Friday 30 June 2023

REVIEW: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) - Starring Harrison Ford

Review by Jon Donnis
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is back in his fifth and final film, nearly 15 years after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, seems crazy to think it has been that long, and nearly as long as between Crystal Skull and The Last Crusade before that.

Now the main worry about this film is that this is a Disney film as opposed to a Paramount film, and the worry there comes from the fact that Disney has a very bad reputation in recent years for ruining great franchises by making everything woke. Well, I can happily say that this is not the case in Dial of Destiny, yes there are a few "Disney Moments", an attack on capitalism, which is hilarious when you consider how Disney make their money, the odd diversity hire here and there. Other than that, the film felt relatively straight forward like a normal Indy film. But that doesn't mean it is good, to find that out you will have to read on.


The film starts off during the Allied liberation of Europe in World War II in 1944, Indiana Jones (CGI Harrison Ford) and his fellow archaeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) from Oxford find themselves in the clutches of Nazi captors. Their mission to retrieve the Lance of Longinus is interrupted by their capture. At the same time, astrophysicist Jürgen Voller (CGI Mads Mikkelsen) reports to his superiors that the Lance they possess is a counterfeit, but he has discovered a significant artifact: half of Archimedes' Dial. This remarkable device, invented by the Syracusan mathematician Archimedes, has the power to detect temporal fractures (wormholes through time).

Jones manages to escape and boards a train loaded with stolen antiquities headed for Berlin, where he successfully rescues Shaw. Realizing that the spear they sought is a fake, Jones and Shaw seize the Dial's half, and just in the nick of time, they jump from the train moments before it derails on a bridge destroyed by Allied bombers.


Fast forward to 1969, Jones (no longer CGI) finds himself estranged from his wife, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), following the tragic loss of their son Mutt during the Vietnam War. Retirement at Hunter College is looming over him, but his life takes an unexpected turn when he is approached by Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Basil's daughter and Jones's godchild. Helena, an archaeology student and treasure hunter herself, informs Jones that the Dial was split into two parts and that her late father's relentless pursuit of its secrets drove him to the brink of madness. Jones had made a promise to Basil to destroy the Dial, but he had yet to fulfil that commitment.

Together, Jones and Helena embark on a quest to retrieve the first piece of the Dial, which is kept in a storeroom at the college. They face an attack from Voller's henchmen, as Voller, now working for NASA under an assumed identity, seeks to claim the Dial for himself. The CIA, led by Agent Mason (Shaunette Renée Wilson), assists Voller in his pursuit. Aware that Voller's men are after her, Helena escapes with the Dial, revealing her true intention to sell it at an illicit auction. Jones, on the run, cleverly disguises himself in a parade celebrating the Apollo 11 astronauts before seeking refuge in the New York City Subway and turning to his old friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), who now works as an immigrant cab driver, for assistance.

The rest of the film is pretty much a cat and mouse chase, with the eventual goal being to find the second half of the dial, and to unlock its secrets.


Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw is terribly miscast, the character is just not likeable, she is taller than Harrison Ford, looks awkward, and I hate to say it, but she should not have been cast as Indy's goddaughter. This character needed to be played by a smaller actress, someone who would appear more of an underdog, and someone wo wants to emulate Indy, not talk down to him. Think a young Salma Hayek and you get the idea. This is the one big mistake of the film. The rest of the cast is decent, even Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen playing a Nazi is ok, although I have always struggled to understand him when he talks English.

One fear I had in this film would be that Indy would take a backseat, and that the film would just be used as a vehicle to push the next Indiana Jones franchise film with a woman taking the lead, perhaps that was the original idea, but I would like to think Harrison Ford put a stop to that, he is still the main star of the film, and despite being talked down to a few times by the Helena character, he still comes out on top as the main hero. He gets the best lines, the best scenes, and the best comedy moments.

There are a few scenes which give a nod to older films, for example in one scene Indy is surrounded by henchmen, so he gets his whip out and waves it about to warn them, and they all just pull guns on him and start shooting as he hits the grounds. An obvious nod to the famous sword scene in Raiders Of The Lost Ark with the bad guy waving a sword around and then Indy just pulls his gun out and shoots him. I liked that, and there are a few moments like that throughout the film to watch out for.

Considering Harrison Ford is 80 years old, and playing a 70-year-old in the film, he looks great, he is convincing as the aging hero, and this is a nice final film for the character he is most famous for.

This is by far the longest film in the franchise, a bit too long at over 2 hours and 25 minutes. Keep in mind Raiders and Temple of Doom were both less than 2 hours, and Last Crusade was just over.


The Good
A classic Indy type plot, great action scenes, everything you would expect from an Indiana Jones film is in there, the comedy moments, the fight scenes, the near-death escapes. You name it, it is all in there.

