Anurag-Shetty

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom continues with the adventures of Arthur Curry/Aquaman(Jason Momoa), after the events of Aquaman(2018). After being defeated by Aquaman, Black Manta(Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is out for revenge. Black Manta is much more powerful this time around, with the help of the mysterious Black Trident. Aquaman will have to take the help of his half-brother Orm(Patrick Wilson). Aquaman & Orm will have to put their differences aside & team up to protect the world from Black Manta & his malevolent plan.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a superb film. Director James Wan has given us a movie that falls short of Aquaman(2018) but, still has the ingredients that made it a hit. The action set pieces are fantastic. The visual effects are great. The 3D is eye-popping, especially in IMAX. Jason Momoa is awesome as Arthur Curry/Aquaman. Patrick Wilson is spectacular as King Orm/Ocean Master. The camaraderie & banter between Momoa & Wilson's characters, is the highlight of the film. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is brilliant as Black Manta. Amber Heard is effective as Mera. Nicole Kidman is outstanding as Atlanna. Randall Park is excellent as Dr. Stephen Shin. Temuera Morrison is perfect as Tom Curry. The supporting cast is impressive. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is worth a watch. Doesn't deserve the extremely negative reviews. Lower your expectations & you just might like it.

Priscilla is a biopic about Priscilla Beaulieu(Cailee Spaeny) & her rollercoaster of a relationship with Elvis Presley(Jacob Elordi). Priscilla starts a relationship with Elvis & discovers that the king of rock-and-roll has many different facets to him.

Priscilla is an impressive film. Director Sofia Coppola has given us a movie that beautifully shows us Priscilla's point of view, after Elvis(2022) focused on Elvis Presley's point of view. However, the film could have been a bit more fast-paced & the ending could have been more impactful. Cailee Spaeny is spectacular as Priscilla. Spaeny's awe-inspiring performance is the highlight of the movie & keeps you glued to the screen, even in the slightly dragging scenes. Jacob Elordi is mind-blowing as Elvis. Spaeny & Elordi have effortless chemistry in all their scenes together. The supporting cast is fantastic. Priscilla is worth a watch. However, just lower your expectations & you'll definitely like it better.

Wonka tells the origin story of Willy Wonka(Timothee Chalamet), the iconic chocolatier from Roald Dahl's novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Despite being broke, a young Willy Wonka aspires to open the best chocolate shop in the world. However, he finds out that the chocolate industry is run by a cabal of chocolatiers, who are drunk with power.

Wonka is an excellent film. Director Paul King has given us a movie that is hilarious, endearing, has a few catchy songs & above all, is super entertaining. The set pieces are fantastic. The visual effects are perfect. Watching all of Willy Wonka's magical & delicious chocolates come to life on the big screen, is an absolute joy to watch. Timothee Chalamet is spectacular as Willy Wonka. Chalamet gives us another unforgettable performance, this time in a light-hearted role, that shows his incredible versatility. Calah Lane is outstanding as Noodle. Olivia Colman & Tom Davis are awe-inspiring as Mrs. Scrubbit & Bleacher, respectively. Keegan Michael-Key is hysterical as the Chief of Police. Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas & Mathew Baynton are perfect as Slugworth, Prodnose & Fickelgruber, respectively. Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Rakhee Thakrar, Natasha Rothwell, Rich Fulcher, Colin O'Brien & Sally Hawkins are perfect as the Oompa-Loompa, Father Julius, Abacus Crunch, Lottie Bell, Piper Benz, Larry Chucklesworth, Young Willy Wonka & Willy's Mother, respectively. Wonka is a must watch for chocolate lovers & fans of Roald Dahl's source material & its two previous big screen adaptations. Watch it & have a whale of a time, with a guaranteed craving for chocolate, once the credits roll!

Wish tells the story of Asha(Ariana DeBose). Asha makes a wish upon a star & gets an answer beyond her wildest imagination. A chaotic but well-intentioned star, joins her from the sky, in response to her wish.

