I'm not the biggest fan of period movies, but I had to make an exception when Jessie Buckley is in the lead here. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! comes out just 3 months after another Frankenstein adaptation. But the Bride is not about the science but more about how women are ostracised from society. Frankenstein's monster, who now has lived for over 100 years, travels to Chicago to meet with Dr. Euphronious, whose help he needs to help to bring a woman back to life for **** Bride has a lot working in its favour. The credit for that goes primarily to Jessie Buckley. She turns in yet another memorable performance that is loud, reactive to the plight of women and polar opposite to the calmness that she brought to her role in Hamnet. Christian Bale plays an older version of the monster and I can picture Jacob Elordi's version turning into this version. He is the image of a person who is lonely and would go to any extent to get a companion. Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't have much to do as someone who serves as Frank's inspiration. Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening costar.Maggie Gyllenhaal makes some notable changes to the narrative, the major one being the possession of The Bride by Mary Shelly's character. This brings out a different side to the character, one that is empowered and wants a safer place for women in the world. The Bonny & Clyde style of storytelling makes for a refreshing change. The Bride! isn't for everyone. It works primarily because of Buckley's performance and Gyllenhaal's vision for the character.
The Scream franchise's resurrection was too good to be true I guess. And with the exit of both Melissa Barrera & Jenna Ortega, the high that Scream 5 & 6 brought to the franchise went with it. Bringing Neve Campbell's Sidney was not that fruitful after all. But for die hard fans, there may be something that brings joy.Sidney Prescott-Evans now lives a happy life with her husband and kids, away from her hometown of Woodsboro. But the past doesn't stop from creeping up on her as a new Ghostface(s) surfaces, targeting Sydney's teenage daughter.Scream 7 has some of the dumbest moments of the franchise - the very obvious use of AI in the plot that is borderline ridiculous, the Ghostface reveal is nothing short of a disappointment and the fact that I didn't care about any of the characters made the movie even less impactful. Courtney Cox returns as well and so do Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown. The rest of the cast are new to the franchise. Isabel May (who looks a lot like a younger Jennifer Lawrence) plays Sidney's daughter Tatum, and is the only positive of this movie. Her performance is good and maybe the 8th installment will have her take the lead. If you love slashers, then Scream 7 may work for you in parts. But as a fan of the franchise, Scream 7 is as bad as the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot from last year.
Wuthering Heights was one of my most anticipated movies of the year. Like Vishal Bhardwaj is a director to look forward to, the same applies to Emerald Fennell. I loved both Promising Young Woman and Saltburn and had high hopes for what was meant to be a very Emerald Fennell-esque take on a classic. Catherine and Heathcliff grow up together and are very close to each other. When Catherine falls for their neighbour because of his rich lifestyle, Heathcliff leaves home. When Heathcliff returns after a few years, Catherine proclaims her love for him and as a result her married life is thrown into turmoil.Emerald Fennell took the core element of the source material - Catherine & Heathcliff and rewrote their story with a lot of the supporting characters either written out or combined with others. And the movie has Fennell's stamp all over it - the Charlie xcx music, the overly sexual elements, and a very aesthetic production design. However, the only things that are notable are the production design and costumes. The performances are nothing to write home about, despite having Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the lead. Their chemistry doesn't feel organic enough except for maybe one or two moments at the start. Hong Chau's character was my favourite. The Charlie xcx songs don't have the intended effect and are mostly lost in the myriad of things onscreen. Wuthering Heights is a tedious watch. Except for visually pleasing frames, nothing works in its favour. A big disappointment for me.
The "least expected of the two" theory fits the English movies that were released last Friday as well - Although Wuthering Heights got all the hype, Crime 101 came out on top with its ensemble cast and slick storytelling. When a string of thefts hits cities along the 101 freeway, a police officer is hellbent on tracking the thief down, disregarding the impact it has on his own career. After watching The Rip (and loving it) last month, I was definitely pumped for watching another crime thriller. Crime 101 lives up to the hype generated by the cast & action sequences. Chris Hemsworth is at his best and he plays someone with OCD and an introvert, something different from his usual boisterous self. Hemsworth's co-stars are also Marvel alumni and they all play such wonderful characters. Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan all get involved in these robberies in some way or the other, and this forms the crux of the story. Monica Barbaro co-stars. Crime 101 doesn't deliver twists that you would expect from a crime thriller, but it does the cat and mouse game effectively. I particularly loved the ending of this movie because it hits different. Do check out Crime 101 if you are into crime thrillers ft. a stellar ensemble cast.
Marty Supreme was all the buzz when it came out last year and it still hasn't died down. With the movie receiving 9 nominations at the Oscars and Timothée Chalamet touted to win the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the buzz surrounding it hasn't gone. And after having watched Marty Supreme, I understand why Timothee should win it. Set in the 1950s, Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman and aspiring table tennis champion sets his eyes on winning the World Table Tennis Championship in Tokyo. The movie basically highlights the extent to which Marty is willing to go to make that trip to Tokyo. Marty Supreme is pure chaos and I mean that in the best way possible. From start to finish, the movie just goes on and on from one thing to another. It is like Marty sets off a chain of events and that just keeps piling up until the very end. Chalamet is so good in this, it may very well be my favourite performance of his. He is a hustler, who knows what he wants and is willing to go to any extent to achieve it (including getting spanked by Mr. Wonderful). His co-stars, Odessa A'zion, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin O'Leary are all excellent in their respective roles. You cannot talk about Marty Supreme without mentioning the Table Tennis portions, which are well shot and gives you a feeling of watching a full on sports movie. Though Marty Supreme is loosely based on real life table tennis player, Marty Reisman, it isn't an out and out sports movie. Marty Supreme is a top-notch film and I have nothing but praises to sing about it. Every department excels in this film and I was entertained from start to finish.
Sam Raimi returns to the director's chair after 4 years and this time he takes us on a journey of survival at a remote island. The thing with Raimi is that you have to expect the unexpected. He gave such a Raimi twist to the MCU in the Multiverse of Madness with those glimpses of horror popping out. Send Help is no different when it comes to surprises. Linda, a dedicated but meek employee is denied a long due promotion despite her contribution to the company. Her toxic boss, Bradley asks her to accompany him to Thailand for a merger. But when the plane crashes with only Bradley and her stranded on a remote island, the power dynamics drastically change.Send Help is the kind of movie that you cannot predict where it will turn to next. Things escalate at regular intervals when you least expect it. Rachel McAdams is so good as Linda, someone who can be just as caring as they can be extremely dangerous. The way she switches between the two is one of the highlights of the movie. Bradley played by Dylan O'Brien portrays the right amount of arrogance for the toxic boss that he plays.Send Help has certain elements that reminded me of a movie called Triangle of Sadness but it is not a rip off. The chain of events in this movie are violent, at times a bit over the top, but a lot of fun to watch. I loved every minute of it.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a book that I finished in record time. It was that engaging from start to finish. It is the perfect source to be adapted for the screen - pulpy, full twists and turns. With a cast as popular as this, the movie adaptation was bound to turn heads irrespective of the reviews. Millie is employed by the affluent Winchesters as a housemaid. Nina Winchester is married to Andrew and they have a kid called Cecelia. Millie is surprised to have landed the job but soon Nina starts acting up, giving Millie second thoughts about her easy **** casting for this movie was spot-on. Sydney Sweeney does a wonderful job at portraying the mysterious Millie, a woman who lives out of her car and cannot hold a job for long. Brandon Sklenar as Andrew is a dream casting as he is described as someone who everyone fawns over. But the best one has to be Amanda Seyfried as Nina. She is just brilliant; maybe even more so than in the book. Michele Morrone as Enzo doesn't have much scope in the movie as his role is toned down even further from what it was in the book. The Housemaid is a near-faithful adaptation of the book and that is needed for a book such as this. So for all those who don't like adaptations, check this one out because they nailed it. I did find the 2nd hour of the movie (post reveal) a bit rushed compared to the book but I am willing to overlook that. I am super excited for the sequel, which got greenlit yesterday. It is based on the 2nd book in the series.
