Spider-Man: No Way Home - Movie Review - Spidey packs the biggest and best punch of the year (SPOILERS)

Spider-Man has been on the screen for many years and has had several different interpretations. Most recently, he's been a part of the MCU, and it's this iteration of the character that I have the biggest connection to. The films in this version have definitely been good; Homecoming has unfortunately got worse for me with time though it is still solid, and Far From Home is still as awesome as it was when I first saw it. But, now, the character is back, and it's bigger than ever, in No Way Home. Obviously, I was really excited for this movie. The possibilities of what could unfold in this were just insane, and I could not wait to witness what was in stall. I haven't been this excited for a new film since, well, probably Avengers: Endgame. 

In the film, after having his secret identity revealed, Peter Parker's life is turned upside down. He seeks Doctor Strange for help but, after attempting to cast a spell to fix things, an array of characters from all over the multiverse start to arrive.

This movie was ridiculously good. I'm afraid I cannot discuss my thoughts without going into spoilers so do not read ahead if you haven't seen the movie. If you want to know my overall opinion though, you can safely skip to my conclusion as that won't contain any specific plot details. So, SPOILER ALERT!!!

There's so much that works about No Way Home, I don't actually know where to begin. I think what's best about it is that it takes this iteration of the character to places we haven't seen before. This film is dark, and it takes a lot of what happens very seriously, and best of all, it has actions that have consequences. With the ending of Peter accepting that he has to let everyone forget who he is, it would've been so easy and so Marvel for the filmmakers to act as if it's a great big sacrifice but promptly undo all the consequences in favour of a sweet ending. But, no, they take a very mature route by having Peter accept what he's had to do because it's his responsibility, which ties into the core idea of Spider-Man, that being that with great power comes great responsibility.

Obviously, one of the more exciting aspects of the film is seeing a bunch of characters from previous iterations of Spider-Man in film making a return, and boy was this awesome. Most significantly, the Spider-Men played by Tobey Maguire from the original Sam Raimi trilogy and Andrew Garfield from the Amazing Spider-Man films are back, as we all hoped. When they entered, my audience erupted into applause and cheering, which is the sort of thing I love in cinemas, and was especially amazing here considering it was ten o'clock in the morning! The way they interacted with Tom's Peter was too perfect, whether it be in comedic ways such as comparing all the things they've encountered while being Spider-Man, or in dramatic ways when they offer some of their wisdom and guidance to prevent him from making mistakes they made. I honestly could not have asked for more in this aspect of the film.

The villains are also many from Spider-Man past, including Alfred Molina's Doc Ock and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin, and they were all very entertaining and satisfying to see back on screen once again, and the way they also interacted with each other and MCU characters was tons of fun. The action scenes in this movie were also just awesome; the first encounter with Doc Ock (which parts of have been shown in the trailer) was so smooth and flowing alongside some dialogue interaction that was such a joy. The sequence set in the mirror dimension was also really cool, placing us back in a really inventive setting we haven't seen much of, and throwing Spider-Man in there too. The climax was also just as terrific, and the sight of seeing all three Spider-Men working alongside each other and quipping with their familiar enemies was simply marvellous, if you'll pardon the pun. 

My one issue with the movie was the second act, specifically the section where Peter attempted to cure all the villains. This part was a little uninteresting because you know that they'll eventually turn on him so you're just sat waiting for that moment, which I was. However, I am willing to look past it as the way it tied into the rest of the narrative was highly appropriate, and it led to the beautifully heartbreaking scene that was Aunt May's death, which I honestly didn't see coming. It was really great to hear her deliver the iconic great power comes great responsibility line too. 

I'm kind of lost for words. Spider-Man: No Way Home was just absolutely magnificent. It blew me away with how perfectly it executed each and every aspect of this story, so much so that I don't really think it could have done it any better way. Sure, it has its flaws, but none that I'm unwilling to overlook as they still enable this masterpiece to function as it does. Overall, the best MCU film ever except for Avengers: Endgame, which I do have some more issues with but I feel had a much harder task to pull off and thus is a bit more impressive, though only by a small degree. This is also the best Spider-Man film ever aside from Into the Spider-Verse, just because that is obviously a bit more audacious. A remarkable piece of work for sure and the best film of 2021 for me. 

I'm going to give Spider-Man: No Way Home a 10/10

Yeah, I rarely give a perfect score to a film on my first viewing, and this isn't perfect, but I don't care. I'm too stunned.

West Side Story - Movie Review - Steven's got a knack for musicals as well

I know nothing about West Side Story. It's a name I obviously recognise but that's where it ends for me. I understand that it's a take on Romeo and Juliet but I don't know any specifics of the plot and I cannot name a single one of the songs. I've not seen the original stage musical nor the 1961 original film. So, with that in mind, why on earth would I want to see this new version? Well, it's quite simple, actually. I love me a good musical, which this obviously is, and I'm a big fan of Steven Spielberg. So, there was enough to convince me to catch the new West Side Story upon release. 

As I'm sure you may know, the story involves two rival gangs in an area of New York City, one consisting of white Americans and the other consisting of folks from Puerto Rico. On one side, there's Tony, and on the other, there's Maria. Despite coming from two opposing sides, they fall in love and are determined to stay together, thus facing many obstacles in doing so. 

One of my main draws to seeing this film was the fact that it's a musical, and on the musical side, it delivered for sure. The musical numbers are all really well executed with some excellent choreography and wonderfully vibrant / exciting visuals (most of the time). Not every song hit the mark, but more often than not they did. My favourites were America, a delightfully upbeat tune that, as it happens, I actually did know but didn't realise was from this musical, and Tonight, a beautiful duet. Spielberg has already established himself as a very versatile director, delving into action and adventure, sci-fi, drama, fantasy, history, thriller, war, and some other genres, but this only furthers that by showing he can very competently helm a musical as well, and I'd love to see more of this from him. 

I also thought that, despite the story being something we've seen time and time again, it didn't feel repetitive and it also had dramatic beats that were still able to be really powerful even if they were predictable. Usually remakes or retellings etc. lose the impact of the work they're derived from as you know exactly where they're heading and they can seem a bit narratively uninteresting. Here, while parts did feel as if we were going through the motions of a typical take on Romeo and Juliet, most of it successfully swept me up. I especially believed in the chemistry between Tony and Maria and felt their longing for one another, helped in no small part by some very solid performances from Rachel Zegler (in an amazing debut performance) and Ansel Elgort. 

In terms of issues, I think the pacing is quite off. Some less interesting parts feel overly dwelled on, while others feel more appropriate. My overall interest sort of flucuated throughout where I spent some time quite unengaged, mostly in the first thirty to forty minutes before it really gets going, and others really wrapped up. Not a major problem but still a bit of an issue. I'm sure that some of this might be in the nature of the stage musical thus making it not necessarily the film's fault, but I'm unfamiliar with it so I can't really say.

All in all, West Side Story was really good. It tells its story well and had a solid batch of songs sprinkled throughout. Can't say how it compares to either the stage musical or the original film, but I can't imagine this being considerably worse than anything, unless they're both absolutely extraordinary. Even if you're unfamiliar with this content much like I was, still go and catch it if you like a good musical, because this absolutely is just that. 

I'm going to give West Side Story a 7.5/10

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to resume counting down the mere days left until I see Spider-Man: No Way Home. Please oh please oh please don't let it disappoint...

House of Gucci - Movie Review - A Ridley Scott film lacking the Ridley Scott-ness

Ridley Scott is obviously one of the most influencial directors of all time, though he's not one of my favourites. I've only seen a few of films, though I do really like what I've seen. Alien is a really well crafted sci-fi / horror movie, Gladiator is also really terrific, and The Martian is honestly one of my favourite films of all time, and may even crack the top ten if I ever made one. So, I wasn't especially keen to see his new film House of Gucci because of him, but rather because I just thought it looked good. I mean, it looked very competently helmed and well acted from the trailers, and it also details a story that I know absolutely nothing about, so I thought it would be worth a go. 

The film chronicles the marriage of Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci and their turbulent relations while trying to run the iconic fashion company alongside other members of the Gucci family. 

The best thing about the film by far is the acting, it's all rather perfect. Lady Gaga absolutely smashes it as Reggiani; I was rather ambivalent about her breakthrough performance in A Star is Born, but here, I thought she was just on fire. She looks the part, and she conveys this manipulative and conniving character so well. Definitely the standout in the ensemble. Adam Driver is also terrific, though we've come to expect greatness from him so it's less surprising. He's definitely one of the most consistently great actors I've seen over the last five or so years. Everyone else was mostly pretty good too, although I'm not sure how I felt about Jared Leto in the film; he's clearly going over the top and being a very overtly stereotypical Italian, and while it certainly was entertaining, I don't think I liked it overall. 

Production-wise, this was expectedly fabulous. The costumes were all stellar as you may expect from a film where fashion is a crucial aspect, and most of the settings and locations were pleasant and well captured. The film is also very long, at least two and a half hours, but it didn't drag most of the time and was a reasonably well-paced watch. My interest in what was going on did fluctuate a lot of the time but that's kind of inevitable when it comes to any film of this length. 

My main issue I suppose is that a lot of it just felt ordinary; I struggle to believe that this was helmed by Ridley Scott as most of it just feels quite workmanlike and plain, with little about the filmmaking and direction that really stood out to me. This isn't a big deal, but it is a shame when a film doesn't offer much distinction to help form its own identity. 

