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Like many, Dev Patel is an actor I have been following since his terrific performance in Slumdog Millionaire. Since then, he has become one of my favourite performers, especially since the film Lion became one of my favourite modern films. For these reasons, there was no chance I was missing his directorial debut in Monkey Man. After viewing this film, I have to say, Patel just be a director on the rise to look out for. Here is why I found Monkey Man to be such an achievement, especially for a first time director.

There are more complexities to the overall story, but the main storyline is that Patel portrays a man who has come from a life where his mother is brutally murdered in front of his eyes as a child. Now in adulthood, his past has come back to haunt him, with the criminal organization responsible is back in his life. At night, he fights in a ring and the audiences have come to know him as the Monkey Man. With these strengths, he will train in order to take down anyone involved in his past. It's a simple revenge story, but the nuances presented throughout the film make it much more emotional, and the stellar fight sequences are just the cherry on top.

The fights, choreography, and brutal nature of how he takes people out is simple pulse-pounding. You can just tell that Dev Patel had a very hard task getting this film made, as he has said publicly. I personally don't know how he pulled off certain techniques here because everything felt raw and real. The editing and cinematography is also unique so I was never bored. I will say the pacing does slow down in the middle, but I enjoyed the story so much that it didn't ruin it, but that's definitely my biggest complaint. The first and third acts are incredible, with a decent middle act. I've also heard some viewers complaining about the shaky cam, but I found it to be used sparingly and made it more visceral.

Overall, Monkey Man is a film that I highly recommend seeing in theatres, if not for the sound design alone. From the first scene to the final shot of the film, I thought the story progression felt earned and the action was more than satisfying. It's a simple story, built out to feel much grander in scale (while being done on a low, ten million dollar budget). Everything about this small flick is impressive. I will warn that it has quite a bit of graphic violence, so if that's not your thing, Monkey Man isn't for you. Otherwise, I had a great time with this one and I absolutely recommend it.

I'll just start by saying that if you know what to expect from a movie like this and you still want to see it, then I can't recommend it enough. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now in theatres and it's probably the most fun, bombastic, silly (as well as dumb) movie in this whole Monsterverse to date. When this franchise began in 2014 with Godzilla and then Kong: Skull Island shortly after, I never expected we would end up with a movie like this one. Look, this movie was made for people who want to see giant monsters fight each other, so if that's all you need from this, it delivers. Here's why this big, dumb movie gave me an awesome experience.

Picking up after the events of Godzilla vs. Kong, the majority of this movie takes place down in hollow earth. Still unravelling secrets about Skull Island, a group of new and old cast members journey into the depths of hollow earth, making discoveries about ancestors and possible, current civilization. This continues throughout the movie as Kong discovers a leader of apes, Scar King. This leads to Kong needing the help of Godzilla, who has spent the entire movie charging up at random nuclear locations around the world. Yes, the overall plot is that silly and all over the place, but it all builds up to a 20-30-minute battle sequence that was just pure fun.

I will say, as expected, the human story is thin, but I really didn't care, and that's because of Dan Stevens' performance. He knew the movie he was in and he was just having a blast with his character. He livened up the movie when the monsters weren't there (which is also not very often this time around). A nice story continues from the previous instalment about Ilene (Rebecca Hall) and her newfound daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle). But, Kong with a giant robotic glove, Godzilla being the most powerful he has ever been, zero gravity action scenes, and surprise monsters all clashing together just made me smile. If you're looking for something deep, look elsewhere.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire may have been exactly the movie I was searching for at the time, but I can't deny that it worked for me. The movie's premise is honestly just a bunch of nonsense to build up to awesome action, and that was clearly director Adam Wingard's plan from the beginning. This is a movie built specifically for fans of giant monsters and for that, I have to give it up for it delivering that. Will there be a dumber big-budget movie this year? Probably not, but this is an example of dumb done amazingly well. If this review sells you on seeing it, then I absolutely recommend it.

I can't remember the last time I watched a new movie and had so much fun watching it that I forgot I was just watching something that was just okay overall. After finally getting around to seeing the original Road House, I can say that I thoroughly enjoy it, but if you're a fan of that movie and hope for the same with this version, I would temper those thoughts. This version does its own thing and only takes the bones of the original story, as well as some character names. For what this movie is, it will be a movie I recommend and mention for a bit, simply due to how much fun I had with it. It's not great by any means though, so let's dive into it.

Elwood Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal), an Ex-UFC fighter, takes a job working at a Road House in Florida, where he is meant to maintain peace and clean up the terrible nightly patrons. What comes into play shortly after this is that Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen) wishes to tear down the Road House to build condos. I'll be honest, that plotline almost completely ruined the movie at first for me because that is the villain storyline in so many terrible movies in the past, but I went with it. Magnussen's performance as that character was hammy enough to enjoy anyway, so when his character evolves and sends out Knox (Conor McGregor) to take out Dalton, the movie gets a significant burst of energy.

Daniela Melchior as Ellie also shared some very solid chemistry with Gyllenhaal and I really liked Frankie (Jessica Williams) as the bar owner, but I truly believe the make or break of the movie is McGregor's over-the-top, Irish villain. He goes for it with a crazy accent and his back-and-forth with Gyllenhaal had me cracking up throughout. The action in this film and the fight scenes were a ton of fun, and that's all I really wanted. I think this film should've been put in theatres instead of straight to Prime Video (Amazon, what are you doing?), but I still enjoyed it at home. Again, if for nothing else, this is supposed to be a fun and exciting movie and it ends up being just that in my opinion.

Road House is directed by Doug Liman, who did a great job at the helm, but with as many writers as this film has, it feels messy, storywise. I rolled my eyes multiple times but also equally wanted to clap at everything. It's weird because I can't say this is a great movie, but it's a movie I had a great time with and would watch again. Road House is now streaming and I think people will have a good time with it, regardless of whether they've seen the original. Check it out.

The Ghostbusters franchise is one that I got into much later in my life, but I do think the original film is great. I never liked any other rendition or sequel though until Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021. I found that film to just be a wonderful adventure that just happened to take place in continuity with the first two films. Well, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire takes those characters, makes a direct sequel to that story, but also makes it feel like the original by taking place in many of the same locations. While this is filled with too much nostalgia, I still had a good time watching it because I like this new cast. If you liked the last one, here's why I recommend this.

