THE 355 REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, wild card CIA agent Mason “Mace” Brown (Jessica Chastain) will need to join forces with rival badass German agent Marie (Diane Kruger), former MI6 ally and cutting-edge computer specialist Khadijah (Lupita Nyong’o), and skilled Colombian psychologist Graciela (Penélope Cruz) on a lethal, breakneck mission to retrieve it, while also staying one step ahead of a mysterious woman, Lin Mi Sheng (Bingbing Fan), who is tracking their every move.  As the action rockets around the globe from the cafes of Paris to the markets of Morocco to the wealth and glamour of Shanghai, the quartet of women will forge a tenuous loyalty that could protect the world or get them killed.

Since its release, The 355 has been negatively received by critics, who said that its forgettable story was unremarkably told. Although the story is very predictable, including a twist involving a certain character, this didn’t prevent me from enjoying The 355, especially watching an all-female team in action. Because the action genre has been dominated by men, which isn’t a bad thing, it’s just hard for an action film with women in the leads to be as successful. My main worry with The 355 is that, because it will almost certainly disappoint at the box office, studios will think that audiences aren’t interested in watching an action film led by women and stop producing them. It’s not the women that’s the problem, as all five of the leads deliver strong performances, rather it’s just the adequate and unimaginative filmmaking skills by director Simon Kinberg that is the main issue. The 355 is not the best action film but it still needs to succeed at the box office so that there’s still opportunities for better female led action films to be made. Although the response from critics has been overwhelmingly negative, audiences have reacted to it better and said that it works as a standard action film. I think that this is why The 355 is worth a watch.

Another main reason to watch The 355 is for the fierce performances delivered by its talented cast. The standout is Jessica Chastain who portrays Mace as fearless, making her an easy character to root for. Since winning an Oscar for her heartbreaking supporting performance in 12 Years A Slave in 2014, Nyong’o has become known for her roles in blockbuster films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther. She also impressed with her performance in Jordan Peele’s riveting thriller, Us. As tech expert, Khadijah, Nyong’o continues to impress and portrays her as smart and uses her savvy technology skills to help the other agents out. Like Chastain’s Mace, Kruger’s Schmidt is brave and determined. At first, Mace and Schmidt work for different agencies and are enemies at first but become allies once they realise they both want the dangerous hard drive destroyed. Cruz delivers an emotional performance as Rivera who isn’t an agent and is a psychologist and doesn’t want to get involved in the dangerous mission but is left with no choice but to help the other agents when her family is threatened. Although she doesn’t appear until towards the end, I think that Bingbing was a welcome addition to the team as Sheng. While I agree that she was underused, I would have liked to seen more of her in a future sequel as she has useful skills and provides the other agents with weapons in the climatic action sequence. Unfortunately, I doubt there will be a sequel which is a shame as the all-female leads all deliver strong performances.

This may be a controversial thing for me to say but it does annoy me that, for example, there have been six Mission: Impossible films, with another two scheduled for release, and nine Fast and Furious films, yet a film like The 355 struggles. While I do enjoy the M:I films, they do regurgitate the same predictable story and are really just an excuse for its leading star, Tom Cruise, to perform crazy stunts. I just want audiences to give The 355 a chance as it’s not as bad as the critics are making it out to be. Personally, I’ve seen worse action films that were still successful at the box office, which is why it’s so disappointing for me to see The 355 fail. 

Like a lot of films, The 355 had its release date delayed from the beginning of last year, due to the vast majority of cinemas being closed. Since its release earlier this month, many have said that The 355 should have been released video on demand which I think is unfair as it’s worth watching on the big screen and provides audiences with two hours of escapism in the form of fast-paced action and a team of fearless females who are determined to save the world.

7/10

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, was well received by fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and critics. One of the most memorable scenes took place in the middle of the end credits and saw the villain, Mysterio, revealing to the whole world that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is the web slinging superhero, Spider-Man, and that he was the cause of all of the chaos in London. Following the release of Far From Home in 2019, fans have been sharing their theories of what they think will happen in the follow-up, No Way Home, making it one of the most anticipated films of the year. However, does it live up to the hype? 

The story picks up immediately after Far From Home and sees Peter’s life turned upside down. He loses his privacy and is constantly harassed by the media. Peter, his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalan) are rejected by their dream college due to their involvement with Spider-Man. This leads to Peter asking Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell that makes people forget that he’s Spider-Man. Unsurprisingly, the spell goes wrong leading to various villains appearing from alternate universes, including Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx). 

There’s no denying that 2021 has been a packed year for Marvel Studios. Aside from releasing four films including Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals and No Way Home, they’ve also produced four spin-off original series, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye. Although I’ve genuinely enjoyed all of the films and series that Marvel have released this year, I think that the stand-out is No Way Home. I can’t imagine fans of Spider-Man being disappointed with what director Jon Watts and screenwriters, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, have created with the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the latest trailer, which was released last month, confirmed the appearances of previous Spider-Man villains, including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Lizard (Rhys Ifans) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), fans have been wondering about the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, with the latter being frequently questioned by journalists whilst he was promoting his latest film, tick, tick…BOOM!. Garfield has denied any involvement with the latest Spider-Man film. I will honestly say that, prior to watching No Way Home, I didn’t think that either Maguire and Garfield were in it so I was more than pleasantly surprised when they made their appearance halfway through. Although I didn’t grow up with the Spider-Man franchise as I was too young, I can imagine that those who did will love seeing their favourite portrayals of Spider-Man teaming up to defeat the villains. There will be those who will complain that No Way Home is simply fan service but I don’t think that’s necessarily an issue when it’s done this well. Recent blockbuster franchises, including Star Wars with their latest trilogy and Ghostbusters with the release of Afterlife, have relied on nostalgia in order to sell tickets. Whilst No Way Home will certainly be enjoyed by fans of the web-slinging superhero, those who haven’t seen the other Spider-Man films will be puzzled as they won’t have any idea who the villains are. Although No Way Home definitely succeeds as a Spider-Man film, as a stand-alone superhero film, it struggles as it does expect you to have seen all of the previous films in order to understand who the characters are and what’s happened. Most of the conversations between the three Spider-Men and the villains are hints at things that have happened in other films. Because I had recently rewatched all of the Spider-Man films, I understood their references, however, I can imagine casual movie goers being confused.  

