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Zach Cregger returns with another horror classic; injecting life into a dead video game adaption that has had 6 movies before today. The horror genre has been churning out classics one after another, so much so that every year is the best year for the genre. A medical courier is a person who handles medical deliveries like a heart for a transplant. When Bryan, a medical courier, is tasked with a package that offers an extra payout, he takes it up. But little does he know what he is about to encounter that snowy night. If you have seen Zach Cregger's filmography, you will notice how he made a big jump from his initial foray into directing. He started out with a comedy that bombed. He then made a shift to horror but with a very dark sense of humour. He adapted and has given us movies that will be cherished for years to come. Resident Evil is proof that video game adaptations are not always cursed, they just need the right treatment. And Zach finds that in this reboot the origin of the infested world that we know of. He finds a very talented lead in Austin Abrams. His nervy persona as someone who spews expletives and keeps complaining about how he cannot use a firearm forms the beating heart of Zach's world. There are little to no supporting characters. It is the thumping score by Ryan Holladay & Hays Holladay that plays second fiddle to a stunning Abrams. Resident Evil is super fun, quite bonkers, filled with fresh and scary moments and has a lot of gore given it is mostly gun shots and zombies. Resident Evil is sure to become your new horror obsession.

Tony is not a biopic of the famous Chef Anthony Bourdain. It is just an excerpt of his life, focusing on his early days, particularly the summer before he joined culinary school. You would ask why that time period? Well, since it stars Dominic Sessa, it was bound to be set in that era (a Holdovers joke). Jokes apart, that was the summer that changed the life of Chef Bourdain. How he went from being an aspiring writer (he still became one) to training to become a chef."Dominic Sessa is the future"; these are the words from Anurag Kashyap's review of Tony and I completely agree with him. Dominic Sessa is the kind of actor whose performances you are drawn to. He has a nervous energy that translates really well into his characters. I do not know much about the real Bourdain, but Sessa does a terrific job as the famous chef. It has been a while since we witnessed a good Banderas performance and Tony gives us that. Antonio Banderas plays a chef of a restaurant in Cape Cod, where Tony works and he plays an important role in shaping Tony. Banderas is such a treat to watch. We cannot talk about performances and not mention Leo Woodall, the mercurial chef at the restaurant. Emilia Jones, Stravos Halkias co-star.Tony is an intimate portrait of Bourdain's early days with plenty of humour & heart. It will most probably slip under the radar and may not even score a nomination at the Oscars. But Tony works as a typical A24 movie and is one of the better movies to come out this year. Another reason why you should watch this movie - It is directed by Matt Johnson - he made the excellent Blackberry biopic & the epic Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

Jurassic Park/World has run its course. Multiple reboots and new trilogies haven't done anything new or bold for the franchise. And that is where End of Oak Street comes in. It swings with all its might, and scores. What else can you expect, when J J Abrams is involved?Imagine your idyllic 80s suburban neighbourhood is one day transported to the prehistoric era, specifically the Jurassic era. You are left with no electricity, no fuel, no water and you have to fend for yourselves against the might of the . Denise & Greg with their two kids try to survive in this new world while dealing with personal issues of their own. I was sold the moment they said it involved dinosaurs and it was not part of the Jurassic World/Park cinematic universe. The concept of this movie may not be fully realised, but the mystery and intrigue is what makes it fun apart from the bonkers Dino scenes. The dynamic between the parents, who are not in a happy marriage anymore is something that is explored in some depth throughout the movie. Though there are a few questions you are left with at the end on how and why? Like I said earlier, there are some bits that are not fully realised. Though I did appreciate the small detail at the very end that subtly highlights the fate of one character. The End of Oak Street is a fun, bonkers what-if Dino movie set in the 80s. It is old school and that works, primarily because it helps us forget all the mediocrity that we got from the numerous Jurassic movies.