Wish is a good film. However, directors Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn should have given us a masterpiece, since Disney has completed hundred years, as a studio. The story is very generic & though there are fun Easter eggs referencing all of Disney's previous movies, it doesn't have the unforgettable quality of Disney films like, The Lion King(1994), Tarzan(1999), Wreck-It Ralph(2012) & Frozen(2013), just to name a few. The humor is a bit hit-and-miss. The emotional scenes are on point. The animation is breathtaking & comes to life in 3D. Some songs are good, while others are average. The vocal performances are the highlight of the movie. Ariana DeBose is spectacular as Asha. Chris Pine is outstanding as Magnifico. Alan Tudyk is impressive as Valentino. The supporting cast is excellent. Wish is worth a watch for Disney fans. Just don't expect a perfect film & it should be a fun watch for the whole family.

Napoleon is a biopic about French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte(Joaquin Phoenix). We follow Napoleon on his meteoric rise to power, while also chronicling his unpredictable relationship with his wife, Josephine(Vanessa Kirby).

Napoleon is an awesome film. Director Ridley Scott has given us a movie that doesn't quite live up to his best, like Gladiator(2000), The Martian(2015) among many others, or even his recent masterpieces like, The Last Duel(2021) & House of Gucci(2021). This film is quite slow & its runtime could have been reduced, by at least 15 minutes. The action set pieces are mind-blowing. The cinematography by Dariusz Wolski is breathtaking. There are quite a few scenes that are surprisingly hilarious. Joaquin Phoenix is superb as Napoleon Bonaparte. Vanessa Kirby is spectacular as Josephine Bonaparte. All the scenes where Phoenix & Kirby share the screen, are an absolute delight to watch & is the highlight of the movie. The supporting cast is brilliant. Napoleon is worth a watch, for fans of Ridley Scott, Joaquin Phoenix & Vanessa Kirby. Just don't expect it to be fast-paced, temper your expectations & I promise you'll have a good time.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is based on the novel of the same name, by Suzanne Collins. It is set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games(2012). Coriolanus Snow(Tom Blyth) mentors District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray Baird(Rachel Zegler). Soon, he develops feelings for her.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a good film. However, The Hunger Games(2012), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1(2014) & The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2(2015) surpass this prequel by a huge margin. Director Francis Lawrence can't recapture lightning in a bottle, directing his fourth movie in the Hunger Games franchise. The first half of the film is mind-blowing. However, it goes off the rails in the second half. The movie gets super dragging & goes on & on, with no end in sight. Another negative is, there are too many songs for a Hunger Games film. The action set pieces are fantastic & look even better in IMAX. The visual effects are flawless. Tom Blyth is impressive as Coriolanus Snow. Rachel Zegler is brilliant as Lucy Gray Baird. Hunter Schafer is perfect as Tigris Snow. Viola Davis is spectacular as Dr. Volumnia Gaul. Peter Dinklage is outstanding as Dean Casca Highbottom. Josh Andres Rivera is superb as Sejanus Plinth. The supporting cast is unforgettable. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is worth a watch if you're a fan of the Hunger Games movies & novels. However, watch it with low expectations & you just might enjoy yourself.

Trolls Band Together continues with the adventures of Poppy(Anna Kendrick), Branch(Justin Timberlake) & the rest of the gang, after the events of Trolls(2016) & Trolls World Tour(2020). Poppy finds out that Branch is a former member of the famous boy band 'BroZone', with his fellow brothers, Floyd(Troye Sivan), John Dory(Eric Andre), Spruce(Daveed Diggs) & Clay(Kid Cudi). When Floyd is kidnapped, Branch & Poppy make it their personal mission to bring the band back together & save Floyd.