What’s most interesting about No Way Home is that it uses some of the characters better than in their own films, especially Garfield. Although I don’t think they’re bad, both The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel are disappointments as it didn’t really do anything new or exciting with the character and failed to live up to the adjective in its title. What was most impressive about both of the films was Garfield’s performance as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. I think the main issue was the writing as it didn’t give him enough depth. In No Way Home, Garfield returns to one of his most famous roles and he continues to impress with his portrayal. Those who have seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will remember one of the most heartbreaking scenes when Garfield’s Spider-Man fails to save his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, as she falls to her death. A similar scene sees MJ, who is in a relationship with Holland’s Peter, begin to fall before she is captured by Garfield’s Spider-Man, who is relieved that he saved someone. All three of the Spider-Man actors had great chemistry and clearly had a lot of respect for one another.  

What’s most impressive about No Way Home are the performances, especially by Dafoe and Molina who return to their most memorable roles as Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. Their performances makes it hard to believe that it’s been almost twenty years since they first appeared in Spider-Man and its sequel. Dafoe succeeds in capturing the Green Goblin’s menacing and twisted personality whereas Molina humanises Doctor Octopus. Out of all of the villains that appear in No Way Home, Doctor Octopus is the only one who wants to help Peter. While Foxx’s performance of Electro is an improvement than the one he gave in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, especially because he’s no longer a blue CGI mess, he is still underused as are Thomas Haden Church as Sandman and Rhys Ifans as the Lizard. Also returning after appearing during the post-credits scene of Far From Home is J. K. Simmons as the fast-talking and fiery head of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. While Simmons continues to amuse with his scene-stealing performance, I am disappointed he didn’t get to share any scenes with Maguire’s Peter. While it’s great seeing all of these past actors return to some of their most famous roles, it’s Holland who stands out. Since making his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War five years ago, Holland has succeeded in capturing Peter’s cheerful personality and Spider-Man’s heroism and that’s still the case with No Way Home, however, he also delivers his most emotional performance yet. Equally as impressive is Zendaya as MJ, who is more than just Peter’s love interest and is given a lot more to do. She’s not just the damsel in distress which is a tiring cliche in a lot of superhero films. Batalan is still likeable as Peter’s best friend, Ned, however, I did feel like he was underused and was funnier in both of the previous films.  Following the action packed climatic battle, No Way Home ends on a emotional note as Peter realises the only way to save the world is by making everyone forget about his existence whilst retaining their knowledge of Spider-Man. This impacts his relationships with MJ and Ned who forget about Peter. Their chemistry has been the highlight of the past Spider-Man films so their final scene is heartbreaking. It does make me wonder about the future Spider-Man films and what will happen. 

As is the case with the MCU films, No Way Home has two post-credits scenes. The first involves Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) who, along with Venom, are updated by a bartender about the new universe. Just as Eddie and Venom are considering meeting Peter, they vanish, however, a part of Venom is left behind. The other scene which takes place at the very end of the credits is a teaser for the Doctor Strange sequel, In The Multiverse of Madness. Although I enjoyed this trailer, I don’t think that it’s worth waiting through the entire credits for as it will be online soon.  

Overall, Spider-Man: No Way Home will certainly satisfy fans of the web slinging superhero and is an exciting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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

ETERNALS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

With her previous films, The Rider, Songs My Brother Taught Me and Nomadland, which won three Oscars, Best Picture, Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Director, at this year’s Academy Awards, Chloé Zhao has established herself as a unique filmmaker. Because of this, expectations were high for her latest film, Eternals, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, prior to its release in cinemas, Eternals received a disappointing response from critics who praised the visuals but found flaws in the script, narrative structure and character development. Following its release earlier this month, Eternals has become the most divisive film set in the MCU. Despite this, I was still hopeful that I would find something to enjoy in Eternals.

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces a team of immortal and powerful beings, known as Eternals, out of the shadows to reunite against mankind‘s most ancient enemy, The Deviants. 

The premise is simple, however, Zhao’s execution is far from it. One of the criticisms aimed at Eternals was the way the filmmaker decided to tell the story of the Eternals by frequently cutting between various points in history and present day. However, I didn’t find this to be an issue as the setting was made clear through text reminding viewers what the location and year were. Making Eternals was always going to be challenging as the film has to provide background for the characters who have never appeared in the MCU before and tell their stories in the present day. With The Avengers, viewers knew who the main superheroes were as most of them, including Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, had had their own stand alone films. However, that’s not he case with Eternals. One critic did suggest that it would have been better to have introduced the characters in their own introductory film, however, I think there have been too many origins films in the MCU and they’ve become boring and predictable. This is why I can understand the decision to introduce the Eternals in one film. 

Although most of the characters are lacking in backstories, this didn’t bother me as much. The opening sees the Eternals battling the monstrous Deviants and captured each of their powers in an exciting, action packed sequence. While a lot of the films in the MCU focus more on thrilling action, I liked that Zhao focused more on the characters and telling their story as it made for a more interesting watch. Eternals benefits from the performances delivered by its talented cast. While I think that they all impressed with their performances, for me, the standouts were Gemma Chan as Sersi, who is chosen to lead the Eternals. Richard Madden brings charm as the Superman-like Ikaris who can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes. Kumail Nanjiani is amusing as Kingo who has found fame as a Bollywood star. Angelina Jolie delivers a moving portrayal of Thena who struggles to control her powers. The rest of the cast, including Barry Keoghan as Druig, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos and Lia McHugh as Sprite, are equally as impressive despite having limited screen time. 

One element of MCU films that are either hit or miss are the humour. Although films such as Iron Man and Thor: Ragnarok are arguably two of the funniest films, the attempts at comedy hasn’t always worked, fortunately, that isn’t the case with Eternals. Most of the humour, unsurprisingly, comes from Kingo who has a personality similar to Tony Stark’s and is accompanied by his manager, Karun (Harish Patel), who frequently films the Eternals in action. What I liked most about the humour in Eternals was that it was subtle and didn’t feel out of place.

A common issue with superhero films is that they’re feel too similar, with the director having hardly any creative freedom. Prior to the release of Ant-Man in 2015, Edgar Wright, who is known for his comedies such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, was set to write and direct but his ideas were rejected by the producers. This led to Peyton Reed directing Ant-Man and the result was a good but unremarkable addition to the MCU, however, I think that it could have been funnier if had been made by Wright. It is a shame that Zhao, who has a unique vision that is evidence in all of her previous films, has probably only been hired as she’s a well known name now following her success at the Oscars and the marketing team can be used to describe her as “Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao“, in the trailer. However, those expecting Eternals to be as moving, thematic and heartfelt as her previous films will, most likely, be disappointed as it’s more of a superhero film than character based drama. I do think that Eternals had the potential to be an epic and unique addition to the MCU but it falls short.

