lighthearted entertainment. Prior to Luca’s release, Casarosa said that he was inspired by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The town of Portorosso is a nod to one of Studio Ghibli’s animated films, Porco Rosso. The script, written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones, reminded Casarosa of his childhood friend who was called Alberto. However, the main character’s name is Luca as the director didn’t want to use his first name, Enrico. It’s clear that Luca means a lot to Casarosa and I can imagine that it’ll mean a lot to a lot of viewers as well.

Like most of Pixar’s films, the animation in Luca stands out as it’s filled with bright and vibrant visuals. The country of Italy is effectively explored and captured through the stunning animation. Pixar sent several of the film's artists to the Italian Riviera for a research trip, during which they took photos of the area's landscape and people. Luca is rooted in the 50s and 60s, a time that Casarosa has described as a "golden age that feels timeless", with the music and designs inspired from that period "to capture a little bit of this timelessness of summer." Because of its sunny and warm setting, Luca is the perfect summer film.

It is a shame that, like Soul, Luca wasn’t released in cinemas as the animation would’ve impressed more on a bigger screen. Understandably, the producers were also disappointed by Disney’s decision to release it on their streaming service, Disney+, as Disney’s latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, was released both in cinemas and on Disney+. Although I don’t mind watching films at home, I would have much preferred to have watched Luca at the cinema as they’re the perfect form of escapism. 

Luca is at its most heartwarming when it’s focusing on the friendship that develops between Luca and Alberto. Luca is shy and fearful of leaving his family, however, Alberto is confident and encourages Luca to enjoy their adventures together. The pair meet and befriend Giulia (Emma Berman), who is outgoing and charming. Together, the three become involved in the Portorosso Cup Triathlon, which involves the participants racing by swimming, eating a plate full of pasta and riding a bike to the finish line. Although Giulia has previously entered, she has never won due to throwing up but believes she can finally win with the help of Luca and Alberto. All three of these characters are interesting and fun to watch, with the talented young cast, including Tremblay, Grazer and Berman, impressing with their vocal performances. While the majority of the film focuses on Luca, Alberto and Giulia, Luca’s parents, Daniela (Maya Rudolph) and Lorenzo (Jim Gaffigan) search for him. Their scenes provide viewers with amusing physical comedy as they try and find Luca by splashing children with water. 

A lot of animated films are aimed at children and tell a simple and boring story. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Luca, which, like most of Pixar’s animated films, can be enjoyed by viewers of any age. Children will, almost certainly, enjoy the fun adventures involving Luca and Alberto, with older viewers appreciating the deeper meaning behind some of the themes. By many older viewers in the LGBTQ+ community, the story of Luca hiding his true self has been interpreted as a metaphor for a homosexual struggling to come out. Obviously, because it’s a family friendly film, the relationship between Luca and Alberto is nothing more than platonic, however, it’s easy to see why the film will mean a lot to those in the LGBTQ+ community. Luca will also mean a lot to those who had an important friend during their childhood. 

Luca features bright and warm animation and tells a heartwarming story about friendship and is packed full of adventure.

7/10

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Disney’s recent animated features, Frozen, its sequel, Moana and Zootropolis have all been successful, including at the box office and at the Academy Awards, with Frozen and Zootropolis winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The films have also been lauded by critics with most of them praising their animation. Because of this, expectations were high for their latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, which was originally meant to be released in cinemas in November last year, unfortunately, the pandemic caused by the worldwide spread of COVID-19, led to the closures of cinemas with a lot of films having their release dates postponed. Raya and the Last Dragon has recently been released on the streaming service, Disney+. However, does it live up to the high quality of their previous animated features?

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) to track down the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina) and stop the Druun for good.

Although Raya and the Last Dragon doesn’t rank as one of the best films created by Disney, it is still a fun and adventure packed feature that is suitable for the whole family to watch, however, many people may be put off by the Premier Access fee of £20 that you have to pay in order to watch it. The reason behind the additional payment is because Raya and the Last Dragon was originally scheduled for a cinema release, however, because in the UK, they’re still closed, the feature has been released on Disney+ before it’s released on Video On Demand and DVD and Blu-Ray in a couple of months time. Because Raya and the Last Dragon was one of my most anticipated films of last year, I didn’t really mind paying the additional payment, however, I do think that £20 is expensive, especially when a lot of people are struggling financially. 

Unsurprisingly, the strength of Raya and the Last Dragon lies in its imaginative and vibrant animation. It’s set in a fantasy land called Kumandra, which is inspired by Southeast Asian cultures of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The filmmakers and production team traveled to all these countries to do background research except Myanmar, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Head of Story for the film was headed by Thai artist Fawn Veerasunthorn. The team formed the Southeast Asia Story Trust, a collective of consultants for the film including Dr. Steve Arounsack, an associate professor of Lao Anthropology at California State University. It’s clear a lot of hard work and creativity has gone into making Raya and the Last Dragon look visually stunning. What I love most about animation is that there is no limit to one’s imagination and that’s certainly the case with Raya and the Last Dragon. The characters and creatures all have unique appearances, especially the dragon, Sisu, and a "con baby" named Little Noi and her trio of monkey-like companions known as the Ongis, who adopted her after her mother was lost to the evil Druun. It’s because of its vibrant animation why I wished I’d seen Raya and the Last Dragon at the cinema. Although not a fault of the film, I was frequently distracted and struggled to fully focus. I do plan on rewatching Raya and the Last Dragon one day, hopefully, my feelings towards it will improve.

One of the weaker aspects of Raya and the Last Dragon is its story which follows a formula that has been used several times in Disney’s other animated films as it follows the main character as she and her companions travel to restore peace to their world. During my watch, I felt that it was very similar to Moana which focused on its titular character also travelling with another character in order to save her world. Because of this, Raya and the Last Dragon felt predictable and a bit repetitive as the characters travelled to different tribes in order to find the missing orb pieces. This is disappointing as, prior to watching the film, I was hoping for a more original story.

The script for Raya and the Last Dragon was written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim and sends out an important message about why trust is important. Over the course of the film, the characters learn to put their differences aside and trust each other in order to live in a more peaceful world. 

In the majority of their animated features, Disney have succeeded in creating memorable characters who have gone on to leave lasting impression. This is still the case with Raya and the Last Dragon which is filled with unique and interesting characters. Raya is a brave and inspiring heroine and a great role model for younger viewers to look up to. Despite losing her father near the beginning of the film, Raya continues to search for the missing pieces of the orb in order to bring peace to her world. Her personality is similar to that of Moana as both are determined to succeed in their mission. At first glance, Sisu looks like she could be a serious dragon, however, her personality is witty and energetic and is similar to Mushu from Mulan. Voiced by comedienne, Awkwafina, Sisu steals almost every scene she appears in. Raya and Sisu’s companions include Little Noi, the Ongis, a young entrepreneur named Boun (Izaac Wang), who is a skilled cook, and a fearsome warrior, Tong (Benedict Wong). Another tradition most Disney animated films have is a cute little animal that is the main character’s side kick. In Tangled, Rapunzel had a chameleon named Pascal and Moana had a pet rooster named Heihei. Raya’s sidekick is Tuk Tuk (Alan Tudyk), a steed that is a mix of an armadillo and a pill bug.