The film begins with a flashback to the 1800s where we are shown an ancient orb that froze people to death. Cut to the modern day when Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani) chooses to sell this orb (that has been passed down to him) to Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and he buys it immediately. As a new team of investigators keeps these ghostly objects under experimentation, this orb eventually unleashes numerous ghosts, with the main one from the 1800s (Garraka) controlling everything. The premise is very similar to the original film, especially in the final act. We are even shown the same ghosts and locations numerous times, which feels tedious and forced. Still, I went for the cast and I was not disappointed.

Gary (Paul Rudd), Callie (Carrie Coon), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) all return here and their family dynamic is still just as solid as it was before. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Gary and Phoebe, as he slowly becomes the father figure in her life, and yes, of course, the original cast is fun as well. Dan Aykroyd is one of the main side characters here which felt nice and Ernie Hudson actually has more to do than I was expecting. I will warn those who want to see Bill Murray though, that he probably has about ten minutes of screen time. He does have one moment in particular that had me cracking up and that's all I needed from that. I have to admit though, even if this may be unpopular among most viewers of this film, that I think Kumail Nanjiani is my favourite part of the film.

Some viewers will find his character annoying, but his character is the backbone of this story and where he begins as opposed to where he ends up by the end, had me laughing throughout. I loved that he was having a blast with this wacky character. What I didn't notice though, surprisingly, is that Gil Kenan took over as director from Jason Reitman. It seemed that the same level of care was put into the emotional and sweet moments, which fell right in line with the last film. He and Jason wrote the screenplay together though, so that's probably why.

Look, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will annoy people who are tired of nostalgia in their films, but I was able to look past that and have a good time regardless. I liked seeing the original cast having some fun and I would gladly watch one more film with this new cast. Do a couple of jokes fall flat? Yes. Does it feel like it's overstuffed with characters? Yes. Did I have a good time though? Absolutely. I pretty much got exactly what I expected from this one and I'm not mad about that.

The Kung Fu Panda movies have always just been well-done pieces of family entertainment. Nothing more and nothing less, but the first movie in particular was far better than I expected it to be. For that reason alone, I'll always give the sequels a chance. I have to admit though that I thought this franchise had reached its conclusion with the third instalment, which was eight years ago now. Well, after watching this fourth instalment, even though I didn't mind watching it, it's not as special as it once was. Here's why I feel this is the weakest Kung Fu Panda movie.

About to become a new leader for his people, Po (Jack Black) must find a replacement for his title of Dragon Warrior. With the emergence of a new villain in The Chameleon (Viola Davis), Po teams up with a new character named Zhen (Awkwafina) and they embark on a journey to find her. Her powers can bring back previous franchise villains from the spirit realm and Po may have to face some old enemies along the way. She can also shapeshift into anything and anyone, including our main characters, which is a trope many movies have done before, but it was enjoyable enough here. Look, there just isn't the same amount of heart as the previous movies and the biggest glaring issue is the absence of the Furious Five.

The Furious Five (for those of you unaware of the previous movies) is an elite team that eventually put Po in the position he is in now. Their presence as side characters throughout the franchise was honestly what added to the stories. This time, they are completely written out in favour of one sidekick and a smaller budget for the movie. This bled through and became a distracting piece that just felt missing. I'm sure a far better film could've been made that didn't include them, but having the same energy as the first three, while not nearly as much fun, made Kung Fu Panda 4 kind of feel pointless, even though I still enjoyed watching it for what it was.

This is a movie that will probably find a large audience with kids, but I'm not sure how many adults will find this one entertaining. For being a movie about Kung Fu, there's also a lot less action and it's by far the shortest entry when you take out the credits. In many ways, this feels thrown together for a quick cash grab, which I honestly understand if you're a studio thinking about which franchises can still be profitable, it's just that more care could've easily been put in. This is in no way a bad movie, it's just a watchable animated sequel that had a few nice moments. With a couple of solid laughs and a touching finale, I'll recommend this one to kids, but it's not something to rush out for.

I will be pondering this film for many days after this review, but I will give it my best shot for now. For context, I am someone who has never read the source material, never seen the David Lynch adaptation, and never seen the mini-series from the year 2000. I went into Dune: Part One a couple of years ago and the story was completely fresh for me so I loved it, but it also felt slightly unfulfilling. Well, I take that last comment back now, because once I dove into the real meat of the story with Dune: Part Two, this duo of films became one of my favourite sci-fi stories ever. Here is why I found Dune: Part Two to be a genuine masterpiece.

Picking up right where the first film leaves off (with a bit of time passing in between), Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is now living with the Fremen and learning their ways. His mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) being pregnant definitely raises some issues amongst the people, but they believe Paul is their saviour, so they choose to follow him. After having visions throughout the first film of a woman named Chani (Zendaya), they form a bond in this film that seems unbreakable. The Harkonnen family is also not about to slow down and Paul will lead anyone and everyone he has to, to stop this family from succeeding. With the introduction of the Emporer (Christopher Walken) as the man who was truly behind past destruction, this addition made for a far deeper story for me. He doesn't have a lot of screen time, but his presence opened a lot of doors for further storytelling. When it all comes down to it, this is a spiritual, thought-provoking, exciting, and subdued epic sci-fi film that has layers upon layers of storytelling, that's almost too much to get into here.

I will say that where the story takes the character of Paul by the end of the film is not what I expected in the least. Once the first act of this film wrapped up, I found myself completely unaware of where the story was going. Again, since I had no prior knowledge of this story, this was unpredictable for me in all the best ways. A couple of surprises and twists absolutely blew me away and had me thinking it's some of the best Blockbuster storytelling I've seen in years. Timothée Chalamet also gives one of the best performances of his career to date here, which just elevated this already incredible story. My only complaint with this film though, is actually also a massive compliment.

There are a couple of characters that are introduced in this film that feel so vital to the story coming to an end, that I found myself perplexed why we didn't see them in the first film. With that said, Dune: Part Two doesn't waste a second of its run time in that regard. Characters are introduced, made incredibly important, and performed insanely well, and they help bring the overall story to a close. I may be disappointed that they aren't introduced in the first, director Denis Villeneuve just simply knew what he was doing and my complaint ended up becoming praise.

Villeneuve is one of the best directors out there today, without question, and the work he was able to get out of his cast and crew was breathtaking. From jaw-dropping Cinematography by Greig Fraser, to stunning visual effects by hundreds of VFX workers, to the pulse-pounding and goosebump-inducing score, down to the perfect editing and masterful costumes and sets, there's nothing I can complain about. On a technical level, Dune: Part Two is perfection and with a more than satisfying story to go along with that, I just can't remember the last time I watched a movie this good on the big screen, especially on this scale.

