Reviews

"Just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn't mean they're lost forever."

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' is the latest film in the MCU phase four. It sees the role reprisal of many MCU stars but most importantly sees the return to comic book films for legendary director Sam Raimi after 15 years since the release of 'Spider-Man 3' in 2007. This is the MCU's first in-depth dive into the Multiverse and it is definitely the most interesting part of this movie, with it setting up a very intriguing future in regard to this corner of the cinematic universe.

As mentioned this film saw the return of the legendary director Sam Raimi who helmed this project after previous director Scott Derrickson left due to 'creative differences' with the studio. This was the biggest film of his since the aforementioned 'Spider-Man' trilogy in the early 2000's. Now, anybody who is familiar with Raimi's great work will understand what I mean when I say that he has his 'style' and it is absolutely all over this film leading to him stamping his mark on the MCU. For those who don't know, the Sam Raimi style consists of a quite camp tone, which granted can become a bit too much at times but for me I think he regulates it here to the perfect amount, quick camera cuts and zooms all of which blend together to somewhat divulge from the 'Marvel formula' that has become a staple of these films. Something else that has become a mainstay in a Raimi property are the horror aspects of his work. This stems from his start with the incredibly popular 'Evil Dead' series of films. This is the first real MCU horror film and I think they bought in the right man to do the job, especially thanks to the campy aspects of the film linking nicely to the naturally comedic tone the rest of the MCU has.

As for the acting, it's solid throughout. Elizabeth Olsen is absolutely brilliant. She has always been very good in the role but this is by far her best performance as the character. They presented her as the main antagonist which was a smart idea that ultimately paid off. She has really believable motives that are even somewhat relatable and I can't wait to see what they do with her character moving forward. Rachel McAdams also returned from the first Doctor Strange film as 'Dr. Christine Palmer', despite her performance being sound first time round, she was completely wasted in the role. An actor of her calibre deserves a large part in a film like that and before this instalment I worried it would be the same the second time round and to my disarray I was proven correct. Her part is definitely increased this time but it still isn't enough for me to suddenly care about this character or anything that happens to her and disappointedly that lack of sentiment rolls over to her relationship with Stephen Strange. Something that has somewhat become a staple for the most recent MCU films is for them to have a certain amount of surprising cameos that can either service the plot or attempt to distract the viewer away from the poor writing, and for this movie I believe for the most part it is the former. Trust me, the writing isn't perfect but the key cameos are only on screen for a small amount of time so it doesn't end up taking away from the overall narrative.

One of the more inconsistent parts of the film are the effects. At times they're stunning, holding up to the usual MCU standard, however, elsewhere it looks poor to such an extent that it is distracting from the action happening within the sequence. I have to say though, the practical effects are brilliant and are something that relates to the aforementioned Raimi style and was very prominent in his 'Evil Dead' films. Some of the action sequences in this film are really innovative and genuinely nothing I've ever seen before. The best being the 'music fight' towards the end of the second act. It is a perfect blend of great effects, writing and suspense, it also acts as the perfect place to show off the brilliant work of famed composer, and frequent collaborator of Sam Raimi, Danny Elfman.

One problem with this film was that the marketing was all wrong. First things first, they showed way too much in the trailers. I mentioned the surprise cameos, nearly half of them were shown before the film even came out. That is ridiculous. What is the point of having the big surprise if we already know what's coming? It's a shame because it could've resulted in an even larger crowd reaction. Another mistake was making Doctor Strange the titular character. In my opinion this was clearly Scarlet Witch's story with Strange as a supporting role and it should've been marketed as her film. I'm not a massive fan of Doctor Strange as a character so personally I would've been more exited going into this if it was advertised as her picture.

Overall, this film is great. I have been quite negative near the end but all of the 'Raimi-ness' and a decent cast (carried by Elizabeth Olsen) lead to it being a very decent MCU movie. I'm much more interested in the future of other characters like Scarlet Witch and even Wong in comparison to Doctor Strange but either way I'll see what is next for the character and I hope that they bring back Sam Raimi if/when they do a Doctor Strange 3.

8/10.

'The Northman' is the latest film from the predominantly horror director Robert Eggers. His previous work includes 'The Witch' and 'The Lighthouse', the former of which also saw him work with star Anya Taylor-Joy. This film is a period piece set during the early settlement of Iceland which is also known as 'landnámsöld'. This was definitely a draw going into this because it is a time period that has not been explored and delved into in a big film like this and with this amount of historical accuracy. The Norse mythology that it's based off is something that I find very interesting as it is something I have come across through many different mediums but nothing has gone into as much detail as this film does.

The ensemble cast is star-studded, but the big names don't take away from the story. Anya Taylor-Joy did not have as much screen time as expected going into the film but she kills it with the time that she does have. She has been a frequent collaborator with the director and it's clear that it is a partnership that brings out the best in both of them. The rest of the supporting cast all bring something different even with their limited time on screen. This is most apparent with Willem Dafoe ('Heimer The Fool') and Ethan Hawke ('King Aurvandil War-Raven'), both are established A-list actors who bought something unique to their respective roles. Claes Bang portrayed the main antagonist of the film in 'Fjölnir The Bortherless.' This is the first picture I had seen him in and he brings a threatening yet loving nature to the role. He is the perfect choice for villain, he portrays his warped thoughts of what is right and why he believes what he has done is justified. The standout is of course the protagonist, the revenge seeking 'Amleth' played by Alexander Skarsgård. He got into crazy shape for this role, he looks absolutely amazing and it definitely sells both the time period and the physical acumen of the character that the actor had to bring. The emotion of his role is perfect for the circumstances of the plot and he delivers a performance that is both believable and threatening towards the antagonist.