The most impressive aspect of Raya and the Last Dragon is the talented voice cast, which includes Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong and Sandra Oh. Tran first rose to fame as Rose (pun unintended) in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. Unfortunately, following a cruel backlash from fans, Rose’s screen time was cut in the follow-up, The Rise of Skywalker. As Raya, Tran delivers a heartfelt performance, making her character all the more likeable. Awkwafina is clearly having a lot of fun with her portrayal of Sisu and delivers a lively performance. Chan voices Namaari, who is a warrior princess of the Fang Land and Raya's enemy, with Oh voicing her mother, Virana. 

What’s most refreshing about Raya and the Last Dragon is the lack of an unnecessary love interest for Raya and no musical numbers. In many of their earlier features, including Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, one of Disney’s traditions included a Prince Charming character for the main female character to fall in love with and catchy songs. However, recently, Disney has realised that it isn’t necessary for their female characters to have a love interest. That’s still the case with Raya and the Last Dragon. Although I’ve enjoyed most of Disney’s original songs and think that the musical numbers made their features all the more entertaining, I’m glad that there weren’t any in Raya and the Last Dragon as, because it’s an adventure packed film, I think that a random song would have felt a bit out of place.

Featuring imaginative animation, Raya and the Last Dragon is a fun animated feature that is packed full of adventure.

7/10

THE SECRET GARDEN (2020) REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When it was announced that there was going to be a second adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burtnett’s book, The Secret Garden, which was first published in 1911, a lot of people were sceptical as there had already been a successful adaptation that was released in 1993, which starred Maggie Smith as the cold hearted housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock. However, I think I was one of the few people interested in seeing what director Marc Munden had created. The Secret Garden was originally meant to be released in April this year, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of cinemas and its release date was delayed. It’s finally been released in cinemas and available to watch at home on Sky Cinema, however, is The Secret Garden worth watching?

The Secret Garden focuses on Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx) who, after her the death of her parents, is sent from India to live with her uncle, Lord Archibald Craven (Colin Firth), in England. Following her arrival, she is met by Lord Craven’s cold-hearted housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (Julie Walters), who informs Mary of the strict rules. Mary begins to explore her new home and finds her cousin, Colin (Edan Hayhurst), who is ill and has spent most of his life in his bedroom. Together, they find a wondrous secret garden lost in the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor.

In answer to my earlier question, yes, I do think that The Secret Garden is worth watching as it’s a faithful adaptation of Burnett’s book. Those who enjoyed the book will, most likely, appreciate what Munden has created. 

The most impressive aspect of The Secret Garden is the design of the garden which is filled with bright and warm colours. It’s a shame that it wasn’t released in April as it’s the perfect film to watch during spring. The film is at its most enjoyable when it takes place in the garden. The manor represents a dull and miserable setting, however, the garden is seen as a magical place to escape to. The contrast between the two settings is effective. After discovering the garden, Mary develops into a friendlier and respectable individual. The scenes that focus on Mary, Colin and Dickon (Amir Wilson) having fun in the garden are where The Secret Garden is at its most enjoyable. In today’s society, children have lost interest in playing outside and have become obsessed with technology and spend more time indoors so it’s refreshing to watch a film such as The Secret Garden where the children find entertainment through playing with each other in the garden. 

The performances, especially by the young actors, are strong, with Egerickx delivering a memorable portrayal of Mary. The film frequently cuts to Mary’s life in India where she had a happier life. Unfortunately, the death of her mother from cholera impacts her negatively. When she arrives at Misselthwaite Manor, Mary is unhappy, however, following her discovery of the garden, she quickly develops into a friendlier and more likeable individual. Both Hayhurst and Wilson are equally as impressive as Colin and Dickon, both of whom are interesting characters. Colin is a sick child who has never left his room, however, his health significantly improves after he visits the garden, unfortunately, his overprotective father refuses to let him out of the house. Dickon can speak to animals and soon befriends Mary after they meet in the garden. As the cold and uncaring housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock, Walters, who usually plays likeable and funny characters, plays against type as does Firth as Colin’s grieving father, Lord Craven. 

An issue that occurs most frequently with remakes is predictability. Those who have watched Holland’s The Secret Garden will not be surprised by what happens in Munden’s latest feature. The story focuses on Mary’s arrival at Misselthwaite Manor. After discovering the garden, she tries encouraging her sick cousin, Colin, to leave his room and visit the garden, unfortunately, she is forbidden to do so by her overprotective uncle and strict housekeeper. While it would have been easy to write Lord Craven off as a villain, the film provides a valid explanation for his behaviour as he’s struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife and Colin’s mother and the garden reminds him too much of her. When he discovers that Mary has secretly been taking Colin to the garden, he plans to have her sent away to a boarding school. This is where most of the drama and conflict comes in, however, unsurprisingly, this is all resolved fairly quickly and has a happy ending. 

I’ve noticed that, when it comes to family friendly films, the majority of them are aimed at children and are filled with immature jokes and a boring story, making it a boring and tedious watch for older viewers, especially parents who are watching the film with their children. This was the case with Dolittle which was released earlier this year and received a negative critical response. The Secret Garden is the definition of a family friendly film as there’s something for viewers of any age to enjoy. Children will like the adventures that take place within the garden and older viewers will appreciate the breathtaking visuals. 

While I do understand why a lot of people prefer Holland’s The Secret Garden, as I can imagine it was part of their childhood, I think that Munden has created a film that is a mostly faithful adaptation of its source material. It’s far from a perfect film, however, it’s one of the best family friendly films I’ve seen this year. 

The Secret Garden is available to watch at cinemas, however. I think that it’s worth watching on the big screen where the bright and colourful visuals can be appreciated more. However, it’s also available to watch on Sky Cinema, for those who don’t feel comfortable returning to the cinema. 

7/10

MULAN (2020) REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Like a lot of films due for release this year, Disney's live action adaptation of their 1998 feature, Mulan, was postponed after the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closing of cinemas across the globe. However, instead of releasing Mulan in cinemas, Disney made the decision to release the film on their streaming site for an additional fee (£20 in the UK). I was disappointed by this decision as I was really looking forward to watching Mulan on the big screen. Since its release on Disney+ earlier this month, Mulan has received a mostly positive reception from critics, however, I've noticed a more negative response on social media. 

