World Bloggers Awards Nominee 2023

Category: Film reviews (2016) (Page 1 of 6)

“Titanic in the sky” Passengers review

14859347_1040969846011519_1192281544_o-copyPassengers review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are two of the world’s most bankable stars. What with Pratt helping to resurrect prehistoric franchises like Jurassic Park and Lawrence turning The Hunger Games series into one of the biggest ever, it seems they are the people Hollywood wants to work with, right here, right now.

It was inevitable they’d team up together at some point, though director Mortem Tyldum’s (The Imitation Game) sci-fi flick Passengers perhaps isn’t what their fan-bases had in mind. But do the pair sizzle together as much as they do apart? Continue reading

“The 2nd best Star Wars film” Rogue One review

14859347_1040969846011519_1192281544_o-copyRogue One: A Star Wars Story review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

The Star Wars universe just got a whole lot bigger. When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was announced by Disney a couple of years ago, diehard fans of the sci-fi saga met the news with a huge dose of scepticism.

After all, the prequel trilogy was an unmitigated disaster, doing all it could to destroy not only the greatest villain in the history of film, but the series itself. Then Gareth Edwards was announced as director, whose film credits include the brilliant Monsters and Godzilla, which was critically praised but received a lukewarm reception publically.

THEN Disney announced the film was undergoing “heavy” reshoots to its first cut, reportedly due to executives being unhappy with the finished product’s tone.

So it’s clear that it’s not been plain sailing for Rogue One, but that headline isn’t a misprint – the finished article is just that damn good. But why? Continue reading

“The Little Beauty of Notre Dame”  Moana review

14886217_1040838869357950_851251975_nMoana review: By Rob Stoakes

UK Certification: U

It’s weird how long it took for Hollywood to get Dwayne The Rock The People’s Champion The Brahma Bull The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment It Doesn’t Matter What His Last Name Is right.

After all, here’s a wrestler who wasn’t very good at wrestling but so good at talking and had such good facial expressions that IT DOESN’T MATTER! which the wrestling fans among you read in his iconic shout. So, what’s he used for when he enters Hollywood? Shutting up and scowling.

Continue reading

“There’s a great film in here somewhere” Allied review

14859347_1040969846011519_1192281544_o-copyAllied review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 15

Director Robert Zemeckis has some impressive film credits to his name. From cult classics like Back to the Future to last year’s nausea inducing The Walk, there hasn’t been a genre his skills haven’t graced over the last four decades.

His most recent effort, Allied, sees the veteran director tackle the war genre with a film that certainly has its moments, but just how good is this wartime romantic drama?

Continue reading

“Potter goes international” Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them review

14859347_1040969846011519_1192281544_o-copyFantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

It’s almost unbearable to think that Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone was released…wait for it… 15 years ago this very week. I know, I can’t believe it too, and what’s even more depressing is that the eight film behemoth concluded over five years ago.

Since then, Potter aficionados have been calling on writer J.K. Rowling to release new material in the hope of creating more silver screen magic. Well, prayers were answered with the announcement of a film adaptation of her short book, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them. The day is finally here, but what is the finished product like? Continue reading

“Better than it has any right to be” Ouija: Origin of Evil review

14886217_1040838869357950_851251975_nOuija: Origin of Evil review: by Rob Stoakes

UK Certification: 15

Halloween is over, everyone, and has been for over a week as of time of writing. But now seems to be when the horror movies start to crawl out of the ground. Because of course. And since we live in a world where even xXx is getting a sequel or reboot (seriously, xXx? Really?!) almost all of them are continuations of stories that did not need continuing.

Blair Witch exists thanks to this environment, and there’s that weird sequel to The Ring that’s on the horizon, but while those two were self-contained stories that didn’t need bolting onto, Ouija didn’t need continuing because it sucked like a Dyson Black Hole. Yet another uninspired, paint-by-numbers ghost story with all of the blood and monsters and psychological trauma (you know, things that HORRIFY people) replaced with jump scares. Continue reading

“Thrilling from start to finish” Arrival review

14859347_1040969846011519_1192281544_o-copyArrival film review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

Sci-fi seems to be having somewhat of a renaissance recently, that is, if you don’t count Independence Day: Resurgence which could’ve easily derailed the whole genre, never mind just the franchise.

What with last year’s The Martian, the rebirth of Star Wars and the upcoming Passengers, sci-fi is really getting its mojo back. The subject of this review, Arrival, has been hailed as a masterpiece across the Atlantic. But is it worthy of such a strong adjective? Continue reading

“If you’re an enemy of fun, don’t watch” Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders review

14886217_1040838869357950_851251975_nBatman: Return of the Caped Crusaders review: by Rob Stoakes

UK Certification: PG

So some of you may have noticed that I talk about Batman, like, a whole bunch. Meet me in person and you will probably not meet me in person because I’ll be hidden from you. Like Batman.

An orphan who trains in the martial arts to fight crime? Awesome. And the criminals are dark reflections of himself? Awesome. And it’s full of violence and sex and deep philosophical questions about justice and identity? Awesome. And there are stories where Batman is suddenly turned into a tiger or where Robin attacks The Beatles or where alien plants attempt to teach humans love through having incestuous tentacle sex with each other then suddenly dying to the bewilderment of all involved? Continue reading

“Marvel meets Inception” Doctor Strange review

10933939_858255040882983_331142605952023910_nDoctor Strange review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

Let’s face it; Marvel rarely gets it wrong when it comes to crafting cracking superhero blockbusters. Sure, Avengers: Age of Ultron was an overstuffed mess but it had ambition and Iron Man 2 was fine when not compared to its predecessor.

Now, one of the biggest film studios in the world takes on its biggest gamble yet – more so than Guardians of the Galaxy was, and that’s saying something! But does Doctor Strange hit all the right notes or are we looking at Marvel’s first true dog’s dinner? Continue reading

“As average as you can get” Jack Reacher: Never Go Back review

10933939_858255040882983_331142605952023910_nJack Reacher: Never Go Back review: by Adam Brannon

UK certification: 12A

The lacklustre box-office performance of Jack Reacher in 2012 seemed to scupper plans for the film to become the first in a new Tom Cruise-led action franchise to rival the likes of Mission Impossible and its mixed critical response only added to its woes.

Fast forward four years and we’ve got the sequel that no-one was really asking for. But is Jack Reacher: Never Go Back the improvement that was so sorely needed and could it act as a catalyst to turn this popular novel series into a proper film franchise? Continue reading

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