MOVIE Morning

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.

If you went to go see A Minecraft Movie this weekend, you probably noticed a nice surprise before the movie started. An extended preview for James Gunn's SUPERMAN played, finally giving fans a new look at the latest iteration of the Man of Steel before he flies into theaters on July 11. As I'm sure you know, Superman has been my most anticipated movie of the last few years, partly because I've DESPERATELY missed Superman on the big screen but also because I LOVE James Gunn's films. In fact, I love ALL of his comic book films, even Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. So, it should be no surprise that I spent double a normal ticket price just to see A Minecraft Movie in IMAX for this preview. Does it deliver on everything I hoped from this movie? Find out right here! I'll also be fully recapping what happens in the preview if you didn't get a chance to see the clip!EDIT: The clip is already online!

Jason Statham is back with yet another mid-budget action thriller, this time he's again teaming up with his ‘The Beekeeper' director David Ayer. Ayer is, of course, most famous for the Suicide Squad debacle that occurred back in 2016. The Beekeeper, as most Jason Statham films, definitely garnered a solid box office return which is why the two were quick to pair up again but I seemed to be in the minority because I didn't like it very much. And I am by no means a cinema snob who can't enjoy B-movies like this; I check out almost all of Statham's action movies because I find him to be a very entertaining movie star. So, is A Working Man an improvement on The Beekeeper in my book, or should these two stay after from each other in future endeavors? Find out in this review!A Working Man:Directed by: David AyerScreenplay by: Sylvester Stallone and David AyerBased on the book "Levon's Trade" by: Chuck DixonProduced by: David Ayer, Bill Block, John Friedberg, Chris Long, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Kevin King TempletonExecutive Producers: Volodymyr Artemenko, Rachael Cole, Alexis Garcia, Beau Harrington, Michael Heimler, Teddy Schwarzman, Mike Shanks, Jill Silfen, Yevgen Stupka, Thomas ZadraMusic by: Jared Michael FryCinematography by: Shawn WhiteEditing by: Fred RaskinCasting by: Finnian TweedProduction Design by: Nigel EvansCast: Jason Statham, David Harbour, Michael PeñaSynopsis: Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss's daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.

Jack Reacher is back for his 3rd adventure on Prime Video. Reacher season 3 has wrapped up its run on Amazon and this will be the first time I cover the show on MOVIE Morning! I caught up on Reacher not too long after season 2 released and fell in love with the vibe of this show and Alan Ritchson's pitch perfect portrayal of Jack Reacher. Each of the first two seasons had many great qualities to them and they also felt different, which is very refreshing for a TV show. And season 3, based on the book ‘Persuader', might just be the strongest season of the Nick Santora Prime Video series yet. Find out why in this review of all 8 episodes!

Oh, boy. What a day. The full (?) cast for Avengers: Doomsday has now been revealed, through a laughably long livestream involving chairs... and, in true MCU fashion, a brief cameo by RDJ - Doctor Doom - himself. In this breakdown, I will go through all the big names and surprises that were revealed to be a part of Avengers: Doomsday, which is now in production, as well as cover some of the VERY noticeable absences. And of course, most importantly, you'll also get a glorious rant on this approach of announcing the cast from yours truly. Enjoy!

Everyone's most anticipated movie of the year (wink, wink) - SNOW WHITE, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot - has released in theaters. Listen, I watched Snow White about as much as any guy when I was younger, but I haven't exactly kept it as a favorite since I was like 5 years old. Also, I'm completely sick of Disney live-action remakes and had less than no interest going into this movie. I do love Marc Webb as a filmmaker though, even though I don't love all his movies, because he's fantastic at creating realistic character relationships onscreen. Snow White, though, wasn't ever exactly going to be the best showcase of his skills. So, did Snow White surpass my rock bottom expectations? Find out in this review!Snow White:Directed by: Marc WebbScreenplay by: Erin Cressida WilsonBased on the fairy tale by: The Brothers GrimmProduced by: Jeff LeBoff, Marc PlattExecutive Producer: Callum McDougallMusic by: Jeff Morrow, Benji Pasek, Justin PaulCinematography by: Mandy WalkerCasting by: Mark SangerProduction Design by: Kave QuinnCostume Design by: Sandy PowellCast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Jeremy Swift, Jason Kravitz , Martin Klebba, George Salazar, Tituss Burgess, Andy Gretelueschen, Andrew Barth Feldman, Emilia FaucherSynopsis: A beautiful girl, Snow White, takes refuge in the forest in the house of seven dwarfs to hide from her stepmother, the wicked Queen. The Queen is jealous because she wants to be known as ‘the fairest in the land', and Snow White's beauty surpasses her own.

