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Reviews
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
Could be strong but comes off as routine
This film has all the touches of Guy Ritchie. A stellar cast. Fast script. Great comedy. But just feels a little formula. It has nothing you wouldn't expect from any other film. Any gaps it fills with a forced joke or a sparky machine gun and a hundred dead extras. It's clearly aimed for maximum audience numbers at the number of times it feels the need to explain itself to anyone who may not follow it
It feels a spiritual sequel to The Gentlemen, even with Hugh Grant almost playing Fletcher a second time, along with many returning cast. Sadly though, while The Gentlemen is twisty and innovative, this feels like a generic action/heist film. It hits all the right notes but feels like a disappointing repeat rather than a fresh flourish.
Creed III (2023)
Creed is growing up and becoming independent
Creed III is telling the public that ain't Rocky. It is its own film. And frankly, it doesn't need to be anything else
Creed III holds its own in the franchise, bringing back Ricky Conlan and Drago Jr, but also grounding itself with new backstories. The rivalry between Creed and Jonathan Majors character is palpable, and having Adonis developing from a title fighter to a defender who is now on top of the metaphorical staircase shows his growth
Jonathan is exceptional as the antagonist, giving Creed room to grow as he realises his past isn't where he wants to be. Having his final fight be about what a boxer should be and the correct reasons for fighting puts this third film up there with the Rocky films and sets it aside as a franchise that can stand on its own.
On the Line (2022)
Predictable
I was thoroughly enjoying this film. The jerk in the lead, the newbie. A great sinister baddie who loves it. All actors perfectly cast and well written. It had notes of Mel Gibson's previous film Ransom with a little added Liam Neeson's Non-Stop
But if any film can be killed by one scene, this is proof of that. This film was stone cold golden until about half way through I said "this is the kind of film that is going to try and make a twist that the whole thing is a prank and everyone is in on it. But a great film like this wouldn't go for the poorest ending possible, would it?"
And not only once, but twice! It tried to beat the stupidest ending possible by doing it again! How far can a great film fall. Such a shame.
The Ledge (2022)
What a leg(end)
The best film I've seen of recent years. Great acting. Well scripted. Beautiful direction. Hollywood should take note
The plot is extraordinary, but believable. Shocking, very clever at times. A feat of human brains and resistance. One of those films where you can get involved and really root for your hero and love to hate your villain
I was gripped from start to end. The whole family screaming at the TV. I could just imagine watching this with a mass audience in front of the big screen. The whole crowd cheering the protagonist on. It's one of those
If you want a feel good, exhilarating film, you can't beat it.
The Sanctuary (2019)
How did it go so wrong?
Great cast. Wonderful direction. Interesting plot. Yet in the final half hour, just turned so bad. I spent all film expecting a twist where the terrible prosthetics would come off and reveal a clever ending. Nope, it WAS just terrible prosthetics. And that is reflective of the film itself. You keep expecting a terrible film that will pull the rug and reveal it's fooling you. But nope. It's just as poor as it appears with no sign of improvement.
It feels almost as though it was on a road to becoming an amazing movie but took the wrong turn at every stage. Shame because at the half way mark I was really gripped.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
Matched the first
I went into this film knowing its predecessor is, atleast for me, one of the cleverest films I've seen. I had no idea how this could match but it did. With a new dynamic established that is fresh, but also predates the first film, this sequel is free to create new stories and new twists that both respect the first, but can compete with it. A worthy second to an outstanding first.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Flawless
Ridiculous, funny, intelligent. This is what happens when someone is allowed to create their crazy, clever, independent vision to the fullest. The best film of the last 10 years.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
OK enough
After loving the first 2, this was disappointing. This film does all it can be reset itself. Hardly anything in the first 2 matters. The new actors are unmemorable, which is sad as I like most of them. Didn't really do anything of note or interest until the final scene. And just like the first 2, SO much CGI it's ridiculous.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
I want more of this
Perfect casting. Love the characters. Great plot. Mindblowing as per usual. Everything the Matrix should be
The plot itself is clever. Nice mix of a remake and a sequel. And as confusing as ever. Love it.
Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks (2022)
Daleks done well
Love the time loop idea, and the countdown gives it a great tension. Yaz is finally stated as in love with the Doc. Love Sarah and Nick. Dan gets great moments too. Perfect Who.
Doctor Who: Flux: Chapter Five - Survivors of the Flux (2021)
Doctor Who at its best
The art of Doctor Who is making a confusing plot accessible. Survivors of the Flux may be the most complex plot ever made, but very easy to follow. And the callbacks to past characters and plot made it fun for fans but not alienating (pardon the pun) for others.
