Minions: The Rise of Gru

The little yellow pills of fun are back, and ready to take on the world in a new adventure.

Gru’s childhood is about to a little heated, as his dreams of hitting the big villain league get a little out of control.

In this heartwarming tale of adolescence, Gru finds his way in the world, with the help of his little yellow minions, to use his talent for getting up to mischief.

But what he doesn’t expect, is meeting his villainous idol, who takes him under his wing and shows him the ropes.

From incredible animation, to crazy plot twists, this film delves into the mayhem of the minion world.

But what this film loses in fluffy unicorns, it makes up for in jokes, that are there to bring a new level of enjoyment to the franchise.

Though this film won’t be everyone, it is an easy watch, and makes for good and wholesome family entertainment, that will make everyone from your 5 year old to your second uncle twice removed glow from ear to ear.

Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise is back to his old flirty flying ways in this long awaited Top Gun sequel.

In this sentimental hit, Maverick must make peace with the past as he joins the new generation of Top Gun to teach the unteachable in a mission that hits close to home.

Cruise finds solace in his deceased partners son, played brilliantly by Miles Teller, to join forces and ultimately defeat the enemy using an outlandish flight path.

The crew on this film have done a fantastic job of bringing Top Gun into the future with an uncanny ease that makes it feel like we’ve been part of the story all along.

As is to be expected, this film packs a punch with the unrivalled stunts, mostly performed by the actors themselves, and a realism that engulfs the viewer in an experience that makes for a fresh change in today’s cinematic world.

Action, comedy and romance is all encapsulated in this must-see film that is sure to leave in the most rebellious of film-fanatics wanting more.

Lightyear

An intergalactic journey just isn’t the same without your best friend.

What is supposed to be the film that made Andy from the world of Toy Story fall in love with Buzz Lightyear doesn’t quite meet expectation as this lack lustre Disney film leaves a lot to be desired.

Now, I’m as big of a fan of Chris Evans as the next person, but there is something quite frankly just odd about not hearing the voice of Tim Allen come out of Buzz Lightyear, and even Chris Evans, with his docile tones, can’t convince me otherwise.

With a film that is supposed to be the basis for one of Pixar’s biggest franchises, Lightyear is a flimsy attempt at the Disney joy that is sparked in the ever-so-loved Toy Story series.

Probably the most frustrating thing about this whole attempt at film making is the fact that every plot hole seems to resolve itself by implementing the use of mechanical emotional support cat. Need a screwdriver? Use the cat. Need a say-the-day solution? Use the cat. Need a laser beam? Use the cat. Whilst this starts off as amusing, it soon becomes annoying and a little lazy in terms of storytelling.

The only thing that can be said for this film is the animation is at least passable and the cast are somewhat trying to make the best of a bad situation.

But if I’m completely honest, I would not waste your money seeing this at the cinema and instead wait until it inevitably gets released on Disney+ in the upcoming weeks.

Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness

Madness may just been a state of mind for some, but Doctor Strange makes madness a myth as he plunges into the multiverse reversing reality like never before.

Benedict Cumberbatch steps into his cloaked persona once more as Doctor Stephen Strange, taking us on a journey of madness as he discovers multiple versions of himself in a mind-bending tour of the multiverse.

The premise of the film, revolves around a girl with powers not even she can control. As her story envelops the plot, Doctor Strange and his associates must devise a way to protect her throughout the many universes she is able to travel to, whilst fighting off a most unsuspecting villain, The Scarlet Witch, whose intentions aren’t exactly stereotypical of a classic power-hungry titan. 

Though the film sounds like a mind-boggling fantasy, action packed with twists and turns, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. The CGI is a little lack lustre, and pace not always as fast as one might come to expect from Marvel Studios. Coupled with the fact that the film gives a lot of weird romance vibes, it’s not perhaps the best superhero film to hit screens.

But if you’re prepared for an average superhero film, then this is probably what you’ll find yourself watching the next time you head to the big screen.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

A whimsical feast awaits the beholder of this film, as magical creatures collide with the  back story of one of the wizarding worlds most beloved characters: Dumbledore. 

A young professor Dumbledore, played by Jude Law, must face the catastrophe caused by the decisions of his formative years as he attempts to take down what once was an friend, but now a vengeful enemy. 