Now, the best part of this film has to be the visuals. OH MY GOD, they're absolutely stunning. The cinematographer Jarin Blaschke smashed it out of the park. He leant heavily into an orange colour palette, something that is quite common nowadays, but he blended it perfectly with a mixture of practical and visual sets and effects. As this film is set in the region of Iceland, a large amount of filming had to be done on location in the country and that lends itself to some of the magnificent shots we get. If you were ever debating whether or not to go on holiday to Iceland, I think this is the biggest advert for the natural beauty that this country can offer, and the practicality of the filming is so immersive for the story and is a huge plus for this film.

The writing is interesting in this. On paper it comes across as quite basic and straightforward. It is a general revenge plot, something that we have seen so many times before in all kinds of media, but this time round it is elevated by the time period for which it is set. Eggers and his fellow writer Sjón realised early on that there were so many different plot points that were focussed on the mythology of the film so knew that a more sophisticated story would only end up confusing casual audiences. The revenge aspect of the narrative paints the story as a Shakespearean tragedy, one that is reminiscent of some of the most influential stories ever written.

One thing that puts me off Eggers' previous pictures are the weird (for lack of a better word) scenes. As interesting as his stories can be, as a result of the periodic thrillers he opts to write, they often tend to veer in the wrong direction and it gravitates towards the bizarre, especially when the rest of the picture is somewhat grounded. This is only heightened due to the bloated runtime which means that there is more room for these odd sequences and sometimes boring patches throughout.

In conclusion, this will be loved by anyone who is a fan of Robert Eggers' previous work and is at least mildly interested in the history surrounding this time period. It has some brilliantly violent kills and is massive in scope, enhanced by the simple story that it's housed in. If not for the prolonged runtime and the deviation away from the aforementioned main plotline this could have been the perfect historical period piece.

7/10.

'Peaky Blinders' season six *audible sigh*.

This was by far the show I was most looking forward to this year. The final season of one of the best TV Shows ever put to screen. A show that had it all throughout its tenure, unbelievable acting leading to some of the most recognisable and iconic characters from the last decade of television. Long term storytelling that rivals most shows. A huge backlog of brilliant supporting characters that have carefully and meticulously been built up over the last five seasons of this show, amongst so much more. Sadly the writers seemed to forget about that for this final season, favouring to develop new characters (along with Tommy Shelby) that have very little impact on the overall plot whilst household names like Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) go backwards in regard to character development and Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle) is barely on screen.

It is very well-known that the tragic passing of series regular Helen McCrory (Polly Gray) is a notable reason for the assumed rewrites that had to take place before shooting. It is likely this was the reason for the reduction in screen time for expected main antagonist Michael Gray (Finn Cole) as their stories were intertwined with each other.

Let's start with the main positive, the acting. Throughout all six seasons of this show the one consistent takeaway is the acting. After five seasons of playing the same character, Cillian Murphy clocked in one last time as the legendary Tommy Shelby, he bought the calm yet explosive nature that the character has adopted over the past five years. The big surprise for me this year was Natasha O'Keeffe as Lizzie Stark. Her presence on the show was increased massively from previous seasons with a much larger focus being put on Tommy's immediate family. She really shines in the emotional moments from the season, which there are plenty scattered throughout. There are other good performances as well, none of which I think are as good as these two. The problem with some is that they're overshadowed by the confusing direction the writers decided to go in with that particular character.

Let's discuss the writing. What happened? This show has been one of the more consistently brilliant and entertaining shows since its inception in 2013 but for some reason it seems that the writing went backwards and the show became boring in places. Many people (myself included) felt that the writing began to decline slightly last season (season five), it had become too political and that only increased this time round with the rise of the Nazi party before World War II and the introduction of characters like Jack Nelson (James Frecheville) and Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson). As previously mentioned, this show has always had a large collection of well-developed characters that have been backed by a great cast but they decided to push the key supporting ones to the background in favour of some other new ones that are instantly forgettable. Starting with the most confusing which is Conrad Kahn as Tommy's new illegitimate son 'Duke Shelby' (yes, I did have to look up his name because like most people I had forgotten it.) The character is fine, I guess. The actor does a good enough job, the reason this creative decision perplexes me is not directly about the character himself, it's the choice of promoting him more than a character who has been there since the start like Finn Shelby (Harry Kirton). The confusing nature of this is extenuated by the fact that these two characters occupy a very similar role in the show. They're both younger members of the family that have a lot to learn and both spend this season learning what it means to be a Shelby. That's why I don't understand them choosing to focus more on Duke than an established character like Finn.

In my opinion, this season desperately needed more episodes. I understand that all previous seasons had six episodes so it makes sense for them to want to keep it consistent but they needed to make an exception this time round because there were too many characters and plot points that ended up with a dissatisfying ending. This would've allowed some characters to obtain more screen time that they desperately needed to be able to finish their respective stories and character arcs. The biggest example of this is Michael Gray. He had been set up, especially in season five, as the main antagonist. He had directly opposed Tommy as the head of the family and wanted to lead the Peaky Blinders into a new age. However, Michael was barely even in half of the episodes and had very little amount of screen time with Tommy Shelby resulting in a lack of growth for this storyline, which for me was the most intriguing one going into the season.

Despite the numerous negatives that were apparent throughout, there were definitely other positives. One of which being the camera work. In previous season the camera work had always been solid but not really something to call home about but this year they really stepped it up with some lovely one-shot scenes to build tension and to reflect the feelings of the characters on scene. The cinematography also seemed to take a step up especially in the final episode. There are some beautiful visuals throughout which give the show a stylised perspective, something that we have never really had in this show. It is a welcome addition to the already stacked merits that this show has held over the years.

