News / Entertainment
Playing With Fire Review
The physical comedy could be just the remedy to wash down all those Christmas leftovers, but let's face it, it’s not going to burn the house down. Pair a big tough ex-wrestler with a few mischievous kids together in a slapstick comedy and anyone would think you are on to a winner but there is no smoke without fire. John Cena’s...
Capture The Flag Review – You Can’t Go Wrong with An Animation Lizard Can You?
When you think of Spanish animation films not many will jump to mind, not highly known for their animation skills, you might, however, remember Justin and the Knights of Valour back in 2013 so by rights you wouldn’t expect much from Capture the Flag, a Spanish 3D computer animated sci-fi adventure but you’ll be pleasantly surprised. With Capture the Flag...
Born to be Blue Review
Born to be Blue adds its name to this year’s expanding list of biopics with a difference. This time looking at a period in the life of Jazz musician Chet Baker played here by an exceptional Ethan Hawke. It's Hawke’s performance that uplifts this story from what can be a very slow almost humdrum of a film. Following in slightly...
The Birth of a Nation Review
A substantial wave of controversy has surrounded The Birth of a Nation and its filmmaker Nate Parker since it made its appearance at various film festivals over the course of the year detracting away from the actual historical story of the film and its importance. What is clearly a passion project for first time filmmaker Parker, which not only sees...
Wonder Review
There seems to be a theme running through child targeting movies over the past few weeks, first came Paddington’s return in the highly successful sequel and now Wonder, in which sugary takes a diabetic turn, but both with the underlying message of acceptance and kindness to everyone is the key to a harmonious world.10-year-old August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) has...
Captain Marvel Review
A no-nonsense, punchy and fierce introduction to Captain Marvel - Who runs the world? GIRLS! Finally, The MCU has followed Warner Bros DC lead with delivering its first female lead superhero film despite the dummy throwing of certain fanboys for this particular comic book adaptation. Leading the charge with our own real-life feminist hero in Brie Larson, a woman who...
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard Review
Selma Hayek, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson return for more ludicrous, outlandish and foul-mouthed japery in the sequel to the 2017 action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Big on popcorn fodder but lacking in as many laughs as its predecessor, this explosive generic picture at least gives us an hour and ’40 minutes to switch off from the world and lose...
Criminal Review – Costner Stands out in this Scientific Hybrid Journey.
With an all-star ensemble cast led by Kevin Costner, Criminal takes us on a journey into the mind of a dead CIA agent placed inside the head of a mentally unstable criminal. The story may seem a little familiar and despite its lacklustre moments, it has the ability to entice, willing you not to look away. CIA agent Bill Pope...
Kubo and the Two Strings Review
Kubo and the Two Strings is the stop-animated successor of Coraline, Paranorman, and the Boxtrolls. Helmed from talented animator Travis Knight as his directorial debut. Kubo stands out from the previous filmography of his producing and animating efforts at Laika, through not being horror or a derivative thereof. Kubo is something completely different, with very few animated films to compare...
I.T. Review
In a world that’s just seen a third series of technology horror anthology Black Mirror, it’s impossible not to compare thrillers with the same theme to the standard which the show has created, which is a test Pierce Brosnan-starring film I.T. must also face. Despite the challenging circumstances, I.T is overall a surprisingly worthy action-thriller centred around the idea of...
Christopher Robin Review
It’s not even a year since Goodbye Christopher Robin hit our screens and Disney has seen fit to transport us on another Winnie the Pooh adventure with Christopher Robin. Whilst the former focused on Pooh writer A.A. Milne, allowing us a unique glimpse of the man’s creative mind and brief relationship with his son; the latter ferries us on a charming yet mediocre visit of an adult Christopher...
The Current War Review
Stylish and intriguing with strong performances all-round but that light bulb blows and sizzles out. Electrifying this may not be, but there is an element of intrigue and fascination in director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon retelling of the battle of the grid between electricity magnets Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, a film that has been stuck in limbo for a while due...
Free Fire Review
British director Ben Wheatley has never shied away from controversy or dividing audiences. Has he hit the target with his latest, Free Fire? Ben Wheatley likes his single locations. First, there was a field (A Field In England), then a tower block (High-Rise) and now a disused warehouse in Free Fire, which was also the movie that closed the London...
Ghost in the Shell Review
Under tight wraps for months, Ghost In The Shell emerges into the daylight this week. But does it give us an original take on the android theme, or something much more familiar? Clues that a film may not live up to the hype. Clue one: the film company don’t want any reviews to appear until the day it’s released. Clue...
Goosebumps Review – Just One Long Average Teen Fantasy Chase Movie.
In Goosebumps we get to see the monsters created by author R.L. Stine in his book series brought to life for the big screen, full of scary monsters and an evil ventriloquist dummy that seems to take its inspiration from the 1945 movie Dead of Night. That’s not the only movie reference which may seem familiar with any of the...
