ruelshepperd Reviews

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

The monsters continue to entertain

[6/10 · 30 April 2024]

The epitome of turning your brain off. This film is ridiculous and it knows it. It fully leans into the campiness and fun of the situation and thus the film is a fun time overall.

The highlight is definitely Kong and his plot line. This film and Godzilla vs Kong have him be the main focus and the film does a good job with conveying his thoughts and feelings with little to no dialogue (sort of). His journey feels the most fleshed out and the villain is probably has the most personality of any monsterverse antagonist. In contrast, Godzilla gets very little other than going around killing monsters and helping out in the 3rd act.

With the focus more squarely on the monsters, we get a lot more action and it's pretty good. The CGI is great and the action choreography is pretty good as well. The plot simply acts as a means to get from one fight to the other, with no attention for consistency or logic.

Unfortunately, the major drag of this film, like many monsterverse films, are the humans. They all exist to spout exposition, state the obvious or intervene at a pivotal moment in the story. They have very little character and their arcs are pathetic. The only bright spot is Trapper, who feels like just the kind of character the monsterverse needs more of. Someone who sees everything ridiculous going on and seems to be enjoying every second of it.

Overall, Godzilla X Kong is exactly what you thought it would be. Turn your brain off for 2 hours and simply bask in the ridiculous premise and the epic monster fights.

Shōgun (2024)

A fantastic miniseries!

[10/10 · 28 April 2024]

This show is the first in a very long time to equal the quality of the first 4 seasons of Game of Thrones. From the writing, acting, production and music, every aspect is firing on all cylinders.

The GOT comparison feels appropriate since this show is heavily focused on character and political intrigue. The writers expertly construct a complex web of plotting and scheming, driven by equally complex and riveting characters. The plot keeps you guessing through every episode, with small details having major significance and every action having major consequences. No character is safe and mistakes are costly. This is all enhanced by riveting dialogue scenes and excellent character subtleties.

Of course, every actor gives it their all. There is no weak link in the cast and every actor is able to convey their character's complex emotions and feelings with just small changes in facial expressions. Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada, Fumi Nikaido and especially Anna Sawai are all standouts.

From a technical standpoint, this show is spectacular. Sets are amazing, cinematography is spectaclular and the music is perfect. There is action, but it's used sparingly and is done very well. The culture and the world are wonderfully realised and the audience is eased into it brilliantly through John Blackthorne.

I do not wish to spoil this show for those who are interested but I'll simply say, this show has everything you could want in a solid miniseries. It's destined to become a classic down the line and I'm sure I'll rewatch it countless times. Just go watch it.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

A sci-fi epic for ages!!

[10/10 · 3 March 2024]

I am so so happy with how this film turned out. I love the Dune Books and I loved Part 1. But Part 1 was just a juicy appetiser to what is an extraordinary Part 2. This film is one of the best of the decade and maybe even of the century.

To start with the obvious, the visuals, music and sound are top notch. This film is why people go to cinemas. The CG is flawless and at no point was my immersion broken. Hans Zimmer masterfully builds on his score from Part 1 with some truly great stuff. The cinematography is gorgeous and shows off Greg Fraiser's immense talent.

The ensemble cast are all excellent, no bad performances are to be seen. Timothée Chalamet excels as Paul Atreides and he is excellent at playing the naive boy turned ruthless war general. Zendaya brings extra dimensions to Chani that arguably exceed the book version. In fact, The Fremen in general are more developed and diverse than in the book. Everyone gives it their all but the absolute standout is Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha. He is unrecognisable but does such an excellent job at giving the character great presence and charisma.

There are deviations from the book, but they're all done well and are all done in service of a stronger, more streamlined and more digestible film overall. What's important is that the core themes of the book are perfectly intact within this film. The ideas are explored expertly and every moment feels well built and earned. While there are moments that may seem rushed, the book spends the exact same amount of time on them. Besides, the time is used well to develop characters.

Overall, Dune Part 2 is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's everything a fan of the franchise could want. Like LoTR before it, it is a perfect adaption of its source material. This and part 1 make a complete package and they will likely go down in history as quintessential sci-fi classics and must-watch movies.

The Holdovers (2023)

Equally funny and poignant

[9/10 · 5 February 2024]

Sometimes, a simple premise combined with complex characters and great acting is all you need to keep me entertained. This movie is a great time full of emotion and heart and a good amount of passion for the 70s era of filmmaking. From how its shot to the company logos, the tone is set perfectly for the story that is about to unfold.

To get the obvious out of the way, Paul Giamatti is exceptional as Paul Hunham. A perfect performance that combines great comedic delivery and timing with subtle emotional moments. But, for me personally, the stand out was Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully. Him and Giamatti have great chemistry together and I could watch these two act together in any scenario. Da'Vine Joy Randolph rounds out our main cast and she is equally as excellent.

The film is written extremely well. The comedy is pretty much perfect and it never feels obnoxious. The dialogue is great and keeps up the energy all the way through. Yet this film also excels in the emotional moments too, never undercutting the drama with any joke. The humour is used to build character so that the emotional moments hit that much more.

If I had any criticism, it would be that the cast initially starts out larger but it is quite conveniently cut down. There are more characters at the beginning and they're suddenly moved out of the movie and it feels quite convenient that Angus is the only one left.