All things considered, House of Gucci was pretty good. A terrific array of performances make what is ultimately quite an unremarkable piece of filmmaking consistently solid. Probably won't be rushing to catch this again but there's plenty to admire.

I'm going to give House of Gucci a 7.5/10

Encanto - Movie Review - Disney Animation delivers more of the same

Walt Disney Animation Studios are obviously one of the most significant animation studios of all time. They practically invented the game with feature length animation way back in the day and have managed to persevere and maintain their relevance and skill at their craft with time, despite some dark spots here and there. However, in recent years, I can't help but feel like they've just been making the same sorts of films over and over, and while most of them still end up being good, their general commitment to a formula does make a lot of their output feel repetitive and predictable. The trailers for Encanto did not give any hope that they would stray from the age-old Disney formula and give us something surprising, but they did at least show a film that looked good in and of itself, so I went in expecting a jolly good time at the very least while also hoping that maybe it would have something unexpected up its sleeve.

The story centres on a magical family called the Madrigals where each member possesses a special and unique ability. However, this isn't the case for one member named Mirabel, who is not respected by those around her and is seen as a disappointment because of this, not least by her Grandmother, who obtained the source of the magic many years ago and seeks to preserve it at all costs. But, when it seems as if this magic at the centre of the family is in danger, Mirabel might just be the key to saving it. 

Well, first of all, I have to say that, much like how nice it was to see a new MCU movie in the cinema after a long time earlier this year with Black Widow, it was rather lovely so be sat in a cinema watching a new animated film released by Disney. The last one I saw was Onward just before COVID kicked off, and every subsequent one has been a Disney+ watch for me. So, there was a rather pleasant feeling in seeing that logo in front of an animated film in a cinema for the first time in... what feels like forever!

As I suspected, Encanto is very formulaic; it hits all the beats of a standard Disney Animation film and doesn't really have any surprises in that regard. But, on top of that, as you may have guessed from that summary, it also has a very familiar story. We've all seen a story about an outcast within a group who constantly fumbles and is disrespected only to eventually prove everyone wrong and be accepted. You know where it's going to go right from the start and every turn the film takes is highly predictable. While this isn't inherently a bad thing, it did make the film thematically and narratively uninteresting for me as it offered very little nuance. However, I've always believed that a film can get away with being unoriginal as long as it's well executed, and that's definitely the case with Encanto. It thrives off of how well a lot of its elements are executed.

As with any Disney production it has wonderful visuals. The film completely uses the animation to its advantage and manages to find many unique ways to be creative. The best example of this is with the house that the Madrigals live in  - it's personified and brought to life in a way similar to the ocean from Moana, which led to some really inventive moments in terms of how each bit of the architecture conveyed a different feeling or emotion. There's also a really creative choice involving each member of the family living in a space that revolves around their ability, and this gave way for a variety of beautiful and distinct environments encountered throughout the film, such as a vast jungle filled with animals, or a haven covered in flowers. 

I also love how the characters were animated; not only are the designs top-notch, but they all felt so human. When the film isn't being frantic and cartoony, the movement and behaviours of the characters all felt so realistic, making it so easy to emphathise with them. There's one moment where Mirabel picks up a fallen roof tile and cuts her hand in doing so, and each and every aspect of it felt so real. I'm also always amazed at just how much emotion can be expressed on an animated character, a single frame of one of their faces truly speaks volumes. These are very little things for sure, but I find that the little things tend to be the most admirable in an animated feature, as you know careful attention to detail is applied to each and every aspect.

The film is also a musical, and the songs are all really terrific. They weren't the most instantly memorable bunch and they certainly felt very familiar to songs from other Disney films, with the establishing opening number, the protagonist's 'I want' ballad, the goofy side character song, and so on, but they all managed to work really well. I mean, when I got home from the cinema I listened to and downloaded most of the soundtrack while eating my dinner, which is usually an indicator of some pretty damn good stuff. I don't know if I could single out a favourite as I think each of them had something great to offer. 

Additionally, as conventional as it may be, it's hard to get to frustrated by the story in the film as it definitely means well. It's a film all about family and not losing sight of your love for others, as well as understanding how everyone has their own place in the world, which are of course very amiable ideas. They didn't really reach me emotionally, but I can see how they might do for others. 

The only issue I had aside from the predictable nature of the film was the humour. Again, in sticking to the classic Disney formula, the film of course has to throw in some comedy. Unlike some of their other films, it isn't ill-fitting here as the film is deliberately wacky a lot of time, but lots of it was still very toe-curling for me. I've had this issue with many recent Disney and Pixar films, and it may well be because I'm getting older, but a part of me does think that the comedy itself isn't all that good. 

You might be wondering what it is that I want to see from Disney Animation going forward. Well, it's quite simple, I just want to see more unconventional things from them. They've proven time and time again that they can make a solid family film with a sweet message, and while they don't make bad films of that nature, they are very unsurprising, which is making me slowly lose interest in seeing what comes next. Films like The Lion King, Zootropolis, and Fantasia all prove that they can stray from their formula with films that dare to be audacious, rich, and mature, so I know they're capable of doing so, and I'd just like to see more. This is their 60th animated feature, which they proudly show at the start of the film, and I think it's about time they change things up. 

Overall, Encanto doesn't bring anything new to the table and offers very few surprises, but in and of itself, it's a perfectly satisfactory film with some splendid animation, solid musical numbers, and a story that definitely has its heart in the right place. It's about on the same level of quality as Luca, the Pixar film from earlier this year, another predictable yet sweet and charming film. I'd obviously like to see Disney venture into new territory with their animated features after over eighty years of them mostly doing the same thing, but if they can still manage to deliver perfectly good movies, I can't complain too much. 

I'm going to give Encanto a 7.5/10

Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Movie Review - Yet another nostalgia-fuelled sequel to an 80s movie

I like Ghostbusters. It's a movie I've seen a couple of times and really enjoy. It's not an all time favourite, but I do tend to revere it in the same regard as other 1980s franchises that I have a bigger soft spot for like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future, because, like those movies, not only is it really iconic, but it's an easy watch and something you just can't seem to go wrong with. But, the fact remains, I'm not an enormous fan. I haven't seen Ghostbusters II nor the 2016 remake that angered many people, and so I never initially planned to catch the upcoming new installment, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. But, because it's a new movie and could be a decent way to spend two hours, I went to see it anyway, not really expecting much. 

In the film, a single mother along her two children move to a small town where her recently deceased father left a house behind. Shortly after arriving, the two children realise that they are descendants of a Ghostbuster, and with ghosts starting to show up again, they need to keep the legacy afloat and save the world. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was actually really good fun. It offers many set pieces that are thoroughly exciting, enjoyable, and funny. There's a chase scene around the middle that serves as the first proper action scene and it's very well executed, offering some neat variations on the Ghostbuster gadgets we all know. There's also a really funny scene in a supermarket with Paul Rudd's character encountering little Stay Puft marshmallow men as they cause chaos, and also getting chased by one of those demonic dogs from the first movie. The climax is a little uninteresting by comparison but has its own charm, which I won't get into as it involves spoilers. The visuals were also very memorable throughout most of these scenes too.

I liked a lot of the characters as well. As mentioned, Paul Rudd is in the film and he's as good as ever; such an effortlessly charming and likeable presence and he fit in perfectly here. I wish he had a little more to do overall as he does get sidelined from the end of the second act onwards, but he still makes the most of what he's given and I enjoyed him very much. The two children are also really good, as are some of the others they meet throughout the film. There are also appearances from some more familiar faces, which you can probably guess, and they were all very welcome and put a smile on my face. 

I suppose my main issue with Ghostbusters: Afterlife is that it just felt repetitive. It doesn't have the same plot but with a new coat of paint like other movies of this calibre such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens or Jurassic World, but it does overall feel very familiar. It ultimately just feels like more Ghostbusters, and while that isn't inherently a bad thing, it does mean that the film comes off as kind of superfluous. It is fairly different from a narrative perspective, but many of the plot beats are predictable and have been done countless times elsewhere, so it doesn't really offer anything special or unique outside of, well, giving these elements a Ghostbusters twist. I suppose this is probably an issue for me because I'm not head over heels for this franchise, so if you are a massive Ghostbusters fan, you may well enjoy seeing this kind of story as well as more of the same. But, as for me, it didn't do an awful lot besides servicing some decently entertaining stuff.

One thing that did tick me off a fair bit was the fan service in the movie. This is nothing novel for sequels to a culturally popular film made over a decade or two after the last installment, but Ghostbusters: Afterlife uses it in some of the most contrived ways I've seen. The iconic "Who you gonna call?" line is shoehorned in very unnaturally, and various recognisable props (which I only recognised having rewatched the original the day before seeing this) also pop up in ways that don't feel particularly organic, but rather just because there was probably a checklist of recognisable props from Ghostbusters that the filmmakers were running through while writing the script, and needed to find ways to incorporate no matter what. I won't say this really irritated me, because it didn't, but it did stick out as instances of really lazy writing to capitalise on nostalgia. Fan service isn't something I'm against as I know how nice it is to see a little (or big) nod to something you know and love, but integrating it with such forced means takes away a lot of the charm.