In conclusion, as brilliant as this show has been for the past five years this season was a huge drop in quality. The misguided idea to focus on new characters over the originals that have unfinished arcs was confusing that genuinely doesn't make sense. The acting can only carry a show so far and at some point the writing needed to catch up and sadly it didn't. There are rumours that they're currently in pre-production for a spin-off film, I will of course watch it and am looking forward to it, hopefully they can rectify some of their mistakes here.

7/10.

'Eternals' is the latest instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is arguably one of the most ambitious films of this franchise. Ambition doesn't automatically substitute for quality however. Trust me I love the MCU, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that there is a certain formula that these films often follow, normally it isn't completely obvious but this time round it is glaringly apparent that 'Eternals' has fallen into the modern day Marvel formula.

The epitome of falling into a formula is taking an Oscar winning director like Chloé Zhao, who is one of the brightest and most talented young directors working today, and even someone of that calibre churns out a piece of boring drab. It doesn't all fall on Zhao however, the cast is, on the face of it, full of big hitters from Angelina Jolie ('Thena') to Richard Madden ('Ikaris') but even their acting is wooden. Madden looks bored for 90% of the picture and who can blame him when the script is so poor.

As for that poor script, this is one of the weakest the MCU has bought to the table. There is absolutely zero character development for pretty much every character apart from possibly Sersi (played by Gemma Chan), Sprite (played by Lia McHugh) and at a push Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry). Now this is a film where there are at least ten characters in the titular team, that isn't a good thing. That is the heart of the issue though, ten characters, ten main characters, already that is way too many, especially when we haven't met any of them before. Zhao had the impossible task of introducing ten new heroes and trying to draw the audience into caring for them. If they had lowered the number, it would've been much easier and would've given the writers time to properly introduce everyone. When Marvel try to adapt a project that is pretty much unknown even to hardcore fans of the comics, they need to give them relatable quirks that helps the audience empathise with them so if anything happens to them during the movie, we actually care. Sadly that doesn't happen here and I couldn't care less about any of the main characters.

The writing itself also left a lot to be desired. From very vaguely defined plot points which are yet another thing that the writers must've felt weren't important. As for the 'shock' twist reveal of the main villain, what a waste. They spend a decent amount of the screentime 'setting up' Kro (voiced by Bill Skarsgard) as the antagonist just to opt for another villain. They had the potential of casting this phenomenal actor as your main adversary, but they squandered it.

One could only hope that this film at least has some semblance of a thematic prowess about it, but that will also leave you disappointed. I believe the key theme the writers were trying to discuss was family and how these otherworldly beings work within a family structure. On paper, it would seem they cover the concept, but once you begin to delve into it, you realise that the filmmakers only covered the bare minimum with no real substance behind any of the characters relationships. Another theme that this film attempts to wrestle with is the question, what does it mean to be human? They definitely discussed this, but they don't dive into it at all with any character. The main protagonist that could've been explained more was Lauren Ridloff's 'Makkari'. They had a really interesting dynamic with how she copes with being deaf and having to live in a new world, but obviously did not think it was a priority.

As bad as I've made it sound, there are some positives, the key one being the effects. As always with modern day blockbusters, the CGI is fairly flawless, with a blend of visual effects and practically built sets meaning that the world that is crafted feels authentic. It helps in making the film feel grand and huge in scale.

Overall, this is a real disappointment. From poor writing, to lack of character development, this is riddled with shoddy errors which all adds up to making this film the worst that the MCU has made.

5/10.

'Dune' is a stunning dive into source material that hasn't been adapted for over a decade. It is the beginning of a franchise which could be a figure head of pop culture for many years. Dennis Villeneuve is given full and complete creative control and brings his magnificent style of using groundbreaking characters to drive the plot forward to this love letter to the big screen.

Of course Villeneuve and the other writers are responsible for the aforementioned brilliant characters but without the right cast they wouldn't be what they are and this film has one of the best ensemble casts in recent memory. A combination of both previously established powerhouses like Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson and younger actors that can take this franchise into the future like Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. The combination of the actors and writing leads to some beautiful character moments which grounds these figures, compelling relationships, and very admiral deaths that aid the audience in understanding the power dynamic which is the core of the story.

The original material is one that Villeneuve has stated was one he wanted to turn into a cinematic experience for years and the wait was definitely worth it. Every aspect of this film is meticulously crafted into the vision that he, as director, had and it is very apparent that everyone was having a blast whilst making it and that this is the epitome of a passion project for Villeneuve. The visuals are breathtaking, cinematographer Greig Fraser does an exquisite job, the colour palette of mainly oranges transport the viewer into the world of Arrakis and makes the desert feel even larger than it already is. All the sets used were practically made, which is unheard of in the current age of green screens and visual effects. This makes all the locations shown feel more realistic and grounded. The sound design and score are both excellent, Hanz Zimmer is the perfect composer to get for a huge epic like this and he brings his A-game to every piece of music.

The movie explores some key themes that are really important to bring to light through the medium of blockbuster films and modern cinema. First of all is nature and mans relationship with nature, which I feel is more important now than ever with the impending danger of climate change. 'Dune' discusses this through the the planet 'Arrakis' and the desert people, the Fremen, their relationship with the sand and the creatures that live there, most notably the Shai-Hulud. The second theme is class and the divide of class. This is depicted perfectly through the difference in how the two main houses, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, operate and treat the Fremen. Harkonnen rule through power and brutality whilst Atreides attempt to make alliances with the natives to help them long-term in extracting the spice from the sands of Arrakis. With this theme, the script could've become uber-political but didn't which was definitely for the better. These themes were obviously big parts of Frank Herberts original story but Villeneuve added his own spin on it.

