Rating 15 Length 1h36 Release 9.2.1996 Director Robert Longo About Johnny is a data courier who literally carries data packages inside his head for a fee. This time he carries a package that is too large to hold for long and he must race against time to deliver it. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Trailer:.
The Good
Dina Meyer pretty much carried this dead carcass of a film and it was her first acting role. You can see from this performance why she got her role in Starship Troopers. I also do think that had she been the protagonist, as is the case for the short story it is based on, the narrative would have been a tad smoother.
Absolutely loved Henry Rollins as the ‘flesh mechanic’, Spider. There’s a speech he has towards the end of the film that is still relevant today.
I loved how the upload scene and the ambush was spliced with anime and I’m actually a little sad that it didn’t utilise it a little more.
I think this film needs to be commended for its conviction to the cyberpunk aesthetic. Not only that, but it almost provides that bridge between films like Total Recall, Running Man and later ones like Fifth Element. I think this film would have been up there with all of them had the studio not gotten involved with the editing process.
The Bad
Remember that bit in Community when Abed went Full Nic Cage?! Well, it turns out someone beat him to that. Keanu Reeves basically transforms into Cage. While Cage would have been a perfect fit for this film, Reeves does not wear Cage well.
Don’t cut off the boy’s sideburns. Just no! What’s worse, it took me two thirds of the movie to figure out why Reeves looked so off.
The Ugly
The graphics of ‘the internet’ are so shit. Like, really REALLY bad. Even for the time. Although, I know I shouldn’t be too hard on it; Disclosure uses very similar ones.
Did Dolph understand the objective? I’m not sure he did. I’ll agree that perhaps there were ‘better’ people than Reeves for the lead role, however he does okay. Dolph on the other hand, should not have been involved in this project.
Final Thoughts
The Story the film is trying to tell shows promise and has perhaps aged much better than anyone would expect it to have, however I do feel that overall, and largely due to company edits, the message is lost in translation.
Rating 12 Length 2h10 Release 18.4.2013 Director Shane Black About Tony Stark encounters a formidable foe called the Mandarin. After failing to defeat his enemy, Tony embarks on a journey of self-discovery as he fights against the powerful Mandarin. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Disney+ Trailer:
First Thoughts
I’ve actually only seen this instalment once. I went with one of my best friends at the time, we went to the new cinema in Leeds and I remember getting told that I couldn’t have a packet of sweets in the screen. I could have them, but they had to be in their special boxes. Something that caused more noise than had I just been able to eat them out of the packet. Sigh. I remember more about going with the friend than I did about the film itself. I remember really liking it and I remember we talked for ages after about what it meant for the franchise. Man, I miss him and our mate dates.
The Good
I love the framing of the film. Tony Stark’s voiceover is awesome. It pulls you in and makes you feel like he is addressing you. Which is made all the better if you hang out to the end of the credits. It’s not the audience he’s addressing, but one of his new Super friends.
The script is on point. From the subtly of “I had created demons and I didn’t even know it.” to the snigger inducing “I’m not trying to be a dick-” pause to allow the camera to pan to children within ear shot “-tator”.
The story, at first, seems to be struggling with a balancing act of bad guys. Almost in the same way as Spiderman 3. However, as it unravels its much more nuanced than that. How they all connect is a stroke of genius.
As for the Mandarin. I had major issues with both the fact that the Mandarin was a fake and that he was played by Brit Ben Kingsley. However, on this repeat I truly do like how it plays out and how Kingsley performs. While not being able to express my dislike at the time, it boiled down to appropriation and negative implications of this representation of terrorism. Now, appropriation is something that has come up before with Kingsley. He actually is of English and Indian decent and it does appear that his ethnicity does give him a chameleon quality that when you stop to think about, makes the casting choice so much deeper.
I love Harley and the relationship between him and Tony. Perhaps the films first foray at establishing the New Avengers. I guess that remains to be seen, but even from an isolated film point of view its a beautiful touch. Harley is able to ask questions and offer insights that no one else could. It also showed us that Stark really is a good mentor.