All in all, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was jolly good. While it relies too much on nostalgic novelties and overall feels superfluous, it has enough going for it with some charming performances and well crafted set pieces. Will I ever see it again? Probably not, as most of what it offers can be found in the original, a highly superior film that I do anticipate continuing to revisit from time to time. But, should I ever come across it again, I know I'll be in for a bit of fun. 

I'm going to give Ghostbusters: Afterlife a 7.0/10

Eternals + Spencer - Movie Reviews - A disappointment and a surprise

Once again, I am having to jam my thoughts on two seperate films together just to make life a little easier for myself with the relative lack of time I have to write reviews here.

On this first week of November, two notable films came out here in the UK. One being Eternals, the new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the other being Spencer, a drama about Princess Diana. I was infinitely more excited for the former but was also interested in checking out the latter as well, so I was able to see them both and came out of each with reactions I hadn't quite anticipated.

First off, Eternals. This new MCU film comes from Chloe Zhao, who only just found great success with her film Nomadland. I wasn't crazy about that film, but it did leave me thoroughly keen to see where Zhao would go next, and the fact that an MCU film from her was on the near horizon was really exciting. Eternals looked great from the trailers and posters; I loved epic nature it presented with characters that seemed straight out of ancient mythology, it looked truly awesome. But, a sea of mixed reactions flooded in, including the MCU's first rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at less than 50%. I don't really take RT scores as an accurate indication of a film's quality, but the fact that this was the first film in this franchise with over twenty films to get a score this low was interesting. So, suddenly I was a little cautious, but still mostly certain that I'd enjoy the film. It involves a team of ancient warriors known as the 'Eternals' who have lived on Earth for thousands of years, protecting the people from a group of nasties known as the 'Deviants'. After a long period of dormancy, the Deviants seem to be re-emerging as cataclysmic events begin to unfold, prompting the gang to get back together again. 

Okay, so is the film as bad as you might have feared? In my opinion, definitely not. But, is it much good? Well, it's interesting. Eternals is successful in lots of places but falters quite significantly in others. What I liked about it most was the scale, it does feel truly epic and as if great things are at stake, which makes the film thoroughly exciting and visually spectacular. Also, while a lot of the characters were fairly underdeveloped, I still really enjoyed them and their interactions for the most part. Gemma Chan was really good in the lead, Richard Madden gives another solid performance, Kumail Nanjiani is as funny as ever, Brian Tyree Henry is really likeable, Barry Keoghan continues to prove he's a very versatile performer, and everyone else for the most part wasn't bad. It's also great to see such a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, reaching out to demographics that haven't really been represented at all in the MCU prior to this. The main problem is that the film was ultimately kind off a mess. It's structure relies a lot on flashbacks that go on and on and distract from where the plot currently is, there's an awful lot of exposition that is delivered in contrived ways, and these result in the film being badly paced and feeling really long, boosting the runtime to unjustifiable lengths. The humour was also very hit or miss, but mostly miss to be honest, and unfortunately, the action was slightly underwhelming, with some interesting visuals but ultimately boring stuff being depicted. I also feel like the narrative itself was a bit incomplete - I'm sure a future installment will tie some of these loose ends, but that meant this film didn't feel particularly cohesive on its own. 

All things considered, Eternals wasn't as bad as I feared it might be, but it also wasn't as good as I hoped it'd be. I enjoyed it just fine and had fun, but that didn't stop me from recognising how it is a bit all over the place and definitely needs some work. 

I'm going to give Eternals a 7.0/10

A few days later, I saw Spencer. I was intrigued to see this film as the trailers made it look fascinating, but I had an underlying sense that I probably wouldn't enjoy it. I'm not usually a fan of dramas or slow-movers, or even period pieces to be honest, so I suspected I'd just end up recognising things that are good but also feeling quite unengaged overall. The film covers a troubling three days for Princess Diana spending Christmas at Sandringham estate and struggling to adapt to the royal way of living and fearing what sort of future lies ahead. 

I thought Spencer was a very impressive piece of work, and a lot of it comes down to how it depicts the events on screen. After watching this film, the royal life feels anything but enviable. Many scenes are so hard to watch because you're so caught up in how anxiety-inducing certain events are, even if they don't immediately seem that way. Eating a meal seems so uncomfortable and even horrific, having a wardrobe full of clothes to chosen for you to be worn at specific times and being forced to close your curtains is all so restraining, contributing to this extremely pessimistic atmosphere around a way of living that many wouldn't inherently connect. A lot of praise has been directed towards Kristen Stewart and her portrayal of Diana, and for good reason. I'm very unfamiliar with a lot of her other work, but she's really compelling in the film; you easily pick up all the awkwardness and uneasiness that she feels in this environment, to the point where I didn't even feel like I was watching a performance, I just thought I was watching the real Diana, having to remind myself that it was in fact an actor. Amazing stuff from her. The way the film is shot stood out to me as very effective. The choice to shoot on film is gorgeous, and it captures the nature of the setting so perfectly; it seems so bleak and so cold. It makes it all feel so old-fashioned as well, so much so that I almost forgot this takes place in 1991! I also liked how, for most shots inside the estate, Diana is framed to look really small, adding to the idea that she's out of her depth. It also goes without saying that the costumes and set design were all top notch as well, solidifying this film as a visual feast. I also think it's amazing that the film manages to convey this atmosphere (of anxiety, loneliness, bleakness, etc.) while also being set at Christmas. I mean, Christmas is literally the most joyful time of the year, and it's almost impossible for me to watch something related to it and not feel jolly in the slightest. But, somehow, it didn't prevent this film from doing what it did, not even serving as a form of relief for the main character in any way, just going to show how unattractive this way of living is. If there are any issues with the film, my main one would probably be that the overall tone of the film isn't something I'd instantly want to revisit, as successful as it may have been. Also, I'm not at all familiar with the way this story panned out in reality, but there were parts that did certainly feel quite on the nose and as if they were embellished.

Overall, I was very surprised by how much I got out of Spencer. I thought it was a really well made film anchored by a strong central performance and with an atmosphere that was executed masterfully. Is it something I'd love to see again? Probably not, but on this occasion, I thought it was remarkable and certainly worth my time.

I'm going to give Spencer an 8.5/10 

So, let this week of new releases go to show that, sometimes, all is not what it seems. Something you assume you'd really like may not do so, and vice versa. 

Dune + The French Dispatch + Last Night in Soho - Movie Reviews - Everything coming out at once

When observing the 2021 release schedule, I couldn't help but notice that a bunch of things I've been eagerly anticipating all seem to be coming out at once, that time being now in October. Despite September being considerably bare in terms of new releases aside from Marvel's Shang-Chi, all the notable stuff has been piled on top of each other, which is frustrating. 

Anyway, I have been able to see some of the things I was most keen to watch, and because I'm very short of time due to university work and also because I don't have an awful lot to say about each, I thought I'd condense my thoughts into very bite-sized reviews. 

The first of these films is Dune, the new film from Denis Villeneuve. I was very excited for this film purely because it just looked remarkable. I have read the original book, but I wasn't overly keen on it. I found it quite difficult to keep track of all the aspects of this world and it felt as if the story unfolded at an extremely slow pace. I thought the film would have an advantage and be able to engage me in this world and this story in ways that the book failed to. Plus, I like every member of the large ensemble cast, and I am also a fan of Villeneuve, especially his film Arrival. The film centres on a boy named Paul, gifted and soon-to-be the leader of his people. However, through a series of extreme events, he'll find where his true destiny lies.

Almost everything I find praiseworthy about Dune has been said by countless others, so I don't have much to add to the discussion. The best thing about the film is the scope; it feels enormous. You really get the sense of just how vast the world of this film is, which is only enhanced by a cinematic experience. But, close attention is given to all the little details as well. There's one particular moment I love in which, during a big action scene, Paul steps out of a ship and has a moment of tranquility as he feels the sand of which the surface is made, which helped make the world feel very lived in and tangible. I also think the film definitely does a better job than the book in terms of bringing this world to life, and purely because of the visual side of it. Everyone in the cast was great, the cinematography really aided capturing this world, the score was tremendously powerful and effective, and although the film is essentially just two and a half hours of set-up for what's coming next, the masterful filmmaking made it consistently engaging and rarely dull. Towards the end it definitely does start to drag a bit, and to be honest, the dull nature of the colour palette did make the film quite visually tiring as it went on, but Dune remains an astonishing piece of work and I am ever so glad that more of it is on the way. 

I'm going to give Dune an 8.5/10

The second of these films was Wes Anderson's latest outing, The French Dispatch. As much as I was looking forward to this, I should clarify that I am quite torn when it comes to Wes Anderson. I find his films are always visually very pleasing with enjoyable performances and generally charming and funny antics, however, from a narrative standpoint, they begin to falter as they never really engage me. I like most of what I've seen from him, namely Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel, but overall I'm not the biggest fan. This film chronicles a series of individual narratives that make up an issue of the newspaper known as The French Dispatch. 

My issues with Anderson's films a kind of summarised by this film. Stylistically and visually, I love it. The way the shots are framed is wonderful, the colours are all very appealing (when it's not in black and white), and the cinematography is as sharp and dynamic as you'd expect. As is the case with most Wes Anderson productions, it stars basically every single actor in the world, and everyone is doing a terrific job and making the most of what they're given, which for some is only a few scenes. There are also moments that I found really enjoyable and charming; I mean, it is very difficult to resist overall. However, I just couldn't bring myself to engage in each of these stories. Some have said they found the film to be overloaded with content and difficult to follow - I didn't take issue with this but I most definitely found the film difficult to engage in. I have no doubt that this issue is exclusive to me, so don't be deterred from seeing the film after reading this. If you're all over Wes Anderson films then I can't reccomend this enough as it is basically the epitome of what he's known for, but if you're somewhat in the dark like me, you may have some trouble. 

