MOVIE Morning

Noah Baumbach's latest Netflix venture - Jay Kelly - hits limited release in cinemas in just a few weeks. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the BFI London Film Festival a few weeks back and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to talk about it in a full-length review. The reactions to this movie have been pretty mixed since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Why anyone at Netflix thought a European premiere made sense for a movie about an aging Hollywood movie star is beyond me… but here we are. Since that premiere, the reviews for this movie have grown to be much more kind. I've been really long forward to Jay Kelly because Noah Baumbach's films tend to work for me and the premise, as well as as the opportunity for Adam Sandler to be on a serious movie again, had me very excited. So, am I one of the people really high on Jay Kelly, or was the initial mixed reception warranted? Find out in this review! Jay Kelly hits Netflix on December 5th.Jay Kelly:Directed by: Noah BaumbachWritten by: Noah Baumbach, Emily MortimerProduced by: Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Amy PascalExecutive Producer: Donald SabourinMusic by: Nicholas BritellDirector of Photography: Linus SandgrenEdited by: Valerio Bonelli, Rachel DuranceCasting by: Douglas Aibel, Nina GoldProduction Design by: Mark TildesleyCast: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy KeachSynopsis: Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron.

Well, here we are. Chloe Zhao's Hamnet - one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year - premiered at the BFI London Film Festival two weeks ago. Since it's premiere at Telluride back in late August, this movie has been billed as a locked-in OSCAR contender and potentially one of the biggest threats to WIN Best Picture. Reviews like that always get on my nerves because it's classic film festival overhype. You watch a movie surrounded by all the cast & crew and thousands of like-minded movie fans and, inevitably, the hype is going to be through the roof. All that being said, I watched this movie at a film festival as well... so I'll be telling you all today whether the hype was real. I've been a little nervous going into Hamnet because, while the trailers have excited me and the reviews were certainly promising, I am neither a Chloe Zhao guy or a Shakespeare guy. Zhao's movies have always felt cold to me and I truly believe that Nomadland is probably one of the worst Best Picture winners.... of all-time! But, I'm happy to report that Hamnet is the first time that I've truly been able to connect with one of her movies. Find out why in this review!Hmanet:Directed by: Chloé ZhaoScreenplay by: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'FarrellBased on the novel "Hamnet" by Maggie O'FarrellProduced by: Liza Marshall, p.g.a., Pippa Harris, p.g.a, Nicolas Gonda, p.g.a., Steven Spielberg, p.g.a., Sam Mendes, p.g.a.Executive Producers: Laurie Borg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Chloé ZhaoMusic by: Max RichterDirector of Photography: Lukasz ZalEdited by: Alfonso Gonçalves, Chloé ZhaoCasting by: Nina GoldProduction Design by: Fiona CrombieCostume Design by: Malgosia TurzanskaCast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, David Wilmot, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes, Freya Hannan-Mills, Noah JupeSynopsis: The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Springsteen: Delvier Me from Nowhere was born in the U.S.A. and the rest of the world today. This has been one of my most anticipated movies of the back half of this year because I'm a big Bruce guy and I love Jeremy Allen White. The Bear is, without question, one of my favorite shows of the last couple of years and the idea of him playing The Boss was pretty awesome. The trailers ceetainly won me over and the pretty solid reviews out of the festivals have gotten me even more hyped. But, there is one elephant in the room: I am completely sick of these stupid and slight music biopics. Whetehr it was the Dylan movie, or the Elvis movie, all these movies have the same flaws and the same crowd that ends up really liking them. And I'm usually not a part of the latter. Is Springsteen an exception to that rule? Find out in this review!Springsteen: Deliver Me from NowhereWritten for the Screen and Directed by: Scott CooperBased on the book "Deliver Me from Nowhere" by Warren ZanesProduced by: Scott Cooper, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson, Scott StuberCo-Produced by: Richard Mirisch, Christopher SurgentExecutive Produced by: Tracey Landon, Jon Vein, Warren ZanesMusic by: Jeremiah FraitesDirector of Photography by: Masanobu TakayanagiEdited by: Pamela MartinCasting by: Francine MaislerProduction Design by: Stefania CellaCostume Design by: Kasia Walicka MaimoneCast: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron, David KrumholtzSynopsis: Bruce Springsteen, a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggles to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past.

Kathryn Bigelow - the first woman who won the Best Director OSCAR at the Academy Awards - is back to deliver us her latest tense thriller... but on Netflix. Bigelow's films have had a big impact on me as a film fan since I was an early teen and I've been waiting years for her to finally make a new movie. I - thank god - had the opportunity to see A House of Dynamite in cinemas last week, with it currently running a select cinemas release in the lead-up to it's drop on Netflix on October 24th. This movie's been garnering pretty rave reviews since the it's premiere at the Venice Film Festival... but I'm coming in pretty hot with a slightly controversial opinion on one of Netflix's biggest awards contenders for 2025. Find out more in this review!A House of Dynamite:Directed by: Kathryn BigelowWritten by: Noah OppenheimProduced by: Kathryn Bigelow, Noah Oppenheim, Greg ShapiroExecutive Producers: Brian Bell, Sarah BremmerMusic by: Volker BertelmannDirector of Photography: Barry AckroydEdited by: Kirk BaxterCasting by: Sussane ScheelProduction Design by: Jeremy HindleCostume Design by: Sarah EdwardsCast: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Greta Lee, Jonah Hauer-King, Jason Clarke, Willa Fitzgerald, Malachi BeasleySynopsis: When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

Luca Guadagnino, one of the most prolific filmmakers of our time, is back with yet another movie having its European Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival: After the Hunt. I happen to be a pretty big fan of Guadagnino, really liking movies such as Call Me By Your Name and Challengers. Last year though, he did disappoint me with his Daniel Craig OSCAR vehicle, Queer. After the Hunt boasts a terrific cast, including Julia Robert's and Andrew Garfield who are first-time collaborators with Guadagnino. The movie promises to be a provocative #MeToo inspired thriller but does it deliver on making an insightful statement on the generational divide in our times through some pretty tough and controversial subject matter? Find out in this review!After the Hunt:Directed by: Luca GuadagninoWritten by: Nora GarrettProduced by: Jeb Brody, Brian Grazer, Luca Guadagnino, Allan MandelbaumExecutive Producers: Alice Dawson, Nora Garrett, Karen Lunder, Justin WilkesMusic by: Trent Reznor & Atticus RossDirector of Photography: Malik Hassan SayeedEdited by: Marco CostaCasting by: Jessica RonaneProduction Design by: Stefano BaisiCostume Design by: Giulia PiersantiCast: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny, Lio MehielSynopsis: A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.

