The story arc revolves around the foursome’s reverent acceptance into the current society at large that is almost complete. This general consensus is, however, challenged when the Earth comes under attack from an alien presence and they make a personal decision that defies the common good. In a nod to the geniality of this fantasy land, they are not openly attacked; however, the press still has a field day.

Having the story so character-driven only works because the main cast of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm are so well written. Their relationships and personal foibles are pleasantly believable and not completely angst-driven. They seem like they could actually be friends.

There is a world treating peril and heroic action on behalf of the four that saves our fragile blue and green marble (for the time being). It’s easily within comic book parameters. But by film’s end, when the words appear on the screen that state that the Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday, it leaves you slightly disappointed that the next time out, this lovely little world will get folded into the Avengers ideology so soon.
Rob Hudson
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Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retrofuturistic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

The action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis and Tim Lewis.
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning brings the current series to a close and provides a rousing finish. Everything is ramped up to eleven and It pushes improbable to preposterous and remains overdriven throughout its entire 169 minute running time. It barely pauses for a breath. The main characters are firmly defined by now and show minimal growth. There is also a curious lack of humour shown as that break in intensity would have helped with the peak energy moments.

The story follows the worldwide threat of an AI-generated program called the Entity and it mirrors the current fascination and perceived danger and benefit of artificial intelligence. It doesn’t however expand much on the peril this program established in the series so far and focuses more on the human consequences. It also leans into the connection of its main players Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell and Hayley Atwell as Grace.

This is filmmaking at its most bombastic (and illogical) and deserves to be seen in its largest version, powered by its biggest and loudest sound system. Watching it at home will certainly be fun but will lack the impact and human interaction available in a public setting. Pure escapism takes precedence and is satisfying in the triumph of good over evil. Will this be the last time Cruise and company don the face masks and get the mission details from a smoking device? Only time and box office revenues will tell.
Rob Hudson
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Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

The action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis and Tim Lewis.
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Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, coming to cinemas May 17!.
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Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson and arrives in cinemas July 24.
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Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Frederick Schmidt, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will be released in Aussie cinemas May 2025!
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Scott and writer David Scarpa have chosen to focus more on the relationship between Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) and his wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). Theirs was a dysfunctional union not helped in the least by the temper of the times and Napoleon’s odd nature and habits. Scott’s forcefulness with action sequences is also reduced and this seems an odd choice.

One battle scene however is very effective and it is based on what is generally considered one of his greatest victories called the Battle of Austerlitz. The visuals are stunning and the carnage overwhelming and even though great artistic license was taken with the facts, it’s still the high point of the film action-wise. Elsewhere the colours and actions of the hostilities are strangely muted.

There are so many contradictory views and opinions about the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte that it would be impossible to do more than scratch the surface with a normal-length film. Focusing on limited aspects of his life may make sense on paper but up on the big screen the lack of engagement engendered by this approach is slightly maddening and does a disservice to one of history’s great eccentrics.
Rob Hudson
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Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.

Napoleon will be released in Australian cinemas November 23!
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Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the chequered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar®-winner Joaquin Phoenix.

Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.

Napoleon will be released in Australian Cinemas November 23!
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