The Lion King (2019) - Movie Review - Has anything changed at all?

This film is a PG, was released on July 19th 2019, and this review will contain SPOILERS, but to be fair if you don't know what happens in the original Lion King, what?

Introduction 

I love The Lion King. It is one of my favourite films of all time and definitely the best-animated movie that Disney has made without the help of Pixar. It has such gorgeous animation, lovable characters, a majestic sense of scale, excellent songs I know every word to, a really powerful message, and some strong emotional moments. It's just flawless. So, why remake it?

Thoughts Going In 

I didn't have my expectations high for this film. I could tell that it was going to be worse than the original but also lack a lot of the original's magic too. This was evident from what I saw in the trailers. I also suspected Jon Favreau, while being a talented director, wouldn't be able to do a great job here. This is because when he made the first Iron Man, it was great. But, Iron Man 2 wasn't as good. Here, he's already made one fabulous Disney remake, The Jungle Book, so maybe he'd run out of steam by the time The Lion King came around. Who knows, I was just keen to see it now. 

The Story 

Simba is a young cub who is next in line to the throne of Pride Rock. However, his jealous uncle, Scar, brings tragedy into his life and Simba is banished from the Pride Lands and forgets who he is. Yadda yadda you know the rest.

What I Liked 

Well it kind of goes without saying but the visual effects work in this film is stunning. You begin to forget that this film was entirely animated in a computer after some time as you just accept it as real. The attention to detail to make this as photo-realistic as possible is astonishing. The fur, the water, the blades of grass, each individual leaf on the trees, every little spec of dirt, the rocks, the sky, it is all well done to a remarkable extent. This is one aspect of the film that you can't fault because it is clear that a lot of people have spent a lot of time on this part of the film. 

Some of the voice acting was good. Not a stamp on the original but competent. Donald Glover was really good as Simba. I love Donald Glover as an actor, he's done so many great performances in recent years in films like The Martian, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and others. Even though he had minor roles in all of the above, he still makes the most of what he's meant to do. Here, he has all the charm and charisma that Matthew Broderick had before. Seth Rogen was perfect as Pumbaa, his comedic timing and his laugh were on point, even if his singing wasn't quite. Of course, James Earl Jones being back as Mufasa was the right decision because nobody could ever replace him, and he did a great job once again. 

The score is absolutely as electrifying as it was before. Although, they do some nice variations on it here which were well done. This is one of the best scores of all time and I don't think it will ever not feel epic.   

The last thing that is praiseworthy is that the film has the overall tone and feel of The Lion King. While I was watching it, even though it looks and sounds different, it still felt like the 1994 classic. I know the opening to the original like the back of my hand, I know it starts with the sunrise, then a rhino, then some antelope, then some meerkats, then a leopard, and so on. And the opening shots of the film were exactly the same but in live-action. I wasn't hoping for them to make any great changes as that would risk tarnishing what we love, and I liked seeing how they recreated nearly every scene from the first time around but with the live-action twist.

What I Didn't Like 

There are many issues with this film. Firstly, these characters are all made to look like real animals. The issue with this is that they are no longer as expressive as they were in the original. This is a big setback in a story where connecting with the characters is quite a significant attribute. Then you look to the voices. Because the actors are all acting with the necessary emotion and energy, it felt unnatural when it looks to be coming out of the mouth of a creature that doesn't look as if they feel the same thing. What's even worse is that some of the animals have limitations where it doesn't seem as if they can pronounce certain words. Zazu's beak moves up and down like a Muppet's mouth so you couldn't see what he was saying from what you saw, and it looked jarring when you heard what he was saying. Additionally, some actors seem to be going over the top. Chiwetel Ejiofor seemed like a good choice for Scar, but he was so melodramatic when delivering lines such as "long live the king" or "run away and never return" which was unnecessary when Scar was better off as sly and malicious in his delivery, which Jeremy Irons pulled off perfectly. As much as I liked Donald Glover, he too seemed to be exaggerating in the wrong way at certain points, the climax in particular. As for the other actors, John Oliver didn't have the witty and charming nature of Rowan Atkinson as Zazu, Billy Eichner lacked the energy and quirkiness of Nathan Lane as Timon, and Beyonce didn't add much to the role of Nala, her delivery felt flat and dull and it was clear that she was only cast because she's popular and can sing well. The actor for young Simba was also really irritating, which made me feel bitter about the character when that was clearly not how I was meant to feel. Unfortunately, there were even some times when James Earl Jones seemed a bit artificial as Mufasa. This is most likely due to how he was in the original so it feels like his dialogue was just slapped into this new version. So, as a whole, the film presents many issues with its characters and actors.

Secondly, the aesthetic of the film, while visually impressive, felt wrong for this story. When I think of some of the most memorable scenes in The Lion King, I think of the beautiful opening sunrise against the monotonous red sky, or the variations of colours and designs for a more exotic feel during the Just can't wait to be King song, or the murky greens in the Be Prepared song, or what about the obvious contrast of colours of the Pride Lands in Mufasa and Scar's reigns. A lot of what makes these scenes special is the colours. Animation is what allows for such vibrancy and it makes certain stories more visually interesting and engaging. This is why I felt underwhelmed when I saw the bleak sunrise against a much less atmospheric sky that opened the film, or how Just can't wait to be King is basically Simba running around singing, with all the colours remaining the same, and then Scar sings Be Prepared in an insipidly grey cave area, and when he becomes king, there isn't a great difference between how the Pride Lands looked when Mufasa was king. This has also had an effect on the character design. You no longer have the iconic red manes, Zazu's bright blue feathers and bright orange beak, Scar's beady yellow and green eyes, and so much more. So, the transition to live-action has washed out a lot of the adventurous colour palette that made the original so visually exciting.

Another odd thing is that the film doesn't feel as grand as it did before. Once again, thinking of memorable scenes in the original, I think of the sharp reveal of a striking Pride Rock, or the gigantic stampede of charging wildebeest which allowed for an equally as gigantic sense of impending doom, and then there are my favourite scenes in the original, the majestic ghost of Mufasa and the awe-inspiring moment when Simba slowly walks upon Pride Rock in the rain. The original film has an unmatchable sense of majesty and scale, all due to the animation. So, once again, I was underwhelmed when I saw a slow pan to some pile of rocks I'm supposed to see as Pride Rock, as well as a stampede that takes place in what felt like an extremely narrow ravine with wildebeest not running particularly fast nor in as great of a quantity, and Mufasa's ghost is swapped to be some swirly, faceless cloud in the sky, and when Simba walks upon Pride Rock, he literally just walks upon Pride Rock. The same way that he walks throughout the rest of the film. Not in slow motion, not over a great period of time, and even the score can't make it seem great. These once terrific scenes no longer feel as glorious or as huge as they were before. 