The best part of this film? How it addresses PTSD. Here we have a rich man who has escaped death many times. He’s Iron Man. Yet his own body is reacting to the trauma of New York. Okay, he’s not a God but he’s certainly privileged. Yet this is something he can’t throw money at, he can’t engineer a fix. He has to experience it, just like everyone else. I can only imagine how much this will have meant to fans. To boys, to men, who struggle to talk about these sort of experiences?! I absolutely love this exploration of mental health.
The Bad
I’m not sure how much I buy the history between Pepper and Aldrich. Not enough to believe that Aldrich has resentment towards Tony over her. The bit that perhaps is missing, is her involvement in the 1999 flashback.
Pepper screaming “Tonaaay!” got very old, very quickly.
The Ugly
The glossing over Pepper’s powers really saddens me. I think it was owing to the fact that there was not going to be another Iron Man movie in which to explore that story. However, it was too neat, to easy a fix and it was done off screen. She deserved much more. Both Pepper and Paltrow.
In fact, the end for me was a little too rushed and we didn’t get enough of a polished ending that did justice to many of the secondary characters; Happy and Rhodey included.
Final Thoughts
Quite possibly my new favourite of my rewatch. Watching it today has actually made sad that there isn’t another solo outing for us. I will also be adding this film to my Christmas watch list.
Rating 12 Length 1h32 Release 23.12018 (Sundance FF. No UK release) Director Silas Howard About Alex Wheeler and her husband, Greg, are trying to find the right primary school for their 4-year-old son, Jake. Described as gender-expansive by his adviser, Jake’s increasingly erratic behaviour starts to cause a rift between the couple. Alex worries that the adults in her son’s life are labelling him prematurely, while Greg wonders if Jake’s fondness for dressing up might be more than just a phase. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Trailer:
First Thoughts
I just want to preface this review with the fact that I will be using they/them/their pronouns to refer to Jake as the film refers to Jake as he/him yet presents a character that would identify with she/her.
I would also like to point out that this film is directed by Silas Howard, a trans man, and written (both screen and play scripts) by a cis man. While this may not seem important to many, I have found it difficult to write this review about ‘how well’ it presents the issue of gender being a cis woman. I don’t like the idea that this review might imply I know better than those involved in the production. I certainly don’t. However, this film made me feel things, think things and I wanted to put them down on paper. I also want people to know that I’ve done my research before writing this review.
The Good
Jim Parsons is a surprise in this role. I must admit, I have no complaints about his performance, however I must say he brought his all to the monologue he was given in the final act.
This film has a really well rounded cast.
The camera angles and cuts around Jake, at least at the start, are quite clever. It was probably about 10 minutes after Jake had been introduced that I realised I’d not see their face. It was at least another 4 before we did.
The Bad
Claire Danes can cry. We all know this. That’s not up for debate. I personally would want any creatives to question whether they want her to cry if they ever cast her. It’s harsh, I’m aware. However, there’s something inherently annoying about the way she cries. It always comes across as whiney and annoying.
There’s some really bad editing choices going on. Octavia Spencer is introduced fairly early on as a teacher of Jake. The conversations between her and Claire Dane’s Alex are full of unsaid conflict. At first, I thought it was perhaps to do with how Judy (Spencer) was trying to bring up the topic of gender identity. However, it is close to the end of the movie that it is brought up that Judy is a lesbian. Now, I am one who prefers my films to bring up the sexuality of characters in the most organic way possible. This was not the case here, when the reason why there is this tension is because Alex is of the misconception that Judy is encouraging Jake’s behaviour due to her sexuality.
While on the topic of Judy; there’s a scene between herself and Greg (Parsons) in which they talk about the gender politics of skirts. Now the final line of the scene is Judy questioning “So you didn’t tell Jake that there are men in our culture who wear dresses?” My problem with that, is that its not very clear. This film dances around so much of the politics surrounding gender identity and transitioning that the question raised could be misinterpreted to be representative of being trans, when in fact we would not use the word ‘men’. The question should be clearly speaking about the culture of drag, but the film is so devoid of any LGBTQ language that it really makes this a difficult watch.