The Multiverse Saga has had more downs than ups, may it be visually or from a storytelling point of view. But since the last two years, the feedback has been processed and the focus on quality over quantity has given us a taste of the old MCU. After Thunderbolts* & Fantastic Four, the latest standalone Spidey movie has everything that we love about him. This is the first time in the MCU that we got a very visually immersive Spidey movie. Given Peter is on his own now, the suits are developed by him and that makes him look the part & as if he is actually in the suit. The street level crime fighting angle gives us a lot of web slinging action, which is shot perfectly. The fight sequences are epic - the tank, the villain montage, Hulk v Spidey, Spidey v The Hand. Tom Holland continues to prove why he was the perfect choice for Peter Parker. Zendaya's MJ has an important part to play, given she doesn't remember the boy she loved. Jon Bernthal's Punisher may have been toned down for this movie but his camaraderie with Spidey is brilliantly done. Sadie Sink is a stellar addition to the growing cast. What Brand New Day also gets right is the storytelling part which usually takes a backseat in a superhero movie. If you have watched Destin Daniel Cretton's other MCU work, you will know how much effort he likes to put into flesh out the characters and how each character serves a purpose. The cameos in this movie are organic and not forced. How Peter deals with loneliness is handled so well. There are some scenes that really move you. I found a lot of similarities between Thunderbolts* & Brand New Day. They deal with similar issues, and the movies serve a larger purpose, getting you invested in their stories. I hope they give more MCU projects to Destin because with these new voices, the MCU is starting to breathe again. Brand New Day is my favourite live action Spidey movie. It may not have fan service moments or a stellar End Credit scene, but it gives us so much more in terms of storytelling & setting up a future that we have all been waiting for.

After watching Obsession & Backrooms, my (and many others') standard for horror films has gone up. A generic gory Evil Dead sequel just won't cut it. Evil Dead Burn has its moments, but on the whole it is pretty **** biggest issue I have is the disconnect I felt watching the Evil Dead movies. It feels as though there is no connective tissue and if there is, it is hardly memorable. Evil Dead Burn has a lot to do with , hence the title. When their son dies in a car crash, his family and daughter-in-law mourn together in their house situated deep in the woods. What follows is a bloody battle of survival. Evil Dead Burn is way too generic. Some of the kills are unexpected but haven't we seen similar stuff in other movies? The Evil Dead franchise is known for the gore & they bring it by the truck loads this time. Is there a cheese grater equivalent this time? No, there isn't. But the car sequence is brutal. Apparently, there is a post credit scene that ties into Evil Dead Rise. And with the final movie, Evil Dead Wrath set in the past, I am not sure how they are going to connect it all.

Christopher Nolan is a brand in himself. I witnessed the anticipation & the rush for tickets when Oppenheimer came out 3 years back, and now the same if not more with Odyssey. Despite the amount of backlash Odyssey has received for its casting, dialogues and historical accuracy, Nolan has delivered & people have accepted it. The word Odyssey means a long eventful journey, and that was derived from Odysseus' journey back home after the Battle of Troy. Though a ruler of one of the smaller kingdoms, Odysseus was forced to go to war & through his efforts the Greeks won the war but what proved to be challenging was the perilous journey home. The biggest strength of The Odyssey is Nolan's version of this mythological tale. He brings out a different side of the titular character and I loved that. It addresses something very timely without it being in your face. Matt Damon is brilliant as Odysseus, a man who is desperate to get home. Anne Hathaway as Penelope, a wife & mother who fends off suitors in her husband's absence can score another Oscar win with her performance. Tom Holland proves he can play characters that are not behind a mask as well. Himesh Patel gets a meaty role and aces it, & so does Robert Pattinson as the antagonist. John Leguizamo & Samantha Morton are standouts in minor roles I also love when authors/filmmakers adapt fantastical elements to make it seem commonplace. Nolan does that in Odyssey, a story that has a lot of fantasy elements. The decision to not show the gods and depict them in other ways worked in favour of the movie. Athena & Helen/Clytemnestra have minimal screentime but I loved how they were depicted. The Odyssey is a sensory feast. The visuals (the beauty of practical effects over half baked CGI) are worthy of being framed & displayed at a museum. The grandeur of it all is just astounding. The perfect score by Ludwig Göransson is currently on loop (the track titled Troy will have your heart racing). The Odyssey is proof that you can never write off Nolan. Don't judge a movie by its trailer.

