STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, 20/12/19

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

Trailer         

Synopsis

The First Order faces the surviving Resistance members as Rey, Finn and Poe’s journey continues. Power and knowledge of generations past now urging them on, the final battle commences.

Cinema

ODEON (IMAX 3D)

Run Time

Two hours, twenty two minutes (2h, 22m)

Rating

58%

Cast

*Possible spoilers*

Rey – Daisy Ridley
Luke Skywalker – Mark Hamill
Leia Organa – Carrie Fisher
Young Rey – Cailey Fleming / Josefine Irrera
Kylo Ren / Ben Solo – Adam Driver
Finn – John Boyega
Poe Dameron – Oscar Isaac
C-3PO – Anthony Daniels
Jannah – Naomi Ackie
General Hux – Domhnall Gleeson
Allegiant General Pryde – Richard E. Grant
Maz Kanata – Lupita Nyong’o
Zorri Bliss – Keri Russell
Chewbacca – Joonas Suotamo
Rose Tico – Kelly Marie Tran
Palpatine / Darth Sidious – Ian McDiarmid
Lando Calrissian – Billy Dee Williams
Beaumont Kin – Dominic Monaghan
Resistance Member – Shirley Henderson
BB-8 – Dave Chapman / Brian Herring
Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix – Billie Lourd
R2-D2 – Jimmy Vee
Temmin “Snap” Wexley – Greg Grunbery
Han Solo – Harrison Ford
Nien Nunb – Mike Quinn
Voice of Nien Nunb – Kipsang Rotich
Wedge Antilles – Denis Lawson
Wicket W. Warrick – Warwick Davis
Klaud – Nick Kellington
Rey’s Mother – Jodie Garlin
Rey’s Father – Billy Howle
Knights of Ren – Martin Wilde / Anton Simpson-Tidy / Lukasz Leong / Tom Rodgers / Joe Kennard / Ashley Beck
Resistance Trooper – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Supreme Leader Snoke – Andy Serkis
Darth Vader – James Earl Jones
Anakin Skywalker (Voice) – Hayden Christensen
Luminara Unduli (Voice) – Olivia d’Abo
Ahsoka Tano (Voice) – Ashley Eckstein
Aayla Secura (Voice) – Jennifer Hale
Adi Gallia (Voice) – Angelique Perrin
Kanan Jarrus (Voice) – Freddie Prinze Jr.
Qui-Gon Jinn – Liam Neeson
Mace Windu (Voice) – Samuel L. Jackson
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Voice) – Ewan McGregor / Alec Guinness
Yoda (Voice) – Frank Oz
Unspecified – Jeff Garlin
Unspecified – Kevin Smith

Movie details

Mid – Credits:  No

End – Credits: No

Before the Review: Well, usually it is drivers behaving like looney toons, but here goes. I almost had my car rammed into by an SUV which was driving dangerously, its indicators seemingly non-existent. Upon overtaking the vehicle, I saw that the self-entitled driver barely had their head over the steering wheel. I thought it was just me, but then they cut off another driver as they were in the wrong lane. Another SUV driver couldn’t be bothered to go around the roundabout correctly and just sped off on the right hand side, nearly totalling an oncoming vehicle. Another carer brought a disabled person to the cinema to watch the movie. These guys are legends, seriously.

*Possible Spoilers*

Review: I don’t even think I was born when the original trilogy was released as the whole saga has taken almost 42 years. As a child of the modern era, I didn’t even think negatively of the prequel trilogy. And truth be told, when I saw Kevin Smith’s name crop up as a possible cameo, I became hawk like in trying to find him (Russell Howard calls him “Sir Nerd”) and it was kind of a blink and you’ll miss it scene. I also noticed that the synopsis mentions “battle” and not war, paving the way for more possible entries in the future.

But still, it’s been two long years of anticipation. The characters are growing and throwbacks to the previous movies are intended to please fans. I’m not very selective of what genre I watch. If it peaks my interest, I will most definitely watch it. This movie contained a lot of throwbacks which were blended into the original trilogy in terms of storytelling as well. There was amazing animation, as expected, along with twists and turns.

 There was also many revelations and answers to questions during this trilogy which also extended to the original trilogy. It even cleared up some of the confusion in regards to recent Siths in general. I especially enjoyed the force spirits arriving in time of the main characters needs. The movie gives Rey’s character closure to her story, but in many ways, opens the possibility of future core movies in the franchise.

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, 13/12/19

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

Trailer         

Synopsis

Spencer heads back into the fantastical world of Jumanji, whilst his pals Martha, Fridge and Bethany follow him to bring him back home. Discovering more obstacles and dangers that lie ahead, they soon realise that everything they knew about Jumanji, is about to change.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, three minutes (2h, 3m)

Rating

71%

Cast

Dr. Smolder Braveston / Eddie– Dwayne Johnson
Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon / Fridge – Jack Black
Franklin “Mouse” Finbar / Milo – Kevin Hart
Ruby Roundhouse / Martha – Karen Gillan
Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough – Nick Jonas
Ming Fleetfoot – Awkwafina
Nigel Billingsley – Rhys Darby
Jurgen the Brutal – Rory McCann
Jurgen’s Spokesperson – John Ross Bowie
NPC Seductress / Bravestone’s Ex-Girlfriend – Dania Ramirez
Young Smolder Bravestone – Zachary Tzegaegbe
Spencer Gilpin – Alex Wolff
Martha Kaply – Morgan Turner
Anthony “Fridge” Johnson – Ser’Darius Blain
Bethany Walker – Madison Iseman
Eddie Gilpin – Danny Devito
Milo Walker – Danny Glover
Alex Vreeke – Colin Hanks
Switchblade – Massi Furlan
Nora Shepherd – Bebe Neuwirth

Movie details

Mid – Credits:  Yes

End – Credits: No

Before the Review:  After hearing all these horrible stories of people being mistreated in care, it warmed my cold, dark heart to see a carer bring in a disabled person, take a selfie with them and enjoy the movie. These moments can change your perceptions about your surroundings, even if for a short period of time. Not like the guy in the middle row though, he sporadically disturbed the guy ahead of me by switching his phone on, and got a popcorn to the head for his troubles. One of those “you had to be there" moments. An SUV cut into my lane, eyeballed me when leaving the lane and cut up a white van. Humorous. 