Trolls Band Together is a brilliant film. Director Walt Dohrn has given us a movie that will be an absolute delight for children & is perfectly good fun for adults, too. The comedic set pieces do elicit a couple of chuckles, here & there. The animation is breathtaking, further enhanced in 3D. The emotional moments are heartwarming. The songs are electrifying. The vocal performances are the highlight of the film. Anna Kendrick is spectacular as Poppy. Justin Timberlake is mind-blowing as Branch. Kenan Thompson is hysterical as Tiny Diamond. Zooey Deschanel is awesome as Bridget. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is great as King Gristle. Troye Sivan, Eric Andre, Daveed Diggs, Kid Cudi & Camila Cabello are phenomenal as Floyd, John Dory, Spruce, Clay & Viva, respectively. Andrew Rannells, Amy Schumer & Zosia Mamet are excellent as Veneer, Velvet & Crimp, respectively. The supporting cast is impressive. Trolls Band Together is a must watch for Trolls(2016) & Trolls World Tour(2020) fans. Watch it on the big screen with your entire family & have a whale of a time!

The Marvels continues with the adventures of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel(Brie Larson) following the events of Captain Marvel(2019) & Avengers: Endgame(2019), Monica Rambeau(Teyonah Parris) following the events of WandaVision(2021) & Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel following the events of Ms. Marvel(2022). When Carol, Monica & Kamala switch places whenever they use their powers, they have to join forces to save the universe, from the villainous Dar-Benn(Zawe Ashton).

The Marvels is a marvelous film. Director Nia DaCosta has given us a movie that is downright hilarious most of the time & yet has its poignant moments. It's definitely not one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's best. However, it's in the top twenty & doesn't deserve some of the harsh reviews coming its way. The action set pieces are mind-blowing & look even better in IMAX 3D. The visual effects are brilliant. Brie Larson is outstanding as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. Teyonah Parris is phenomenal as Monica Rambeau. Iman Vellani is spectacular as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. The effortless camaraderie among Larson, Parris & Vellani's characters, is the highlight of the film. Samuel L. Jackson is fantastic as Nick Fury. Zawe Ashton is good as Dar-Benn. Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur & Saagar Shaikh are amazing as Muneeba Khan, Yusuf Khan & Aamir Khan, respectively. The supporting cast is unforgettable. The Marvels is a must watch for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. It expands the universe in jaw-dropping ways. Can't wait for what comes next!

The Marsh King's Daughter is based on the novel of the same name by Karen Dionne. It tells the story of Helena Pelletier(Daisy Ridley). Helena goes after the man who kidnapped her mother, to safeguard her family's future.

The Marsh King's Daughter is a pretty good film. However, it would have been fantastic if it had just been fast-paced, like how a thriller should be. Usually, slow-burn movies build up to an electrifying climax. However, that's not the case with this film. Even during its final act, it still doesn't pick up the pace. The cinematography by Alwin H. Kukler is gorgeous. The performances are the movie's strongpoint. Daisy Ridley is spectacular as Helena Pelletier. Ben Mendelsohn is outstanding as Jacob Holbrook. Brooklynn Prince is fantastic as Young Helena. Gil Birmingham is great as Clark. Caren Pistorius is brilliant as Helena's mother. Garrett Hedlund is excellent as Stephen Pelletier. Joey Carson is adorable as Marigold Pelletier. The Marsh King's Daughter is not a must watch in theatres. However, watch it on streaming if you have time to kill.

Killers of the Flower Moon tells the true story of how oil was discovered, in Oklahoma in the 1920s, in land owned by the Osage tribe. Suddenly, the Osage people start getting murdered, one by one. The FBI conducts an investigation to identify the culprits behind these grisly murders.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a mind-blowing film. Director Martin Scorsese has given us another masterpiece, this time detailing the scheming, greed & outright villainy of the White man & the unspeakable losses & heartbreak that the Native American people went through. The cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto is gorgeous. The background score by Robbie Robertson is phenomenal. The performances are the highlight of the movie. Leonardo DiCaprio is spectacular as Ernest Burkhart. DiCaprio shows us yet again, why he's one of the best & most versatile actors working in Hollywood today. Robert De Niro is outstanding as William Hale. Lily Gladstone is awe-inspiring as Mollie Burkhart. Gladstone deserves an Oscar for her fantastic performance & has a long & bright future ahead of her, in Hollywood. The supporting cast is incredible. Kudos to Apple TV for making the effort to release this film theatrically, worldwide. Despite its mammoth runtime, you won't get bored, even for a second. Killers of the Flower Moon is a must watch, especially on the big screen. Rush to the theatres to see the first joint effort between Scorsese regulars Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro, with their favorite auteur. A jaw-dropping experience! Can't wait for the next collaboration between Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese!