You may look at a lot of these criticisms and say "Well they can't fix those issues because it's meant to look realistic." And in many ways, that is the film's major issue. It is trying to be realistic. Animation is a criminally underutilised medium of film, and I hate how so many people pass it off as just a way to tell stories to kids. No, that is absolutely not true. Animation allows us to tell stories that would seem ridiculous in the real world, animation can allow you to feel emotions for things that you can't feel for in the real world, and animation allows for limitless amounts of expression, creativity, imagination, wonder, character, vibrancy, beauty, and so much more. It is the very reason why we could ever have imagined The Lion King, to begin with. When you go to live-action (or try to make it look like live-action) you take away all of the above. And all of the above can be summed up in one word, magic. 

Conclusion 

The Lion King remake does feel like it is The Lion King, and there are some good performances, the same brilliant score, and groundbreaking visuals. But, the fact that it tries to be live-action has taken away the expression, vibrancy, grand scale, and simply the magic of the original. This film has absolutely no reason to exist, and because it is essentially a shot-for-shot remake, I cannot see myself rewatching this instead of just rewatching the original. I can see plenty of people going to see this film and loving it. After all, it is the start of the summer holidays for a lot of people and many families will go to see this and enjoy it, and that's fine. Although, if you have kids and you're excited for this film so that you can introduce them to this story, why not just show them the original? It's superior in every way and much more serviceable to young children. Don't ignore a perfect film for a bland and lifeless retelling of the same story. 

I'm going to give The Lion King a 5/10   

Apollo 11 - Movie Review - Both immersive and informative?

This film is a U, was released on June 28th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS because there is nothing to be spoiled, unless you've been living under a rock the size of the moon.

Apollo 11 is a documentary about the titular space mission when three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, set off to land on the moon for the first time in human history. I love space and I thought that this would be a good thing to see in the cinema and also good for some insight into the mission. We recently had First Man which was a dramatisation of the same mission but that was more focused on the life of Armstrong and the sections in space and on the moon were somewhat secondary. So I was excited to see more about this achievement in American history. 

The thing I was so happy about with Apollo 11 is that it really only gets the title of a documentary just because it uses archival footage of a real event. I was so glad to see this film didn't have a cheesy narrator nor interviews with some of the people involved, as that would've distracted from the point of the film. Instead, the film just shows you everything that happened from the moments preparing to lift off, to when the three made it back to earth and were celebrated. So, I enjoyed this film so much because it felt like it was telling a story, and given the fact that it is only made with real footage, it was a much more engaging and gripping experience. The film also masterfully uses sound. It is so well implemented that it makes the film more atmospheric, and the wonderful score adds to this. There are times when the film goes silent, sometimes it has tons of voices at once, and it always felt appropriate to the scene. The biggest accomplishment of this film is that it has an atmosphere. When what you see and what you hear are combined, it takes you right into the world of the film and you can feel everything the film wants you to, whether it's the high heart rates of the astronauts, the complications of calculating landings / other manoeuvres, or the awe of watching the first man step down a ladder onto the moon. One thing I should mention is that this film demands a big screen. The bigger the screen and the louder the volume, the more invested you can be in the film. Although that's not to say it can't be enjoyed on smaller screens, its only the experience that gets enhanced by the larger size. Another thing is that the films does a great job at helping you understand how a lot of technical aspects of the mission worked. This was especially good for me as even though I love space, I'm not familiar with how any of this mission was pulled off, so it was beneficial to get a technical understanding.

In terms of negatives, there are very few. My only real issue is kind of inevitable for a film like this, and that is that some of the footage is a little bit poor in quality as is some of the sound. However, this isn't a legitimate critique in my opinion because the fact that they could get all the footage they did is largely commendable, its only problematic when you can't clearly identify what is being said or what is happening. 

Apollo 11 is one of the biggest surprises of the year. I'm not usually one to enjoy documentaries nor can I really put up with archive footage of a low quality, but I loved this film. This is an enthralling experience and I can't wait to see it again. Even though some of the novelty may be lost from the transition of cinema to home, I'm still really excited. It takes you right into the legendary mission of 1969 with excellent usage of sound, music, and really impressive footage. This is a film I'd highly recommend to anyone who likes space or just wants to be blown away for an hour and a half, because it is worth it. I can't remember the last time I left the cinema so keen to revisit the film I'd literally just witnessed.

I'm going to give Apollo 11 a 9/10

Spider-Man: Far From Home - Movie Review - A worthy continuation?

This film is a 12A, was released on July 2nd 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS, but there will be a discussion of MAJOR SPOILERS after the main review. There will also be spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

Introduction 

Spider-Man is probably the one superhero we've seen the most iterations of in the shortest amount of time. With Tobey Maguire starting it off, Andrew Garfield briefly giving it a go, Tom Holland being the MCU version, and even the animated Into the Spider-Verse. This character has been through many highs and lows but at the moment, he's been doing really well. Spider-Man: Homecoming was a really entertaining movie, offering a more down to earth aspect of the MCU, Into the Spider-Verse was fabulous and upon rewatching, it got so much better, I criminally underrated that film when I initially reviewed it. But now, after the earth shattering events of Endgame, Spidey is here to hopefully calm us all down. 

Thoughts Going In 

I was certain that I would really like or even just enjoy this movie, there was nothing throwing me off. My only concern was that this film would feel underwhelming after Endgame which was not that long ago, similar to what Ant-Man and the Wasp suffered as a follow up to Infinity War. But, regardless, there wasn't much I held as a concern.

The Story 

Now that Tony Stark is gone, Peter Parker is left without a mentor and feels lost in the world, feeling unable to fill the shoes of Tony. However, he soon leaves for a holiday all over Europe. On this trip, he hopes to connect with MJ and tell her about how he feels about her, as he has a crush on her. However, Nick Fury interrupts his trip and introduces him to Quentin Beck / Mysterio. They need his help to battle elemental beings who have invaded earth from an alternate dimension. Peter is then left with the choice, help to save the world, or spend time with people he cares about. 