I'm going the give The French Dispatch a 6.0/10

The third and final film I saw during this extremely congested time was another very highly anticipated one, Last Night in Soho. This is Edgar Wright's newest film, and he's probably my all-time favourite director if I had to choose. Even though this was a diversion from his usual sort of film, that being a comedy, I was still really excited. It looked so twisted and eerie in all the right ways, and it was rated 18 meaning it would be my first time watching an 18 at the cinema, as I'm finally old enough to. Thank goodness this was delayed a year is all I can say. The story involves a young aspiring fashion designer named Eloise who travels to London to study, but soon starts to have strange visions of the life of a woman named Sandie in 1960s London. This seems to positively impact her at first, but as the dark side of Sandie's experiences show themselves, Eloise's sanity begins to deteriorate.

Stylistically, this doesn't feel like much of an Edgar Wright film. It doesn't have any of the snappy, fast-paced editing you've come to expect as the film is, as I said, not in his usual territory. It feels as if anyone could've helmed the film to be honest. However, when turning your attention to the script, I think his presence is fairly obvious. This is another very tightly written film with narrative beats as well as twists and turns that all feel very organic and well set-up. Honestly, I loved the story and how it unfolds. The way it slowly gets darker and darker as Eloise's visions and reality begin to blur is really profound. It's also a visual treat too; with the extreme colours selling a really twisted atmosphere and juxtaposing the presentation of the real world wonderfully. The overall atmosphere of this film is so unsettling but also beautiful in a way. It's also very well acted, with Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy not only both having wonderfully expressive eyes but also giving really engaging performances. For me, I only really had trouble with the pace at points, with parts of the first act feeling a tad rushed and the ending not being well fleshed out at all. I'd love to see this again because I feel it'll get better and also because I want to experience the utter madness it offers again as it was just something else. This isn't Edgar Wright's best film by some distance, the Cornetto Trilogy and Scott Pilgrim are definitely more to my liking overall, but I will say this was a more interesting experience than Baby Driver, which I'm not completely keen on. He has one of the best filmographies of any director working today, and this is further proof that he never lets us down.

I'm going to give Last Night in Soho an 8.5/10

So, that's a brief look at some of things I watched in the last week. I want to see other things out at the moment like The Last Duel and Ron's Gone Wrong, but I just haven't had the time to with all this other, more interesting, stuff out, as well as more on the way such as Eternals, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Encanto to name a few. I may not be able to consistenly write in-depth reviews for new films I've seen anymore, so don't be surprised if this format becomes commonplace. I personally don't mind being concise with my thoughts anyway as usually I don't even really have much to say. Do check out my Letterboxd for more though: Jack W.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage - Movie Review - An improvement from before, if that means anything

I wasn't particularly fond of Venom from 2018. I thought it was fine; definitely not as bad as lot of others said but also not too good either, especially when compared to other superhero movies that came out around the same time. I wasn't initially planning on watching this follow-up, but with being at university and looking for any excuse to not do the heaps of work I have to do, I thought it'd be a sufficient way to pass some time. 

In the film, Eddie and Venom's relationship is tested as their contrasting desires reach a boiling point, and at the same time, a serial killer by the name of Cletus Kasady has been infected with another symbiote called Carnage, and proceeds to go on a rampage after escaping prison. So, the two need to put their differences aside to defeat this new foe. 

Here's the thing, I've only seen the first Venom movie once, when I saw it in the cinema over three years ago. I couldn't be bothered to rewatch it in preparation for this so I instead had to reread my original review of the film to kind of refresh myself on what my specific pros and cons were with it, even though I could remember my overall outlook. 

One thing I do remember being problematic about that original film was the pace. It took an awfully long time to get going and as a whole just went on for way longer than it needed to. These movies don't have interesting themes to explore or well-rounded characters to develop, they're purely focused on all the chaotic action they can throw at the screen, so two hours is a little excessive, especially when the majority of the first hour doesn't have much action. Let There Be Carnage clearly understands this as it's barely ninety minutes in runtime and it moves along at a very brisk pace throughout. Granted, it doesn't have the burden of being an origin story which the first film did, so it is in a better position to just cut to the chase. 

Aside from that, everything else is mostly unchanged. The action is more of what the original offered; that being noisy and chaotic roaring, smashing, and exploding. Its fun at times and doesn't really get too tiring as the film isn't long enough to let it drag on. The dynamic between Eddie and Venom is really fun, a lot more entertaining than I remember the first film being, which was welcome. Tom Hardy is still decent in the role, Woody Harrelson is very enjoyable as the villain, and Naomie Harris, who plays another villainous character called Shriek, was also really good in the film. So, if you enjoyed the first Venom, I think you'll certainly enjoy this as well because most of what it brings to the table is basically the same in terms of quality.

There's not really much else to be said. All things considered, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was just alright. I think it accomplished everything that it had to achieve as a sequel to Venom, with more of what that film offered in terms of action and tone, but I think it marginally has the upper hand for me because it's far shorter and moves along at a much smoother pace. Still, it's nothing I'll be rushing to see again or really thinking about much again, but it was certainly a fun ninety minutes.

I'm going to give Venom: Let There Be Carnage a 6.0/10

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the mid-credits scene. I won't say what happens, but I thought it was really cool and I'm excited to see exactly what it means going forward!

No Time to Die - Movie Review - A fitting farewell to Daniel Craig's James Bond

I'm not the biggest fan of James Bond. Despite being a franchise that has been around since the 1960s, I've hardly seen any of the movies. That being said, I do like most of the ones I've seen, and the era of this character that I have by far the most connection to is its most recent iteration, with Daniel Craig as 007. Casino Royale and Skyfall are both really effective and enjoyable action movies, Spectre is flawed but still solid overall, and Quantum of Solace also exists. So, with my enjoyment of most of these particular entries, I was of course keen to see where the character would be going next.

No Time to Die is generally regarded as the first major film to have it's release date postponed due to COVID, a choice which many of us thought was just a silly one-off at the time, but in the span of about two weeks became very commonplace and eventually an inevitability, with lockdown closing cinemas around the world for months. While most films that were pushed back at around the same time such as A Quiet Place Part II and Black Widow made their way to the screen earlier this year, this film has just been sitting on a shelf for all that time, despite many chances to release it arising. I began to get concerned that once it finally came out it would end up being a disappointment. With so much time spent pushing it back and thus building up the expectation that it's something worth waiting for, even if it was a perfectly solid movie, that might not have been good enough. So, now that it's finally here, the big question is, was it worth it? 

In the film, James Bond has been peacefully living life after leaving active service at MI6. But, he is called back into action when a new sinister plot begins to unfold and threatens the safety of those he cares about among many others. That's really all that needs to be said in terms of plot. If you're worried about things being spoiled then I'd advise to not read on and just wait until you've seen the film, because even though I won't be going into spoilers with my thoughts on the film, some of what I say could still ruin your experience as my vague comments can still largely suggest specific details that you're better off not knowing going into the film.

After the whole ordeal that was getting this film to the screen, not only with COVID but also after the directorial shift during production, it's a massive relief that it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable watch. I never got the sense that what I was watching was a hodgepodge, which films that go through this sort of production difficulties often do. It has a lot of the things that the best films during Daniel Craig's time as 007 have had.

Firstly, the action is very well done. The sequence near the start in particular (which a lot of has been shown in the trailer) was very exciting, with Bond swinging from bridges, zipping around on a motorbike, and then driving around in his car with guns that come out of the headlights, it's all jolly good. There's also a well crafted shoot out in Cuba, a nerve-racking encounter at sea, a tense chase through a forest, and plenty more that makes this film very enjoyable from an action standpoint. I was lucky enough to see this film in IMAX (as I've recently moved to university and have an IMAX cinema just down the road!) and that certainly enhanced a lot of these sequences, especially because some were actually shot with 70mm cameras. It's great to see more filmmakers beyond people like Christopher Nolan and J.J. Abrams using this in their films, as I do think it is highly effective.

The performances are all very strong too. Daniel Craig continues to be terrific as James Bond. I was a little worried that, after his very vocal reluctance to return to the role after Spectre, his performance would visibly convey his waning enthusiasm. However, I needn't have worried, as he's still the charming, suave, and charismatic character that he always was. I can't say if I think he's the best Bond, as I'm quite unfamiliar with all the other versions, but I can safely say that he played this character in a way that kept me engaged. I really think that it will be difficult to replace him if the series is to proceed. Aside from him, everyone else in the cast was great, whether it be the usuals like Ralph Fiennes, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris, or newcomers like Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, and Ana de Armas.

In terms of the theme song, I think it's one of the best. I'm not a huge fan of Billie Eilish but I thought she did an excellent job with this Bond theme. My favourite one is probably still that of Casino Royale, but I'd say this is a close second. Also on the topic of music, Hans Zimmer's score was really awesome; not his most memorable work but still very effective. 

There are a few problems with the movie but nothing major; most of them revolve around narrative and pace to some extent. 

