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Reviews
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
A very fitting end to a great trilogy.
The MCU is back! After a few near misses recently, it's good to have the franchise in the very safe hands of James Gunn again. He works his magic of combining amazing acfion thrills, hilarious comedy and incredibly heart-wrenching drama. This is a very satisfying end to this version of the Guardians. It's not without fault though. Again, my common criticism is it's too long. There's also the issue of having 30+ movies and however many TV shows and specials as backstory/continuity. Gunn caters to those who aren't MCU devotees as best he can with a lot of exposition to fill in some gaps. For those of us who HAVE seen it all, these scenes can feel a little like a weight around the movie's neck. And finally, I'd say for little kids, the film is just too traumatic. The scenes of animal cruelty could be very upsetting so take heed if you have sensitive little ones. But overall, a triumph. Better than Vol.2 if not quite in the same league as Vol.1. If Gunn can temper his instincts to always go for the laugh (which he over-uses here), then Superman Legacy should be something very special.
The Batman (2022)
Bat-tastic!
There is a lot to love here. All of the performances are top notch and Pattinson holds the screen fantastically well as Batman. The direction and action is great and it really leans into the idea that he is a detective using his wits as well as his fists. Catwoman is a solid partner for him and the villains are gloriously nasty. But...it's not perfect. It's at least half an hour too long and it is very monotone. It takes itself very seriously and rarely raises a smile. At nearly three hours of super seriousness, the men in masks risk nudging into ridiculousness. It just about manages to stay on the right side of the line but if you're not into comic book movies, it may be a step too far for you.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
An 80s feel nostalgia trip.
Bustin' ✅
Makes ya feel good ✅
Very much a nostalgia trip for the oldies like me but skewed at a younger audience to have larger appeal. The snippets of the original's music dotted around are a delight. It doesn't cover any new ground really and works in a very similar way to The Force Awakens. Not all of the humour lands but the new cast are impressive enough (though Wolfhard isn't as likeable without his Stranger Things gang) and it's a fun family film. It does have some pacing issues (the start is very slow IMO) but once it gets going it's a great ride.
Eternals (2021)
100% CBM
This wears its comic book roots right on its sleeve, loud and proud. It reminded me of Aquaman and Guardians of the Galaxy in the level of fun it has in being a CBM.
It's epic in scope both geographically and chronologically. It is a huge story with big ideas. The action is well choreographed and it looks beautiful.
There is plenty to chew on for the Marvel obsessive but it's very accessible for casual lsd too.
No Time to Die (2021)
So much better than SPECTRE.
Bond is back, finally. This one feels like it's been coming out for years but it is definitely worth the wait. I'd urge you to see it on the big screen before it gets spoiled. The action is expertly choreographed and directed. There are some of the classic Bond touches: proper gadgets, a villain with a proper lair and so many lovely little call backs to the previous movies. But most impressive it is actually makes the threads that were so uninspiring in Quantum and SPECTRE come together with some hugely dramatic payoffs. You'll be shaken and stirred.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Martial Arts, Mythology and Magic.
A super smooth blend of magic, martial arts and mythology. The chemistry between the two leads is spot on and it's hilarious. Some of the best choreographey in the MCU and a really memorable villain. If you want the full experience, watch in a cinema and I'd personally recommend watching Iron Man 3 first.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Violent, hilarious, huge and most of all fun.
A total riot of a film. All the body horror of early James Gunn coupled with the loser-group comedy and huge scale action of his Guardians films. Incredibly violent and sweary, it pushes its 15 cert to the limit. The main group all get brilliant standout moments. If you liked the tone of Deadpool, this is definitely for you.
The Last of Us: Part II (2020)
Don't believe the negatives.
This is a fantastic sequel to one of the best games of all time. Like the best movie sequels though, it moves the plot and characters on in interesting and often challenging ways. Most of the criticism comes from two types of people. The first are those who only want to see strong male characters performing acts if violence. They want female characters to look like 90s Lara Croft. They don't realise that heroes come in all shapes and sizes . The second type of critics are the same type of people who hate The last Jedi. When a writer takes a story in a different direction, adds different layers and ideas, they're labelled as virtue signallers and woke. This is a nonsense insult. This story is fascinating and like all the best writers, Druckman doesn't do black and white, good vs evil. As a story, this is 10/10. As a game, it doesn't move on massively from the first game an one criticism I can agree with is you're given no choice at all. It's a linear path all the way. But I'll be playing it again very soon.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Come for the monsters and you won't be disappointed.
My first cinema visit since Tenet and I couldn't have asked for more. Wingard takes the concept and goes hell-for-leather. Logic and common sense be damned: he knows everyone is here for skyscraper sized monsters duking it out and he delivers and then some. Everything you could want from a kaiju movie is here and more. I particularly enjoyed how well lit the action was. Previous Godzilla movies tend to obscure the action with darkness or rain or both. Here all the fights take place in broad daylight or neon-drenched twilight. It barely pauses for breath and is an absolute triumph. Watching this on a small screen would not do it justice.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Better than I could possibly have imagined.