Guillermo del Toro is back! This time, he's putting out his lifelong passion project: an adaptation of Mary Shelley's iconic FRANKENSTEIN... on Netflix. I have admired GDT as a filmmaker for my entire life as a cinephile and am always game to see WHATEVER he's putting out in theaters... or, err, on Netflix. Back a few days ago, I had the amazing privilege to see Frankenstein at it's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival Gala on Monday. Guillermo, as well as the whole cast, was in attendance and gave a lovely introduction before the movie. I just wish I could come on here and report better news about the movie itself. Find out my full thoughts in this review!Frankenstein:Directed by: Guillermo del ToroScreenplay by: Guillermo del ToroBased on the book "Frankenstein; or: The Modern Prometheus" by Mary ShelleyProduced by: J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro, Scott StuberLine Producer: Melissa GirottiMusic by: Alexandre DesplatDirector of Photography: Dan LaustenEdited by: Evan SchiffCasting by: Robin D. CookProduction Design by: Tamara DeverellCostume Design by: Kate HawleyCast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles DanceSynopsis: Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

The DCU continues! Season 2 of James Gunn's Peacemaker - technically the third project of the DCU - has now wrapped up it's 8-episode run on HBO Max. As all of you know, I love James Gunn and all his movies & shows, and for years... I've been PUMPED for his DCU and fully believe in his vision for the new DC Universe. So, I was unbelievably relieved this summer that I loved Superman as much as I did. I love it more and more every time I see it , and I've now seen it five times! Peacemaker season 1, I truly believe, is one of the greatest achievements of James Gunn's career and I've been excited but confused about the upcoming season 2. I talked about the first episode but have been eager to finally come back on here and talk about all the wild twists & turns of season 2 as people have been freaking out about them online. Is this season better than season 1, and a great continuation for the DCU? Find out that, plus hidden details and future teases included in the finale, in this SPOILER-FILLED breakdown!

Dwayne Johnson is officially turning a page in his career as he stars in an A24 movie, now out in theaters! Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine, which tells the real-life story of wrestler Mark Kerr. I've been looking forward to Benny Safdie's next movie for years, since I was a big fan of his collaborations with his brother - especially their work on Good Time. And I, despite how silly this sounds, have been rooting for The Rock. I've been enjoying him in movies since I was a kid and has always, like Benny Safdie, had an inkling that he had more in him than play The Rock in every movie. There's also been some surprising OSCAR buzz for his performance in this movie. Is it warranted? Find out in this review!The Smashing Machine:Written and Directed by: Benny SafdieProduced by: Eli Bush, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, David Koplan, Benny SafdieExecutive Producer: Tracey LandonMusic by: Nala SinephroDirector of Photography: Maceo BishopEdited by: Benny SafdieCasting by: Jennifer VendittiProduction Design by: James ChinlundCostume Design by: Heidi BivensCast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily BluntSynopsis: The story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

Hey, everyone - It's been a while but I'm finally back with another review. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another is now out in theaters. This is, as of now, by far the best reviewed movie of the entire year, even over Sinners, so expectations were high going into the theater. I've always found PTA to be a little hit-or-miss with me. He always makes good films, but I've found movies such as Licorice Pizza and Punch-Drunk Love to be somewhat overrated while still recognizing the brilliance of some of his other films. So, does One Battle After Another solidify itself as the Best Picture frontrunner? Find out in this review!One Battle After Another:Written and Directed by: Paul Thomas AndersonInspired by the novel 'Vineland' by Thomas PynchonProduced by: Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam SomnerExecutive Prodocuers: Pete Chiapetta, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Will WeiskeMusic by: Johnny GreenwoodDirector of Photography: Michael BaumanEdited by: Andy JurgensenCasting by: Cassandra KulukundisProduction Design by: Florencia MartinCostume Design by: Colleen AtwoodCast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase InfinitiSynopsis: When their evil nemesis resurfaces after 16 years, a band of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

Wow! James Gunn, after months and months of speculation, has finally announced his follow-up to Superman. And, as expected, it's pretty much a Superman sequel. Man of Tomorrow hits theaters in July 2027, and will see the return of David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult to their now iconic roles. Rumors are also floating out there of other cast members who may be involved… and I'll be breaking those down as well. Along with the title and date announcement, three pieces of new artwork were dropped by Gunn, Corenswet and Hoult - each teasing some variation of Superman and Lex Luthor onscreen together. The biggest reveal though is that it seems we're finally getting that green mech in live-action. Heck yeah! So, sit back and relax, grab some popcorn if you wish, and listen as I break down everything we know about James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow.

The DCU's next chapter has already arrived. Season 2 of James Gunn's Peacemaker dropped its first episode on HBO Max earlier today. This is, of course, the second season of the spin-off show from The Suicide Squad, but that description almost feels degrading because I kind of think season 1 might have even been better than The Suicide Squad. It's taken much longer than expected to get season 2, thanks in no small part to James Gunn being hired as the Co-CEO of DC Studios mere months after season 1 released. He has also put out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (& the Holiday Special), Creature Commandos and Superman since. Now, the show has extra baggage because it's being folded into a whole new continuity. I adore James Gunn's films and shows, but I found it an interesting choice that Team Peacemaker would be some of the only characters carrying over into this new universe. So, is the new Peacemaker canon in the DCU explained, and what connections does this first episode have to Superman? Find out in this SPOILER-FILLED breakdown of episode 1!

The summer movie season is coming to a close, which means another season of movies is about to begin. Fall 2025 seems packed with all the trademarks of this season of movies: awards darlings, feel-good films, seasonal releases and some of the biggest franchise movies of the year! It's been a bit of a mixed bag of a year so far when it comes to movies, but I'm sure I'll finally get to see some of my favorite movies of the year over the next couple of months. I also have a film festival to look forward to in a couple of months, so keep that on your mind. So today, I'll be ranking my top 10 most anticipated movies of fall 2025, which, I'd say, begins on the first weekend of September (others say its after the last major wide release in August or before school opens but whatever). Grab some popcorn and find a comfy chair... and enjoy!

Alien: Earth, from Fargo and Legion's Noah Hawley, has now arrived on Disney+, Hulu and FX worldwide. The first two episodes have just premiered, with one episode releasing on each of the following weeks. I consider myself a very casual Alien fan, but I am a bigger fan of it than Predator so there's that. I love the first two films and really enjoyed Fede Alvarez's Romulus from last year as well. The other Alien movies definitely have merit too but I'm mixed-negative on most of the rest of the franchise. Alien: Earth, I believe, is this franchise's first foray into TV. There's been comics for decades and even a really liked video game released, beyond the movies. I had the chance of watching the first two episodes when they dropped and this review will contain my thoughts on the first two episodes, WITHOUT giving spoilers. Enjoy!