Review: Back in 1995, the original Jumanji movie, starring the late Robin Williams was released. I would watch this movie a few years later. There was a “supposed” sequel, Zathura, but some people attached to that movie said that Jumanji and Zathura were not connected, so I thought nothing further. Then came the 2017 release, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

I knew the original cast  from previous shows / movies, like WWE (mainly Smackdown), Dr Who, Kung Fu Panda, Scary Movie parodies and South Park. I had quite enjoyed watching them play out their on screen characters as a kind of “Freaky Friday” tribute, the movie which eventually stands on its own. Initially, some characters were portrayed as the actors would have been in their natural roles. However, for Jumanji: The Next Level, things were shaken up in a big way.

An actor’s worth can sometimes be measured on the variety of roles they play. For example, I thought Dwayne Johnson having to pretend he was Danny DeVito ‘s character was awesome as with Kevin Hart, Danny Glover and Karen Gillan. All characters showed some growth and as a result, I quite enjoyed the story. As a video game enthusiast, it was a no brainer to watch this movie. It contained humour, comedy and character development. I also did not grow up on the Jonas Brothers, and my expose to them came via South Park, which is how I recognised Nick Jonas.

KNIVES OUT, 28/11/19

KNIVES OUT

Trailer

Synopsis

A lush estate of a patriarch is visited by police and a private detective when he is discovered dead after his 85^th birthday celebration. Suddenly the quirky relatives and those present become suspects.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, ten minutes (2h,10m)

Current Rating

96%

Cast

Detective Benoit Blanc – Daniel Craig
Hugh “Ransom” Drysdale – Chris Evans
Marta Cabrera – Ana de Armas
Linda Drysdale – Jamie Lee Curtis
Walter “Walt” Thrombey – Michael Shannon
Richard Drysdale – Don Johnson
Joni Thrombey – Toni Collette
Detective Lieutenant Elliot – Lakeith Stanfield
Megan “Meg” Thrombey – Katherine Langford
Jacob Thrombey – Jaeden Martell
Harlan Thrombey – Christopher Plummer
Trooper Wagner – Noah Segan
Fran – Edi Patterson
Donna Thrombey – Riki Lindhome
Wanetta “Great Nana” Thrombey – K Callan
Alan Stevens – Frank Oz
Mr Proofroc – M. Emmet Walsh
Marta’s Mother – Marlene Forte
Cop – Raul Castillo
Voice Cameo – Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Movie details

Mid – Credits:  No

End – Credits: No

Before the Review: One person drove at 30mph on a country road when the speed limit was in fact 60mph. *Sigh* Some entitled driver drove up a No Entry zone in the car park, with a suspected driver’s license they must have clearly bought . A company minivan almost crashed into a bus after a dangerous manoeuvre to overtake an SUV, which joined from the wrong side of a roundabout.   

Review: I saw the trailer for the movie, and instantly saw that it was stacked with star power. However, all I could think of was: “This isn’t freedom. This is fear”, “Just tell me the first word that pops into your head. For example, I say, Day, and you might say... Wasted.”, “I was bred to be a warrior, Kal. Trained my entire life to master my senses. Where did you train? ON A FARM?”

Those are, of course, my most memorable quotes from Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Chris Evens as Captain America) , James Bond: SKYFALL (Daniel Craig as James Bond) and Man of Steel (Michael Shannon as General Zod). And now, they are all part of a murder mystery in the mould of Murder on the Orient Express. It took some getting used to seeing Chris Evans no longer as Captain America. And Daniel Craig, the man can act. In fact, he was my main draw for the movie.

Usually these types of movies have me dozing off, but I was determined to see this one to the end, considering that the director, Rian Johnson, is of Star Wars (The Last Jedi) fame. There was humour; a car chase (with a hint of what seemed to be an insult to a certain car brand) and suspense, which all came together. I don’t know who gave the age rating of 12A, given some upsetting scenes, but it definitely isn’t suitable for children. The last scene kind of felt a little bit satisfying.