Dumb Money tells the story of Keith Gill(Paul Dano). With the help of Gill's informative YouTube videos, regular folks opposed Wall Street & got rich, by turning the video game store GameStop, into the world's most sought after company.

Dumb Money is a mind-blowing film. Director Craig Gillespie has wonderfully depicted how the common man fought back against the bullying tactics of the people over at Wall Street. This movie will make you laugh out loud & you will also be moved, towards the end. The fact that it's a true story, will leave you all the more amazed! The star-studded cast's performances, are the highlight of the film. Paul Dano is spectacular as Keith Gill. Pete Davidson is hysterical as Kevin Gill. America Ferrera is outstanding as Jenny. Myha'la is awesome as Riri. Nick Offerman is brilliant as Ken Griffin. Anthony Ramos is superb as Marcus Barcia. Seth Rogen is perfect as Gabe Plotkin. Talia Ryder is excellent as Harmony Williams. Sebastian Stan is fantastic as Vlad Tenev. Shailene Woodley is phenomenal as Caroline Gill. The supporting cast is unforgettable. Dumb Money is a must watch for everyone. There might be some technical jargon that can go over your head but, the non-stop laughs & cheer-worthy moments, more than make up for it & then some!

The Exorcist: Believer is set fifty years after the events of The Exorcist(1973). Two girls named Angela(Lidya Jewett) & Katherine(Olivia O'Neill), go missing in the woods. They come back home three days later but, they have no idea as to what happened to them. Angela's father Victor Fielding(Leslie Odom Jr), seeks the help of Chris MacNeil(Ellen Burstyn). Chris has forever changed after her daughter went through a horrifying experience, fifty years earlier.

The Exorcist: Believer is a good movie. Director David Gordon Green has given us another worthy sequel to an iconic film, after Halloween(2018). However, Halloween(2018) is much better than this movie. The Exorcist: Believer is much better than Green's disastrous sequels to Halloween(2018), be it the disappointing Halloween Kills(2021) or the terrible Halloween Ends(2022). The film maintains its eerie atmosphere throughout. There are two or three well executed jump scares. The possession & exorcism scenes get quite repetitive, after a point. I'm not such a huge fan of The Exorcist(1973). I think it's overhyped & doesn't deserve its cult classic status. So for me, The Exorcist: Believer matches up to the 1973 original. The performances are the highlight of the movie. You really care about the characters & their fates, because of the actors' flawless portrayals. Leslie Odom Jr is spectacular as Victor Fielding. Lidya Jewett is outstanding as Angela. Olivia O'Neill is phenomenal as Katherine. Ann Dowd is superb as Ann. Jennifer Nettles is amazing as Miranda. Ellen Burstyn is fantastic as Chris MacNeil. The supporting cast is superb. The Exorcist: Believer is worth a watch for The Exorcist(1973) fans. Just watch it with low expectations & you just might find yourself genuinely spooked!

The Creator tells the story of Joshua(John David Washington). Set several years in the future, humans & artificially intelligent robots are engaged in a war with devastating consequences. Joshua finds a weapon, that could end the war for good. This secret weapon is in the form of a robot, with the likeness of a young child. Her name is Alphie(Madeleine Yuna Voyles).