One of my most anticipated horror movies of the year - Zach Cregger's Weapons - has finally hit theaters worldwide. This is Zach Cregger's follow-up to Barbarian, which was the 'WTF was that' horror movie of 2022, that had a lot of huge fans. This film's script, also written by Cregger, sparked a huge bidding war back over two years ago, with New Line Cinema picking it up for nearly $40 million. There's even some alleged rumors that Jordan Peele parted ways with his management team over them losing the rights to the script for Weapons. So, needless to say, there's been a lot of buzz around this movie in Hollywood and horror circles for a few years now. I, myself, may or may not have even taken a peek at the script a while back. But, does Weapons live up to the standards that Zach Cregger set with Barbarian? Find out in this review!Weapons:Written and Directed by: Zach CreggerProduced by: Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, Miri YoonExecutive Producers: Richard Brener, Josh Brolin, Michelle MorrisseyMusic by: Zach Cregger, Hays Holladay, Ryan HolladayDirector of Photography: Larkin SeipleEdited by: Joe MurphyProduction Design by: Tom HammockCostume Design by: Trish SummervilleCast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Toby Huss, Austin Abrams, June Diane Raphael, Amy Madigan, Cary ChristopherSynopsis: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Is this finally the return of the theatrical comedy? The Naked Gun reboot has finally hit theaters, after years of rumors and development. But this time, it's led by one Liam Neeson. I only watched the original movies, starring another actor with LN initials, for the first time a few weeks back and surprisingly, mildly enjoyed them. I have been interested in this reboot for a while though because I generally really find Neeson's ultra serious persona naturally funny and because I miss all-out comedies on the big screen. So, does The Naked Gun recapture the magic of the originals and will it spark the return of comedies on the big screen? Find out in this review!The Naked Gun:Directed by: Akiva SchafferWritten by: Doug Gregor & Doug Mand & Akiva SchafferTelevision series "Police Squad" by: Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry ZuckerProduced by: Erica Huggins, Seth McFarlaneExecutive Producers: Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Akiva Schaffer, Daniel M. Stillman, Anthony TittanegroCo-Producers: Dan Gregor, Doug MandMusic by: Lorne BalfeDirector of Photography: Brandon TrostEdited by: Brian Scott OldsCasting by: Carmen CubaProduction Design by: Bill BrzeskiCostume Design by: Betsy Heimann, Maria TortuCast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, CCH Pounder, Kevin DurandSynopsis: Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world: Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.

The fourth MCU Spider-Man movie is finally in production. From Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers (the writers of the previous trilogy) and director Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day promises to be a bit of a new start for all of our favorite web slinging hero. I, of course, love Spider-Man (look at my profile photo!). He's always been my favorite Marvel character and I can promise you that will never change. The last few years have definitely been a bit tumultuous as a fan, getting some of the greatest stories ever told with this character in video games and animated movies… but then some of the worst Spider-related movies ever from the Sony Spin-Off Universe. But I think it's safe to say that we're ALL looking forward to getting Tom Holland's version back on the big screen. No Way Home became one of the biggest movies ever made, but it also left the character in a place that a lot of fans have been waiting a long time for this version of the character to reach. That being said, I don't think anyone quite expected as long of a wait as its been for this movie to just be in production, especially considering the gap between Holland's first Spider-Man movie - Homecoming - to No Way Home will ultimately be a shorter gap then between No Way Home and Brand New Day. But I really hope that the wait has been due to them knowing that No Way Home set the bar really high. At long last, we have our first looks at the suit, as well as a number of news regarding antagonists and supporting Marvel players. Here, I break down all the news we have so far about SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY.

James Cameron is back to deliver the goods! The first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash debuted with The Fantastic Four: First Steps last week and now, the trailer is finally online. I started off as the world's biggest Avatar hater. I loved James Cameron's films and was appalled by his decision to spend DECADES of his career making movies in Pandora as opposed to returning to making a variety of all-time classics. No joke, I think True Lies is one of the greatest comedies of all-time. But, on a fateful day in September 2022… everything changed. I saw the first movie in theaters for the first time, in 3D of course, and I fell in love. And then a couple months later, I ended up loving Avatar: The Way of Water even more. Then I saw that movie two more times in theaters. I have become the world's biggest Avatar stan and this is now my most anticipated movie for the rest of the year. Cameron and his team have a lot to live up to, following two Best Picture nominated films and quite literally two of the biggest movies of all-time. So, does this trailer deliver? Find out in my initial reaction episode to the trailer!

Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters. This film was first announced to be in development six years ago this weekend and it's extremely exciting that Marvel's First Family finally has a worthy big screen adaptation. I've loved these characters ever since I was a kid and I've been praying for a good F4 adaptation since I was a kid. This movie had heart, humor and all the family that I'd want from a Fantastic Four movie, finally complete with the sci-fi wackiness too. The film scored an A- Cinemascore, the same as Thunderbolts* and Superman, and made more money than expected on its opening weekend. It seems like this is finally going to be another win for Marvel Studios. Today though, I'll be taking a deep dive into my SPOILER-FILLED thoughts on the movie, and even reflect on how this movie compares to James Gunn's Superman. Along with that, I'll be going over all the easter eggs I noticed and any comic book tie-ins that might hint at future stories. So relax, grab some popcorn and enjoy!

Here we are, with another Adam Sandler Netflix movie! I typically don't even tune in for these because they're quite literally all the same... but now they've reached back to a comedy classic that people do care about. I only watched the first Happy Gilmore film a few months ago, and I found it to be consistently entertaining. I will say, though, that I'm a bit more of a Billy Madison guy. I also kind of think it'd be more interesting to catch up with him three decades later, rather than Happy Gilmore whose original movie was more based around a specific event happening to his family. Oh well, Happy Gilmore 2 is now out on Netflix. So, is this another Netflix/Adam Sandler comedy dud... or is nostalgia going to carry this to being the best Sandler comedy in decades? Find out in this review!Happy Gilmore 2:Directed by: Kyle NewacheckWritten by: Tim Herlihy, Adam SandlerBased on characters created by: Tim Herlihy, Adam SandlerProduced by: Jack Giarraputo, Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler, Robert SimondsExecutive Producers: David Bausch, Barry Bernardi, Dan Bulla, Dennis Dugan, Kevin Grady, Judit MaullCo-Producers: Brian Robinson, Perry Sachs, Sarah Sarandos, Eli ThomasMusic by: Rupert Gregson-WilliamsDirector of Photography: Zak MulliganEdited by: Brian RobinsonProduction Design by: Perry Andelin BlakeCostume Design by: Jordy ScheinbergCast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Haley Joel Osmant, Eric André, Travis KelceSynopsis: Revisit Happy Gilmore's golf career after his win in the Tour Championship.

The Fantastic Four are finally back on the big screen, with Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps now out in theaters! It has been a nightmare watching some of my favorite characters in all of comics continuously get butchered in big screen adaptations, and Kevin Feige & Marvel Studios have been promising that they're finally gonna deliver a faithful adaptation of the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four have, truly, always been some of my favorite characters in Marvel Comics. From the Byrne run of the '80s to the Jonathan Hickman run, they've also had some of my favorite long runs in all of Marvel. Even the current Ryan North run is fantastic. But for so long, film adaptations have never really understood what made the team awesome. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been, without question, my most anticipated MCU movie of this era because all the trailers have really teased that this film will finally deliver on the intimate family dynamics, old-school optimism and whacky sci-fi of the stories I grew up loving. And the fact that this felt like the most unique movie in the entire MCU, because of it's setting and decor, was just a bonus. So, does The Fantastic Four: First Steps mark the triumphant arrival of some of the MCU's most captivating new characters, or is it another Multiverse Saga dud? Find out in this NON-SPOILER review!The Fantastic Four: First Steps:Directed by: Matt ShakmanScreenplay by: Josh Friedman and Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan & Ian SpringerStory by: Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan & Ian Springer and Kat WoodBased on the Marvel comics by: Stan Lee and Jack KirbyProduced by: Kevin FeigeCo-Producer: Mitch BellExecutive Producers: Louis D'Esposito, Grant Curtis, Tim LewisMusic by: Michael GiacchinoDirector of Photography: Jess HallEdited by: Nona Khodai, Tim RocheCasting by: Sarah FinnProduction Design by: Kasra FarahaniCostume Design by: Alexandra ByrneCast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah NilesSynopsis: 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.