Why? Is the only question that I have after watching this pointless movie. I understand Jack Black has infectious energy and he transfers that into even the fullest of movies but there is only so much one actor can do. I had the same issues with Minecraft, but Jack Black is great in both these movies.Having grown fed up with their lives, four friends who made a film together as kids reunite to make a reboot of the iconic Anaconda movie in the Amazon. There is a lot that makes this movie interesting on paper: the fact that this movie works as a spoof of the original and doesn't follow a serious tone of the original, an amazing cast known for their comic timing - Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn. But all of it falls flat despite Jack Black's dedicated effort to carry every movie he is in on his shoulders. Daniela Melchior is miscast, Thandiwe Newton should have had more to do and Selton Mello is written off too early. Anaconda could have been the sleeper hit of the year and could have given Jack Black another bonafide hit in 2025, but sadly it falls flat after the first 20 minutes or so.
Third time's the charm? In the case of Avatar, only the time was, according to popular opinion. The wow factor associated with Avatar has always been its groundbreaking visuals. Every frame is a piece of art and I doubt anything can ever even come close to matching the quality of visuals in this franchise. But from a storytelling perspective, there isn't much to go on about.Fire and Ash is set soon after the events of Way of Water with the Sullys still dealing with the loss of their son. While on a journey home, they are ambushed by the tyrannical Varang & her Mangkwan clan. This altercation leads to a battle between the Mangkwan and Metkayina clans. Oona Chaplin portrays Varang, the latest addition to the Avatar cast and I have to admit that she is undoubtedly the best thing that has happened to the franchise since its inception. Oona Chaplin brings out the psychotic, unhinged nature of Varang with such brilliance. I wish they would retain her character for the future installments. Another character who gets to shine is Sigourney Weaver's Kiri, whose mysterious powers are explored in detail here. Despite its beautiful visuals, the shallow storytelling has been an issue I've felt from the 1st installment - however, Avatar often talks about a lot of things that plague our Earth as well - over utilisation of nature's resources, killing of animals and invading territories.
As far as sequels go, Disney gets some stories right. Toy Story, Inside Out and now, Zootopia. These are the three franchises that have pitch-perfect movies across the franchise. Zootopia 2 plays to its strengths and delivers yet another memorable outing for our favourite anthropomorphic group of animals. Nick & Judy are now partners in the police force. But their habit of intervening in every crime bust leads into getting therapy for working together as partners. And when a snake returns to Zootopia after many years, Judy & Nick get on the case to uncover the reason why the creator of Zootopia is being **** favourite part of Zootopia is the animal puns; they never get old. The characters are likable as always. Nick & Judy make for one of the most iconic onscreen pairs. The vulnerability of Nick, a fox, who is otherwise shown as someone who is street smart and cunning was a good touch and I loved how they depicted that. Judy's obsession with solving crime no matter what the repercussions are is another track that works for her character. Just like other Disney sequels, Zootopia also finds a new area/facet to explore. Like how they introduce snakes/reptile in the sequel. In the original, there is no mention of them. And with the tease for installment 3, I am very curious to know how those characters will fit into this world and where they were for so long. Also, Shakira's Gazelle returns with yet another foottapping chartbuster for the Zootopia world. Do not miss this. Disney doesn't always roll out classics, so catch it when they do.
I am a big fan of Stephen King's work. I love his books and I try to appreciate the adaptations. Some of the adaptations are good, such as this year's The Long Walk. The Running Man, which is getting its second adaption, with the first one dating back to 1987 with Arnold in the lead. Though that was just inspired from the book and played out more like a B movie, I have got to say that I enjoyed that more than the new version. The Running Man is set in a dystopian USA, where game shows are a big thing. The biggest one is The Running Man, where you have to go on the run for 30 days, surviving mercenary groups and civilians to earn some billion New Dollars. Ben Richards inadvertently becomes a participant to give his family a new life. Does he become the first one to win it? Well, that is what the movie is about. It has to be a coincidence that two of King's works, set in an alternate, dystopian America about a walking/running contest release in the same year. The Long Walk could have as well been a part of the games in The Running Man world. That would have been a good easter egg to place in this movie. The Running Man movie starts off well. The pacing is good, everything from the book is very well captured visually. But for some reason this doesn't seem like a typical Edgar Wright movie because it has a pretty straightforward plot. Though Glen Powell gives it his all, he doesn't exactly match the attitude of his book counterpart. Despite the ensemble cast, a lot of the talent is wasted. Michael Cera & Colmon Domingo are good in their minor roles. Josh Brolin, Emilia Jones, Lee Pace are not used to their full potential. The Running Man wasn't as exciting as it should have been. I loved how the world was imagined for the screen. It could not have been done better. On the whole, I feel this could have been tighter.
What Dan Trachtenberg has done to breathe new life to the Predator franchise is something that needs to be studied. Unlike the Predator movies of yore and the horrendous AvP movies, the Predator here has a character arc and is not just a killing machine. Badlands takes us to the home planet of the Predators, the Yautjas. To prove his worth, a young Yautja leaves the home planet to hunt the Kalisk as prey. On this other planet, he meets a damaged Weyland-Yutani Synth, who teams up with him to hunt the creature. There is a lot to appreciate in this standalone sequel in the new Predator franchise. After Prey showed the potential of this universe, Dan came out with an animated anthology movie earlier this year that sort of connected this franchise to the original Predator movie. In Badlands, Dan explores a predator, who wants more to his life than just hunting prey. The buddy cop angle gives us a fresh take on the character. The Yautja is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning plays Thia, the Synth. Elle Fanning's performance is the highlight of this Predator movie with a heart. Badlands features top-notch visual effects and makeup work. The detailing on the Yautja is so good. Depicting the deadly predator as being this vulnerable is a welcome change as well. And given the movies in this franchise are standalone entries set centuries apart, they are not bound by the weight of a connected universe. With the director teasing a potential return of Arnold to the franchise has me excited about what they might come up with next.
If it has Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, then you just go watch it. They are a director-actor pair that weave wonders movie after movie. Yorgos has come out with three movies in as many years, including Bugonia, a remake and Kinds of Kindness (which wasn't exactly Yorgos' finest work). Bugonia is quintessential Yorgos, given how absurd the proceedings are. Cousins Teddy and Don kidnap the CEO of a major pharma company because they believe that she is an alien, who is trying to destroy the planet. I mean, the synopsis of the movie alone will peak the interests of conspiracy theory fanatics. It peaked mine despite me being on the fence about such theories. Bugonia's theme is so good, it keeps you double guessing till the end: Is any of this true? Who is telling the truth? It is filled with Yorgos' trademark dark sense of humour, drool worthy cinematography and an engaging score. Performances in this movie do not need a special mention because everyone knows how Emma Stone gets when she is in a Yorgos movie. She has played such varied characters, and all with the same conviction. Jesse Plemons is slowly becoming a Yorgos regular and does these kinds of grey/dark characters really well. His cousin who isn't entirely convinced by his cousin's actions is played by Aidan Delbis , who gives a notable performance. Bugonia isn't as metaphorical as Yorgos' previous work. You don't need to put much thought into it. But the overarching story and the ending makes you wonder about life on Earth and where we are heading. Do check it out in the theatres or later at home. But do not miss it.