As with all of the superhero films, Eternals has two post credits scenes that are both worth watching and hints at the future of Marvel with an interesting casting choice.

Although it is one of the most flawed and disappointing films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chloé Zhao‘s Eternals benefits from the performances delivered by its talented cast.

7/10

NO TIME TO DIE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When it comes to delayed films, the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, has had the worst luck. It was originally meant to be released in November 2019, but was postponed to April 2020 to avoid competition with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. However, after cinemas were forced to close after the United Kingdom went into lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19 towards the end of March, No Time To Die's release was postponed several times. Fortunately, the highly anticipated follow up to Spectre, which was released in 2015, has finally been released but is it worth the wait?

In No Time To Die, Bond (Daniel Craig) has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain, Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malik), armed with dangerous new technology.

After almost two year’s worth of delays, No Time To Die is certainly worth the wait and ends Craig’s reign as Bond on a high. While it provides fans of the franchise with what they’ve come to expect, including exhilarating action sequences, a charming yet serious portrayal of Bond by Craig and a menacing villain, the script, co-written by director Cory Joji Fukunaga, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, also features several surprising twists and ends on a emotional note. I definitely wasn’t expecting to be tearing up at the end of a Bond film.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, many films have had their release date postponed or released on video on demand. However, No Time To Die is a film made for the big screen, with its fast-paced action and high definition sound and image, none of which can be replicated at home. Although many have been unsure about visiting the cinema and sitting in an enclosed space with strangers for over three hours, No Time To Die is a must see. For those hesitant about going to the cinema but still want to watch the latest Bond film, I would advise that they see it in the middle of the week when there’s less people.

No Time To Die features many.of the elements that make a Bond film successful including riveting thrills, exciting action and a compelling story. However, the way they’re executed by Fukunaga’s direction and the strong performances by its talented ensemble cast are what make it better than your typical Bond film.

The opening sequence is different as it flashes back to when Madeline Swann (Léa Seydoux) was a child and witnesses her mother’s murder by a mysterious masked man. We later learn that it was Safin who murdered her but had originally intended to kill Madeline’s father, Mr. White, who was responsible for the death of Safin’s family. Following the incredibly intense opening, the film cuts to shortly after the events of Spectre which ended with James and Madeline driving off together. James is enjoying his retirement with Madeline when they are found by Spectre assassins. This is where the action kicks in with James and Madeline escaping in a car chase.

The Bond franchise is filled with memorable characters and strong performances by its cast and that’s certainly the case with No Time To Die. Unsurprisingly, Craig stands out with his portrayal of Bond. Although the role has been portrayed by several different actors (with the late Sir Sean Connery’s original portrayal being the most memorable), they all portrayed Bond as charismatic but bulletproof. What made Craig’s take on Bond so refreshing and different was that he humanised the character. Prior to Craig’s first appearance in Casino Royale, his casting choice was heavily criticised but he soon proved them wrong. In his fifth and final outing as Bond, Craig delivers his most mature performance and establishes himself as one of the best actors to take on the role of Bond. It’s bittersweet as it’s sad to see him exit the role but I’m excited to see what Craig does next. The rest of the cast also impress, with the return of familiar faces including Seydoux as Bond’s love interest, Madeleine, Ben Whishaw as tech genius, Q, Jeffrey Wright as CIA agent, Felix Leiter, Naomie Harris as the flirtatious Eve Moneypenny, Ralph Fiennes as the serious head of MI6, M, and Christoph Waltz as the villainous, Blofeld, who was imprisoned at the end of Spectre. The newcomers also shine, including Lashana Lynch as Bond’s replacement and the new 007, Nomi, and Craig’s Knives Out co-star, Ana de Armas, who has a small but unforgettable role as Paloma who helps Bond find the kidnapped scientist. One of the most controversial aspects of most of the Bond films is their handling of female characters, with the majority of them being included as nothing more than a love interest for the Bond. However, what’s refreshing about No Time To Die is that the female characters aren’t just “Bond girls” anymore and, especially in the case of Nomi and Paloma, get involved in the action. Following his Oscar winning performance as music legend, Freddie Mercury, in Bohemian Rhapsody, Malek delivers a chilling and creepy portrayal of the main villain, Safin. 

Because of the hype surrounding Craig’s final Bond film, there was a lot of pressure on Fukunaga to create a feature that satisfies fans. With No Time To Die, the filmmaker has succeeded. 

8/10

GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Gunpowder Milkshake was one of my most anticipated films of this year, mainly because of its cast and the action packed story. It was released in cinemas and on Netflix in the United States in July and, unfortunately, received a mixed response with critics saying that it “runs dangerously close to being a pure sugar rush with no substance”. Despite this, I was still looking forward to watching Gunpowder Milkshake 
Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother's footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her 'talents' to clean up The Firm's most dangerous messes. She's as efficient as she is loyal.  But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm or protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl, Emily (Chloe Coleman). With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: Reunite with her mother and her lethal associates: The Librarians, Anna May (Angela Bassett), Florence (Michelle Yeoh) and Madeleine (Carla Gugino).  These three generations of women must now learn to trust each other, stand up to The Firm and their army of henchmen, and raise hell against those who could take everything from them.

Although it’s not as great as it could have been, due to a weak and predictable story, Gunpowder Milkshake is still worth watching for its thrilling action and strong performances by its talented cast. The film is at its best during the action sequences, most of which involves Sam and Emily. An early scene that takes place in a bowling alley is easily one of the highlights as it sees Sam fighting off a trio of henchmen sent by her boss, Nathan (Paul Giamatti), after she fails to return his stolen money. Director Navot Papushado doesn’t shy away from the gruesome violence. Those who are squeamish are best off avoiding Gunpowder Milkshake as it’s filled with violent fights. A stand out action sequence sees Emily forced to help Sam drive after a doctor numbs her arms. Despite her age of eight and three quarters, Emily gets involved in some of the action. 