Mulan (Yifei Lu) is a fearless young woman who risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China (Jet Li) issues a decree that one man per family mist serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders. Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honoured warrior, Hua Zhou (Tzi Ma), steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua June, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner strength and embrace her true potential. It's an epic journey that will transform her into an honoured warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation and a proud father.

While Mulan isn't as great as I was hoping, it's not a bad film. I think I'm one of the very few people who don't mind Disney's live action remakes of their animated features, however, I can understand why people think they're pointless. 

One of the problems with many of Disney's live action remakes is that, because the story has already been told, they are predictable and unoriginal. However, Mulan features several changes in order to prevent it from feeling like an exact copy of the original animated film. One of the highlights of the animated film was Mushu who was a small dragon voiced by the comedian, Eddie Murphy, and stole every scene he appeared in. In the live action remake, the character doesn't appear. I think that this was a good decision as I think Mushu would have felt out of place. The live action remake has a more serious tone and, unlike most family films, can be enjoyed by older viewers. By making several changes, Mulan doesn't feel like an exact replica of the original animated film. Another significant change in the live action remake is the lack of musical numhers. While the songs, including Reflection and I'll Make A Man Out Of You, in the original animation were memorable and one of the highlights, the live action version focuses more on the story. I think a random musical number would have been too distracting.

Although the original animated is superior, I felt that it lacked in action. This minor flaw is improved in the live action remake. The action sequences are exciting and where Mulan is at its best. They highlight Mulan's impressive fighting skills. The stunts are over the top, however, they added to my overall enjoyment of the film. Mulan features several martial arts scenes and Liu handles them all with grace, Whilst I was watching the film, I often thought about how great it would have been to watch Mulan at the cinema which has high quality sound and high definition picture. Cinemas provide audiences with unique viewing experiences that can't be replicated at home. Although I'm fortunate to own a good quality television with speakers, I know that a lot of people and families with smaller televisions struggling to watch Mulan. I would advise familes to wait until December to watch Mulan when it will be available to watch on Disney+ without paying the premium access fee.

The original Mulan represents one of Disney's best animated features as its story highlighted the inequality between women and men and sent out an important message that the former could be as strong as the latter. The live action remake also highlights this issue. Because Mulan is a female, she is seen as nothing more as a potential bride for a male suitor. Unfortunately, after her clumsiness leads to an embarrassing incident with a matchmaker, Mulan is told that she will never bring honour to her family. She soon proves her wrong though after taking her father's place to fight in the war. Over the course of the film's 115 minute runtime, Mulan develops into a fierce and brave individual, making her one of the best female characters. She's a great role model to young women who feel inferior to men.

Many of Disney's live action remakes starred famous actors in many of the roles, including Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Will Smith as the Genie in last year's Aladdin. While I think that these actors delivered solid performances, the decision to have a cast of Asian actors portray the characters in Mulan was the right choice. Prior to watching, I was familiar with only a few of the actors as they've appeared in Hollywood films. As the titular heroine, Liu Yifei delivers a strong performance and captures the character's bravery and strengths. The rest of the cast is ethnically appropriate and features several of the best Asian actors, including Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Jason Scott Lee who take their roles seriously, despite appearing in a Disney film. 

While the main villain in the original Mulan was intimidating, he lacked enough screen time to make him memorable. However, the live action remake have replaced the character with a shape shifting witch, Xian Lang (Gong Li), who I felt was far more interesting and more threatening because of her unique powers.

Although it's not as great as it could have been, I don't think that Mulan is a bad film as it provides viewers with exciting action sequences and an empowering story that highlights the issue of gender inequality. 

7/10

ONWARD REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Pixar Animated Studios are at their best when they're telling original stories that have an emotional impact. This statement was proven with one of their previous features, Coco, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards. While their recent sequels, including Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4, have been successful, with the latter winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, Pixar's latest feature, Onward, further proves my earlier statement. 

Onward is set a suburban spin on a fantasy world, where teenage elf, Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) and his brother Barley (Chris Pratt) inherit a wizard's staff, charged with enough magical power to bring their father back to life. But when the spell goes disastrously wrong, Ian and Barley must set out on an epic quest to bring the rest of him back – meeting a menagerie of mythical creatures along the way.

With Onward, the director, Dan Scanlon, has created an adventure filled animated film that is never anything less than fun and entertaining for the majority of its 103 minute runtime. Scanlon previously directed the prequel to Monsters, Inc., Monsters University. Although I enjoyed it, I don't think it shows Pixar at its best. Onward is an improvement over Scanlon's previous feature as it provides viewers with an original and heartfelt story co-written by Scanlon, Keith Bunin and Jason Headley. Within their story, they've included themes of grief and brotherhood which are both effectively highlighted in Onward. Scanlon was inspired to write the story after hearing an audio clip of his late father who passed away when he was younger. Scanlon grew up with an older brother and based Ian and Barley’s relationship on the one he had with his brother. This is why their relationship is effective as it feels real and I’m sure that those who grew up with a brother will be able to relate to Ian and Barley.

Because their father died before Ian was born and when Barley was young, they want more than anything to meet him, even just for a day. On Ian's sixteenth birthday, they are given that opportunity when their mother presents them with a gift left by their father which turns out to be a magical staff containing a phoenix gem. They immediately use a spell to bring their father to life but only succeed in bringing the bottom half of his body back. This leads to the brothers going on an adventure together to find another phoenix gem in order to fully bring their father back to life, however, they only have twenty four hours to do it. Viewers who have had a family member or loved one pass away will be able to relate to Ian and Barley's determination to bring their father back to life. I think that, if we had the chance to bring back someone we loved from the dead, we would take that chance.
I think that Onward will resonate more to those that have grown up with a brother as Ian and Barley’s relationship is effectively captured. Although Barley is a few years older than Ian, the brothers are very close, however, their relationship isn’t perfect and there are a few times in Onward where the two have a small falling out after Ian unintentionally hurts his feelings. However, with the help of their father, the brothers are able to overcome their differences. Onward succeeds in capturing that of a relationship between brothers that is realistic and effective. Although I have older brothers, I’m not super close with them so I couldn’t relate to the main characters, however, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying it.
Onward features a strong voice cast, with Holland and Pratt standing out. Holland perfectly captures Ian’s awkward and introverted personality. Pratt is equally as impressive and delivers an energetic and lively performance as Barley, whose big personality is in contrast to Ian, who is shy and finds it difficult to make friends. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer are amusing as the brothers’ mother, Laurel, and Corey, a manticore restaurant owner who Ian and Barley go to for help on their quest. I’ve seen quiet a few comments regarding the subplot, that sees Laurel teaming up with Corey in order to find her sons, as unnecessary and distracting from the main narrative. For me, I enjoyed the scenes involving Laurel and Corey and found them to be an amusing pair, especially the latter. I didn’t realise she was was voiced by Spencer until halfway through Onward.
Although Onward features elves, wizards, dragons centaurs and pixies, their world is very similar to ours, in terms of technology. Instead of using their wings to fly, pixies are seen riding motorcycles and aren’t as friendly as they appear to be. Laurel’s boyfriend is a centaur and a police officer who drives a car, instead of using his legs. Because technology has become so advanced, there is no need for magic, however, Ian and Barley’s journey proves that magic does still exist.
With the majority of their animated features, Pixar have created original stories that have left an emotional impact. This is the case for Onward. While, for the majority of its 103 minute runtime, it’s an adventure film, we’re hoping that it ends with Ian being able to meet his father. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen and Ian only sees his fully formed father from a distance before he disappears. This scene is touching and will definitely move viewers to tears as it’s sad knowing that Ian will never meet his father. While the ending is sad, it’s also realistic. Ian and Barley spend their journey hoping to bring the father back to life, however, it leads to Ian realising that, while he never had a relationship with his father, he had his older brother and he appreciates their relationship more.
With Onward, Pixar have created an animated feature that is full of adventure and features strong vocal performances from Tom Holland and Chris Pratt.
8/10

