A group of cold-blooded killers find themselves trapped on an alien planet to be hunted by extraterrestrial Predators.
Although the set up feels like a video game (lazy stereotypes, paper-thin characters, array of personalised weapons) I quite like it.
One of the few things thing I don’t like (aside from Stans) is the part where two mines go up like a gas station, while seven hand grenades don’t even inflict a scratch 🤷♀️
★★★
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the world's fate at stake and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan must consider that nothing can matter more than his mission—not even the lives of those he cares about most.
I was honestly surprised when I nearly fell asleep watching the first hour of this. How is this 2h40 and doesn’t even conclude the story?
Unforgivably dull, not least in comparison to its predecessors.
★★
By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.
The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries' alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they're forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world.
Bizarrely, a thinly-veiled ad for NATO… but it ticked all the boxes, I think.
I dunno what Paddy Considine is doing here, though. Love the bloke but…
★★★
Set during the Cold War, the Soviets—led by sword-wielding Irina Spalko—are in search of a crystal skull which has supernatural powers related to a mystical Lost City of Gold. Indy is coerced to head to Peru at the behest of a young man whose friend—and Indy's colleague—Professor Oxley has been captured for his knowledge of the skull's whereabouts.
My kids (13/10) seemed to like it. They took the “supernatural” parts of the plot completely in stride.
★★
Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel's First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.
Never been a big FF fan so I’m sure a lot of stuff in the margins was wasted on me but, overall, mostly unremarkable. Vanessa Kirby was memorably fierce and I liked the retro production design. Suffers again from feeling more like a bridge to something (ostensibly) big and better.
The JD Vance cameo also took me completely by surprise.
★★★½
Five friends set out for a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods, expecting nothing more than fun and relaxation. As night falls, they discover that something far more unsettling is at work and that nothing about their getaway is what it seems.
Marty and Doc are at it again as the time-traveling duo head to 2015 to nip some McFly family woes in the bud. But things go awry thanks to bully Biff Tannen and a pesky sports almanac. In a last-ditch attempt to set things straight, Marty finds himself bound for 1955 and face to face with his teenage parents -- again.
A teenager's weekend at a lake house with her father takes a turn for the worse when a group of convicts wreaks havoc on their lives.
Some splatter but conveys no real sense of threat or peril. Fairly typified by Kevin James as a white suprematist who’s more Danny Ocean than Himmler…
★★
As storm season intensifies, the paths of former storm chaser Kate Carter and reckless social-media superstar Tyler Owens collide when terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed. The pair and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.
There must be a term or phrase in some language that explains the critical consensus on this movie, along the lines of:
There were low expectations across the board but it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as expected and thus it was considered “good” but, on that basis, a new expectation is created, which has the opposite effect.
There must be a name for that, right? I could imagine it going in waves forever on this movie.
I’m going to tell you it’s really quite bad, with almost no redeeming features. The one thing that stands out is the intertwinned character arc of Kate and Tyler, which never quite goes the way you expect. And, actually, that’s probably worth at least half a star. And, to be fair, Glen Powell is very enjoyable too, maybe worthy of another half star?
★★½