Wow! There is a LOT to talk about here. Before even reviewing the film itself, you have to discuss the issues around it. Is it a moral victory for an artist's vision restored, or is it a sign of the times that a studio caved to the demands of a loud (and often very toxic) fanbase, appeasing them with a film that in this form, would never have been shown in a cinema?
There are the issues that have come to light around Whedon's on set antics and Fisher's apparent ejection from the future of the DCEU. Whether Whedon will face any consequences, Fisher's fortunes will be restored and what this film would have looked like in a cinema had fate not dealt Snyder that terrible blow, perhaps we will never know.
What we are left with is essentially a four hour mini-series, presented in 4:3, which to me lends it much less of a cinematic quality. Whether you like this film or not, what is inarguable is it's a fascinating look into how two directors can take what is essentially the same story and a lot of the same exact takes of a lot of footage, but still produce two such radically different films.
I for one enjoyed Whedon's cut. It gave me something BvS didnt: colour, humour and superheroes who actually seemed to enjoy being superheroes. It is fair to say, however, that his version is messy. Obviously new scenes and entire new plot lines jar with the overall tone; a lot of the humour is backloaded onto an already comedic character in Barry Allen and overall, it doesn't have much in the sense of stakes or even feel that super.
Here Snyder rights a lot of those wrongs. The addition of Darkseid and the increased screen time of Steppenwolf plus his new design add a much needed sense of global and universal danger. Whilst never challenging Thanos in the bad guy stakes, you at least feel there is a need for the League to assemble. And then there is the super element. Boy does this team feel super. Snyder always said he wanted to give his characters a sense of mythology and a godlike nature, and here, he succeeds. The best beneficiaries of this cut are Flash and Cyborg, who's characters are given so much more depth and heart and whose powers are explored to superb effect. Wonder Woman and Aquaman are likewise granted much better action scenes to showcase their abilities (it could easily be argued, however, that Diana in particular is far more brutal than she should be or is in the hands of Patty Jenkins). And Superman's return is absolutely fantastic here. The black suit adds nothing but he is shot in such a way as to make it clear he is the ultimate power in the team. A hugely important element that BvS lacks is a sense of fun. Here the whole cast seem to revel in playing heroes. They have backstory, heart, humour and a genuine sense of camaraderie that didn't come across in the Whedon cut. At four hours, it is definitely too long. It is divided into sections and can be watched in chunks. Some of the scenes are pointless and should've been removed, but it's a small price to pay when the action is this good.
Amy Adams and Diane Lane get very little to do sadly. If there is a Man of Steel 2, I hope Lois is the Lois of the first movie. A feisty journalist who is Clark's equal.
The epilogue is very odd and clearly thrown in as fan service and as a bridge to the weirder scenes in BvS. But at four hours long, you can afford a bit of fan-service. Without them, this never would have seen the light of day.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Why all the negativity?
A great homage to the Donner/Lester era of Superman in its visuals, action set pieces (as well as a little nod to 80s-era Spielberg in this dept), tone and themes. The development of Diana's powers is a joy to behold. Interesting villains and great performances abound too. It's colourful, warm and feelgood. It has to be said, however, that there are plot holes the size of football fields. If that bothers you, there may be one too many here. For me, I just enjoyed the ride and the 80s costumes.
Cobra Kai (2018)
Cheese-soaked 80s Fest.
Nostalgia-filled, cheese-soaked goodness. The acting may be Hollyoaks quality and the script filled with cliche but it only adds to the charm of this unlikely hit. The short episode run-time means you'll be bingeing this in Pringle-esque fashion. There is much humour to he had, from the intentional (Johnny's almost time-traveller relationship with 21st Century technology) to the unintentional (slow-motion Karate and close-ups on moody faces). It is a love-letter to 80s martial arts films in the same way Stranger Things is a love-letter to 80s sci-fi/horror. If you liked The Karate Kid, you'll love this.
Ad Astra (2019)
Like all the best sci-fi
Like all the best sci-fi movies: 2001, Interstellar, Mars, Sunshine etc, we learn more about humanity than we do about extra-terrestrial intelligence here. It's exquisitely designed and paced, taking us on a truly epic quest to reconnect with ourselves and each other. Glorious.
Dracula (2020)
A very original take on a beloved classic.
I haven't been as refreshingly surprised by an adaptation in a long time. This is a superbly crafted show. It mixes horror (and I do mean proper, terrifying horror - this is not for kids), humour and thrills in an endlessly entertaining way. The central performances form Bang and Wells are spot on and the writing is perfect. Can't praise it enough.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019)
Perfect for Star Wars fans.
A beautifully crafted game that blends exploration, combat and puzzle elements perfectly. The design is a SW fan's dream. Without pandering, it references SW lore and myth in an exciting way whilst being completely original in its own right. Knocking a star off as I own it on base X-Box One where the graphics can glitch ever so slightly.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
A new era for superhero animation.
A staggering achievement in superhero animation. Revalling Disney/Pixar for heart, charm and humour, this also takes a bold New direction in its style. The art and the music are seamlessly integrated to create Black Panther levels of effortless cool. As many characters as any X-Men or Avengers movie are all given plenty to do too. Can't wait for the sequel.