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When Jumanji was first released in 1995, it received mixed reviews from critics, however, it was a success at the box office as it made over $262 million. While critics failed to be impressed by the film's computer-generated imagery and story, many praised the performance of Robin Williams who portrayed Alan Parrish, who got stuck in the board game, Jumanji, as a teenager and was released as an adult by two younger players, siblings Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce). It's one of the performances that the late actor is best remembered for. While I didn't like Jumanji as a child because I found it too scary, I enjoyed it more as an older viewer. When a sequel was announced to be released in 2017, I was surprised as I thought that Jumanji worked well as a stand-alone film and didn't need a follow-up. However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle beat my expectations and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The sequel proved to be more successful than its predecessor as it was praised by critics and made almost a billion dollars at the box office. Because of its success, another instalment was released, however, does The Next Level match the quality of its predecessors?

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle ended with the four main characters, Spencer (Alex Wolff), Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), Martha (Morgan Turner) and Bethany (Madison Iseman), destroying Jumanji after completing their adventure in the video game. However, while Fridge, Martha and Bethany have moved on, Spencer returns to the world of Jumanji leading his friends to enter the video game in order to try and find him. Unfortunately, things go wrong and Spencer's grandfather, Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his friend, Milo (Danny Glover), end up in the game too and become stuck in the bodies of the characters of Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) and Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart), with Martha playing Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillian), however, Fridge is less than impressed when he realises he's Dr. Shelly Oberon (Jack Black). 

The main highlight of Welcome To The Jungle was watching the main actors play against type, with Johnson, known for his heroic roles in action films, taking on the role of a socially awkward teenager. Gillian was impressive as the shy Martha who feels uncomfortable in her new athletic body and Hart was amusing as the popular guy who is annoyed at having lost the top two feet of his body. However, of the four, Black had the most difficult task: convincing viewers he's a teenage girl. When Bethany chooses Dr. Shelly Oberon, she assumes the character is female but is horrified when she realises she's in the body of a overweight, middle-aged man. Black succeeds and provides most of the film's humour with his accurate portrayal of a teenage girl. All four actors return, however, because the characters of Dr. Bravestone and Finbar have been taken over by elderly men, Johnson and Hart have to imitate DeVito and Glover. This is where most of the humour comes from as the pair spend most of the time arguing and forgetting that they're in a video game. Awkwafina, who recently impressed with her Golden Globe nominated performance in The Farewell, is a welcome addition to the cast as Ming, a character in the game, and Nick Jonas returns as Seaplane McDonough. 

Viewers, who spend their spare time playing video games, will, most likely, enjoy what The Next Level has to offer as it feels like an accurate representation of a video game, including non-player characters, such as Nigel Billingsley (Rhys Darby), who provides the players with crucial information, fast-paced action sequences, over-the-top stunts and special effects. Trying to find Spencer in Jumanji proves to be difficult as the challenges are a lot harder, with Martha, Fridge, Eddie and Milo being chased by ostriches in a desert. Despite Milo being trapped in the body of a zoologist, he talks too slowly when he's providing information. Another memorable sequence occurs later in the film when all of the characters are being chased by mandrills.
While The Next Level doesn't offer anything new in terms of narrative and is predictable, most of the entertainment comes from the aforementioned adventure sequences and the humour. One of the weakest aspects of Welcome To The Jungle was the main villain, Van Pelt (Bobby Cannavale), who wasn't as menacing as the antagonist in Jumanji, who provided conflict for the players and tried to prevent them from completing the game. Unfortunately, while the main villain, Jurgen the Brutal (Rory McCann), is a small improvement over Van Pelt, I think he would have benefited from more screen time and more interaction with the players in order to make the game more difficult for them.
Like its predecessor, The Next Level accurately represents video games, with the characters having different strengths and weaknesses designed to help or prevent them from completing the game. Anyone who plays video games in their free time will understand each character's frustration with certain weaknesses, including Fridge who isn't impressed when he discovers that Oberon's weaknesses are sun, sand and heat, despite the game being set in the desert. However, some of the strengths prove to be useful, including Finbar's linguistics, which means he can communicate with animals.
At my local cinema, The Next Level was being shown in 3D/4DX. Whilst I didn't think the 3D was necessary as I found the glasses too uncomfortable and the screen being too dark, I enjoyed the 4DX which made me feel like I was part of the action on screen. For those unfamiliar with 4DX, it's a unique viewing experience that features stimulating effects like water, wind, scent and strobe lighting that are timed to enhance what’s happening on screen. While the 4DX is great for action-adventure films, it is expensive and only available at certain cinemas, however, it's well worth the price for those who want to feel part of the action on screen.
Those who liked Welcome To The Jungle will, almost certainly, enjoy what The Next Level has to offer as it provides viewers with much of the same, including amusing performances from its cast and fast-paced adventure sequences.
7/10 

FROZEN 2 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When it comes to sequels, my expectations were low as a lot of them were disappointments. However, this year has proven me wrong and I've seen a lot of sequels that matched the quality of its predecessor(s), including John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Toy Story 4, Zombieland 2: Double Tap and Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil. Because of this, I had high hopes for Frozen II, however, does it meet expectations?

Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad) and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.

When Frozen was first released in late 2013, I didn't see it as I thought it could only be enjoyed by children and not older viewers. However, I was impressed by the success it received and decided to watch it and I found it to be a pleasant surprise. With its sequel, I was hoping for a film that continued the story, instead of repeating it and, fortunately, Frozen II didn't disappoint and I enjoyed it more than the original. When a film is successful, both at the box office and with critics, a sequel is released within a few years, unfortunately, that can lead to it feeling rushed and the end result fails to leave a lasting impression. When the CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, was asked about the sequel in early 2014, he said that Disney wouldn't mandate a sequel or force telling a story as to do so would risk creating something not as good as the original. Because Disney took their time when making a sequel, Frozen II is succeeds in recapturing the magic of the original film. 

