The fact that the MCU regular regulars are mostly absent only reinforces the change in direction. Florence Pugh as family member Yelena tries her best to carry the film and it’s great to see a not-so-perfect woman be the heart and soul of the work. Comic interludes also play a large role in establishing the newish feel.

The big evil this time is a bit hard to categorise and the two characters actor Lewis Pullman plays, Robert Reynolds or Bob and Sentry are two distinct personalities and couldn’t be more different. Sentry’s internal darkness is shown by actual darkness and is pleasantly creepy. David Harbour as the blunt tool Red Guardian is played mostly for laughs but also provides some nice family moments.

Other than the crazy credit scene at the very end that makes Thunderbolts* feel a bit like a two-hour trailer for the upcoming Marvel release The Fantastic Four: First Steps, this work is a step in a satisfying direction. There are many valid characters in the Marvel Universe to be discovered on screen and it’s time to showcase the lesser known ones. Especially the relatable female ones.
Rob Hudson
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After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Returning to their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU—Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*” opens in Australian cinemas May 1 2025.
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David Harbour, who plays Red Guardian in the film, was on hand to debut the new extended trailer for excited fans at the Brazil D23 event.

Marvel Studios and a crew of indie veterans who sold out present “Thunderbolts*,” an irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.

The film stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Edward Pierce, with David Harbour, with Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Jake Schreier directs “Thunderbolts*” and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek and Jason Tamez serve as executive producers.
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The film also returns to the screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in addition to some exciting new faces.

Jake Schreier directs “Thunderbolts*” with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*” opens in Australian cinemas May 1, 2025.
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The eagerly awaited final book of a best-selling Dragon Tattoo-esque French trilogy is about to be globally released, and nine international language experts have been hired to translate it into their native tongues (English, Danish, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Greek and German). With the stakes so high, the supercilious publisher (Lambert Wilson) has them on lock-down, confined together in a bunker – without any contact to the outside world – until the task is completed.

So when the first ten pages of the top-secret manuscript inexplicably leak online with a ransom threat, it’s evident that the thief could only be amongst them. Their increasingly paranoid and desperate captor is ready to do whatever it takes to unmask him… or her… or them.

Starring Lambert Wilson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Olga Kurylenko, Riccardo Scamarcio, The Translators will be released in Australian cinemas (ex. Victoria) September 17!

www.palacefilms.com.au/thetranslators

The story revolves around technology while actually using very little of it. All the top secret British Intelligence agents have been outed and are now useless so they have to recruit some of the old school spies and put them back into the field. This gives the exiled Johnny English (Atkinson) a way back in. It also leads to a wonderful scene with a surprise trio of classic English acting veterans who unfortunately meet a quick demise as a result of English and his blundering ways.

Casting Bond girl Olga Kurylenko as the main nemesis of English is a clever choice as her calm glamour contrasts nicely with Atkinson’s bumbling ways. Emma Thompson’s comic turn as the Prime Minister is also a pleasant surprise. The globe trotting nature of spy films is featured and there are some interesting locations, but only if you find Scottish Castles exotic.

There are a large number of ongoing gags, which is a good thing as the hit to miss ratio is a little bit underwhelming. The filmmaker’s have also used that dubious computer generated imagery of things being blown up, you know the stuff that looks totally unrealistic? Come on guys, the film had to have had at least enough budget to build a few models to blow up.

Rob Hudson
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The new adventure begins when a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the secret service’s last hope. Called out of retirement, English dives head first into action with the mission to find the mastermind hacker.

As a man with few skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success.

JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN is In cinemas September 20.
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