I wasn't so keen on the villain overall. Rami Malek is expectedly brilliant in the role, but I thought his plan seemed a little generic and too over-the-top. The antagonists in Daniel Craig's Bond movies like Le Chiffre and Silva weren't just well acted and entertaining but had motivations that felt a lot more down to earth, which tonally alligns with the serious nature of the films. While Safin's plan isn't inherently bonkers and is decently implemented through some personal connections to Bond, it still seemed very plain and somewhat ill-fitting. Incidentally, while watching the film and learning of Safin's evil plan, I couldn't help but feel like the possibility of poor box office results wasn't the only reason why the movie was delayed... you'll understand what I mean if you've seen the film.

Despite this being the last film for Daniel Craig as Bond, it didn't entirely feel like much of a finale. The stakes are higher than usual and the way it ends definitely gives a sense of closure, but for the most part, I don't know what it is, but I just didn't feel like this was the final mission or anything. The best conclusions of franchises, such as Return of the King or Avengers: Endgame, manage to successfully have a certain atmosphere that makes the audience aware that this is the final stretch beyond the awareness that it is going into the film, and I don't think No Time to Die had that, as most of the shenanigans throughout were reminiscent of any other Bond film. 

Also, I think the ending was kind of rushed; the consequences of what ends up happening didn't seem to be fully explored or emphasised. Again, the best conclusions really let the impact of what happens in the end sink in, which this didn't. Of course, the movie already has a hefty runtime that's just twenty or so minutes short of three hours, but it rarely felt like it was dragging for me a lot of the time, so expanding on the ending would've probably been fine.

With all this being said, I thought the ending in and of itself was terrific. I can't say it was the most unexpected way to go, but that's not to say I was waiting for it to happen; it still struck me as a really bold choice, and a very fitting one too. The film caps off on a vastly satisfying note, though I definitely think a little more time spent fully coming to terms with where it ends up would've improved it. There's also a wonderful quote referenced near the ending. I won't say what it is as that'd definitely give away what happens, but you'll know it when it comes up, and I thought it was beautiful. My vague comments have almost certainly alluded to what happens in the end even if I haven't clarified it, so apologies if this did indirectly ruin the movie for you!

As a whole, No Time to Die wasn't anything groundbreaking, but I certainly think it was worth waiting the extra eighteen months or so for it to arrive. It has all the exhilarating action and charming characters you've come to expect, and goes to places that you perhaps wouldn't expect, wrapping up this iteration of the character in a way that's highly satisfying, if not as well fleshed out as it could've been. It rather snugly finds it's place right down the middle of Craig's run as 007, not quite reaching the highs of Casino Royale and Skyfall, but being a fair amount better than Spectre and way better than Quantum of Solace. In hindsight, I'm actually glad the release of this film was held off for as long as it was; because squeezing it in as soon as possible instead of waiting for the right time could've easily robbed it of its dramatic weight. Defintely give it a watch if you're a Bond fan, I doubt you'll come out disappointed. 

I'm going to give No Time to Die an 8.0/10

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Movie Review - Marvel delivers another awesome hero

With it seeming as if cinemas are getting more and more comfortable with new releases, the slate of new entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe that were all pushed back due to COVID are finally coming to the big screen, allowing this epic franchise to proceed. Well, after my somewhat lukewarm reaction to their first new release, Black Widow, I realise that what I want to see from this franchise going forward is new things. Sure, I'm open all for some of the sequels involving existing characters on the way such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but I want Marvel to keep doing what they've shown themselves to be really good at, and that is bringing new and somewhat obscure characters to life. So, Shang-Chi, a hero I had never heard of prior to the announcement of this film, was a character I was very keen to see in his own Marvel movie, so I was very keen to see this. 

The film follows Shang-Chi, who, along with his sister, was trained to become a powerful assassin all throughout his childhood by his ruthless father. After escaping his origins and starting a new life in the USA, he is brought back home and a whole new journey begins. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has a lot going for it, but by far the best thing about the film is how distinct it felt. I've seen some other people say this, but a Marvel movie not feeling like a Marvel movie is an aspect worthy of praise; a lot of these films are often criticised for feeling too similar, so it's always nice to see one of them feeling unique and different. I personally haven't been too bothered by these films feeling the same, but even I am all for a change of pace in terms of style, aesthetic, and atmosphere. 

This is where Shang-Chi thrives the most; it embraces a very oriental style, which is in line with the character and a lot of the aspects of the story. I have always been a fan of this style, even in Western films like Kubo and the Two Strings or Kung fu Panda, I think oriental elements are always very attractive. In this film, it is very obvious why. The visuals are stunning, with the locations, costumes, creature designs, and such all being extremely eye-catching. The music is beautiful, whether it's exhilerating or gentle, it's always effective. And, what most people will probably admire, the action is awesome. It is completely rooted in martial arts and thus amounts to such energetic, satisfying, and electric choreography. It also isn't overly reliant on fast editing and allows a lot of the action to unfold in long, unbroken takes, which is great. Not only are these oriental elements all admirable on their own, but these all contribute to making Shang-Chi feel so utterly distinct as an entry into the MCU. Also, it has a dragon. Dragons are so cool, especially Chinese-esque ones, so that alone was awesome.

Beyond that, it has all the things you've come to expect from a solid Marvel offering. The protagonist is really likeable and actually feels like a well-rounded character with a genuine conflict they have to face. The antagonist isn't just an evil obstacle but has understandable motivation as to why they oppose the hero, and they way the two are tied together makes the film very thematically interesting too. It also manages to strike a balance between taking itself seriously and also being very entertaining, with humour that, although it sometimes doesn't land, is more often than not successful. 

One other thing I liked a lot about the film was that you never really feel as though the heroes are completely safe. The some of the best Marvel movies like Infinity War and Endgame have a constant feel that, although you subconsciously know that the good guys will come out on top in the end (for the most part), you still feel like the obstacles they face are not overcome easily. In Shang-Chi, the heroes don't always have the upper hand, which makes the film more engaging and tense. 

There aren't many negatives here. I think the film could've maybe been paced a little better; a lot of it involves flashbacks which can often go on for a while, which adds up to a narrative that is a bit clunky in places. Also, as distinct as it feels from the rest of the franchise, the film makes many attempts to remind the audience that this is a Marvel movie, via certain character appearances as well as acknowledgement of previous events through dialogue. I wasn't too bugged by this, but I know many people are.

As a whole, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was terrific. The implementation of oriental elements makes it spectacular in terms of its visuals, music, and action, and also gives it a unique identity when compared to other Marvel movies. Top it all off with the usual Marvel greatness and you have a very solid addition to this franchise. If we get more movies like this going forward; movies with completely new and different characters, then I can safely say I'm keen to see everything Marvel has in stall for us. 

I'm going to give Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings an 8.0/10

Free Guy - Movie Review - More fun from Ryan Reynolds

Apologies in advance for how brief this review is going to be, but I don't have much time on my hands, and I don't think I've ever had less to say about a film, so I'm not going to try and pad this out to a normal review length and just say all that I think needs saying, which is very little.

In Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds plays a guy named Guy who is a non-player character in an open-world video game called Free City. But, after falling for a girl who has a personal vendetta against the game, Guy's entire way of living and view of reality as he knows it will change. 

I wasn't expecting much from Free Guy, just an enjoyable two hours with some laughs and cool visuals. And, yeah, that's basically what I got. Ryan Reynolds continues to be such an almost effortlessly funny talent in this film, as he has to do very little to get a laugh out of the audience, which is great. The rest of the cast was good too, with Taika Waititi, who plays the creator of the game in the film, being the other notable standout - he's also a naturally funny presence. The video game world in the film is also very well realised, with some really interesting visuals that give it the right feel and make it fun to watch, and also some really funny riffs on certain conventions of video games. There's a running gag throughout the film that I thought was consistently hilarious, and that's Ryan Reynolds' character being completely desensitised to crazy occurances such as explosions, vehicles crashing, people being shot / run over (including himself), and so on. The film does also make an attempt to have some substance beneath everything as it does do a decent job exploring the idea of discovering your reality isn't what it seems and raising the age-old question of what the point of existence is, which isn't anything new or noteworthy but still nice to see. 

Much like many other releases at the moment, Free Guy isn't anything remarkable. It's yet another film that I enjoyed while it was on, but will probably not be thinking about much again or rushing back to see. That's really the main drawback with it - the fact that it doesn't have much to offer beyond just being an entertaining time while it's on. Still, there is plenty to enjoy in Free Guy from the performances, to the visuals, to the humour, so I think it's definitely a solid watch and something anyone can enjoy at least a little bit. 

I'm going to give Free Guy a 7.0/10

Jungle Cruise - Movie Review - Another fun outing with The Rock in the jungle

I wanted to see this movie a lot sooner, but because I was away on holiday for a week as well as various other reasons, I ended up not being able to. But, I've seen it now, so talk about it I shall. 

There was nothing about Jungle Cruise, from what I could see, that signalled to me that I wouldn't enjoy it. I've never been to any of the Disneyland parks so I have no connection to the ride that the film is based on, but everything from a conceptual standpoint seemed all set. It's a good old-fashioned adventure in an exotic location, and it stars a bunch of actors I like - Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Jack Whitehall to name a few. So, yeah, it basically seemed like a movie I'd undeniably have a good time with. Obviously, I wasn't expecting anything spectacular, but something that'd be lots of fun for sure. 