What I Liked 

Spider-Man: Far From Home takes everything that worked wondrously in Homecoming and either continues it, or makes it even better. 

Firstly, the action. Homecoming had some great action scenes such as the one at the Washington Monument, however some of it felt slightly uninteresting and fatiguing because the down to earth segments of that film with Peter in school were more entertaining. Here, the film makes the action more interesting and more exciting. The fights with the various elemental beings were really cool to watch and CGI was remarkable. The climax which takes place in London was also excellent with some fascinating visuals. The music stood out most in these sequences and there were even some exhilarating versions of the classic Spider-Man theme. This was the best aspect of this film because it was something the first film was lacking. 

Secondly, the characters were also much better. Peter feels as if he has grown as a character since Homecoming as he now clearly understands the responsibility he has. He frequently hesitates to join the fight simply because he'd rather be on holiday with his friends. He wants to remain a normal child with normal friends and doesn't want to get wound up in all the action. This made him much better as it shows that he is progressing as opposed to remaining as a naive and desperate child, as in Homecoming he was eager to be out saving the world instead of being at school. Ned was just as likeable as before and he delivered some really funny jokes. One trait I like about both Peter and Ned is that they always have a tendency to claim "that's awesome" at certain things in the film, and this is great because that is absolutely how teens would react to these things, coming from me. MJ was also a standout because she is essentially the same as she was before, but there's more of her. The relationship between her and Peter was also really endearing and somewhat relatable as I could understand how Peter felt, being desperate to approach a girl you have feelings for, but too shy to actually do so. This made me enjoy watching how their interactions played out, and it was more entertaining when MJ begins to get suspicious of Peter being linked to Spider-Man. The only other notable character was Mysterio. Jake Gyllenhaal did a really good job and the chemistry between him and Peter felt very genuine. The other characters such as Nick Fury and Happy were essentially the same as before, but like MJ, there's just more of them, which was good. 

The last thing was that the movie seemed to be a good balance between all its strengths. It doesn't dwell on one aspect significantly more than another and felt very consistent. Each part gets its time to shine with there being enough of the down to earth stuff and enough of the superhero stuff so that they're both equally as entertaining. The film also throws in a bit more drama regarding Peter and his struggles. There's a twist in the film which allows for his struggles and fears to be visualised and enhanced and it made the film both dramatic and engaging. And, oddly enough, it didn't distract from the other two aspects. This film got the perfect balance between all three of these components, and it made this an unbelievably satisfying watch. This was another improvement from Homecoming because that film had plenty of the characters and action, but we've established that the latter was less interesting than the former, and the drama in that film wasn't quite as prominent, even though it was still really well executed and even powerful.

Also, one other thing is that the ending of this film (as in after the post-credits scene) left me completely clueless as to where the series is going next. And honestly, I love that. For a franchise this big and elaborate, that is not something I thought I'd ever say, and the excitement of not knowing where we go next is unlike any other feeling.

What I Didn't Like 

There are some minor problems with this film but not severe. The biggest issue is with the central twist. I won't give it away and I'll expand later but it was extremely predictable, explained in a messy way, and will probably undercut some of the tension in scenes prior to the reveal upon rewatching. You'll know this when you see the movie. 

Like any comedy, there are jokes that don't work. However, this film has a few running jokes that fall flat as well as elongated jokes that wasn't much fun to begin with and were completely inessential. But that does go for any comedy so I suppose it is inevitable. 

Conclusion 

Now THIS is how you follow up the biggest movie of all time in style! Spider-Man: Far From Home was everything I wanted and more. It gets the absolute optimum balance between thrilling action, endearing characters and interactions, as well as new drama to deepen our protagonist. I loved this movie and it outdoes Homecoming easily. I don't think it's quite Into the Spider-Verse nor is it as spectacular as Endgame, but it proves that although we've seen tons of this character, we've barely seen anything. I can't wait for more of this interpretation of Spidey and I hope this one goes on to do really well. 

I'm going to give Spider-Man: Far From Home a 9/10  

Update to Marvel Rankings 

As this is an MCU film, and we've had two entries since my ranking, I thought I'd update my ranking of all the films with the additions of Avengers: Endgame (which I have revisited) and this. There are a few other differences too, but keep in mind that I can never properly rank a set of films as my opinion on films are constantly changing and never set in stone. 

23. The Incredible Hulk
22. Thor
21. Iron Man 3
20. Captain America: The First Avenger
19. Thor: The Dark World
18. Iron Man 2
17. Iron Man
16. Captain Marvel
15. Black Panther
14. Ant-Man and the Wasp
13. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
12. Avengers: Age of Ultron
11. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
10. Doctor Strange
9. Ant-Man
8. Avengers Assemble
7. Guardians of the Galaxy
6. Captain America: Civil War
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
4. Spider-Man: Far From Home
3. Avengers: Endgame
2. Thor Ragnarok
1. Avengers: Infinity War 

I'd like to address that Endgame improved drastically upon rewatching. I think a film of such scale has to be seen multiple times before you have fully comprehended the whole thing. My issue with Thor wasn't as problematic as he was funnier than I remember, some of the discombobulated aspects of the time heist weren't as apparent, and the final battle was still as awesome. However, you may notice that Infinity War has dethroned Ragnarok as my favourite entry. The reason is because I rewatched it after seeing Endgame and thus knowing what happens after the cliffhanger ending. Amazingly, I still enjoyed it hugely and was still shocked by the ending. It is a film that I don't see myself getting bored of at any point in the near future. Also, because my main issue with Infinity War was whether it would hold up after Endgame, and it did, I have now moved it up to be the first 10/10 in the franchise, it just deserves it. 

Spoiler Time 

Don't read this part if you have not yet seen the movie

So yeah, the twist with Mysterio was really interesting because initially, when I first heard he was in the movie and I saw him in the first trailer, I actually thought he was quite simply a villain and he was this movie's baddie. However, the thumbnail for the second trailer showed him joining forces with Peter, so I then got confused. The trailer and start of the film suggested he was on the hero side, but I was still very doubtful that he was. Turns out, I was right. But the weird thing here is that I predicted this twist without knowing it was a twist, which is a little bit mind blowing. But then, the way the twist was then explained felt very messy and just an exposition dump.