I could gush about Dune: Part Two for many hours, so I'll just wrap this up by commending this entire cast and crew for creating such a piece of art. This is a remarkable achievement in cinema and it better be recognized at next year's Oscars. I know that releasing a film this early in the year is questionable, but I believe the love this film is getting will propel it forward. My jaw is still on the floor from experiencing this film yesterday and I can't wait to watch it again and let it all sink in. It's not the type of sci-fi film that will be for everyone, but if you've seen the first instalment and at least liked it, I can't see how this would let you down in any way. Dune: Part Two is now playing in theatres and I highly recommend checking out this masterpiece on the biggest screen you can find.

When Adam Sandler changes gears to work on a dramatic film, I'm always intrigued and willing to give it a chance. I'm not sure if he will ever top performances like he gave in Reign Over Me or Punch Drunk Love, but these days, I feel that his comedy has slipped away from him (in terms of feature films). Well, I stand by that last statement because Netflix has just released his latest dramatic effort in the film, Spaceman, and while I have my complaints, this is a good film with a solid performance at the forefront. It's been a while since I've liked Sandler this much to be honest. If you're into sci-fi, I recommend this one and here's why.

The majority of the film takes place on a spaceship near the planet Jupiter. This backdrop ended up being slightly disappointing though because the film is really about the reflection of a love story between Jakub (Adam Sandler) and Lenka (Carey Mulligan). Being alone in space has him grieving the ending of their relationship in his way, but things switch gears when he is visited by a giant spider, voiced by Paul Dano. This aspect may seem bizarre and at first, I even thought it didn't fit with the rest of the film, but it grew on me. The meaning of the spider is what made the movie what it is ultimately, so I liked it. My biggest complaint with this film in general though is the fact that the sci-fi elements are quite cerebral and engaging, so why didn't they choose to explore that a little more? Those were easily my favourite moments of the film.

Sandler gives a surprisingly restrained performance here, never going over the top or trying too hard and never getting too sentimental either. I'm surprised they gave his character barely a line of humour and his few brief scenes with Milligan felt authentic. Director Johan Renck helms his very first feature film after working as a director for many years on television and music videos. He cut his teeth on shows like Breaking Bad and Chernobyl, so it's no surprise that this was also well-directed. Some viewers may find his choice of pacing a tad slow, but I was sucked in by it. I truly feel that the lack of exploration outside of the romance story did hurt my experience though.

Spaceman is a film that satisfied me in terms of the story it was choosing to tell, but I felt like so much more could've been explored, which I admit is a personal nitpick, but it stuck with me. There are a few metaphors I enjoyed as well and it's all around a solid, solid movie, right down to the great score and pretty decent CGI. Scoring this one is odd for me, so due to my complaints, I'll knock it down a few notches, but I still recommend it and think it's really good for what it is. Now streaming on Netflix, there are far worse films out there than Spaceman. So again, I recommend this one.

The first Ted movie is a very enjoyable one and I even liked the sequel, but I found the idea of a prequel sit-com television series to be odd. Still, I liked the movies enough to give it a shot and I found it to be superior. Like the movies, Seth MacFarlane also wrote and directed this series and he basically made a merger of Ted and Family Guy. It's done in the style of Family Guy, with humour that falls in line with the Ted films, and also has its own new flare. This raunchy and risky series is more than worth a watch and here's why.

Taking place in the 1990s, young John Bennett (Max Burkholder) is in his high school years and his old friend is a Teddy bear named Ted (Seth MacFarlane) who came to life during his childhood. Ted follows John everywhere, even having all of the same classes. They learn about sexuality, smoking marijuana, finding their love for the movie Flash Gordon, and just about anything that fans of the movies could ask for. It's not just about references though, thankfully. The family dynamic is also just as good as the humour between the two main characters.

John's mother Susan (Alanna Ubach) is a housewife who sees the most precious sides of people, making for some great moments. John's cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham) is probably focused on as the largest secondary role in the series and I enjoyed the arc they took her character on. Her back and forth with John also felt real which was nice. Now for the most controversial character in John's father, Matty (Scott Grimes). This character is used as a vessel to have very risky, homophobic, and sexist humour throughout, all while the series makes sure the meaning/lessons of the jokes are the opposite of what is being said. I thought the risky humour was some of the best MacFarlane has ever put to screen. As a sitcom, Ted is great.

Ted is simply a series that goes for the humour, excels in the emotional aspects of certain characters, and has a few episodes where I was wondering what I was watching (in a good way). There is one episode in particular where John's father has a companion and I couldn't believe what I watching, but I'm not ruining that here. This type of series all comes down to the humour and if the writing cares enough to put in the effort to have character arcs, and it definitely succeeded at those. It's a mini-series that's only seven episodes long, so it's not a huge investment of your time either. It's a breezy, funny, and heartfelt series that I recommend, especially if you liked both prior movies. All episodes are now streaming.

The Coen Brothers are a duo that has made some of the best movies out there, but I haven't been as big of a fan when they do things on their own. They seem to have a spark when they work together, but I'll always watch anything either of them is a part of. Drive-Away Dolls is Ethan Coen's latest directorial effort and I had a really good time watching it, but I'm not sure if I'll ever properly process it. There's just something about it that I wasn't expecting and I'm not sure if that added or took away from it. Still, if you're ready to be surprised, in a dirty, sexual way, then I recommend Drive-Away Dolls, and here's why.

Needing a break from her reality, Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) decides to take a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida, along with her friend Jamie (Margaret Qualley), who just recently had a break-up and has nowhere to live. The two of them rent a car and hit the road, only to realize they have a briefcase with something crazy inside, the head of a dead man, and they may possibly even be falling in love with each other along the way. That's all I can say about this film without giving too much away because I genuinely did not expect where this film goes or what was in that briefcase. The reveal of what is in there and what it relates to is one of the funniest reveals I've seen in a while, so that made for a good time at the movies, but I do think this film (aside from the humour and clever writing), is one-note.

Drive-Away Dolls is a film (like I said) that has great dialogue, but that's to be expected from Ethan Coen. My issue is that even though the dialogue is quippy and solid, a lot of the same humour is repeated and a lot of the same scenarios as well. That shouldn't be the case when the film itself is only 84 minutes long. The film is riddled with sexual humour and inclusive lingo throughout the entire runtime, which was all good, it's just that the film didn't have anything else to say aside from that. I really enjoyed what was on screen in that regard, don't get me wrong, but I felt that was the only style of humour here. Still, it was a fun time.