Today, one of my biggest projects ever finally releases. In this episode, I'm going to be breaking down pretty much EVERY upcoming DCU and DC Elseworlds project (Movie/Show/Shorts) that has either been announced or HEAVILY rumored at some point over the past three years. Back in November 2022, James Gunn & Peter Safran entered the fray as the new CEOs of DC Studios, the first time DC Entertainment outside of comics has been given its own studio/division. They were tasked with rebooting the DCU (which has now begun) and creating brand cohesion for the first time in a long time. Since then, there have been MANY announcements of upcoming movies and shows, some of which have gone nowhere while others are finally coming to fruition. It has been a nightmare to keep up with all news DC and since the release of the Superman trailer back in December (when I initially planned to release this), even MORE movies and shows have been announced. With DC hype and excitement at an all-time high, with Superman being received well and doing solid numbers at the box office, I thought now I'd finally be able to bring an epic episode breaking down every upcoming DC Studios movie and show. But... to add some spice and entertainment for me personally, I'm breaking them down in order of my anticipation. So, the I'll be talking about the ones I'm least interested in first and build up to the most hyped ones. So, grab some popcorn and sit back & relax while I give you all the information you need on DC 's future on the big and small screen.Released:Creature Commandos - Season 1 (DCU Animated Show)Superman (DCU Movie)In Production (Pre/Post):Peacemaker - Season 2 (DCU Show)Krypto (DCU Animated Shorts)Supergirl (DCU Movie)Lanterns (DCU Show)Clayface (DCU Movie)Dynamic Duo (Elseworlds Animated Movie)DC Super Powers (Elseworlds Animated Show)Starfire! (Elseworlds Animated Show)My Adventures with Green Lantern (Elseworlds Animated Show)Mister Miracle (Elseworlds Animated Show)Officially In Development:The Batman - Part II (Elseworlds Movie)Teen Titans (DCU Movie)Blue Beetle (DCU Animated Show)Untitled Bane & Deathstroke (DCU Movie)Creature Commandos - Season 2 (DCU Animated Show)Wonder Woman (DCU Movie)The Brave and the Bold (DCU Movie)Untitled James Gunn, feat. Superman (DCU Movie)Paradise Lost (DCU Show)Waller (DCU Show)Sgt. Rock (DCU Movie)Swamp Thing (DCU Movie)Booster Gold (DCU Show)Arkham Asylum (DCU Show)The Authority (DCU Movie)Rumored To Be In Development:Huntress (DCU Show)Jurassic League (Elseworlds Animated Movie)Plastic Man (DCU Movie)Mr. Terrific (DCU Show)Jimmy Olsen (DCU Show)

Superman has now been out in theaters for a few days and I've had the opportunity to now see it a good couple of times. This was my most anticipated movie of the year and I'm glad to say that it lived up to the hype. While it may be his most flawed movie, James Gunn still delivers a sincere, funny, action-packed and TRUE Superman movie. He still hasn't missed. I'm unbelievably hyped for the future of the DCU and the next few movies and shows, the next one being Peacemaker - Season 2 which drops August 21. This is going to be my FULL, no holds barred SPOILER review for James Gunn's Superman. If you haven't yet seen the movie, go see it! Please don't contribute to yet another DC cinematic universe with a lot of potential being tossed to the way side. Sit back, grab some popcorn, relax and enjoy as I go through all the spoiler details of the film and talk the big DCU connections or set ups.

The time is finally here. My most anticipated movie of the year - James Gunn's SUPERMAN - is finally arriving in theaters this weekend. I had the incredible opportunity to see this movie at an early Fan First Screening yesterday, which is how I'm getting this review out about the time it is debuting worldwide, in a select few countries today. This is the official, theatrical launch of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU, that I really hope will actually have the chance to thrive. I love DC Comics, and I've loved Superman since I was a small child. I was introduced to the character through the Justice League cartoons and the original 1978 Richard Donner film. I dressed up as Superman and tried to do the curl and all of that. It has been a LONG wait to finally have another Superman movie on the big screen, and - boy, oh boy - has it been a tumultuous one.I was a huge fan of Henry Cavill's Superman and am one of the people who love Man of Steel. Zack Snyder's Justice League is one of my favorite comic book movies of all-time too, but the toxicity around the excitement and hate for this new movie has been rough. It's the 'sports-ation' of movie fandoms that has really frustrated me over the last few years, and it's showcased no more clearly than how people talked about this movie up until release (and probably after release too). That being said, because the character means so much to me and because James Gunn's film really resonate with me on an emotional level, I've always known he was going to deliver a worthy film that starts the Big Blue again. You'd know that about me if you've listened to any of my reviews of James Gunn's films and shows, which are all glowing, and listened to my breakdowns of the trailers. The trailers certified for me that it seemed like Gunn was finally taking the character back to its much needed hopeful and optimistic, yet slightly retro, roots. So, does James Gunn's Superman deliver on its promises; is it the truest version of Superman we've had in a long time? Find out in this SPOILER-FREE review!Superman:Written and Directed by: James GunnSuperman created by: Jerry Siegel & Joe ShusterProduced by: James Gunn, Peter SafranExecutive Producers: Nikolas Korda, Chantel Nong Vo, Lars P. WintherMusic by: David Fleming, John MurphyDirector of Photography: Henry BrahamEdited by: Craig Alpert, William HoyCasting by: John PapsideraProduction Design by: Beth MickleCostume Design by: Judianna MakovskyCast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, María Gabriela de Faría, Sara Sampaio, Skyler Gisondo, Terence Rosemore, Wendell Pierce, Pruitt Taylor-Vince, Neva Howell, Beck Bennett, Mikaela Hoover, Frank GrilloSynopsis: Superman, a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.

It was a BIG week in trailers! The first looks at Lord & Miller's adaptation of Project Hail Mary, Edgar Wright's The Running Man adaptation AND Christopher Nolan's onscreen take on The Odyssey dropped. The first two of those released online earlier this week, while the teaser for The Odyssey was played in front of showings of Jurassic World Rebirth. Although, I'm sure if you looked online you'd pretty easily be able to find a recorded version of that trailer somewhere; welcome to the internet! Since I wanted to talk about all three of these trailers, being that they are all some of my most anticipated upcoming movies and are all coming from some of my favorite filmmakers, I decided to react to all three of them in one podcast episode. Enjoy!

Here we go again! The seventh film in the Jurassic franchise - Jurassic World Rebirth - is now in theaters worldwide. This is the first time since The Lost World that David Koepp has returned to write the screenplay for, but this time it's not an adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel. I had hope since that original announcement and the hiring of Gareth Edwards as the director certainly had me yearning to finally see a good Jurassic film in theaters again. For context, the original Jurassic Park is easily one of my favorite movies ever made; I think it is, in every measurable way, a perfect summer blockbuster. That being said, I don't think any of the Jurassic Park/World sequels have ever been fully satisfying. There are a lot of fans of The Lost World. I am not one of them. There are some staunch defenders of Jurassic Park III, and I am certainly not one of those either. I can have some guilty pleasure fun with the first Jurassic World, but the two films that followed were dull and disappointing. I was one of the few who was able to build up some legitimate hype for Rebirth, because I like the cast and creative team. Is it, by far, the best Jurassic sequel... even if that doesn't mean much? Find out in this review!Jurassic World Rebirth:Directed by: Gareth Edwards Screenplay by: David KoeppBased on characters created by: Michael CrichtonProduced by: Frank Marshall, Patrick CrowleyExecutive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Denis L. Stewart, Jim SpencerMusic by: Alexandre DesplatDirector of Photography: John Mathieson Edited by: Jabez OlssenCasting by: Jina JayProduction Design by: James ClyneCostume Design by: Sammy SheldonCast: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audriana Miranda, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain, Ed SkreinSynopsis: Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, covert operations expert Zora Bennett is contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world's three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora's operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades.