Anyway, his illusion technology was the thing that enhanced Peter's struggles and fears. The sequences where he basically traumatises Peter were horrifying and really compelling. And the final battle where Peter takes down the fake elemental from the inside has some really dazzling visuals. My only concern with this is that when I rewatch the hydro-man and molten-man fights (both of which took place before the twist occurred) they will be less tense because I now know Peter is just fighting a load of fake nonsense. But, for the time being, those sequences were great and really cool. 

Ok, the mid-credits scene. So, I'm probably not as excited as other people by this scene. The reveal of JJJ (portrayed by J.K. Simmons, the same actor as the original Spider-Man movies) was cool as he is great in the role but I didn't get super pumped upon this reveal like other fans did. I was more concerned about the fact that Peter's identity has been revealed and Mysterio tricked people into thinking Peter killed him. Does this mean that Peter Parker is going to be on the run from the police in the next movie? Who knows.

The post-credits scene wasn't exciting but more confusing. It is revealed that the Nick Fury and Maria Hill that appeared in the film were actually Skrulls in disguise. It is then shown to us that the actual Nick Fury is on some kind of space vessel alongside more Skrulls. Not only does this force me to remember the bland movie that was Captain Marvel, but I don't know what this means for upcoming films. This may also make me look back on the events of the film differently as I now know some people are just Skrulls, but I can't be sure just yet. 

Also, there was no "_____ will return", so this only intensifies the fact that the future of the MCU is completely unknown. Seriously, what is even the next movie?

Yesterday - Movie Review - Does it do the beloved band justice?

This film is a 12A, was released on June 28th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Yesterday is the story of a guy named Jack. He finds himself in a position in which he's struggling to get his music heard and isn't given enough respect for it. One night, all the power in the world goes out for 12 seconds and Jack is hit by a bus. He wakes up in the same world except he is the only person that can remember the legendary band, The Beatles. Because of this, Jack takes many of their beloved songs and passes them off as his own. This instantly raises his profile and he soon takes off. I liked the look of this film from the trailers, so I was keen to see it as I was sure it'd be a decent few hours at the cinema. 

Overall, this was a jolly good time. It doesn't take a genius to notice that Yesterday has an absolutely brilliant premise, and it addresses every aspect of it, resulting in it being really funny. There are numerous jokes in which Jack searches The Beatles and related things such as Sergeant Pepper on the internet only to be met with ridiculous results. However, its not just The Beatles that the world has forgotten, as there are various other things regarded as common knowledge that only Jack can remember, and I won't tell you what they are as they were funny reveals. But the film generally has a really pleasant, feel-good tone to it and it does often raise a smile and a chuckle, which is more than enough of what I want from a film of this type. The film also pays huge amounts of respect to the band at the centre of it. I'm not huge on The Beatles, but it's easy for anyone to recognise their music and little nods and references to their history and discography. It's only when you see a film like this that you can fully appreciate the legacy of a band like this, even though it isn't about them, it is about their music they've produced. Performances were also top notch, Himesh Patel as Jack was really good, he was very charming as the lead. Lily James continues to show that she is a very talented actress, as she gives off another very strong performance. Even the supporting cast did a great job too. 

In terms of negatives, there aren't many. The biggest issue I have and I think others may have is that the film is a bit formulaic. It follows the generic rock star storyline in which the protagonist begins as kind of a pathetic loser who believes there is nothing in his life of value, he gets to fame due to some kind of cheat, he's showered with riches and praise, but he then turns his back on the people in his life before, only to realise that he already had all he could ever need before he became famous. Pretty standard for a movie like this. It works fine and even appropriately here, but I do wish it did something to spice it up. The movie also repeats some of its best jokes to the point where they aren't as funny, and the pacing is somewhat off as Jack's rise to fame seems a bit too rapid, even if that was intentional. 

As a whole, Yesterday was terrific. It wasn't the most original or memorable film I've ever seen, but it's really entertaining, pays the right amount of respect to The Beatles, has some really solid performances, and is overall very cheerful. Definitely see this one if you're a Beatles fan, or if you just like a bit of clever and straight forward entertainment like I do. 

I'm going to give Yesterday an 8/10

Toy Story 4 - Movie Review - Did we really need it?

This film is a U, was released on June 21st 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

Introduction 

I, like many people, love the first three Toy Story films. They all have really endearing characters, some great animation, heartfelt and emotional moments, interesting themes, and entertaining sequences. But, best of all, I thought it was a trilogy that ended so fittingly and in a way that was satisfying. So, imagine how I felt when Toy Story 4 was announced. Why another Toy Story film? I don't understand why Pixar has pushed for so many sequels recently. None of their films scream franchises to me, aside from maybe The Incredibles. But, they managed to make not one but two absolutely fabulous sequels to their first ever film, so maybe there was enough momentum left for another one, even if the story seemed to be finished.

Thoughts Going In 

As good as the reviews and buzz were for this film, I stood by my opinion that we didn't need a Toy Story 4. I watched Toy Story 3 just beforehand and that film is just terrific. What you notice about the Toy Story films is that they have progressively got better, and there was no way this could outdo that. But, who knows? Pixar might be able to smash it one more time with these characters, so I went in as open-minded as possible, but still with the belief that what I was about to watch was redundant. 

The Story 

On her first day of Kindergarten, Bonnie makes a new friend named "Forky", constructed out of various bits and pieces such as a spork and a pipe cleaner. Woody sees that this toy cheered her up on her first day, and he believes that everyone should protect Forky to keep her that way. However, Forky thinks he is trash, so after jumping out of a vehicle on a road trip and forcing Woody to come after him, they must get back to Bonnie along with the help of some new and some familiar faces. 

What I Liked 

To begin, I'd just like to say that this was definitely a positive experience. I have some issues but I'd like to make it clear that as a whole, the good outweighs the bad.

Once again, Pixar proves that they are the masters of computer animation. In this film, the textures on the toys are so real, the environments look so life-like, and smaller details help to make this a beautiful visual experience. When you look back on the first Toy Story, the animation doesn't hold up particularly well, so it is wonderful to see how it has progressed to the point where you begin to appreciate things like fluff, scratches, reflections, or other very minor details. The way certain characters move also made the animation seem more realistic, for example, Forky moves very stiffly as if he was an actual piece of cutlery, and a doll named Gabby Gabby has very gentle and restrained movements as if she was a real doll. I feel like mentioning animation on a Pixar film is redundant nowadays as they always do a great job. 