If you've watched the trailers, you've had every single cameo spoiled for you, which was a bit of a letdown in my opinion, even though the reason for their cameos was brilliant. I also loved the lame editing style here that was clearly done on purpose. Cheesy transitions and random psychedelic imagery definitely made me ask what I was actually watching, but I liked it. Nothing about this film is what I expected and I think that's why I ended up liking it because it's otherwise slightly repetitive. When all is said and done, Drive-Away Dolls is worth seeing if you're up for clever humour and a lot of sexual dialogue and visuals. It's now playing in theatres and I had a good time overall.

It took me a couple of months to get around to watching Anyone But You, but I'm happy that I finally did. Being a huge Glen Powell fan gets me to watch anything he is a part of eventually, so it was on my list anyway. I'm also happy to say that it's better than your average romantic comedy. Yes it's predictable and yes it has cliches riddled throughout, but the cast was likeable and it was done in a way that didn't feel stale. Here are my overall thoughts on Anyone But You.

The film begins with a meet-cute, as Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) meet at a coffee shop. They share a great night together before Bea decides to slip away and blow him off. Months later, they both are invited to the same destination wedding due to mutual friends/family. Hating that they are on this trip together while also wanting to make their families happy, they decide to fake being in love. Of course, this makes for some drama and laughs. I'm sure you know how the rest of the story plays out, it's still worth watching though.

Powell is great as always and this is actually my favourite performance I've seen from Sweeney. I liked her role in the Netflix series Everything Sucks, but she never jumped out at me since then. I thought their chemistry here was pretty good and their back and forth had me laughing often. There are some big eye-rolling moments for sure and a cheesy ending, but again, the characters and situations are all enjoyable. It's been a while since I enjoyed a new Hollywood romantic comedy, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Look, this is a film where you should know what to expect and the film gives you exactly that. It's a light, breezy good time that I wouldn't be mad at watching again. I see why word of mouth has really kept the box office moving for this one. For anyone who wants a new rom-com, it definitely does the job. It's pretty standard in terms of filmmaking so I don't have much to say on that front. I would say check it out if you're wondering what to watch with your partner. I had a good time with Anyone But You.

Knowing that Bob Marley was too young when he passed away and knowing that he made fantastic music that was meant to bring peace and happiness was really all I knew about his life. Anytime I hear his music today I will gladly listen, but the fact that I didn't know too much about him is the main reason I wanted to see Bob Marley: One Love. I'm glad that I did because I think it's a solid film, but I believe only focussing on this one moment in his life made his story feel too short and simple. It has a lot of elements going for it, which is why I'm going to be positive, but it's not without its issues. Here are my thoughts.

At a time in Marley's life when crime was high in Jamaica, Bob Marley: One Love explores his life towards his final years. He has already made music and performed concerts but is now focussing on the album, Exodus. Aside from him making this album with The Wailers, the film's substance ends up coming down to his personal life and the crime surrounding it. It's a great showcase for the person he was and is still seen today, it's just that I think I expected more meat to the story. There are multiple times when he is about to perform a concert but the film doesn't show any of it, or text on screen to explain things that would've made for some great filmmaking. What was filmed for the screen was all good stuff, I just found it had a lot of missed opportunities and it could've been longer.

My easiest praise goes out to both Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch though, as their performances of Bob and Rita Marley were amazing. I've always loved Ben-Adir in films like One Night in Miami... or even in small roles like the recent Barbie film. Lynch never gives a bad performance either. I bought them as this couple and there is one scene in particular where Lynch gives it her all and shines. The performances, obviously the music, and even the direction by Reinaldo Marcus Green were all the best aspects of this film, it all comes down to the writing for me and what was opted not to be a part of the story, visually.

Overall, I don't have too much more to say about this film because they keep the story very straightforward. Yes, there are flashbacks to his childhood to give a little bit of backstory, but I felt the film didn't go far enough, and maybe that was because it had four writers. Maybe they didn't know what to show and what not to, but I think this film was an example of too many cooks in the kitchen, even if the result was still good. Look, Bob Marley: One Love is a movie that I liked and would recommend, and some viewers will likely love it, it's just that I think more could've been done. Now playing in theatres, I believe Bob Marley: One Love is a nice showcase of his life.

I'm a huge fan of Marvel, whether you're talking about the MCU franchise or what other studios have done with the characters. For that reason, I'll always give each of them a chance. Upon hearing such awful things about Madame Web, I was worried but still open-minded. Well, I do believe certain critics are being a little too harsh on just how bad it is, but yes, it's not a good film at all. There are some nice ideas and a few positive things going for it, but as a whole, it all came down to the screenplay for me, which is easily the worst aspect here.

The film follows Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) as she begins to gain the ability to see into the near future. This ability enables her to try and prevent people from dying, which comes in handy because a man by the name of Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim) is after her and three other women, simply because he has had visions that they will murder him in the future. Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Anya (Isabela Merced), and Mattie (Celeste O'Connor) round out the main cast, but never did I sense the chemistry between these three. Cassandra is the main character, but the film doesn't work if these other three characters aren't given anything to work with, which is exactly the case here.

Instead of letting you experience the film and figure things out for yourself, this is a screenplay that spoon-feeds everything to you. After Cassandra discovers her abilities, the audience should easily understand how they work. Still, for some reason, lines of dialogue are said that literally express what she just did, even if she's the only one in the room. There are also far too many plot conveniences that make the story easier to tell and that just hurt my head. Each of the side characters has a similar backstory, which makes it easier for them all to be there and not have families worried about where they are. On top of that, either there was a lot cut out of this film, or there were a lot of bizarre editing choices. Either way, Madame Web felt slow, rushed, messy, and disjointed all at once.

I enjoyed the dead-pan performance from Dakota Johnson though. Her line delivery, even with the poor dialogue, was enjoyable to me. The villain storyline could have been interesting as well, it's just that the performance by Rahim feels very wooden and it was obvious that they changed his dialogue in post-production. The ADR work here is very much visible. Look, I'm a huge Spider-Man fan, so I'll be watching anything that's related, but I just can't recommend this one at all. There are a few moments that got a chuckle out of me and I liked the central performance, but other than that, Madame Web is a failure.

This may be the first time writing a review for a film that I disliked watching, but really, really liked. Every year there is a feel-good drama that comes along and captures my heart, and while Suncoast absolutely did that for me, there is one thing it also did to really turn me off. I believe this is a film worth watching and it hits all the right emotional notes. I'll get into what made this one a hard watch for me, but I just wanted to state that this is a great story overall. Here are my thoughts on Suncoast.