In conclusion, The Holdovers is such a fun and great feel-good time. It has great comedy, great drama and great acting. All you could ask for in a Christmas movie.

Poor Things (2023)

Beautiful and bizarre

[9/10 · 27 January 2024]

The first of Yorgos Lanthimos' films that I've seen (I've been meaning to check out The Favourite) but I doubt any of them will top this one. Poor Things deserves all the praise it gets. It is one of the most unique films I've ever seen with great visuals, costumes and acting.

All the performances are great but Emma Stone is of course the standout. She brings a loveable wit and naivety to Bella Baxter and she is captivating in every scene. She is an excellently realised character and she makes the movie work. She also assists in ensuring the comedy lands every time. The humour of this film is twisted yet hilarious and the actors all do a stellar job at delivering it. Yet the film also has quiet, emotional moments that hit even harder. All the supporting cast are great with Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe as standouts.

This film looks gorgeous. The costumes and makeup are exquisite and the sets are amazing. Lanthimos' direction bring this world to vivid life and the cinematography is excellent. The music further assists in immersing the audience in this weird world as seen through the eyes of Bella Baxter. An excellent soundtrack.

If I had to mention any issues with the film, there is an aspect in the third act that feels somewhat underdeveloped and one-note. It stands out since the rest of the film is so thoroughly fleshed out. That being said, it serves as a good moment of development for the protagonist. It just felt like there should've been more for this aspect. This film is long but I would've happily spent more time with the characters.

Overall, Poor Things is a fantastic film, full of colour, comedy and heart. The film successfully tackles big themes and ideas through great acting, great characters and wonderful production. A great film all around.

Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

There's passion, yet it still feels lifeless

[5/10 · 8 January 2024]

We live in a weird timeline where a FnaF movie actually exists and it's not the worst thing ever created by humanity. It's certainly not good, it lacks any true horror movie bite, and feels like a movie too afraid to delve into the rich lore of the games to tell a more interesting story. Yet there is some passion behind it.

The characters are all fairly one-note and stale. The protagonist, Mike, is elevated by a good performance by Josh Hutcherson but the character is nothing special. He really is all that holds the movie together as the rest of the cast performance-wise are pretty bland (barring the antagonist of the film).

This film is frustrating in the plot department as there is fertile ground for a fascinating story, yet so much time is wasted in reoccurring dream sequences to solve a mystery that's obvious to the audience. I feel had we delved into the story behind the pizzeria and learnt more about the antagonist, we may have had a far better story. The plot doesn't seem to function on cause and effect and things certainly just happen out of convenience and contrivance, not to mention there is some questionable character choices that the film tries to characterise as noble and just, but given the character in question, it feels like the film is trying to make the audience feel sympathy for an accomplice for murder. Had more time been devoted to the relationship between this character and the antagonist, we wouldn't have this problem.

If there is one saving grace of this film, it's Fazbear's pizzeria. It looks great, the animatronics look great and convincing. It's clear that the filmmakers wanted to nail that aspect and they absolutely did. And yet, we spend so little time in the pizzeria and so we get very little animatronic action. This film is also rated PG-13 so no violence to help heighten the tension will be found. We just cutaway when something potentially gruesome is about to happen.

Overall, while it doesn't despise the source material like other video game adaptations, FnaF really doesn't leave an impression as a horror movie. The animatronics and some decent performances can't save a film that's hesitant to use the rich lore of the games to tell a really interesting story. Maybe in the sequel.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

Unoriginal, rushed and boring

[3/10 · 6 January 2024]

Zach Snyder, the epitome of style over substance. His DC films are dull and miserable affairs with the occasional cool spectacle. With Rebel Moon: Part 1 the not complete edition, he hopes to deliver his version of Star Wars. And he did just that, without anything that made Star Wars good.

All the characters are forgettable, none of them are memorable. The villains are comically evil and lack any of the charisma or intimidation required from good villains. Any new character is introduced and then shoved aside. No one gets any form of development or character arc and are all derivative of better characters. The acting is not much better, everyone appears bored. It's a shame because the likes of Charlie Hunnam and Ed Skrein can deliver fun performances, but Zach Snyder doesn't allow fun.

The plot is just cliche after cliche, all of it derivative of better movies. This entire film is poorly paced with what feels like so little happening in 2 hours and yet at the same time it feels rushed. I'm sure the Snyder Cut will rectify these issues but it's just stupid that Zach can't deliver the movie he promised in the first time. What makes it worse is Snyder's massive over-indulgence in slow motion. Dear god, every scene has it and it's so pointless. It makes the movie drag and any potentially interesting action sequence is ruined by it. This film lacks any moment of halfway decent spectacle and the CGI ranges from good to laughable. The only positive I can mention is the soundtrack has its moments.

Overall, just watch Star Wars. I doubt part 2 will change my opinion of Rebel Moon and I know well enough that Snyder's director's cut will not improve this film massively. A film so bad that it's not even memorable. A bad film can be fun, but this is far worse.

Ferrari (2023)

A lot of missed potential

[6/10 · 1 January 2024]

In the surface, Ferrari appears to be a well-directed, well-acted and adrenaline fuelled with excellent racing sequences. And yet, throughout the film, I couldn't help but feel disinterested and dissatisfied. This film has all the elements to be a slam dunk and yet I never felt attached to Enzo Ferrari and his struggles.