The characters are also great, especially as Toy Story is a very character-driven series. There are plenty of fun, new characters. The most notable of which was Forky, who was fun to watch because of his naivety and also how he moved by mostly wobbling around. There was also Duke Caboom, a Canadian daredevil toy who had a tragic past of not being as good as how he was portrayed in his commercial, and thus being abandoned. He was very entertaining at many points and the voice of Keanu Reeves was a big part of this. Lastly, there were Ducky and Bunny, two plush toys who are meant to be won at a carnival, both of whom were goofy and really funny, constantly having the bizarre urge to attack humans. The veterans were also terrific, Woody is such a likeable and good-hearted character, and he always seems noble towards his child, regardless of who it is. Buzz was also good and his character had a new belief of following what is said when he pushes his buttons which lead to some great jokes. 

The emotions were also very strong. There were some very sad scenes in this film. Not the emotional climax, but there is a moment that occurs quite far into the film which involves a lost child. I won't explain it but that scene brought me close to tears. So, remember your tissues if you do go to see this! 

What I Didn't Like 

OK, I have some major issues with this movie that hold it back greatly. The first of which is the one that I partially expected, this film doesn't add anything to the franchise. There isn't anything that happens which makes you look back on the previous films in a different way, and there isn't anything that makes you say "wow now I understand why they made this movie" or "wow that all makes sense now" or anything along the lines of that, it all just feels like an extension of what we all loved without any meaningful additions. Overall, the whole thing just felt very hollow, almost like a feature length version of those Toy Story shorts. But, the one thing that did feel like something was the ending, which brings me to my next issue. 

I loved the ending of Toy Story 3 as I think it was the most appropriate send off for all these characters, not just for Woody even though he was at the centre of it. Here, it's all about Woody, and is only a goodbye for him, which makes the ending of the franchise only revolve around him. Which, don't get me wrong, I love Woody as a character and I understand he is the protagonist, but I'd much rather the ending where each of the characters have a moment to shine and then Woody gets his big moment, which is exactly what Toy Story 3 gave us. Also, the ending only fits the confines of a world in which toys do come to life. Whether or not our toys do come to life in the real world, the ending of 3 works no matter what because the idea of your toys always being there for a child to make them happy doesn't rely on them being able to come to life, so we can apply it to our own toys regardless of whether they can come to life or not. Here, you can't. The message it gives off only works in the world of Toy Story so it loses the magic of the originals where everything they went through such as being replaced or having their child grow up could be reflected in your own toys. So, this film didn't add anything meaningful to Toy Story as a franchise and now this great series has ended on much less satisfying note despite the fact that there was already a perfect one to call it a day on. This film's existence is also extra annoying because it robs Toy Story 3's powerful ending.

I also have an issue with Bo Peep. I suppose it does make narrative sense to reintroduce her into the mix as she was integral to Woody, and the opening sequence in which they show how she was given away was very well done. However, they forgot something kind of major, that being that she didn't really have much of a character. I didn't really care for her much in the films she was in before as she didn't do much and all she did was serve as someone who was kind to Woody, not much else. So, I struggled to bring myself to care about where she was coming from even if the film did its best efforts to make you care. She also came off as unlikeable. Sure, she would get annoyed by Woody at certain points as he acts very desperate throughout a lot of the film but I felt she was very bitter at times. So, I don't think bringing Bo back was necessarily a good choice, even if it makes sense in the context of the story.

The film also feels a bit too silly compared to the other films. The toys come to life far too much in the presence of humans and their movements go down unnoticed so frequently that it made the human characters less believable and more stupid. For example, at one point, Buzz is on a prize rack and Ducky and Bunny start to kick him along with yelling. How could nobody see that? It's been established that it is the middle of the day and there are people at the fair so, how? There's another moment when Duke Caboom makes a big jump across the fair, how did nobody see him? Sure, it was entertaining, but it still raises the question. There are also some ridiculous moments where the toys do things that make this world seem, once again, less believable. At one point, they hack a GPS and start driving a vehicle to get somewhere, with said place being somewhere that vehicles can't drive up to, and that just crossed the line for me. Sure, there were moments like this in the originals, such as Woody and Buzz landing in the van after flying in the first Toy Story, or the gang driving the Pizza Planet truck in Toy Story 2. But, they worked because the instances of them were well executed. Woody and Buzz flying at the end of the first film is one of my favourite scenes in cinema, and the Pizza Planet truck chase in Toy Story 2 was really fun to watch when seeing all the toys playing different parts to make the truck drive, and the fact that they were just driving on a road, a place where you usually see vehicles. But here, it is so excessive and unfunny that it was just unacceptable and it took me out of the film.

Conclusion 

Did we really need more? Toy Story 4 was by no means bad or even average as an experience. The animation was superb, the characters were mostly great both old and new, and there were some really powerful and heartfelt moments. However, the whole thing just felt superfluous. I didn't walk out of it with a new perspective on the Toy Story world. The only thing it really added was a less satisfying ending to a series that already had the most satisfying ending it could've had. Throw in some ridiculously gimmicky moments and it really weighed this film down. This is a definitive case of some things being best left as they are. That said, I don't dislike or resent this movie at all, and I won't let its flaws ruin the masterful work that went into the previous entries. It is the weakest Toy Story film by a significant margin, but it is certainly better than other Pixar sequels such as Cars 2 or Finding Dory. However, Toy Story deserves so much better as it is a franchise that both means a lot to me and has made a huge impact on cinema. So, if they were going to go through with following up their perfectly rounded-off trilogy, they needed to do more than what they did.

I'm going to give Toy Story 4 a 6/10 

Also... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T MAKE A TOY STORY 5, PIXAR.

All 20 Pixar Movies Ranked

With a certain 4th entry into a franchise out now, I thought it'd be fun to rank all the films made by my favourite animation studio, Pixar. While I do love a good Aardman or even Dreamworks film, Pixar have been the long reigning champions of computer animation ever since they introduced the medium to cinema in the 90s. I have seen every single film they've put out and have varying opinions on a lot of them, but as they've got a nice even number of films as of right now, I'm going to give them a rank. 