All six episodes of Ironheart, the latest Marvel Television series, are now streaming on Disney+. This show has been LONG DELAYED from its initially planned 2023 release (I believe), and it finished initial shooting almost three years ago. The craziest part of all this is that Ryan Coogler is one of the EPs on the series. He introduced the character into the MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I started off being pretty excited for this show because of the initial pitch and because I was a fan of the initial Bendis comics that introduced this character in the 2010s. But, my excitement completely waned over the delays and lack of marketing, which clearly showed Marvel's lack of enthusiasm for the show. Marvel (and their TV side especially) having their mixed track record during The Multiverse Saga did not help matters. So, is Ironheart the epic win that Marvel TV needs? Find out in this SPOILER review!

It has been a wonky few months of movies. I have been on record that 2025 has been an immensely underwhelming year for movies thus far... filled with a ton of disappointing movies and very mediocre theatrical experiences as well. We are now HALFWAY through 2025 and despite the large bag of disappointing and not very good movies released so far this year, we have had some pretty good to great movies that I want to celebrate as we cross the halfway point of the year. So, today I am going to be giving you guys the list of my top ten favorite movies of 2025 so far! Keep in mind, we're only halfway through the year, so I don't exactly think all ten of these movies are GREAT, but they're the ones that have stuck with me the most. Enjoy and let me know what your top ten favorite movies of the year so far are, in the comments on Spotify!

She's back! After the smash success that was the first M3GAN that released in January of 2023, M3GAN has returned for her second adventure from Blumhouse. I enjoyed the first M3GAN way more than I should have at the time, despite it being a relatively tame, paint by numbers killer robot movie. I appreciated the attempt to at least tie it into the idea of heavy technological reliance when parenting; it was more than I expected from a mid-tier Blumhouse movie. Admittedly, that description makes up almost the entirety of the studio's output but nevertheless. The sequel, from the trailers, looked bigger and badder in just about every way. Is it sure to be one of the most entertaining films of the summer? Find out in this review!M3GAN 2.0:Directed by: Gerard JohnstoneScreenplay by: Gerard JohnstoneStory by: Gerard Johnstone and Akela CooperBased on characters created by: Akela Cooper & James WanProduced by: James Wan, Jason Blum, Allison WilliamsExecutive Producers: Gerard Johnstone, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath, Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Mark D. KatchurMusic by: Chris BaconCinematography by: Toby OliverCasting by: Sarah Domeier Lindo, Miranda Rivers, Terri TaylorProduction Design by: Brendan Heffernan, Adam WheatleyCostume Design by: Jeriana San JuanCast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp, Jemaine ClementSynopsis: After the underlying tech for M3GAN is stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, M3GAN's creator Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal.

One of the biggest films of the summer - Joseph Kosinski's F1 - has now arrived on the biggest screen near you! This is the latest collaboration between Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, who last produced Top Gun: Maverick together. This has been one of my most anticipated movies for YEARS now, because Top Gun: Maverick is easily my favorite movie of the decade so far, making it therefore the best new release I've covered. I've also been a casual fan of Kosinski's previous work, the strongest film of his being Only the Brave prior to Maverick. But, the idea of him doing a race car movie with another one of the biggest stars on the planet - now Academy Award winner Brad Pitt - was so exciting. Is F1 (The Movie) the best movie of summer 2025 so far? Let's talk about it!F1 The Movie:Directed by: Joseph KosinskiStory by: Joseph Kosinski, Ehren KrugerScreenplay by: Ehren KrugerProduced by: Jerry Bruckheimer, Dede Gardner, Lewis Hamilton, Jeremy Kleiner, Joseph Kosinski, Chad Oman, Brad PittExecutive Producers: Toby Hefferman, Daniel Lupi, Penni ThowOriginal score by: Hans ZimmerCinematography by: Claudio MirandaEdited by: Stephen MirrioneCasting by: Lucy Bevan, Emily BrockmannProduction Design by: Ben Munro, Mark TildesleyCostume Design by: Julian DayCast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Kim Bodnia, Tobias Menzies, Shea Whigham, Sarah NilesSynopsis: Racing legend Sonny Hayes is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have reunited for the first film in a new 28 YEARS LATER trilogy. Following up on the 2000 cult classic and a somewhat forgotten late oughts sequel, 28 Years Later is the LONG awaited return to the world of the infected, from the mind of Alex Garland. I watched the original film years ago but forgot most of it until revisiting it just a week ago; I loved it even more than I remembered. That being said, I had never seen 28 Weeks Later until just a few days ago. But, as a fan of Boyle's and Garland's work, I've been looking forward to this for a while now, especially with those AWESOME and creepy trailers they've been putting out for this movie. Is 28 Years Later the best of the franchise so far? Find out in this review!28 Years Later:Directed by: Danny BoyleWritten by: Alex GarlandProduced by: Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, Alex GarlandExecutive Producer: Cillian MurphyMusic by: Young FathersDirector of Photography: Anthony Dod MantleEdited by: Jon HarrisCasting by: Rebecca Farhall, Gail StevensProduction Design by: Carson McColl, Gareth Pugh, Mark TildesleyCostume Design by: Carson McColl, Gareth PughCast: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell , Alfie Williams, and Ralph FiennesSynopsis: Twenty-eight years since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one member departs on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

Well, well. It took a while but another major studio is now in the business of remaking animated classics. How to Train Your Dragon has meant a lot to me since I was a kid. The first film is near perfect, the second is an amazing follow up, and the third is a flawed but incredibly satisfying and deeply emotional farewell to Hiccup & Toothless. I've been lucky that Disney hasn't really been going after my childhood favorites, with the exception of The Lion King, to remake but now Universal and DreamWorks has dipped into my well of favorites. What piqued my curiosity very early on in the process of this film's development was that Dean DeBlois, director of all three of the animated films, was returning to tackle the live-action film, which was certainly a surprise. That being said, I have loved almost all the casting for this film and the trailers have certainly given me the nostalgic feels... but if you've listened to any of the episodes where I've discussed this film, you'll probably know that there has been one lingering question in my head: why? Why remake one of the only films that truly spawned a new franchise of the current generation. It seemed far too son, even for the nostalgic effect to be felt to its maximum. But of course, I went in hopeful and optimistic that Dean DeBlois could recapture the magic of the animated entries. Was he able to? Find out in this review!How to Train Your Dragon:Written and Directed by: Dean DeBloisBased on the book by: Cressida CowellBased on DreamWorks Animation's 'How To Train Your Dragon' animated film by: Will Davies and Dean DeBlois & Chris SandersProduced by: Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois, Adam SiegelExecutive Producers: David Cain, Michael A. Connolly, Roy Lee, Chris SandersMusic by: John PowellDirector of Photography: Bill PopeEdited by: Wyatt SmithCasting by: Lucy BevanProduction Design by: Dominic WatkinsCostume Design by: Lindsay PughCast: Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, Murray McArthurSynopsis: On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, which will probably take the cake as the longest movie title of the year, has FINALLY hit theaters. If you couldn't tell from the title, this is the LONG delayed John Wick spin-off starring Ana de Armas, which actually takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 and John Wick: Chapter 4. It has, by the way, now been over two years since John Wick: Chapter 4 came out. Time flies, but that also means that my excitement for this film has just been waning and waning since it was announced. This expansion of the John Wick universe is probably one of the most baffling things I've seen from Hollywood recently. As interesting as the world of John Wick is, I still wholeheartedly believe that Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski's action directing is the draw of those movies. Add on top of my skepticism of turning everything into a cinematic universe all the news of this movie not really working and needing multiple rounds of reshoots, I went in skeptical. So, is Ballerina a worthy addition to the franchise? Find out in this review!From the World of John Wick: Ballerina:Directed by: Len WisemanWritten by: Shay HattenBased on characters created by: Derek KolstadProduced by: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad StahelskiExecutive Producers: Kaley Smalley Romo, Louise Rosner, Kevan Van ThompsonMusic by: Tyler Bates, Joel J. RichardDirector of Photography: Romain LacourbasEdited by: Jason Ballantine, Julian ClarkeCasting by: Olivia Scott-WebbProduction Design by: Philip IveyCostume Design by: Tina KalivasCast: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, Keanu Reeves, Lance Reddick, Ian McShaneSynopsis: Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Eve Macarro begins her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