The Bad
Way too long, this did not need to be over 2 hours. The casting of Helena Shaw was a big mistake, just not a likeable character at all. The start of the film which is set in 1944 relies on the de-aging CGI of Ford, and although at times it looks realistic, in some scenes it is laughably bad, and a huge reminder you are looking at CGI. This is another example of big studios refusing to pay enough money and give enough time to the visual effects people to make something look good. In some respects, it seems like CGI of the mid 90s is better than what we get today, and that can only be put down to allowing companies time to make stuff look good!

Overall
I am a big Indiana Jones fan, and although I would probably prefer, they never revisited the franchise after the 3rd film, I understand that when there is money to be made, studios will give almost anything a sequel.

As a stand-alone action film, this is pretty good, as the 5th film in a legendary franchise it is always going to struggle when compared to previous films. With that said I did enjoy the film, it was nowhere near as woke as I feared it would be, and although I would have liked to have seen some more time travel aspects used in the plot, what we did get at the end was damned cool.

The ending I found a little flat and sentimental, I really wished that they would have given the Indy character a full-on action-packed final scene, but I understand why they did what they did. But come on, the character literally asks for it and they don't give it him.

This is a fun film, I enjoyed it and although perhaps not the send off I would have written, it was still a good way to end the franchise.

Please NO MORE films now, we don't need a female Indy, just let the franchise be now, I am begging you Disney.

I score Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny a solid 8/10

Out Now in Cinemas.

TRAILER: Liam Neeson takes us on a high-octane ride of redemption and revenge in Sky film Retribution

Prepare for an exhilarating ride as the official trailer for the Sky Original film Retribution, featuring Liam Neeson (Taken), is unleashed. From the producers of Non-Stop and The Commuter, this immersive ticking clock thriller is set to captivate audiences.

Joining Neeson in the cast are Noma Dumezweni (The Little Mermaid), Lilly Aspell (Wonder Woman: 1984), Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Embeth Davidtz (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things).

In the film, Neeson portrays Matt Turner, a successful American businessman residing in Berlin, who skilfully manages a thriving financial career alongside his family responsibilities. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he receives a mysterious phone call while driving his children to school. The caller reveals a chilling truth: there's a bomb planted under Matt's seat, poised to detonate unless he swiftly completes a series of specific tasks. Trapped in a relentless high-speed chase throughout the city, Matt must navigate the escalating dangers dictated by the enigmatic voice, racing against time to protect his loved ones and unravel the unfolding mystery that unfolds over the course of a single day.

Directed by Nimród Antal and written by Alberto Marini, with a screenplay by Christopher Salmanpour, Retribution is a gripping adaptation of the film El Desconocido. Producers Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman, Jaume Collet-Serra, and Juan Sola come together to bring this thrilling story to life. The film is a collaborative effort between STUDIOCANAL, The Picture Company, Ombra Films, TF1 Films Production Studio Babelsberg, with the participation of Canal+, Cine+, TF1, and TMC.

Audiences can look forward to experiencing Retribution as it hits the screens this autumn, releasing on Sky Cinema, streaming service NOW, and in cinemas.

Wednesday 28 June 2023

COMPETITION: Win LOLA on Blu-ray



From Signature Entertainment comes LOLA, released on July 3rd.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy to give away.

Synopsis:
In 1941, music-loving sisters Thomasina (Emma Appleton) and Martha Hanbury (Stefanie Martini) build a machine called LOLA which can intercept radio and TV broadcasts from the future.

While the sisters initially use the machine for small ventures like becoming the first fans of the 1970’s music scene, they soon realize that the machine may hold the key to defeating the Nazis.

LOLA proves to be massively effective in shifting the tide of the war, but as Thomasina begins to become carried away with the level of power the machine holds over the future, the sisters soon discover the world-altering consequences of their actions.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3PEX4tj

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 10-07-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Monday 26 June 2023

COMPETITION: Win Cosa Nostra: Franco Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set



Radiance Films continues its impressive run of must-have Limited Editions with Cosa Nostra: Franco Nero in Three Mafia Tales By Damiano Damiani – a stunning new collection featuring three outstanding films in the ultimate collaboration between two Italian greats – lauded Italian actor Franco Nero and respected director Damiano Damiani.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy to give away.

Synopsis:
This stunning Blu-ray Box set features three 1970s classics in 2K restored editions: The Day of the Owl, The Case is Closed: Forget It and How to Kill a Judge.  Presented in a rigid box with a removable OBI strip it comes complete with a 120-page book, featuring new and archival writing on the films by experts on the genre. The set contains a slew of outstanding special features that see new interviews with Franco Nero, discussing each film, plus a new video essay on How to Kill a Judge and a visual essay on the career of Damiano Damiani. There’s a host of archive interviews, trailers and more, please see the full list on attached.  It will be available on 19 June 2023 and available to pre-order now.