FROZEN II, 22/11/19

FROZEN II

Trailer

Synopsis

The Snow Queen Elsa and her sister Anna, head off on an adventure far away from thekingdom of Arendelle and are joined by their friends, Sven, Kristoff and Olaf

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

One hour, forty three minutes (1h, 43m)

Current Rating

83%

Cast

Elsa – Idina Menzel
Young Elsa – Mattea Conforti / Eva Bella
Anna – Kristen Bell
Young Anna – Hadley Gannaway / Libby Stubenrauch
Kristoff – Jonathan Groff
Olaf – Josh Gad
Lieutenant Destin Mattias – Sterling K. Brown
Queen Iduna – Evan Rachel Wood
Young Iduna – Delaney Rose Stein
King Agnarr – Alfred Molina
Young Agnarr – Jackson Stein
Yelana – Martha Plimpton
Ryder – Jason Ritter
Honeymaren – Rachel Matthews
King Runeard – Jeremy Sisto
Grand Pabbie – Ciarán Hinds
The Duke of Weselton / Guard / Northuldra Leader / Arendellian Soldier – Alan Tudyk
Hans – Santino Fontana
Marshmallow – Paul Briggs
The Voice – Aurora

Movie details

Mid – Credits:  No

End – Credits: Yes

Before the Review: One driver on the road, who had just passed their driving test, threw the whole thing into question by driving like they had only had a provisional licence when they failed to indicate and cut off two cars, at 60mph on a dual carriageway. There was an unsupervised child throwing popcorn on the stairs inside the cinema screen, having a very excited time in doing so. Three kids seemed to be bunking off school and failed to hide their school emblem. Shocking(!)

Review: When I first when to see Frozen in 2013, it was riding a huge wave of anticipation and garnering a lot of attention. It took me a while, but I finally managed to get myself some tickets and took my kid brother to watch the movie. Surprisingly, for many scenes, I seemed to resonate with Elsa as an introvert who was mostly closed off (hermit like) from everyone else. By the movie end, she had come out of her shell and was finally accepted by everyone at Arendelle. And a catchy song  was sung by everyone leaving the cinema.

Fast forward to Frozen II (2019), and I am watching similar scenes take place, but with Elsa coming to terms with trusting her sister Anna more, as a kind of coming of age situation. It has been 6 years and still I can resonate with Elsa for parts of the movie. Much more is included and the story has been expanded upon. The humour will mainly be understood by a grown up in attendance, along with character development.

The award winning song, “Let It Go” is replaced by “Into the unknown”. Personally, I found it catchy, but time will tell if it surpasses “Let It Go”. Credit to Disney though, they seem to show my life development and evolution in both films. It would appear that I feel like I am Elsa personality-wise and without the physical ice powers, but with a different mission in life, which I commend Disney for. Looks like the Marvel franchise is not the only Disney property getting the heavy focus on good stories.

LE MANS ’66 (FORD VS FERRARI), 15/11/19

LE MANS ’66 (FORD VS FERRARI)

Trailer

Synopsis

Carroll Shelby, an American automotive designer and Ken Miles, a fearless race car driver do battle with the laws of physics, corporate interference at Ford Motor Co and personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle. Up against the likes of Enzo Ferrari race cars, amongst others, together they plan to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France 1966.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, thirty two minutes (2h, 32m)

Current Rating

92%

Cast

Carroll Shelby – Matt Damon
Ken Miles – Christian Bale
Mollie Miles – Caitriona Balfe
Lee Lacocca – Jon Bernthal
Henry Ford II – Tracy Letts
Leo Beebe – Josh Lucas
Peter Miles – Noah Jupe
Enzo Ferrari – Remo Girone
Phil Remington – Ray McKinnon
Roy Lunn – JJ Feild
Head of Security – Gian Franco Tordi
Jack McMullen – Charlie Agapiou
Bruce McLaren – Benjamin Rigby
Donald N. Frey – Joe Williamson
Dan Gurney – Alex Gurney
Gianni Agnelli – Giovanni Cirfiera
Corrado Invernizzi – Franco Gozzi
Dr Granger – Wallace Langham

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Before the Review: I had to give way to a very aggressive Vauxhall Corsa driver on a roundabout, who was in the wrong lane to begin with. A near six foot tall dude blocked the view of at least four people when taking his jacket off, for nearly two minutes whilst the trailers were rolling in the cinema. Those four people would quiz the dude after the movie about his antics. And another cinema goer had their Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker tickets wrongly printed out.

Review: I’m not a petrol-head or particularly interested in cars in that way. However, Christian Bale is one of my favourite actors, ever since he starred in The Dark Knight Trilogy and personified the words: “I’M BATMAN.” (We’ll ignore Exodus: Gods and Kings). He stars alongside Matt Damon, whilst hes not particularly one of my favourites, he is still a very good actor.

The 92% rating is quite spot on. A lot went on in this movie and I was able to follow it all. Based on the real life events of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, the movie kept me interested throughout, possibly because of Christian Bale, and does really well to capture the mood of the intensity of what FORD were trying to accomplish at Le Mans.

Taking a step away from the IMAX screens, this movie does boast some comical moments; feel good music during some races that somehow draw you in and, at times, suspense. It seems like the actors who portrayed iconic figures, like Enzo Ferrari, kind of reminded me of how Bruce Lee was portrayed in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It may have just been to build up the story. I always feel satisfied when watching these kind of movies, as before the credits start rolling, you are sometimes reminded of actual events based around the movie’s premise, but you also feel educated.

MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL, 02/11/19

MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

Trailer

Synopsis

As young Aurora’s upcoming wedding to Prince Phillip beckons, Maleficent travels to the grand grand castle to witness the event. Whilst there, she meets Aurora’s future mother-in-law, a queen who whilst conniving, is also hatching a devious plot to destroy fairies amongst the land. To stop this plan from happening, Maleficent joins forces with a seasoned warrior, along with a group of outcasts to battle the queen, and her powerful army.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

One hour, fifty eight minutes (1h, 58m)

Current Rating

41%

Cast

Maleficent – Angelina Jolie
Princess Aurora – Elle Fanning
Queen Ingrith – Michelle Pfeiffer
Conall – Chiwetel Ejiofor
Diaval – Sam Riley
Borra – Ed Skrein
Prince Phillip – Harris Dickinson
Knotgrass – Imelda Staunton
Thistlewit – Juno Temple
Flittle – Lesley Manville
King John – Robert Lindsay
Lickspittle – Warwick Davis
Gerda – Jenn Murray
Percival – David Gyasi
Shrike – Judith Shekoni
Udo – Miyavi
Ini – Kai Alexander
Narrator – Aline Mowat
Pinto – Emma Maclennon
Jungle Warrior – John Carew
Young Peasant – Freddie Wise

Movie details

Before the Review: A people carrier forced itself into my lane from a T-junction, no breaks and no indicators. This meant the car in front of me needed to do an emergency avoidance manoeuvre otherwise there would have been casualties. At the cinema, an unsupervised child managed to pull down a whole shelf of canned fizzy drinks, lots of written off product but a very delighted child. An animated customer started fuming that their Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker tickets had been printed off in advanced, and not “Joker”.

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: It’s not very often I attend an Angelina Jolie movie; actually I would say this was first movie starring her. And truth be told, upon looking at the release posters, I thought I was looking at Vertigo Comic’s Lucifer, before realising it was in fact, the sequel to Maleficent, which I saw in 2014, a somewhat different take on the story from Sleeping Beauty.

The movie itself I thought showed Maleficent’s turn as an adoptive mother to Aurora, their bond stronger than ever. The added humour, at times synched up rather well, in particular with one reminding me of when a young John Conner tries to teach the Terminator how to smile in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

We also have a more back story to the Dark Fae, Maleficent’s own kind (Race), much like in Kung Fu Panda 3, again with a twist from the original story. Lots of character building in regards to Maleficent’s especially, with build ups and slight expectation shocks, one concerning a warrior fae with a seeming passion for war with humans. Lots of animation with twists and feel good scenes as well. A hint of a future continuity for eager listeners.

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE, 26/10/19

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

Trailer

Synopsis

A Hybrid cyborg human, alongside Sarah Conner, must protect a young girl from a new kind of Terminator from the future, one which consists of newly modified liquid.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, fourteen minutes (2h, 14m)

Movie Rating

67%

Cast

Sarah Connor – Linda Hamilton
T-800 (Model 101) / Carl – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Grace – Mackenzie Davis
Daniella (Dani) Ramos – Natlia Reyes
Rev 9 – Gabriel Luna
Diego Ramos – Diego Boneta
Carl’s wife – Alicia Borrachero
Mr Ramos – Enrique Arce
Rigby – Steven Cree
Maria – Cluadia Trujillo
Mexico City Cop – Mario de la Rosa
F-35 Pilot – Nick Wittman
Major Dean – Fraser James

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: So, I had to deal with an SUV driving up a “No Entry” lane in the car park and causing major congestion, another SUV with its hazard lights on and closing down a lane to exit via barriers as the driver or passengers had not paid to valid their parking ticket and an SUV forcing drivers of their lanes (no indicators used) and then illegally manoeuvring on the roundabouts (Again, with no indicators). The person sitting next to me frightened easily, all this before finally settling down to write this review. Phew.

So, Terminator: Dark Fate, the heavily advertised return of Sarah Conner, did not disappoint. From the very first Terminator movie in the franchise from 1984 to the current one, I have followed each of them (Granted the first Terminator movie arrived before I was born and my mother would’ve thought I was batsh*t crazy to want to watch Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991)

The movie itself brought back a feel I have when watching a Terminator movie: “So mankind has or will lose control of a machine, again. *Eyeroll*” You almost get the sense that Ultron (Marvel) may have influenced a more grounded killer machine, which is sent back in time to alter the timeline so the core (almost hive mind like) machine remains virtually unopposed.

The T800 that Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays has been moved aside in favour of a female hybrid type of machine to do the saving this time around. Quite a bit of humour involved, strong language and  CGI plays a heavy role, quite nicely as well. There have been hints of alternative timelines and the climax of the movie is left open.

There are also lots of subliminal messages in the movie regarding the state of technology and politics of certain countries in the current era. This movie kind of feels like a soft reboot in the mould the first Terminator and Terminator Genisys, but definitely upbeat and has more development of the story to come. 

GEMINI MAN, 11/10/19

GEMINI MAN

Trailer

Synopsis

An elite assassin, Henry Brogan suddenly finds himself a target of a mysterious operative who appears to anticipate his every move. Henry, to his horror, soon discovers that this operative that is trying to hunt him down and kill him, is in fact a younger, faster and a cloned version of himself.

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

One hour, fifty seven  minutes (1h, 57m)

Current Rating

30%

Cast

Henry Brogan – Will Smith
Danny Zakarweski – Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Clayton “Clay” Varris – Clive Owen
Baron – Benedict Wong
Janet Lassiter – Linda Emond
Kitty – Theodora Miranne
Jack Willis – Douglas Hodge
Yuri Kovacs – Ilia Volok
Marino – E.J. Bonilla
Keller - Björn Freiberg

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: Well, Will Smith. I grew up on Will Smith dominating my childhood with showings like Men in Black and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. There's been ups and downs, but the anticipation to watch movies starring Will Smith still remains. Adding David Benioff of Game of Thrones fame and Jerry Bruckheimer of Lucifer fame, there was bound to be great sequences, and the poor rating doesn’t do the movie justice, unless it is aimed at the editing, then maybe I understand.

However, Will Smith plays a younger version of himself. I thought he did really well through the action sequences, when he isn’t making a black suit from Men in Black "look good", in a script that has been in limbo for nearly 20 years. Benedict Wong is fast becoming a decent supporting character, having impressed alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange.