The performances are decent overall. Unfortunately, I was most disappointed by Adam Driver as the titular character. He never showcases the great range that I know he is capable with. His Enzo Ferrari is very reserved and somewhat bland. It's not helped that he is speaking English while attempting an Italian accent. If Chernobyl (2019) can get away with all English dialogue, then I feel you can do that here. It would certainly allow Driver to reach greater levels of acting. The saviour of this film is certainly Penélope Cruz. She delivers an excellent performance as Laura and I wish she got more screen time.

But if you're here for the racing, the film does delivers. It's few and far between, but the third act is a long, intense race with great sound design and editing. It's a shame that you're not invested in any of the racers since the film doesn't characterise any of them. It means the climax of the film doesn't hit as hard as it probably should. It's certainly shocking and brutal but it's hard to stay immersed when the violence is so over the top and the CGI is not quite great.

Overall, Ferrari feels like a film that could've been better. The characters could've been better, the story could've covered a more interesting part of Enzo Ferrari's life and the acting could've been more. I left this film not feeling like I did not know Enzo Ferrari. It's a film that perhaps is not for me, but I can see how others enjoy it.

The Creator (2023)

Mostly amazing, until the end

[6/10 · 14 October 2023]

Gareth Edwards made what is easily the best Star Wars movie of the Disney Era in Rogue one. A film that notably had fantastic visuals and a surprisingly decent plot. Edwards' first original film is a visual treat, with great action, acting and characters but a plot that is held together by conveniences and contrivances, that is then shattered by a rushed third act.

For the positive, for an $80 million budget, the visuals are spectacular. Every android feels convincing, the CGI is immaculate and the cinematography is excellent. This film spits in the face of $300 million superhero movies, and it shows that talent and effort will always trump money. The action feels real and visceral, with great sound design.

The performances are strong across the board, especially from John David Washington. This might just be his best performance since Blackkklansman, he really brings it in the emotional moments. But the star of the show is Madeleine Yuna Voyles who delivers an excellent performance, especially at such a young age. Her chemistry with John David Washington is palpable, and they are what anchors this movie down. The rest of the characters are serviceable, but the film delivers on its main characters.

Unfortunately, the plot lets this film down somewhat. The plot is moved forward with conveniences and contrivances, with antagonists showing up out of nowhere to instigate action, or the protagonists seamlessly moving from one place to another without repercussions. Where this gets extremely egregious is in the third act, which rushes the climax of the film, delivering potential pay-offs that had no setup and wrapping up the conflict in too easy a way. While the ending is still logical and fine and the visuals are still gorgeous, the rushed climax makes it much less satisfying.

There are also smaller issues regarding the world-building mainly how the US seems to be the only human nation in existence and there is a massive revelation regarding a major event that is briefly mentioned in a line of dialogue and then never talked about again. The big themes this movie wants to tackle regarding sentience are tossed aside. I would have liked some more moral ambiguity as well as it almost feels Avatar-like when it comes to the human antagonists.

Overall, The Creator had the potential to a great sci-fi movie. It has the visuals, the performances and the action that are worth your time and money. You might just feel disappointed however, due to film's missed potential in its lack of exploration of great ideas, its flimsy plot and rushed climax.

Ahsoka (2023– )

Another forgettable waste of time

[6/10 · 4 October 2023]

After Andor showed how amazing a Star Wars show can be when competently written by people with talent, directed by people with creativity and performed by actors with passion for their roles, this show comes along to remind everyone that Andor was a one-off occurrence, an anomaly. Ahsoka exemplifies the (few) strengths and the (many) weaknesses of recent Disney Plus Star Wars shows. It wastes time, it has bland characters and it exists to remind you of better things Star Wars has done.

The plot of Ahsoka can easily be summarised as being stretched beyond belief. The story of Ahsoka and the Rebels crew trying to prevent the return of Thrawn and rescue Ezra could have easily been told in at least 3 or 4 episodes, with the other 4 being used to build to an epic battle with Thrawn. Instead it takes us 8 episodes to set up the next season or movie, instead of resolving the plotlines of this season. It moves at an agonizingly slow pace wherein it doesn't build any of its characters and just serves up meaningless action and fluff.

The characters are mostly bland and one-note. The returning Rebels characters are all far less expressive than their animated characters and the actors all look bored and confused. It's clear the direction they were given was poor since most are competent actors in other projects. Rosario Dawson is wooden as Ahsoka which is a real shame. She reacts to everything with bored indifference. Sabine is now insufferable who basically screws over the good guys more than once and is never called out on it. The only exceptions are Baylon played by Ray Stevenson, and Shin played by Ivanna Sakhno. They're dynamic is legitimately interesting but that is all there is. Interest. They're characters are given lackluster wrap-ups.

Of course this show contains all the fan-service you'd expect. It is all there to hide the clear lack of any substance in the script. The show is visually pretty great but the costumes look so cheap and bland. When the volume is used it is very obvious. Another issue is that no casual viewer can really enjoy this show without having consumed 7 seasons of Clone Wars and 4 seasons of Rebels. The show keeps telling us that Thrawn is dangerous but we are never shown this. Thrawn does barely anything in the overall plot and there is no reason to fear him.