However, due to this films huge cast it means that we don't see as much of some actors as I would've liked. Most notably is Javier Bardem and Zendaya who do not have as much screen time as expected but definitely will in future instalments. I felt that some story beats were confusing for the first 45 minutes of the film but as soon as we are on Arrakis it is much easier to follow and to understand.

Overall, I am very excited for future chapters of this 'Dune' storyline as they have set up and teased many interesting things to come. I am confident that as the future films and shows are released, I will look back at this film and my opinion will change over time and I could see this as a real piece of art. I just hope that Denis Villeneuve is at the helm for every title to come.

8.5/10.

'The Night House' is a low budget horror film from director David Bruckner who is proven in the genre. Starring Rebecca Hall as a grieving widow who begins to uncover disturbing secrets about her deceased husband.

The film is held together by Hall's acting, her portrayal of a grieving woman, sliding in and out of reality is Oscar worthy. Accompanied by the deep themes, her performance adds a realistic element to a film with a plot filled with supernatural material. She is able to take an average, sometimes subpar, screenplay and produce a spectacular portrayal. The supporting cast are also very credible, Sarah Golding and Vondie Curtis-Hall both have great performances that keep the audience guessing as to their characters intentions within the story.

The cinematography along with the integration of it into the story is groundbreaking. Most of the shots are beautiful and expertly accompanies the fantastic acting on display, especially in the third act where the film utilises some red settings that contrast the dark colour palette that was previously visible throughout the film. The sound design is also a big achievement and aids the scares and horror aspects of this film. They use sound to both frighten audiences and instil a feeling of anxiousness and build suspense which eventually pays off with some creative and terrifying moments.

However, I don't think this film is without its flaws. The runtime for me is just too long with too many scenes that could be cut without any impact on the main plot. Despite a very strong second act, I felt, during the third act, the story took a very long time to achieve the payoff from the key plot points. As mentioned previously, aspects of the script were mediocre meaning that some moments felt unnecessary and out of place.

Overall, this was an enjoyable film with plenty of scares and some career defining performances. I highly recommend this movie and am looking forward to upcoming projects of both Rebecca Hall and the director David Bruckner.

7/10.

'The Suicide Squad' is the latest DCEU film and is written and directed by legendary filmmaker James Gunn in his return to the genre after his 2017 movie 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'. This film is a soft reboot from 2016's 'Suicide Squad' with only a few cast members reprising their roles after that movies poor reception from fans.

This films cast is absolutely immense. It is mainly made up of frequent James Gunn collaborators and friends: Michael Rooker ('Savant'), Nathan Fillion ('T. D. K.'), Sean Gunn ('Weasel') and Steve Agee ('John Economos' and the on-set 'King Shark'). Also, they have some huge names in the main cast, Idris Elba as 'Bloodsport', Margot Robbie as 'Harley Quinn' and John Cena as 'Peacemaker'. However, the standouts are Daniela Melchior as 'Ratcatcher 2' and David Dastmalchian as 'Polka-Dot Man'. They're the heart of the film and their very personal performances bring a different aspect to the movie. The two of them encompass the emotion and the core themes of the story.

The pacing feels very deliberate. Gunn almost splits this up into chapters with title cards materialising out of thin air to more closely relate this to the comic books that the story is loosely based off. Gunn always knows how to choose and implement fantastic licensed music and this time around is no exception, it links effortlessly into the plot and is clear that the songs chosen were written into the script from the start. Along with the licensed songs, there is some beautiful original music and scores from composer John Murphy. The best is the song titled 'Ratism' which is a moving piece that echoes the key message that Gunn is trying to emulate with this film.

The script is very character centric, which is perfect in a story that has such a huge ensemble cast. The writing makes you care about absolutely everyone, which is impressive when most of the lineup are nobody's from DC Comics that were near enough unknowns before this films release. Also, I don't think I have ever seen a comic book movie that looks this beautiful. The visuals are absolutely stunning and Gunn pays so much attention to detail that I don't think a normal filmmaker would pay.

James Gunn was given full creative control with the studio having very little input in the final piece and it shows in the difference of quality between this film and it's predecessor. For instance, people actually die in this film, which may not sound like a good thing but for a film that is called 'The Suicide Squad' you would hope that people do actually kick the bucket at some point, sometimes in emotional ways but mainly in a funny and comedic fashion. That does relate to the 'R' rating (UK-15) that is attached to this picture as quite a few of the deaths and kills are incredibly gory which definitely adds to the style of this film. It is such a relief that this movie is able to make fun of itself and doesn't take itself to seriously which has been the downfall of other DCEU instalments. Some of the kills in particular display the cartoonish and over the top tone that perfectly mirrors the source material.

Overall, I love this film. It is clear that this is a real passion project for James Gunn and he takes huge amounts of pride in his work whilst making this movie. I can't wait for the spin-off 'Peacemaker' show that is coming in early 2022 and I hope we get to see more origin stories for some of the characters in this film.

9.5/10.

'Black Widow' is Marvel Studios first MCU film since 2019. This film is the first and only solo story for Scarlett Johansson's character that she has been playing since 2010's 'Iron Man 2'. It is chronologically set between 'Captain America: Civil War' and 'Avengers: Infinity War' and is directed by Cate Shortland.