The latest Predator film to hit streaming released just a few days ago on Disney+/Hulu. This is the second Predator film from Dan Trachtenberg (Prey), and the first of two Predator films coming from him this year. Badlands, though, will hit cinemas in the fall. I am a newbie to the Predator franchise. Despite loving Arnold and ‘80s action flicks, I only saw the first film for the first time last year, have just caught up on all the sequels as a of a few days ago. I have some mixed opinions on the franchise for sure but there's no questioning how iconic the Predator itself is and how cemented the legacy of this franchise has been into the cinematic tapestry. Is Predator: Killer of Killers, the first animated film in the franchise, one of the best entries? Find out in this review!Predator: Killer of KillersDirected by: Dan TrachtenbergCo-Director: Joshua WassungWritten by: Micho RutareBased on a story by: Dan TrachtenbergProduced by: John Davis, Ben Rosenblatt, Marc Toberoff, Dan TrachtenbergExecutive Producers: Lawrence Gordon, Stefan Grube, John C. ThomasCasting by: Jessica ShermanProduction Design by: Ames Carter, Joel ChangCast: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick GonzalezSynopsis: This anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers.

Just a few months after Cobra Kai ended, the Karate Kid “universe” is back with a new movie. Karate Kid: Legends hit theaters today and I had a chance to see the film! While I love the original Karate Kid, I don't think there has been a single good Karate Kid sequel and I have the unpopular opinion that The Next Karate Kid is probably the most enjoyable movie in this franchise outside of that original, but maybe on a ‘so bad it's good' level than being legitimately great. But of course, I love Cobra Kai. My reviews of some of the season of Cobra Kai are some of my most popular episodes I've ever published, but I did get quite a lot of flack for my disappointments with the final season. I always found it so odd how quickly after Cobra Kai we were already seeing Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso again, epically because of how perfect that final scene between him and Johnny was. Also, this franchise has just beaten the Karate Kid formula to death by this point. Does Karate Kid: Legends stand as the best film in the franchise since the original, and is it a worthy follow up to Cobra Kai? Find out in this review!Karate Kid: Legends:Directed by: Jonathan EntwistleWritten by: Rob LieberBased on characters created by: Robert Mark KamenProduced by: Karen RosenfeltExecutive Producers: Jenny Hinkey, Ralph MacchioMusic by: Dominic LewisEdited by: Dana E. Glauberman, Colby Parker Jr.Production Design by: Jon Billington, Maya SigelCostume Design by: Mirren Gordon-CrozierCast: Ben Wang, Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na WenSynopsis: After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren't enough. Li's kung fu teacher Mr. Han enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.

The finale of The Last of Us season 2 aired last night and... damn. I absolutely loved season 1 of The Last of Us and have been looking forward to season two for YEARS now. For context, I played the first game in full for the first time alongside the release of the first season but, unfortunately, have not found the time to play The Last of Us Part II yet. But, I have played a few hours of it and did know about a few of the surprising turns the season would be taking early on. Is season 2 as good as season 1? Well, let's talk about, in full SPOILER detail!

Hello everyone and welcome back to another review here on MOVIE Morning. Wes Anderson's latest film - The Phoenician Scheme - hit UK cinemas this past weekend and will have a slow international rollout over the next month or so. I am a bit of a Wes Anderson noob. I watched Fantastic Mr. Fox obsessively when I was younger and have seen The Grand Budapest Hotel but other than that, I don't have an exact recollection of whether I've seen any of his other movies. Because of the early release here, I thought I'd give The Phoenician Scheme a shot, especially because Anderson has such a passionate following and the plot description seemed interesting to me. Is it worth seeing at the cinema? Find out in this review!The Phoenician Scheem:Directed by: Wes AndersonStory by: Wes Anderson & Roman CoppolaScreenplay by: Wes AndersonProduced by: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, John Peet, Steven RalesExecutive Producers: Roman Coppola, Henning MolfenterOriginal music by: Alexandre DesplatDirector of Photography: Bruno DelbonnelEdited by: Barney PillingCasting by: Douglas AibelProduction Design by: Adam StockhausenCostume Design by: Milena CanoneroCast: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Bill Murray, Willem DafoeSynopsis: The story of a family and a family business.

Guy Ritchie's 1000th movie of the last five years - Fountain of Youth - arrived on Apple TV+ this weekend . I had a chance to see it, albeit a little later than I wanted to. I've been a fan of Guy Ritchie's ever since I first blossomed as young film fan; I think he consistently makes fun movies, although they're rarely great, and we're certainly long past his era of truly awful movies at this point. That being said, one of my biggest disappointments of last year was The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which I was pumped for. Similar to that, I really dug the B National Treasure that the trailers of this particular film were selling, and I've been looking forward to seeing it since. Adventure movies are so few and far between these days. Is this a fun one? Find out in this review!Fountain of Youth:Directed by: Guy RitchieWritten by: James VanderbiltProduced by: Ivan Atkinson, Ritchie Atkinson, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Jake Myers, Paul Neinstein, Guy Ritchie, William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Tripp VinsonExecutive Producers: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tara Farney, Tyler Gillett, Chad VillellaMusic by: Christopher BensteadCinematography by: Ed WildEdited by: James HerbertCasting by: Daniel HubbardProduction Design by: Martyn JohnCostume Design by: Loulou BontempsCast: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Domhnall GleasonSynopsis: A treasure-hunting mastermind assembles a team for a life-changing adventure. But to outwit and outrun threats at every turn, he'll need someone even smarter than he is: his estranged sister.