Gunpowder Milkshake features a cast of talented actors who each leave a lasting impression. Since appearing on Doctor Who as Amy Pond in 2010, Gillan has successfully made the transition from television to the cinema by portraying Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel, Vol. 2, and as video game character, Ruby Roundhouse, in both of the Jumanji sequels, Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level. In Gunpowder Milkshake, Gillan portrays Sam as a bad-ass fighter but also a caring sisterly figure for Emily. Like Gillan, Headey is also best known for her work on television, after appearing as Cersei Lannister in the epic fantasy series, Game of Thrones. As Scarlet, Headey delivers a fierce performance. Bassett, Yeoh and Gugino are equally as impressive as three librarians.

What I admired the most about Gunpowder Milkshake was that it focuses on women who team up to defeat the antagonists. For far too long in films, women have simply been included as the love interest for the male main character. It’s refreshing to watch a film like Gunpowder Milkshake where women aren’t love interests and are interesting individuals. Although the characters are underdeveloped, I still enjoyed watching them all in action, especially during a shoot-out that takes place in the library. The cast are all clearly having a lot of fun working together and making the film and, as a result, I had fun watching them. 

Following my watch of Gunpowder Milkshake, I’m surprised by the lukewarm reception it’s received since its release. Although I agree that both the story and character development could have been improved, I still thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced and exciting action and seeing women teaming up and getting involved in the action.

7/10

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2019, Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, two years later, the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marks Phase Four of the MCU. Most of the films have been successful both with critics and at the box office, however, is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings a worthy addition to the MCU?

The latest film in the MCU introduces viewers to Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) who is living a simple life working as a valet in America with his best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). However, an attack from a group of  men on a bus, it is revealed that Shang-Chi’s father is Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) who is the leader of the Ten Rings, which are mystical weapons that grant their user immortality and great power. Following this encounter, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past and prevent his father from causing chaos.

Although it’s not without its flaws, Shang-Chi is an exciting addition to the MCU. Like with most of the films in the superhero-based franchise, the strengths of the film lie in the thrilling action sequences and impressive performances by its cast. The main flaws are the special effects and predictable story, fortunately, they didn’t prevent me from thoroughly enjoying Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi has a memorable opening sequence as it details how Shang-Chi’s parents, Wenwu and Ying Li (Fala Chen), met when the former discovers the latter’s home village, Ta Lo, which is said to harbour various mythical beasts, in order to expand his power. The pair using their unique fighting skills makes for an exciting opening sequence. 

I can imagine that many people, like me, were unfamiliar with Shang-Chi as he’s not as well-known as Iron Man, Captain America and Spider-Man. However, you don’t necessarily need to be a comic book fan in order to enjoy Shang-Chi as, unlike the majority of films in the MCU, it works as a stand-alone superhero film. It introduces viewers to Shang-Chi really well and, by the time the film had finished, I was  excited to see more of the character in future films. One of the post credits scenes hints that this film won’t be the last we’ll see of Shang-Chi and his magical rings. 

Following the release of Endgame in 2019, I was wondering how the MCU could keep its fans interested in the franchise. However, the recent release of Black Widow and Shang-Chi and three original spin-off series, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Solder and Loki proves that there’s still plenty for fans to enjoy. Shang-Chi is an exciting addition to the MCU as it provides viewers with what they’ve come to expect from the franchise, including exhilarating action sequences, whilst introducing them to a new group of interesting and memorable characters.

Casting is an important part when it comes to making a superhero film. If it wasn’t for Robert Downey Jr.’s perfect portrayal of the charming Tony Stark, the Iron Man films probably wouldn’t have left much of an impression. Because of this, there was a lot of pressure to find the right actor to portray the leading hero, Shang-Chi. Fortunately, with Simu Liu, they have achieved that. Although Liu has limited acting experience (he previously appeared in the sitcom, Kim’s Convenience and the crime drama series, Blood and Water), Liu delivers an instantly likeable performance as Shang-Chi. Leung is one of Asia's most successful and internationally recognised actors, however, Shang-Chi marks his first English-language role and it’s an impressive debut. What I liked most about Leung’s portrayal of Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, is that he wasn’t a one-dimensional evil villain wanting to destroy the world, rather a flawed man grieving the loss of his wife. Awkwafina is known for her comedic roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8, however, she also impressed many with her dramatic performance in Lulu Wang’s The Farewell. In Shang-Chi, she is a scene-stealer as Shang-Chi’s best friend, Katy. Although she doesn’t have any superpowers, she still gets involved in the action, especially during the climatic battle. Shang-Chi also features surprising appearances from familiar faces.

Because of the pandemic, Disney have made the controversial decision to release some of their films, including Cruella and Black Widow, in cinemas and on their streaming service, Disney+, for an additional Premier Access fee. However, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been released in cinemas which I think is a good decision as it’s worth watching on the big screen. I’ve always personally preferred watching films at the cinema as I get easily distracted at home and I soon lose interest, however, that’s never the case at the cinema as it’s a form of escapism. 

With exciting action and an impressive lead performance by Simu Liu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

8/10

FREE GUY REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Many films that are based on video games fail to leave much of a lasting impression as they aren’t as fun. Those watching the film wished that they were playing the game instead so they could get involved in the action. It’s because of this why there was scepticism towards Free Guy, which is set in an original game, Free City. It was originally meant to be released in cinemas last year but, like a lot of films, was postponed due to cinemas during the pandemic. Over a year later, Free Guy has finally been released, however, is it worth the wait?

In the open world video game, Free City, Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by Millie (Jodie Comer) and Keys (Joe Keery) into Free City by the publisher Antoine (Taika Waititi), Guy becomes self aware of his world being a video game and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Although Free Guy will, most likely, be enjoyed by those who played video games, as they’ll understand a lot of the references. However, those who have less experience playing video games will have a lot of fun watching it. The premise is simple as it focuses on a background character in a video game who escapes his Groundhog Day-like life and surprisingly finds himself saving the world along with Millie’s avatar, Molotov Girl. Although the narrative is predictable (it’s obvious it’s going to have a happy ending with Guy successfully saving the world), Free Guy combines fast-paced action with amusing humour and is one of the most entertaining films to be release this year.