In the end, this is another show with nothing to say. It lacks substance. Two decent characters, pretty visuals and fan service can't save this show from the pool of mediocrity/stupidity of its fellow TV show brethren. Just re-watch Andor.

Succession (2018–2023)

An all-time great drama

[10/10 · 29 September 2023]

Succession is about as close to perfection as possible when it comes to TV drama. It seamlessly blends fun comedy with hard-hitting emotion; it has brilliant writing, excellent characters and absolutely stunning performances. Each season appears to improve over the last, with its finale offering a realistic and tragic ending that while it may seem unsatisfying at first, you realise it was the only way for the show to end.

To start with the cast, everyone is excellent. The main cast all turn in powerhouse performances with Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong and Matthew Macfadyen being standouts throughout the entire show. But really, every actor gives it their all, and later cast members such as Alexander Skarsgård and Zoe Winters also turning in excellent performances.

The characters are all excellent. Every single on feels so distinct and meticulously crafted. It also helps that every dialogue scene is excellently written. The script is full of humour and memorable lines that it amazes me the writers were able to maintain this level of quality for 4 seasons in what is a very character driven show. The plot is quite simple for what its worth but the characters are always driving it and its a joy to see situations go awry due to character decisions which stays true to the writing. This show is an excellent example of satire, using humour to make fun of these rich individuals but also attach you to them before delivering a hard-hitting emotional moment that effectively conveys the show's messages.

The production is also excellent. While it took me a while to get used to the filming style, the cinematography grew on me and the way it is shot always keeps every scene engaging. Another stunning aspect of this show is the soundtrack. Nicholas Britell develops so many motifs throughout the show and, like Andor, these motifs are changed and manipulated, whether through instrumentation or style of play, that brilliantly compliments what is happening on-screen while also being a great listen in general.

In conclusion, Succession is one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. It is a masterful example of character drama and every aspect of production delivers fully. This show is worth watching for the performances alone, but every scene is captivating and the show will keep you hooked from rocky start to satisfyingly bitter end.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

A flawed action masterpiece

[8/10 · 5 September 2023]

The Mission Impossible movies since Ghost Protocol have slowly become some of the best modern-day action movies. Tom Cruise never fails to deliver on excellent action sequences with each movie trying to outdo the prior one. In addition, the plot and characters have been increasingly been getting better, with Fallout being the best combination of tight plot, engaging characters and spectacular action. Does this film live up to its predecessors? Yes, almost.

Dead Reckoning Part 1 contains all what one would expect with a Mission Impossible film. The greatest praise I can give this film is that once again, the action is fantastic. While nothing tops Fallout's peak action sequences, the action in this film is leagues beyond any other modern action movies out there. Tom Cruise's commitment is non-stop and he knows what the audience wants. However, some moments in the action do feel too convenient and some moments seem almost nonsensical which was never a problem in its predecessors. It also feels like the film is saving its very best action for part 2 which leaves this film unable to truly stand out from its predecessors.

Yet, what sets this film apart from its predecessors is the plot. The overarching antagonist of the film is unique and new for the series and it is appropriately built-up leaving the stakes the highest that they have ever been. If you pick apart the plot, there are holes and moments where characters simply appear which is somewhat disappointing since the previous films had tight plot, but this doesn't break the film.

The characters are fine with the standout being Hayley Atwell's Grace who is an excellent new addition to the film who knows what she excels at yet is out of her depth in the world of spies and espionage but she is well-developed into well-rounded characters. The side characters are fine. There are one too many and some could've been cut to give time to series favourites like Ilsa and Benji. Ethan is given good development and Cruise continues to deliver with his performance. The main antagonist is interesting with a rough attempt at connecting him to Ethan. I will reserve judgement on him since he will likely be more developed in Part 2.

Overall, Dead Reckoning Part 1 is a great action movie that doesn't quite reach the heights of Rogue Nation or Fallout. It still contains breath-taking action sequences and delivers on all the stuff fans love about Mission Impossible. I am hoping Part 2 corrects the small shortcomings of Part 1 but I still highly recommend this movie for any fan of action.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Fun filled with depth

[8/10 · 25 July 2023]

Greta Gerwig hasn't missed yet with a film but this film is her first larger budget film. Similar to The Lego Movie, this film appears to be a harmless, funny commercial with a simple message but also like The Lego Movie, great writing and performances make it a heartfelt film with strong themes and messages.

The plot is fairly straightforward with our main Barbie going on a journey of self-discovery in the real world, while Ken does the same. A simple premise but well executed. The plot deals with themes such as gender, equality, the loss of childhood and the nature of growing up with such good humour and heart. I had a smile on my face the entire time.

The performances are strongest from the two leads, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Both bring a lot of energy and life to Barbie and Ken, communicating the struggles of being both a man and woman and how one can't exist without the other. They have excellent chemistry and both inject their roles with great emotion. The rest of the cast are good though some felt unnecessary. Will Ferrell's CEO could have benefitted from more screen time or could've even been cut completely. Yet he is still hilarious in the scenes he is in.

The set design is immaculate, Barbieland was a joy to witness. My only issue is we could've spent more time there. The score was great and the cinematography further helped with the immersion. Production-wise this film is gorgeous.