The Invite is the 5th remake of the Spanish film Sentimental. The Invite is a sort of redemption for actor-director Olivia Wilde after her controversial Don't Worry Darling. The Invite is definitely a return to form for Wilde despite the remake tag. A lot of us can find neighbours annoying but for some, they just want to make a human connection. Joe belongs to the former group & Angela to the latter, as she invites their noisy upstairs neighbours for dinner without Joe's knowledge. What unfolds is a night of unexpected revelations.I am not certain how good the original is, but Olivia Wilde has given us one of the best comedies in recent times. The casting is spot-on with Olivia Wilde playing Angela, a mother & wife, who wants to impress her neighbours and in the process, goes above & beyond. Seth Rogen plays an irritated music teacher, who doesn't wish to deal with his neighbours and yearns for a life he left behind and he brings his brilliant brand of humour with him. Penelope Cruz & Edward Norton play the neighbours from upstairs who portray the ideal couple. The interactions among the characters keep shifting in tone, urgency and are a display of a range of emotions that is complimented by a stellar score by Devonté Hynes. The movie keeps taking unexpected turns, springing surprise after surprise but it also has an emotional core that helps balance the excitement of it all. The Invite is a brilliant movie with stellar performances all around.

With time, the Despicable Me-Minion Universe at Illumination had lost its charm. The first Despicable Me was fresh, about a villain with a heart. But as the sequels kept coming, the quality went down by a lot. The Minions continue to be adorable though. No one knows how many Minions are there. Minions & Monsters answers that by taking us on the road that another group of Minions had taken & how they changed Hollywood in the latter 1920s. I was pleasantly surprised by this Minions adventure. Who knew shifting the story to another group of identical looking species would make a difference? Maybe Illumination had figured out how to carve out more movies by expanding on the idea of multiple groups of Minions in different parts of the world. Gru doesn't need to be there in every movie. The Hollywood set story is fun with numerous references to the silent era of movies and movie making. Though it is a Minion, we are shown how following one's dreams is important and perseverance & having the right people by your side makes a world of difference. The characters - Henry, James & **** are an entertaining trio with them battling monsters & aliens, all to just make a movie. Minions & Monsters may be the best Minion movie, but the franchise has run its course. It is time to sign off for the cutest little minions.

Toy Story has to be one of Pixar's best franchises till date. With every entry, the movies keep surprising you with the depth of emotion and freshness that it brings with it. Toy Story 5 is not my favourite from the series but it still offers a lot in a time when we are flooded with pointless **** Story comes out at a time when kids are obsessed with screens and toys and playtime has reduced to a minimum. Toy Story 5 deals with that exact problem, when Bonnie, who is the current owner of all our favourite toys, succumbs to the glow and colours of the Lilypad, a popular children's tab. The toys band together to make Bonnie a human friend.With the 5th movie, Woody has taken a backseat (as per the ending of the 4th). Jessie is now the new leader of the toys with Buzz playing deputy. The change does alter how we have grown up watching this series. The Woody-Buzz dynamic isn't the focus anymore but they do get their moments. The other toys hardly have a role as most of the action happens outside Bonnie's house. There are a few new quirky tech toy characters that make worthy additions. Toy Story 5 is a timely sequel, maybe a few years late but it still holds good. In a time when screens have taken over, human interaction has reduced to a minimum. Pixar proves yet again why their movies are not just aimed at kids - adults can learn a lot from them too.

Supergirl is sort of a hiccup in James Gunn's DC universe. It is the kind of movie that only serves the purpose of a filler for what is to come. I did appreciate certain aspects of the movie, but they don't outweigh the **** all know Superman's origin story. We are so well-versed with it that Gunn did away with it. Supergirl's origin is slightly different, a bit more tragic given she actually remembers her home planet. The movie taps into why she is not like her cousin & prefers to numb her pain. Along the way she meets a young girl, who helps her realise that there are things worth fighting for.Milly **** is perfect as this version of Supergirl. She fits the bill of a superhero who finds it hard to fit in. I enjoyed her performance and I am sure her dynamic with her cousin in upcoming movies will be interesting to watch. Jason Momoa transitioning from one DC character to another came too soon but Lobo is more apt for him. However, the character deserved better. The villain is the worst part of the movie. He is barely intimidating. Supergirl features in a very low stakes superhero movie. She deserved a better movie. Milly **** is perfect casting, but I wish we were more invested in the story. Very discounted, extremely difficult to watch due to 3D, and most scenes are set in the dark. I hope Gunn & Safran learn from this.