The Day of the Owl stars Franco Nero as a police chief who, while investigating the death of a construction worker, comes up against corrupt officials and a ruthless mafia boss (Lee J. Cobb). Adapted from the celebrated novel by Leonardo Sciascia (Illustrious Corpses), it was the first book to openly deal with organised crime in Sicily. A prestigious production, the film was nominated for best film at the Berlin Film Festival and garnered awards at the David di Donatello Awards for Claudia Cardinale, Nero, Damiani as well as the Best Production accolade .

The Case Is Closed: Forget It sees Nero portray a modest man who is thrown in jail for a misdemeanour. He must face the grim reality of life behind bars, where the mafia controls everything. Nero is on top form, alongside a strong cast including Riccardo Cucciolla (Rabid Dogs) and John Steiner (Tenebrae). With its intense, realistic take on life inside, Damiani’s film is up there with the finest prison dramas. Presented in Italian and for the first time with the original English dub.

How to Kill a Judge sees life imitate art, when filmmaker Giacomo Solaris (Nero) makes a feature about a judge who has been corrupted by the mafia and is later found murdered… but when the real judge, that the character is based on, seizes the footage, he too is killed. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Solaris starts to investigate, but as the death toll rises, he must dig deep to uncover the conspiracy before it’s too late. Full of twists and turns,  this fascinating meta-commentary on cinema sees Damiani point the camera at himself and the genre, as he investigates the social impact of mafia violence. A fitting end to this study of Damiani’s Cosa Nostra.

Franco Nero is a legendary Italian actor, producer and director who has made a huge impact in film industry both in front of and behind the camera.  Working alongside some of the most acclaimed directors in the world including Luis Buñuel and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, his acting has garnered many awards including Best Actor at David di Donatello Awards, 1967 and the Lifetime Achievement Award at Rome Film Festival, 2009. His directorial debut Jonathan degli orsi, won him critical acclaim and the Best Director Award at Montreal World Film Festival.

Making his acting debut in the early 1960s, Nero’s  breakthrough role was in Sergio Corbucci's Django (1966),  that lead to further lauded films such as The Mercenary, Camelot and Tristana, and a successful Hollywood career that has seen him star Django Unchained, Die Hard 2, John Wick Chapter 2 to name a few and his acting work continues to this day.

Renowned Italian director Damiano Damiani’s career in film spanned several decades, starting in the 1950s, he worked as a screenwriter before making his directorial debut with Il Rossetto, in 1962. Best known for his socially and politically aware productions that tackle controversial and taboo subjects, his first film focused on prostitution and was both praised and criticised.  This set the tone for his future films that include A Bullet for the General and Confessions of a Police Captain, as well as his stark look at the Mafia that can be seen in the films included in this Box set. He was also an accomplished painter and had his work exhibited in prestigious galleries.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/46z1yaS

Enter now for a chance to win.
COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 10-07-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Skinamarink on Blu-ray


Watch if you dare… Skinamarink is coming to get you on Blu-ray, DVD and digital this summer.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis:
This Shudder Original from writer-director Kyle Edward Ball – in his feature debut – has been striking fear into the hearts of horror fans and critics galore with its scare-inducing style that creeps up and hits you when you least expect it. Now this acclaimed chiller is set to bring the terror once more with Acorn Media’s home entertainment release on 3 July 2023.

When two siblings wake up in the middle of the night, their father is nowhere to be found and the windows and doors in their home have vanished...

Fuelled by fear and anxiety, the pair take matters into their own hands... With pillows and blankets in hand, they build a den in the living room and watch old videotapes of their favourite cartoons to distract from the scary situation, as they hope and pray that a grown-up will come and save them.

But it soon becomes clear that there’s something else there... something beyond their wildest imagination is watching over them. What is it, what does it want and can they survive this unimaginable nightmare?

Beware the things that go bump in the night, it’s not what you think, it’s Skinamarink, a wickedly creepy scare fest.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/46qEESL

Enter now for a chance to win.
COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 10-07-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Sunday 25 June 2023

REVIEW: The Best Man (2023) - Starring Nicky Whelan, Dolph Lundgren and Luke Wilson

Review by Jon Donnis
Somewhere, a director sat down and thought to himself, "I know what the industry needs. It needs a film about a group of villains breaking into a holiday resort and having to fend off the people present." Now, why he would think that when that exact film has literally been made hundreds of times is beyond me, but alas, here we are. One thing The Best Man has in its favor is a very strong cast. So, is the film any good? Read on to find out.

The Best Man opens with an intense rescue mission, where a team of skilled mercenaries embarks on a daring operation to save an American woman who has been kidnapped in Mexico. Despite their training, the mercenaries suffer losses, including Axel (played by Scott Martin), who sustains a critical gunshot wound to the head and is left for dead.


A year later, the once-kidnapped woman named Brook (portrayed by Nicky Whelan) is now preparing to marry Cal (played by Luke Wilson), one of the brave men who saved her. Cal's cousin Bradley (played by Brendan Fehr) is chosen as the best man for the wedding, and another member of the rescue team, Anders (played by Dolph Lundgren), is also set to attend the ceremony.