Just like Marvel, the worst that Pixar gets from me is a 5/10. I can't bring myself to hate or even dislike any of their films, even the weaker ones. I also need to make it clear that my opinion on films are constantly changing. Looking back at my MCU ranking today, I already disagree with it. So keep in mind that this is a rough ranking and not set in stone. I'm also not going to mention animation unless it's absolutely necessary because it goes without saying that Pixar's animation is astonishing. That said, let's get ranking!

I also feel like I should address that a lot of my mini-reviews here are going to feel repetitive because many of these films share good aspects, so excuse me if my vocabulary doesn't seem varied enough. Also, this is a difficult list because I adore so many of these films and it's hard to say which ones are better, I even feel bad putting some so low on the list. This only really applies from numbers 11-1, those are the ones I love the most.

20. Brave (2012)

Brave is the lowest on my list for two main reasons. One, the film is extremely forgettable and conventional based on what I can remember, making it an unenjoyable experience. Two, it doesn't feel like a Pixar film. Pixar are so unique and original that them putting their spin on a common narrative felt very uninteresting. I'm being vague because I honestly have trouble remembering this movie, it feels like a lower tier Disney movie from the 2000s if anything. It also beat Wreck-it Ralph for the best animated feature Oscar, which intensifies my distaste.
Rating: 5/10 

19. Cars 2 (2011) 

A worse film than Brave from a story standpoint but the reason why this is higher is because when I watch this film, I'm not bored. It's ridiculous and makes no sense and damages the reputation of the original Cars movie, but at least it's not dull and it does have a personality. It's fun to watch simply because it's so more exciting and memorable, even if the everything else is really weak. I'd still like to imagine this movie doesn't exist and you'll see why later. 
Rating: 6/10 

18. The Good Dinosaur (2015) 

A film that I've liked less and less since its release. This is mostly because I haven't felt the urge to revisit it at all. I liked it a lot when I first saw it and actually felt a desperate need to defend it, but gradually I forgot more and more about it to the point where I still acknowledge its existence but don't really think about what it adds to anything. The animation is especially groundbreaking and the story is generally sweet and heartfelt, but aside from that, there's not an awful lot to grasp onto here. An unfortunate misfire considering that dinosaurs are the best, but not bad by any means.
Rating: 7/10

17. Finding Dory (2016) 

Another film I've liked less and less which is a shame. You'll see my opinion on Finding Nemo later (and where it is ranked should show you why this is so low), but I really liked this film at first because it was exciting to see a follow up to a film I absolutely loved. That and it has a much appreciated heartfelt story too. However, when you realise just how inessential this film is, then you like it slightly less. That happened to me for sure and I just started to enjoy it less. It's not a terrible film, but it's low on the list because it didn't have much of a reason to exist in the first place. 
Rating: 7/10

16. Monsters University (2013) 

Thankfully, we have a movie that has grown on me since I first saw it. I wasn't too keen on this when I first saw it because I mostly didn't like the segment in the human world as it became a bit too serious and grim for my taste, lacking the charm of the first film. However, that scene isn't a problem to me anymore as I think it was severe case of the negativity bias. I like a lot about the rest of the film; the overall ride it offers has some fun moments, some really hilarious characters, and it's a nice enough way to see how Mike and Sulley became the duo we all know and love.
Rating: 8/10 

15. Coco (2018) 

Coco is undeniably a great movie. It has a wonderfully emotional story, some delightful songs, really well-handled themes of memory / death, and it is always fun to watch, even though I've only seen it twice. What bothers me about this one is that, like Brave, it doesn't feel like a Pixar movie. Once again, there isn't much originality here. We've seen this type of story before and even though it hasn't been told with this particular aesthetic, it seems familiar due to the 2014 film, The Book of Life. So, this is a great movie, but just one that doesn't scream Pixar to me, and that's why it's so low.
Rating: 8/10 

14. The Incredibles (2004) 

Uh oh, you may not agree with this. Ah well, this is my list so deal with it. I've always liked The Incredibles, and it is a fantastic movie in many ways. The action is exciting and entertaining, the characters and their powers are a lot of fun, and it has some mature themes which are very subtly implemented. So, it is great, but there are just a lot of other movies that I think are better. To be honest, I haven't seen this movie in many years, and subsequently I have become a huge fan of superhero movies, so revisiting it may raise it on my list, but from what I remember, all of the ones I'm about to cover are superior to me. 
Rating: 8/10 

13. Incredibles 2 (2018) 

JUST TO CLARIFY, I am uncertain as to whether or not this beats the original. But I'm fairly certain it does. I like the idea of The Incredibles being a satirical and goofy take on superhero movies, and this movie delivers that aspect much better than the original. The first movie was quite serious with occasional fun moments, but here, it's so much funnier and the super-baby, Jack-Jack, had a much larger role which gave the film lots more to love. This also means that both sides of the story are equally as entertaining, unlike the first where the only fun parts were all the full on superhero moments. I really enjoyed this movie and despite the animation being a little too good, it's a fabulous watch. I've written a full review if you'd like to hear more. 
Rating: 8/10 

12. A Bug's Life (1998) 

The least talked about of Pixar's Golden Age movies, and deservedly so. Looking back, it doesn't have an awful lot that is boundary pushing or memorable about it, but it's a colourful and fun watch for the most part. Some good characters and great use of size, so overall a satisfying enough flick. There's really no more to say than that, but sometimes a nice straight forward story works better than a complex one in my opinion.
Rating: 8/10 

11. Toy Story (1995) 

This may seem a little bit too low considering we wouldn't have had the 10 films coming up if this one didn't exist, but I think it fits snugly here. Toy Story is a really enjoyable, creative and fun film. It still holds up today as a great kids movie and one of the best animated films ever made. The characters and voice work are top notch, and the story has a lot of depth to it, and the scene where Buzz flies is one of my favourite scenes in all of cinema. It feels so wrong having it so low on the list, it's just there are so many films that are better to me, even if this was the one that paved the way for all of them.
Rating: 8/10 

10. Monsters, Inc. (2001) 

Really entertaining. Mike and Sulley are one of Pixar's best duos and their chemistry is so well realised and it makes the movie so good. That and the little girl, Boo, is absolutely adorable! This film is also a prime example of Pixar being original as the world established here is something so bizarre in the best way possible. It's still a great movie today and one I always like to revisit, even if a lot of its peers are considered better by me. 
Rating: 8/10