The strength of Free Guy lies in the star studded cast who are all clearly having a lot of fun. None more so than Reynolds who is best known for portraying the foul-mouthed, violent Deadpool. However, as Guy, he delivers one of his funniest performances and portrays him as an ordinary individual who is unaware that his life is artificial. Those who find Reynolds irritating are best off avoiding Free Guy as their minds won’t be changed. Comer is best known for her role as psychopathic assassin, Villanelle, in the thrilling drama series, Killing Eve. However, in her first major role in a feature film, Comer shines and is a delight as Millie, who is the creator of Free City. However, she frequently appears in the video game as Molotov Girl, who Guy falls in love with. Like Comer, Keery is best known for his work on the small screen as he appeared in the Netflix original series, Stranger Things. In Free Guy, he portrays Keys who created the video game with Millie who he has a crush on. Although he works for Antoine, he frequently helps Guy and Millie in the video game. Lil Rel Howery is a scene stealer as Guy’s friend, Buddy, who is also an NPC and is a police officer. Waititi is perfectly cast as the eccentric Antoine. Free Guy also features some brilliant cameos from YouTubers and famous faces. 

Free Guy is directed by Shawn Levy and is his best work yet. The director is best known for working with comedian, Steve Martin, on the films, Cheaper By The Dozen, The Pink Panther and its sequel. He also directed the Night at the Museum trilogy. Although these films weren’t the best received by critics, they were a big part of my childhood and I still enjoy them now as an adult as it brings back fond memories. Because of this, I was excited for Levy’s latest film, Free Guy. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint as I found it to be thoroughly entertaining and action packed with hardly a dull moment to be found in its 115 minute runtime. 

The narrative is the weakest aspect of Free Guy as the scenes that take place in the real world aren’t as entertaining as the sequences set in the video game. However, these scenes benefit from Waititi’s amusing and over the top performance. Free Guy is at its best when it’s focusing on Guy and his attempts to become a hero in an attempt to impress Millie. Although the majority of Free Guy is an action packed comedy, the scenes, involving Guy and Millie, are where the film is at its most romantic, with the couple sharing their love of bubblegum flavoured ice cream. However, because Millie is technically falling in love with an AI that isn’t real, the film makes fun of this. 

Free Guy isn’t without its flaws, including a predictable story, however, that didn’t prevent me from thoroughly enjoying it. 

7/10

THE SUICIDE SQUAD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following its release in 2016, Suicide Squad received a negative response from critics, with the majority of them saying that, despite its talented cast, they weren’t enough to “save the disappointing end result from a muddled plot, thinly written characters, and choppy directing”. It has since been described as one of the worst films in the DC Extended Universe. When I first watched Suicide Squad, I enjoyed it more than most people, however, following a recent rewatch, its flaws were more noticeable. Five years after Suicide Squad’s release, a sequel has been released, however, is The Suicide Squad an improvement over its predecessor? 

The Suicide Squad sees Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) joining a new team of villains, including Robert DuBois/Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena), Nanaue/King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone), Cleo Cazo/Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) and Abner Krill/Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), who are all sent to the island nation of Corto Maltese to destroy Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison and laboratory which holds political prisoners and conducted experiments. Gaius Grieves/The Thinker works with the Corto Maltese government as the laboratory's chief scientist, overseeing Project Starfish.

Suicide Squad was written and directed by David Ayer who wrote the script for the 2001 Oscar winning film, Training Day. Because of this, expectations were high for his take on Suicide Squad, unfortunately, it was a disappointment. However, I think the main reason why it didn’t impress was because the studio, Warner Bros., interfered with some of the creative decisions, including forced humour, a PG-13 rating and lack of violence. Following his experience making Suicide Squad, Ayer quit, meaning that its sequel needed a new director to fix some of the original films’ issues and James Gunn was hired. I think that this was a great choice as, because he directed Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel which was released in 2017, Gunn has established as a filmmaker who knows how to make a superhero film that is thoroughly entertaining. Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is an improvement over its predecessor as the visuals are vibrant and imaginative, unapologetically violent, fast-paced and action-packed with hardly a dull moment to be found in its 132 minute runtime and, as a result, is one of the best films in the DCEU.

The Suicide Squad features a star studded cast with Robbie returning as the eccentric Harley Quinn and continues to steal every scene she appears in. Also returning are Viola Davis, who delivers a fierce performance as Amanda Palmer who is in charge of the mission, and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, who leads the team. Of the new additions to the cast, the standouts are Elba as Bloodsport, Cena as Peacemaker and Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. After Will Smith’s departure following his appearance as Deadshot in Suicide Squad, it was rumoured that Elba would replace him, however, Gunn wanted him to portray a new character so that Smith could return to Deadshot. This was a great choice as Elba delivers a fierce portrayal of Bloodsport. Another memorable character is Nanaue/King Shark who is voiced by Stallone. Although he’s a man eating fish-human hybrid, Nanaue’s personality is similar to that of Groot from Guardians and isn’t all that bright. One of the weakest aspects of Suicide Squad was its main villain, however, one of the antagonists in The Suicide Squad is The Thinker. Because he’s best known for recently portraying the Twelfth Doctor in the popular sci-fi series, Doctor Who, Capaldi may seem like an odd choice for the role of the villainous Thinker, however, he delivers a perfectly menacing performance.

Those who are squeamish are best off avoiding watching The Suicide Squad as the violence is more severe and gory, with characters being killed off in gruesome ways. However, like the Guardians films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Suicide Squad never takes itself too seriously and is a lot more fun than its predecessor. 

Although The Suicide Squad is a sequel that is an improvement over its predecessor, it’s not without its flaws. The main narrative, which sees villains teaming up on a mission, is predictable. The first half focuses on the team’s journey to their destination. Most of the humour comes from the rivalry between Bloodsport and Peacemaker. An early scene sees the pair trying to outdo the other as they kill of a group of soldiers they believe are keeping Flag captive. A subplot sees Quinn separated from her team and captured by the army and being taken to the President’s palace where she is proposed to by Silvio Luna (Juan Diego Botto) who is the dictator of Corto Maltese. This is where The Suicide Squad is at its least interesting as it distracts from the main narrative. The Suicide Squad is at its best during the second half as it features exciting action sequences. 

Like most superhero films, especially those in the MCU, The Suicide Squad has a post-credits scene that is worth watching as it links to an upcoming spin-off series that involves one of the main characters.

With The Suicide Squad, director James Gunn has created a sequel that doesn’t disappoint as it’s unapologetically violent, action-packed and the star-studded cast are all on top form. 