Hey everybody, welcome back to another review here on MOVIE Morning. Today, I'm reviewing one of my most anticipated action, mid-budget films of the whole year: NOVOCAINE, starring Jack Quaid. The trailer for this film that came out a few months ago immediately put this film on my radar. It had a U.S. release just a few days ago and I had the chance to see it a bit early, relatively, here in the U.K. thanks to a Mystery Screening. So far, Jack Quaid's already been having a pretty good year because I was a big fan of Companion, the horror-comedy that came out at the end of January. So, is Novocaine one of the most fun action films of recent memory? Find out in this review!Novocaine:Directed by: Dan Berk, Robert OlsenWritten by: Lars JacobsonProduced by: Adam Friedlander, Joby Harold, Julian Rosenberg, Drew Simon, Tory TunnellExecutive Producers: Josh Adler, Paul Barbeau, Lars Jacobson, Matt Schwartz, Sam SpeiserMusic by: Lorne Balfe, Andrew KawczynskiCinematography by: Jacques JouffretEditing by: Christian WagnerCasting by: Bonnie Lee Bouman, Ronna KressProduction Design by: Kara LindstromArt Direction by: Kirk Doman, Sara Hartinger, Moray McGregorCast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob BattalionSynopsis: When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.

The Russo Brothers are back with another film... and it's, yet again, another straight to streaming one. Since Avengers: Endgame, the Russos have not been producing the most critically-acclaimed hits, to be nice. Cherry on Apple TV+ was critically panned, The Gray Man received mixed reviews and a lot of their other produced content, like the Citadel universe, was destroyed online. Now, they've devised to go back to the MCU to direct the next two Avengers movies... but until then(!), we've got a $300M+ Netflix movie to enjoy! And those have a great track record, don't they? Don't forget as well, this time the Russos have the writers of all three Captain America movies and the Infinity War/Endgame double feature along with them. Find out whether The Electric State is a return to form for the Russos in this review!The Electric State:Directed by: Anthony Russe & Joe RussoScreenplay by: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeelyBased on the book by: Simon StålenhagProduced by: Chris Castaldi, Thiago Da Costa, Mike Larocca, Patrick Newall, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-OtsdotMusic by: Alan SilvestriCinematography by: Stephen F. WindonEditing by: Jeffrey FordCasting by: Sarah FinnProduction Design by: Dennis Gassner, Richard L. JohnsonCostume Design by: Judianna MakovskyCast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Woody Harrelson, Ke Huy Quan, Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Woody NormanSynopsis: An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.

Steven Soderbergh is back with his 2nd film in under three months: BLACK BAG, a new spy film starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Hey everyone, welcome back to MOVIE Morning, this time for a bit more of a low-key review... in a weekend of MANY reviews. Black Bag just hit theaters yesterday and it has gotten some pretty fantastic early reviews but I'm someone who very rarely LOVES Soderbergh's work. All his films are certainly watchable and his vast filmography proves his versatility as a filmmaker but I think his movies can often feel a little too safe and middling in quality. Is Black Bag a big departure from that? Is it the BEST film of 2025 so far? Find out in this review!Black Bag:Directed by: Steven SoderberghWritten by: David KoeppProduced by: Gregory Jacobs, Casey SilverExecutive Producer: David KoeppMusic by: David HolmesCinematography by: Steven SoderberghEditing by: Steven SoderberghProduction Design by: Philip MessinaCasting by: Carmen CubaCostume Design by: Ellen MirojnickCast: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Regé-Jean Page, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Pierce BrosnanSynopsis: When his beloved wife is suspected of betraying the nation, an intelligence agent faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