Jennifer Lee, who wrote and directed Frozen along with Chris Buck, returns for the sequel. Her script explores more about Elsa and the origins of her powers. It also answers other questions fans of the original may have, including why Anna was born without powers and where their parents were going when their ship sank. New characters are introduced and it's also revealed that there are four spirits, including earth, fire, water and air. I admired Lee for following the story up by focusing on Elsa and the origins of her powers as it made for an interesting watch.

Following the release of Frozen six years ago, the characters of Elsa and Anna became very popular with fans of the film, including children who would wear costumes inspired by them. I think that both Elsa and Anna are great role models, especially for children seeing the film, as they are both strong and brave individuals. This is still the case for Frozen II. After the events of the original, Elsa and Anna have become closer and, when Elsa chooses to travel to the Enchanted Forest, Anna accompanies her, along with Kristoff, his reindeer, Sven, and Olaf the childlike snowman. Despite the possible dangers that lie ahead, Anna promises never to leave Elsa. 

One of the stand-out aspects of Frozen was its soundtrack, with Elsa's powerful song, 'Let It Go', being the most memorable. It went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. With the sequel, there was a lot of pressure on Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez to create songs that were just as successful. The songs that stood out to me were 'Into The Unknown' and 'Show Yourself', both of which are sung by Menzel as Elsa. The former occurs early on in the film and details Elsa's inner conflict over deciding whether or not to leave Arendelle and track down the source of a mysterious voice she keeps hearing. Bell also gets a chance to impress with her song 'The Next Right Thing', a slow, moving ballad about struggling to move forward and do "the next right thing". 

A tradition, made popular by the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is an extra scene following the credits. This has become popular with films outside of the MCU, including Frozen II which features a post-credits scene. One of the most amusing scenes shows Olaf recapping the events of the first film and the post-credits scene sees him recapping what just happened in the sequel. Parents with restless children may not want to sit through the whole credits so it's worth waiting until Frozen II is available on DVD so they can be fast-forwarded. 

By focusing on Elsa and the origins of her powers, Frozen II is a sequel that recaptures what made the original so successful.

8/10

AVENGERS: ENDGAME REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the most successful franchises, with the majority of their films impressing both critics and at the box office. Based on the comic books by the late Stan Lee, each film has provided entertainment for fans of superheroes. Avengers: Assemble, which was released in 2012, saw the titular team appear on screen for the first time and the result was successful as it earned over a billion dollars at the box office. Featuring a team of memorable characters, including Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Chris Evan's Captain America, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, and exciting action sequences, Avengers: Assemble proved to be one of the greatest superhero films. Three years later, its first sequel, Age Of Ultron, and, while it wasn't as good as its predecessor, it was still a solid successful and it was great seeing the Avengers team up again. It wasn't until 2018 when a second sequel, Infinity War, was released and it was a huge improvement over its predecessor, in terms of story, character development and action. The film saw the characters face their biggest threat yet in the form of Thanos (Josh Brolin) who wants to restore balance in the world by destroying half of humanity. However, he can only achieve that by collecting the Infinity Stones. The majority of Infinity War focuses on the characters trying to stop Thanos, unfortunately, they are unsuccessful, leading to a shocking and emotional cliffhanger.

Avengers: Endgame sees the remaining characters dealing with the aftermath of Thanos' actions. After an unsuccessful attempt to reverse his actions, they are left hopeless, until Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) turns up after being trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years. He reveals there may be a way to bring everyone back, however, the plan requires bravery, teamwork and personal sacrifice in order to succeed. Together, the remaining team, which includes Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Natasha Romanoff (Johansson), Bruce Banner (Ruffalo), James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Nebula (Karen Gillian), become determined to succeed in their plan and bring everyone back. However, the plan is easier said than done as it involves time travel. 

Creating a conclusion that satisfies fans and meets their expectations was always going to be a challenge, fortunately, the directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, have succeeded. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with what they've created. Together, the brothers have created four of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Endgame, Infinity War and two of the Captain America films, The Winter Soldier and Civil War. They clearly understand what each of the characters have been through, making them the best choice to direct the final two films in the Avengers franchise. With Endgame, they've created a satisfying conclusion that is, at times, emotional and full of action.

The majority of Endgame focuses on the main characters as they travel to different points in time to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos does. In this sequence, we return to events we've already experienced and view them from a different perspective, which made for a fun watch. In one scene, we see Stark, Rogers, Banner return to New York in 2012 with Lang when Loki (Tom Hiddleston) caused havoc with the Tesseract. This is also one of the more lighthearted scenes in Endgame and is full of comedic potential, especially when Rogers accidentally encounters his past self, leading to a fight between the two. It's during the time heist, as the characters call it, where Endgame is at its most entertaining. Another scene sees Thor finding closure with his late mother, Frigga (Rene Russo), in a moving scene. However, as mentioned earlier, the plan requires personal sacrifice. After Romanoff and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) arrive on Vormir in order to retrieve the Soul Stone, the pair are surprised to discover that a sacrifice must be made, leading to a tragic death. This scene is similar to one in Infinity War, where Thanos sacrifices his adopted daughter, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), to retrieve the stone.
With most superhero films I've watched, there doesn't seem to be much at stake and I've always found the stories to be lacking in tension, as it's obvious that the superhero will save the day. However, with Infinity War and Endgame, there's a lot of stake, with half of humanity having vanished from existence. With so many superheroes teaming up together to defeat him, you'd be forgiven in thinking that Thanos would be an easy villain to defeat. However, Infinity War proved that theory wrong and that he's stronger than a team of superheroes. In Endgame, Thanos still threatens the Avengers, even after his death early on in the film. This is because a past version of Thanos learns, through Nebula, of future events, leading him to become even more determined to defeat them, making their plan even harder to successfully achieve. While there have been a lot of villains in the MCU, Thanos is, undoubtedly, one of the best and is portrayed brilliantly by Brolin.
The most impressive aspect of Avengers: Endgame is its ensemble cast, which consists of the most talented actors working in Hollywood. The stand-out performance comes from Downey Jr. who gives his best portrayal of Tony Stark yet. In his first appearance in Iron Man, the character came across as a cocky billionaire. However, since then, he has developed into a more mature person. In Iron Man 3, we saw Stark suffering from anxiety, following the events of Avengers: Assemble. I thought that this was Downey Jr.'s best dramatic performance yet, however, with Endgame, he has improved and has developed Stark into a true hero. Like Logan did with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Endgame provides a farewell to a beloved character. The MCU started with Iron Man, it's only fitting that it should conclude with him as well. While I think that every actor involved did a great job with portraying their characters, I think that Downey Jr. deserved a special mention.
While I enjoyed the time heist sequence, I thought that Avengers: Endgame was at its best during yhe final battle sequence, which is exhilarating throughout. The sequence sees the lost characters successfully return and team up to defeat Thanos once and for all. With so many characters featuring in the battle, it was always going to be difficult to make sure they all each get their time to shine, however, the Russo brothers succeeded. With her film, Captain Marvel, having recently been released, I was expecting Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) to have more screen time, however, she's only seen in the beginning and during the final battle sequence. Despite her limited screen time, she still leaves a lasting impression and I can't wait to see more of her in future sequels.
While Endgame may be the final Avengers film, the final scenes hint at future films, including the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, Far From Home, and a third Guardians of the Galaxy film. While I doubt any future film in the MCU will ever come close to matching the emotions that Endgame leaves you with, I'm still looking forward to future instalments and seeing what direction the story goes in, following the events of Endgame.
Overall, Avengers: Endgame is a successful conclusion to over a decade's worth of films and will satisfy fans.
8/10