The Ugly
I think the biggest issue with this film is that they show us Jake. The play, I’m led to believe, never shows the audience Jake and that allows for a much more clinical approach to the dialogue. As this film stands, its at odds with itself. The film is presenting the gender identity of Jake, at least to me, as something less certain. However, I see Jake. I see that Jake is expressing herself and that the film dances around it and decides to point fingers at the adults instead.
The film spends more time building up to the final act fight between the two protagonists; who use that time to pinpoint why the other is the reason their child “likes to wear dresses” that ignores any opportunity to actually explore the elephant in the room. I use that turn of phase because that is exactly what this film is like. It builds up to it, you can feel that its going to say something profound…. and then it chickens out even at the most simplest of things.
The lack of trans-aware gender-positive language really irritated me. You have a protagonist who is a psychiatrist yet at no point is there a conversation about identity or what it means to feel like you have been born in the wrong body.
Final Thoughts
Due to the film’s lack of conviction, the dialogue is sanitised of any debate or educational language. It leaves the viewer with the message that all parents will ever do is blame their actions. It really is a shame because the components are all there to have this uplifting and enlightening film.
Rating U Length 1h44 Release 17.2.1979 Director Norman Tokar About A UFO captained by a cat-like extraterrestrial (Ronnie Schell) is intercepted by the U.S. Military. The spacecraft’s feline pilot, who goes by the human name Jake, reveals to his captors that he must locate a substance called “Org 12” to restore his battered spacecraft and reunite with his mothership. With help from scientist Frank Wilson (Ken Berry), Jake figures out the Earth equivalent of Org 12 — gold — and then activates his collar’s technological capabilities to help retrieve it. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Disney+ Trailer:
The Good
It really is a charming film with a gimmick that, while a risk, works. The cat(s) are beautiful and the film deals with the communication well, so there’s no special effects to make it look like the mouth is moving- a pet hate of mine.
Many of the cast seemed familiar to me. They have that old Hollywood vibe that Disney and other studios had in films of the 60s and 70s.
The plot is fairly simplistic; following a cause and effect approach to storytelling. While some might think it’s a little lacking in the story department; this is a Disney film aimed at the whole family.
The Bad
Some of the action sequences haven’t aged very well and perhaps seem a little low-key compared to action of today. While your older viewers are perhaps going to label this ‘boring’, most will see it in the context of film history.
The Ugly
The acting voices used are of their time. They do add a certain charm to the film, but they also grate after a while. There’s an odd nasal enunciation that appears to be the American equivalent of the British RP of the BBC.
Final Thoughts
Perfect easy watch for a Sunday afternoon. Not going to be for all children, but don’t blame me if you and your little ones want to adopt a fur ball after the credits roll.
Rating 12 Length 1h47 Release 19.10.1990 Director Andrew Davis About When a high profile scientist at the University of Chicago is murdered, Eddie, an undergraduate, and physicist Lily are framed and accused of stealing an innovative alternative fuel formula. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Disney Plus Trailer:
The Good
This is how I like my Keanu; floppy haired and quipping. He’s a joy to watch in this because his character actually has a personality. This is much closer to his performance in Speed than Matrix. (Also, whoever put the ‘trivia’ about Reeves gaining weight, fuck you. I did not notice any difference aside from what looked like a lot of layers to protect from the cold)
I loved seeing the double act of Fred Ward and Kevin Dunn. Love both of them in everything they’ve been in so to have them play off each other is a treat.
It has all the makings of a good thriller and enough action set pieces to keep most entertained. With elements akin to The Fugitive and Enemy of the State, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve seen this all before. Especially given the overlap of characters.
The cherry on the top is the addition of both Morgan Freeman and Brian Cox in fairly predictable roles.
