Change Your Image
speeding_motorcycle
Reviews
Ripley (2024)
Such a disappointment!
I have been looking forward to this immensely since I first read of its production. I'm a huge fan of the novels and have read them repeatedly over the years as I have grown older and taken a different view of the characters each time. I am a fan of the earlier adaptation of the first novel as I am of various other adaptations of the character, all bringing something different from the pages of Patricia's novels. What was this though? All playfulness and excitement was removed and the wily title character reduced to a monotone bore. As for the supporting cast that was even worse. No chemistry, no motives, no engagement in what was happening at all. The direction was absolutely foul! I have no issue with the black and white approach but what was with the constant slide show of repeated images? It was like watching an amateur film school adaptation. I actually hope they don't adapt any of the other novels because they don't deserve this. The young cad turned into an eight part high end car commercial and just so there is no confusion here that isn't a complement in the slightest.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
A return to the Marvel we love
Phase 5 is finally here after many sidesteps, back-steps and in the case of Thor Love and Thunder a catastrophic collapse in Phase 4. What a return to form this was as well. A great story well told, the reason Marvel is where it is. The mixture of all the pieces just right, the magic Marvel formula after almost feeling like it was lost for good found down the back of a couch and resurrected once again. I don't want to give away the plot or rave about any separate elements because the magic was it all together. The word cohesive from the first second to last should be music to fans ears. The most fun I have had at the cinema since No Way Home.
Uncharted (2022)
A Blockbuster better than an Indy
Personally I have always found the Indiana Jones films to be slightly overrated. As a child of the eighties I have fond memories but apart from the third instalment I don't think they hold up to the cobweb tinted memories. This movie is far more in the National Treasure vein yet without the crazy Cage running amok. Two great leads a witty script and some wonderful locations. Tightly edited and plotted it doesn't stop for air yet keeps you rushing along in its waters. Okay it isn't overly original but then Indy was a throwback to films made forty years before it and yet this is forty years after. One is seen as a homage and one as a sacrilege. Film reviewers need to stop being such old curmudgeons and embrace a bit of fun every once in awhile. You never know they might be entertained?
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
They went too far to the joke side
Ragnarok is my favourite Marvel movie and Thor has been my favourite character up until now. This movie unfortunately just got so much wrong that the previous Thor film got right. Everything in this film is a joke and an over the top joke at that. They have made a total fool of the character and wasted his arc. There is no character development here which has always been the greatest strength of Marvel movies the way they make us care. Bale is absolutely fantastic yet absolutely wasted along with the Guardians and Valkyrie. Due to the overly comedic side of things the serious moments don't hit at all. People talk of The Dark World as the low point of Thor but this is the film where they have lost the character. I just hope that they realise this and get someone else behind the wheel before the next instalment and we actually get a hero we can care about and get behind again. I'm giving it five because it isn't a bad film and I did enjoy it but it was such a wasted opportunity. Phase four is hitting serious problems...maybe the wheels are starting to fall off. The absolute smugness of Love and Thunder is the sort of thing that can almost signpost the beginning of the end, arrogant and incredibly self indulgent and the quietest applause of a full opening night Marvel movie yet. Eternals doesn't count because due to Covid the place was still pretty empty. Please Marvel don't make the same mistake twice!!!
The Beatles: Get Back: Part 1: Days 1-7 (2021)
A masterpiece!
To take all of this footage and make something so compelling and human is a great feat! I have looked forward to something so comprehensive as this for my entire life and never thought it would happen. Today is a great day!