When Steven Spielberg directs a movie, you make sure that you watch it. For me it was a week that featured a young and upcoming voice in Hollywood to a veteran, a master of his craft returning to one of his favourite themes in cinema. Spielberg returns to the director's chair after 4 years and he is reunited with composer John Williams & writer David Koepp for the 5th time (1st time in 18 years).What news would make an impact so big that a world on the brink of WWIII shifts all its focus to it? Well, aliens would do it for you. Disclosure Day is the day, the entire world gets to know secrets that have been kept from us by the government. The movie shows a group of whistle blowers trying to achieve **** be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the trailer of Disclosure Day. I was not so keen on watching it either. Maybe it was the combination of Spielberg, Aliens and Emily Blunt that did it for me. For the most part, I was pretty impressed with the movie. You are thrown right into the proceedings and you are made to figure out what is happening. Emily Blunt is a superstar and as a Kansas City meteorologist, she steals the show with her performance. Eve Hewson is another favourite, but she doesn't have much to do. Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth are good. Colman Domingo is the new Pedro Pascal as he is in everything. Disclosure Day toys with the idea of how aliens have existed for years and how the government has been keeping it under wraps to avoid a potential frenzy. I may not be a big believer in all this but it is nice to watch conspiracy theories play out in a movie. A "what-if?" scenario for us to be entertained. I loved how they kept the tension and intrigue building till the final act (which is the only portion that I wasn't a big fan of). Disclosure Day builds tension with conversation and the chain of events. Do not go in expecting aliens, action set pieces and such. This is Spielberg, so go in expecting his style of filmmaking.

Is every year a good year for horror, now? Well, I am not complaining. Despite Backrooms & Hokum being solid entries, Obsession has clearly got my attention. But yes, do not give Backrooms a miss because of Obsession. If you love movies set in Liminal Spaces, then Backrooms is the perfect **** period in life when you are really frustrated with your life, and you don't take any effort to make amends, that is where you find Clark, an architect forced to work as a furniture salesman. He discovers a hidden space in the basement of his shop. A space that is never-ending. But this space may not be just another empty space. Kane Parsons joins Curry Barker as the two young horror filmmakers to deliver bonafide original stories in the same year. Backrooms started as a series on YouTube, that sort of gives you a brief intro into what you can expect in the feature length film. The feature film is an expanded version of his idea wherein the focus is on 2-3 characters getting lost in the space within the shop & getting hunted by an unknown entity. As with all movies on liminal spaces, Backrooms can get a bit repetitive - but at the same time, it is anxiety-inducing. That is the entire thing about liminal spaces, and Parsons gets that right. There is a lot of subtext in Backrooms as well. The performances are good. Chiwetel Ejiofor hasn't missed the mark even once. Awards favourite, Renate Reinsve continues to impress. Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett & Lukita Maxwell co-star. Backrooms is proof yet again of how brilliant our future filmmakers are. Do check it out if you haven't yet.

Nostalgia bait? Yes, but only to a certain section of the movie-going audience. He-Man is not exactly a popular pop culture hero for the present generation. The only glimpse we got of their universe was the animated series on Netflix, which wasn't all that memorable. The simplicity and the quirk of the original cartoon is unbeatable. I was happy to see some of that translated for the live action movie. Adam was never transported to Earth as we know it in the cartoons but in the movie, he is sent there to keep him safe. He returns years later to claim the rightful place in Eternia, as their hero. You remember Nicholas Galitzine from Sheep Detectives, in which he played a reporter. Nicholas transforms into Adam or He-Man in what feels like a role he was meant to play. This version of Adam is socially awkward, so there is that angle to play around with. And the transformation scenes are few, so you savour it even more. The star of the movie has to be Jared Leto. He brings out the sinister vibe but also adds something from his end that makes it unique. And I am guessing all the visual effects budget went towards Skeletor's face because it looked flawless. Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, James Purefoy, Kristen Wiig, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin **** of my issues with the movie was how Cringer was depicted. Maybe they will rectify it in future installments. And the other has to be the He-Man theme from the cartoons. They missed using that in the movie. That was one of the highlights of the cartoons. Masters of the Universe will appeal to all those who grew up watching He-Man. It is catered specifically for them. But it is also a very vibrant and fun movie. So do check it out.