The Bad
Joanna Cassidy is completely wasted in her role as a safe haven McGuffin that isn’t really embedded enough to feel like anything other than superficial. Ever the chameleon, she takes on a role that could have been fleshed out and add depth to the middle third of the plot.
The Ugly
Rachel Weisz. Sorry, but she was appalling. Once the shit hit the fan, she was nothing more than a prop. Weisz’s portrayal is nothing more than nails on a chalk board. Worse of all, there is zero chemistry between herself and Reeves. Knowing that someone saw this and thought putting them together again almost ten years later is mind blowing. She’s meant to be a Brainiac, one that Reeves’ Eddie intones ‘woah’ upon seeing her wall of certificates. Yet she is a limp and voiceless block of Kristen Stewart when they arrive at the house all cold. Come on, develop the fucking character. Have her telling him what they both need to do. Don’t have him mothering her. Fuck sake, she’s a rarity in her field, never been ‘drunk’ before the events of this movie; I don’t buy her as a damsel. Give me badass, you cowards. Or yeet her out the god damn script.
Final Thoughts
Bit too heavy on the science and tech for me to just switch off and enjoy the ride. I had questions, my geek brain was piqued but the film did not provide the answers.
Rating 12 Length 2h23 Release 26.4.2012 Director Joss Whedon About Nick Fury is compelled to launch the Avengers Initiative when Loki poses a threat to planet Earth. His squad of superheroes Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Disney Plus Trailer:
First Thoughts
This was the film in the franchise that truly got me into Marvel. The second Joss Whedon was signed on, my fan-girl self was propped up like a meerkat waiting for any and all scraps made available in the run up to the release. Back then his shitty side was still a cloaked rumour and this outing was a hit. Then Ultron wasn’t so good and as Whedon left, he made sure he wouldn’t be asked back. Now we know he’s truly a douchebag and slime ball. I think I’ve been stalling my rewatch of this, thinking the film would be tainted.
The Good
This has one of the smoothest opening to a Marvel movie to date. Which is even more impressive when you consider the sheer character count involved. It helps that the dialogue helps with those transitions. It’s all rather clever as it also drip feeds the information regarding the Tesseract to the audience too.
Agent Coulson is the MVP for me in this film. He’s the heart, the comedy and the geek in all of us. Clark Gregg plays it perfectly and you really feel the weight of his loss after his intermittent appearances so far.
The film has the DNA of Whedon; his pop culture references, smart and quick dialogue and wicked action sequences. This film works so well because it gives the audience what it wants: the answer to the ultimate question “who would win in a fight between x & y?” The best signature scene would have to be right after Nat has worked out Banner is Loki’s play. The group’s in-fighting had been perfected by Whedon on Buffy and this scene works like a charm.
I love that we finally have a Bruce Banner that works. Mark Ruffalo gives us the ideal Banner that blends the intellect, temperament and regret into a believable character. We also have to give credit to Ruffalo for The Hulk too. Through motion capture, we’re able to get the balance, or rather imbalance, between the two egos. If we are ever going to see Avengers fight with each other, you need to have The Hulk in the mix.
I absolutely love the film score and the introduction of the Avengers theme music. Alan Silvestri has composed many iconic themes, but this has to be my favourite. Not only is it well used here, it is something that has appeared in many other MCU films.
The Bad
I do not like the scene in which Rogers hands Fury money. Mainly because it’s clear Rogers has been debriefed by Fury, so knows who he is. So other than it being a racist stab at the ‘man out of time’ aspect of Cap, I can’t see it’s purpose.
The Ugly
Coulson is the reason I have trust issues. Obviously this is not so much about this film, but things that came out after the fact. I cried when Coulson died. I saw Assemble in the cinema at least 6 times over the summer of 2012, and I cried every time. Then Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D came along and resurrected my favourite MCU character. Yes, on one hand, I was happy. However, it has implications. It makes any death in the MCU reversible. It takes away the importance of his death in this film upon a rewatch. It’s actually so problematic that there are debates about whether Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D is cannon. It also means I always second guess any other death that occurs in the universe. Loki’s timeline (even pre-tv show) further cements this emotional detachment. There’s a character much further down the line that I know I would have sobbed at their demise. However, I don’t trust that they’re really gone.