The Creator is an awesome film. Director Gareth Edwards has given us another memorable sci-fi film, after Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016) & Godzilla(2014). However, it is very derivative of all of Hollywood's sci-fi movies of the past, even though it's meant to be an attempt at an original sci-fi film. One major gripe that I have with the movie is that, the picture quality is very subpar & even grainy in parts. I watched it in IMAX & the picture quality just didn't match IMAX standards, which is very bizarre. The action set pieces are superb. The visual effects are flawless. John David Washington is outstanding as Joshua. Madeline Yuna Voyles is spectacular as Alphie. The effortless camaraderie & strong bond between Washington & Voyles' characters, is the highlight of the film. Gemma Chan is brilliant as Maya. Allison Janney is excellent as Colonel Howell. Ken Watanabe is brilliant as Harun. The supporting cast is great. The Creator is worth a watch for sci-fi movie buffs. Just definitely don't watch it in IMAX, as it's definitely not worth shelling out the extra money.

A Haunting in Venice is based on the Agatha Christie novel, Hallowe'en Party. It continues with the adventures of detective Hercule Poirot(Kenneth Branagh). Poirot is now retired, enjoying his downtime in Venice, Italy. Poirot's friend, author Ariadne Oliver(Tina Fey), invites Poirot to attend a seance. However, things take a dark turn when someone is murdered. Now, it is up to the world-class detective Poirot, to crack the case.

A Haunting in Venice is an incredible film. Director Kenneth Branagh has given us a movie that is thrilling, full of suspense & is filled with a growing sense of dread because of its gorgeous yet haunting Venice setting. This has been captured perfectly by cinematographer, Haris Zambarloukos. You will have no idea who the murderer is, until our favorite Poirot, joins the dots for us. The all-star cast is the highlight of the film. Kyle Allen is awesome as Maxime Gerard. Kenneth Branagh is spectacular as Hercule Poirot. Camille Cottin is fantastic as Olga Seminoff. Jamie Dornan is superb as Dr. Leslie Ferrier. Jude Hill is excellent as Leopold Ferrier. Ali Khan is great as Nicholas Holland. Emma Laird is amazing as Desdemona Holland. Kelly Reilly is outstanding as Rowena Drake. Riccardo Scamarcio is good as Vitale Portfoglio. Michelle Yeoh is unforgettable as Mrs. Reynolds. A Haunting in Venice is a must watch for fans of Kenneth Branagh's Poirot movies & whodunnit fans. Watch it on the big screen & be massively entertained!

The Nun II continues with the story of Sister Irene(Taissa Farmiga), after the events of The Nun(2018). In 1956, in a town in France, many gruesome murders are taking place. Sister Irene has to once again go toe to toe with The Demon Nun(Bonnie Aarons), to put an end to her reign of terror.

The Nun II is a pretty good film. However, it had the potential to be great. Director Michael Chaves has given us another movie in The Conjuring universe, with such wasted potential. The same thing happened with the Chaves directorial, The Curse of La Llorona(2019). His only good film in this ever expanding horror universe is, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It(2021). The jump scares are super predictable. There's literally only one creepy scene, in the whole movie. The last half an hour of the movie is just pure chaos & is unintentionally funny, at times. The visual effects are apt. Taissa Farmiga is spectacular as Irene. Jonas Bloquet is superb as Maurice. Storm Reid is awesome as Debra. Anna Popplewell is fantastic as Kate. Bonnie Aarons is outstanding as The Demon Nun. It's frustrating that after her terrifying debut in the brilliant The Conjuring 2(2016), Aarons' perfect portrayal as the titular character, should have been given better films in her solo franchise. Katelyn Rose Downey is good as Sophie. The supporting cast is impressive. The Nun II is worth a watch for fans of The Conjuring franchise. However, if you're used to horror movies, go for it with extremely low expectations.

The Equalizer 3 continues with the story of Robert McCall(Denzel Washington), after the events of The Equalizer(2014) & The Equalizer 2(2018). Now living in Southern Italy, McCall learns that his new friends are being threatened by the local Italian mafia. When the situation becomes extremely grave, Robert McCall will do what he does best. Dishing out his severe methods, to protect his newfound friends & home.