It took 5 months, but I finally found my first 5 movie of the year. Obsession is flawless and for someone who loves horror, it is the best time to be alive. And to see that new, fresh voices are coming to the forefront with these movies, gives you hope that the industry is in good hands. Obsession has a lot of things going on under the surface. It is not just another horror movie. Imagine a shy boy, who is unable to express his love to a girl but ends up using a wishing willow to make her fall in love with him. Red flag, much? Well, that is what the movie deals with and it goes on to depict how people (men) can't accept rejection and move on. The star of this movie, the one who everyone is talking about, that most of your reels are about; Inde Navarrette is just phenomenal in every scene she is in. She is literally possessed in the role of Nikki and you are bound to get uncomfortable watching her creep out her "boyfriend". I have been watching a lot of theories about the movie and that is how I understood the amount of subtext in the story. There is so much to unpack unlike your usual horror movies. Curry Barker, you did what Ari Aster did with Hereditary; you have redefined Horror yet again. Obsession is bloody good, even with the cuts (in India). The performances, the eerie score, the subtext of it all make this first perfect movie of 2026.

Who would have thought that we would see Hugh Jackman as a shepherd who reads mystery novels to his adorable sheep? But we did, and I am happy to say that it is one of the best movies you will watch this year. Sheep Detectives offers an interesting premise, with a flock of sheep investigating their shepherd's murder while the list of suspects keep increasing and the sole but incompetent policeman struggles to solve his first murder case.Whodunits and British comedies are two genres that I absolutely love. When the two come together, we get movies like Sheep Detectives. The humour works, especially when it is focused on the sheep and their interactions. The voice cast is stacked with Julia Dreyfus, Chris O' Dowd, Bryan Cranston, Brett Goldstein taking centre stage. Nicholas Braun as the clueless policeman stands out among the human cast. The Sheep Detectives ticks a lot of the boxes. It is family friendly, hilarious, emotional and works really well as a whodunit as well. Based on the book titled, Three Bags Full, The Sheep Detectives is definitely a movie that you should check out.

Mortal Kombat is one of the few video games that I have played, and I was super excited when the first movie came out. It was another matter that the movie was campy and boring. But the sequel has redeemed the franchise with one-on-one fights, like in the game. Mortal Kombat II ups the ante with the action shifting to the Mortal Kombat competition that will give the evil Shao Khan dominion over Earth realm. With washed-up actor, Johnny Cage among the heroes, they can only hope to win the contest. Karl Urban and Adeline Rudolph may just be the best things to happen to the sequel. As Johnny Cage & Kitana, their journeys are the focus here. They deliver commendable performances as well. Karl Urban carries some of his snide nature over from The Boys, but his character could have done with some depth as he comes across as easily convinced and involved. Josh Lawson returns as Kano, a sarcastic & crass anti-hero. His dialogues lift the movie every time he is onscreen. Mortal Kombat II is non-stop action from start to finish. The one on one fights are well choreographed and the number of fatalities are pretty high in this one. Do check it out if you are a fan of the game or such movies.

We have reached that stage where legacy sequels are a hit or a miss. Almost all of them offer more of the same in the name of nostalgia bait to go big at the BO. The Devil Wears Prada 2 panders to a lot of that but has some redeeming factors as well. With the fab 4 returning for the sequel, we see them at different places since 2006. Andy is a successful journalist now, Emily has moved on to Dior, Nigel still works for Miranda and Miranda is struggling to keep Runway afloat amidst the declining interest in magazine publications. The one thing that the sequel addresses and I appreciate they did is the decline of print media and magazines in today's world. That combined with budget cuts and mergers in the corporate world is quite relatable & forms the main crux of the story. The fab 4 are the reason we watch the Prada movies. Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep & Anne Hathaway are in fine form and it feels like we never left their high flying fashion world. Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Simone Ashley, B.J. Novak, Lucy Liu are some new faces in the sequel.Where the sequel stumbles is the lack of anything fresh. You know where this sequel is headed except for one reveal that I did not expect. I loved the first movie but when you are giving more of the same - interactions, conflicts, etc; it becomes a bit redundant. I also had issues with Andy's character arc. The Devil Wears Prada 2 will appeal to the diehard fans of the original. It is a fun one-time watch but it does not match the aura of the first.