8/10

 

BLACK WIDOW REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since making her first appearance in Iron Man 2 in 2010, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) has become one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite this, it’s taken over a decade for her to finally have her own spin-off film, Black Widow. However, the wait is definitely worth it as it provides viewers with exhilarating action and gives Natasha a background that’s only been hinted at in previous films.

Black Widow takes place shortly after Captain America: Civil War and before Avengers: Infinity War and focuses on Natasha confronting the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

A lot of people will argue that Black Widow is unnecessary because Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame. Because of this, it’s obvious she’s going to survive all of the danger she encounters. Despite this, Black Widow is still worth a watch for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it provides one of the most popular characters with background. In her appearances, Natasha has always been a supporting player. Now, in Black Widow, she finally gets to lead her first film and, despite the decade long wait, it doesn’t disappoint. 

The strength of Black Widow lies in Johansson’s portrayal of Natasha. Because she’s only ever had a supporting role in the MCU, it would have been easy for Johansson to portray Natasha as one dimensional and fearless, however, she’s always succeeded at humanising Natasha and making her a character viewers cared about. That’s why her death in Endgame was so heartbreaking as she was one of the most beloved characters. Undoubtedly, Johansson’s performance is one of the most impressive aspects of Black Widow as she captures Natasha’s fighting skills and fierce and brave personality. With her Oscar nominated performance in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, and after appearing in Ari Aster’s horror, Midsommar, Pugh has quickly established herself as one of the most talented actors today. As Natasha’s adoptive sister, Yelena, Pugh proves to be a welcome addition to the cast. Yelena provides comic relief with her memorable and witty one liners. In one scene, she makes fun of Natasha’s superhero poses. Because Yelena is such a fun and interesting character, hopefully, she’ll make more appearances in future films in the MCU. Harbour is best known for portraying Officer Jim Hopper in the Netflix fantasy series, Stranger Things. Unfortunately, his transition from the small to the big screen with his reboot of Hellboy being negatively received and failing at the box office. However, as Natasha and Yelena’s father figure, Alexei, Harbour delivers an amusing and energetic performance. Weisz is underused as Melina, however, she gets involved in the action during the climax. 

Although Natasha has found a surrogate family with the Avengers, in Black Widow, she reunites with her first family. However, the four aren’t on the best of terms after they were separated, leading to Natasha and Yelena being trained by the villainous Dreykov (Ray Winstone) in his intense Red Room. The theme of family makes for some amusing banter between the four. What I liked most about the new characters was that they weren’t portrayed as perfect individuals as they’d made mistakes in the past but, after reuniting, are able to forgive and work together as a team to stop Dreykov. 

The majority of the films in the MCU feature exhilarating action sequences and that’s still the case with Black Widow. Director Cate Shortland manages to balance the action with the character building and story, making for a compelling watch for the majority of its 134 minute runtime. Although it’s obvious that Natasha is going to survive, that doesn’t make the action any less exciting and thrilling to watch. 

Although most of the films in the MCU have impressed with their action sequences, coherent storytelling and bringing superheroes to the big screen, a significant flaw with the films have been the villains. Aside from the intimidating Thanos and mischievous Loki, most of the villains that have appeared in the MCU have failed to leave much of a lasting impression. Unfortunately, that’s still the case with Dreykov who is described as threatening and evil, however, because most of the film, understandably, focuses on Natasha, he is forgettable. However, Black Widow isn’t about the villain, it’s about telling Natasha’s story and it succeeds. 

A common trait with the films in the MCU is their post credit scenes. Some of them are fun and unnecessary and others hint at future instalments. The Black Widow post credit scene is the latter and is worth sitting through the lengthy credits for. 

With a lot of cinemas still closed due to the ongoing pandemic as a result of COVID-19, Disney have made the decision to make Black Widow available to watch in cinemas and on their streaming service, Disney+, for those who pay the pricey premium access fee. Although I can understand many people probably won’t want to go to the cinema and be in a screening filled with strangers, I think that Black Widow is definitely worth experiencing on the big screen, due to the high quality of the picture and sound that emphasise the action sequences.

Featuring exhilarating action and a strong performance by Scarlett Johansson, Black Widow is definitely worth the decade long wait. 

8/10

HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an action-packed comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson as hitman Darius Kincaid and Ryan Reynolds as bodyguard Michael Bryce, was a surprise hit at the box office when it was released in 2017. Although it worked as a stand alone film, a sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, has recently been released, however, is it as entertaining as its predecessor?

The world's most lethal odd couple, bodyguard Bryce and hitman Kincaid are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman, Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas).

Although a sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard wasn’t necessary, it was inevitable as it made over $176 million at the box office. Because I enjoyed the first film, I was really looking forward to the sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint and met my expectations. Like its predecessor, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is filled with fast paced action and tongue in cheek humour. 

Fans of The Hitman’s Bodyguard will, most likely, enjoy Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as it offers more of the same. The majority of the sequel focuses on Michael, Darius and Sonia as they work together to try and stop Aristotle who wants to destroy the European power grid and infrastructure since the European Union is planning to impose more sanctions on Greece. The story is one of the weakest aspects as it’s predictable and similar to the plot of The Hitman’s Bodyguard which focused on Michael and Darius on the run from a team of bad guys. Although the narrative does feel repetitive, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the exhilarating action and the amusing humour.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard balances the action and comedy really well. The action sequences are where the film is at its most exciting. The Hitman’s Bodyguard was filled with fast-paced car chases and violent gun shoot outs and that’s still the case with Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. At the beginning of the sequel, Michael is receiving therapy following the events of the previous film which has led to him having nightmares involving Darius. His therapist tells him to take a break from body guarding. During his break, Michael is interrupted by Sonia who tells him that Darius is in trouble and needs his help. Following Darius’ rescue, the trio find themselves working for the FBI in order to stop Aristotle. Unsurprisingly, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is at its funniest when it’s focusing on Michael, Darius and Sonia. Most of the humour comes from physical comedy and sarcastic and witty dialogue, most of which are delivered by Reynolds as Michael. Those who find Reynolds irritating, especially in Deadpool, won’t find him bearable in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as he is basically playing the same character if Deadpool were a bodyguard. Jackson is his usual bad-ass self. In The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Hayek was a scene stealer as Sonia, however, most of her scenes were in a prison cell. In Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Hayek’s screen time has been extended significantly and she delivers a feisty portrayal of Sonia. Banderas is perfectly over the top as the villainous Aristotle. In the marketing campaign, legendary, Oscar-winning actor, Morgan Freeman appears on one of the posters for Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, however, his role was not specified. I won’t spoil his role as it’s one of the most surprising and funniest revelations. 

