Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Bringing Jurassic life into the twenty first century turned out to be a little more complex than the creators of Jurassic Park could have ever envisaged.

Following the collapse of the park’s renovation, the fate of the dinosaurs hangs in the balance as the humans responsible for their resurrection debate whether they deserve to live or die with an impending volcano due to erupt upon the island of Isla Neblar.

In an epic bid to save these animals from a second round of extinction, Bryce Dallas Howard (Claire) and Chris Pratt (Owen) return to this dinosaur driven franchise with faces old and new on a quest to preserve the live’s of these endangered species.

Despite this now being the fifth film in this ever-growing franchise, it remains a whirlwind of activity and suspense as new obstacles provide new entertainment, alongside actors whose talents are inextinguishable.

Book Club

Just because you’re getting older, doesn’t mean the fun has to end.

Four older ladies find a new lease of life when they discover E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy; but rather than being defeated by the storyline, the ladies are determined to pursue their own quest for love.

Despite the trailer showcasing much of the Fifty Shades books, the actual film mentions very little of the books as it instead focuses upon the trials and tribulations of these four ladies as they attempt to negotiate their way through life all whilst trying to find romance and adhering to family expectations.

With a cast as brilliant as Jane Fonda, Dianna Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, this acting is nothing short of sublime throughout, with the only real downside to this film being it’s over-predictability in terms of happy endings.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Hans Solo; a name that has become synonymous with the insurmountable franchise that is Star Wars.

From star-crossed lover to fighter pilot, Hans’ delightfully dark past has become an intriguing part of an ever-growing series of films that encapsulates the world of Star Wars.

Focusing on one character can often come across as a desperate spin-off, but luckily this film manages to evade such stigmas, by dedicating a niche of the universe exclusively to Hans’ interpretation of it.

As this is a Lucas Film production, it almost goes without saying that the attention to detail in this film is of flawless standard, with the special effects and CGI reflecting equal brilliance.

With the likes of Donald Glover and Woody Harrelson as key cast members, this film is hard to be anything other than lovable.

Deadpool 2

Disgustingly violent fun; everything you could possibly wish for in a Deadpool sequel.

Deadpool is back with comedic vengeance as he becomes a trainee x-man who’s unwillingness to follow the rules results in a painful loss.

With unrivaled rudeness and tremendous amounts of gore, Deadpool broke onto the Marvel scene as an unexpected surprise, but unfortunately nothing has changed since this inauguration, which leaves this sequel feeling rather undeveloped in comparison.

Though the Deadpool wit and humor still remain, the plot takes a tumble as the unusual becomes all too familiar.

If a little more had been spent on the development of the script and little less on the all too frequent CGI battles, then this film may have been in with a fighting chance of making cinematic history, but alas, that was not the case.

Life of the Party

Just when you thought your senior year at college couldn’t get any more stressful, your mum shows up.

After dedicating her whole life to parenthood and marriage, Deanna has an unpleasant shock when her husband decides to dump her after 30 years of commitment. But rather than turning her heartbreak into vengeful hatred, Deanna decides its time to put herself first for a change and returns to college to complete her archaeology degree. The only slight snag in her plan is that her daughter attends the same college.

As a lighthearted comedy, this film excels in filling cinemas with laughter from start to finish, as it draws on the inappropriateness of a mother-daughter college relationship, which results in a utterly flawless comedic goldmine.

With Melissa McCarthy as the go-getter mum, and Molly Gordon as the equally fierce daughter, this duo are able to delight audiences with their authentic on-screen relationship, which is only made better by the countless supporting actresses who also showcase their talents with effortless grace.

I Feel Pretty

Not content with her looks or her career, Renee (Amy Schumer) finds herself awaiting a miracle.

 

Armed with the destruction of insecurity, this film manages to delve into societies inner most frailties by encompassing the medias persistent need for the acquisition of perfection amongst both men and women.

Instead of succumbing to the pressure of perfection, this film manages to shy away from what has now become the norm, and highlights the importance of self-love regardless of ones waist-size, race or sexual orientation.

Though Schumer retains her usual over-confidence, there is something very refreshing about seeing a woman take on a role such as this with such astounding bravery, especially when considering the onslaught of criticism this film has already received.

Whilst this may not be the funniest or the most original film of the year, it is certainly worth a watch for boldness of its intentions, even if the executions leaves a lot to be desired.

Tully

Older doesn’t always mean wiser.

Finding herself a little worse for wear after the birth of her third child, Marlow follows her brothers advice and seeks assistance from a night nanny.

Despite being labelled as a comedy drama, this film is anything other than comical, as the seriousness of life becomes an ever-growing deeper seeded problem for this overwhelmed mother of three.

Charlize Theron takes this role in her stride as she heroically channels the challenges of motherhood with effortless finesse, making the story both believable and relatable without comprising on the film’s desired production.

Though the film faults itself with false advertisement and a somewhat limited audience base, the intrinsic talent is enough to carry the weightless and often disappointing plot.

Avengers: Infinity War

The culmination of action packed heroics over the past 10 years of Marvel mania has resulted in a cinematic crossover like no other.

As the marvel universes’ collide to unite against Thanos, so too do the stories that led them there.

With such a prolific cast, comes the responsibility of orchestrating them, but no one could have done a better job than the Russo brothers who seamlessly intertwine each character’s story with the other to make viewing effortless for audiences young and old.

Though perhaps one of Marvel’s darkest plots yet, the film encapsulates it’s audience from the outset, providing both comedic highs and devastating lows, all whilst showcasing the vulnerability of Marvel’s most star-studded superheros, including the likes of Captain America and Spider Man.

Love, Simon

Falling in love is never easy, especially when you’re hiding your sexuality.

Being gay is the biggest secret Simon has ever kept from his family and friends, but no matter how hard he tries, he just can’t seem to find the right words, that is until he meets Blue; a fellow high schooler hiding the same secret.

The young actors in this film take on an intimidating role in accomplishing the task of bringing Becky Albertalli’s novel (Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda)  to life on the big screen. Heading up this exceptional cast is Nick Robinson who takes on the role of Simon Spier with such delicate sensitivity that it’s hard to believe the story is not his own. Though Robinson is in the driving seat, his fellow cast members also deliver exceptional performances which broadcast this incredible story with the ferocity it deserves.

Director, Greg Berlanti, also does a magnificent job of converting this millennial page turner into an action packed romance by creating a truly unique atmosphere that not only effortlessly normalizes homosexuality, but also inspires a young generation in their ability to express themselves regardless of their sexual orientation or individuality.

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.