It has to be said that Michael is a movie that will make your foot tap from the moment the studio logos come up on screen. I love it when musical biopics integrate a part of the musician's song in the intro. Bohemian Rhapsody did it, and now Michael. Michael narrates the story of Michael Jackson from the late 60s, when he shot to fame with his brothers as the Jackson 5, to the late 80s, following the success of solo career. Michael plays out like any other musical biopic. Don't go in expecting never-before revelations of his life, because this is a movie that celebrates the King of Pop. Apart from the music, the movie focuses on the difficult relationship he shared with his father, played by the talented Colman Domingo. How his father wanted to piggyback on Michael's success without a care in the world about his sons. It also highlights how Michael was moved by the suffering of others, especially kids, but himself led a lonely life. The recreation of Michael's songs are the highlights of the film. If you ever were - or still are - a fan of his music (who isn't?), then you will love how brilliant the songs look onscreen. Jaafar Jackson embodies his uncle with such ease. May it be his mannerisms or dance moves, it really feels like Micheal lives on in Jaafar. Michael is a movie meant to be enjoyed in a packed theatre with a brilliant sound system (critics may not agree, but who cares, right?). I loved how this played out and I hope they make a sequel to cover the latter part of MJ's life.

I agree with the people who said this is another Lee Cronin Evil Dead movie because it follows a familiar template. Katie is found in a shroud 8 years after she was kidnapped in Egypt. When she returns in an almost unrecognisable state, weird things start to happen in the house. The only thing that actually sets this apart from other horror movies is that it has "something" to do with Egypt/Mummies. Basically instead of the church getting involved, we have some power from ancient Egypt in play here. Lee Cronin has his name attached to the title just to distinguish it from the Mummy franchise, which is another franchise altogether. Lee Cronin specialises in horror with a lot of gore and The Mummy is no different. There is blood, blood and more blood from the time Katie returns home to Albuquerque. It is disgusting in certain scenes especially the nail cutter scene (from box grater in Evil Dead to the Nail Cutter). The sound design work is brilliant as it should be for any horror movie. However, I feel there is nothing to write home about the performances. May Calamay is not utilised to her potential, despite them casting a native star. Lee Cronin's The Mummy is backed by the former master of horror, James Wan and the Blumhouse. But the final output is quite the generic horror template, packaged with Egypt stamped on it.

Did this movie really need a sequel? Well, if the original earned more than 1 Bn USD at the global box office, then no studio would back out from milking the franchise. Mario & Luigi are now globetrotting brothers, who fix issues with those green portal pipes. Bowser Jr. comes to rescue his father and he does so with another princess in captivity. Peach, Mario & Luigi set out to free her and stop Bowser Jr.Those who have played the games, or have an interest in Mario lore, will maybe love this movie with its references, characters and so on. But for a neutral movie-going audience, this is another kids movie that is just not good. It doesn't serve any purpose except fan service. Despite all the mediocrity on display, Jack Black's voice acting is a relief as he manages to elevate some parts (his scenes) of the movie at least. The stacked voice cast is something to be studied though. I sat through the original because it was after a long time that we got a good Mario adaptation but it did not require a sequel despite the billions they are going to make. Sometimes, you just walk away.