SHAZAM! REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Most of the films that have been released in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) have been negatively received, both from critics and audiences. The only two films in the franchise to receive a positive reception are Wonder Woman and last year’s Aquaman. The latest addition to the DCEU is Shazam!. After watching the trailer, I was skeptical as I found the titular superhero to be a bit irritating. However, the positive reception from critics surprised me.

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero, Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Still a kid at heart, Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child and with help from his superhero-obsessed foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer). But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).

Without a doubt, Shazam! is DC's most entertaining and funniest feature yet. Most of the humour comes from Levi's portrayal of the titular superhero, he clearly seems to be having a lot of fun with the role and the film is at its best when it focuses on him. Like I mentioned, I was worried that I would find him irritating, fortunately, this wasn't the case and he gives an unforgettable performance. The supporting cast are all great, including Grazer, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen and Grace Fulton who each portray a member of Billy's new foster family. As is the case with every superhero film, there's a villain and, in Shazam!'s case, the villain is portrayed by Strong, in one of his darkest performances yet. Most villains feel underwritten and undeveloped, fortunately, I didn't feel this was the case for Sivana. We learn that, as a child, he was visited by the same wizard as Billy but didn't receive the powers. Now, an adult, he becomes determined to steal Billy's new found powers from him. Mainly because of Strong's serious performance and the writing, Sivana does feel like a genuine threat and he proves to be a difficult villain to defeat, due to his own powers, and help from the Seven Deadly Sins which are a supernatural team of demons, Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth. They are initially trapped in statues guarded by the wizard but align themselves with Sivana. The characters were portrayed by stunt doubles in motion capture suits on-set during filming and depicted as CGI characters.

Shzama!'s story does feel similar to the classic 1988 comedy, Big, which starred Tom Hanks as a child stuck in an adult's body. The writers knew this and there's a funny reference where we briefly see Shazam and Sivana fighting on a floor piano. This reference will go over the heads of younger viewers but will most likely amuse those who recognise the reference. The story successfully balances its tone. Most superhero films, especially those in the DCEU, struggle with deciding whether it wants to be comedy or taken seriously. This isn't the case with Shazam!. While there's a lot of laugh out loud scenes, there's also some touching and heartfelt moments too. These come from Billy looking for his mother who he lost when he was a child at a fair. This is why he struggles to fit in with his new found foster family, at first, despite them caring for him. A heartbreaking scene sees him reuniting with his mother, unfortunately, he doesn't get the reunion he was hoping for. The story effectively includes the theme of family and that those who unconditionally love you are your true family, even if they're not biologically related to you. 

The release of Shazam! comes just a few weeks after the release of Captain Marvel, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). There is irony here, due to Shazam originally being named Captain Marvel. While DC's Captain Marvel is the original, with comic books featuring the superhero on stands in 1939, they renamed their superhero, Shazam, in 2012, due to Marvel holding the trademark of the name. Shazam's name is an acronym of six "immortal elders" which includes Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. He also gains their powers including Solomon's wisdom, Hercules' superhuman strength, Atlas' stamina, Zeus' powers, including the ability to summon lightning, Achilles' increased courage and Mercury's super speed. At first, Shazam shows off his powers and uses them as a way to gain popularity from the public, who all take immediate interest. However, he soon realises that me use them to stop the villainous Sivana. 

A common trait with superhero films are scenes that appear during the middle and after the end credits. Shazam! features two scenes. The middle scene features an imprisoned Sivana meeting the alien worm Mister Mind, who proposes an alliance. I'm not sure if this scene is hinting at a future sequel where Sivana breaks out at prison and teams up with Mister Mind to stop Shazam. The final scene takes place at the end of the credits and shows Shazam trying to talk to fish and is only worth watching for those who want to see more of Shazam.

While Shazam! is one of the most family-friendly films in the DCEU, it's not without its dark and scary scenes, which is unsurprising considering it's directed by David F. Sandberg who previously directed horror films such as Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. One scene that may be considered too scary for younger viewers involves Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins monsters killing several people in a business meeting. Although I didn't find this scene too scary, I think it's worth noting that, while Shazam! may appear to be all fun and games, parents hoping to see this film with their children may want to reconsider. 

When it comes final acts in superhero films, which sees the superhero fighting the villain, some of them are predictable and fail to excite. Fortunately, this isn't the case for Shazam!. The final fight between Shazam and Sivana takes place at a fairground and while, at first, Shazam struggles to defeat Sivana, he soon comes up with the idea of transforming his foster family into Shazam-like superheroes, who all help him defeat Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins. This made for final act that is action-packed and exciting to watch.

With a story that is funny and full of heart and a memorable performance from Zachary Levi as the titular superhero, Shazam! can join Wonder Woman as one of the best films that the DCEU has to offer.

8/10

  

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Prior to its release in 2014, I don't think anyone was expecting The Lego Movie to be as good as it was. I didn't think an animated film based on Lego would work and would only appeal to young children. However, I couldn't have been more wrong and The Lego Movie proved to be a pleasant surprise. It was funny, entertaining and managed to appeal to viewers of all ages, especially those who have played with Lego. It was successful, both with critics and at the box office, leading to two spin-off films, The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, being released in 2017. While the former proved to be just as good as its predecessor, the latter was a disappointment. Five years after The Lego Movie's release, a much anticipated sequel has been released.

It's been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: Lego Duplo invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt. The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the Lego universe will take Emmet (Chris Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.