It’s great to see Will Smith diversifying as he grows older. It is difficult playing your younger self, but I think Will Smith pulled it off. If you don’t mind the editing in that some of the action sequences were sped up, then the ratings definitely don't hold down.

JOKER, 04/10/19

JOKER

Trailer

Synopsis

Failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks a connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City, forever alone in a crowd. Wearing two masks, one which acts as his day job as a clown and another as a futile attempt to feel like a part of the world around him. Feeling isolated, bullied and disgraced by society, Flecks begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind, Joker

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, 02 minutes (2h, 02m)

Current Rating

77%

Cast

Joker / Arthur Fleck – Joaquin Phoenix
Murray Franklin – Robert De Niro
Sophie Dumond – Zazie Beetz
Penny Fleck – Frances Conroy
Thomas Wayne – Brett Cullen
Alfred Pennyworth – Douglas Hodge
Bruce Wayne – Dante Pereira-Olson
Gene Ufland – Marc Maron
GCPD Officers – Bill Camp / Shea Whigham
Randall – Glenn Fleshler
Arkham Asylum Clerk – Brian Tyree Henry
Gary – Leigh Gill
Social Worker – Sharon Washington
Guest – Justin Theroux

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: Heath Ledger’s take on the iconic Batman villain was always going to be hard to match, or even overcome. Joaquin Phoenix, whether people agree or not, is a success in a dark world with an R rating (15 in UK). Granted that an origin story for the iconic villain is not really needed given his popularity and as the comics (source material), have never really established his origins as canon. White Knight, an ongoing series by DC, but not canon / connected to the main DC Universe, establishes a Joker by the name of Jack Napier, similar to Jack Nicholson’s take on the character. 

With influence from The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns, this movie is more a psychological thriller than simply reintroducing the villain to the wider audience (The screening I attended was full of teenagers, who abruptly, and shockingly ceased to make any noise when the movie started, which was very ominous). If you need some inspiration on how much faith is in this movie, look no further than one of its producers, THE Bradley Cooper, aka, Rocket Raccoon of Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy.

Intended as a standalone movie, there are elements that this movie could, in theory, span a sequel. It is possibly intended to kick start DC's Black Label (Formerly Vertigo) imprint, which is not linked to the main DC Universe as it is alternative story telling, but some elements could find their way through, if the story is strong enough. Arthur Fleck’s descent into becoming The Joker was very captivating. Some comments regarding the characters portrayal look as though they know nothing of the evolution of The Joker, from the 60s (Cesar Romero) to the current day. No Ace Chemicals involved, so this is more or less an imagined origin story.

AD ASTRA, 20/09/19

AD ASTRA

Trailer

Synopsis

A son journeys across the Solar System in search of his missing father, who has been branded a renegade scientist whose experiments pose a threat to humanity

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, 03 minutes (2h, 03m)

Current Rating

82%

Cast

Roy McBride – Brad Pitt
Clifford McBride – Tommy Lee Jones
Helen Lantos – Ruth Negga
Eve McBride – Liv Tyler
Colonel Pruitt – Donald Sutherland
Peter Bello – Jamie Kennedy
General Stroud – John Finn
Lorraine Deavers – Kimberly Elise
Franklin Yoshida – Bobby Nish
Adjutant General Amelia Vogel – LisaGay Hamiliton
General Rivas – John Ortiz
Chip Games – Greg Bryk
Donald Stanford – Loren Dean
Captain Lawrence Tanner – Donnie Keshawarz
Arjun Dhariwal – Ravi Kapoor
Tanya Pincus – Natasha Lyonne

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: Well, the second movie I have seen starring Brad Pitt this year, except this time he was the lead character and had less humour. I generally enjoy space movies, especially those involving celestial bodies or otherworldly civilisations, much like Star Wars, Star Trek and both Guardians of The Galaxy movies. The misleading opening credits of Superman Returns had me believing the movie would take place in space in some form, but then didn’t.

Anyway, as an actor, I can hardly find fault with Brad Pitt. I generally enjoy his movies as he adds an extra dimension to them, like you are experiencing the movie with him. He can seem to be hogging scenes, like in Troy but honestly I wouldn’t complain. I thought he did really well in the movie’s far future setting. Also, Tommy Lee Jones is another actor whose dry humour I always find humorous.
But we get something a bit more serious in this movie from him.

The director, James Gray, wanted to do a different kind of space story, and he did. I enjoyed the space travelling and stunning visuals. This is not a superhero movie, more of a family reunion type, but with a twist.

It Chapter Two, 07/09/19

IT CHAPTER TWO

Trailer

Synopsis

The evil clown Pennywise returns after 27 years to continue to terrorize the town of Derry once again. Since leaving Derry and having gone their separate ways, the once young children have all grown up and moved on with their lives. But when people start disappearing, they are brought back to Derry as they had once sworn an oath to. As their scars from their past continues to haunt them, they must conquer their fears in hopes of defeating Pennywise, who is now stronger than ever...

