Category: 2025

Wicked: For Good (2025)

Director Jonathan M. Chu

Runtime 2h 17

The Good

  • I cannot fault the performances of Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande or Jonathan Bailey. They are what make this movie and why it works.
  • I love how this story interweaves with The Wizard of Oz, that it makes nods to the story without just simply retelling it as it would have been so easy to do. 

The Bad

  • Michelle Yeoh can play a glorious bad guy. We have Star Trek: Discovery to attest to this. Michelle Yeoh is an Oscar winning actress. And yet, this was very much a lacklustre performance unworthy of the reputation that precedes her. Not only that, she most certainly didn’t look like she was having fun.

The Ugly

  • My biggest issue is that this film covers everything after the intermission in the play. It’s about 40 minutes of play script stretched over the 2 hour+ runtime. I personally would have stopped the first film before they go to Oz however, I also understand why there was want to end on a big number (Defying Gravity).
  • The result is a second film that feels mostly filler (yes, I sang that in the style of Willow from Buffy) for what is essentially the last remaining ‘big number’. 
  • I suspect, years down the line, someone will edit this all down to one 2-hour film.  I think that’s will be the next time I watch this. For me it suffers the same fate as The Hobbit: they both overshot with their desire for an ‘ology’.

Final Thoughs

A visually stunning film that will keep die-hard fans happy. Alas, for me this second outing was a little too rich, too bloated and really wanting a stand alone.

Tron: Ares (2025)

Director Joachim Rønning

The Good

  • While narratively I’m not sure the existence of separate and independent Grids works, I did absolutely love the modern recreation of the original film’s graphics- including the og Light Cycle. If you gave a whole film of this, I would be incredibly happy. There was also a mid-credit callback to Dillinger’s grandfather. 

The Bad

  • You recast Dillinger?! You had Cillian Murphy in the role during Legacy (in his peak post-Dark Knight Scarecrow slutty glasses phase) and don’t try anything and everything to get him back? To add insult to injury Evan Peters, who I’ve adored since 2004’s Sleepover, gives a very not-fun angry-ham performance.
  • Once again we’ve got problems naming things. There’s an early use of ‘Tron’ when I believe they’re referring to The Grid, then we have Dillinger referring to Ares as Master Control. Which wouldn’t have thrown me if it wasn’t for the big fat face calling him that. For those who don’t remember, the big fat face was Master Control in the first film.
  • This film also claims that Dillinger had his own rival business for 40 years. Which goes against Legacy having Julian on the board at ENCOM. Don’t retcon and, if you do, you make it worth while. 
  • Gillian Anderson is WASTED in this film as the scolding mother of Julian. 
    Alas, the music does not work for me. It only survives the Ugly because it had such a tough act to follow that it was never going to win me over.

The Ugly

  • Jared Leto. He’s strangely, and inconsistently, wooden and a little too old for the lead Programme. He keeps his beard when no Programme has EVER had facial hair.
  • Much in the same way CGI Jeff Bridges was bad in Legacy from the very first viewing, there are scenes within this outing that really stand out as ones that will age poorly: the first Ares fight and returning Eve to the real world reminded me of Shark Boy and Lava Girl.
  • I have a massive issue with the main story being set in the real world. 1. Real world is boring. I can see that all the time. The Grid, however, takes my breath away. 2. The Science (Physics) of The Grid does not work for me in the real world. The Light Cycle trails that cause most of the destruction just defy physics.
  • You really going to retcon my boy Jarvis’ best line for Legacy?! Yes, it’s ‘cool’ that the stick is now multi function but ‘I’ll give you a hint; not that’ lives rent free in my head thanks to James Frain’s inflection.
  • You had Cameron Monaghan right there, yet he’s in one scene. One blink and you’ll miss it scene. He would have made for a better Ares, and if we *had* to have Leto in this, he would have made for a better Dillinger.

Final Thoughts

Visually it is the next step on from Legacy. Story wise, it’s a mess and doesn’t understand what a life long fan, like me, wants.

Another Simple Favour (2025)

Rating: 18
Length: 02h01
Release: 01/05/2025
Director: Paul Feig
About: Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson reunite on the island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman, which is interrupted by murder and betrayal. Every friendship has its twists.
Moon: No Moon sighting
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

  • Both Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are killing it again. Not only do they individually bring their A game, their chemistry as social cat and mouse who love each other is the best kind of fucked-up.
  • This film is a farce, and it’s not hiding that fact. However, Feig has traded in his Saturday Night Live casting for a much more scripted and controlled affair. There’s few actresses that can balance that line of comedy and drama, and only one who can do well. Allison Janney not only adds her Oscar winning acting chops, she plays the role with perfect comic timing.
  • The costumes are as incredible as the first film. If for nothing else, you have to watch the film to feel the awe and envy of the clothes both Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick get to wear.

The Bad

  • It’s about 30 minutes too long. The opening sets everything up pretty quickly if not a little too exposition by dialogue.
  • The publicist was wasted character and just there to be picked up and dropped when Stephanie needs someone to talk to. I almost wish the set up to get her to the wedding instead included taking her son or anyone else.

The Ugly

  • Enough with the casual incest already. It is just such a weird non-plot point that the film just keeps coming back to. It feels like it would be right at home in a Feig/McCarthy led production and a improv line. However, it’s just odd that it was not only brought back up, but the film doubled down in the sequel.

Final Thoughts

Yet another surprising offering from Feig. It won’t stand up to multiple viewings but it certainly is worth the watch.