Doctor Who: Flux: Chapter Two - War of the Sontarans (2021)
Superb
Chibnall has it all. He can do characters, comedy, politics, and now he can do Sontarans. Easily the best Sontaran story ever written and all the plots around it in this episode were equally good too. Absolute perfection.
We Are Lady Parts (2021)
Genius
The world has been crying out for a non-white, non-male led show about social justice told in a funny way. We Are Lady Parts is that show.
Guns Akimbo (2019)
Amazing film
Dan is a perfect sign of quality. This film is truthful, fanciful, hilarious, gripping and ridiculous. Perfect for anyone who just wants a bit of fun. I'll watch this any day.
The Wrong Missy (2020)
Hilarious
Didn't stop laughing from start to end. Had to watch it twice in one day. Best new comedy for years. Lauren Lapkus deserves an Oscar.
Tenet (2020)
Overstated
After all the build-up to the most complex, unfollowable film of all time, I was left disappointed. The plot was very mundane, mostly filled with a ridiculous amount of dialogue, most of which is muffled and inaudible, and even so I managed to follow it without issue. The big selling point, inverted time, was very easy to understand. The Protagonist's constant need to have the plot explained baffled me as I understood it easily. Far from the brain-freeze twists I was told to expect, I ended up predicting almost all of the film before it happened.
I should give note to Robert Pattinson, his acting was superb throughout
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
Finally a good film
Having been bored by repetitive Hollywood superheroes, this one was different. Genuinely funny, well scripted and acted. Perfect mix of excellent fight choreography, plot and characters. Shocking and unapologetic. And female led, makes a change. Would recommend to anyone
Spontaneous (2020)
Explosive
I love this film. It's a tender, heartfelt film about life and friendship. Written in a realistic way, none of this cliché dialogue. It's such an original plot. Absolutely hilarious from the first scene to the end. Shocking. Truthful. Tears and laughs guaranteed
Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks (2021)
A Classic Dalek story
This episode does what Chibnall does best: Mix the best of the Classics with the best of Modern. He's brilliantly made the Daleks into a modern alien for the modern world, while keeping their heritage true. It's packed with references to past Dalek stories while being an innovative plot, and also has twists even the most avid fans won't be able to predict. All actors on top form, cracking jokes and building fear. On top of that, it's a proper tear jerker. Exactly what you want from a Doctor Who special
Spitting Image (2020)
Is this comedy?
As far as I understand, Spitting Image was about the normal, average person having a laugh at the elite via some light and, at times, harsh satire. But we didn't know who half the characters were, nor what half of the material even meant. It felt like you'd have to be a political obsessive to even get a chuckle out of it. And even the parts we understood didn't have any funny jokes. The only times I laughed was in thinking 'This is meant to be funny?'. Bring back Newzoids
Inheritance (2020)
Simon is amazing
This film is a very average film on paper. A guy has to prove his worth to be let out and finally have his rightful freedom returned. We go through twists, manipulations, flashback. All fairly predictable
However, this is raised so high by the actors. Lily is great as the grieving daughter trying to understand this bizarre situation and Simon Pegg steals it. His witty antagonist keep you guessing if he is innocent or not. He controls the show entirely and his sinister demeanour is worthy of Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs
Mulan (2020)
Exceptional
I have been very unsure of these remakes but I loved Mulan. The alterations to the plot were cleverly done. The gay/trans subtext was very subtle and touching. It made me jump, I urged the characters on all the way and even shed a tear. Would recommend to anyone
Doctor Who: The Timeless Children (2020)
Superb
This episode has everything: A Master perfectly played, a wonderful sense of scale and an explanation that fits the plot we already know, as well as extends it without changing too much. Easily one of the best episodes ever written, in terms of its effect on the entirety of the show
Doctor Who: Fugitive of the Judoon (2020)
It just gets bigger
Chibnall said this was the biggest series ever and he was right. It just is an incredible series. Huge returns and bigger stories. Incredible episode. The show is in safe hands
Doctor Who: Orphan 55 (2020)
An Early Warning
Great episode. The way that it starts off as a sci-fi adventure about a destroyed planet and makes you dread what happened there, and then reveals that this is the path Earth is going to take. So clever
It follows Doctor Who's fine tradition of future warnings about current behaviour and does so wonderfully. If you have an issue with this episode, that is the reason it was made. Great material, take the hint