Taking place in the 2000s, Doris (Niko Parker) is trying to find her place in life, in school, and trying to find friends, all while dealing with her harsh mother (Laura Linney) and the fact that her brother is about to die. This is a lot for a teenager to deal with and that made for a very emotional story from start to finish. The third act of the film had me in tears and I loved where each of these characters ended up in terms of their arcs. The one positive thing in Doris' life is when she meets a protestor near the hospice centre, by the name of Paul Warren (Woody Harrelson). Their friendship is easily my favourite overall portion of this film, but that's honestly because almost every single character is way too unlikable, almost to the point that I couldn't enjoy the film.

Laura Linney in particular is giving it her all as a hard-as-nails mother and she deserves an award for how well she conveyed this character. Lauren Chinn wrote and directed this film based on people in her own life, so this is a true story and I accepted that she was probably like that in real life. The dialogue here is very harsh at times though, and not even just with the mother. Doris' friends (for the most part) are all stuck-up and since they are all the secondary characters who get a lot of screen time, there just weren't many people to latch onto or root for. What I got from this film is the evolution of people who may need to see things from a different perspective and in that way, it very much worked for me.

Suncoast is a film that rests on the shoulders of Paul getting through to Doris so that she can see how she has been treating her family and if that aspect didn't work, this film would have collapsed. Thankfully, that's the best stuff here. Niko Parker is great in the lead role and Woody Harrelson is great as always, so this held it all together. I highly recommend this film, solely based on the story itself and the final act being very well done. It's just that I'm not sure if I'll be revisiting it soon and that simply comes down to the dialogue being way too harsh, even for someone like me who has heard it all. It was so harsh that it almost felt unnatural at times. Overall though, this is a very good movie.

This is one of the oddest experiences I've had at the movies in a while. Lisa Frankenstein is a film where the idea seemed fun, the people involved have made things I've enjoyed in the past, and the cast seemed to be having a great time, so what went wrong for me? Well, I think it all comes down to the fact that this movie is trying to be accessible to a wide age spectrum, but that made the movie lose a bit of its charm. This is easily a script that should've taken it one step further and been rated R. Many films have done similar premises to this one in the past, and while I won't say they were all better in concept, the final products say otherwise. Let me explain myself.

Taking place in 1989, Lisa (Kathryn Newton), a teenager with a few questionable traits, wishes to be with someone who is dead and she has never met. His corpse is reanimated after she wishes upon his grave and a mysterious storm hits. From here, even though he can't speak, they become close and kind of psychotic. This very quickly becomes a twisted and messed up movie, but under the PG-13 banner, it just felt watered down. There are multiple instances when limbs are chopped off or people are murdered, and while it all is done in the spirit of having a good, weird time at the movies, it lacks the visuals of everything that was going on.

Kathryn Newton is quite enjoyable as Lisa and I wish the film had better dialogue for her because even though there is some clever writing and she made me laugh quite often, she is a much darker character than the PG-13 rating allowed her to be. Cole Sprouse (in my opinion) has honestly never been better though. He has no lines, but that made for some great physical acting. For a character without dialogue, he held his own against Newton here. Carla Gugino plays Lisa's stepmother and where that story leads is easily the highlight of the film, but again, every great idea this film had just felt watered down. I feel like a broken record talking about this one simply because I think this had all the bones of a great, fun, weird movie. There is also one scene in particular where I was laughing because I couldn't believe what I was watching, but the movie couldn't go far enough to show it actually happening. That was the majority of my experience here, even though the film was clever enough to be mildly enjoyable as it is.

Look, Zelda Williams does a solid job at directing here, Diablo Cody's script is sharp, but does add the extra flare that was needed, I liked every performance, and it absolutely felt like it was from the '80s/'90s. Everyone did a very solid job bringing this screenplay to life. Everything about this movie from the set design to the bright, visual aesthetic all worked for me and should be commended, I just can't wrap my head around why this one wasn't rated R, especially considering certain things that happen or are implied here. It's a head-scratcher for me. I still had a good time though and I feel that the crowd that will like this one the most are teenagers in high school who get the humour. Otherwise, it's okay, but it had so much potential.

I'm not going to lie, seeing big companies like Dreamworks Animation making feature films that go straight to streaming services is becoming upsetting. I believe great stories deserve to be seen on the big screen, and even though this was clearly done on a smaller budget, this is a story that families need to show their kids. There were moments of this film that I found to be so good that it almost rivalled the great Pixar films. No, I don't put Orion and the Dark on that level of greatness, but overall it's a very, very good film. For a film aimed at a young audience, it can be pretty profound.

Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is a scared-of-everything middle schooler who wishes to grow up and not be this way, but when his biggest fear of all, the dark (Paul Walter Hauser), becomes a real, speaking entity, his fears must be faced. Along with appearances from entities Light (Ike Barinholtz), Insomnia (Nat Faxon), Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett), Quiet (Aparna Nancherla), Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel), and Sleep (Natasia Demetriou), everything we experience on a nightly basis, especially as children, are all personified here. At first, I figured this would feel too similar to Inside Out or Elemental, but found it to be its own original idea that fits right in with those films. This is a story about a young boy uniquely facing his fears, and profound dialogue (even for a kid's film) is expressed along the way. I guess I should have expected great dialogue though, since this was written by the one and only Charlie Kaufman.

From Being John Malkovich to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and even more recently with I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Kaufman is a writer that I have loved. I need to see more of his work on-screen, but I have yet to watch a film he has written that I didn't think was at least very good. Yes, his thought-provoking nature is toned down slightly here because his live-action work isn't exactly for children. It's almost like he took one of his amazing, adult ideas, and wrote it for kids. I thought in that way, Orion and the Dark really worked. It can be a little childish at times, but the messages are fantastic. Where this film took a slight dip for me though was in the final act.

This film is told both in the past and present, with Orion going through these crazy events and also telling his daughter about them in the present. Once this aspect of the film took a bit of a turn, I found it lost a bit of focus and became a little disjointed in the last 20-30 minutes. The final couple of scenes are great, but how the film ends up there feels messy. I will say that Orion and the Dark is one of the better films I've seen that was a Netflix original lately, so if you're into animation or have children to show a new movie to, I highly recommend this one. It's a film I loved watching, but have issues with at the same time. Check it out.

Matthew Vaughn has always been a director I have admired. Whether you are talking about his earlier works in Layer Cake or Stardust, or his over-the-top action films in Kick-Ass or The Kingsman films, I have never disliked his work until recently. It was not until 2021's The King's Man that I found his work to feel a little stale. That film didn't work for me on many levels, but I have either liked or loved the rest of his filmography otherwise. Well, you can put Argylle down as another one of his that I liked. There has been a lot of criticism, but I do not fully agree with it.