In the film, an ambitious scientist named Lily Houghton and her brother MacGregor team up with a cynical skipper named Frank Wolff on a journey through the Amazon to find the mythical tree of life. However, they are up against several antagonists including a German prince and a group of cursed Conquistadors.

As I expected, Jungle Cruise is a ton of fun. It thrives off of the fact that its premise is extremely simple and straightforward and serves as purely a vessel for some fun antics with these characters in this location. 

The characters are all very enjoyable, and mostly because of some really entertaining performances. Dwayne Johnson is of course the main star of the film, and he continues to prove that he is just such a likeable, charming, and generally delightful screen presence. He's always really funny and keeps the film consistently engaging. Emily Blunt is also terrific as usual, further proving herself to be one of the most versatile talents working today and having a great dynamic with DJ - the combination of his charisma and her dry-wit make the two of them a wonderful pair. Jack Whitehall is also really good in the film; he's one of my favourite comedians and I think it's great to see him in a role like this because he pulls off the posh, cowardly act rather perfectly. I hope he gets more screen roles in the future as I really enjoyed him here. Everyone else, most notably Jesse Plemmons and Paul Giamatti are also solid, with these two in particular doing their very best at chewing the scenery as much as possible and being really fun in the process. 

But, beyond that, a lot of the other aspects of the film are well executed. The action scenes are the main highlights of the film, and they're always exciting, if a bit too reliant on very noticeable CGI at times, with some really good editing to help keep a fast pace and maintain a strong energy, especially in the opening sequence. The score is also more than serviceable, elevating these scenes even further. Of course, the production design and costumes are all top-notch as well, so Jungle Cruise does have a fair amount going for it beyond its story and characters.

As you'd probably expect, this isn't a perfect movie by any means. A lot of the exposition in the film is quite clunky in terms of how it is delivered, and the pacing isn’t particularly good as some parts drag a little and the film overall is longer than it needs to be. Also, like many Dwayne Johnson vehicles, it has an air of disposability about it; with how throwaway and generic certain aspects of the film are, it does feel a bit like something you'll see, enjoy as it plays out, but won't really think about much beyond that. However, I wouldn't really hold this against the film too much as it was entirely all that I was expecting of it. Still, it would be nice to see a film that makes a long-lasting impact even if it didn't have to. 

The best comparison I can make is that Jungle Cruise is very similar to the recent Jumanji sequels - not least because of DJ, the setting, and the genre, but also because of what they bring to the table. I like those movies; I saw them in the cinema when they came out and have rewatched them once or twice, but there isn't much more on offer. This is in the same sort of league. You can tell it's based on a theme park ride because it does share a lot of the characteristics of one, in that it's a jolly good time while you're on it, and thrills it offers are thrilling as they occur, but once you're done, that's kind of where it ends. But, to be honest, I don't see an awful lot wrong with an enjoyable yet unremarkable film, because if I had a good time while watching it, that's more than enough. 

As a whole, Jungle Cruise is very much a case of what you see is what you get - it's another frothy romp with Dwayne Johnson featuring some highly enjoyable set pieces and strong performances. Nothing to write home about for sure, but undeniably something I had a good time with and would happily revisit at some point. If it doesn't seem like the sort of thing you'd get a kick out of, I wouldn't bother as it's unlikely it'll win you over. But, if it sounds fun to you, then I'd say you ought to give it a go. 

I'm going to give Jungle Cruise a 7.5/10

The Suicide Squad - Movie Review - James Gunn saves the squad

Suicide Squad is a film that is revered extremely negatively by both critics and audiences. As for me, because I'm not fully up to speed with the DC Extended Universe, I hadn't seen it until very recently. I'm rather indifferent about it overall; I certainly don't share the animosity that many people have towards it, but I also don't really think it is all that good. Nevertheless, with a new take on this group, this time around with a definite article in the title, I went to a packed cinema to give it a go after hearing some very good things. 

The plot involves a group of criminal misfits being sent to a remote island on a mission to destroy evidence regarding a dangerous experiment, in exchange for reduced prison sentences and for other personal reasons.

As many others have said, this movie is wildly entertaining; and I think the reason for this  is down to a few things, most of which hinge on the perfection that is James Gunn as the writer / director.

First of all, he's successfully handled obscure and ridiculous characters on the big screen before. What many people best know Gunn for is his work on the Guardians of the Galaxy films, where he was able to bring a group of peculiar and, for many people including myself, obscure characters to the screen rather wonderfully. The Suicide Squad, based on what I've seen from the movies, is an equally bonkers set of characters. If there's one person you needed to successfully bring to life a guy that throws deadly polka dots, a girl that controls rats, and a giant, talking, humanoid shark, I'd definitely go with the same person that did so for a talking raccoon and a talking tree. As a result, all the characters in this movie are all really well realised. But, is that enough?

Well, another reason why Gunn was an excellent choice is because he's funny. If there's one thing Suicide Squad was lacking, it was good humour. It felt like it was definitely going for humour a lot of the time, yet even with usually funny actors like Will Smith, I hardly laughed throughout the entirety of its two-hour runtime. I knew this movie was doing a much better job in the comedy department when the first ten minutes alone were funnier and more enjoyable overall than anything in the previous film. It doesn't feel like it's taking itself as seriously by comparison, which feels tonally very in line with these wacky characters.

On top of all this, the way he helms the action scenes is completely fitting. As I'm only familiar with Gunn's work with the Guardians films, I was unaware that he definitely has a knack for crafting such beautifully brutal action. The Suicide Squad's action scenes are fairly standard modern superhero movie antics but with extreme amounts of blood and gore, in a sort of Tarantino way. And, honestly, I'm all for it. I'm sometimes a little squeamish but I do find a twisted enjoyment in a film that has no limits in just how violent and graphic it can get, so I hugely enjoyed what this film had on offer because it is an absolute bloodbath. But not only that, this also helps to give the action more flare and make it more distinct, which is another area where the last Suicide Squad movie was lacking; the action was so plain, while this film's definitely isn't.

The performances help to really elevate the movie into being as enjoyable as it is. Margot Robbie, who was by far the best thing in the first movie, is even better here, as not only is she written better and funnier, but it felt as if the filmmakers gave her manaiacal behaviour more time to shine, and it's so hard to resist. Idris Elba does a great job as well; he functions as kind of the straight man in the group, constantly commenting on just how absurd everything is, which is perfect coming from him. John Cena is also a stand-out - he's definitely becoming a favourite actor of mine as, much like fellow wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, he's just such a likeable, funny, and charismatic presence, which was very apparent here. Everyone else in the cast was solid too, not least Sylvester Stallone, who provides the voice of King Shark - the giant, talking, humanoid shark with the mannerisms of Hulk, which was just as fun as you can imagine.

As far as negatives go, there aren't an awful lot. I suppose there's not an awful lot of thematic brilliance to take away from the movie, but I don't really think that's a necessity for a film of this nature. There are also some choices made regarding certain characters that I wasn't such a fan of, but that'd require me to go into spoilers so I'll elaborate later on. Other than that, there really isn't much to critique.

Overall, The Suicide Squad was great fun. An extremely entertaining and delightfully bloody action spectacle with some top-notch comedy and terrific acting. I wouldn't say it's anything amazing, but it's a blast for sure. It obviously blows the original Suicide Squad out of the water, as if that needed saying, so definitely give it a go if you were disappointed by that film, because this should absolutely win you over.

I'm going to give The Suicide Sqaud an 8.0/10

I'm now going to briefly discuss my issues with the film that require me to go into spoiler territory, so if you have not seen the movie and don't want anything ruined, don't read the following. SPOILER ALERT!

So, my biggest issue with this film is that I didn't like the way they handled Peacemaker, the character played by John Cena. In the film, he turns against the group for reasons related to his own personal ideologies as well as the objective of the mission, and is soon killed off by Bloodsport, Idris Elba's character. 

While this is a justifiable choice in the landscape of the movie, as Peacemaker was set up as kind of arrogant and poses as a contrast to Bloodsport, I don't think it was particularly satisfying. I feel like it would've been better to see these two overcome their petty differences and defeat the enemy together. Even if what did happen was in line with his character, I feel like it could've been easily altered. Basically, the bottom line is I was really enjoyed John Cena in the movie and loved the dynamic between him and Idris Elba, and was annoyed that it didn't go on for longer. 

I guess I should stop complaining and just appreciate the fact that the filmmakers actually managed to make John Cena visible. That can't have been easy to do.

Space Jam: A New Legacy - Movie Review - An outing with the Lousey Tunes

I'm not really a fan of the original Space Jam from 1996; I mean, I think it's okay, but nothing much more. I understand that it's a film a lot of people have a certain nostalgia for, but it doesn't really do much for me. To be honest, I'd also go as far as to say that I'm not really that attached to the Looney Tunes in general. Obviously I know who they are and enjoy their antics, and as someone who loves animation I of course recognise their significance in shaping the medium, but I don't have much personal fondness for them in ways that I do for other cartoon characters. Despite all this, Space Jam: A New Legacy had my attention. I was very curious to see how this sequel would end up, and also got the sense that I may actually enjoy it, based on the trailers which looked like a ton of fun. So, I went to see it.

In the film, LeBron James' son, Dom, is sucked into a computer system operated by an A.I. named Al G Rhythm. He is told that the only way he can get his son back is if he plays Al G at a game of basketball. After searching the vast Warner Bros. 'Serververse' for characters to play on his team, James ends up gathering up the Looney Tunes to help him play the match against Al G's 'Goon Squad'.