The Equalizer 3 is a great film. Director Antoine Fuqua has given us a movie that perfectly concludes The Equalizer franchise. The action set pieces are mind-blowing. Italy has been gorgeously captured, by cinematographer Robert Richardson. However, the first half of the movie is quite dragging. The performances are superlative. Denzel Washington steals the show, as Robert McCall. Washington gives us another flawless performance, like always. Dakota Fanning is spectacular as Emma Collins. The supporting cast is fantastic. The Equalizer 3 is a must watch for fans of this franchise & Denzel Washington fans. Just lower your expectations & you won't be disappointed.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a new take on the adventures of turtle siblings, Donatello(Micah Abbey), Michelangelo(Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo(Nicolas Cantu) & Raphael(Brady Noon). Donnie, Mikey, Leo & Raffy must work together to be accepted buy the citizens of New York City, while also battling a large army of fellow animal mutant hybrids.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an excellent film. Director Jeff Rowe & two of the best co-writers in the industry, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, have given us a movie, that take these iconic characters to their high school & teenage roots. The 3D is eye-popping. The animation is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It has a unique aesthetic just like recent animated films like, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish(2022), & Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse(2023). The action set pieces are brilliant. The comedic scenes & one-liners, will make you guffaw uncontrollably. Micah Abby, Shamon Brown Jr, Nicolas Cantu & Brady Noon are spectacular as Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo & Raphael, respectively. Ayo Edebiri is outstanding as April O'Neil. Jackie Chan is phenomenal as Splinter. Ice Cube is fantastic as Superfly. Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, Giancarlo Esposito & Paul Rudd are fantastic as Cynthia Utrom, Rocksteady, Bebop, Leatherhead, Wingnut, Baxter Stockman & Mondo Gecko, respectively. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a must watch, for TMNT fans & newcomers alike. Watch it on the big screen & I promise you will be entertained to the fullest.

Gran Turismo is a biopic about Jann Mardenborough(Archie Madekwe). Jann is one of the best players of the Gran Turismo video game & also dreams of becoming a real race car driver, someday. A motorsport executive named Danny Moore(Orlando Bloom) gives him this chance & Jann gets the help of former race car driver Jack Salter(David Harbour), to help him achieve his lifelong goal.

Gran Turismo is an awe-inspiring film. Director Neill Blomkamp has gone past his sci-fi roots & given us a movie that is an absolute treat for fans of racing films & inspirational biopics. The racing set pieces are mind-blowing & are further enhanced in IMAX. David Harbour is phenomenal as Jack Salter. Orlando Bloom is brilliant as Danny Moore. Archie Madekwe is spectacular as Jann Mardenborough. This is Madekwe's breakout role & he will have a long & varied acting career. Darren Barnet is awesome as Matty Davis. Djimon Hounsou & Gerri Horner are brilliant as Steve Mardenborough & Lesley Mardenborough, respectively. Josha Stradowski is perfect as Nicholas Capa. The supporting cast is impressive. Gran Turismo is a must watch for racing movie aficionados. Watch it on the biggest screen possible & have a whale of a time!

Retribution tells the story of a a bank executive named, Matt Turner(Liam Neeson). Matt, his daughter Emily Turner(Lilly Aspell) & his son Zach Turner(Jack Champion) find out that there's a bomb under Matt's car seat. This deadly bomb will explode if they stop & get out of the car.

Retribution is a mind-blowing film. It doesn't deserve all the negative reviews. Director Nimrod Antal has given us a movie that strays from the typical ingredients of the classic Liam Neeson action project, the likes of which we've seen, since the iconic Taken(2008). Don't expect tons of hand-to-hand combat sequences. The majority of Retribution takes place in the car. The set pieces are fantastic. The suspense is maintained brilliantly, throughout the course of its runtime. Liam Neeson is spectacular as Matt Turner. Neeson portrays a wide range of emotions, with ease & panache. Lilly Aspell is phenomenal as Emily Turner. Aspell keeps going from strength to strength as a young actress & has a long & bright future ahead of her, in Hollywood. Jack Champion is outstanding as Zach Turner. Noma Dumezweni is great as Angela Brickman. Embeth Davidtz is awesome as Heather Turner. Matthew Modine is excellent as Anders Muller. The supporting cast is perfect. Retribution is a must watch for Liam Neeson fans. Go in with an open mind about what to expect & you will have a blast!