The only problems are a few too many times of the film hammering it's message in to the point it can become annoying. There are also a few lines and jokes that don't land at all and seem entirely of the time. Yet, these are minor in the face that everything does right.

Overall, Barbie is a lot of fun, with great comedy and a lot of heart. The leads are great, the set design is immaculate and the message is strong and positive. A fun film that I highly recommend.

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

The best and worst of TV

[9/10 · 24 July 2023]

What was once the greatest TV show to ever be made became the greatest joke of a TV show. Yet, despite the ending, Game Of Thrones is truly well-worth watching for its first 6 seasons, especially seasons 1-4, which I would consider the peak of television.

Seasons 1-4 contain all the strengths of the books the show is based on and so much more. The world building is fantastic, characters are all layered and multi-faceted, the plot is riveting and the twists are devastating. The dialogue is expertly written, each conversation feels so easily quotable. There are plenty of scenes that aren't in the books that enhance characters like Littlefinger, Varys and Tywin.

Seasons 5 and 6 continue most of the excellence of the first 4, with greater budget for cinematography and spectacle yet falls short in certain plot lines. However, these seasons contain some of the show's best moments and ends in a way that could be viewed as more satisfying than what is to come.

Seasons 7 and 8 represent a sharp drop in writing quality. The plot is broken in season 7 with characters teleporting everywhere and once smart characters becoming dumb. All the characters at some point are broken to facilitate a plot that needed more than just two seasons to properly build up to. The entire message and point of the show is wiped out within one episode and yet it continues to get worse. The ending is blight on the entire show and ruins it, it is pure nonsense and I can't think of a worse way to end it.

There are certain features of the show that are consistently fantastic. The performances are all stellar. Every actor gives it their all, especially the main cast. Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are consistent throughout the show, even in the later seasons. Even characters who appear for one or two seasons are played by excellent actors with special mentions for Jack Gleeson, Pedro Pascal, Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley and Charles Dance.

The music is consistently superb throughout the show and arguable gets better. Ramin Djawadi delivers constantly and has arguably made some of the best music to ever grace television. The VFX and sets are stellar throughout and there are plenty of scenes of cinematic spectacle that are even better than some movies even if the writing is not up to par. Everyone showed up to work to give it 100% for this show, it's a shame for the last 2 seasons, the writers clearly gave up.

In conclusion, Game Of Thrones is some of the best TV ever in its first 6 seasons. All the praise and hype for the show was worth it despite the ending. This show acts as a lesson on how to write an epic fantasy and how not to write an ending.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

A powerful piece of storytelling

[9/10 · 23 July 2023]

Christopher Nolan is one of the greatest directors working today. Whenever his name is attached to a film, it always brings people to cinemas. I was a bit apprehensive at first with Oppenheimer since Tenet was underwhelming and since it was a biopic, something you would think Nolan wouldn't do. Yet he did and he pulled it off in spectacular fashion.

Oppenheimer is a powerful exploration of the father of the atomic bomb, exploring his life, his work and how he viewed the world. This is all brought life by a powerful script and break neck pacing that keeps you engaged all the way to the end. This film was the shortest three hours of my life.

The cinematography is outstanding, constantly immersing the audience into Oppenheimer's mind and is complimented by a sublime soundtrack. The sound design is also immaculate and the attention to detail in the physics is excellent. The visuals are outstanding and it amazes me that it was all practical which makes it all the more impressive. All these aspects combine to make a bleak, doomsday-like movie which asks multiple moral questions of the audience but also allows the audience to interpret it in their own way.

But the greatest aspect of this film is the performances. Cilian Murphy is absolutely excellent as Oppenheimer, expertly portraying a confident and charismatic scientist eventually becoming a disillusioned and guilt-ridden figure. He is the centre-piece of this film and deserves all the praise. The supporting cast is stacked but a particular mention must go to Robert Downey Jr who delivers a brilliant performance as Lewis Strauss, arguably the strongest of his career. All the cast give it their all.

In conclusion, Oppenheimer stands as one of Nolan's best works and arguably his best film since Inception. It is thrilling, poignant and expertly made. A must-watch for all and one I look forward to re-watching countless times.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

An Adventure without a soul

[4/10 · 11 July 2023]

Indiana Jones is one of the most beloved characters in movie history. The original trilogy (mainly 1 and 3) are some of, if not, the best adventure movies of all time. The 4th film was a failure with an aging Harrison Ford, lacking the charm, the practical action and the tight story of the previous films. And its clear Disney has learnt nothing from it. If anything, they have regressed even further.

Dial Of Destiny is a mostly boring and corporate affair, with all the tropes you have come to expect from a modern Disney film. An aging hero, sad and lonely goes on one last adventure with a plucky, and more able female partner who will someday replace him. Its pretty much what happened to Han and Luke in Disney's Sequel trilogy.

Harrison Ford tries his damned hardest to make the film work but he is too old now. The energy, charisma and wit are all gone. Indiana Jones is just another grumpy old man, living his worst life. Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays his god-daughter Helena, and she is a blank slate of a character. I genuinely cannot tell you anything about her. She is another typical Strong Female character yet she never feels like a character, as if the writers had no idea what she was going to be, the producers just wanted her there. Mads Mikkelsen is the only shining light, always delivering a soft-spoken performance but his antagonist is about as deep as a puddle.