The greatest superhero show in the universe has returned! Invincible is back on Prime Video and has now wrapped up with its 3rd - and, possibly, craziest - season yet. I have loved this show since season 1 and then diving deep into the original comic book series by Robert Kirkman, almost four years ago now. Season 3 finally kicked off some of the long-running storylines that will likely continue through to the series's end, introducing Oliver as a main character and delving into the beginning of Nolan's redemption (... or is it?). This review will include SPOILERS for this season but I will refrain from talking about the future storylines the show will explore, based off the original comic book series. Enjoy!

OSCAR winning director Bong Joon Ho has finally returned with his next film - a book adaptation - Mickey 17 from Warner Bros. Pictures. This was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year because Parasite is easily one of the best Best Picture winners of the last decade and it made history by being the first International film to ever win Best Picture. Mickey 17 looked like a complete blast from the trailers but I also immediately knew this movie would be dead on arrival in cinemas because the marketing was just a little too gonzo for general audiences. Early buzz for the film was strong so I went in hyped. Is Mickey 17 on the level of Parasite? Find out in this review!Mickey 17:Written and Directed by: Bong Joon HoBased on the novel "Mickey 7" by: Edward AshtonProduced by: Dooho Choi, Dede Gardner, Bong Joon Ho, Jeremy KleinerExecutive Producers: Pete Chiappetta, Peter Dodd, Jesse Ehrman, Marianne Jenkins, Andrew Lary, Brad Pitt, Anthony TittanegroMusic by: Jung Jae-ilCinematography by: Darius KhondjiEdited by: Jinmo YangCasting by: Francine MaislerProduction Design by: Fiona CrombieCostume Design by: Catherine GeorgeCast: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Anamaria VartolomeiSynopsis: Unlikely hero Mickey Barnes finds himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.

After six and a half years, Daredevil has finally returned to screens! That's right, Daredevil: Born Again has finally premiered on Disney+! It has been a long and tumultuous road getting to the moment of finally getting this show. From the highly publicized creative overhaul to the incredibly naive & silly comments made by the show runner just a few weeks back, this show hasn't exactly had an easy road getting to our screens. For those of you who are unaware, the Netflix Daredevil series might be my single favorite show of all-time; it's CERTAINLY my favorite comic book show ever and that will likely never be topped. Daredevil himself has always been one of my top three favorite Marvel Comics characters and Charlie Cox's iteration of the character is a better version than I'd ever imagined we could get onscreen. It just feels right for this show to continue, but Marvel Studios & Disney+'s track record hasn't been great, especially of late. Are the first 2 episodes of Daredevil: Born Again AS GOOD as the original show? Find out in this SPOILER review!

Hello, everybody! Welcome back to MOVIE Morning where, today, we'll be discussing the 2025 Best Picture nominees! More specifically, I'll be ranking them based off my preferences, NOT by how likely they are/were to win Best Picture at the OSCARS this year. This is always a really interesting ranking because these films are supposed to be the best of the year, but they rarely represent that for me personally. At the same time, there are very few Best Picture nominees that I actually dislike. So, how do I rank this year's Best Picture nominees? Find out in this episode! Make sure to let me know which one is your favorite on the Spotify Polls!

The time is almost here. The 97th Academy Awards are days away so, as always, it's time to give you my official winner predictions for the categories, all of them in fact. I believe I've missed the last couple of years but this year, I've definitely seen more of these films than ever so it's going to be an interesting episode. I'm not only going to be providing my predictions, but also who I think SHOULD win in each category, which is, unfortunately, more often than not completely different from who I think WILL win. Who's getting Best Picture this year? Will Sean Baker finally get some OSCARS love or is Conclave sweeping in late? Find out my thoughts on everything OSCARS-related in this predictions episode. Enjoy!