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, 50 minutes (2h, 50m)

Current Rating

66%

Cast

Bill Denbrough – James McAvoy / Jaeden Martell
Beverly Marsh – Jessica Chastain / Sophia Lillis
Ben Hanscom – Jay Ryan / Jeremy Ray Taylor
Richie Tozier – Bill Hader / Finn Wolfhand
Mike Hanlon – Isaiah Mustafa / Chosen Jacobs
Eddie Kaspbrak – James Ransone / Jack Dylan Grazer
Stanley Uris – Andy Bean / Wyatt Oleff
Georgie Denbrough – Jackson Robert Scott
Henry Bowers – Teach Grant / Nicholas Hamilton
Dean – Luke Roessler
Pawn Shop Owner – Stephen King
Pharmacy Customer – Andy Muschietti
IT / Pennywise – Bill Skarsgård

Movie details

Mid – Credits: No

End – Credits: No

Review: I am not really a fan of horror movies, however, after seeing many episodes of TV shows where a clown or many of them are mentioned, to which I wasn’t really understanding of, until I saw the first movie It. It brought thrills, had a good story and really drew me in to the point where I didn’t want to miss the next scene. In short, it is the highest grossing horror movie because it earned it.

It Chapter Two brought something different from its predecessor. Again, a good story, had a talented cast, but added an element that is not really associated with horror movies, comedy and lots of it, throughout the duration of the movie. This takes away the anticipated thrills within the movie and you expect to see / hear the next comedy scene or event.

There were times I thought to myself that some sequences were very confusing, but it turns out there is a mix of younger and older characters trying to be balanced out to give everyone a fair amount of screen time. Visual effects were quite good and there is also more of an insight into Pennywise as well. The movie didn’t inspire me as much as the first one did, but the story has been expanded upon and lots of character build-up, for just less than three hours, so you may want to slow down on the popcorn to prolong it.

ANGEL HAS FALLEN, 24/08/19

ANGEL HAS FALLEN

Trailer

Synopsis

Mike Banning, a Secret Service Agent, is taken into custody by for a failed assassination attempt of Allan Trumbull, now President of the United States. After being incarcerated, Banning manages to escape capture and evade the FBI, along with his agency (Secret Services) to find the real threat which targeted the president. In his quest to uncover the truth, Banning turns to unlikely allies in his attempts to clear his name and uncover an imminent threat to the United States

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, 01 minute (2h, 01m)

Current Rating

40%

Cast

Mike Banning – Gerard Butler
Allan Trumbull – Morgan Freeman
Wade Jennings – Danny Huston
Sam Wilcox – Michael Landes
Martin Kirby – Tim Blake Nelson
Clay Banning – Nick Nolte
Leah Banning – Piper Perabo
Helen Thompson – Jada Pinkett Smith
David Gentry – Lance Reddick
James Haskell – Mark Arnold
Travis Cole – Frederick Schmidt
Ramirez – Joseph Millson
Murphy – Ori Pfeffer

Movie details

Mid – Credits: Yes

End – Credits: No

Review: I went into this movie with an open mind. Namely because I have seen The Dark Knight (My favourite movie), the hospital scene with the Joker detonating it and walking away from the destruction, a masterpiece scene and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, my favourite Marvel movie which depicts infiltration in a manner most would only think of. It more or less felt like the movie was an extension of these.  

However, the movie itself plays out differently as this is not a sinister villain with a pre-emptive mind to plan the destruction of a hospital beforehand, or a large scale infiltration by an organisation hell bent on world domination. Rather, this movie is the continuation of two predecessors, involving Morgan Freeman (returning to a role as President of the United States since Deep Impact) and Gerard Butler racing to save America from imminent danger from the inside.

There was humour involved, from unlikely characters and quite a bit of action sequences. Now, I'm generally someone who likes a lot of action scenes, as long as they hold up and don’t drag on to the point where people will wind down after them. It has to feel like it is moving the story forward; otherwise you could find yourself wondering where the story went after those scenes. But nonetheless, they held up. A sequel was kind of teased, but it could be a means to an end.

Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood, 16/08/19

ONCE UPON A TIME IN ... HOLLYWOOD

Trailer

*The movie was released this week, but was released last week elsewhere*

Synopsis

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood first visits Los Angeles in 1969, where TV star Rick Dalton and his stunt double, Cliff Booth make their way around an industry they hardly recognise anymore as everything seems to be changing. Includes multiple story-lines and a large ensemble cast in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Cinema

ODEON

Run Time

Two hours, 41 minutes (2h 41m)

Current Rating

85%

Cast

Rick Dalton – Leonardo DiCaprio
Cliff Booth – Brad Pitt
Sharon Tate – Margot Robbie
Jay Sebring – Emile Hirsch
Pussycat – Margaret Qualley
James Stacy – Timothy Olyphant
Trudi Fraser – Julia Butters
Charles “Tex” Watson – Austin Butler
Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme – Dakota Fanning
George Spahn – Bruce Dern
Bruce Lee – Mike Moh
Steve McQueen – Damien Lewis
Marvin Schwarz – Al Pacino
Mary Alice Schwarz – Brenda Vaccaro
Roman Polanski – Rafal Zawierucha
Francesca Capucci – Lorenza Izzo

Movie details

Mid – Credits: Yes

End – Credits: No

Review: Well, there was a large cast, but really I was there for Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. It never ceases to amaze me how effortlessly these two manage to draw me in with their performances. They stop becoming actors and become the characters they are portraying, and they are in a movie, together. I was impressed through.

But moving on, the movie is set against the backdrop of a changing Hollywood. A lot of tributes can be spotted, with the main standout being to Adam West’s 1960s Batman TV series to basically highlight the era setting, with quite a bit of humour involved, considering it is a Quentin Tarantino movie. I can’t really comment on Bruce Lee’s portrayal in the movie as this the setting is more or less fifty years ago.