But the main problem with Dial Of Destiny is that it is boring. It is sterile. The action doesn't feel real, there are no stakes, the CGI is obvious and is often obscured by pitch darkness. The plot is boring and drags for what feels like hours. This film lacks any of the swift and snappy pacing the previous four films had. It lacks any form of energy, and this is further compounded by a stupid plot. It feels the action sequences were thought of first, and then someone was forced to make a story around that. The villains comically show up whenever its convenient with absolutely zero explanation as to why.

If there is anything positive to say about this film, the opening 20 minutes are a lot of fun. It feels like a standard Indiana Jones adventure despite some rough CGI and clear flaws in the de-aging of Harrison Ford. Yet, it makes the rest of the film seem even worse by comparison since you're left asking "Why wasn't the rest of the film like this?"

In the end, Dial Of Destiny better be the final nail in the coffin of Lucasfilm and its franchises. This bloated and soulless film cannot hold a candle to its predecessors. At least 4 was so ridiculous it was bordering on comical, but this film lacks any form of fun. Skip this film. Re-watch the original trilogy.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST!!

[9/10 · 3 June 2023]

Into The Spider-Verse was one of the best superhero movies and animated movies ever made, certainly the strongest Spider-Man movie we've had to date. Until now. Across The Spider-Verse takes all what was great about its predecessor and turns it up to 11, creating what is possibly the best animated movie ever.

The animation in this film is next level. The style has evolved since the last film with not only the comic-style but many different styles encompassing different versions of Spider-Man and it all flows together marvellously. Every frame is literally an excellently constructed painting. This aids in the absolutely stunning and immensely creative action sequences, some of the best I've ever seen.

The story is once again fantastic. With all this multiversal madness, the writers put Miles' story front and centre. His arc is remarkable and Shameik Moore continues to be the definitive version of the character. Every voice actor does an incredible job, especially Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen. Every moment of the pair together is wonderful. There is so much going on character-wise and Miles' personal journey has the potential to be the best Spider-Man story arc we've gotten in movie form.

Being a big crossover, there are moments of fan service but they're never dwelt upon, the plot and characters remain the focus. If there were any problems to bring up it would be that the main antagonist for the first half of the film disappears for the rest of the film but the villain is still good and is clearly going to be more prevalent in the next film. There is still very strong emotional conflict without him as strong character ideals become the main source of conflict for the rest of the film.

Overall, this film should be a 10/10 but because of its place as the first of a two-parter, the second part must stick the landing for it all to be worth it. However, I have immense faith in the filmmakers to pull it off because of the immense quality of this film. It exceeds in all aspects of filmmaking. A must-see for everyone!

Ted Lasso (2020–2023)

Feel-Good Football

[9/10 · 2 June 2023]

When I first heard of this show's existence, I thought the concept sounded sub-par at best. Another fish out of water story with an American sports coach unable to understand British Culture and the rules of Football. And yet, Ted Lasso defied these expectations, delivering great comedy and heartfelt moments.

The cast are all terrific and no-one appears to turn in a bad performance. Jason Sudeikis is perfect in almost every scene he is in, he has so much charisma, humour and energy that is wonderfully balanced out by sadder internal drama. My personal favourites have got to be Roy Kent and Jamie Tartt, played by Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster. They too combine great comedy with drama and have some of the standout moments in the entire show. I could talk for hours on how great almost every character is.

The writing is pretty consistent for the most part. This show never fails to bring a smile to my face with its comedy and yet it utilises the comedy to endear the audience to the characters which makes the emotional moments hit all the harder. That's not to say it is all perfect. Season 1 is about as close to perfection for TV as it can get. Remarkable introduction with great heart, drama and comedy. There is a clear understanding of British culture and ideas and a clear love of football. Season 2 largely maintains this, with only one episode deviating from the formula. Season 3 is overall a mixed bag. One-off characters pop in without warning and are gone with little ceremony. Recurring characters feel like they're stuck in limbo as the writers don't seem to know what to do with them. Some episodes can really drag on for too long which could've been fixed by cutting out the one-off characters. Despite this, season 3 still sticks the landing where it's important and delivers a bittersweet, if a little self-indulgent, ending. But I think a little indulgence in a finale is allowed given the quality of the 2 preceding seasons.

Overall, Ted Lasso is sure to entertain you and move you. The characters are full of depth and the cast are a blast to watch. I feel anyone can watch this show and come out with a good feeling inside. I am glad the writers decided not to overstay their welcome and they managed to deliver a mostly consistent comedy-drama that I'm sure will be fondly remembered.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

An Amazing Animated Adventure for all!

[9/10 · 16 May 2023]

Never in my life did I think the sequel to a sub-par Shrek Spinoff would turn out to be not just the strongest film in the Shrek franchise, but also one of the best films Dreamworks has ever put out.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is leagues above any modern Pixar film, combining gorgeous animation with engaging storytelling. This is one of the most efficient films I have ever seen. It manages to cram so much into a short hour and 40 minutes without feeling overstuffed in the slightest. If I had any complaint to make it would simply be for there to be even more. The story is a masterful balancing act, with so many laugh out loud moments, perfectly juxtaposed by serious, emotional moments. This film delivers on the comedy and drama excellently.

