Ready Player One

When reality gets you down, there’s only one thing to do; enter into virtual reality.

In a world tarnished by technological advancement and chaotic gains, Wade Wilson finds himself the unlikely hero as he enters into a virtual reality adventure at the heart of the OASIS to save civilization and put a stop to the vast inequalities at play.

The artistic vision for this film is wonderfully striking, with video game artistry at the core of this production, creating both nostalgia and wonder for all those watching. In addition to the magnitude of colourful awe, director, Stephen Spielberg, has ensured that the CGI throughout the film, of which there is a lot, complements, rather than takes away from the story.

With many of the young actors starring in this Spielberg spectacular unbeknown to the audience, the actors are able to achieve a level of charismatic talent that is refreshingly new, with the added bonus of having little to compare it to but their presence on screen, due to their unfamiliarity.

Despite the acting and cinematography excelling throughout, it is the story that lets the vibrancy of this film down, with much of plot getting lost in translation due to the overlong running time, that leaves the audience feeling more exhausted than entranced.

Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit returns with a hop, skip and a jump into a new carrot-fueled adventure.

Peter and his family burrow into a new challenge as they attempt to infiltrate Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden. However, what begins as a feud, soon escalates into a full-on battle between man and rabbit.

James Cordon heads up the rabbit frontier as the voice of Peter Rabbit, with his London barter adding an unexpected comedic factor to this well known mischevious character.

With Margot Robbie narrating this live-action quest and Domhnall Gleeson (Mr. McGregor)  acting alongside Rose Bryne (Bea) as lovestruck neighbours, the cast of this film is astoundingly talented, which does nothing but add to the magic of this old tale.

Will Gluck has managed to direct a fantasy into a reality by bringing together phenomenal cinematic technology, alongside equally gifted actors to make a film that will remain a family favourite for years to come.

Watch the trailer here.

Pacific Rim Uprising

A couple of aliens and a handful of robots, what could possibly go wrong?

After the devastation that ensued in the first installment of Pacific Rim, this film enters an unknown realm in an attempt to pick up from the past disasters.

With a new story comes new actors, who have the tumultuous task of taking over from the seamless cast of the past film. However, rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, the new talent take this in their stride with John Boyega leading the new revolt with enthused ease in the wake of his fathers shadow.

Despite the films easy going formulaic action, the CGI robots and aliens make for impressive entertainment given the fact the plot itself is just your everyday saving the world kind of pursuit.

Watch the trailer here.

Game Night

It’s not just a game.

What starts as a weekly ritual amongst friends soon turns into something a little more complicated when a few unwanted guests turn up to a friendship groups game night.

Aside from the ridiculous concept of this plot, the comedy aspect of this big screen blunder certainly has some laugh out loud moments, in spite of its seemingly never-ending plot twist.

Though, having said that, even a few laughs aren’t enough to cover up the painfully dismal attempts at comedy induced action, which use a neglected effort in failed CGI technology, leaving all hope for this films redemption behind.

Want to find out more? Check out the trailer here.

Red Sparrow

To fight or to die, that is the question.

After an unbearable incident that leaves her unable to dance again, Dominica is employed by the Russian government, courtesy of her uncle, to become a spy, but soon her problems escalate when she realises there’s no way out unless you’re willing to meet an early grave.

Jennifer Lawrence grabs the head role in this film with both hands and refuses to let go, infusing her eager youth into her troubled character to produce an authentic performance that keeps the audience on edge throughout this exhilarating tale.

Though the colours of the film remain docile and somewhat gloomy throughout the European setting, the action and fast-paced plot enable an active engagement throughout, which is somewhat subdued by the over detailed dialogue between characters to allow for some subtle drama admid the chaos of action.

Want to find out more? Check out the trailer here.

Tomb Raider

Explosive action meets rock hard abs as Lara Croft delves into yet another danger ridden quest.