Zendaya & Robert Pattinson have a busy year ahead, with multiple projects lined up for release. Out of those, three have both of them in it. The first one of the year was released on Friday and it was a very enjoyable but very tense watch. I enjoyed Kristoffer Borgli's last movie starring Nic Cage and I was sure I'd love this one as **** is the week of Charlie & Emma's wedding and during a menu tasting, Charlie's friends decide that it would be a good idea to go around the table and reveal their darkest/most embarrassing thing they have done. When Emma reveals hers, things take a dark turn and Charlie starts to question **** watch Robert Pattinson's nervous energy take wildly different turns throughout the movie was a treat to watch. He is nervous to approach Emma when they meet for the first time and after the reveal, he just gets worse & worse, questioning everything, having absurd thoughts. It is tense how things escalate. Zendaya is phenomenal as always. Her screen presence is enough to make this a must-watch. Her character is made to relive a moment from her life that she had buried deep. But I loved how her character attempted to repair things. Another stand out character is played by Alana Haim. Her reaction to the reveal and the aftermath is pretty well portrayed, which goes to prove how perspectives actually **** reaction to Drama was always going to be decisive and controversial to an extent, given the topic. And that is pretty much how Alana Haim's character reacts to it. There are some who would be able to digest this and move on, but not everyone can and I get that. The Drama is a typical A24, Kristoffer Borgli movie. Expect the unexpected, and chew through your nails as the movie escalates with each scene. And then, relax at the thought of having watched a wonderful movie.

There is no bigger satisfaction than when you watch a movie turn out to be as good as/even better than the book (source material). That is very rare, and with Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, that has been achieved. Especially for a book that goes pretty deep into the science of things it works pretty well as a movie. The Earth's Sun is dying due to an alien organism called Astrophage. To understand why and to rejuvenate the sun, a group of astronauts, including Science teacher Ryland Grace are sent to the Tau Ceti system to find a solution and save Earth. The beauty of Project Hail Mary is in every frame, every dialogue, and every emotion. I strongly feel the movie captures the essence of this story. The characters are perfectly cast and performed. Ryan Gosling is a perfect embodiment of Ryland Grace; with that science teacher's nerdiness and goofiness intact. Rocky, the friendly alien friend is brought to life so effectively by James Ortiz, the puppeteer and voice artist behind Rocky. Sandra Hüller brings the required curtness and air of authority to Eva Stratt.Beyond the emotions and performances, the mesmerising frames of Greig Fraser and Daniel Pemberton's ethereal score take you to where Rocky & Grace are, make you feel what they feel, making it a very wholesome, immersive experience. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are masters of their domain. They are the names behind some of the most exciting titles from Hollywood - Jump Street series, Spiderverse, Mitchells vs the Machines. And Project Hail Mary would not have worked without them and Drew Goddard, the scribe. Project Hail Mary needs to be watched for more reasons than one. It is about friendship between two unlikely beings, between nations, about hope and coming together for a common cause; it is the need of the hour.

The folks at Warner Bros. were desperate to get into the Ready or Not space, because They Will Kill You is a lot like it. But I am not complaining, because this was a lot of fun.A woman starts a job as a maid at an upscale apartment building but little does she know that she has signed up to be haunted by the residents of the building, who have very peculiar habits. The movie is fun because it is very campy and I mean that in the best way possible. Zazie Beetz is so good in this. She "Kill Bill"s her way through the floors of the building; trying to save herself and in the process delivers some of the most creatively choreographed kills. The movie doesn't take itself seriously and that works in its favour. It just gets more and more ridiculous with each passing minute. Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Myha'la co-star. They Will Kill You was a lot of fun especially because of Zazie Beetz's performance. If you love campy violent action comedies, then this should be right up your alley.

A good Pixar movie is a rarity these days. The last good original they made was years ago (Soul, maybe?). But Hoppers gives me hope again, hope that Pixar is back to doing what they do well!Mabel grieves the loss of her grandmother, someone who ingrained the importance of the glade & animals inhibiting it. When the Mayor plans to build a highway over the glade, Mabel scrambles to save it. Inadvertently, she stumbles upon an experiment that transfers her consciousness to a robotic beaver and she plans to use that for her cause.Hoppers starts out a little slow and predictable, which was typical for a Pixar movie. But once things are set into motion and we are familiar with the chain of events and characters, we are pulled into and invested in the world of Hoppers. The characters are lovable, cute when they transform into those beady-eyed versions of themselves (the kind of detailing I loved - when they differentiate between when you can understand animals and when you cannot). The thought behind the animal kingdom near a city, being divided into different sub-kingdoms based on the species. The social message that comes with animated movies is a boon - especially when it comes to catering to younger kids, movies like this play a significant role. It is a teaching moment and I truly appreciate that. A lot of Hoppers focuses on how we as humans are destroying natural habitats for our convenience but there is a lot more that the movie addresses.

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.