The latest TRON movie may not be great, but neither was Legacy when it came out. It got all the visual aspects and score right, but the story was meh! Ares fits in the same boat but with better performances, at least.ENCOM & Dillinger Systems are in the race to find & retrieve the permanence code that was developed by Kevin Flynn. The code would help the constructs from the digital world to survive in the real world. Ares is the program created by Dillinger that is released into the real world for this purpose. I am quite skeptical about Jared Leto in tentpole movies such as these. More so after Morbius. But the thing is, in Tron he plays a digital being - so being emotionless and robotic works just fine. He isn't the worst thing about the movie; the plot is. The saving grace of this installment comes in the form of Greta Lee & Jodie Turner-Smith and Nine Inch Nails's brilliant techno score. Greta Lee is phenomenal in anything she is in. Past Lives made most of us fans of her screen presence. And Jodie does a better job at being a construct than Leto. Evan Peters is a great villain, but not here. This is way too easy for him and not diabolical enough. Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges and Hasan Minhaj are wasted in minor, insignificant roles. NIN's score is another highlight of the film. It elevates an otherwise mediocre film. They really captured the essence of the theme. The visuals deserve praise as well. At a time when visual effects in movies tend to look cheap, TRON shines bright with top-notch CGI. The colours pop and the CGI worlds mesmerise. In the end, TRON: Ares is an average outing. It is visually and auditorily satisfactory.
At the moment, the only other film that comes close to how perfect The Sinners is, is One Battle After Another. Paul Thomas Anderson's first film since 2021's Licorice Pizza is a thrilling movie from start to finish with not a single dull moment. An ex-revolutionary from a group called the French 75, Bob has been on the run from his past for the last 16 years. He must rescue his daughter from a military officer who has links to their past. Paul Thomas Anderson movies have a distinctive stylez and his latest is no different. One Battle After Another is his first collaboration with Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio. The nervous energy that DiCaprio brings to this character as a bumbling, perpetually-high-on -drugs-and-alcohol ex-revolutionary trying his best to save his daughter, is simply brilliant. Sean Penn, who plays the military officer brings a different kind of menace to the screen. He portrays a man who is demented and derives pleasure from perversion. I will be shocked if Penn doesn't win his 3rd Oscar next year. The supporting actors are all well cast, especially Chase Infiniti in her feature film debut, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall & Benicio del Toro. The pacing of the movie is another aspect that works in favour of the film. It is non-stop, relentless, high stakes action from start to finish. Just as the title suggests, it is just one thing after another. The car chase at the end is the highlight of the film. It makes you appreciate the technical prowess of the movie. Jonny Greenwood's sublime score elevates these scenes to another level. One Battle After Another could not have come at a better time. It is timely, it is entertaining and it gives us a major Oscar front runner as the awards season begins.
I started watching Demon Slayer a few months back and it took me a few episodes to start appreciating the show. The format is a bit different, given there are frequent flashbacks to the backstories of most characters including the demons. And this is what sets it apart; the effort put into world building with detailed story lines for all. But this doesn't translate well when it comes to sitting through 2.5 hours of it in one stretch. Set immediately after the events of the Hashira Arc, the Hashiras and the other demon slayers find themselves trapped inside Muzan's Infinity Castle, a place that stretches infinitely in all directions. Split up and with other upper rank demons in their way, the Demon Slayer Corps have to find and kill Muzan before he recovers. I am not sure if the 2nd half of the movie's title was publicised much as I was wondering why the second half of the movie focused a lot on the demon Akaza. But his backstory is one of the best we have got so far. I loved it, but then again, I would have preferred this in an episodic format. Demon Slayer is a heavy show with a lot going on, so a big screen experience would have made sense for the final bit of the arc and if the wait is 2 years between installments, then it just gets worse. Nevertheless, Infinity Castle should mean a lot for hardcore fans of the manga and the anime. I did miss Nezuko in this, since it is set entirely inside the castle. But hoping to see more action in the final two installments. In the meantime, I will catch up on the story through the source material to keep my Demon Slayer withdrawal symptoms at bay.
Stephen King adaptations have been rolling out like crazy this year. The Monkey, The Institute, The Life of Chuck and now, The Long Walk, an adaptation of the book that he wrote under the pseudonym, Richard Bachman. I personally didn't like this book because I am more of a horror/supernatural/thriller King fan. The Long Walk is about survival and endurance. But the adaptation has improved on the source **** in a dystopian alternate USA, 50 teenage boys participate in a walking competition that ends when only one person is left standing. Each walker has to maintain a minimum speed of 3 miles/hr and if he goes below that, they are given upto 3 warnings and then they are given a ticket. I never imagined The Long Walk to work as a movie, since a large part of the story is just conversations between the walkers. But director Francis Lawrence brings to life a very entertaining version of the source material. And most of the credit has to go to Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, the two leads who play Garraty & McVries. Their onscreen chemistry and camaraderie is endearing. Ben Wang, Mark Hamill, round up the supporting cast. The other department that needs due credit is the sound. The gun shots literally give you the chills just as the walkers would feel it. The bleak, dystopian vibe of the States adds to the misery experienced by the walkers and the viewers alike. The Long Walk is not everyone's cup of tea. But if you are a fan of Stephen King's work, then The Long Walk is definitely a must watch.
I hold the Conjuring franchise in high regard. The first Conjuring movie came out a year after I started tracking and reviewing movies that I watched in theatres. And it was the most memorable horror movie experience for me at the time. It redefined and resurrected the horror genre from a slump of sorts. Set in the 80s, the final chapter of the Warrens' story focuses on a demonic presence that dates back to the days when they started off in this field. The case becomes a very personal experience for them, that almost destroys their family. After the 2nd Conjuring movie, the plethora of spin-offs & the threequel almost ruined the franchise. It became yet another attempt at milking a franchise. The 4th entry in the main series is still better, given the connection we have to the titular characters/actors - Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson. They are still at the top of their game despite their characters approaching retirement. The Warrens get involved in the case only in the latter half of the movie, giving the makers time to delve into their personal lives, including their daughter's. That may come as a disappointment for fans, given the lack of jump scares in the first half. But it is still a decent movie, by horror movie standards. Ben Hardy, Mia Tomlinson co-star with uncredited cameos as characters from previous installments.Watch it if you are a fan of the series/franchise. Else skip it and wait for it to hit digital.
When Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman come together for a movie, it becomes a prerequisite to go watch it. The Roses is the remake of the 80's movie The War of the Roses, which is an adaptation of a novel by the same name. Theo and Ivy Rose move to the US to live their dream. Theo, an architect loses his job when his latest design collapses in a storm. At the same time, Ivy's restaurant dreams take flight causing a shift in familial duties for the couple. This leads to a lot of friction and ultimately a chain of events that threaten to destroy their lives. The Roses may not be a great movie but having the lead pair go at each other's throats was fun to watch. Their British banter is not something you get experience everyday. And it's been a while since I saw Cumberbatch in something other than his customary cape and beard. Coleman channels her culinary skills from The Bear. The supporting cast is stacked, including the likes of Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou & Zoë Chao. But my favourite was the cameo by Allison Janney . The Roses is a fun to watch, but also quite intense towards the end as tensions reach peak levels. I enjoyed watching it primarily due to the lead pair. A decent one-time watch by the director Austin Powers & Meet the Parents franchises.
Director Zach Cregger's 2nd horror movie and he manages to deliver yet another winner. Set in Maybrook, Pennsylvania, the story starts with 17 out of 18 kids from the same classroom running out of their homes at 2:17 one night. The next day, only the teacher and the 18th boy turn up, throwing the entire town into a tizzy. The issue with Weapons is that I can't talk much about it - a lot of it would be spoiled if I do. But for fans of Cregger's previous movie, Barbarian, Weapons makes for a brilliant sophomore effort with numerous instances of dark humour sprinkled throughout the runtime. The casting is good. Julia Garner : Actress plays the teacher, Ms. Gandy and Cary Christopher plays Alex Lilly, the only child who doesn't disappear. They were the standouts for me. Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Alden Ehrenreich & Amy Madigan co-star. The beauty of Weapons also lies in its Rashomon style of storytelling. It is a style I adore a lot as it gives perspective and for this story it works really well. Though the ending may not be to everyone's liking given how tonally divergent it is, it worked for me. I love weird horror movies and Weapons was exactly that.