Brook's father (played by Chris Mullinax) has rented a grand, secluded resort and casino for the wedding celebration. However, they soon realize that perhaps a secluded resort was not the best option for the wedding when a heavily armed crew unexpectedly arrives at the venue.

Despite the action-packed opening scene, the film quickly settles into about 30 minutes of drawn-out dialogue. And then, about another 30 minutes pass until it actually starts to deliver what the synopsis promises the viewer.

At a decent 90 minutes in length, the film finally ramps up the action at the 60-minute mark, and it builds nicely towards the end, although the ending is slightly anticlimactic.

All the big names get nice scenes to showcase their talents, with Dolph Lundgren as Anders probably having some of the better moments in the film.


The film is very predictable, and strangely, it doesn't even attempt to hide who is behind the attack. In fact, if you read this review again, you can probably guess.

The fight scenes are well-filmed, everything looks visually appealing, and considering the star power of the actors involved, the characters are convincing in their roles. However, the film remains dull for too long. The finale is anticlimactic, and despite the actors' involvement, I found myself not being drawn to a single character, neither the heroes nor the villains. I had little to no emotional investment in the characters, which left me uncaring about what happened. This is mainly due to the first 30 minutes after the opening scene, which should have been utilized to create a stronger attachment to the characters. Unfortunately, it is poorly written and dull, resulting in boredom and distraction.

The storyline has been done a hundred times before, but that shouldn't matter if a film is well made and well directed. Sadly, this film is well made but falls short in terms of writing and direction.

The film is not terrible, don't get me wrong. As action films go, it is passable, and with a runtime of 90 minutes, it offers a decent viewing time. However, it failed to captivate me, despite being a fan of a few of the actors involved.


The Good:
Well made, the fight scenes are visually appealing, and the cast does their best with the material they are given.

The Bad:
By God, the film remains dull for too long, and by the time it picks up, you may have already lost interest.

Very anticlimactic.

Overall
A paint by numbers action film, totally unoriginal, and completely predictable.

It ticks all the boxes, but for the calibre of actor involved, I expected much better.

I score The Best Man a disappointing 5/10

Out now on Digital - https://amzn.to/42YOcSd

Friday 23 June 2023

REVIEW: Fear the Invisible Man (2023) - Starring Mike Beckingham and Mhairi Calvey

Review by Jon Donnis
We have seen an almost endless stream of movies and TV shows about the H. G. Wells novel "The Invisible Man", so when I heard about yet another film telling the story, I was slightly apprehensive when it came to sitting down and watching, but was I right to be apprehensive, or was I surprised by a decent retelling of the classic story? First thing to note is that unlike other recent films, this one goes back to the Victorian era of the novel, which is a smart decision, last thing anyone needs or wants is a woke reimagining.


The film starts off with a brief scene in which a man is killed by an unseen force, we then get to see Griffin (played by Mike Beckingham) racing against time to finish his experiment. His landlord and a bailiff are pounding on the door, ready to evict him. Moments before they kick in the door, he injects himself with an experimental substance. Suddenly, his flesh and bone vanish, (this is a really cool scene, and without a doubt the highlight of the film, despite being a low budget film, this scene looked decent, if not quite Industrial and Light and Magic type decent) he then escapes, causing an explosion that kills them and destroys his lab.

Meanwhile, Adeline (portrayed by Mhairi Calvey) disbelievingly reads about a series of crimes supposedly caused by an invisible man. She has other concerns, struggling to pay the bills and avoid selling the manor after her husband's death.


To her surprise, Griffin, a former classmate, turns up injured and hiding in her house, imagine her surprise when she realises, he is invisible. He desperately needs her help not only with his wounds but also in retrieving his journals from Marvel (played by Grahame Fox), a homeless man Griffin had forced to assist him. Marvel promptly took his notes and money and disappeared.

As I briefly mentioned this is a low budget film, and usually when I hear a film is low budget, and they are going to rehash an old story I roll my eyes, but WAIT, this is actually a rather good film, yes the story is over 100 years old, but that scene practically at the start showing Griffin inject himself, and then we get to slowly watch as first his skin, then his muscles, and so on disappear, was so well done, that it had me hooked.


The film does have much in common with the H.G. Wells book, a few things have been changed, for example Kemp (a man) has become Adeline Kemp, a woman, which in turn allows for a love interest angle. But the basic premise remains the same. A man becomes invisible, and then slowly goes insane. In many ways I found that this film was more centred around the Adeline character, and how she is dealing with not only her own circumstances, which in turn lead her to at first help Griffin, but also finally realising the horrors that are happening, and how she needs to end things.

Due to the lowish budget, many of the scenes filmed with Griffin are done in the dark, this is understandable, as a dark scene helps hide any imperfection with the visual effects. It is not a massive issue, but I would liked to have seen a few more daylight scenes with him.