This is going to be a difficult one to describe without sounding confusing, but I will give it a go. Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a novelist who has written a book series known as Argylle. What she does not realize is that the events of the book have actually happened in reality and continue to happen in real-time as she writes her next sequel. In comes Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell), a spy who shows up to protect Elly and takes her on a crazy adventure, avoiding a real-life spy organization out to get her. While this plot goes on, Elly sees visions of the main character in her book, Argylle (Henry Cavill), who helps her both keep and lose focus on her tasks. What I will say is that this film did not market itself well.

Audiences see Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, and John Cena all over the posters and trailers, but in reality, they collectively have about 10-20 minutes of screen time in a film that is nearly two and a half hours long. Some viewers will be bothered by this so I thought I would mention it, but the fact is, I love both Sam Rockwell and Bryce Dallas Howard and I thoroughly enjoyed their chemistry together here, so I was easily able to forgive that. Where I will complain about the film though, is the fact that it tries to be too clever for its own good. Once something is revealed to the audience as a twist, another twist or two is layered within that twist, and then another few twists are just around the corner. It kept me on the edge of my seat and made it impossible to predict what was coming next (even though I kind of predicted the ending), which was nice, it was just too much all at once.

Aside from the ridiculous amount of twists, this film (aside from the opening action sequences) has a fun story and quite a bit of action, especially in the last act. With that said though, as long as you are in for anything (as I was being a Matthew Vaughn fan), the last 30 minutes are just simply wild. Once the main plot twist occurs in the film, it becomes a completely different experience and it shifts gears into silliness, but because I like how Vaughn does silly, I was still in for the ride. I also liked the second Kingsman film, so I know this one won't be for everyone. Simply put, this film is too much, but it was too much of a bunch of things I enjoyed watching, so I can't be overly harsh here. In my opinion, Argylle is a good time and I recommend it, but be aware it gets pretty bonkers.

Everyone knows the name Ferrari. Whether you're talking about the man himself or the cars that have been around for decades, I think it's safe to call the name at least recognizable. With that said, I never once looked into the backstory of Enzo Ferrari's personal life; this film focuses almost exclusively on that. Not knowing his backstory may have led to me liking this film more, but all I know is that I enjoyed it far more than it seems the critics did. Michael Mann's latest directorial effort is still playing in theatres and available on demand. Here are my thoughts.

This true story takes place back in 1957, as Enzo Ferrari's (Adam Driver) company is on the verge of going bankrupt. His only hope is for one of his drivers to win the Mille Miglia race across Italy to put his brand back in the spotlight. This story is only the beginning and ending of the film, as it takes much more time to focus on his personal life throughout the majority of the runtime. His wife Laura (Penélope Cruz) and his mistress Linda Lardi (Shailene Woodley) are the true supporting cast members here and they are both terrific. The drama here had me completely engaged and the fact that there is basically no racing in this film until the final half-hour didn't bother me in the slightest.

I can see where people may find this film boring, but the slow pacing made the ending that much more impactful in my opinion. In terms of biopics though, it is fairly standard in how the film is structured. Michael Mann is a great director, but I feel his visual style has become a little more generic looking as of late. I can't quite put my finger on what I would have improved there, but it felt dull in terms of its aesthetic. Still, I enjoyed watching it and the last couple of scenes shocked me. A certain incident that I'm sure was all over the news back in the 50s was not one I had known about before watching.

Ferrari is a film that's not quite awards-worthy, but I'm surprised Penélope Cruz hasn't really been talked about for her performance here. The sound design during specific sequences is also fantastic, so it's a shame. It's a well-crafted story that I thoroughly enjoyed and felt satisfied with, it just looks dull and the film itself feels like a standard biopic, as I said. Overall though, this is quite a good film in my opinion and I believe more people should be seeking it out. Now in theatres and available at home, I say check it out.

A24 is a studio I just can't get enough of and they have released yet another superb picture in The Zone of Interest. Director Jonathan Glazer is a filmmaker I haven't seen much work from (which I need to change), but ever since watching Under the Skin, he has been a director on my radar. The story behind this film and the trailer intrigued me and made me want to see this one in a theatre. Well, after a disturbing watch in terms of the material being displayed on-screen, I can confidently say that this is one of the best films of 2023. It deserves all of the praise and nominations it has been receiving and here's why I believe that.

In a film where there's truly nobody to root for on-screen, The Zone of Interest follows Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz (and one of the right hands of Hitler), as he and his wife Hedwig live right next door, raising a family and gardening. His wife knowing full well that he murders and works for Hitler, chooses to embrace this lifestyle and has nothing to say about it. Watching these two alone was disturbing enough, but the backdrop of the Holocaust is heard throughout the film as well. The film chooses not to show any of the brutality, but rather showcases the happiness of this family as the sounds are heard in the background. This made for an incredibly uncomfortable experience, but it was masterfully done.

From the sound of guns to the visuals of trains passing by, you truly feel like you are right there in the moment. That terrified me, due to the spectacular sound design that deserves all the awards this year. This aspect in particular is what sells the movie as what it is. This story is scary enough, but the sound is a character in this horror story. This is some of the greatest, subtle audio work I've heard in quite some time. Telling the story from this perspective was a bold choice, but one that made this film stand out to me in every way on a filmmaking level.

The Zone of Interest is also beautifully shot and well-scored, making for an all-around amazing package. With that said though, there are absolutely some viewers out there that will find this film utterly boring. The quiet nature, along with the long takes and odd visuals will turn them off. To me, those are all of the things that put the film on the verge of brilliance. This is a film that I walked out of, horrified, disgusted, and honestly, kind of blown away. The Zone of Interest is now playing in select theatres, and if you think this is your kind of film, it's fantastic (even though I'm not sure if I'll watch it again).

I. S. S. Is a film that kind of came out of nowhere for me, as I had only recently heard about it. The premise intrigued me very much so I was giving it my time no matter what. I will admit that I started hearing complaints about the ending of the film before viewing it for myself, and I must admit, I agree with that criticism. As a whole though, this film is a rock-solid, B-Movie thriller that I had a good time watching. The ending will piss a lot of people off, but here's why I still think it's worth a watch.

