Film Review: Madame Web (2024)

Whether you are feeling the superhero comic book film fatigue, or the industry feels like it’s scraping the bottom of the barrel or maybe it’s a bit of both. The latest offering from Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios collaboration is following on the heels of several films in 2023 that were lacklustre at the box office including Shazam 2, Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Aquaman 2 and The Marvels. So it’s no wonder that Madame Web, as the first superhero film for 2024 has its work cut out for it.

Film Review: The Color Purple (2024)

The original 1982 novel written by Alice Walker “The Color Purple” won a Pulitzer Prize and only three years later a film adaptation of the book, directed by Steven Spielberg was released to critical acclaim. In 2005 the story was revived as a Broadway musical to more commendations. This latest film adaptation is based on that Broadway hit combining some of the emotional drama from Spielberg’s classic film into the free-wheeling uplifting spirit of the musical theatre.

Film Review: The Marvels (2023)

We are now at our 33rd film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s fairly safe to say that you either fall into one of two camps. You are either a person who is invested enough into the MCU that you’ve seen if not all, but most of their films (and possibly TV series). Or you are just a casual movie-goer with no real ties or emotional connection to the superhero comic book genre behemoth. Oddly enough, this film will probably work better for those that fall into the latter camp rather than the former.

Film Review: The Creator (2023)

The Creator is set in the near future, artificial intelligence (AI) has become part of normal day to day life and robots help humans with everything. But when a nuclear bomb is dropped on Los Angeles, the AI is blamed and subsequently banned by America and the Western countries. However in New Asia, they refuse to conform and it becomes the last remaining place on earth where AI is accepted and permitted to exist.

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Since 1981 the Indiana Jones franchise has long been held as the film series that introduced families to the action set-piece genre. Adventurous and a little silly-fun also dashed with history and perilous excitement. In 2023 we see a fifth and most likely final instalment of the series with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Film Review: Renfield (2023)

Hollywood has long been a fan of monster movies and Universal Pictures is attempting to tap into its catalogue by bringing the character of Dracula to the screen once again. This time around with his long suffering familiar and assistant Renfield to cater to all his needs. Even though some of their recent modern offerings such as Van Helsing (2004) and The Mummy (2017) were more miss than hit. The 2020 fresh take on The Invisible Man brought a contemporary examination of a toxic ex-boyfriend who goes crazy on his ex-girlfriend. Director Chris McKay’s Renfield (2023) is a new spin on a familiar’s story.

Film Review: Air (2023)

In the wonderful year of 1984 the competitive sneaker market was dominated by the German brand Adidas, followed closely by the American Converse; whilst other US brand Nike were trailing well behind multiple competitors. AIR, focuses on the characters who were behind Nike’s rise to popularity by gambling on, at the time, basketball rookie Michael Jordan.

Film Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the third instalment of Ant-Man films, and the first film of Phase 5 of the MCU. So to say it requires a certain level of commitment and previous homework in order to properly grasp is possibly underplaying it.

Film Review: The Menu (2022)

Film and television has taken pleasure in skewering the elite, upper class rich communities. Hit series such as Succession, The White Lotus and films like Knives Out, Velvet Buzzsaw, or Ready or Not, all tap into a dark comedic satire that focuses its ire on the high end of town. The latest film to join those ranks is one that roasts the pretentious, fine dining crowd.

Film Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

The question for Marvel fans with this sequel to the roaringly successful origin story Black Panther, would be how to navigate the death of lead, Chadwick Boseman as T’challa.