Mhairi Calvey holds the film together, she is the star, mainly as she is the main person you see on screen, Mike Beckingham for obvious reasons is mainly a voice actor in the film, outside of the very start and very end. I like his voice and cadence, and he does a good job portraying Griffin.


The Good
A nice retelling of The Invisible Man story, I liked that it was set in Victorian England and there is a nice build up to the last 20 minutes where the film turns from thriller into horror.

A strong performance from Mhairi Calvey. Well filmed and nicely directed, this is a good film considering the restraints.

The Bad
I hate criticising a film, when I can understand that the budget is the reason, some of the CGI effects are a bit poor, for example 19th century London backdrop, not great. Not enough Invisible Man cliches to please me. And also a little long at 95 minutes, this film needed tightening up to 80 to 85 minutes in my opinion.

Overall
I really liked the transformation into being invisible, that grabbed my attention. The story is well told, the Adeline character holds the film together well, some lovely country scenery too is always well appreciated.

Considering the budget, I thought this was a nice little film, well acted, well directed, well filmed.

Definitely worth checking out.

I score Fear the Invisible Man a respectable 8/10.


Thursday 22 June 2023

REVIEW: Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves - Starring Chris Pine & Michelle Rodriguez

Review by Jon Donnis
In recent years there hasn't been any decent fantasy action comedy films that I can recall, so when I heard of Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves I thought this might be the first one in a while, now don't let the Dungeons & Dragons branding put you off, as I know it has put off a lot of people. This is not some nerdy board game, it just uses some of the lore of that game, locations etc, you do not need to have any knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons to watch this film.


Before being imprisoned, Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine), a talented bard, dedicated his life to the Harpers, a noble order of peacekeepers. Unfortunately, his world was shattered when disciples of a Red Wizard, whom he had successfully apprehended, mercilessly took the life of his beloved wife Zia (Georgia Landers). Determined to start afresh and protect his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman), Edgin joined forces with the fierce barbarian Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez). They resort to a life of thievery, aided by the aspiring sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith) a half-elf wild magic sorcerer who is the descendant of Elminster Aumar, a notable wizard, the cunning rogue conman Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), and a mysterious acquaintance of Forge named Sofina (Daisy Head). Together, they fight to survive in their newly chosen path.

During a daring raid on a stronghold belonging to the Harpers, Edgin embarks on a risky mission to steal a powerful artifact known as the "Tablet of Reawakening," with the desperate hope of resurrecting his wife. However, their plans go awry, and Edgin and Holga find themselves captured while their accomplices managed to escape the clutches of the Harpers.


After enduring a gruelling two years of imprisonment in the frigid confines of Revel's End, a desolate arctic prison, Edgin and Holga, unaware of their unexpected pardon, manage to escape. Seeking refuge in the bustling city of Neverwinter, they discovered that Forge has risen to power as the new Lord, taking charge after the enigmatic downfall of the previous ruler. Unbeknownst to Edgin and Holga, Forge has been caring for Kira during their absence, skilfully manipulating her perception of events to paint Edgin as a selfish and greedy individual responsible for his own incarceration.

As the truth slowly unravels, it becomes clear that Sofina, the mysterious acquaintance of Forge, harboured a dark secret. Revealed to be a member of the Red Wizards, Sofina had conspired with Forge to orchestrate the capture of Edgin and Holga, weaving a treacherous web of deceit and betrayal.


Now I know all of that might sound a bit confusing, but the film is surprisingly easy to follow. At no point does the film take itself too seriously, this is a good old fashioned fantasy comedy film, lots of weird and wonderful characters, absurd comedy, and incredible action scenes. Fans of The Princess Bride for example should enjoy this.

Chris Pine puts in a fun performance as Edgin Darvis, instantly likeable, and he delivers his comedy lines with almost perfection.

Michelle Rodriguez for me though steals the show as Holga Kilgore, the barbarian who was banished from her Tribe for marrying an outsider, we get to see the former husband later in the film, in a rather humorous scene.

This is a fun film, ok at 2 hours and 10 minutes it is a bit long, they could easily shave off 30 minutes without losing anything. This is a great film for fans of fantasy and action films.


The Good
Great visual effects, make up and creature models. The humour is done well, and will raise a smile and some laugh out loud moments. Great characters both the good guys and the bad guys. A nice story, with good music too.

The Bad
A little long, I will never understand why a film like this needs to be over 2 hours, why cant they do a theatrical cut and then leave the longer version for the directors cut for the DVD release.

Overall
Super fun film, ticks all the boxes for the genre, I really enjoyed it, and Michelle Rodriguez is great.

In cinemas now, and on digital at https://apple.co/3NJrs4a and https://amzn.to/3qZ3KrR

Monday 19 June 2023

REVIEW: Fool's Paradise (2023) - Starring Charlie Day and Ken Jeong

Review by Jon Donnis
Time for another review, this time we have Fool's Paradise, which co-stars Ray Liotta in one of his final roles before his death. With something of an all star cast I was quite interested in seeing what this film had to offer.