The voice acting is some of the strongest in any animated movie and the entire cast deserves congrats for their performances. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek as Puss and Kitty play off each other wonderfully and Harvey Guillen as Perrito is one of the best comic-relief characters I have seen in an animated film since he also has great emotional moments too. This film also has one of Dreamworks' best villains, and the film treats him with respect with any scene he shows up in drastically changing the tone to dark and sinister.

The animation is amazing, while similar to Into The Spider-Verse, it is stylized and distinct enough for what the film is trying to be, a fairy-tale adventure. The action sequences are top-notch, creative and imaginative but even simple scenes and transitions feel like they've had heart and soul put into them. Like Spider-Verse there are countless little details to be spotted and even more to be discovered on repeat viewings.

Overall, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is one of the best animated films put out in recent memory. It really has it all. The love and care put into this film incredibly prevalent in all aspects of the filmmaking. I'm sure anyone who watches it will find something to enjoy.

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

What a turnaround!

[7/10 · 14 May 2023]

Star Trek Picard has somehow managed to do a complete u-turn in quality. Season 1 was a dull, plodding adventure in which Picard didn't feel like a key character and was simply there because Patrick Stewart agreed to turn up. I haven't watched the second season in its entirety but most say it's even worse, so I don't think I have missed out on much. Season 3 is fantastic, the band coming back together for one final, high stakes adventure full of twists and inspiration not to mention love and care for the lore of Star Trek.

Season 3 aims to right the wrongs of modern Trek. Everything down to how officers address each other on a ship to the portrayal of Picard himself, it feels very reminiscent of The Next Generation with just the right amount of earned spectacle we've come to expect from Modern Trek. Every character is done justice, the whole TNG crew are given satisfying ends and arcs with my particular favourite being Data and Brent Spiner gives arguably his best performance as the character. All the performances are top-notch. The new characters are also excellent with particular props to Todd Stashwick and Ed Speleers.

This season is full of fan service and it is, for the most part, earned and done in new and interesting ways. The new antagonists are pretty good and the ultimate reveal of their plan and who their working for while feeling familiar, heightens the tension and is done in new exciting ways. There are some gratuitous moments of fan service that is simply there but those are few.

Overall, as a whole, Star Trek: Picard is the epitome of a mixed bag. A fantastic third season likely doesn't wash the sour taste of two bad seasons. Yet, I highly recommend people check out the third season as it is all a Trek fan could want. It gives me hope that there could be more good Trek going forward if the right people are in charge. You do not have to watch the previous seasons to watch season 3, it is what this show should have been.

Tár (2022)

A tour de force of acting

[9/10 · 10 April 2023]

I am not familiar with Todd Field and his works but this film definitely makes me curious to check out his stuff. Tár follows the life of renowned composer/conductor Lydia Tár facing potentially career ending accusations of sexual misconduct. Throughout this film, we see the toll these allegations have on Lydia's life and mentality. Despite being entirely fictional, this movie feels like a biopic of someone's real life. The dialogue feels like real people talking and there is great attention to detail on the musical aspects of the film. This film will educate those not familiar with the world of orchestras while keeping the focus on character at the forefront.

Of course, the best part of this film is Cate Blanchett, who delivers an absolute masterpiece of a performance as Lydia Tár. She brilliantly portrays the character's mental downfall and brings extraordinary energy to the conducting scenes. There are numerous extended scenes of her speaking/lecturing to a group and you are captivated by her performance the entire time. All other performances are stellar too, particularly Nina Hoss.

The ideas and themes of this film leave a lot of room for discussion such as can great art come from horrible people and if so, should we disregard it, or separate it from the artist? Is Tár a flawed but ultimately innocent individual, or truly is as horrible as the allegations make her out to be. Since we view the film through Lydia's perspective, it is left ambiguous to the audience, allowing you to make your own judgements.

Overall, Tár is a well-shot and superbly acted film. It may be long but the slow-burn is worth it. Blanchett is the highlight and the film leaves a lot to the viewer to dissect and discuss. I am sure there is plenty more to find on a subsequent re-watches.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Solid beginning and end, boring middle

[6/10 · 4 April 2023]

Beyond Thunderdome is considered the black sheep of the Mad Max series. Coming off the pulse-pounding action of The Road Warrior, this film decides to pull back on the action but it does not necessarily focus on characters but rather develops the world. With mixed results.

The world of Bartertown is the strongest aspect of this movie. Everything to do with it is great. Performance from Tina Turner is a lot of fun and the location oozes charm and chaos. Mel Gibson as Max feels right at home here. The atmosphere built from the score and cinematography is great. The action is pretty good, even if there isn't that much. The final chase is a lot of fun even if it doesn't reach the level of The Road Warrior's action.

However, once Max leaves Bartertown, the film gets boring. The tribe of kids looking for a leader whom they assume to be Max is so dull. We spend what feels like hours with them and none of them are interesting. In contrast to Bartertown, it is a huge step-down. It's clear that the writers wanted to cater to younger audiences here and while some kids will find it entertaining, most will not. You could cut them from the film and lose nothing. Elements of this film's worldbuilding were done a lot better in Fury Road with the Citadel so at least the writers learnt from their mistakes.