So, the first season of the latest Spider-Man animated series - Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man - has now wrapped up on Disney+. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed the first 2 episodes and have been eagerly awaiting each set of episodes every week. I've also been really excited to delve deep into the show and discuss the entire first season, in full spoiler detail. Continue on if you've seen the show and want to hear a lifelong Spider-Man fan give you his very surprised thoughts on YFNSM - season 1!

The Gorge - the latest film from Doctor Strange and Sinister director Scott Derrickson - has landed on Apple TV+. Welcome back to MOVIE Morning for another review and this time, we'll be talking about a streaming movie; I feel like it's been a while. I think Scott Derrickson is a very talented director: I'm, of course, a huge fan of Doctor Strange and Sinister, but also of the fantastic The Black Phone and the very underrated The Exorcism of Emily Rose. The Gorge, though, hasn't looked great from the previews and I really can't bring myself to get excited for streaming movies nowadays, unless they're titled Knives Out and directed by one of the all-time greatest filmmakers. Is The Gorge a solid thriller for Valentine's Day weekend, or is this one a pass like most streaming films? Find out in this review!The Gorge:Directed by: Scott DerricksonWritten by: Zach DeanProduced by: C. Robert Cargill, Sherryl Clark, Zach Dean, Scott Derrickson, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Gregory Goodman, Don Granger, Adam KolbrennerExecutive Producers: Korey Budd, Marc Evans, Miles TellerMusic by: Trent Reznor, Atticus RossCinematography by: Dan LaustenEditing by: Frédéric ThoravalCasting by: Sophie Holland, Mindy MarinProduction Design by: Rick HeinrichsCostume Design by: Ellen MirojnickCast: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney WeaverSynopsis: Two highly trained operatives grow close from a distance after being sent to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil below emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.

The first MCU movie of the year - Captain America: Brave New World - is now out in theaters. Honestly, I've been shockingly not excited for this movie. As much as I love Sam Wilson and I did enjoy Falcon and Winter Soldier more than most people, the behind the scenes drama on this movie and the creative team announced just kept killing my excitement as we got closer to release. I've liked the tone of the trailers but all we heard from behind the curtains weren't spelling good news for this movie at all. Of course though, I went in really wanting this movie to be good; the only reason this podcast even came to be in the first place is because of my love for the MCU and Steve Rogers has always been my favorite character in the franchise. The movie has now released worldwide. Does Captain America: Brave New World continue a winning streak for Marvel after Deadpool & Wolverine... or are we going to have to wait for Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four (two MCU movies I AM excited about) to get the good stuff? Find out in this NON-SPOILER review!Captain America: Brave New World:Directed by: Julius OnahScreenplay by: Rob Edwards & Malcolm Spellman & Dalan Musson and Julius Onah & Peter GlanzStory by: Rob Edwards and Malcolm Spellman & Dalan MussonBased on the character Captain America created by: Jack Kirby and Joe SimonProduced by: Kevin Feige and Nate MooreExecutive Producers: Louis D'Esposito and Charles NewirthMusic by: Laura KarpmanCinematography by: Kramer MorgenthauEditing by: Madeleine Gavin, Matthew SchmidtCasting by: Sarah FinnProduction Design by: Ramsey AveryCostume Design by: Alexis Forte, Gersha PhillipsCast: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson and Harrison FordSynopsis: After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Well, here we are. The final five episodes of Cobra Kai have finally arrived. Needless to say - if you've seen my reviews - I have been endlessly frustrated with Cobra Kai - Season 6 so far. In every way, the last ten episodes have been a bridge too far for me, even for a show as silly as Cobra Kai. More importantly, most of the show's plot lines (if not, all) were wrapped up by the end of season 5. All that's left is a bunch of dumb karate and stupid teenage melodrama. All that being said, I've still been hopeful for the final few episodes of the show because of how much I enjoyed so much of this show and how much they've made me love these characters. And of course, seeing the wrap up of a 40-year arc between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso is going to be emotional. Did the final few episodes deliver and is it a worthy end to an unforgettable chapter in the Karate Kid saga? Well, let's discuss it in full detail!