It's no surprise that this sequel to a twenty-five year old film is almost identical to that original film, in the same way that Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are very similar to their original counterparts. The set-up is just as contrived, the outcome is just as predictable, and there's little to no variety when comparing the tone and humour across both films. However, there is one notable difference that kind of strikes me as baffling, and that's the pacing. The original feels like it's rushing from point A to B all throughout the film, meaning there's hardly any time for the audience to engage themselves in what's happening as it all happens so briskly, which is my main problem with that film. In contrast, this one feels like it just takes ages to do so; it feels so drawn out and overly long, as you can probably tell from the film's nearly two hour runtime, which is considerably longer than the original. Seeing this film makes me somewhat keen to revisit and perhaps reassess the original Space Jam, because maybe its more flippant and frantic pace is better suited for a movie of this nature. After all, the Looney Tunes are best known for just appearing in short vignettes, so maybe a film that stays more true to that style is better off. 

This issue is exacerbated by the fact that Space Jam: A New Legacy is also a really tiring experience. Not because I was getting bored, but because the film has so much spectacle and so much CGI chaos going on that it eventually just devolves into mindless and headache-inducing noise. This may only be as problematic as it was because I was watching the film on a day where it was thirty degrees here in the UK and also because the audience I was with in the cinema was uniquely terrible, but I do tend to get a little fatigued by films that just go overboard with all the ridiculousness they have on offer, which this absolutely did. The central basketball match is given more screentime in this one compared to the original, but I was remarkably unengaged with it. I was just so exhausted by most of everything that'd happened up to that point that I didn't really want to see more.

It's also largely evident that the film feels very corporate. There are tons of attempts to shove a bunch of recognisable IPs beyond the Looney Tunes into the film, including an entire montage dedicated to assembling the Looney Tunes and doing so by showing each of them inhabiting different worlds owned by Warner Bros. such as DC, Mad Max, and The Matrix. This obviously isn't anything novel nowadays, especially from Warner Bros. after Ready Player One from a few years ago, but what Ready Player One does differently to Space Jam: A New Legacy is that, in that film, not only are these other recognisable characters more naturally integrated, but some play a role beyond just appearing, serving a purpose in the narrative, not to mention the fact that that film is infinitely better paced. Here, they are completely superficial and their inclusions feel extremely forced, making the film seem very self-indulgent and even more bloated.

So, with all that being said, is there anything good about the movie? Well, yes, there are a few things I liked. I don't know if this will be a popular opinion or not, but I actually preferred LeBron James over Michael Jordan. While I'm completely unfamiliar with both in reality as well as the world of basketball in general, from what I have picked up after watching both of them in these two movies, James struck me as just a lot more charismatic and also as if he was a lot more in the moment compared to Jordan, which I'm guessing is probably because he has had a bit more experience with appearing in films before. 

Additionally, although the film was quite fatiguing, I still think the visuals it depicts are mostly really cool. The Serververse in particular is a really inventive and dazzling setting, mixing all the different worlds of Warner Bros. very creatively and always being visually appealing. It was also really neat to see the Looney Tunes given the CGI / photorealistic update and, surprisingly, not losing any ounce of their charm as a result of that transition. I also like how the movie gave more of the gang a time to shine - characters such Wil E. Coyote, the Roadrunner (my favourite of the bunch), Speedy Gonzales, Foghorn Leghorn, and Gossamer, all of whom weren't too prominent in the original (at least from what I can recall), get a lot more to do here, which was nice. In general, I had no problem with the Looney Tunes themselves in the movie, they have an innate charm to them and are always a fun and welcome presence. 

Overall, Space Jam: A New Legacy is fine, but nothing more. It has a likeable star, boasts some interesting visuals, and has fragments of the charm you expect from the Looney Tunes, but it's far too long, gets very tiring after some time, and is bogged down by a very corporate nature. I can't really label this as a let down as I wasn't really expecting much in the first place and always had an underlying sense that it probably wasn't going to be that good. Still, when you've got one hundred and fifty million dollars and access to some of the most timeless and fun characters in animation history, I also can't help but feel like something better could've been done. In terms of how it compares to the original, I think I'd rather go with that film over this, and purely because of pace. Although I don't like the pace of either, if I had to choose between the lesser of two evils, I'd probably go with short and fast over long and slow, because at least the former is over sooner and doesn't outstay its welcome, which A New Legacy definitely does. 

I'm going to give Space Jam: A New Legacy a 5.5/10

Black Widow - Movie Review - A little too overdue

Although I do like the Marvel Cinematic Universe quite a bit, I have been reasonably fine with the relative lack of new content over the last two years. In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, it felt kind of suitable to let some time pass before continuing the series. That and because I feel it was the point where the franchise would peak, I'm somewhat disinterested in seeing what's going to happen next, which has impacted some of the Disney+ shows we saw earlier this year. But, with cinemas back up and running and studios less hesitant to release their new offerings, a cinematic return to the MCU was here and I was keen to see it, Black Widow.

I've always enjoyed the character of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson has always done a great job making her extremely likeable and charismatic, and she does have an interesting backstory / conflict. Unfortunately, she has usually been in the background of the conflicts of other characters such as Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, which is a shame. But, before we say farewell to her after she heroically sacrificed herself in Endgame, we delve into her backstory in greater detail. In this film, set shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Romanoff confronts her past and seeks to rid the world of what made her history as troublesome as it was. 

First off, I have to say, it was rather wonderful to be watching a new MCU movie in the cinema. The last time we had one of these was over two years ago, with Spider-Man: Far From Home, so it had certainly been a while. Seeing the glorious Marvel Studios logo on the big screen once again after all this time was magnificent; it gave me chills and put a big smile on my face. So, despite how I may slowly be losing interest in this franchise, my love for it felt kind of reinvigorated here.

Black Widow offers much of what I like to see from this franchise. While being a very action-heavy movie, it does take its time to tell a thoughtful story, this one regarding things such as sisterhood and family, which is very heartfelt at times. Additionally, it has all the things you've probably come to expect from this franchise, namely great characters and exciting action. The characters are great here mostly because of some really terrific performances - Scarlett Johansson is as good as usual in this role, Florence Pugh continues to show she is a wonderfully talented actress, as if Little Women and Midsommar weren't enough, but the standout for me was David Harbour as the Red Guardian; he gave an extremely fun and consistently entertaining performance throughout the film. They all have a really enjoyable dynamic, namely Johansson and Pugh, who frequently bicker with one another as you'd expect siblings to. The action is slightly bland and does rely a little too much on CGI and fast editing for my liking, but on the whole was still enjoyable. So, it's evident that Black Widow has plenty to offer and is undeniably good. 

My biggest problem with the film was that I wasn't really engaged in it overall. This isn't really the fault of the film itself, I think it's purely down to timing. As I said, this takes place just after Civil War, but it's being released at a time when we've seen how all the conflicts in that film are resolved. As a result, I couldn't really bring myself to care much about what was happening. I'm not really interested in any part of this franchise pre-Endgame as we've seen how it all ends up, so I wasn't really interested in this movie as an addition to that part of the story. Had this come out shortly after Civil War, I'd probably have enjoyed it more because it would have felt a lot more in the moment and timely, but because we're seeing it over five years after (an issue exacerbated by COVID), it almost feels like old news. 

This is especially annoying when considering that the film does successfully build on Natasha's character, and had we seen this film before Endgame, it definitely would have made her death feel more impactful. So, in this sense, the film is partially a victim of circumstance. Obviously, this isn't a criticism I can see being valid for long. If someone were to discover the MCU ten years from now and watch all the films in the Infinity Saga in chronological order, they'd obviously watch this film in the right spot and the fact that it was released way after the rest of the bunch would be irrelevant. Still, it's annoying for people like myself who are following along with these stories as they're being told and having things being added to established aspects. 

I've also heard the criticism that the film is solely a vehicle to set-up future elements, particularly involving Yelena, Florence Pugh's character. I only take issue with this when the film doesn't offer much else to compensate, such as Captain Marvel, which to me felt as if it existed solely to set-up things in Avengers: Endgame and didn't have much else about it that was compelling. But, Black Widow had enough to keep me entertained throughout, so the fact that it might only exist to service whatever comes next didn't bug me as it wasn't so obvious. Additionally, the post-credit scene in this movie (which I won't spoil) did get me quite excited for what's on the way.

All things considered, I was mostly satisfied by Black Widow. To say it was a disappointment feels a little harsh as it has all the attributes of a solid Marvel offering and my key issue with it wasn't to do with the film in itself, so I don't really feel that applying that label is suitable. It's a well-acted, charming, heartfelt, and generally enjoyable film that'd probably have gone down better if we'd seen it a little sooner. Don't give it a miss if you're a fan as I'm sure it'll be able to fill the MCU-movie-shaped hole in your life to some degree. 

I'm going to give Black Widow a 7.0/10

All 2021 Films I've Seen So Far Ranked

Well, we're just about to reach the halfway point in 2021, so it's about time to reflect on the movies we've seen so far. Honestly, it hasn't been too bad a line-up all things considered, especially when comparing what we'd seen from 2020 this time last year. There's been a fair share of great films, a couple of weak ones, and some inbetween. Nevertheless, let's take a look at all the ones I've seen so far, ranked from worst to best! I'm going to be a lot less detailed with the things I've reviewed already so just read my reviews of them if you'd like more detail. Let's get going!