9. Cars 3 (2017) 

I really love this movie. This is what I wished Cars 2 was going to be like. Out of all Pixar sequels, aside from the Toy Story ones, this one justifies its existence best. The narrative feels naturally progressed as Lightning follows in the footsteps (or tyre-tracks) of his mentor, Doc, and is passing the torch to his younger companion, Cruz. Top this off with a great message about growing and moving on and some really exciting and entertaining racing scenes, which go from race tracks to a demolition derby to out in the country, Cars 3 redeems the Cars series and I am happy it exists so that Cars is no longer frowned upon deeply by most Pixar fans.
Rating: 8/10 

8. Inside Out (2015) 

Oddly enough, this was probably the Pixar film I had the most hype for. Prior to this being released, we had a whole year of no Pixar! I mean, we still got The Lego Movie that year, but that isn't the point. I was so worried we'd never see another Pixar film for ages. Then, this film was released. And my worries were all pushed aside. Inside Out is a return to form if I've ever seen one. Such a wonderful story that utilises every aspect of the premise, such a creative setting, such brilliant characters, such a lovely score, such phenomenally realised emotions. This is just a masterful film. The only issues are that it has a few plot holes and to me still doesn't feel entirely like Pixar, but it is something truly special.
Rating: 9/10 

7. Wall-E (2008) 

I've loved Wall-E for so long. Being such a memorable character as well as a very wondrous film. Now, I like it ever so slightly less than I used to, but that doesn't mean it's a worse movie at all. This is definitive proof that "show don't tell" can be efficient in cinema, especially animation. It's also amazing how the animation crew managed to get such easily observable emotion out of a robot who isn't that expressive. Wall-E only has two gigantic, binocular eyes, and yet you can easily detect how he feels from any frame of the film. That is the work of pure wonder, and in and of itself makes this a terrific film. The message is also really powerful, the score is really pleasant, and the love story between Wall-E and Eve is so sweet. I just love it. Also, like Toy Story, Wall-E houses one of my favourite scenes in cinema. I'm sure you know the one, but if you don't, it's define dancing.
Rating: 9/10 

6. Toy Story 2 (1999) 

What a brilliant sequel! Toy Story 2 succeeds in all the ways any sequel should. Introduce new themes, expand on original themes, expand the world, deepen the characters, and deliver more of the humour and charm from the original. This film masterfully fills that criteria, and it adds up to a film that outdoes the original by quite a margin.
Rating: 9/10 

5. Ratatouille (2007) 

Ratatouille is another film I've grown to love as I've got older. Originally, this was quite low on my list. However, as an older person, you come to appreciate just how clever this film is. It has such a wonderfully bonkers premise, but the execution is fabulous in every way. It's very much a film that children can enjoy by the sight of things such as a pancake being flung out of a window, but you only come to appreciate all the nuances of the writing and the story itself as you grow up. Ratatouille also has the most clever title of any Pixar film, just everything about it is really smart. It is so entertaining and I never realised just how much I loved it and love to rewatch it. 
Rating: 9/10 

4. Up (2009) 

Oh, I'm getting teary eyes just thinking about this. Up is another beautiful film in Pixar's library. The emotions feel so real in this film, the opening ten minutes are so powerful yet there isn't a single word of dialogue, it's all told through the excellent score and the magic that is silent cinema. Also, once the main plot gets going, there are tons of great jokes and the adventure is really exciting. That and Up has the most vague title of any film ever and the film is, once again, absolutely unique. This is really a brilliant film, for many reasons. 
Rating: 10/10 

3. Toy Story 3 (2010) 

Oh no, I'm now actually going to start crying! See what I said about Toy Story 2, and apply it to this. It is rare for the third film in a franchise to be this great, let alone the best in the series. The only other franchises I can think of where the third one is the best are some of the Marvel franchises such as Thor or Avengers. This film has all the characters we know and love at their best, a really enjoyable prison escape segment, and even some moments where it feels as if all is lost. I am going to get into spoilers because this film has been out for almost a decade, but that scene with the incinerator is horrifying. I remember sitting in the cinema as a child, convinced I was about to watch some of my heroes be burned to ash. Looking back, obviously they'd never do that, but they made me believe they could for a moment. Above all else, this film beautifully ties up all loose ends, explores themes introduced in previous entries, and perhaps has the most fitting and satisfying conclusion to any animated series and these characters' stories. It was a pleasure to watch them all grow and learn, and it was even nicer to see them finish their story. Oh, wait a minute, it will be nice to see them finish their stories...
Rating: 10/10 

2. Cars (2006) 

Cars doesn't get a great deal of love and respect from Pixar and animation fans. It is seen as the black sheep of Pixar, probably because of the fact that it got an entire trilogy which featured one film that was rubbish, to others that is. However, I have many personal reasons that make me like Cars even more. It was, from what I remember, the first film I saw in the cinema. I remember getting all the toys and watching the film over and over. I also remember watching it at oddly memorable parts of my life (no specifics because it won't connote anything to you). Cars is a film that means a lot to me, and it is such a great film in addition. The opening scene never fails to get my blood pumping and put a huge grin on my face, the characters always raise a smile and deliver a chuckle, and the message is familiar but so well presented. I know you may disagree, but nothing can change my view on this film. I could never dislike Cars, even if somebody took apart the entire film and raised the most valid points about how flawed it is, I could never look at this film in negative light. There's too much good about it. 
I'd also like to address all the nitwits who point out inconsistencies in the world of Cars, such as "How could Doc Hudson frame that newspaper and hang it on the wall when he is a car?" That is a very good point, but what's important is what is in the frame, not how it was put on the wall. There's no need to be so pedantic because that has nothing to do with the overall ride of the film, unless you need to know every little aspect of how the world functions, which you don't.
Rating: 10/10 

1. Finding Nemo (2003) 

The main reason why Finding Nemo tops my list, aside from the touching story, endearing characters and astounding animation, is because I know that I can watch it whenever, and not be bored or in any way distasteful. There is not a single flaw I can identify here. This is the only film that has ever been made where I am certain I will always love it, regardless of how I'm feeling or what mood I'm in. It's such a well executed adventure and has so many memorable and even iconic encounters with sea life. Even the animation, which will soon enough be 20 years old, still holds up remarkably. I absolutely adore this film, and on some occasions, I have claimed it to be my favourite film of all time. It is that good. 
Rating: 10/10 

Conclusion 

Well, that's all of them. When I look back on this company's filmography, I realise just how many of these films were crucial to my childhood. Many of these were my main source of entertainment for ages. These films defined my childhood and while I will admit they are slowly running out of steam, I am always keen to see what they will deliver next. I hope these films continue to entertain, engage and inspire all children of the present and future, because they are some of the greatest achievements in not just modern animation, but modern cinema. Right, onto Toy Story 4...