Super Bowl weekend has now come and gone, and for all of us non-sports watchers, it's TYPICALLY a weekend of an abundance of trailer/teaser drops for movies. Anyone who was online yesterday very quickly learned that it was going to be a largely quiet year on the trailer front.Don't even get me started on the whole Superman Puppy Bowl debacle. But, the one new major trailer we did get was the new trailer for Marvel Studios' upcoming May release: Thunderbolts*. this is now the film's third trailer but I actually hadn't covered either of the previous trailers, for whatever reason.Because of this (and how much this trailer blew me away), I decided I'd give you my (hopefully) quick reaction to this Big Game Trailer. Enjoy!

I'm over a month late... but it's finally time to count down my top 10 favorite films of 2024, with quite a few honorable mentions. This is by far the most new release films I've ever watched in one year, and it's largely due to me attending college in the U.K. and having way more access to many more films, particularly awards films. I spent an extra month trying to make my coverage of 2024 films more robust and watching some of the other 2024 movies that people are really excited about. Yet, I've still missed quite a few big ones but I felt it was time to finally throw in the towel and do this list. So, continue on to the episode to find out MY top 10 favorite movies of 2024!

OSCAR-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, originally of Temple of Doom and Goonies fame, has made an epic Hollywood comeback over the last few years. Now, he's leading his very own movies. Love Hurts is the latest production under 87 North, the same people behind the original John Wick, Violent Night and Nobody. It's also being directed by a stuntman and Quan himself, during his near 4-decade absence from the silver screen, worked sometimes as a stuntman. I'm just so happy for him and most of my excitement for this one comes from seeing him be put fully into the spotlight. Is Love Hurts a must-see action film in theater? Find out in this review!Love Hurts:Directed by: JoJo EusebioWritten by: Matthew Murray & Josh Stoddard and Luke PassmoreProduced by: Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, Guy DanellaExecutive Producer: Ben OrmandMusic by: Dominic LewisCinematography by: Bridger NielsonProduction Design by: Craig SandellsCostume Design by: Patricia J. HendersonCast: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Sean Astin, Mustafa Shakir, Lio Tipton, Rhys Darby, Marshawn Lynch, André EriksenSynopsis: A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.

The dinosaurs are back! The first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth - the seventh installment of the Jurassic franchise - has finally hit theaters .This movie had a FAST road to production, with Jurassic World Dominion only coming out three years ago and this movie only being announced about 18 months ago. For context, the time gap between Fallen Kingdom and Dominion was FOUR years. The first Jurassic Park is a top 15 movie of all-time for me... but this franchise has basically now disappointed me five straight times. I don't think Lost World is horrible and I have some fun with the first Jurassic World but the pairing of David Koepp and Gareth Edwards has always given me some hope for this entry. I've liked all of Edwards' movies but haven't quite loved ay of them, but he's certainly the kind of director who can inject some worthy visuals back into this franchise and bring the thrills. The question has been: are the characters and story going to live up to the visuals though? Those areas have been my issue with all of his films so far, but with Koepp on board, I've had some hope. Also, because this movie shot large chunks in Thailand, I'm immediately going to be pumped to see it. Does the trailer give the impression that this is going to be the best movie in the franchise since the original? Find out in this initial reaction!

It's finally time! The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps (fittingly releasing on February 4) has, at long last, arrived online. This has been one of my most anticipated films for my whole life. I love these character so much and they have NEVER been done justice on the big screen. The fact that I live in a world where people think characters like the F4 and Superman are boring is insane to me... but all that changes come July. Did this first trailer for Fantastic Four get me as excited as that recent Superman trailer or do I not like the direction they're taking to introduce Marvel's First Family to the MCU? Find out in this initial reaction!