Just a mere two months after the "smash hit" that was Snow White, Disney is back with another live-action remake! Yay! Lily & Stitch, based on the 2002 animated classic from Dean Delois & Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon), is now out in theaters globally and is sure to break a bunch of box office records over the weekend, as this is poised to be one of the biggest films of the year, let alone the summer. Up until a month ago, I hadn't seen the original in a good decade plus. Rewatching it, I definitely found it to be pretty damn charming and surpassingly emotional, even if it's not one of my favorite Disney movies, even of that time. Does the live-action remake live up to the original? Find out in this review!Lilo & Stitch:Directed by: Dean Fleischer CampWritten by: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van WaesBased on the 2002 animated film written by: Dean DeBlois, Chris SandersProduced by: Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., Dan LinExecutive Producers: Ryan Halprin, Kurt Humphreys, Tom C. Peitzman, Louie ProvostMusic by: Dan RomerCinematography by: Nigel BuckEdited by: Phillip J. BartellProduction Design by: Todd CherniawskyCostume Design by: Wendy Chuck Cast: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach GalifianakisSynopsis: The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.

Here we are! Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt for his final(?) adventure with his IMF crew. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise's latest team up - Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - has now arrived in theaters, and is, of course, the second part of the Dead Reckoning saga of this franchise. As I've said before, Mission: Impossible is probably my favorite movie franchise of all-time. That answer has likely come about due to a number of my other favorite franchises diluting themselves over the last number of years, but Tom Cruise just knows how to deliver a kick-ass time at the movies. He's done so again, and again, and again, so consistently over the last decade, even outside the Mission franchise. That being said, Dead Reckoning was an interesting specimen. I loved it on first watch but that movie did not do very well at the box office, which was extra surprising considering it was riding the tremendous wave of Top Gun: Maverick's success the year prior. On successive rewatches, I myself have grown to have a number of issues with that movie but still find it to be an incredibly satisfying action movie. It's certainly still better than most other action movies you've seen in theaters since that film, largely because of Tom Cruise's endless dedication to risk his life... for our entertainment of all things. But, can Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning overcome the story shortcomings of its predecessor to close out Tom Cruise's run as Ethan Hunt with his most memorable ride yet? Find out in this SPOILER-FREE review!Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning:Directed by: Christopher McQuarrieWritten by: Christopher McQuarrie & Erik JendresenBased on the television series created by: Bruce GellerProduced by: Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrieExecutive Producers: David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Chris BrockMusic by: Max Aruj, Alfie GodfreyCinematography by: Fraser TaggartEdited by: Eddie HamiltonCasting by: Mindy MarinProduction Design by: Gary FreemanCostume Design by: Jill TaylorCast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Mariela Garriga, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell and Angela BassettSynopsis: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity — which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe — with the world's governments and a mysterious ghost from Ethan's past on their trail. Joined by new allies and armed with the means to shut the Entity down for good, Hunt is in a race against time to prevent the world as we know it from changing forever.

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to another review here on MOVIE Morning where, today, we're going to be discussing Andor season 2. I absolutely loved season 1 of Andor; I truly believe that it's the greatest season of Star Wars TV ever. At least, that's what I thought before watching season 2. Going into season 2, the early reactions hailed it as a 'masterpiece' and 'some of the greatest Star Wars ever made.' And considering how much I loved season 1, to say my expectations were high would be an understatement. That being said, the first arc actually kind of underwhelmed me. Very quickly after that though, I realized why it was being praised the way it was. This season legitimately featured the greatest Star Wars since the original trilogy... but was it able to maintain that throughout? Find out in this SPOILER-FILLED review!

The official trailer for James Gunn's Superman is finally here! It's been almost five months since the teaser trailer and I think I speak for all DC fans when I say that this day has been a long time coming for so many of us. It feels kind of surreal that this movie is less than two months away, especially as someone who's been tracking this film's production ever since James Gunn announced he was writing a Superman movie over two and a half years ago now. As you all probably know, this is my most anticipated movie of the year because I love Superman and, of course, I love, LOVE James Gunn's films. He tells stories that really resonate with me and I want nothing more than Gunn to work his magic on this character, who's so undervalued in today's pop culture environment, but that I still love so dearly. So, how was the full trailer? And what were some hidden details, maybe hints towards the larger plot that you may have missed? Find out in this initial reaction to the trailer!

The second MCU film of the year - Thunderbolts* - has now arrived theaters globally. To be perfectly frank, I was never super excited about this movie prior to the marketing. I was excited by the initial announcement of a Thunderbolts film and Jake Schreier's involvement as director but was quite thrown off by the initial cast announcement. While the Thunderbolts were never really Marvel Comics team that I gravitated towards, I did like a lot of the usual characters included... and seemingly almost none of them were going to be a part of the movie squad. This choice continued a very awkward trend of the MCU trying to distance itself from the very media that allowed it to exist in the first place. I have to say though, props to the marketing team. By the time I was stepping into the theater, I was PUMPED to finally be seeing Thunderbolts*. The trailers have been fantastic, with a few awesome parodies, and even the product tie-ins have been creative (not that tie-ins are exactly a good indication of quality). Did the movie live up to the marketing, or was it as bland as I initially feared?Thunderbolts*Directed by: Jake SchreierStory by: Eric PearsonScreenplay by: Eric Pearson, Joanna CaloProduced by: Kevin FeigeExecutive Producers: Louis D'Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason TamezMusic by: Son LuxDirector of Photography: Andrew Droz PalermoEdited by: Angela M. Catanzaro, Harry YoonCasting by: Sarah FinnProduction Design by: Grace SunCostume Design by: Sanja Milkovic HaysCast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-DreyfusSynopsis: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

Gareth Evans -director of the two Raid films - is finally back to kick some life back into the action genre... but this time on Netflix. Havoc hit Netflix just a few days ago and today, I'll be giving you my thoughts on the film. If you enjoy this review and want to see more, as always, make sure to follow my podcast on whatever platform you prefer to listen on.Havoc:Written and Directed by: Gareth EvansProduced by: Gareth Evans, Tom Hardy, Gufran Khan, Ed Talfan, Aram TertzakianExecutive Producers: Nate Bolotin, Diane Briere De L'isle, Andrew Eaton, Henry Engelhardt, Nick SpicerMusic by: Aria PrayogiDirector of Photography: Matt FlanneryEdited by: : Sara Jones, Matt Platts-MillsCasting by: Kelly Valentine HendryProduction Design by: Tom PearceCostume Design by: Sian JenkinsCast:  Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest WhitakerSynopsis: When a drug heist swerves lethally out of control, a jaded cop fights his way through a corrupt city's criminal underworld to save a politician's son.

The Accoutant is back! Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal finally reunite for a sequel to The Accountant, a film that absolutely no one when to go see when it came out almost ten years back but has garnered great shelf life. I, myself, saw the first film a good few years ago and also happened to quite enjoy it. It's not the best of its genre and nowhere near some of director Gavin O'Connor's finest work, but it's a solid action thriller but done with a great twist. At last, Amazon MGM Studios and Ben Affleck's Artists Equity have teamed up to give us the sequel, with most of the creative team returning. Does The Accountant 2 top the first film? Find out in this review!The Accountant 2:Directed by: Gavin O'ConnorWritten by: Bill DubuqueCharacters created by: Bill DubuqueProduced by: Ben Affleck, Lynette Howell-Taylor, Mark WilliamsExecutive Producers: Dani Bernfeld, Matt Damon, Kevin Halloran, Michael Joe, Scott LaStati, Gavin O'Connor, Jamie Patricof, Alison WinterMusic by: Bryce DessnerDirector of Photography: Seamus McGarveyEdited by: Richard PearsonProduction Design by: Jade HealyCostume Design by: Isis MussendenCast: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, J.K. Simmons, Daniella PinedaSynopsis: When an old acquaintance is murdered, Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax, to help. In partnership with Marybeth Medina, they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

The summer movie season - one of my favorite times of the year - has finally arrived... or, it will be arriving very soon. It's basically kicking off with Thunderbotls*, the MCU's next film and their final outing of Phase Five. And from then on until the final big release of August, blockbuster season is officially a go. But, as always, there are TONS of movies I'm looking forward to, and in this episode, I'll be sharing what my top ten most anticipated movies of the summer are, and hopefully help you discover a movie you should be excited about. So, sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy, and don't forget to tell me what your most anticipated film of the summer is in the comments on Spotify!