Making a sequel that lives up to people's expectations can be a challenge, fortunately, The Lego Movie 2 is just as entertaining and enjoyable to watch as its predecessor. It expands on the original’s premise and introduces viewers to new worlds and characters, showing that there’s no limit to someone’s imagination. The sequel has also crafted a timely story that is inventive, funny and can be enjoyed by the whole family. The end of The Lego Movie revealed a twist and that the entire film had been based on a young boy, Finn (Jadon Sand) playing with his father's (Ferrell) Lego pieces. It then ended with his younger sister, Bianca (Brooklynn Prince) wanting to play too, leading to the Lego Duplo characters entering the universe. While The Lego Movie was about Finn forming a closer relationship with his father, in the sequel, we see Finn playing with his sister. At first, he's not happy about this, leading to a divide in their relationship. Anyone who has siblings will be able to relate to these scenes as there's a lot of arguing. Because they can't play without fighting, their mother (Maya Rudolph) tells them to pack away the Lego. This leads to a sense of uncertainty for the Lego characters as it seems like it's coming to an end. 

I found the writing to be quite clever and inventive with words. In the beginning, Emmet is troubled by dreams of a pending 'Armamageddon', which references the children's mother. The 'Systar System' sounds a lot like 'Sister System', which indicates Bianca and the world that she has created. 

The Lego Movie 2 picks up straight where its predecessor ending, with Emmet introducing himself to the Lego Duplo characters, unfortunately, things go wrong, with the Duplo characters taking over the world and turning it into a post-apocalyptic wasteland named Apocalypseburg. For the majority of the film, the Duplo characters are perceived as invaders and as the main villains. After Lucy, Batman, Benny (Charlie Day) and Unikitty (Alison Brie) are kidnapped, Emmet goes out on a rescue mission. 

Most sequels suffer from being predictable as they follow the same narrative path, leading to a boring viewing experience and disappointment. This isn't the case for The Lego Movie 2, which continues the story of its predecessor and, instead of repeating the same narrative, the writers, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Matthew Fogel, manage to keep things interesting by introducing viewers to new characters, such as Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi, whose name is a clever play on the words 'Whatever I wanna be', (Tiffany Haddish) and General Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz). Queen Watevra is a shape-shifting alien who is the ruler of the Systar System whose plan is to marry Batman in order to unite the two universes together. Despite Queen Watevra singing a song about how 'not evil' she is, Lucy isn't convinced and tries to come up with a plan to stop her. Meanwhile, during his rescue mission, Emmet meets Rex Dangervest (Pratt), a self-declared galaxy-defending archaeologist, cowboy and raptor trainer. Considering that Emmet and Rex are both voiced by Pratt, the twist involving Rex's character isn't that much of a surprise. While The Lego Movie 2 isn't unpredictable and it's easy to see most of the twists, it is still entertaining and there isn't a dull moment to be found in its 107 minute runtime.

The Lego Movie is remembered for its catchy song, 'Everything Is Awesome', and its sequel features several more songs, including 'Not Evil', which is sung by Queen Watevra, 'Catchy Song' and 'Everything's Not Awesome', a twist on the original song. This songs add to the overall enjoyment of the film and I can imagine children annoying their parents by singing 'Catchy Song' repeatedly. While 'Everything Is Awesome' is an upbeat and optimistic song, 'Everything's Not Awesome' is more of a slow ballad, sung by the Lego characters who believe all hope is lost. However, while it's not a negative, depressing song, it is actually sung with a sense of hope. It is a more realistic song than 'Everything Is Awesome' which ignores the realities of life. 

The Lego Movie 2 features strong voice casting. Pratt returns as Emmet and Rex, who is an amalgamation of other roles played by Pratt, including Star-Lord from Guardians Of The Galaxy, Owen from Jurassic World and Joshua Faraday from the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. The character of Rex makes for great self deprecating humour. Also returning is Banks as Lucy, Brie as Unikitty, Charlie Day as Benny and Nick Offerman as MetalBeard. While Lucy spends most of her screen time trying to rescue her friends, the latter three don't get as much screen time. New additions include Haddish as Queen Watevra and Beatriz as General Sweet Mayhem.

Lego bricks have been available ever since they were first manufactured in 1949, seventy years ago. Because of the technology that is available now, including iPhones, iPads and so many apps, it's a little hard to believe that Lego bricks are still popular now, however, the release of The Lego Movie and its spin-offs and sequel proves that there will always be an appreciation for Lego. There's a lot of fun to be had with The Lego Movie 2 and, while it lacks the fresh quality of the original, it is still a successful sequel.

7/10

  

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

It's been almost a decade since Dreamworks released one of their most serious and successful animated features, How To Train Your Dragon. Prior to its release, Dreamworks were best known for films such as Madagascar, Bee Movie and Kung Fu Panda which, while enjoyable for younger viewers, were hard to take seriously by adults accompanying young children. However, How To Train Your Dragon proved to be suitable for the whole family as it told a simple story about the unlikely friendship between a young Viking, Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and a Night Fury dragon, Toothless. After impressing critics and succeeding at the box office, a sequel was released four years later and was an improvement over its predecessor in terms of animation, character development and story. Its success lead to a third and final instalment being released, however, is it a fitting conclusion to the How To Train Your Dragon franchise?

Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid (America Ferrera), Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they've known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destinies are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together-to the very ends of the Earth-to protect everything they've grown to treasure.

Prior to watching the first How To Train Your Dragon film shortly after its release in 2010, I was skeptical as I thought that it was going to be a boring and predictable film only enjoyed by younger viewers. Fortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong and it beat my expectations. Despite enjoying the first film, I didn't see the first sequel as I didn't think it would match the quality of its predecessor and, again, I was wrong. I was really impressed by how seriously the writers took the film and how they weren't afraid to take risks and dumb down the narrative for younger viewers. I was very surprised when a main character was killed off halfway through. I think that this is why the How To Train Your Dragon films will appeal more to older viewers as, while there are lighthearted and entertaining moments throughout, there are a few scenes that may be too intense for younger viewers. The third film, The Hidden World, has the same tone as its predecessors and it ends the franchise on a high and is a thrilling and emotional conclusion.

The narrative follows Hiccup as he struggles to keep his people and the dragons of Berk safe. He remembers that his father, who was the previous Chief, spoke of a 'hidden world' and Hiccup becomes determined to find it. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done and the task of keeping everyone safe becomes even more difficult after being threatened by Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham), a dragon hunter who wants nothing more than to capture and kill Toothless. While the narrative is fairly similar to its predecessor (an evil villain wanting to capture Toothless), I still found it to be a compelling watch. Grimmel made for a good antagonist as his actions were unpredictable and I was never sure what he was going to do next.

An aspect that has improved with each How To Train Your Dragon film was its animation and that hasn't changed with The Hidden World. It's an animated feature that deserves to be experienced on the big screen as the animators have clearly worked really hard. The animation is at its best when Hiccup and Astrid discover the titular hidden world, a home for dragons. The scene is filled with vibrant colours and is impressively designed, much like the dragons themselves. 