After the spread of coronavirus led to cinemas closing for most of last year, they’ve been reopened with distrubition studios releasing films that have been delayed, including A Quiet Place Part II and other much anticipated films, including Cruella and In The Heights. Prior to the pandemic, cinemas were one of my favourite places to visit as they were a form of escapism and a distraction from reality and that is especially true right now. Although Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard isn’t the best film to be released in cinemas following their recent reopening, it’s still a lot of fun and provides audiences with 100 minutes of entertainment through fast-paced action and amusing comedy. 

7/10

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are best known for producing the Oscar winning animated feature, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. They’ve also directed the highly entertaining animated features, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and The Lego Movie. All three of the films have been successful both with critics and at the box office. Because of the success they’ve found through the world of animation, if a film has Lord and Miller’s names attached to it, it’s enough to get people interested in whatever they’re making. Their latest animated feature, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, which is written and directed by Michael Rianda, features their trademark witty humour and eye-popping visuals. 

The story focuses on the Mitchell family, which includes film and phone obsessed, Katie (voiced by Abbi Jacobson),  her dinosaur obsessed younger brother, Aaron (Rianda), and her parents, Linda (Maya Rudolph) and Rick (Danny McBride). Katie has just been accepted into a college in California and is excited to leave her imperfect and dysfunctional family. However, Rick changes her plans and decides that the whole family is going to go on a road trip to California. Their journey is disrupted by the uprising of evil robots led by villainous PAL (Olivia Colman). This leads to the Mitchell family taking on the robots in order to save the world.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was originally scheduled to be released in cinemas in January 2020 but was postponed to September. However, with cinemas being forced to close as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, its release was delayed again to October. With most cinemas still closed, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was released on the streaming service, Netflix, at the end of April. Although I can understand why it was released on Netflix, it’s a shame that it wasn’t released in cinemas. The cinema is the perfect form of escapism, especially for families. An issue with home viewing is that it’s so easy to get distracted, making it difficult to fully focus on the film. Children are known to get bored and restless easily and, at home, they’ll probably lose interest in the film. If The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was released in cinemas, I think that children would have enjoyed the film more as they’re not distracted. 

A lot of animated films are usually aimed more at younger viewers and, because they tell an unoriginal and predictable story, it can be a dull watch for adults. However, that’s why animated production companies, such as Pixar, are so successful as they create animated features that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. That’s the case with Sony Pictures Animation’s latest feature, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, which is the definitive family friendly film. Children will enjoy the fast-paced action and older viewers will be able to relate to the techno obsessed world that the Mitchell family live in. 

Modern society has become obsessed with technology, including having the latest smartphone, getting the most likes on the photo sharing app, Instagram, and having the most followers on the social media app, Twitter. The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is set in a world similar to ours with the majority of people addicted to technology. The main character is Katie who is interested in films and is almost always on her phone and making short films. However, her father, Rick, wants to spend quality time with his family before Katie leaves them for college. An amusing scene sees the family at the dinner table struggling to make eye contact and be away from their phones. Although Rianda isn’t anti-technology, he’s just reminding us what’s most important and that’s family. In the beginning, the Mitchell family are dysfunctional, however, they are able to work together to stop the evil uprising of robots which brings them closer together. This is what makes The Mitchells Vs. The Machines one of the best family friendly films to be released recently as it captures the family dynamic really well. 

What’s most impressive about The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is its animation, which is filled with bright and colourful visuals which are all imaginative. It’s because of the vibrant animation why I wish I had seen it at the cinema as the quality would have been better on the big screen. When watched on a standard, small television screen, the animation doesn’t impress as much as it probably would have done at the cinema.

Most of the humour in The Mitchells Vs. The Machines comes from the relationship between the titular family who frequently bicker. The characters aren’t perfect and occasionally make mistakes, however, that’s what makes them likeable and relatable. Of the characters, I related to Katie as, not only does she share the same name as me, but we also have a passion for film and technology. She behaves how most people her age do and is excited to finally leave home and her dysfunctional family for college. Katie is a great leading character as she’s bright and has a bubbly personality. The rest of the characters are all fun to watch too, including Katie’s younger brother, Aaron, who is obsessed with dinosaurs and has a crush on Abbey Posey (Charlyne Yi), however, he freaks out whenever he tries to start a conversation with her. Their mother, Linda, is jealous of the seemingly perfect Posey family, which includes Abbey and her parents, Hailey (Chrissy Teigan) and Jim (John Legend). Her husband, Rick, loves nature and is an expert at DIY, however, he believes that his family have become too obsessed with technology. Although most of the robots are evil and controlled by the villainous PAL, the Mitchells are helped by friendly robots, Eric (Beck Bennett) and Deborahbot 5000 (Fred Armisen). The characters are all interesting and fun to watch and add to the overall entertainment of the film.

One of the most important ingredients in making an animated feature is voice casting. If the actor simply reads the dialogue rather than acting it out, it can ruin the enjoyment of the film. Fortunately, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines features a talented cast who all deliver lively and enthusiastic performances. Jacobson is perfectly sweet as Katie and makes her a likeable and interesting individual. McBride and Rudolph are perfect choices to voice her parents, Rick and Linda, as they bring their talented comedic skills to their roles. What’s most interesting about Aaron is that he’s voiced by the writer/director Rianda who is clearly having a lot of fun making The Mitchells Vs. The Machines. Oscar winner, Olivia Colman, is a scene stealer as the villainous artificial intelligence, PAL, who is not as friendly as her name may suggest.

Because they’re best known for producing Into The Spider-Verse, expectations were high for Lord and Miller’s next production, The Mitchell Vs. The Machines. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with what Rianda has created as, like the Oscar winning animated feature, it features dazzling and imaginative animation, with the story filled with fast paced action and amusing comedy. Although Into The Spider-Verse was incredibly successful, I think that The Mitchells Vs. The Machines will appeal to a wider audience as it tells an original story. 

With The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, writer/director Michael Rianda has created a fun family friendly feature that is filled with vibrant and imaginative animation.