As far as legacy sequels go, The Naked Gun is a brilliant throw back to the comedy spoof from the late 80s. The franchise returns after 31 years with the titular character Frank Drebin's son, Frank Drebin Jr. taking up the mantle of the bumbling cop, who manages to nab the criminals but will take the entire city down doing so. Frank Drebin Jr. wishes to honour the legacy of his late father. When he is assigned the case of a car accident, all leads point to a tech mogul and a bank robbery he failed to solve. I've got to say, the casting was spot on! Liam Neeson is perfect as Frank Drebin Jr. He brings his tough guy act from all the action movies he has done before. And that works in favour of this movie as it sets him apart from Leslie. Some of the jokes don't land, especially the dad jokes. But some moments are pure gold, taking a stab at Neeson's own action movies and even at some modern day tech advancements. Pamela Anderson is the female lead and Paul Walter Hauser portrays Neeson's partner (Ed Hocken's son). Danny Huston plays the tech mogul who plans to unravel his nefarious plan on New Year's **** Naked Gun is best enjoyed in a group. So find a screen that is almost booked to capacity if you wish to enjoy this movie to the fullest. Liam Neeson is the worthy successor to Leslie Nielsen and I hope they come out with more of these. This is the best Naked Gun movie since the first one.
With the release of Fantastic Four, Matt Shakman has introduced the first superhero family into the universe in the best possible way. First Steps is a Marvel movie you can watch without any prior knowledge of the MCU, making it more accessible. Set sometime in the 60s on Earth 828 (a retro-futuristic world), it has been 4 years since the Fantastic Four was formed. They have been the protectors of this world and have managed to keep threats at bay. But when Silver Surfer flies to Earth warning them of Galactus, the devourer of worlds, the team set out to eliminate the threat.First Steps may seem like a remake of 2007 Fantastic Four movie, but it is a lot more than that. Starting with the casting, I have to say that everyone was aptly cast. My favourites have to be Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn as the Storm siblings, Sue and Johnny. Kirby's Sue is a mother in this and she channels that energy throughout the movie as a protective mother. Those emotions have been captured really well. Quinn's Johnny is cocky to the right amount. Pedro Pascal's Reed is a different take on the character as he is caught between saving the world and protecting his son. I was the happiest to see Ebon Moss-Bachrach on the big screen given I am a huge fan of The Bear. Though he is mostly present via motion capture, you can feel his presence. Julia Garner : Actress as the Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson as Galactus have scope for much more in the future and they manage to lay the groundwork for the threat they impose. The technical prowess of this movie is one of the best to come out of the MCU since its inception in 2008. The outer space visuals, the suits (the colour scheme & branding of the F4) and the score by Michael Giacchino are out of this world. The F4 theme has to be the greatest since the Avengers theme. First Steps may seem a little low on action, and I feel that is understandable when they are fighting a cosmic being like Galactus. The movie works more as a stepping stone for future movies or the future of the MCU in a way. family more than elaborate set pieces. And for the most part, that works.
Superman was my most anticipated movie of the year. I don't remember the last time I was this tensed about a movie. But the day the social reactions started pouring in, I was relieved and my faith in James Gunn stayed intact. And after I watched it, I was very happy with the final product. It was fun and I don't remember the last time a DC movie was fun (Gunn's Suicide Squad, I **** 3 years after Superman makes his presence known to the world and after he intervenes in a cross border escalation, Luthor tries to expose Superman's true intentions to the world. James Gunn did the right thing by avoiding the origin story for Superman. Keeping it to a few lines of text at the very beginning was a smart move. But that isn't the only thing he gets right with one of the most popular superhero of all time. The end result is a colourful, fun, fast-paced movie that portrays Superman as a hero who isn't invincible, is empathetic and wants to be seen as a person who wants to help. David Corenswet is perfect as Clark Kent/Superman. He has the boyish charm of a hero, who is still learning the ropes. Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane is my favourite rendition of the character and she is a strong character in this. Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor is another revelation. He is ruthless, merciless and oozes hate for the Man of Steel. The side characters who shine are Mr. Terrific & Guy Gardener played by Edi Gathegi and Nathan Fillion. The former steals the show especially in that single take fight scene and with his dialogues. Guy Gardener is set to reprise his role in Pacemaker and the Green Lantern series and I can't wait for him to let loose. And last but not the least, Gunn's area of expertise is the depiction of animals in movies. Krypto may not have dialogues, but he ended up being one of my favourite characters. Gunn goes the comic book/animated show route with his adaptation of the character. And that works well given how dark and disjointed the Snyder universe was. The time and effort put in by the visual effects team truly paid off - the movie looked spectacular on the big screen.
The dinosaurs continue their reign on Earth and they refuse to go extinct as we humans get a lot of satisfaction profiteering off of them. This would have been the case if they existed for real but for now, it is with the barrage of these movies in a franchise that never actually took off after the original movie came out in 1993. The novelty of watching dinos onscreen ended after that movie; irrespective of how many times you play the iconic John Williams score during the **** a few years after the incidents of Dominion, a pharma company (obviously evil) enlist the help of mercenaries to extract blood samples from living dinosaurs to create a miracle drug. The island they venture into is an old R&D facility that is home to some of the mutated dino species. Jurassic World Rebirth is a very inconsequential movie. The stakes are low, bordering pointless and it is predictable to the dot. The only thing they didn't do is the T-Rex saviour thing. For a movie about mutated dinosaurs, they hardly appear onscreen. Edwards tries to maintain their secrecy like he did in the Godzilla reboot. But here it backfires because of the poor character design and screentime. The cast is sort of stacked but there isn't much for them to do. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend are there but this movie would have worked with any other set of actors. The dialogue writer needs a little schooling given a lot of the dialogues are clichéd and the jokes are terrible. The plot element of the family on a sailing trip getting stuck at the island ruins the pacing of the film and Xavier, the teenage boy in that group may just be one of the most irritating characters written for screen. Rebirth gets the cinematography and production design right but the plot, the stakes, the dialogues, the over-utilisation of the Jurassic Park theme work against it. Rebirth is a pointless sequel that no one asked for. We had barely recovered from Dominion.
Trust Joseph Kosinski to deliver a summer blockbuster and he most definitely will. His latest takes on high-speed racing in F1 with Brad Pitt in the driver's seat.Sonny Hayes quit F1 racing more than a decade ago after a freak accident. His friend, Ruben, who currently owns an F1 team approaches him to reverse his retirement in order to help his team win a race, and in the process mentor their rookie driver. After much resistance, Sonny returns as APXGP's 2nd driver. The authenticity of the entire movie is what makes it special. The movie was shot during actual race days at the actual F1 race venues across the world. It also features race car drivers from the real world. APXGP, the fictional team created for the team is the focus of the movie, so the movie captures all the behind the scenes drama that unfolds for this team that is on the verge of collapse as they have never qualified for a race. Brad Pitt is aptly cast as Hayes, a racer from the 90s, who still holds on to the dream of winning an F1 race. Though he isn't as enigmatic as Tom Cruise & his screen presence, Pitt makes it work. Damson Idris plays the rookie driver, Joshua Pearce, who is talented but considers Hayes as a rival. Javier Bardem plays Ruben, the debt-heavy friend of Hayes & owner of APXGP. Kerry Condon plays the tech director of APXGP. Her character stood out as one of the best in the movie. Tobias Menzies, Sarah Nilesh **** brilliance of F1 lies in it's camera work. The races are shot with such brilliance. It literally has you immersed in the race, which happens almost every 15 minutes, so there is no dearth of it. I was hooked every time the APXGP team got down to the race given the rivalry between the two drivers. Hans Zimmer's score is excellent as always and the soundtrack has one of the best set of songs ever compiled and these play out in sync with the racing action.F1 Movie is an experience that is worth your time & money. I have never watched F1 races till date but this movie makes it easy for people like me to understand the sport. It is very inclusive and it may have generated some interest in the sport as well.