As mentioned, it stars Scarlett Johansson as the titular character in her ninth outing as the hero. Along with Johansson this movie stars MCU newcomers Florence Pugh as 'Yelena Belova' and David Harbour as 'Alexei Shostakov'. This film is carried by Pugh and Harbour. They are brilliant and hilarious in their roles along with having great chemistry. Yelena Bolova's introduction into this franchise gives hope for the upcoming titles in which she will appear.

Main villains have always been an issue for the MCU, most of them being fairly lacklustre, with very few breaking the mould set but the previous titles. This film follows that same formula with the character of 'Taskmaster'. In the source material, 'Taskmaster' is Tony Masters, a mercenary with photographic reflexes, meaning he can replicate the physical skills of anyone. However, in this film they changed him to Antonia, personally I don't care about the filmmakers changing the gender of the character but I really don't like them turning the villain into a mere henchwoman instead of the badass mercenary that he was in the comics. Taskmaster wasn't the only poor villain, Ray Winstone's 'Dreykov' is positioned as the main adversary for Johansson's protagonist. His Russian accent is abysmal and his character is equally nonsensical. I don't understand making him the main villain when you have the potential of a huge fan favourite character like 'Taskmaster'.

This film could've been so much more than it eventually was. If this was made back in 2016 after 'Captain America: Civil War', when it is set, than it could've taken more risks with the plot, and change the fate of some of the minor characters. This movie could've been a really lovely story about family and a family coming together after a long time, a plot that would've been very relatable with many people. However, it turns into a classic Marvel film in the third act and it becomes a normal CGI centric picture that takes the audience out of the grounded story they were previously telling.

Overall, 'Black Widow' is an average Marvel picture which takes minimal risks and doesn't live up to what this film could've been. It was carried by most of the cast but was severely let down by the flat and uninspired antagonists.

6.5/10.

'A Quiet Place Part II' is the sequel to John Krasinski's nerve shredding 'A Quiet Place'. It is set moments after the first film's end and brings back the same magnificent cast, along with one big addition: Cillian Murphy as 'Emmett'. This movie is perfect in broadening the world that was built in the first film and makes way for future follow up titles.

First of all, John Krasinski, Cillian Murphy, take a bow. Krasinski is quickly cementing himself as one of the best horror directors of the modern era as he somehow not only follows the first film but in my opinion surpasses it with great ease. Murphy's performance is stellar, he slots in perfectly after the events of the first film. He plays a broken figure after his family had been ripped away from him at the hands of the aliens that have invaded Earth. His relationship with 'Regan Abbott' (Millicent Simmonds) is brilliantly written as she takes the lead role in the film with Emily Blunt's 'Evelyn Abbott' taking a back seat to Regan's arc. Along with Simmonds, Noah Jupe's 'Marcus Abbott' is bought into the light with his arc being a key part of the story this time round.

The opening scene, instantly puts the audience at the edge of their seats with high paced cuts between the usual dialogue and sound design and the point of view of Regan as she can only react to people's actions and not the sounds. The scene sets the tone for the entire film and leaves the audience flabbergasted within the first 15 minutes, which compels them to continue to watch and not move a muscle.

It is really apparent that the budget this time around was vastly increased on the last movie and it shows in the designs of the aliens. Previously, the lack of a budget meant that the aliens went unseen for large portions of the film but now they're shown more frequently and they look great, extremely menacing. Also, the sound design that accompanies the aliens is fantastic and is definitely Oscar worthy when awards season rolls back around.

Overall, I loved this film, somehow it improves on the last without losing the key themes and heart that were behind the previous instalment. The ending is abrupt which suggest a sequel is on the cards along with the already announced spinoff. I personally cannot wait for whatever Krasinski brings out next.

9.5/10.

'Mortal Kombat' is the latest film adaptation of the beloved game franchise, that was apart of many people's childhoods as their introduction to 'ultraviolence'. This is the third attempt at shifting these iconic characters over to the big screen. The first two films were in 1995 and 1997 and were not so well received, especially the sequel 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation' which was heavily slandered for poor effects and terrible characters. This new film was helmed by Simon McQuoid in his feature length directorial debut and there are rumours that many sequels are currently in the works.

This film features a lot of characters from the games, most of which I would say are accurate to the source material. The best looking are definitely 'Goro' and 'Kabal', both of which are very factual to the originals. The casting is near on perfection, in particular the always brilliant Hiroyuki Sanada as 'Scorpion' and Josh Lawson as 'Kano'. Especially in the third act, Sanada is fantastic in his role, he brings a certain stoicism at the start and then in the end he transitions into a brutal fighting machine. Also, Kano is the comic relief of the movie, Lawson plays him to perfection, and is great at conveying the same disbelief that the audience has whist watching.

The main selling point of this picture is the action. A 'Mortal Kombat' film has to have thrilling, high-paced fight choreography and I'm glad to say that this rendition 100% delivers. The action set pieces are bloody, they're fast and they don't hold back on the fatalities that made the games so beloved. In my opinion, the most impressive is the final battle between Scorpion and Sub-Zero. They manage to make references to the games during the fight, but they don't come across as forced and shoehorned in, they flow naturally along side the conflict.

However, the story is quite generic, which was expected going in. The writers definitely prioritise the action ahead of the writing. My main issue is the main protagonist. I don't understand why they would make 'Cole Young' (an original character, that hasn't appeared in any of the games) the primary hero. I think making either 'Scorpion' or 'Johnny Cage' (who doesn't even appear) the major lead would make more sense as people know their personalities. Cole was boring, unnecessary and one-note. Even Cole's 'power' is boring and doesn't really make sense with the character.