Final Thoughts
Still as enjoyable as the first day I watched it. There’s enough other people involved to be able to see it as a brilliant film without the skank of Whedon.
Rating PG Length 1h30 Release 12.4.1985 (US release) Director Alan Metter About Though she’s a talented gymnast, Janey (Sarah Jessica Parker) has always followed the orders of her strict Army colonel father and stayed out of the spotlight. However, when she moves to a new town and meets the carefree Lynne (Helen Hunt), she disobeys her father for the first time in her life. With Lynne’s encouragement, Janey enters a TV dance competition — and soon finds herself with both a cute dance partner and an archrival who is dead set on getting Janey eliminated from the contest. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Trailer:
The Good
The story is perfect for a lazy evening watch. It has the rivalry, friendship and romance. You know what it also has? Positive male characters. Lee Montgomery’s Jeff has a father that could have easily been the toxic male stereotype, yet he’s the most encouraging of parent!
For any viewer who has grown up watching Helen Hunt, Jonathan Silverman and Shannon Soherty this is the most amazing ‘before they were famous’ sort of watch.
Of course, we can’t not talk about Sarah Jessica Parker. She was always the girl in Flight of the Navigator to me. Then she appeared in Hocus Pocus and from then on I watched most things she was in. This is just Parker at her most charming.
I have to give a special mention to the costume department and whoever it was that came up with Helen Hunt’s stunning head pieces. I’m not going to spoil them other than to say that she starts with dinosaurs and goes from there.
The Bad
The final act overuses the one song. I get that it seems that all contestants had to choreograph to the same song, but it was painful and, come on, can you imagine Strictly Ballroom or Dancing on Ice having each pair dance the same song every week?! I’ll be honest, those sort of shows are not really for me, but the same song up to 12 times? Shoot me now!
The Ugly
How have I only just watched this?! Why is this not spoken about more? The cast, the story, the dancing. Everything about this film screams inspiration for everything that I’ve seen, yet no one talks about it? This is not a bargain bin film and *should* be held as highly as Ferris Buller!
Final Thoughts
This film walked, so my teenage films could run. Any one who loves 10 Things I Hate About You, 13 Going on 30 or any of the teen films of the 90’s and 00’s this film is a must for you.
Rating 12 Length 2h04 Release 29.7.2011 Director Joe Johnson About During World War II, Steve Rogers decides to volunteer in an experiment that transforms his weak body. He must now battle a secret Nazi organisation headed by Johann Schmidt to defend his nation. Moon: no moon sighting Where to Watch: Netflix (until 14th August) Trailer:
The Good
This film has a dream cast; Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell and Stanley Tucci to name but a few of the heavy hitters in this origin story.
At the heart of this film is the relationships. From the mentor, mentee to the best friends and the romantic. This is a film that strikes just the right balance.
The wonderful Neal McDonough always makes a film that little bit better. Add with him a team of soldiers that include Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and you have an incredible middle act.
The Bad
I’m not a fan of Red Skull and the face. I think I perhaps would have preferred a later reveal. I often think this way when films have prominent actors hidden behind masks like this.
The Ugly
It’s has a very clunky first half as we’re introduced to all of the characters. Part of the issue is the back and forth between characters until the audience know who is involved.
Final Thoughts
One of the best origin stories out there on film and part of that is due to Chris Evans’ performance.
Rating 12 Length 2h07 Release 30.7.2021 DirectorJaume Collet-Serra About Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his ramshackle boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal — a discovery that will change the future of medicine. Moon: Waxing crescent (I think) that is part of the plot Where to Watch: Cinema and Premire Access on Disney Plus Trailer:
The Good
The Rock is owning this role. He’s hamming it up like he does in Jumanji, but with a little Disney flare. His chemistry with Emily Blunt is on a par with Fraser and Weis in The Mummy (1999) and I’ve not enjoyed a romance plot as much in a long while.