In this tale, a man named John Doe (Charlie Day), who is both mute and possesses the mental capacity of a five-year-old, finds himself released from a mental hospital. Sadly, the state can no longer afford to provide him with the necessary treatment. Left to fend for himself, John Doe takes to the streets, relying on the guidance of anyone he encounters in his daily struggles.


Meanwhile, the Producer of a biographical film about the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid faces a frustrating predicament. Renowned method actor Sir Tom Bingsley, chosen to portray the iconic character, stubbornly refuses to emerge from his trailer. This unfortunate situation not only consumes valuable time but also drains the film's budget. In a desperate bid to salvage the production, the Producer decides to enlist a stand-in.

By a twist of fate, the Producer stumbles upon John Doe, who has taken to selling oranges on the street. Struck by the uncanny resemblance between John Doe and Bingsley, the Producer sees an opportunity and hires him as a stand-in for the elusive actor.


We also meet Lenny (Ken Jeong), an aspiring publicist struggling to keep clients since his move to Los Angeles. Determined to find fresh talent, Lenny resorts to underhanded means, bribing his way onto studio lots. In his pursuit, Lenny witnesses John Doe participating in the filming of the biopic and misinterprets his name as "Latte Pronto," owing to the Producer's persistent coffee demands.

Tragedy strikes the film set when Sir Tom Bingsley meets an untimely demise, the result of a misguided method acting experiment involving a hanging scene. With no other choice, the production is compelled to continue with "Billy the Kid" portrayed by Pronto. Although hindered by Pronto's lack of acting prowess and his tendency to look directly into the camera, his co-stars Christiana Dior (Kate Beckinsale) and Chad Luxt (Adrien Brody) find themselves captivated by what they perceive as an avant-garde performance. Inspired by Pronto's unconventional style, they begin to emulate his approach to acting, adding a new dimension to the film's narrative.


This is an interesting take on the classic "Rom-Com", there are moments of absurdity, the kind of ridiculous comedy that Ken Jeong is well known for, as well as some very poignant moments, and sweet emotion, that balances the film very well.

Also written and directed by Charlie Day, Charlie puts in a great performance as "Latte Pronto", a very likeable character, who barely utters a word in the entire film, clearly inspired by Peter Sellers' character Chance the Gardener from Being There (1979).

As a whole the film is very much a satire on Hollywood, although perhaps it is a bit more accurate than Hollywood would like to admit. Charlie Day plays the "fool" character well, and as he has his rise and fall in Hollywood, he just seems to go along with it oblivious, and that is where the likeability of the character really comes from. Surrounded by vain characters, crazy personalities and every Hollywood stereotype.

This style of film has been done before, and better, films like the previously mentioned Being There, as well as Mr Bean, Burn Hollywood Burn, Babylon and possibly most famously Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp, but for a modern version of the "Fool" story, this is done pretty well.


The Good
Just over 90 minutes is the correct time for this film, a strong cast with big name actors really helps get your attention. Charlie Day does a great job as the silent fool character.

The Bad
I think sometimes the lack of a voice for Latte Pronto hurts the character, in Mr Bean for example, the lack of much of a voice was ok for the TV series, but for the movies they had to add more dialog as it helps in the long run. I think this film would have been better if it had done this. Charlie Day is famous for his voice, so taking that away hurts his performance, as he doesn't necessarily have the facial expression mastery that someone like Rowan Atkinson has.

Overall
An enjoyable film, with some strong performances and a great cast. There are plenty of fun performances, and a decent script.

I score Fool's Paradise a fair 8/10.

Out Now in Cinemas and on digital at https://apple.co/42JE5QZ and you can pre-order on Blu-ray at https://amzn.to/46e62DF

Sunday 18 June 2023

COMPETITION: Win LE MÉPRIS on Blu-ray



LE MÉPRIS, fresh from its inclusion in the Cannes Classic selection at this year’s festival, will be available to own on 4K UHD for the first time, on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on 26 June.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis:
Featuring the style icon Brigitte Bardot (And God Created Woman, Viva Maria!) as Camille, and legendary French talent Michel Piccoli (Belle De Jour, The Things of Live) as Paul, LE MÉPRIS boasts a strong and eclectic supporting cast featuring ‘master of darkness’ Director, Fritz Lang as himself, renowned American actor Jack Palance as Jeremy, and the infamous Giorgia Moll as Francesca. The restoration also features the original and unforgettable soundtrack, ‘Theme of Camille’, which has gained worldwide admiration in its own right, by multi award-winning composer, Georges Delerue.
 
Set around the extraordinary Villa Malaparte on Capri; LE MÉPRIS tells the tragic romance between Paul and his wife, Camille. Paul is enlisted the task of re-writing a film script. Whilst he becomes engrossed in writing, he appears oblivious to the film producer’s interest in his irresistibly beautiful wife, Camille. In turn, we witness the hurtful unfolding of Paul & Camille’s marriage. 
 