Overall, this movie was everything I expected and if you're able to shut your mind off and just enjoy the film, you'll have a blast. It has been reported that there could be up to ten sequels in the works and honestly I can't wait.

7/10.

'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' is the second Disney+ show from Marvel Studios. Many characters reprised their roles from previous films with larger parts, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) both become titular characters, as oppose to supporting characters for Chris Evans' 'Steve Rogers'. We pick up with the characters in a post 'Avengers: Endgame' world; Sam has returned to the US Air Force and Bucky is just carrying on with life whilst trying to adjust to life after 'the Blip'.

The chemistry between the two main characters carries every episode and leads to some great comedic moments. Making these two the star of there own show gives them some well needed development and takes their arcs to the next level. The standout performances come from Wyatt Russell and Carl Lumbly as 'John Walker' and 'Isaiah Bradley' respectively. John Walker is an exceptional secondary villain who becomes the new Captain America. One that was handpicked to take up the mantle despite not doing anything to deserve it. Whilst Isaiah Bradley is a black Captain America from the Second World War, who was imprisoned and experimented on to test the super soldier serum, just to finally be removed from all records and pronounced dead. These two are perfect mirrors of each other and display the theme of legacy that runs throughout the show.

Henry Jackman (the composer) returns from the previous 'Captain America' films. His work is always exceptional but this time round he excels. He seamlessly brings scores back from previous movies, most notably 'The Winter Soldier' theme from 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. The effects throughout are perfect and I don't think there is an over reliance on CGI like there has been in previous Marvel pictures. I love the comic accuracy of the show, from Falcon's new suit to Madripoor, but the best example is Daniel Bruhl's 'Baron Zemo'. He returns from 'Captain America: Civil War' and is absolutely fantastic. They finally embrace him being a 'Baron' like in the comics and they elevate his motives to the next level, with his hate of the Flag Smashers.

The best episodes are; 1:2 ('The Star-Spangled Man'), 1:4 ('The World is Watching') and 1:5 ('Truth').

However, my main issue is the main villains 'The Flag Smashers'. The head of this terrorism group is Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) and they don't pose a threat to the protagonists in the slightest. The acting is solid from her, but the writing is quite inconsistent for the group and her motives don't really make sense. I think it would've benefited with John Walker as the main antagonist instead because his arc is undoubtedly more interesting than Morgenthau's. Also, it is really obvious that they had to scrap a subplot that was in the original script. The plot line was reportedly centred around a global pandemic and was removed as it too closely resembles the current issues in real life. This could've been a reason behind the Flag Smashers inconsistency as they play a big part in that subplot.

Overall, I do think this show was an improvement on 'WandaVision' and nicely sets up future MCU titles that feature these characters. I can't wait to see where these characters go next and hope to see more of John Walker.

8.5/10.

'Ghost of Tsushima' is an original PlayStation-exclusive game that came out in mid 2020. We play as Jin Sakai (voiced by Daisuke Tsuki), the last remaining samurai of the Sakai clan in 1274. After the death of his father, and the kidnapping of his uncle, Lord Shimura (Eric Steinberg) at the hands of Khotun Kahn (Patrick Gallagher), Jin must master a new fighting style, to defeat the Mongol forces and fight for the freedom and independence of Japan and most importantly the island of Tsushima. This game was developed by Sucker Punch Productions, who are best known for the 'Infamous' series of games. 'Ghost of Tsushima' is by far their biggest release and has been met with critical acclaim from both audiences and critics alike, so much so that production has now begun on the making of a film of the same name, which is being helmed by 'John Wick' director Chad Stahelski.

The detail in this game is absolutely jaw dropping. From every leaf that falls from trees, to the look to the design of the landscapes, you can tell that the animators put their heart and soul into this game and it really pays off. Also, the fighting and the action is immaculate. The game presents four different sword-fighting styles, depending on the type of enemy you have to fight at that given time. It allows for a diverse range of combinations and strikes, which gives the game a very realistic feel and puts you into the shoes of Jin Sakai.

The visuals are absolutely stunning, they use the perfect pallet of colours which is great at setting the mood at every point of the game. The story itself is meticulously crafted, with Shakespearean like dialogue, filled with betrayal, emotion and expert direction which rivals some of the best films that have been made. It is split up into a normal three act structure which advances as you move your way up Tsushima. The supporting characters compliment Sakai really well and work to integrate side missions into the overarching narrative.

Overall, I love this game. It is by far the best I have played and I can't wait for them to turn this into a feature length film. I just hope that they stay true to the source material.

10/10.

'Zack Synder's Justice League' is a cinematic masterpiece in the comic book movie genre and was well worth the three year wait. This film is obviously directed by Zack Snyder and is his original vision for a 'Justice League' movie. In 2017, during post production on the original film, Snyder had to leave this project due to a family tragedy so Warner Brothers brought in 'Avengers: Assemble' director Joss Whedon to oversee and complete the production. Both critics and fans rejected the picture upon its release leading to an overwhelming amount of fans pleading for Warner Brothers to release the Snyder cut. After an additional 18 months, Snyder's original film was green lit and was finally released to critical acclaim.

Personally, I love this movie, despite its incredibly long 4 hour runtime. It goes by in a flash and is everything I wanted it to be. The original idea to release this as a four part mini series could've worked but I feel they made the right decision to release this as a film, with six chapters splitting it up for viewers who want to take a break at certain times.

The opening imagery is fantastic and is perfectly accompanied by the classic Snyder slow-motion, which he does use maybe a bit too much later on. The cinematography as a whole is beautiful and is definitely aided by the decision to change the aspect ratio to 1.33:1 as oppose to the more traditional 1.85:1 used for the original 'Justice League'. This change sets this film apart from others of the same genre and encapsulates the comic book feel that all pictures like this should have.