The effects are quite impressive. More so when you compare them to that of Pirates of the Caribbean.
There are some zinger lines and funny puns to keep all entertained, or groaning in their seat.
The film’s score plays like a love letter to all the films that came before. I think it was about half way through I’d have sworn it was composed by the great John Williams. You know, if it wasn’t for the fact that the film was utter nonsense.
The Bad
The plot is as if a computer programme had been fed Indiana Jones, George of the Jungle, The Mummy, National Treasure and Pirates of the Caribbean to spit out… this. The shame of it really is the fact that there’s a good film in here. Somewhere.
The Ugly
Jack Whitehall. He’s one note and insincere to the core. The only nice thing I can say about his presence is that at least it wasn’t James Corden.
Staying on the problematic Whitehall and his character MacGregor; I normally have no issue when it comes to straight men taking on gay roles I do find this choice dumbfounding. If it’s a box checking exercise, that only *really* works if the representation is on AND off the screen. As it stands, the story required the character to be gay, the audience are presented with a rather poor stereotype.
Final Thoughts
It’s a hot mess of a film, saved by the chemistry of Emily Blunt and The Rock. It’s not going to be top of anyone’s list of rewatch films, however you can’t leave it unwatched.
Rating U Length 1h14 Release 19.9.1941 Director/s Alfred L Werker / Hamilton Luske (cartoon) / Jack Cutting (Cartoon) / Ub Iwerks (Cartoon) / Jack Kinney (Cartoon) About Excited at the idea of producing a film about a children’s book, humorist Robert Benchley visits the Walt Disney Studio to offer the idea. At the studio, Benchley evades an enthusiastic young tour guide and, wandering about the lot, goes into a drawing class. He then visits a soundstage, where he watches a couple recording a song, unaware they provide voices for famous cartoon characters. Benchley later visits the camera stage and then the animation department, where he discovers a surprise. Where to Watch: Disney Plus Trailer:
The Good
Such a charming, educational, film. While it perhaps might be of no use as a teaching tool for film makers today, it is valuable for those looking into the history of film.
It’s much more enjoyable to watch that a straight out documentary. I absolutely adored the framing of Mr Benchley stumbling upon these aspects of filmmaking.
Donald Duck sasses Mr Benchley. What a highlight. That interaction was delightful and part of the film’s charm.
I also love how the film utilises all of the evolutions of film made to the point of making the film; the audience is treated to live action black and white, technicolour and numerous animations.
The Bad & Ugly
Being a record of history, this film would undoubtedly contain things deemed inappropriate by a modern day audience. Perhaps today, we would like to think that Disney would send their artists to a zoo instead of bringing an elephant to stand and pose.
The story of the Reluctant Dragon has some connotations that today would not be allowed. However subtle the metaphor might be, there’s certainly offence to be caused by the views.
Final Thoughts
Outside of the problematic story of the Reluctant Dragon itself, this is a charming look behind the scenes at the House of Mouse.
Rating 12 Length 1h55 Release 27.4.2011 Director Kenneth Branagh About Thor is exiled by his father, Odin, the King of Asgard, to the Earth to live among mortals. When he lands on Earth, his trusted weapon Mjolnir is discovered and captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. Moon: Full moon behind clouds as Jane and Thor talk outside. Where to Watch: Disney+ Trailer:
The Good
The wonderful thing about this outing, or origin, of Thor is the Shakespearian richness of it all. There’s just something about Kings and heirs, betrayal and madness that lends itself to the tone of The Bard. If there was ever going to be a director that could accomplish this, it’s Kenneth Branagh. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and perhaps it hasn’t aged as well for how it stands out from the others, but I still have a soft spot for what Branagh brought to the MCU.