Born in Paris in 1930, Jean-Luc Godard came from a bourgeois Franco-Swiss family, where he attended school until his parents divorced in 1948 and he moved to Paris. A contemporary of François Truffaut, Eric Rohmer and Jacques Rivette, Godard first became involved in cinema through literary criticism, writing several articles under the pseudonym Hans Lucas. After supplying funding to films by Rivette and Rohmer, with whom he had also founded a ‘Gazette du Cinema’ for their writing, Godard’s family withdrew their financial support, and he took to living a Bohemian lifestyle, often stealing food and money when necessary. After becoming a scriptwriter and having made several short films, Godard made his memorable directorial debut in 1959 with À Bout de Souffle, cementing his reputation (earned from his articles and screenplays) as being at the forefront of La Nouvelle Vague.
 
LE MÉPRIS is a welcome addition to the ever-growing VINTAGE WORLKD CINEMA collection.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3PjuX2j

Enter now for a chance to win.
COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 03-07-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win Marcel the Shell with Shoes On on DVD and Blu-ray



MARCELTHE SHELL WITH SHOES ON WILL BE RELEASED ON DVD AND BLU-RAY ON 26th JUNE 2023

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and a copy on DVD and one on Blu-ray to give away.

The BAFTA and Oscar-nominated film, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, is the story of a plucky seashell called Marcel and his attempt to reunite with his family. Based on the award-winning 2010 short film that went viral online, Jenny Slate (EverythingEverywhere All At Once)reprises her role as the voice of Marcel, with Isabella Rossellini(Incredibles 2),Andy Richter (AmericanDad!) and Leslie Stahl(60 Minutes)also featuring.

Charming, beautifully animated and surprisingly poignant, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON is an inventive and heartwarming tale about coming out of your shell and embracing life. It’s a film that, as The Hollywood Reporter says, has “much to offer when it comes to lessons and laughs”.

Synopsis:
When struggling filmmaker Dean (writer-director Dean Fleischer Camp) moves into an Airbnb, he quickly discovers that he is not alone. Marcel (Jenny Slate), an adorable one-inch-tall shell, already lives there with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, Marcel and Connie live alone as the sole survivors  of a mysterious tragedy. Taken with his unlikely new friend, Dean starts filming Marcel and his grandmother, igniting a meteoric rise to internet fame that changes their lives forever. But will Marcel’s new found sense of possibility and a throng of super fans be enough to track down his long-lost family?

Soulful, whimsical and intricately crafted, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON is the feature adaptation of Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate’s popular series of short films and New York Times-bestselling books, and marks the big screen debut of the internet’s most beloved mollusc.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3CzKy6r

Enter now for a chance to win.
COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 03-07-23
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Thursday 15 June 2023

REVIEW: The Flash (2023) - Starring Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle

Review by Jon Donnis
I found myself unsure if I should review The Flash due to the disgraceful crimes of its lead star, not to mention the fact that Warner Bros and DC seem incapable of making moral and ethical decisions regarding the actions of the star of its films. As such I will not mention the name of the Actor who plays The Flash during this review, and I will totally separate the actor who deserves to be in prison, from the beloved character, most famously played in the TV series by the excellent Grant Gustin, who really should have starred in this film. Anyway, with that out of the way, onto the film itself.


After aiding Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), also known as Batman, and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), also known as Wonder Woman, in foiling a botched bank robbery, Barry Allen, the speedster known as The Flash, decides to revisit his childhood home. There, he immerses himself in memories of his parents, Nora (Maribel Verdú) and Henry (Ron Livingston), whose lives were tragically disrupted when Henry was wrongly convicted for Nora's murder. Overwhelmed by his emotions, Barry unintentionally journeys back in time to earlier that day and shares this revelation with Bruce. Despite Bruce's cautionary words about the potential risks of time travel, Barry is determined to alter the past.

Returning to the present, Barry suddenly finds himself forcibly ejected from the Speed Force by another speedster and unexpectedly lands in an alternate version of 2013, where his mother is alive. Realizing that he has arrived on the very day he originally acquired his superhuman abilities, Barry locates his past self and comprehends the significance of this moment. Together, the two versions of Barry Allen proceed to the Central City Police Department, where Barry takes a bold step by ensuring that his 2013 counterpart is struck by lightning, granting him extraordinary powers at the cost of losing his own.

As Barry grapples with the challenges of mentoring his younger self in mastering his newfound abilities, the duo stumbles upon a broadcast delivered by General Zod (Michael Shannon), who ominously declares his intent to invade Earth.

The biggest "spoiler" of the film, which everyone knows, is that Michael Keaton returns to the role he made famous, as everyone's favourite Batman. And in many ways this film really is a Batman film paying tribute to the legendary actor and the role he made famous.

It is hard to talk about the film without mentioning the cameos, and towards the end of the film as the multiverse is collapsing, we get to see some great cameos, some very much beloved DC stars of the past, as well as one big one who never got to be. I will leave it at that.