Asteroid City tells the story of a playwright named Conrad Earp(Edward Norton) & we experience a play called Asteroid City that he stages, with a wide array of colorful characters.

Asteroid City is a brilliant film. Director Wes Anderson has given us another movie with all his signature trademarks. It's hilarious, quirky & unique, while still maintaining all the ingredients that are classic Wes Anderson. The only problem is, the film is a bit slow. Plus, it's not as hilarious & perfect as some of Wes Anderson's iconic movies like, The Grand Budapest Hotel(2014), Moonrise Kingdom(2012) & Isle of Dogs(2018), to name a few. The production design by Adam Stockhausen is superb. Jason Schwartzman is outstanding as Augie Steenbeck. Scarlett Johansson is spectacular as Midge Campbell. Bryan Cranston, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, Rupert Friend, Tilda Swinton, Steve Carell & Liev Schreiber are phenomenal as the Host, Stanley Zak, General Gibson, Conrad Earp, June, Montana, Dr. Hickenlooper, the Motel Manager & J. J. Kellogg, respectively. Jake Ryan, Grace Edwards, Aristou Meehan, Ethan Josh Lee & Sophia Lillis are amazing, as Woodrow, Dinah, Clifford, Ricky & Shelly, respectively. The supporting cast is unforgettable. Asteroid City is a must watch for Wes Anderson fans. Just lower your expectations, a tiny bit.

The Childe tells the story of Marco(Kang Tae-Ju), a man who is half-Korean & half-Filipino. He's also an up & coming boxer. Marco travels to Seoul to find his father & is targeted by some very dangerous people.

The Childe is an awe-inspiring film. Director Park Hoon-jung has given us a movie that's a cackle-worthy dark comedy, that also has some superbly executed chase & action sequences. The action set pieces are mind-blowing. Kudos to the stunt team, for giving us in-your-face & edge of the seat fights. The constant twists & turns makes sure we have no idea what's coming next. The performances are top-notch. Kim Seon-Ho is spectacular as the Nobleman. Kang Tae-Ju is outstanding as Marco. Kang-woo Kim is brilliant as Director Han. Go Ara is fantastic as Yun-ju. The Childe is a must watch & it's almost on par with other recent acclaimed Korean movies like Parasite(2019) & Minari(2020). Watch it on the big screen & have a whale of a time!

Blue Beetle tells the story of Jaime Reyes(Xolo Mariduena). An extraterrestrial scarab chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, giving him superpowers that alters his life forever. Jaime becomes the superhero, known as Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle is a mind-blowing film. Director Angel Manuel Soto has given us a superhero movie that shines the spotlight on the titular character's family, while also giving us unlimited humor & heart. The action set pieces are phenomenal. The visual effects are perfect. The background score by Bobby Krlic is electrifying & unique, compared to the usual superhero movie background music. The performances are the standout of the film. Xolo Mariduena knocks it out of the park, as Jaime Reyes. Mariduena gives us another spectacular performance after his starring role in fan-favorite, Cobra Kai(2018-). Bruna Marquezine is outstanding as Jenny Kord. Becky G is effective as the voice of Khaji-Da. Susan Sarandon is fantastic as Victoria Kord. Belissa Escobedo is amazing as Milagro Reyes. George Lopez is hysterical as Rudy Reyes. Raoul Max Trujillo is awesome as Carapax. Damian Alcazar, Adriana Barraza & Elpidia Carrillo are excellent as Alberto Reyes, Nana Reyes & Rocio Reyes, respectively. Harvey Guillen is brilliant as Dr. Sanchez. Blue Beetle is a must watch (preferably in IMAX), for Blue Beetle & Xolo Mariduena fans. I'm so glad that James Gunn has decided to include Jaime, in his new DC Universe. Can't wait for future team-ups & sequels!

Meg 2: The Trench continues with the adventures of Jonas Taylor(Jason Statham), after the events of The Meg(2018). Jonas & his research team come across multiple deadly creatures, while exploring the extreme depths of the ocean, while also dealing with a sinister mining operation.