*Spoiler Alert* However, the movie heavily depicts some of the “Manson Family” members. Events have been changed for the movie, but there is some historical depictions involved. The changes are intended to make the movie more exciting, and for me, it more or less pays off in Quentin Tarantino style.Certain parts of the movie were quite suspenseful, but ended up becoming quite satisfying.

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, 02/08/19

FAST AND FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS AND SHAW

Trailer

Synopsis

Ever since Hobbs, a loyal agent of America’s DSS (Diplomatic Security Service) and lawless outcast Shaw, former British military elite operative first clashed in Furious 7 (2015), they have tried to take each other down via smack talk and body blows. But a cyber genetically enhanced anarchist, Brixton, attempts to gain control of a bio threat that could alter humanity (He also manages to get the upper hand against a fearless rogue MI6 agent who also happens to be Shaw’s sister), the duo then become unlikely partners to bring down someone more intimidating than themselves

Run Time

Two hours, sixteen minutes (2h 16m)

Current Rating

71%

Cast

Luke Hobbs – Dwayne Johnson
Decker Shaw – Jason Statham
Brixton – Idris Elba
Hattie Shaw – Vanessa Kirby
Jonah – Cliff Curtis
Queenie – Helen Mirren
Madam M – Eiza Gonzalez
Professor Andreiko – Eddie Marsan

Movie details

Mid – Credits: Yes, contains two scenes

End – Credits: Yes

Review: It was definitely fast and it was definitely furious. The movie is packed with action and after being concerned that all the hype of the movie was all contained within the trailers (Like some previous movies I have seen previously), I can say that much more was included in the movie to keep audiences interested as the movie developed. It was packed with Hobbs and Shaw smack talking to each other, back and forth, which was quite entertaining to watch.

As for the humour (aside from the smack talk between Hobbs and Shaw), there was quite a bit involved. We had multiple cameo appearances from someone stepping out of costume from another movie franchise into a uniform who, then went on to talk about another television series that many people may be familiar with. Hattie, Shaw’s sister also ends up with a catchphrase which she uses throughout the movie.

The main focus in the movie (aside from the bio threat) is around technology, and how people use it. The movie touches on technology being in the wrong hands and the dangers involved from being too heavily reliant on such. It was definitely not something I expected. There were moments in the movie in which I thought that certain scenes paid homage to the Dark Knight, Batman.

However, the movie does more or less end on a cliff hanger and leaves it wide open for a possible sequel opportunity. Whether they end up being recurring villains / characters from the main franchise, or going in a different direction entirely, remains to be seen but either way, for me, the current direction looks positive.

THE LION KING

Mid-Credits: No

End-Credits: No

Review: The original movie from 1994 gave me many life lessons, some of which have stayed with me to this day. The remake is a slight retelling, slightly modernised. It has humour, tradegy, original songs / soundtracks and is visually stunning, as the original was. I felt it was ground breaking, and enjoyed the movie.

Upcoming review for The Lion King, 19/07/19

Upcoming review for The Lion King


Trailer below:

Movie synopsis: Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa and carves a path of his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. However, not everyone celebrates the cubs arrival as Scar, King Mufasa's brother, and the now former heir to the throne, plots in the background. The pride lands is soon rocked with betrayal, tragedy and drama, leading to Simba's exile. After befriending a curious pair, Simba must now figure out how to grow up and back what is his, by right.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

Mid-Credits: Yes

End-Credits: Yes

Review: Well, trust the MCU to make a story to close out Phase 3 that was quite fun to watch. It had action, emotion, humour, homages and a shocking revelation during the Mid-Credits. Also, the End-Credits tease a possible direction for the MCU for Phase 4.

Upcoming review for Spider-Man: Far From Home, 03/06/19

Upcoming review for Spider-Man: Far From Home


Trailer below:

Official Synopsis: Following on from the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.


This movie continues on straight after Avengers: Endgame, and is expected to close out Phase 3 of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).

BRIGHTBURN

Mid-Credits: Yes, Continues story, but does not tease sequel

End-Credits: No

Review: Well, this was the one horror movie I was waiting for, and I usually don't wait to watch horror movies. It is more or less an Ultraman (Superman from Earth 3) origin story, sort of. It also has the potential for a shared universe (Crime Syndicate of America or Injustice), depending on copyright issues.

Upcoming review for Brightburn, 24/06/19

Upcoming review for Brightburn

Trailer below:

Synopsis: What if a child from another world crash landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero, he becomes something more sinister? Brightburn presents a startling subversive take on a radical new genre: Superhero horror.

TOY STORY 4

Mid-Credits: Yes

End-Credits: No, but more like Keanu Reeves closing out the movie

Review: I have followed Toy Story since the very first one. And even now, for the fourth film, it still managed to draw to me in. Even watching the movie, made me feel like as young as I was when I first watched the first one. A few throwbacks, added humour and enjoyed the story.

Upcoming review for TOY STORY 4, 21/06/19

Upcoming review for TOY STORY 4

Trailer below:

Synopsis: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventure turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody slight detour leads him to his long lost friend, Bo Peep. As the two toys discuss the old days, they start to realise that they are world's apart when it comes to what they want from life as toys.

MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL

Mid-Credits: No

End-Credits: No

Review: Definitely a different direction, lots of humour, creative animation. I was quite intrigued by the not so main villains, they were quite interesting. It's always a risk when trying to keep a story fresh, and it's worth it.