A game that has spanned a generation of players has once again committed itself to the big screen as it embarks on a new cinematic adventure.

Though this film starts off in a confused haze of lapse time scales, the befuddlement is soon left behind as an exhilaration of whirlwind  emotions ensues in a display of epic action that leaves little to the imagination.

Alicia Yikander takes on the role of Lara Croft ensuring that the wisdom and strength of this infamous character remains, whilst still managing to add a unique humility and sense of humor to the mix.

Tomb Raider is a perfect film by any means; the story lacks precision and the employment of CGI is unimaginably awful. And yet, the playfully strong characters and the fast-moving plot make this film desperately watchable.

Black Panther

Stealth is not only important for a superhero, but it is a way of life for whomever finds themselves to be the King of Wakanda.

T’ Challa must take over the throne in the midst of his fathers death. However, it soon becomes clear that the transition from prince to king is not a straightforward one, as his ruling is thrown into question when a long-lost relative comes to town.

Despite being under the Marvel label, this film has a very different imprint; focusing more on the dynamic of the plot and the subtleties of the storyline and less than on the all too familiar rampage of superhero action scenes.

Though the film does stand out from the usual Marvel protocol, some elements still remain, such as the quality and creativity of the cinematography which are of a superb standard.

It is clear from the outstanding reviews and appraisals for this film, both by critics and throughout this year’s awards season that the film has impressed audiences in their millions and continues to break both cultural and cinematic barriers alike.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

The board game with a vengeance is back, and this time it’s gone digital.

When a group of detention goers are tasked with the job of clearing up their schools’ basement, they come across a literal game-changer, as they are unexpectedly thrown into the world of Jumanji.

From badass teenagers to full-grown adults, somehow through the magic of this game, a young blonde girl turns into a middle-aged man, as Jack Black takes on the persona of a millennial teenage girl as each kid picks their gaming characters without much thought for the outcome. Which as is evidenced by Black’s awesomely hilarious portrayal of a young teenage girl, makes for great on-screen entertainment.

Rather than trying to restore the original Jumanji, this film pays homage to its predecessor as it keeps the magic of the story, but delivers it to a new audience with a reimagined direction.

The film is crammed with big names, from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Karen Gillan, supplying audience goers with ample googling time, as the actors strut their stuff on the big screen in an adventure that will warm the hearts of viewers both young and old.

 

Stars Wars: The Last Jedi

‘We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the first order down’

-Poe Dameron-

As the Star Wars saga grows with unequaled velocity, George Lucas finds a way to keep the ever impending doom at a distance that keeps audiences far and wide coming back for more galactic-fuelled excitement.

Death and destruction face the last of the rebel alliance in Lucas Film’s latest installment as Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) must both find their balance in determining the force to fulfill their destiny.

As per usual, the special effects on offer throughout the film, leave little to the imagination, as the audience are engulfed in all things space, from a near-miss fighter jet crash to phenomenal close-ups of the Millennium Falcone.

Though many new faces make a debut, many old come to an end, as this film marks the beginning of the end for the original star wars cast, whose teachings are graciously passed on to the new generation of rebels.

‘The Last Jedi’ not only gives hope for the future of this all-consuming franchise but gives audiences a story to fall back in love with all over again, courtesy of director Rian Johnson, who puts the ‘war’ back into ‘Star Wars’.

 

Justice League

Teamwork makes the dream work; especially when saving the world.

Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, the Flash (and maybe Superman) take on a villain that’s out of this (literally), in a fight that’s sure to go down in some sort of superhero history book somewhere.

Though the CGI is horrendous and at times the acting is just as unbelievable, the storyline is filled with action-induced excitement and puts the DC franchise on the right track for eventually catching up to Marvel Mania.

The true hero of this story, however, is Ezra Miller’s performance as the Flash, which is by far the most entertaining aspect of the film, giving a mere glimpse of what the 2020 Flash film has in store for us.