The action sequences, sound design and script are all excellent. They're all assisted by the R rating (15 rating in the UK). This means that it has a very gritty feeling, very reminiscent of Snyder's previous film 'Watchmen'. The new designs of 'Steppenwolf' (Ciarán Hinds) and 'Joker' (Jared Leto) are superb. Especially 'Steppenwolf' who's new look adds a layer of intimidation to him and actually paints him as a threat to our main protagonists.

I'm glad we finally get some much needed backstory for the Flash (Ezra Miller) and most importantly Cyborg (Ray Fisher). A huge amount of the screen time is dedicated to giving these two characters a personality and to make them feel like important members of the team, which was something that was mostly absent from the original cut.

However, as so much of the runtime is given to establishing certain characters, it means that others feel incredibly under-utilised, which is the case for Aquaman (Jason Mamoa) who sadly suffers from this. His character arc feels very rushed, in particular him joining the others, meaning he doesn't have any real rapport with any of them, except Diana (Gal Gadot). One glaring issue throughout the film is the CGI, for most scenes it is very good but it becomes obvious that Warner Brothers didn't give Snyder as much of a budget as they did previously, meaning that some visual effects look quite poor, mainly Cyborg's look.

Overall, I love this film, I'm so glad that they finally released the Snyder cut and now I hope that they bring him back for a sequel.

9/10

'Jessica Jones' season two is the continuation of the Marvel, Netflix storyline. The main cast all reprise their roles: Krysten Ritter as 'Jessica Jones', Rachael Taylor as 'Trish Walker', Eka Darville as 'Malcolm Ducase' and Carrie-Anne Moss as 'Jeri Hogarth'. Along with two notable newcomers: Janet McTeer as 'Alisa Jones' and J.R. Ramirez as 'Oscar Arocho'. Ritter is definitely the best part of this show. She is incredibly charismatic and there is a clear improvement from the first season, especially in the more emotional scenes, where she shines. I was happy to see the bigger role that was given to Malcolm this time round. Darville plays him to perfection as the ex-addict caring for a friend, mirroring his previous life. The best episodes were: 2:5 ('AKA The Octopus'), 2:7 ('AKA I Want Your Cray Cray') and 2:11 ('AKA Three Lives and Counting'). However, this season is a big let down, in comparison with the first season. The finale is incredibly underwhelming, in particular the eventual demise of the main antagonist. It is very quick and sudden. I would prefer a more drawn out, psychological final battle. I feel like they should've had Jessica move on from the events of last season and move past her traumatic past. But they decide to double down on exploring her past with them digging into her family's history and the tragedy that caused her to obtain her powers. This means that the character loses the opportunity to grow like she should. Overall, I was very disappointed this season and I hope that the quality is increased for season 3.

6.5/10

'The Dark Knight Rises' is the third and final instalment in Christopher Nolan's groundbreaking trilogy that reshaped the superhero genre as we know it. The main cast return as well as some newcomers. Tom Hardy as 'Bane', Anne Hathaway as 'Selina', Joseph Gordon-Levitt as 'Blake' and Marion Cotillard as 'Miranda'. The new additions are fantastic, especially Tom Hardy. He brings a menacing presence to the character and finally incorporates the main part of his comic counterpart, his brains. For sure Bane is incredibly strong, but he is also an unbelievable strategist that can systematically wear down Batman whilst also using his strength to defeat him. Hardy displays all of this perfectly despite us barely seeing his face, the mask he wears makes him more frightening and is used as an interesting plot device later in the film. A lot of people criticised the voice that Hardy uses for this character, but personally I love it, I think adds to the mystery of the figure. The best acting comes from Michael Caine as 'Alfred Pennyworth'. Nolan really fleshes out Alfred and Bruce's relationship in this film and Caine plays the reluctant mentor figure perfectly. One of his final scenes really shows off his acting, the regret that Alfred pours out and it's heartbreaking. Whilst all of the other actors are great, Caine excels in this movie compared to 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight'. The writing is brilliant, so many twists and turns and a sensational ending that really brings the trilogy full circle and has a great ending to Bruce's arc. The dialogue is excellent, in particular the many Bane monologues that add another layer onto his great character. The fight choreography improves massively and is loads better than the last two films. Hanz Zimmers score is superb and works in all scenes that it features in. Also, the cinematography is beautiful, Wally Pfister, who has worked with Nolan throughout the trilogy, really peaks in this picture. However, this movie isn't perfect, Bane's final demise is very underwhelming, especially for a character that makes as much of an impact as he does. Finally the twist at the end with Blake feels tacked on and is inaccurate to the source material. Overall, I love this movie, for sure it doesn't live up to the heights of 'The Dark Knight' but it is still exceptional and was a stunning way to end this unbelievable series of films.