The summer movie season officially kicks off in just under two weeks, with the release of Marvel Studios' next film: Thunderbolts*. This is looking to be one competitive, stacked summer at the global box office, but also one with a high chance of disappointment. Today, I go through and give you my predictions for what could be the ten highest grossing Hollywood movies worldwide over the next few months. As always, this list is just my opinion, being based off research, my hunches and the general trend of the worldwide box office so far this year. Enjoy and let me know what your prediction for the top highest grossing films of the summer will be in the Spotify comments! Also, vote on what the #1 grossing movie of the summer will be on the poll!

Director Ryan Coogler is back to deliver us more goods on the big screen with his latest original film, of course with Michael B. Jordan, Sinners. The trailers for this film have been absolutely fascinating and the hints over the years of Coogler's next project being an original and a horror film were extremely exciting to me. That's because I don't think he's made a single movie below the 'great' level. I enjoy his two Black Panther films immensely and about equally. The two more impressive outings in his career so far though have been his debut feature Fruitvale Station, a heartbreaking true story, and one of the greatest sports films of all-time: Creed, a legacy sequel that managed to top anything that had come before... and the original Rocky won Best Picture! Coogler is one of the best working directors, as I've clearly established, and him managing to make a high-budget, genre-blender and still managing to maintain the rights is just such a boss move, while the very easy next step for him would have been to continue immediately with what would've been a surefire hit in Black Panther III. Anyhow, is this movie as good as the rave reviews so far have indicated? Find out in this NON-SPOILER review!Sinners:Written and Directed by: Ryan CooglerProduced by: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianExecutive Producers: Pete Chiappetta, Rebecca Cho, Will Greenfield, Ludwig Göransson, Andrew Lary, Anthony TittanegroCo-Producers: Tina Anderson, Kenneth YuAssociate Producer: Ammar MohamedMusic by: Ludwig GöranssonDirector of Photography: Autumn Durand Arkapaw Edited by: Michael P. ShawverCasting by: Francine MaislerProduction Design by: Hannah BeachlerCostume Design by: Ruth E. CarterCast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Delroy LindoSynopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

Well, well, well. The first season of Daredevil: Born Again has now wrapped up its 9-episode run on Disney+. As I'm sure you all know, the original Daredevil show on Netflix is quite possibly my favorite TV series of all-time. I'm not going to go through the whole spiel of my excitement going into this show as that has already been very well documented on this podcast. I was one of the people who did really like the first two episodes and I have been holding in my very all over the place thoughts on this season for the last six or so weeks. FINALLY, it's time to discuss my thoughts on the season, with FULL spoilers ahead!

Hey everybody, welcome back to MOVIE Morning where, today, I'll be reviewing The Amateur. This is the latest studio action thriller, but this time from 20th Century Studios, starring Academy Award Winner Rami Malek. It has a pretty stacked cast that also includes Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane!), Caitriona Balfe, Holt McCallany and Jon Bernthal, the Punisher himself. I only heard of this film about a month back and immediately put it on my watchlist. I love mid-budget action thrillers like this, and I like them the best when they're about the unlikely action heroes and not the invincible John Wick's of the world. Although, of course, who doesn't love John Wick? I also liked that it looked to have more of a serious edge than these films typically have nowadays. So, what did I think of The Amateur? Find out in this review!The Amateur:Directed by: James HawesScreenplay by: Ken Nolan and Gary SpinelliBased on the novel by: Robert LittellProduced by: Rami Malek, Joel B. Michaels, Hutch Parker, Dan WilsonExecutive Producer: Jonathan HookMusic by: Volker BertelmannCinematography by: Martin RuheEditing by: Jonathan AmosCasting by: Martin WareProduction Design by: Maria DjurkovicCostume Design by: Susie HarmanCast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, Laurence FishburneSynopsis: After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action.

Christopher Landon - director of Happy Death Day and Freaky - is back with his latest film, Drop. I was a HUGE fan of both of those crowd-pleasing, horror-comedies (one of the most underutilized genres in Hollywood today) but I didn't quite love the premise or trailer for Drop. I don't know if that's because I was expecting kind of his usual shtick of a fun sci-fi spin on a slasher. Even Heart Eyes, which he wrote alongside one of his Freaky co-writer Michael Kennedy, was a slasher combined with another genre, rom-coms. And, to great success I might add. I just thought the premise required such a crazy leap of suspension of disbelief that I just couldn't get into the idea. Did the film win me over? Find out in this review!Drop:Directed by: Christopher LandonWritten by: Jillian Jacobs, Christopher RoachProduced by: Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller, Cameron FullerExecutive Producers: Macdara Kelleher, Sam Lerner, Ron LynchMusic by: Bear McCrearyCinematography by: Marc SpicerEditing by: Ben BaudhuinCasting by: Ally Conover, Sarah Domeier Lindo, Terri TaylorProduction Design by: Susie CullenCostume Design by: Gwen Jeffares HourieCast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks, Travis NelsonSynopsis: Violet, a widowed mother on her first date in years, arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry, is more charming and handsome than she expected. But their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone.

Do you know what the best part of this movie finally releasing is? I NEVER have to see the awful trailer for this movie in front of other films again! A Minecraft Movie has dropped in theaters worldwide and I had the immense "pleasure" of seeing it earlier today. Was it good? Well, what do you think? I definitely had a Minecraft phase when I was younger, but that was over ten years ago and I have not cared much for the game since then. I've always known that making a movie out of it is a dumb idea because the game doesn't exactly lend itself to narrative features. There's a reason there's only been ONE of these games. So, how did the film turn out? Find out in this review!A Minecraft Movie:Directed by: Jared HessScreenplay by: Chris Bowman & Hubbel Palmer and Neil Widener & Gavin James and Chris GalletaStory by: Allison Schroeder and Chris Bowman & Hubbel PalmerProduced by: Jon Berg, Cale Boyter, Vu Bui, Roy Lee, Jason Momoa, Mary Parent, Torfi Frans ÓlafssonExecutieve Producers: Jay Ashenfelter, Pete Chiappetta, Todd Hallowell, Andrew Lary, Brian Andrew Mendoza, Jon Spaihts, Anthony Tittanegro, Kayleen WaltersMusic by: Mark MothersbaughCinematography by: Enrique ChedlakEditing by: James ThomasCasting by: Rachel TennerProduction Design by: Grant MajorCostume Design by: Lucy McLay, Amanda NealeCast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Jennifer CoolidgeSynopsis: Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.