I am curious as to how far we are away from having a totally CGI Superman actually star in a complete film, you will understand what I mean if you watch The Flash.

The film itself is ok, it is not great, don't get me wrong, I loved seeing Keaton as Batman, he was always my favourite, and seeing an older version of that character is a lot of fun, and proves if anything there is still some life left in that Batman.

You will know that Supergirl (Sasha Calle) appears in the film, and I actually quite like Sasha Calle's version, it is different without being woke, or completely rewritten. My only issue is we don't get to see that much of her until towards the end of the film, and she barely has any lines.

Another issue with stories that feature messing with time, is that often when everything is fixed, all that you just saw and had emotional investment in, suddenly means nothing, because it never happened.

The visual effects in The Flash are excellent as you would expect, the cameos especially towards the end are a lot of fun and are probably what you will take away most from the film.

The Flash character arc is very much retreading what you have already seen done in the TV series, and done over much longer period and with more detail, so I wasn't that interested in that part of the film.

The ending is ok, a bit of an anticlimax because of the time travel issues i mentioned earlier. There is a funny twist right at the very end, which probably is the only moment I raised a smile throughout.

A strong performance from Keaton, the cameos, and great visual effects save this film.


The Good
One last time to see Michael Keaton as Batman, what more could you possibly want? I liked Sasha Calle as Supergirl even if her part was limited.

The Bad
At 2 hours and 15 minutes the film felt very long. It is hard to separate the crimes of the actor and the character when watching, and you will constantly feel anger that they never recast The Flash, or refilmed "Thems" parts.

Overall
An enjoyable DC film, if a little pointless in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't set anything up, it doesn't end any arcs, its just a film with some nice cameos.

I score The Flash a fair 7/10

Out Now in Cinemas.

Wednesday 14 June 2023

REVIEW: Nefarious (2023) - Starring Jordan Belfi and Sean Patrick Flanery

Review by Jon Donnis
Recently it seems that I have concentrated on reviewing a lot of the big budget Hollywood releases, so today I thought it was time for a change, and that I would look at a Christian independent horror film written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon.

In a state penitentiary, Dr. James Martin (Jordan Belfi ), a social psychologist, arrives for an interrogation with Edward Wayne Brady (Sean Patrick Flanery), a notorious serial killer and death-row inmate. Dr. Martin has taken over the role from Dr. Stewart, who tragically died by suicide the previous night. Edward, who is scheduled to be executed by electrocution later that day, believes he has multiple personalities, a diagnosis supported by Dr. Stewart.


Warden Tom Moss (Tom Ohmer), informs Dr. Martin that Edward's fate hinges on his diagnosis: if Dr. Martin deems Edward sane, he will be executed, but if Dr. Martin declares him insane with multiple personality disorder, Edward will be spared.

As Dr. Martin sits down to begin the interrogation; Edward rejects his human identity and claims to be a demon named "Nefariamous" inhabiting Edward's body. He insists that Satan himself gave him this name and prefers to be called "Nefarious" for short. Dr. Martin initially believes that Edward is merely pretending to be insane, but he becomes intrigued when Nefarious adamantly expresses his desire for execution. Surprisingly, Nefarious reveals that Dr. Martin will commit three murders before the day comes to an end.

The vast majority of the film takes place in the interrogation room with the two main characters Dr. Martin and Edward/Nefarious. As this film has a very tight budget, it needs to rely on the acting ability of Jordan Belfi and even more so Sean Patrick Flanery as the Nefarious character. Luckily both are very good actors, and Sean Patrick Flanery does an excellent job as the twitchy killer, trying to manipulate Dr. Martin.


Although the film is supernatural in origin, there are no visual effects, and as such the viewer really is left to make up their own mind as to if this really is a killer possessed by a demon, or if he is just a genius trying to manipulate everyone around him for his own crazy enjoyment.

As this is a Christian film, it has a strong story about good and evil, and even has famed American conservative political commentator, radio host, entrepreneur, and television producer Glenn Beck appear towards the end of the film as himself.

This is a well written and well-acted psychological horror film, the ending is rather predictable, but it doesn't spoil the enjoyment of the film.


The Good
A great example of what can be achieved with a very small budget if you have a decent story and good actors. Just over 90 minutes is about right, but perhaps could have been a little shorter.  Sean Patrick Flanery does an excellent and more importantly a convincing job as Edward/Nefarious.

The Bad
I would have liked to have had a bit more of a backstory on both the Dr. Martin and Edward characters, but I understand why that would have been tough considering the restrictions they had to deal with.

Overall
A simple film, with a strong story and great actors. Hard to find films like that these days.

You don't need to be religious to enjoy the film, in fact because of the way it is filmed, everything is very much left up to the viewer to decide, which is a great decision by the film makers.

I score Nefarious a strong 8.5/10

Out now on Digital at https://apple.co/45YJ4QR