Movies 1045 results

Storm Boy Movie Review

The novel by Colin Thiele was first published in 1966. That was followed by the first filmed version in 1976. Fast forward to 2019 and director Shawn Seet (The Code and Underbelly) presents a new take starring Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney, Trevor Jamieson and the amazing newcomer, Finn Little as the young boy who helps save the lives of three orphaned pelicans.   //   It’s a universal story of growing up without the aid of a full family unit and believing in something ...

Mary Queen of Scots Movie Review

There is a lack of opulence and bright colours that were probably closer to the reality of the times. This is a dark tale, set in dark surrounds, during a dark time. The sets and costumes also do an effective job of staying in this mindset.   //   The main women, Saoirse Ronan at her best as the luminous Mary Stuart and Margot Robbie as the severely portrayed Queen Elizabeth the First are the heroes here, while the men behind them play war mongering, cheats, liars and ...

Glass Movie Review

Although this new work is far from perfect, it succeeds quite well in tying up a lot of the loose ends from the earlier films while creating a few new strands to savour. This time out the storyline features Sarah Paulson as the doctor who trying to make sense out of the main protagonist’s powers. This approach unfolds slowly and features a sting in the tail end.   //   Shyamalan proves adept as setting a scene with just the right amount of creepy overtones and slowly ...

Vice Movie Review

The film is both wildly inventive and unafraid to take its audience members into some very dark places. It follows Chaney from his blue collar beginnings to his place on the highest rungs of power. With stops along the way for three heart attacks, an accidental shooting of a 78 year old Texas attorney while quail hunting and the reciting of Shakespeare before shagging his wife Lynne played with a power hungry intensity by Amy Adams.   //   Those moments and many more are ...

Instant Family Movie Review

Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) are a married couple that are unable to conceive and decide to go down the adoption road. During this journey they come in contact with the oddest of odd couple adoption agents Karen (Octavia Spencer) and Sharon (Tig Notaro). The two agent’s yin and yang together is hilarious.   //   They end up adopting three children (from the same dysfunctional family) that range in age from very young to the teen years. This age gap ...

Bumblebee Movie Review

There are a number of other elements that help transform the film as well, the most important being the non-objectification of the female characters. The Megan Fox syndrome is completely avoided and new girl, Hailee Steinfeld  (True Grit) gets the balance between awkward teenager and emerging woman just right. The script also helps with this as it avoids a number of predictable cliches.   //   Setting the film in the late eighties provides the opportunity to dial back ...

Mary Poppins Returns Movie Review

Despite the over fifty-year gap between the first Poppins film released back in 1964 and the new sequel, Disney has brought the story up to date. Even correcting quite a few of the wonky elements from the first edition and resisting the temptation to go all CGI crazy. The film still has that old school charm visually and this includes what appears to be hand drawn animation.   //   After the fact, Emily Blunt seems the perfect choice to pick up the reins from Julie ...

Holmes & Watson Movie Review

If you follow these simple instructions to the letter, then by halfway through the film you will be so drunk, the second half will produce some good time laughs. Because make no mistake, this is one hot mess of a movie. The sets are appealing as are the costumes and the signage and newspaper headlines shown throughout are very funny. The parts are all there. Casting wise, it also looks good as both Will Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes and John C. Reilly as Doctor Watson have a decent track ...

Ralph Breaks The Internet Movie Review

Ralph (John C. Reilly) and his BFF Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) go on a mission to save Vanellope’s old school video game and this involves a trip into the idiosyncrasies of the Internet. The journey is filled with great visual representations of some of the web’s oddest elements.   //   The film is unafraid of presenting things that are quite dark (for a kid’s film) even including a visit to the dark web and a scary visual representation of a computer virus. It ...

The Favourite Movie Review

The filmmakers use quite a number of tricks to keep the viewer from falling into comfortable habits. The camera use features fisheye lenses to give a unique and somewhat distorted sense of proportion and the soundtrack is often times ominous and disjointed. The dialogue is razor sharp and filled with acid toned wit. It’s delivered with a delicious sense of controlled malevolence   //   The film also provides a chance to see three great female actors work at the height ...