Upcoming Review for MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL,14/06/19

Upcoming Review for MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL

Trailer below:


Official Synopsis: The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date; a mole in the men in Black organisation.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

Mid-Credits: No

End-Credits: No

Review: A different story in an attempt to appeal to audiences, but straying a lot from the source material. Not a bad story, in trying to keep everything predominantly Earth based, but a much better direction than the predecessor, X-MEN The Last Stand, personally. One can only assume that X-Men may soon be entering the MCU, so maybe not too much needed to be divulged, lest a reboot / retelling takes place.

Upcoming Review for X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX, 07/06/19

Upcoming Review for X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

Trailer below:

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

Mid-Credits: Not really a scene, more like a montage, with heavy Easter eggs for possible sequel or next (shared) movie direction.

End-Credits: Yes

Review:  Definitely not for the faint hearted. Crazy sound effects and animation. A real monster movie. Not had this much fun for a while. Lots of story and history of the "titans". Worth the watch, but child supervision is a must

JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM

Mid-Credits: No, but contains excerpts from the movie

End-Credits: No

Review: Well, for the most part, it was quite exhilarating. Horseback / motorcycle chases and some added humour. Lots of twists and turns, but thoroughly enjoyable. New plots introduced and movie left open for another chapter.

Upcoming review for John Wick 3: Parabellum, 17/05/19

Upcoming Review for JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM

Trailer below:

DETECTIVE PIKACHU

Mid-Credits: No, but a lot of throwbacks, one for the fans

End-Credits: No

Review: Honestly, this movie ended up having a decent story you could follow. Most people in the cinema look like fans, past and present. Lots of Easter eggs, so keep a watch out.

Upcoming review for DETECTIVE PIKACHU, 10/05/19

Upcoming Review for DETECTIVE PIKACHU

Trailer below:

AVENGERS ENDGAME

Mid-Credits: No, but there are tributes from some of the original Avengers

End-Credits: No

Review: A movie with a twist, and one I waited in earnest to watch, So much so that I shut down my social media. This movie was not what I expected but did enjoy various scenes. Continuation parts of the movie linked into the previous one, Avengers Infinity War, and opens up quite a few more stories going forward.

Upcoming Review for Avengers Endgame, 27/04/19

Upcoming Review for AVENGERS ENDGAME

Trailer below:

HELLBOY

Mid-Credits: Yes

End-Credits: Yes

Review: I saw the original two movies, and this one is definitely darker and more gory than them, with added humour and lots of visual effects. This movie is headed in a different direction than the originals, with characters being teased for possible sequels.

Upcoming Review for 13/04/19

Upcoming Review for HELLBOY

Trailer below:

SHAZAM!

Mid-Credits: Yes, sets up sequel

End-Credits: Yes (Throwback to DCEU)

Review: A kid who becomes a superhero after saying SHAZAM? Well it definitely captured the essence of a kid trying to be a superhero as a fully grown adult. Its not a "dark" movie and has a lot of DCEU throwbacks and possible new directions. Lots of humour and language involved.

***SPOILER ALERT***
There IS a Superman cameo at the end, but the head is removed, so there is no way to know if this is Henry Cavill or not.

Upcoming Review for 05/04/19

Upcoming review for SHAZAM!

Trailer below:

Us

Mid-Credits: No

End-Credits: No

Review: Something different and thought provoking. Reminiscent of Insidious 1 and 2 but with deeper ties to government experiments and involvement.

Voting (28/03/19)

Cast your votes below:

NEW ADDITION: POLLS / VOTING

I've added a new feature to help people determine which movie should be featured in the form of Polls or Voting. Sometimes I will ask the people and at other times, I may have a preference (For example, Shazam! or Avengers: Endgame will not be put to a vote as I myself really want to watch them). But I will give everyone a heads up.

I will try to release the polls / voting at least 48 hours before going to watch the movie. Voting will close around 24 hours before I actually watch the movie which pulls in the highest result (A deadlock will result in the movie with the higher rating by the cinema being selected) and give the update.

An example below:

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY

Mid-Credits: Yes / Sort of

End-Credits: No

Review: As a WWE fan, this movie differs from watching wrestler promos (usually 2-4 minutes) of their lives on their journey to become a champion, to nearly two hours of the most important journey in their lives (in this case, Paige). Finally, Vince Vaughn changed direction from comedy into a more serious role. A feel good vibe movie.

Evolution of THE CINEMA MATRIX

If there is any additional content / information you would like provided, let me know and I will try to include them in. At its core, the purpose of this blog is to provide everyone with information regarding whether or not they should stay until the mid / end-credits. The updates will occur predominantly on (normally early) Saturday afternoon, but if additional requests are made, I will endeavour to have them up sooner.

Thank you for your time and support!

CAPTAIN MARVEL

Mid-Credits: Yes (Avengers: Endgame tie-in)

End-Credits: Yes

Review: Well, it is always challenging bringing a comic to the big screen. I think the movie stands well on its own, with good visual effects and  if you overlook that some elements have been changed, for better or worse, time will tell. Be prepared for a different direction.

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

Mid-Credits: No

Mid-Credits: No

Review: Good visual effects. Lots of questions raised throughout movie, which is also set up for a sequel.

DRAGON BALL SUPER: BROLY

Mid-Credits: No

Mid-Credits: No

Review: I grew on Dragonball Z (Not so much Dragonball GT) and was eagerly awaiting this movie's release. This is a different story from the original berserk Saiyan I grew up on (Not Kale), with added humour and superb animation on the big screen, and actually leaves quite a bit open in regards for carrying on the story.
The introduction and implementation of Broly and Gogeta (Gogeta homages for long time fans) into Dragonball canon is very welcome indeed.