Meg 2: The Trench is just about passable. Director Ben Wheatley has unsuccessfully taken over the reins from The Meg(2018) director, Jon Turtelaub. This film is not even half as entertaining as its predecessor. The first half of the movie is a proper snooze fest. There's barely any action set pieces or the titular prehistoric shark, with an unnecessary environmental conservation subplot thrown in. The second half of the film makes up for it though. It's supremely fun with mind-blowing action set pieces & lots of guffaw-inducing moments. The 3D is worth it finally, after that tedious first half. Jason Statham is spectacular as Jonas Taylor. Jing Wu is superb as Jiuming Zhang. Shuya Sophia Kai is fantastic as Meiying. Cliff Curtis is awesome as Mac. Page Kennedy is hysterical as DJ. Sergio Peris-Mencheta is good as Montes. Skyler Samuels is perfect as Jess. Melissanthi Mahut is awesome as Rigas. Sienna Guillory is amazing as Driscoll. The supporting cast is memorable. Meg 2: The Trench is not a must watch in theatres or at home, because of its subpar story. Just watch it, if you have some time to kill.

Talk to Me tells the story of a group of teenagers namely, Mia(Sophie Wilde), Jade(Alexandra Jensen), Riley(Joe Bird), Hayley(Zoe Terakes), Joss(Chris Alosio) & Daniel(Otis Dhanji). Mia, Jade & the rest of the gang find a never-seen-before method to summon the dead, using a cursed embalmed hand. However, things go awry when someone pushes the boundaries of what they should do with the malevolent hand.

Talk to Me is a jaw-dropping film. Directors Danny Phillippou & Michael Phillippou have given us a movie that is terrifying right from the word go, & not because of the cliched horror tropes. This film is a psychological horror movie, with absolutely no jump scares. It's cerebral & subversive in the best way possible. However, if you hate extreme gore or horror movies in general then, you shouldn't watch this one. Right from the word go, you will be on the edge of your seat throughout & the film absolutely doesn't let up, until the credits roll. The use of only practical effects instead of the same old boring CGI, takes up the scare quotient to an extreme level. Sophie Wilde is awe-inspiring as Mia. Wilde shines in her first lead role & has a long & bright future ahead of her, in Hollywood. Alexandra Jensen is spectacular as Jade. Joe Bird is mind-blowing as Riley. Miranda Otto is spectacular as Sue. Zoe Terakes is awesome as Hayley. Chris Alosio is good as Joss. Otis Dhanji is fantastic as Daniel. The supporting cast is excellent. Talk to Me is a must watch for horror movie buffs. Watch it on the big screen & prepare to be spooked out of your mind!

Haunted Mansion is based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name. Gabbie(Rosario Dawson) who is a single mother, brings together a tour guide named Ben Matthias(LaKeith Stanfield), a psychic named Harriet(Tiffany Haddish), a priest named Father Kent(Owen Wilson) & a history professor named Bruce Davis(Danny DeVito), to rid the mansion she just moved into, of various ghosts who are haunting her & her son, Travis(Chase Dillon).

Haunted Mansion is a good film. Director Justin Simien has given us a movie that is a perfect tribute to the beloved Disney theme park ride of the same name. This film is hilarious from time to time but, it could have been absolutely hysterical with the talented cast that they assembled. The PG-13 rating diminishes the scares & makes sure you don't really get spooked about by the titular mansion's machinations. This is definitely a missed opportunity. The set pieces are awesome. The visual effects are perfect. The performances are the highlight of the movie. LaKeith Stanfield is spectacular as Ben Matthias. Rosario Dawson is outstanding as Gabbie. Owen Wilson is amazing as Father Kent. Tiffany Haddish is fantastic as Harriet. Danny DeVito is phenomenal as Bruce Davis. Chase Dillon is excellent as Travis. The supporting cast is unforgettable. Haunted Mansion is worth a watch for fans of the titular theme park ride & fans of this extremely talented cast. However, lower your expectations & you won't be disappointed.