Going in Style Review
In Going In Style, a trio of A-list pensioners decide to rob a bank. But can the film get away with it?There’s a moment in Zach Braff’s Going In Style where would-be bank robbers Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin are watching Dog Day Afternoon on TV. It’s armchair research for them, but for the audience, it’s a...
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Review – is it time for the boys to hang up their dancing shoes?
Alvin and his cute furry brothers are back for another mischief filled journey of misunderstandings and mishaps in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, but what we once loved about this all singing, all dancing little creatures may just be the thing that turns us all away as the lack of entertainment value really starts to grate on...
Live By Night DVD Review
Ben Affleck’s rollercoaster career has hit the heights and plumbed the depths. So where does his gangster flick, Live By Night, fit in? Related: The Films of Zoe Saldana Nearly five years ago, Ben Affleck was riding high on the success of his Iran hostage thriller, Argo. It went down well with critics and audiences and there was more to come...
Zoolander 2 Review – Ridiculously Average Tired Comedy or Cult Classic?
It’s been 15 years since the man behind Blue steel, Derek Zoolander, hit the big screen but can this kind of humour stand the test of time and evolve into the new world? The answer is a big resounding no, not even the endless cameos can save this run(a)way disaster. A lot has happened in the 15 years since we...
Baywatch Review
Cue the slo-mo and skimpy red cossies – Baywatch is back! But you might wonder why ……It’s not so long ago that a certain Guy Ritchie made a film called The Man From UNCLE. The resemblance to the original TV series was fleeting, to say the least: the secret agent double act kept their names, but anybody expecting a...
Imperium DVD Review
Daniel Radcliffe in Imperium may be a role that will shock you right out of your underwear, but even with a shaven head and his neo-nazi appearance, it’s still hard to shake off his Harry Potter persona even with a superbly intelligent performance that fools his white supremacist brethren. Radcliffe plays Nate Foster, a straight-laced FBI agent who lacks the...
Kickboxer: Vengeance Review
The WWE’s “ The Animal” Dave Bautista and three-time UFC champion Georges St-Pierre, clash with the “Muscles from Brussels” Jean-Claude Van Damme and newcomer Alain Moussi in this revamp of cult classic Kickboxer. A reboot that is fairly functional as a throwback to the old school Martial Arts movies of the 1980s. But is lacking the dramatic punch associated with...
Assassin’s Creed Review
Director Justin Kurzel, Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard on paper, have been seen as a dream team ever since their collaboration on 2015’s Macbeth. With the three teaming up again for the game adaptation of Assassin’s Creed excitement beyond belief murmured for something insanely amazing. We should never have held our breath for a beautiful delight as Assassin's Creed is...
Sing Review
American animation film production company, Illumination Entertainment, made a name for itself back in 2010 with break-out film, Despicable Me. Since then, it’s profited on the popularity of the sideline stars, the Minions, and produced a sequel, a spin-off, plus other adventures away from that universe, including this summer's The Secret Life of Pets. Their seventh film in six years comes...
Jackie Review
Jackie Kennedy was one of the most glamorous and famous women of her day. A unique first lady with style and grace, all thanks to her marriage to JFK, the catalyst to her rise in fame and stature. Devoted wife to a President who was far from discreet in his dalliances with a certain blonde haired bombshell and loving...
Love of my Life Review
Comedy-dramas are a blend of what’s great about both genres: the performances and story ground a film emotionally and are balanced with humour that elevates the experience, and can also move the drama to a more relatable world. Love of My Life benefits largely from its use of humour, yet the drama is not quite strong enough for the...
Daddy’s Home 2 Review
Christmas is looming, for Hollywood there’s no better time to churn out the inane sequel with a virtually unoriginal transparent plot repeating itself, lacking in intelligent humour just to get a few bums on seats and at the same time wasting any talent their big named cast may have. What we have here is yet another lazy attempt at...
Mojave Review – Anti-Climatic and humdrum, it’s a far cry from a worthy Thriller.
Writer and Director William Monahan may be best known for his award-winning screenplay The Departed, Kingdom of Heaven and Body of Lies but Mojave is a far cry from his best work on the big screen, even the brilliant Oscar Isaac couldn’t save this one from being anything but fairly average. Mojave tells the story of Superstar Tom (Garrett Hedlund),...
The Beach Bum Review
McConnaughey goes deeply method in a sleazy hedonistic adventure of messy misadventure. Spring Breakers filmmaker, Harmony Korine returns to the big screen with the chameleon of acting Matthew McConnaughy. Korine yet again pushes buttons in a sleazy hedonistic adventure of responsibility in a haze of sunshine drenched beaches accompanied by sex, drugs and alcohol-fuelled irresponsibility.Anyone would assume McConnaughy’s Moondog is...
Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism Review
As a Film Critic when reviewing movies aimed at a completely different demographic to me, it is important to always keep in mind the audience that is being targeted. Thankfully, when it comes to genres, I am as comfortable sobbing over Leonardo Di Caprio drowning in Titanic, as I am fist pumping the air after an Arnold Schwarzenegger pun. However...