Celine Song's follow-up to Past Lives really had me excited. After a brilliant debut feature, she roped in Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal & Chris Evans for a "rom-com" that gave out vibes of movies from the 2000s. But yes, that was all a marketing gimmick to make it seem like it/take a stab at the rom-coms of that era. I love false marketing in movies, but I would have loved the movie even more if it offered something **** in New York, Lucy is a successful matchmaker, who has brought many couples together. Lucy herself wishes to get married to a rich guy and she is upfront about it. When she hooks up with the rich brother of one her clients, her dreams may have just come true. But when her ex comes knocking around at the same time, things start to get complicated for her. To clear it up, Materialists is a movie that discusses the modern dating scene, where people are very eager to swipe left or right, have a long list of demands and most importantly, money and looks is all that matters. Celine Song does a brilliant job at showcasing this throughout the movie via the numerous clients that her protagonist Lucy speaks to and from Lucy's perspective well. The casting is top-notch. Pedro Pascal fits into the role of a suave & fashionable banker. But he doesn't get to do much, given his limited screentime. Chris Evans finally gets a role worthy of his time after he stepped down as Captain America. Dakota Johnson is the next Kristen Stewart, given how much she has improved since her debut. The trio share incredible chemistry but there is something amiss from Song's sophomore effort. It lacks the magic that made Past Lives so touching. Materialists feels a bit shallow despite the importance of the theme. Watch Materialists for its cast & its soundtrack, or if you are a fan of Celine Song.
Sony Pictures gave us an unnecessary sequel in Karate Kid Legends but they seem to have redeemed themselves by giving us 28 Years Later, the sequel to 28 Days & 28 Weeks Later; a sequel that has been 18 years in the making. And the wait has been worth it. If you are a fan of how the previous movies in the franchise were envisioned and shot, then you will adore this one. Set 28 years after the virus outbreak, the franchise now takes us to a small inhabitation on an island off the coast of the English mainland. One of the inhabitants, a boy named Spike learns about a doctor who lives on the mainland, he takes his sick mother to meet him, encountering various threats in the form of evolved infected and other nefarious beings.2025 is turning out to be a great time for young English actors. Spike played by Alfie Williams is a revelation. To carry this film is no easy job, and Alfie makes it look so easy. His onscreen mother, played by Jodie Comer is brilliant in her limited screentime and so is Aaron Taylor Johnson, who plays Spike's tough dad. Fiennes Ralph makes a solid impression despite his limited screentime. Jack O' Connell stars in a cameo with his role set to expand in the sequel that is due in Jan'26. 28 Years Later is chaotic from the get go. As with the previous films, the camera work is edgy and effective. The infected have undergone their own form of evolution, which is effectively showcased. And the score and choice of song(s) have the intended effect, making this installment a worthy entry to the franchise. One of the best of the year, hands-down!
John Wick is the definition of a true-blue action film. It was a perfect blend of action and style. I generally get bored with too much action but John Wick redefined the genre for the past decade. Ballerina brings another character from the universe to the limelight. Eve Macarro, a ballerina, who is training under the Roska Roma sets out to avenge her father's killers. Along the way she meets some famous names from this **** you have watched Ana De Armas in No Time To Die, you know what she can do in an action film. She was one of the best things about Daniel Craig's swan song as James Bond. But the chirpy action star from No Time To Die becomes a cold blooded killer in Ballerina. And she nails it, as was expected! Ana's screen presence is electric. She slays with style, may it be with guns or a samurai sword. There is one action sequence set inside a firearms shop that is just top notch! Like John Wick, the action is borderline bonkers. A lot of it is over the top but they make it look realistic enough for you to get behind it. Apart from action sequences & Ana De Armas' performance, the story doesn't hit the sweet spot like the John Wick movies have done. Even the inclusion of Keanu Reeves' character is just to ensure people turn up for this movie (which should not be the case!). I personally enjoyed Ballerina, especially Ana De Armas' performance/turn as an action star.
Another week, another sequel. Karate Kid returns after 15 years with characters from both, the movie and the recently concluded Netflix series Cobra Kai, reprising their roles. But the thing with this movie is that it is too convenient and in the end, an insignificant fan service for a small group of die-hard fans. Li Fong has recently moved to New York with his mother. He has promised to not pursue martial arts after a tragic incident with his brother. But when he is subjected to bullying, Li Fong returns to train for a local competition with the help of Han Shifu & Daniel LaRusso. If there was a movie that was made solely for fan service, then this would be it. There was no reason for this movie to even exist. The last Karate Kid movie did not leave us hanging or wanting a new movie. The Cobra Kai series concluded as well. But studios just want to milk these franchises till they are bone dry. Another thing I didn't like was how awkwardly paced it is. Everything is super rushed. There is no time for character development or even for the story to develop into something meaningful. Ben Wang, who plays the titular character, Li Fong is good but I did not care for the character. Unlike the Jaden Smith starrer, I was not invested in the events of the film at all. Karate Kid: Legends claims to bring together the movie and streaming worlds together for the sole purpose of pleasing fans. But the end result is a sequel that no one asked for, and a waste of Jackie Chan's talents.
Disney has now released three love action movies over the last 6 months. And after the debacle of Snow White, the studio has put a pause on all new live action projects barring Moana releasing next year. But Lilo & Stitch may change that again, given how popular it is. I still don't understand the fancy behind these live action adaptations especially when a lot of/most of the characters are photorealistic. Lilo & Stitch was one of the Disney Animated movies that I had never watched before. So I ensured to watch before the live action dropped. I found it cute especially Stitch, who is voiced by Chris Sanders (director of the original). This was the only reason why I was excited about the remake. Sanders is still as charming as he was 23 years back while voicing Stitch. The animation quality on the alien characters in the remake is limited to only Stitch. The rest of it is pretty average. The two other characters that I loved in the remake are Sydney Agudong, who plays Nani and the debutant, Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo. Their dynamic is so much better in the remake. It feels more real and the emotions actually work.There are a few changes made to the original and they are welcome changes. Like Jumba & Gantu's characters are more or less merged and that was the more sensible thing to do. The morphing to human form was an intelligent change. But all in all, there is still that feeling of why was this even needed? The remake earned a lot of money but is that what we actually need? Remakes making money while originals sink?Kids will enjoy this, especially the generation that came after the release of the original. For others, this is just another live action remake; nothing to write home about.
After almost 30 years, Ethan Hunt's Mission comes to an end (at least that is what they want us to believe). Tom Cruise stars in the Final Installment that serves more as a recap dweller than a full-fledged touching finale. Final Reckoning picks after the events of Dead Reckoning, with the AI known as the Entity taking control of the world, by infiltrating govts., economies, the nuclear missiles and everything else in between. Ethan Hunt & his team have just under 4 days to stop total annihilation. The Mission Impossible Series has evolved with time. After the brief pause between parts 3 & 4, the franchise returned with epic entries that delivered the goods from start to finish with the series reaching its peak in Fallout. Dead Reckoning was never going to top that but I personally loved it. With Final Reckoning, there is another dip. A lot of time is spent in flashbacks of the past entries - either to keep the un-initiated engaged or to sort of give a send-off to the franchise. Either way, the frequent flashbacks are a bit of a deterrent to the pace of the film. The stacked cast get their moments onscreen with the exception of Morales, who isn't convincing enough as a villain. I have immense respect for Tom Cruise, given the effort he puts into these roles. Doing your own stunts is one thing, but raising the bar every time while doing it is something else. I loved both the stunt scenes from the film - the underwater one and the one mid-air. Hayley Atwell is as brilliant as she was in Dead Reckoning and I feel she is a worthy addition. Simon Pegg & Ving Rhames return. Pom Klementieff doesn't have much to do this time. Angela Bassett, Nick Offerman & Tramell Tillman co-star with a few returning cast members from the previous films.Final Reckoning is a send-off for one of the best characters & one of the best franchises ever created. The stake is high as it gets & timely in the final mission but there is something amiss that made parts 4 through 7 more likeable/enjoyable. Cannot wait to see what Tom Cruise does next.