Led by Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose), three Americans and three Russians are aboard the International Space Station. As they notice nuclear bombs being set off down on Earth, each side is given the objective of taking control of the ship, by any means necessary. This creates a silent divide between the two countries and tension ensues. This premise hooked me right from the start and I also enjoyed watching all of these characters, so I was on the edge of my seat as to what was going to happen. I appreciated the practical sets and low budget of this film as well because they seemed to utilize every bit of it. Sadly, I wish the film felt more complete.

I wouldn't have any clue how to handle this situation if I was a part of it and that's exactly what the film conveyed. It places you right in the shoes of these characters, but it does that a little too much and then never follows through. There is a resolution to what happens on the space station, but the problem for me lies in the last few minutes of the movie, which almost completely ruined the entire film. Where the filmmakers decided to roll the credits on this one almost felt like they didn't know how to end it, so it just ended. I'm all for ambiguity, but even someone like me who enjoys that has to admit this was a little too ambiguous to feel any sort of closure at all.

It's a sharp, 90-minute thriller set in a confined area in space, and everyone did a great job with their given characters. The direction by Gabriela Cowperthwaite is also very solid, but I would love to ask some questions to writer Nick Shafir. I can't compare his work to anything, because upon doing a little research, this is the first project that he has ever written that's been made. I'm sure the way he chose to wrap up this story was intentional, I just don't understand the decision-making behind it. Again, it's hard for me to get past the ending, but the film overall was a good time. The ending may work for some, but it didn't for me and I'm still recommending it, so take that as you will. I. S. S. Is now playing in theatres.

It has been ten years since director Hayao Miyazaki made a film and many people believed he was truly retired. I'm very happy he came out of retirement for one last film though because I thought his latest work, The Boy and the Heron, was great. I'll admit I've only seen about half of his films, but this viewing experience made me want to get back down to watching his entire filmography. While the visuals and subject matter won't be for everyone, as most of his films are, this story was still very satisfying to me. Here's why I recommend The Boy and the Heron.

Okay, I'll do my best to explain this one simply. A young boy in Mahito Maki is coping with the loss of his mother. After this event, he, his father, and a new mother figure travel to a new place to live. While there, Mahito discovers a Grey Heron that leads him to a hidden world, where the dead may or may not still have life. It's almost like purgatory, but not. In my opinion, this was more like a second chance at life portion of our world. Where the story goes from there though is fascinating and it has a satisfying ending as I said.

Miyazaki has always known how to tell a great story with an emotional backbone; this one was no exception. Also, as always, The Boy and the Heron is visually striking. The animation from Studio Ghibli is unmatched and always will be. Instead of realistic, their films are simply works of art. If for nothing else, this film is gorgeous to look at, it's just a bonus that the story is also just as good. If I had to make one complaint though, I would say that it becomes almost a little too complex.

The Boy and the Heron is not a hard film to follow by any means, but it dives into certain ideas in full force and it can feel overwhelming at times. For example, when the film reveals something to the audience, it's subtle, but the meaning behind it is so profound that I found myself overthinking it. That might have just been a me thing since I overthink many things, but I felt that there were hidden ideas and messages and I believe a second viewing would make this film even better. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and the imagery had me not wanting to look away. Great job to everyone involved on this one and if you're an anime fan, absolutely see it.

The Mean Girls story is one that I quite enjoy, but the first film from 2004 is my only real exposure. I never read the novel that the original film is based on, I never saw the musical stage production based on the film, but I was still very curious about that stage production being adapted into a feature film. While this version doesn't hold a candle to the original film, I can safely say that I had a good time with the 2024 update and it can stand on its own. The musical aspect worked very well for me and I think the cast is great. I have my complaints, but this version still worked for me overall. Let's dive in.

The story is the same as always. Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) moves to a new town and befriends a group of popular girls at school known as the "Plastics." Not everything is sunshine and rainbows though once their leader, Regina George (Reneé Rapp) finds out that Cady is interested in her ex-boyfriend Aaron (Christopher Briney). While she acts like these girls and constantly hangs out with them, her true friends are actually Janis 'lmi'ike (Auli'i Cravalho) and Damian Hubbard (Jaquel Spivey). They are the true heart and soul of this film and I think Cravalho steals the show as Janis on multiple occasions.

As for the musical aspect, there are quite a few numbers and I can appreciate a good musical, so that doesn't bother me in the least, but I wouldn't exactly say the songs are super memorable. Yes, the way they are performed is fantastic, it's just that only about one or two stood out to me as great. Reneé Rapp is the only cast member to return to their character after performing on stage, and while she is a great performer musically, I did think there was something left to be desired in the smaller moments of the film. In fact, my favourite character in The Plastics was actually Karen (Avantika) this time around. I thought she played the bumbling dumb person hilarious well.

The 2024 Mean Girls (aside from being a musical) also doesn't do too much for the story to separate itself from the original. All of the same story beats are hit and even some of the cast returns. It was great to see Tina Fey and Tim Meadows once again, but I feel that since the original film existed and then was already adapted into a stage musical, not much originality was present here. Still, I have to admit that I just like the overall story and this was a great cast, so I had a good time. Mean Girls is now playing in theatres and I recommend checking it out, especially if you like the original film and don't mind musicals.

It was hard for me to not have some small expectations going into Wonka, simply because I am a huge fan of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. That original film from 1971 is a film I grew up watching many, many times. When I was younger I also liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but I have since grown a distaste for it. In my eyes, after that Johnny Depp version, there was nowhere to go but up. I'm very happy that I got around to checking out Wonka though because it was just wonderful to watch. Far different from the other versions, here's why I recommend this one.

Willy Wonka, a young man with aspirations of opening his own chocolate factory, works his way up the chain at a job that pays him almost nothing. With the help of some newfound friends, he may just have what he needs to get started. Sadly, he is being hunted by what the film calls "The Chocolate Cartel," a group of people who wish to take Wonka down. His magic and wonder are too much for them and that scares them. This film is silly through and through. The villains all made me roll my eyes on multiple occasions, but Wonka was meant to be a family film and it more than succeeds at that.

Even though I was watching this film based on the name alone, Paul King was the second reason. His writing and directing on both Paddington films was stellar. Those films are delightful and not only made for kids, but the emotional core and overall messages make them worth watching, and I feel the same way about Wonka. It's a fun, charming family film, but the way the film wraps up at the end had me in tears. It focuses on a lot of silliness to keep kids engaged, but I truly feel that adults will get more than they think out of the emotional ending, as well as the references to the original classic film (especially in the music).

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that this film is first and foremost, a musical. The trailers don't exactly portray it as such, but there are quite a few musical numbers. I thought the musical aspect added to this film and brightened it up many times. Timothée Chalamet is also fantastic in the role, but he's great in everything, so I wasn't surprised there. If you're looking for a simple film that is fun and will likely put a smile on your face, look no further than Wonka. I would gladly watch Chalamet in a sequel to this.