Rocketman + Godzilla King of the Monsters - Movie Reviews - Solid starts to the summer season?

Basically, I've just finished my GCSEs, and there is nothing quite like the sense of relief when you're all done. However, in that time, I have neglected this blog, but not abandoned the cinema. I went to the cinema a few times during my exams but couldn't get any reviews written up because I just had no time. So, I thought I'd just squeeze both films into one post as I don't really have much to say about either, my thoughts are quite simple. I'll probably do this for other movies when my opinion hasn't got much to it. These will be different to my regular reviews as I'll just be brief. So, let's get caught up.

Firstly, Rocketman. This film is a 15, was released on May 22nd 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

This is a story of famous rock star, Elton John (played by Taron Egerton), and his rise to fame along with all the troubles he faced. So, I like both Elton John and I like Taron Egerton, so this was essentially setting itself up to be a match made in heaven. I also quite like the director, Dexter Fletcher, who worked with Egerton on another film called Eddie the Eagle, which I also enjoyed. So, I was keen I'd have a good time with this movie. 

Overall, I can safely say I had more than a good time, a great time. What Rocketman does really well is make the generic rock star, underdog story more entertaining. Instead of being a biopic, Rocketman is a musical. This gave way for so many fabulous musical numbers where all of the very best of Elton John was sung and danced to. It was so mesmeric and smile inducing, and it made the film feel as if it had more life to it. Additionally, Taron Egerton was amazing, I was not expecting this. Not only does he perfectly encapsulate every aspect of Elton, he is also a terrific singer. He is the centre of most of the musical sequences and his voice has so much of the energy needed to carry them. His performance was so convincing and it shows he's come a long, long way since Eggsy in the first Kingsman. Additionally, the supporting cast are great too. Jamie Bell has gone from being excellent as Billy Elliot to excellent as Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden does a good job as John Reid, Elton's sly and manipulative manager, and Bryce Dallas Howard does her very best English accent as well as bringing a lot of the emotion into the film, as Elton's mother who shows little to no love or respect towards her son. Stephen Graham was also hilarious for the brief moments he was in the film.

On the negative side, the pacing wasn't particularly great. Some scenes did drag on but fortunately this is evened out by the great musical scenes. The slow scenes do add the much needed drama and depth but it's a shame some were a bit boring. My only other complaint is that the film didn't feel like it had a great narrative to it. Compared to the very recent Bohemian Rhapsody (which was partly directed by Fletcher), that film had all the drama culminate into the grand Live Aid performance, giving the narrative a proper climax and set piece to build towards, additionally it was outstandingly executed. This film definitely has a climax, but it is less extravagant and overall the narrative just felt a bit uneven, without something to build towards or around. However, at least this film is more historically accurate. 

As a whole, it's not going to be a long, long time before I see Rocketman again because I really enjoyed this film because of an amazing central performance, a solid supporting cast, and the wonderful emphasis on being a musical over a biopic. Despite some slow scenes and a bumpy narrative, Rocketman is a great film for a really uplifting and cheerful time. 

I'm going to give Rocketman an 8/10 

Now, let's move onto Godzilla: King of the Monsters. This film is a 12A, was released on May 29th 2019, and this review will contain NO SPOILERS 

What's this movie about? Well it's Godzilla, and he's facing off against other monsters such as Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. To say I'm not invested in this current 'monster-verse' would be an understatement. I have not seen Godzilla (2014) because I just never got around to it, although I did thoroughly enjoy Kong: Skull Island, despite the fact that I can't recall much about it today. The reason I chose to see this new installment was that it just looked phenomenal. The visuals and whatnot from the trailers had me excited. Despite my lack of investment, I decided to go just for some good old Godzilla-beats-up-some-other-monsters action. 

Well, you know what I wanted, and this film definitely delivered. Where this excels is with the action. One of my biggest issues with a lot of monster movies is that they take too long to get going, only properly getting into the monster action we came for in the third act. But Godzilla: King of the Monsters has heard those criticisms and decided to completely shake things up. This movie wastes no time and cuts straight to the chase. I understand that taking time to reveal a big monster is an effective way of building tension, but given the context of what we're talking about, that a being a movie where the premise is that it's just Godzilla fighting other monsters, you can't blame them for just getting straight to it. Additionally, the action is fantastic. There is such a sense of scale and hugeness about all the creatures. So seeing them fight on a colossal scale was just something else. This is what I came for, and I got it. 

Inevitably, the characters are pretty weak. I didn't care for them at all. Granted, I don't know who comes to a Godzilla movie for the humans, but if they were well executed characters, there would've been a greater sense of tension and urgency, which was generally absent for most of the film. Also, there are many stupid decisions throughout, and while they try to justify them with some Thanos-esque reasoning, it's stupid and they just need to admit that. Also, while I was thoroughly entertained by it, the action did get a little bit fatiguing after some time. At first it is great, with some slow reveals of all the monsters and their capabilities. But by the end, it feels more like monotonous noise. Still enjoyable, but after an hour of the exact same, not so much.

All things considered, this was a consistently enjoyable time at the cinema. While Godzilla: King of the Monsters is mindless and has a lack of tension, there is plenty of exciting and bonkers, large-scale conflict to keep it from being dull. I enjoyed this movie and I'm sure anybody can if they just want to have a fun time and nothing much beyond that.

I'm going to give Godzilla: King of the Monsters a 7/10 

So, with my GCSEs now all done, I have plenty of time to go and see new films. I am probably going to go and see Endgame again while it's still hanging around, but Toy Story 4 is out next week and I am both super excited and incredibly nervous at the same time. Then there is much more to look forward to with Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Lion King, Hobbs and Shaw, and various other releases on the way. 

Also, if you like this short style of reviews, I'll do these more often for more films where I don't have an awful lot to comment on. These will be my NMTS (Not Much To Say) reviews.