As with most of the Marvel projects, this is well cast. Doubly so when you consider your protagonist and antagonist. Both up and coming actors and relative risks. Both hold their own and make this film the joy that it is to watch. We know both are now capable of the humour too, from their long standing returns to the universe, however I’m glad we didn’t get their full range here. The story would not have fit the journey both Thor and Loki needed to go on.
This film’s strength is the emotional scenes. In particular those that contain whatever combination of Thor, Odin and Loki Branagh chooses to give us. Without the gravitas and the weight behind those words, this film could have been ridiculous.
Two of my favourite Marvel characters appear in this film: Agent Coulson and Erik Selvig. Both very much human, thrown into all of this and handling it all very well. The thanks obviously need to go to the men behind those characters, Clark Gregg and Stellan Skarsgard respectively. Their interaction together when Selvig goes to collect Thor is genius.
The Bad
Some of the camera angles made me a little motion sick this time. The asymmetry works on a big screen, but my eyes didn’t like it so much when at home.
I’m not sure I liked how the film opened. The sort of cold open is usually saved for episodes of tv shows once characters are established, so meeting Jane, Selvig and Darcy briefly to almost flash back. It didn’t work for me the first time I saw it and it never gets any better the more times I watch.
The Unworthy
I am not so happy with how Clint Barton aka Hawkeye is introduced. Yes, I’m sure comic book loyalists would have got it straight away. However, you have to play to your whole audience. I’m not talking about adding much, but I don’t even recall his name even being mentioned.
Why are Lady Sif and Darcy so unworthy?! Darcy needs her show with ya man from Ant-Man and give Sif everything! It was amazing seeing her in Loki, but we need MORE. I don’t know what it was about Phase 1, but our female characters get built up so we want more. But then nothing happens.
Final Thoughts
A comic book origin story of Shakespearean magnitude. Must admit this was the film in my marathon two years ago that stopped me watching any more. I really didn’t enjoy it and found it a slog. This time though, I found it charming and rich with Easter eggs.
Rating 12 Length 2h23 Release 24.6.2021 Director Justin Lin About Dom Toretto is living the quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, but they know that danger always lurks just over the peaceful horizon. This time, that threat forces Dom to confront the sins of his past to save those he loves most. His crew soon comes together to stop a world-shattering plot by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered — Dom’s forsaken brother. Where to Watch: Cinemas Trailer:
The Good
It’s a ‘leave your brain at home’ sort of action movie that requires little effort on your behalf. With 8 previous films, the viewers will know what to expect.
Tyresse Gibson provides his solid humour as always, but it is Nathalie Emmanuel who really shows her comedy chops in this film. She’s not quite up there with Jason Statham, yet, but she really brought an element of that British humour.
The cars are still as beautiful as ever.
John Cena is a welcome addition to the franchise, although I wasn’t too happy with the resolution. It felt devoid of emotion and that clashes with Dom’s belief about family.
The Bad
They really missed out on an opportunity with the flash back storyline. I enjoyed that much more than the rest of it and I do feel like there was a whole film there waiting to be made prior to the ‘present day’ story line. Yes, it would have perhaps lacked the star power the franchise perhaps relies on, but the flash backs really did seem at odds with everything else. Split it and make two films and you have the chance to create a film that’s much more in keeping with the earlier films and a palate cleanse for the bat shit crazy hijinks of the universe post-Fast Five.
Charlize Theron was absolutely wasted in this. As was Helen Mirren and Michael Rooker. All seemed really shoe-horned in to serve the plot at a disservice to the fans.
The Ugly
It’s about as believable as the UK government. They go to space! Not kidding, they go to fucking space! When you consider the first ever film, you do wonder how we got here. It’s one of those that you just have to accept. Apply logic to it and it will send even the sanest person mad.
How are these people still alive? While I’m telling you to suspend belief to enjoy the movie, I do not understand how any of these characters have a pulse.
Final Thoughts
Eh, I don’t think there’s anything I can say to sum it up. Bit too long, but lets face it you’re either going to watch it, or you’re not.
The Queens of Geekdom 