It has been 14 years since the last Final Destination film and at that time, it felt like the right thing to do and discontinue the franchise. But the 6th entry in the 25-year old franchise seems to have impressed everyone. Bloodlines takes you back to 1968, when Iris Campbell visits the newly opened Skyview Tower Restaurant. The premonition Iris had saved a lot of lives but in the present day, Death is coming back to finish its job.Bloodlines is as the title suggests, death runs in the family and it comes for everyone in it. The thing I loved the most about this installment is how it brings together the larger Final Destination universe. "It is all connected" could not have been depicted any better. And this being my first Final Destination movie in the theatres (and that too an uncut version), it was truly special. Death and the makers of the movie still have the wicked sense of humor intact. One of the directors of the movie is Job Watts (of the Spiderman trilogy fame) and I am guessing that is where the idea of family and emotions entered the script. Unlike the previous installments, Bloodlines doesn't treat its characters like road kill. It isn't just death after death after death. It has a lot going on in the background, which is both a boon and a curse. Coming to the deaths, the level of imagination never ceases to amaze me - although they are not as impactful and inventive as the ones in the previous installments. It retains the campy nature of it all but it could have been better. The hospital one was the best one for me from this movie. Tony Todd returns and closes his chapter as well in what was his final screen appearance.This could well be the final installment of the franchise but given how the Box Office performance forces studios to make more sequels, we could end up seeing some more entries that may act as prequels/interquels.
I left the theatre a happy Marvel fan after watching Thunderbolts*. This has been a tough task, especially after Endgame because the bar set was so high. Thunderbolts* takes you back to the good old days of the MCU and it is definitely a step in the right direction. Set after the events of Brave New World, de Fontaine is being investigated by the government for her involvement in illegal activities. The mercenaries that she has on her payroll are ordered to destroy all the evidence but little do they know the trap she has set for them. Thunderbolts* is a sight for MCU fans' sore eyes. This ragtag team of misfits blends together so well. There is a lot of heart in this movie and that is visible in how the team comes together despite the trying situation. Although some characters do not have much to do, there are a few standouts. Florence Pugh's Yelena finally gets her due as this is her most memorable one as the ex-Black Widow. And her relationship with her adoptive father, the Red Guardian is heartfelt. David Harbour is having the time of his life as the Russian super 🪖. The other standout is Lewis Pullman's Bob/Sentry. Given the different sides to the character, Pullman nails it especially in his most vulnerable state. Wyatt Russell and Hannah John Kamen are brilliant additions. Julia Louis-Dreyfus's de Fontaine does well as a sinister version of Fury. Sebastian Stan has a limited role. Thunderbolts* has a lot to offer. The humour works, especially with all the banter between the team members. The use of practical effects over CGI is a welcome change and gives the movie a more gritty, realistic feel. The underlying theme of mental trauma and fighting your inner demons is beautifully written and enacted. All in all, Thunderbolts* is a brilliant entry into the franchise and ends Phase V of the MCU on a high. Fantastic Four is up next on July 25th.
Ryan Coogler returns with his first original movie since his directorial debut with longtime collaborator, Michael B Jordan in what is being called the movie of the decade. Sinners is like nothing you have seen before. It is magic, it is the reason why we go to the cinemas. Set in 1932 in Mississippi, USA, the Smoke-Stack brothers return to their hometown after the war to start a juke joint. On opening night, a supernatural force threatens to kill them all. This might be the simplest synopsis I have given a movie. But Sinners is so much more than this. Sinners relies heavily on its background score and songs to set the mood. It is high on blues music that is sung by local singers at the juke joint and the eerie yet mesmerising score by Ludwig Göransson. Music is the lifeline of the movie and the scene that captures music from the past and the future is a highlight of the movie. The performances are top notch given the stacked cast comprising of Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller and a stunning debut by Miles Caton, who plays Sammie/Preacher Boy. We are introduced to each character in the first 40-45 minutes or so and once that is done and the music begins, so do the horrors of the **** I mentioned earlier, Sinners goes into a lot of depth in its storytelling. It is not your run of the mill horror movie about vampires. It delves into the race dynamics in the 30s, the prevalence of the Klux Clan and of course, the influence of music. Sinners has a lot of cultural, mystical, spiritual undertones that will get clearer with repeated viewing. And last but not the least, the visuals. Sinners is a movie that looks stunning on the big screen. So, do check out this masterpiece on the biggest screen possible that offers the best sound because there are moments when the floor beneath your feet literally shakes in tandem with the music onscreen.
Alex Garland returns a year after his brilliant Civil War. This time, he collaborates/co-directs Warfare with ex-Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza (whose life experiences this is based on). Set in Iraq in 2006, a US Navy SEAL team takes control of a house for surveillance. When the team is ambushed and some it's members are injured/killed, they are forced to evacuate amidst heavy gunfire. The beauty of Warfare is that it is based solely on the testimonials taken from the platoon members. So, there isn't a single bit that is exaggerated and everything happens in real-time. I am not a big fan of war movies, so I may not be the best judge of how this ranks among other war movies but the short runtime and the urgency & trauma of the events shown onscreen is gut-wrenching. Joseph Quinn & Cosmo Jarvis' characters have a lot of screaming to do and that just hits you!Warfare ticks all the boxes of a typical war movie. The sound design is brilliant, so ensure that you watch this in a good theatre. And an ensemble cast of many young guns from Hollywood - a war movie pre-requisite done right. Warfare is high-quality cinema. A war movie that doesn't glorify war, but shows the flip side of it. And the hyper-nationalism that is usually commonplace for modern day war films is non-existent here.
Video game adaptations are all the rage and the latest one has exceeded all expectations with a 3 day gross of 300Mn $ world-wide. But A Minecraft Movie is far from being a great adaptation; or for that matter a great movie. Steve has lived a non-existential life until one day when he discovers a mysterious orb that transports him to the Overworld, a place where you can create anything with your imagination (but in the shape of cubes). When the Overworld is threatened, Steve bands together with an unkiley group of humans to save the day.A Minecraft Movie is a kid's movie. It was targeted at that segment and they will be the ones who will enjoy it the most. I went for the movie just for Jack Black, who is without doubt the heart and soul of the movie. I don't know where that energy comes from, but he gives it his everything. But the same can't be said about the others. Jason Mamoa's comic timing is off, Jennifer Coolidge doesn't have much to do, Emma Myers and Danielle Brooks are underutilised. The animated and non-animated parts of the movie come together really well, the visuals are eye-catching and all but the story & the jokes don't work. But for the sake of Jack Black, Minecraft can be endured.
For the Indian audience, Novocaine may not be a novel concept. Because a few years ago we got the Vasan Bala film, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, an underrated gem of movie that had the titular character suffering from the same condition (insensitivity to pain). Nevertheless, Novocaine works given the performances and quirky premise.Nathan Caine, an introverted bank manager, who is insensitive to pain (CIPA) falls head over heels for his coworker, Sherry. One day a gang robs the bank and takes Sherry as hostage forcing Nathan to pursue the gang, thereby putting himself in life-threatening but non-painful situations. Novocaine works largely due to Jack Quaid's performance. His ability to play these introverted, caring characters is commendable. His performance as Nathan Caine aka Novocaine is endearing to say the least despite the countless life threatening situations he gets into. Amber Midthunder is brilliant as Sherry, the coworker who is taken hostage. Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel and Jacob Batalon co-star.Novocaine is bonkers and thus guarantees a fun time at the cinemas similar to how The Monkey did last week. Though I would have preferred if they had trimmed it down a bit.
The Monkey shares two similarities with Mickey 17: both are adapted from a book and both have the lead actor in a double role. Directed by Oz Perkins (Longlegs), the Monkey is the director's way of letting loose after the very intense Longlegs. This adaption makes for a bonkers horror movie that is along the lines of accidental deaths akin to Final Destination. Twin Brothers, Hal and Bill dispose a playing toy after some unexplainable deaths, which they believe is because of the cursed toy. Years later, when the monkey returns mysteriously, the brothers need to find a way to stop the carnage. Theo James stars as twins Hal and Bill, both with their unique characteristics. Hal is meek and timid, and his brother Bill is a brute, who has constantly bullied his twin since they were kids. Theo James' performance is noteworthy but there isn't much scope in a movie such as this. Tatiana Maslany makes a brief appearance as Hal & Bill's mother. Adam Scott, Elijah Woodand Osgood Perkins appear in minor roles. The Monkey's strength lies in its unique kills similar to how Final Destination crafted those brilliant accidental deaths. And there are a lot of creative and some completely bonker ones in this. Unlike Final Destination, there is a physical entity associated with the kills here. The Monkey is fun. More than horror, it is hilarious given the premise, dialogues and characters.