15. Malcolm & Marie

This is a really weird movie, and simply for the reason that it doesn't feel like much of a movie. Malcolm & Marie has almost no plot - it is just back and forth dialgoue, usually in the form of monologues, for 90 minutes. That's not inherently a bad thing, but it hindered my enjoyment of the movie more so than added to it here. I was so bored, I was literally just watching two people rambling about stuff, most of which was as loud as possible. Yelling about something as loud as possible doesn't automatically equal dramatic brilliance, I know that just from doing drama at school. I can understand why someone might like this movie; John David Washington and Zendaya are both great actors, the aesthetic of the film is very stylish, and some of what is being discussed is interesting. I thought I'd like this movie for all these reasons, but I didn't because it made no effort to give me a reason to care about what I was watching. So, it's the weakest thing I've seen so far this year, and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay at the bottom for the rest of the year.

14. The Woman in the Window

I don't really know why I watched this movie, but I like a lot of the cast members and the plot sounded intriguing, so I guess that was enough. But, this was sadly another boring movie for a lot of the time. I will say that the talents of the actors shone through better here than in Malcolm & Marie, and at least this movie does have a plot, but I just wasn't really that engaged in the story or keen to see what would happen. It may sound like I'm a little short of things to say with this movie, and honestly, that's purely because I genuinely cannot remember anything about it. Let's just move on, there's not much to say here. It's fine but hardly worth your time. 

13. Army of the Dead

Once again, this movie did nothing but bore me. I think Army of the Dead is also fine - the characters are all passable, and the set-up is kind of decent, but my goodness everything else was just so forgettable, especially the action scenes. On top of that, as I've seen many people say, it is most certainly far too long. Not every damn movie has to be an epic two and a half hours, there's nothing wrong with making something that does its job in no more than 90 minutes. I'm honestly getting really tired of zombie movies, Shaun of the Dead is excellent and Zombieland is decent, but I just think it's an idea that has been explored about as thoroughly as possible. Stop making more. Anyway, as for this movie, it wasn't awful but I can safely say I will never watch it again.

12. Cherry

A surprisingly over-hated movie in my opinion. I didn't know what to think of Cherry going into it, but I like Tom Holland and the Russos so, what could go wrong? While I definitely think this is far too long and generally not the sort of thing I'd want to revisit again, I actually enjoyed it a fair bit. The plot was very engaging and I thought it very naturally progressed the main character's transition from ordinary teen to criminal. On top of that, Tom Holland is great in the movie; he's a much better actor than I previously gave him credit for, and I hope he goes on to appear in more low-key / indie stuff similar to this once he's done with his more big-budget gigs like Spider-Man, as I think it could make way for some great stuff. So, yeah, not the best film I've seen, but I enjoyed it a fair bit. 

11. Fast & Furious 9

Just another Fast & Furious movie. Some fun action and some likeable stars but nothing creative is being done overall and nothing memorable can be found, except for one particular set piece. Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a good time with it, definitely more so than all of the afore mentioned films. Read my review if you want elaboration.

10. Godzilla vs. Kong

This is just so much fun; it does exactly what it says on the tin by delivering all the chaotic, large-scale action you could possible want based on the title, even if it does get a bit tiring after a certain point. Read my review for more detail.

9. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Huh, another movie with 'vs.' in the title. You've probably heard a lot of praise about The Mitchells vs. The Machines, and rightfully so. However, in all honesty, I didn't love it as much as I was hoping. The premise of a family taking on an army of robots just didn't seem too interesting to me, it felt kind of stretched out with its nearly 2-hour runtime, and (unpopular opinion) I don't know how keen I am on the animation style. That being said, I still really enjoyed this movie for the most part. It is extremely funny with how it reflects how modern society is so swarmed by technology and how it has changed the family dynamic in many ways, especially with how it depicts parents who cannot wrap their heads around how it all works (completely accurate might I add!) In addition, I really like how amidst all the chaos, it does tell a really heartfelt and wholesome story. Overall, when looking at the other contributions Lord and Miller have made to Sony Pictures Animation, this isn't as good as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or Spider-Verse in my opinion, but still a really solid film that I very much enjoyed and wouldn't mind watching again. 

8. Luca

Luca is another solid outing from Pixar. It's heart is definitely in the right place and it manages to be really visually enjoyable despite going to many familiar places with its story. I don't really care to see what Pixar does next as I'm certain they've shown us all they can do by now, so hopefully we can just see more simple and plainly good stuff from them like this if anything. I've written a review if you'd like a little more detail.

7. Nobody

Like Godzilla vs. Kong, Nobody does exactly what it says on the tin. The trailer shows Bob Odenkirk punching some baddies, and that's basically what the movie is - it is the Bob Odenkirk punching, shooting, and driving into baddies for 90 minutes movie. But, you know what, I am absolutely fine with that. This movie works because it just is what it is. The action is really well done and really enjoyable, and on top of that, it's made extra enjoyable when considering Odenkirk's character is just a Dad who suddenly starts beating some baddies up, which is a really fun set-up. Not sure if I'm rushing to see this again, but I would happily do so should the opportunity arise.

6. The Dig

This was a very gentle and slow film, but one I really enjoyed. The Dig features some really solid performances and has a plot that was quite interesting. I was a little ticked off by some strange camerawork and editing here and there, and I don't know if I really would want to watch this again, but I really enjoyed it. I can't really remember much about this movie so it may well not be as good as I thought. One thing I do remember taking away from it was the fact that at one point some of the characters are eating a lemon drizzle cake, which it turns out wasn't invented until the 1960s, and thus wouldn't have been around on the eve of World War II, when the film takes place. Funny little detail, eh?

5. Judas and the Black Messiah

Chances are you've probably also heard a lot about Judas and the Black Messiah and how great it is, and again, rightfully so. But, also once again, I didn't enjoy this as much as I was hoping to. Despite that, I still admire and respect so much about this film. It goes without saying that Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Steinfeld are both excellent, giving their all and truly becoming these characters rather than just playing them. Other than that, what I liked most about this film was how it had such great themes, exploring selfishness vs selflessness during the civil rights movement with the two lead characters, among many other things. I just wasn't emotionally engaged in the film nor was I really on the edge of my seat throughout. Still, that didn't stop me from picking up on some truly exceptional aspects of what is a really strong film.

4. Cruella

This is definitely the biggest surprise of the year for me, and kind of the only surprise to be honest. Cruella is just such a fabulous movie, anchored by some great performances, and featuring some stunning work in terms of costumes, hair and make-up, cinematography, and more. It's not groundbreaking, and it does feature way too many pop songs, but I just enjoyed it ever so much. Read my review if you want to hear me elaborate on some of this. One thing I will add here is that I have subsequently rewatched the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians from 1961, and I really liked it! The animation is really nicely stylised and doesn't go overboard with its cartoony nature, and it's just a really sweet and charming watch. I especially love the idea of all the dogs in and around London knowing each other and helping one another, that's so wholesome.

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

At the start of the year, this was one of my most anticipated movies for sure. I was so excited to see Disney back to doing something original that looked so unique and as if it was going to be a grounded and truly epic film. I wasn't so keen on spending £20 to watch it at home when I only had to wait an additional 3 months to do so for free, so I ended up waiting and catching it as soon as it became free on Disney+. As a whole, it wasn't quite as amazing as I'd hoped it might be but I think it's still pretty damn good. Of course it looks and sounds beautiful, but what I really liked most was the excellent world building on a level not usually seen in one-off films like this, and the really well implemented theme of trust. At times it felt like it had the grandeur of something out of the Studio Ghibli library like Princess Mononoke, however, what really bogged the movie down for me was the really frustrating humour. Not only was it simply not funny a lot of the time, but it felt kind of ill-fitting in the landscape of this story. If this movie took itself more seriously and wasn't afraid to be a bold and dramatic animated movie, I can safely say it probably would've been one of Disney's very best, because as it is, it's tonally very similar to almost everything they've made before, which is a little disappointing given everything else the movie had going for it. Still, I really cannot complain too much because I'm always delighted to see a solid animated movie from this company even if it's not a spectacular one, and even if it wasn't as good as it is, original work from Disney is also very welcome for me. 

2. In the Heights

Not really that surprised that the most joyful, feel-good and upbeat thing I've watched from this year happens to be one of the best. I have no connection to the original In the Heights stage musical, but I thought the film was ever so good. I smiled, I laughed, I tapped my feet, I just had such a great time with such a wonderful cast of characters. I've also got a more detailed review of this film, so be sure to read that if you want to know more. But, simply put, I really really really liked this.

1. A Quiet Place Part II

Yeah, there wasn't really much competition for the top spot. A Quiet Place Part II is just awesome. You've definitely heard many great things about this, and I've written a review spreading the word of those very great things, so I won't waste your time repeating myself here. Just see this movie if you haven't already, it is absolutely worth your time. 

Well, that's all that I've seen so far. Based on how things are going at the moment, I'm hoping that we will continue to see consistent new releases as the year goes on. There's still much to look forward to on the 2021 calendar, with Black Widow, Dune, No Time to Die, Last Night in Soho, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The King's Man, Shang-Chi, The French Dispatch, and much more, so I can't wait to hopefully see more great stuff.