8/10

ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE (2021) REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Justice League was one of the most highly anticipated films of 2017, unfortunately, following its release, it received a mostly negative response from critics and was one of the biggest disappointments in the DC Extended Universe. One of the main reasons why Justice League failed to meet expectations was because it faced several issues during production. Zack Snyder, who had previously directed Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, was forced to quit filming following the shocking death of his daughter, Autumn. This led to the production company, Warner Brothers, hiring Joss Whedon, who is best known for making Avengers Assemble and its sequel, Age of Ultron, as Snyder’s replacement. While Whedon did a great job with both of the Avengers films, he didn’t find similar success with Justice League. The failure of Justice League led to fans expressing an interest in an alternate cut more faithful to Snyder's vision. Fans and members of the cast and crew petitioned for the release of this, which they nicknamed the Snyder Cut. At the time, industry insiders regarded the release as unlikely. However, Warner Bros. decided to move ahead with it in February 2020; in May, Snyder announced that the original cut would be released as Zack Snyder's Justice League via the streaming service HBO Max in the United States and on Sky Cinema in the United Kingdom. Prior to its release, it was screen in advance to critics who said that it was an improvement over the theatrical version that was released in 2017. However, is Zack Snyder’s Justice League worth sitting through the near four hour runtime?

Determined to ensure Superman's (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), also known as Batman, aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), also known as Wonder Woman, with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman, Wonder Woman, Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad (Peter Guinness) and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.

If anything, Zack Snyder’s Justice League proves why production companies and studios need to trust a filmmaker to create something in their own vision. The reason why a lot of films disappoint is because of studio interference. Instead of letting the director make a film their own way, studios reject their ideas, which can lead to the film they make struggling to leave much of a lasting impression. An example of this is Suicide Squad which was directed by David Ayer. Like Justice League, Suicide Squad was a big disappointment following its release in 2016, with many criticising the poor computer generated imagery, and underwritten characters. Ayer soon admitted that he would have made Suicide Squad differently if he wasn’t held back by the studios saying that his “soulful drama was beaten into a comedy”. The changes he would have made included changes to the story and more screen time to Jared Leto’s Joker. Another example of studio interference is Ant-Man which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was directed by Peyton Reed and released in 2015. However, it was originally meant to be directed by Edgar Wright who is best known for creating the comedic Cornetto trilogy which includes the films, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. However, Wright quit because of creative differences. He said that his ideas were turned down by Marvel Studios. This led to Ant-Man being one of the weakest films in the MCU as it followed a typical origins story that didn’t offer anything that hadn’t already been done before. Hopefully, the release of Snyder’s Justice League will show that studios need to trust the filmmaker and let them create a film in their own unique way as the end result could lead to success.

I can’t imagine fans being disappointed with what Snyder has created with Justice League. The hard work and the long wait is definitely worth it. It improves on the theatrical cut in almost every way, including the characters, performances, story, visual effects and tone. However, those who aren’t a fan of superhero films, especially those in the DCEU, won’t have their minds changed by Snyder’s Justice League and will find it tough to sit through the film’s 242 minute runtime. Because of its long runtime, the film is not suitable for a casual watch. Although I watched Justice League in one sitting, some may prefer to watch an hour or two at a time. Justice League was originally planned to be released as a miniseries, however, these plans were scrapped in favour of a four hour film. If I’m being honest, although I really enjoy films, I think that Justice League would have worked as a miniseries, with each part being released weekly. However you watch it, whether sitting through the entire runtime in one go or taking your time, Justice League is worth watching. 

One of the main issues of the original Justice League were the characters, with many of them lacking background and felt underdeveloped and underwritten. In Snyder’s Justice League, the characters feel more fleshed out and are given a backstory. Aside from Cavill’s Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, Batman, The Flash and Cyborg haven’t had a solo film. When watching the original Justice League, little was known about the latter two characters, apart from their superpowers. The Flash had superspeed and was mainly used to provide comic relief and Cyborg was a moody recluse whose father experimented and turned Victor into Cyborg. Fortunately, in Snyder’s Justice League, both of these characters are developed well. We see more of The Flash in action, with one memorable sequence seeing him rescue a young woman from crashing into a truck. Cyborg’s relationship with his father, Silas (Joe Morton), is effectively explored. After Victor and his mother are injured following a car crash, Silas is forced to turn his son into Cyborg in order to save his life. However, Cyborg isn’t appreciative of his father’s actions. Because the main characters are given more screen time, it’s easy to root for them as we understand their motivations better and they feel more dimensional. 

Another aspect that is an improvement in Snyder’s Justice League are the performances delivered by its talented cast. With names including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, who are three of the most talented actors working today, one would expect strong performances and that’s certainly the case here. Because their characters are given significantly more screen time, they are given more to do. As Batman, Affleck delivers his best portrayal of the character. Inspired by Superman’s selfless and heroic actions in Batman v Superman, Batman begins searching for powerful individuals to help him stop the evil Steppenwolf. More screen time is given to Wonder Woman, with Gadot continues to impress, making her an easy character to like. One of the few highlights of the original Justice League was a scene where Wonder Woman stops a bomb going off in a bank. In Snyder’s Justice League, the length of this sequence is extended by a few minutes and is more exciting. Miller is clearly having a lot of fun as The Flash who is excited to be recruited by Batman. At the time of writing this review, Miller is set to reprise the role in a spin-off film that adapts elements from the Flashpoint storyline which I’m interested in seeing. The standout performance is derived by Fisher who is given more to do with his role as Cyborg. Although his character isn’t the most likeable, Cyborg is one of the most interesting, with the film capturing his strengths and weaknesses. Although nothing has been announced yet, I would like Cyborg in future DCEU films and in his own spin-off.

Snyder’s Justice League is at its most exciting during the action sequences, including the final battle that takes place towards the end. In the original Justice League, this final battle felt rushed and anticlimactic. Fortunately, in Snyder’s Justice League, this battle feels more dramatic and exhilarating. The visuals are also an improvement, especially during this sequence, and are suitably dark to match the tone of the scene.  

The special effects also no longer resemble a video game.

Although I enjoyed watching Snyder’s Justice League at home, I would have much preferred to have seen it at the cinema. However, because they’re currently closed, I can understand why Snyder released it on the streaming services HBO Max and Sky Cinema as fans had been waiting long enough to finally watch his version of Justice League. 

With Justice League, Zack Snyder has created an action-packed film that will certainly satisfy his fans, and is a significant improvement over the theatrical version that was released in 2017.

8/10

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