Mickey 17 is Oscar-winning filmmaker @Bong Joon-ho 's first film since Parasite. Based on a book by Ashton Edward titled Mickey 7, the adaptation takes us into a dystopian world where space travel is prevalent and humans are setting up colonies in worlds far far away. On one such expedition, Mickey signs up as an expendable, which involves getting experimented on and dying and then getting cloned and repeating this all over again, everytime. After one such incident, due to some misunderstanding, two Mickeys exist at the same time causing a stir among the authorities. Bong Joon-ho's name is associated with greatness; similar to how Christopher Nolan's is. Whatever Bong has directed has been good (Parasite being his crowning achievement). Mickey 17 is no different. Mickey is Bong Joon-ho's second non-original (adapted from a book) work after Snowpiercer. So you will have to go in for this expecting a not-so-typical Bong Joon movie. Mickey 17 is a fun movie. It has its fair share of jokes, an eclectic group of characters played by some phenomenal talent and of course, the director's attempt at social commentary (something that he continues from his previous films). Robert Pattinson is in his prime right now and he can do no wrong. His comic timing, speech variations, his facial expressions are so on-point for his two characters. He is a national treasure at this point! And to match his vibe, we have Naomi Ackie's Nasha, a security agent madly in love with Mickey. Toni Collette's Ylfa is charming but also pretty brutal. Mark Ruffalo seems to have been stereotyped as the go-to weirdo/power hungry man of late. Steven Yeun, Cameron Britton, Anamaria Vartolomei co-star. Mickey 17 is a solid entry into Bong Joon-ho's famed filmography and aligns with his obsession with monsters/aliens/creature movie set (Okja, The Host). The aliens featured in this movie will definitely become the next obsession. Do not miss this!
Based on the documentary titled, Supermen of Malegaon, this movie from Reema Kagti showcases how a group of friends from the village of Malegaon turned their passion for movies into reality by shooting home movies on shoestring budgets. The group starts out with parodies of popular movies like Sholay & Shaan to deliver laughs until they release how important original scripts are. Superboys of Malegaon has one of the best castings done for a movie in recent times. I love how they brought together actors that carry a similar vibe. Adarsh Gourav (White Tiger), Shashank Arora (Made in Heaven), Vineet Kumar Singh (Chhaava), Pallav Singh (Mirzapur), Saqib Ayub (Farzi) & Anuj Singh Duhan form the core friend group with each member playing different roles: director, actor, writer, cinematographer and so on. Adarsh's Nasir is de facto leader of the group and ends up calling the shots and causes friction at times. This is the kind of role Adarsh Gourav can play in his sleep. Shashank Arora's vulnerable avatar plays out really well as he maintains utmost faith in his (selfish) friend Nasir. Vineet Kumar is having a brilliant year. He is clearly the most talented one among the cast and he owns it. The female leads played by Manjiri Pupala & Muskkaan Jaferi are well written and have important roles to play. Superboys of Malegaon is an important film about filmmaking. It is proof that you just need a camera, an idea and a group that trusts you to film a movie. The passion for filmmaking is what matters and Reema Kagti's adaptation is a testament to that. Superboys of Malegaon should be on your watchlist. I am shocked at how the number of shows have reduced in week 2. The audience should learn to appreciate good movies instead of complaining about the lack of it. And before signing off, a special call out for the background score; it draws you into the lives of the citizens of Malegaon from the opening scene.
Marvel Cinematic Universe returns after last year's Deadpool & Wolverine with the new Captain America in the lead. After Sam Wilson accepts the mantle of the titular hero, he has now got a swanky new suit with wings made of Vibranium. Sam is called in by the President of the United States, the newly elected Thaddeus Ross to work together. But after a failed assassination attempt on Ross, Sam sets out to find the person behind this. I understand why many did not particularly love the 35th entry in the MCU; it can be because of the unnecessary character addition (which is obviously added as an after thought during the reshoots), a lot of the movie requires you to be aware of the past movies (especially Incredible Hulk) and the webseries (Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and lastly, what was the need for this film? Was it just to setup the upcoming Avengers movie or just to close some loose ends?Nevertheless, I am always up for a Marvel movie. After 35 movies and multiple shows, I am really invested in this world. Anthony Mackie's Sam makes for the perfect replacement but like every other character reminds him, he is no Steve Rogers. And that is fine. I love how they keep going back to the fact that Sam is still doubtful that he is worthy of the Captain America mantle and I love that they show this vulnerability. He is just human. Harrison Ford replaces William Hurt as Ross after the latter passed away. Ford does a wonderful job as Ross. I loved every scene he was in. And as the Red Hulk, he killed it! I just wish they had kept the Hulk reveal a secret. The theatre would have erupted. Liv Tyler's Betty Ross is hardly there, Tim Blake Nelson's The Leader has more potential in future movies, Shira Haas's Ruth was an interesting addition, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley gets his due and Esposito was wasted. Brave New World is good in parts and is nowhere near as bad as the reviews call it to be. Just don't go in with a lot of expectations.
Robert Eggers' fourth directorial is the remake of the 1922 adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was also titled Nosferatu. Brimming with top notch production value, a haunting score and an ensemble cast, the 2024 version of Nosferatu is a brilliant addition to Eggers' portfolio. Set in the 1830s Germany, a young girl, Ellen gets married to Thomas Hutter. Soon, Thomas is sent on a cross country trip to seal a real estate deal with an ageing Count. Little does Thomas know the horror that awaits him and the connection his client shares with his wife. Nosferatu released in the US on Christmas day alongside many other notable films: Babygirl, Sonic 3 & The Complete Unknown. Though Sonic raced to the top of the BO, Nosferatu wasn't far behind with a surprising 130Mn+ collection worldwide and counting and on track to become the highest grossing horror film of 2024. That is the pull behind Robert Eggers' name & of course the popular titular character. The performances are impeccable; Lily Rose Depp is at her haunting best after the forgettable Idol, Willem Dafoe brings his signature charm in even the smallest of roles, Nicholas Hoult is always perfect when he plays his jittery self. Bill Skarsgård loves going behind layers of make-up (IT, Nosferatu) but he isn't as terrifying as I would have thought. Nosferatu is a brilliant piece of cinema but for those who are expecting the typical horror movie, please stay away because Eggers does horror in his own way. Definitely not everyone's cup of tea.
Mufasa is the sequel/prequel to the Lion King that has Rafiki narrating the story of Mufasa's younger days to Simba's daughter, Kiara. The story involves Mufasa getting lost and eventually getting adopted by Obasi's pride. He finds a brother in Taka and they set on a path to find Milele (a mythical land).Mufasa's most decorated aspect is it's Oscar winning director; Barry Jenkins. Mufasa is a movie that will forever standout in his resume as a movie that is nowhere near his brand of cinema. It is a story that really did not require any telling. The story of Mufasa and his relationship with Scar is all good to know but it really doesn't change anything in terms of perspectives while watching reruns of the original. For me, Mufasa is just a way of the studios taking undue advantage of its **** songs by Lin Manuel Miranda are catchy but they don't have the recall value of the original or his other work. The only song that stands out is "I Always Wanted a Brother". The voice cast is stacked with the likes of Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge), who takes up the mantle of Mufasa, John Kani, who is brilliant as Rafiki, Seth Rogan, Billy Eichner, Beyonce and Donald Glover reprise their roles from the remake. Mads Mikkelsen voices Kiros, the leader of the white lions.Mufasa has some bright spots like the visual effects (much better than the remake) and how they have depicted the bond between Scar & his adopted brother Mufasa (tragic but good to know how it would have went down).