In the first How To Train Your Dragon film, Hiccup was an awkward individual and struggled to live up to his father's expectations. However, since then, he has developed into a true hero. Now the Chief of Berk, Hiccup must make important decisions, including finding a new home for his people and dragons. What I liked most about Hiccup's character is that he's not perfect, however, he is still determined to keep everyone safe. A highlight of the How To Train Your Dragon films is the friendship between Hiccup and Toothless. After discovering a female Night Fury, named 'Light Fury', Hiccup and Toothless begin drifting apart after the latter becomes close with the Light Fury. Hiccup feels lonely without Toothless and tries to keep him but he soon learns that the only way to keep Toothless and the rest of the dragons safe is by letting them go and live in the Hidden World. It's a heartbreaking decision that leads to a bittersweet ending, however, it's the right decision as the Hidden World proves to be the perfect home for the dragons.

Most of the actors from the previous films return to voice their characters and they each give a solid performance, including Baruchel as Hiccup, Ferrera as Astrid and supporting roles from Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut, Jonah Hill as Snotlout and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs who each bring comic relief. Cate Blanchett returns as Hiccup's mother, Valka, unfortunately, she doesn't get as much screen time as she did in the previous film, and Abraham brings intensity to Grimmel.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World matches the quality of its predecessors in terms of animation, character development and its ability to tell an engaging story that is thrilling and full of adventure. There isn’t a dull moment to be found in its 104 minute runtime and, with a runtime of under two hours, it moves at a brisk pace.

The ending is moving and those that have spent the past nine years supporting the How To Train Your Dragon franchise will find it very emotional. Overall, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

8/10

MARY POPPINS RETURNS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

After its release in 1964, Walt Disney's Mary Poppins went on to be a big success, both at the box office and at the Academy Awards, earning Julie Andrews her first Oscar for her performance as the titular magical nanny. Because of its success, a sequel would be released a few years later, however, the author of the books Mary Poppins was based on, P. L. Travers, was unimpressed with Disney's adaptation, she refused to give the rights for a sequel. After the author passed away in 1996, the Disney producers began thinking about the possibility of a sequel. It wasn't until 2014 when the President of Walt Disney Pictures, Sean Bailey, pitched his idea for a sequel to director, Rob Marshall. With approval from Travers' estate, Disney greenlit the project with the film taking place 20 years after the first, featuring a standalone narrative, based on the remaining seven books in the series. Marshall was hired to direct.

Making a sequel to Mary Poppins over fifty years after its release was always going to be a challenge. The original film has been deemed a classic and one of Disney's best features. The special effects were really impressive at the time too as it mixed live action with animation really well and the performances have all left lasting impressions. This lead to high expectations for Marshall's follow-up.

Mary Poppins Returns is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in P. L. Travers' additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children, Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson), and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Lin Manuel Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Meryl Streep).

While Mary Poppins Returns isn't as good as its predecessor, it's still a great sequel and it met my expectations. It's fun, lively and there's hardly a dull moment to be found in its 130 minute runtime. The sequel features an impressive ensemble cast, who all give strong performances. While I prefer Andrews' portrayal of Poppins, Blunt does a great job and, by not attempting to copy Andrews, she makes the character her own. Miranda is a scene stealer as Jack, a lamp lighter who is friends with Poppins. Whishaw and Mortimer give solid performances as the now grown-up Michael and Jane. Walters brings comic relief to her portrayal of Elaine, the Banks family's maid. While she only appears in one scene, Streep makes an unforgettable appearance as Poppins' eccentric cousin, Topsy. Colin Firth is best known for portraying likable characters, however, he plays against type as the main antagonist,  William 'Weatherall' Wilkins, the current president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. Cameos come from Dick Van Dyke, who portrayed Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr in the original and returns as Mr. Dawes Jr, and Angela Lansbury who appears at the end of the film as a Balloon Lady. Originally, this part was offered to Andrews, however, she turned it down as she didn't want to steal the limelight away from Poppins, which is a very respectable decision. I think Lansbury was a great choice for this cameo as, like Andrews, she appeared in a Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which also combined live-action with animation. The ensemble cast is definitely one of Mary Poppins Returns' biggest highlights. 

While I really enjoyed Mary Poppins, I didn't think that there was much of a story to it, the narrative focused on Poppins taking Jane and Michael Banks on various adventures, which was very entertaining. However, the sequel's plot deals with an adult Michael who is struggling with debt and is heartbroken over the recent death of his wife and mother of his children. Two lawyers turn up at his house and declare that, if he doesn't pay back the money he owes the bank within seven days, he will lose his home. The majority of the sequel focuses on Poppins returning and taking the children on exciting adventures, with the climax featuring a race against time as the characters work together to save the Banks family home. While over two hours may seem a bit long for a family film, there's hardly a dull moment to be found and the feature is full of adventure and energetic songs. Mary Poppins Returns will undoubtedly appeal to children, however, I'm sure it will be enjoyed by older viewers, too, especially those who liked the original. The story doesn't offer anything new and it is predictable, however, that doesn't prevent it from being as entertaining as it is.

One of the most impressive aspects of Mary Poppins was its combination of live-action with animation. Since its release in the early 1960s, special effects have improved a lot, and the same can be said for the sequel. While it would've been easy to use computer generated imagery to create the special effects, Marshall chose to use hand-drawn animation, in order to pay homage to the original. The Disney executives, on the other hand, initially wanted the film to have computer animation for its animated sequences, which infuriated Marshall. He then fought hard to convince the Disney executives to let him use hand-drawn animation, and he also argued why it would be the right choice to use for the film. Ultimately, the Disney executives gave in and allowed Marshall to use hand-drawn animation for the film. The hard work paid off as the live-action/animated sequences is one of the most entertaining scenes from the sequel.

The songs in Mary Poppins were memorable, catchy and emotionally touching, especially the ballad, 'Feed The Birds'.  The music and score for the sequel was composed by Marc Shaiman, with song lyrics written by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. The score includes musical references to the songs and score from the first film written by Richard and Robert Sherman, with the former serving as a music consultant, with Shaiman stating that "if he had something that he thought should have been different or changed, he would have said so. But lo and behold, he didn’t. He was loving what he was hearing, and he really loves the new movie". I think that the new songs are just as memorable, with 'Trip Little Light Fantastic' and 'The Place Where Lost Things Go' being personal favourites. I also really enjoyed 'Can You Imagine That?', a song that takes place inside the children's bath tub and is a fun sequence. 

Mary Poppins Returns ends a year of great films on a high and, while it's not as good as its predecessor, it's still very enjoyable and is the true definition of a family film and will appeal to viewers of all ages.

7/10