Throughout the years, Jeffrey Wright has popped up in many films that I have either liked or disliked, but I have always loved him. I feel that he does not get enough opportunities to lead a film on his own and for that reason alone, I was looking forward to American Fiction. While being a writer on television, Cord Jefferson also makes his feature film writing and directing debut here and that alone is awards-worthy. So much about this film came together nicely and I believe it is one of the very best films of 2023, along with many other people. Now playing in select theatres, here is why American Fiction is worth your time.

In this very funny drama, Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is a superb author who just hasn't had the success he wishes he had (in sales). Completely annoyed about a new author in Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), due to the subject matter and the way the dialogue is written in her new book, he finds himself being a hypocrite and falling into fame and fortune, by acting as an uneducated writer and publishing a new book that ends up flying off the shelves. With the backdrop of a dead family member and his mother's deteriorating condition, very real family drama is also present. That description of American Fiction may not say that it is a comedy, but trust me, there are quite a few real laughs to be had. This film feels like a satire on our society and that was the brilliance of it.

Jeffrey Wright deserves every bit of praise that his performance has been getting and it is quite honestly, probably his best performance, period. Aside from Wright though, the supporting cast does nothing but elevate his performance even further. Sterling K. Brown as his brother was terrific and their on-and-off relationship with each other felt very authentic to how real families behave. John Ortiz has his publisher garnered many laughs from me, but the best and absolute worst part about this film came down to the overall message, and Adam Brody as Wiley Valdespino brought it home. He portrays one of the worst kinds of people you have to deal with in today's society, all while thinking he's not that way at all. I loved and hated every second of his brief screen time. The performances from everyone involved were all fantastic.

As I said though, I am truly blown away by the fact that director Cord Jefferson had only previously written episodes of television. This film seemed to have been made by a veteran director and writer. The script is the perfect amount of clever, funny, dark, and dramatic. I am sure it has a very small budget, so I can only imagine what Jefferson could accomplish on a larger scale. If this is just his first outing, I can not wait to see what he does next. American Fiction is one that many audiences can appreciate because I feel that it has a little something for everyone. If you can find a showing of it, I highly recommend giving this one a shot. It is not nearly getting the audience it deserves, so spread the word.

By now, audiences should realize what they are in for when it comes to Jason Statham leading an action film. The Beekeeper is the latest film to continue his long-running legacy of action flicks and it's quite a bit of fun. It's very far from an awards nominee, but for a film I had zero expectations for, and for being as cheesy as it is, it's pretty good. Take that as you will because I will be diving into things that are also pretty bad as well. The cheesiness of this film will turn some people off, but I was able to ignore it. Here's why I recommend The Beekeeper if you want to watch a new action-packed film to enjoy and not have to think too much about.

The "Beekeepers" is an organization of hitmen who take out criminals. Jason Statham plays Adam Clay, a retiree from this organization, who is on a manhunt for everyone involved in scamming a woman he cared for, which led to her suicide. It's as simple as that. There are multiple bosses in this company, so it's like watching a sophisticated video game being played out. The action sequences are well-choreographed and there are quite a few action scenes, so overall, this film was a blast to watch. With that said, the dialogue from beginning to end it pretty atrocious.

If the script had been reworked, I think this could've been a surprisingly great film as a whole. Sadly, the dialogue is full of Bee puns that fall flat almost every time, even with solid actors delivering them. The character arc and dialogue for Josh Hutcherson's Derek Danforth (who is the main villain of the film) is laughable, and not really in a good way. His whiny, self-entitled performance was great and I liked that he was giving this character his all, it's just that, again, the dialogue sucks. The lines everyone was saying took me out of the experience many times. Still, there is a lot of great action, and that's what I wanted from a movie like this anyway. I'm sure the dialogue will have people hating this movie and I'm equally sure certain people will find it hilarious. I'm kind of in the middle.

The Beekeeper is David Ayer's latest directorial effort and as always, he does a great job with action. His touch as a director is always welcomed by me and the neon look to the film was cool as well. It's a cool film to watch and it's aesthetically pleasing. I may be ripping apart the script, but it's just the dialogue. The story itself plays out nicely and has a nice resolution. I was looking for a fun action film and this film delivered that, despite its downfalls. I say check it out.

I'm not sure if I've ever watched a limited series before and equally felt that it was good, but also left me disappointed. Echo is Marvel's latest television release on Disney+ and all five episodes are now streaming. For those who are unaware, this is a spinoff show from a character who was introduced in the show, Hawkeye. I found her to be uninteresting in that show, but I still gave this one a shot. Surprisingly, her character is far better this time around, but the show itself feels pointless in the grand scheme of things. Here's why I liked it, but also why it has no reason for existing.

This series is simply about the fact that Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) returns to her hometown and learns more about her heritage. Her Native American tribe, long ago, had some kind of magical powers bestowed upon them and she may now have them as well. That's basically the plot of all five episodes, aside from Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) being a secondary character and sending his people after her. There are also small cameos, which I did enjoy because they made it feel connected to things, which this universe has been severely lacking these days. Still, from where her character begins in this series, to where she ends up, there doesn't seem to be any progression. Yes, there is a family discovery and the show wraps up its family story nicely, but as far as being a piece of the Marvel puzzle, it has zero reason to exist.

Alaqua Cox does a really solid job portraying this character with what she is given, it's just that I don't foresee her having a future in this franchise, outside of a cameo maybe in the future. I think as a standalone thing, without the Marvel branding, this could've been a cool little ancestral show, that also involves superpowers. It being a Marvel property actually hurt this project in my opinion. It's not that it had the most sophisticated writing or anything, but it was good enough to hold my interest. Also, for being Marvel's first R-rated TV show on Disney+, there wasn't much R-rated about it. If they cut away on a few shots, it would've passed as PG-13. This whole show just felt off in certain ways.

Still, Echo is a decent series on its own, so I'll give it a pass. It was nice to see Vincent D'Onfrio return as Kingpin and his backstory involving Maya was very good as well. His character revolted the show when it began to drag or lose focus, so I appreciated his presence. This is a duo of characters I would revisit, but I also don't have to. I didn't dislike watching it by any means, so I recommend it to those looking for a decent show, but there are also far better shows out there to watch. I feel this show is going to get buried and forgotten about very quickly, which is neither a good nor bad thing. Overall, Echo is okay and that is better than I was expecting.