Gladiator II exists only due to a technicality. If it was not for that convenient plot element, this Ridley Scott Magnum Opus would not have seen the light of day. But I guess, that is true for every sequel, prequel, spin-off. I would have loved for this movie to have been better. And as a standalone film, it is great. The stacked cast, the visuals, Denzel Washington's electic performance. But Ridley Scott cannot outdo himself, a problem that has followed him around with every prequel/sequel he has made for his films. Set a few decades after the events of the first film, Rome has now come under the tyrannic rule of the unstable brothers - Geta & Caracalla. But there is a small group of people who wish to see a better Rome for its people. All they need now is the right moment to strike. When a young prisoner of war enters the Colosseum, they see hope. Gladiator II is a movie that will force you to make comparisons because essentially it is the same movie but with lesser developed, emotionally unconnected characters. Joaquin Phoenix was simply brilliant in the original and so was Russell Crowe in his Oscar winning performance. Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal seem out of place here. More so with the former. Denzel Washington is the only person who defines this sequel, gives it something to remember it by. Joseph Quinn & Fred Hechinger are pretty shallow baddies and I really didn't care for them. Gladiator II does have its positives. The visuals and gladiator games are eye-catching. Though many historians claim that a lot isn't accurate, it really doesn't matter. And if you yearn for the world that Ridley Scott built 24 years ago, then this is a movie that is worth a watch despite being quite forgettable.
The Venom movies have always been fun to watch. Despite lacking a very coherent screenplay, the dynamic between Venom & Eddie Brock has been the major highlight of these films. With the final movie, a lot of that is lost. The Last Dance is a damp squib that ruins the trilogy for fans. Set immediately after the events of Let There Be Carnage, Eddie Brock & Venom are on the run from the authorities. When Venom's creator sends his minions to hunt them, Eddie & his symbiote friend go on a cross-country road trip trying to make it to New York. The Last Dance seems to have lost its way with the final installment. Tom Hardy & his symbiote alter-ego attempt to save this film but there is only so much they can do when the movie is so off. The different animal versions of Venom were interesting to watch but how much can one cover-up with just visual effects. Chiwetel Ejiofer & Juno Temple are wasted and Rhys Ifans is cringey. The threequel also sets up another big bad, Knull (the creator of the symbiotes). I am not certain when they will bring him into action again but they have laid the foundation for it. I would be happier to watch Tom Hardy return with his symbiote friend instead.
Smile 2 is one of those sequels that actually work and it works largely due to Naomi Scott's killer performance. You can see the effort she has put into this role. If you have watched the original, you are bound to love this even more. Set a few days after the events of the first film, the Smile Entity's curse has now unfortunately passed on to Grammy-winning pop star, Skye Riley. Dealing with a dark past, the curse could not have come at a worse time for the struggling artist. If you have watched the first Smile film, you would know how creepy it is. Though it is a derivative of a certain horror film, it is quite entertaining. Smile 2 builds on the same concept by amping up the scares. Naomi Scott (Aladdin) announces herself as the new scream queen with her stellar performance as Skye Riley. The sequel will leave you questioning a lot about what is real and what is not, and I felt that this added a lot of value to a horror film with a known entity. One scene in particular that stood out was when Skye is haunted by her background dancers inside her house. If you love a good scare, then do watch Smile 2.
One cannot fathom the disappointment of watching the legacy of one of your favourite films of all time getting tarnished in this way. When Joker released in 2019, I was blown away by how Todd Phillips & Joaquin Phoenix came with a masterpiece on one of the most iconic comic book villains & I proclaimed how Phoenix was undoubtedly the best Joker yet (I still feel he is). But with the sequel, the makers managed to undo everything that the first film set out to do. Set a few years after Arthur Fleck's arrest, Folie à Deux sees our titular character going to trial and befriending an unhinged inmate in Harley Quinzel along the way. The beauty of the original was that it never needed a sequel. The ending kept the audience thinking on what is real and what wasn't and that was good. The sequel is a classic example of studios trying to milk a character/franchise just because the original was a success. Joaquin Phoenix & Lady Gaga give it their best and that was expected given their talent. But the film is confused on whether to go full musical or not as most of the musical numbers are in their heads & unlike other musicals, the songs don't take the story forward; they are just add-ons. This adds to the frustration. I was thoroughly disappointed and heartbroken after watching this. Let this be lesson on why sequels are not always mandatory. Go out on a high, always!
I absolutely love the Alien franchise. Yes, there are exceptions such as the Alien & Predator crossovers, Alien 3 & Alien: Resurrection. But otherwise, the franchise has done aliens justice; showing them as creatures incapable of emotion unless it is there own blood. The world building needs praise too. Ridley Scott, the mastermind behind the original and the prequel series has created a world with immense depth.Alien: Romulus is set between the original Alien (1979) and Cameron's Aliens (1986). Set 20 years after the events of Alien, a group of young colonists, with the hope of finding a safe haven sneak into the Romulus-Remus spacecraft to retrieve cryostasis chambers for their journey. But the sinister experiments of the Weyland-Yutani Corp has them face an army of face huggers and xenomorphs onboard the ship. As with all Alien movies, Romulus also gives us a strong female lead in Cailee Spaeny. Spaeny is having the time of her life. With Priscilla last year, followed by Civil War in April and now Romulus, Spaeny has shown the immense talent & range that she possesses. Spaeny's Rain has Andy, played by the talented David Jonsson for company. Isabela Merced, Spikee Fearn, Aileen Wu & Archie Renaux co-star. The Xenomorph sequences are brilliant as always; reminiscent of the original and given a boost by modern technology. The continued use of practical effects gives the movie the right amount of realism. If there is one segment that stands out, it has to be the zero gravity battle. Alien Romulus is a brilliant addition to the Alien Franchise. Hope this gives the studio confidence in continuing David's story from the prequel series. And with the Alien Earth series coming out next year, it is exciting times for fans of the franchise. Alien fans, do not miss this!
I wouldn't call it one of the worst of the year because we have definitely seen much worse. It may not live upto the expectations set by it's ensemble cast but it makes for a below average watch. A bounty hunter is tasked by the head of a ruthless organisation to retrieve his daughter as she holds the key to unlocking a doorway that may grant him mysterious powers. Borderlands comes out at a time when video game adaptations are getting worthy adaptations. Borderlands is the worst possible thing to happen to such adaptations as it is one of the most disjointed movie ever made. Given the stacked cast, Borderlands is a major letdown. The action is weak, the story goes nowhere and the execution is terrible. Poorly chopped and stitched together, this ragtag team of heroes needed a much better screenplay especially Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis. Kevin Hart, Jack Black & Ariana Greenblatt are wasted. Edgar Ramirez - less said is better. Borderlands is a disaster and it crashes before it even takes off.
M. Night Shyamalan is the guy who got me into horror movies. His Sixth Sense blew my mind. And many more originals that came after did the same. Despite some choice decisions to make disasters like Avatar and After Earth, he did manage to make movies that had some of Shyamalan's magic. Trap is right up his alley but without any element of fantasy or dystopia. A man takes his daughter to a concert. Little does he know that the police, who have surrounded the venue have set the concert up as a trap for him, a serial killer known as The Butcher.Shyamalan is like Stan Lee. He makes an appearance in every creation of his. And now with Trap, he extends this privilege to one of his daughters as well. Saleka, a singer by profession, who makes her film debut. She has also recorded original songs for Trap. Josh Hartnett is the star of the movie. He plays a serial killer, who goes by the name, The Butcher (don't worry, this is not a spoiler). He is unhinged at times as he keeps looking for ways to leave the concert & tries to maintain his cool in front of his daughter. The rest of the cast doesn't have much to do. Trap does well when it stays within the concert venue. The suspense keeps building as the Butcher tries various ways to escape the authorities. But the moment they exit the arena, the movie nosedives as well with a very uninspiring ending. Watch Trap for Hartnett's performance & if you are a die-hard fan of the Shyamalans.