The enemy in question, Gellert Grindlewald, once played by the now disgraced Johnny Depp in the franchises previous films, has now been reassigned to the equally talented Mads Mikkelsen, who quite frankly non other than absolutely nails the position of evil wizard with such ease, it’s hard to notice the recasting at all. 

In terms of special effects, the budget must have been absolutely smashed, because every inch of the film has a magical element to it, from eccentric wand duels to the intricate details carved into the numerous beasts that grace the screen. 

Though this film certainly doesn’t have the same extensive plot as was to expected from the original Harry Potter films, there is still enough of a storyline to carry the film into a limelight of its own, with the added pleasure of not having a novel to compare it to. 

The Grinch

He’s green, he’s hairy and he’s in a bad mood; he’s The Grinch.

This revamped version of a classic Christmas tale, let’s the animation do the talking, as CGI takes the responsibility of creating the magically splendid winter wonderland that is the Whoville The Grinch knows and hates.

Benedict Cumberbatch swipes the infamous green bodysuit from under Jim Carey’s (2000) feet as he takes on The Grinch’s persona, voicing the character with an intense concoction of sarcastic skepticism with a dash of Grooge-ish hate.

The Grinch, as always, is accompanied by his loyal dog, Max, who provides many a comedic scene throughout the film, as well as creating multiple heart-melting moments using those all-powerful puppy eyes, which somehow look even more menacing through the art of animation.

Christmas cheer may be The Grinch’s worst fear, but this reimagination of a Dr. Seuss’ classic is bound to make even the grumpiest of hearts grow three times in size.

Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin may have grown up, but his childhood never went away.

A classic graces our screens once more, as the silly little bear, known as Winnie the Pooh, leaves the hundred ache wood to pursue an adventure in The Big smoke.

As a live action film, Disney has combined digital animation with real-life wonder to bring to A. A. Milne’s world of imagination to the screen with supreme vitality.

Every ounce of this film drips with talent, as everything from the stunning character animation to the ingenious film locations ebb away at this grossly nostalgic triumph of cinematic euphoria.

The Darkest Minds

When the adults turn against the children, nowhere is safe.

In a world ruled by color categories to classify the level of danger a child poses, Ruby (Amandla Stenberg) is a category orange in the new regime wiping out her under 18 peers, but for the past several years she’s been able to avoid detection, that is, until now.

As a page to screen adaptation of Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds series, this film combines just the right amount of cinematic drama with fictional authenticity, to create a well-rounded and emotionally evoking spectacle.

Though the target audience may be a young one, the copious talent that emanates from the actors provides a maturity that is sure to please even the eldest of audience members.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Hollywood’s biggest musical marvel is back with a new wave of sporadically cringeworthy sing-a-long hits.

After the loss of her mother, Sophie decides to pursue her mother’s dream and renovate her hotel into a magical haven, but not all goes to plan when some unexpected guests make an appearance at the grand opening.

Though it seemed quite possible that all the ABBA hits had already been exhausted in the first film, this new installment shows just how wrong an assumption that was, as the old songs are recycled to showcase new stories.

Despite Meryl Streep not taking the lead role in this latest film, the cast members, new and old, seem to make for an equally enjoyable presence onscreen, as their talent radiates throughout, with the likes of Cher and Andy Garcia being added to the already star-studded cast.

Whilst this film holds all the same promise as the first, it does somewhat disappoint in terms of the plot dynamic, which tends to create confusion in place of satisfaction. Donna’s (Meryl Streep’s’) death, for instance, is carelessly overlooked as no explanation as to how and or why is provided.

Incredibles 2

The most incredible family are back.

It’s been over ten years since they were first introduced to the animation world, but now the infamous superhero family is back, and this time even the youngest family member is ready for a fight.

With all the characters now somewhat older, and maybe even a little wiser, the premise of this plot is beautifully executed to show the development of this lovable family as they save the world using their superhero capabilities.

Though the wait has been a long one, this film blows any expectation out of the water as it goes above and beyond to provide an action-packed plot fueled by high powered antics and great storytelling.

Disney and Pixar collaborations may not occur very often, but when they do, this film stands as a testament to just what a success they can be, both in terms of audience impact and innovative film-making.