Overall, Beyond Thunderdome feels experimental and fails more often than it succeeds. While the action and Bartertown are great, they make up just less than half of the movie. The other half is boring nonsense that even Max can't seem to give a damn about. Watch this for the first act if you must, sleep for the second and slowly wake up for the third.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

The best of a bad bunch

[6/10 · 4 April 2023]

The MCU caps off phase 4 with a film that was much better than I thought it would be. That being said, the standard set by films such as Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange 2 is very low, so it did not take much for Wakanda Forever walk over the incredibly low bar. Barring Spider-man: No Way Home, this is definitely the strongest film in Phase 4 of the MCU. But it's not without its problems.

On the side of good, the acting is great. All the actors are giving it their all, especially Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. She gives one of the strongest performances in the MCU to date. The action is pretty good for a phase 4 MCU film and the CGI is nowhere near as bad as recent MCU outings. This film also gives touching tributes to Chadwick Boseman that are definitely moving.

Now, for the bad. The film is too long. There is a lot of unnecessary stuff in this film that could've been cut. Returning characters from Black Panther 1, such as Everett Ross, feel completely wasted here and have absolutely nothing to do. New character Riri Williams/Ironheart is introduced and she is just as pointless. While initially the objective of the plot, after she is introduced she gets very little to do and simply acts as a bargain-bin Iron Man. Namor as an antagonist is pretty cool, and he's given a lot more depth than previous phase 4 villains. However, he has a sudden shift in character where he suddenly wants to wage war on the surface world. This comes out of nowhere and simply exists to heighten the stakes to worldwide rather than just Wakanda. The ending also feels rushed as if the writers weren't sure how to wrap the film up and so simply end it on an anti-climactic note.

Overall, Wakanda Forever, while fun and definitely stronger than most phase 4 entries, is bogged down by pointless characters, muddled motivations and weak pacing. The acting really does carry this film and while the action is fun, the film doesn't do enough to justify its own existence and runtime.

The Last of Us (2023– )

A triumph for video game adaptations!

[9/10 · 21 March 2023]

I have not played The Last of Us game but I was aware of the controversial decisions made in the sequel. The first season of this show adapts the revered story of the first game. Does it succeed as both an adaptation and as a solid show in its own right? Absolutely.

The Last of Us season 1 is fantastic. Everything about this show is near-flawless. The writing, the characters, the sets, the music and the acting is all great. Pedro Pascal as Joel excellently rides the line between a gruff yet vulnerable loner who has lost everything and a caring, compassionate man hiding the true atrocities he is capable of. His chemistry with Bella Ramsey as Ellie is fantastic, both playing of each other brilliantly. And it's not just the main actors who do a great job, every guest actor is phenomenal, from the wonderful yet tragic couple of Bill and Frank to the unsettling, monstrous David, each actor brings their A-game for their side roles.

Another strong element to praise is the atmosphere. This is a post-apocalyptic show and it nails it. The sets and CGI are excellent, really immersing you in this role. The haunting Chernobyl-esque flashbacks detailing the build-up to the apocalypse makes this scenario feel scarily feasible. To top it all off, The Infected in the show are used sparingly, but when they show up, they are treated as a massive threat. The creature and sound design of these abominations is truly on point but the show never makes them a joke and always makes the point that humanity is ultimately the greater enemy.

Overall, The Last of Us season 1 is a great season of television. Every episode has something to love, the story is tight and yet leaves room for so much discussion (especially at its ending). All elements of production are fantastic, the writing superb and the acting is incredible. While I'm sure the game is likely the definitive experience, this show is definitely worth-watching for those who haven't played the game and from what I understand, is the best example of a faithful video game adaptation.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

A brutal and sobering depiction

[9/10 · 16 February 2023]

If there is any war that exemplifies the futility of war, it is WW1. While I have not read the book upon which this film is based, the strong anti-war message comes through and within it, a truly harrowing tale of what a man loses in war.

The cast all do excellent jobs. While the side characters aren't that memorable, our main protagonist Paul Bäumer is excellent and is played wonderfully by Felix Kammerer. It is truly moving how he goes from a young boy full of life and to a man stripped of his humanity by the war that he barely resembles his former self. It seems to happen so quickly and yet that is the nature of war and it really highlights how these boys were robbed of youth and forced to become men without growing into it. Despite this, the film has some bright moments of comradeship and it makes the loss of that all the more saddening. The film makes the point that the soldiers are victims of those in charge and the film masterfully contrasts the brutal front line with the lavish and calm high command.

Production-wise the film is outstanding. The trenches are dirty, wet and unpleasant while No-Man's land is convincingly depicted as the corpse-ridden hell scape often described in War poetry. The battles are brutal and the film makes a point of the brutality, yet it is all violence with a point: to show the waste of human lives. There is a clear attention to detail and the film realistically portrays the desperation and violence of battles. This is all helped along by excellent cinematography and sound design. There are a few moment where the CGI is fairly poor but it is mostly well-hidden and the film looks gorgeous otherwise. My only major gripe is the soundtrack which at times is completely off-putting and clashing with what is happening on-screen and it comes off as distracting.

Overall, All Quiet On The Western Front is a masterful portrayal of the pointlessness and waste of war. It puts the focus on the suffering of the soldiers, showing the loss of life and humanity to a terrifying degree despite some bright moments. The movie looks great, sound great (apart from some of the soundtrack choices) and is very well acted. A must-watch war movie that will entertain, haunt and affect you.