9/10

'The Dark Knight' is the second instalment in Nolan's 'Dark Knight Trilogy'. It brings back most of the cast from 'Batman Begins', despite recasting 'Rachel Dawes' from Katie Holmes to Maggie Gyllenhaal. Also, we see career defining roles from newcomers Heath Ledger as 'Joker' and Aaron Eckhart as 'Harvey Dent / Two-Face'. The whole cast are brilliant but the standout is Heath Ledger. He is just fantastic, despite the amount of backlash that Nolan received when the casting was first announced. He makes the role his own as he improvises when he needs to and Nolan gives him insane amounts of freedom in the role. Everything from his look to his mannerisms are perfection. It's such a shame that we lost him at such a young age and that he was unable to watch the film that he helped shape into one of the best films ever and the stories that have been released since his passing show just how great a performer he was. As I said, the rest of the cast bring their A-games. Aaron Eckhart is the best version of Two-Face that we have seen so far in live action. We see his descent into madness which results in him becoming this legendary character. He says early in the film "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" which obviously comes true later, and is a testament to the writing by Christopher Nolan, Jonathon Nolan and David S Goyer. Every time I review a Christopher Nolan film, I find myself saying the same thing. I love his blend between practical effects and CGI, which is done seamlessly. The practical effects are improved vastly this time round, in particular, the actually blowing up of an abandoned building for the Joker 'hospital scene'. In conclusion, I think this film is absolute perfection and no future 'Batman' film will be able to live up to 'The Dark Knight'.

10/10

'Batman Begins' is the revitalisation of the iconic character after his last outing since 'Batman & Robin' in 1997. Christopher Nolan bought his vision to life in 2005 in his fourth feature length film. The film stars Christian Bale as the titular character, who in my opinion is the greatest Batman they have cast. He is flanked by a fantastic supporting cast: Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon) and Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), all of these characters are used to serve Nolan's ultimate aim with this film which is to take an in-depth look into Bruce's psyche. The villains (Liam Neeson as 'Ducard' and Cillian Murphy as 'Jonathan Crane' / 'Scarecrow') are absolutely brilliant and are representations of Bruce's inner conflict, which relates to the main theme of fear. This is a perfect portrayal of what happens when a big studio gives young filmmakers full creative freedom and fully trusts them. The practical effects are stunning, especially with the Batmobile, which they actually built and was fully operational. I would say that this is the best 'Batman' film. Hear me out, I feel that 'The Dark Knight' is a better overall movie but this feels like they have most accurately bought the comic book character to life. Nolan establishes Batman's one rule, he does not kill. This humanises the titular character and proves that the writers understand the source material, if Bruce kills than he is no better than his enemies. However, I don't think this film is perfect. The suit gets a lot better in future films, also the fight choreography feels clunky and doesn't quite flow like it should. Overall, this movie is the start of a fantastic trilogy that has reshaped the 'comic book movie' genre to the juggernaut it is today.

9/10

'Cobra Kai' is a Netflix show that carries on the continuity from the original 'Karate Kid' trilogy. The main stars from the first film have returned with Ralph Macchio as 'Daniel LaRusso', William Zabka as 'Johnny Lawrence and Martin Kove as 'John Kreese'. The ending of season two was fantastic and set up a great premise for the most recent season and I would say they mostly capitalised on the opportunity. The writing is great for the most part and blends the plot well between comedy, action and drama. This is helped a lot by the acting. The best acting this season was delivered by Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz), William Zabka and Jacob Bertrand (Hawk). The fight choreography is stunning, especially in the season finale. I love how they interweave the fight scenes with plot development. A key example is the redemption of 'Hawk', which I feel will be pivotal next season. There are a lot more homages to the original set of films, notably 'Karate Kid Part II'. This all takes place in episodes four and five with the returns of 'Chozen' (Yuji Okumoto) and 'Kumiko' (Tamlyn Tomita). Also, I am glad they didn't just have Miguel walking again straight away, which most shows would've done. I would've felt that that cheapens the big cliffhanger from season two. The best episodes were: 3:4 ('The Right Path'), 3:5 ('Miyagi-Do') and 3:10 ('December 19'). I was slightly disappointed in the storylines of Tory Nichols (Peyton List) and Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) as they didn't really have as much of an impact as the did in previous seasons. Overall, I feel like this season was still very enjoyable and had fantastic parts, but didn't quite live up to the heights that season two reached.

8.5/10

'Gotham' is a series that started in 2014 and spanned 5 seasons. The show takes place in the city of 'Gotham' when Bruce Wayne is a child, straight after the murder of his parents. The main stars are Ben McKenzie as 'Detective Jim Gordon', Donal Logue as 'Detective Harvey Bullock' and David Mazouz as 'Bruce Wayne'. All actors bring their A-game's to every episode, especially Ben McKenzie, Cameron Monoghan as 'Jerome Valeska/Jeremiah Valeska', Cory Michael Smith as 'Edward Nygma/The Riddler' and Robin Lord Taylor as 'Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin'. All of the brilliant performances mean the series can jump from tone to tone easily, it ranges from gory and dark , to comical and lighthearted. It thrives off the 'soap opera' like plots that are often bought to the screen. The Bruce Wayne that is presented is the best one yet to be put to screen, it is the first one to really incorporate the 'World's Greatest Detective' aspect of the character. The set designs, cars and props would lead you to believe it took place during the 60's or 70's whilst the characters behaviour would lead you to believe it takes place as early as the 30's or as late as present. The show pulls from every era to make the perfect blend of people, places and things. Season's 2 and 4 are absolutely perfect with the finale of season 4 having the best cliffhanger ending ever. The best single episodes are: 4:22 ('A Dark Knight: No Man's Land'), 2:17 ('Wrath Of The Villains: Into The Woods') and 2:2 ('Rise Of The Villains: Knock, Knock'). The only reason I didn't give 'Gotham' a 10 is due to seasons 1 and 5. The first season was boring and dragged quite a bit whilst season 5 felt very rushed. It had the chance to be fantastic but wasn't as good as it could've been. Especially with the portrayal of Bane, one of the biggest characters from the comics and it was a shame that he didn't turn out to be as great as I expected when he was first announced. Overall, I love 'Gotham' and would highly recommend to anyone, even if you're not a huge comic book fan.

9/10