Companion - a horror film "from the producers of The Notebook and Barbarian" (one of the greatest taglines I've ever heard) - has released in theaters worldwide. This was a movie I had very little interest in until seeing that very mysterious first trailer and seeing the reviews that have been coming out from critics over the past 2 months, which have been GLOWING. I had the chance to see the film just recently but the question is: will this movie start a glorious revival of the all too dead horror-comedy? Is it as amazing and as shocking as Barbarian? Find out in this review! Companion: Written and Directed by: Drew Hancock Produced by: Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Josh Mack, Raphael Margules Executive Producers: Jamie Buckner, Andrew Childs, Adam Ridley, Ryan Ridley, Tracy Rosenblum, Paulina Sussman Music by: Hrishikesh Hirway Cinematography by: Eli Born Editing by: Brett W. Bachman, Josh Ethier Casting by: Nancy Nayor Production Design by: Scott Kuzio Costume Design by: Vanessa Porter Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend Synopsis: A billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for Iris and her friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate.

Hey everyone, the first 2 episodes of Disney+'s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have dropped. This show has a bizarro release schedule and will only be on for the next 3 weeks, despite having 10 episodes. Episodes 3-5 and episodes 6-8 will be grouped together for the next 2 weeks respectively, and then the final 2 episodes will premiere on February 19. This is a show that I was hyped(!) about when they first announced it as a prequel show to Tom Holland's MCU iteration of the character. However, that announcement was over four years ago and since then, this show has clearly undergone a slew of changes. The show that was instead announced later was a What If...? style-show of Norman Osborn (voiced by the great Colman Domingo) mentoring Peter instead of Tony Stark. Since then, my excitement has been fading for this show and that trailer did NOT help. All that being said, the reactions to the WHOLE season definitely sparked my curiosity. How were the first 2 episodes? Find out in this NON-SPOILER review!

Hey everybody, the latest January dumpster fire (but this time directed by OSCAR-winner Mel Gibson) - Flight Risk - has hit theaters. My main point of curiosity with regards to this movie has been wondering why Mel Gibson, for his next directorial feature, would tackle a B-rate action film like Flight Risk, assuming it isn't because it's the only movie he could get because of all the shenanigans. The trailers looked awful and to be honest, I was actually really looking forward to Steven Soderbergh's new film Presence this weekend instead. But alas, the showtimes didn't align with my schedule today so instead, I checked out Flight Risk. It's just as bad as I expected. Listen on to find out why! Flight Risk: Directed by: Mel Gibson Written by: Jared Rosenberg Produced by: John Davis, John Fox, Bruce Davey, Mel Gibson Executive Producers: Russell Hollander, Jon Huddle, K. Blaine Johnston, Patrick Josten, Walter Josten, Petr Jákl, Alex Lebovici, Jarrett Mahoney, Ryan Donnell Smith, Christopher Woodrow Music by: Antonio Pinto Cinematography by: Johnny Derango Casting by: Kathy McKee Production Design by: David Meyer Costume Design by: Kristen Kopp Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, Topher Grace Synopsis: A U.S. Marshal escorts a government witness to trial after he is accused of getting involved with a mob boss, only to discover that the pilot who is transporting them is also a hitman that had been sent to assassinate the informant. After they subdue him, they're forced to fly together after discovering that there are others attempting to eliminate them.

Hey everyone, The Brutalist - the acclaimed, now 10x OSCAR nominee film - has now released in theaters nationwide in the U.S. and in UK theaters this weekend. This film premiered over 4 months ago now so, typically, I wouldn't feel much inclination to review it, especially since this film is certainly making my top 10 movies of 2024 list, which releases next week on this very show. The timing of the release as well as the plethora of OSCAR nominations it just received compelled me to put out a review though. So, here we go. Is The Brutalist deserving of its 10 Academy Award nominations and all the insane hype since Venice? Find out in this review!The Brutalist:Directed by: Brady CorbetWritten by: Brady Corbet, Mona FastvoldProduced by: Nick Gordon, D.J. Gugenheim, Andrew Lauren, Trevor Matthews, Andrew Morrison, Brian YoungMusic by: Daniel BlumbergCinematography by: Lol CrawleyEditing by: Dávid JanscóCasting by: Kristina Erdely, Cassandra KulukundisProduction Design by: Judy BeckerCostume Design by: Kate ForbesCast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, Alessandro NivolaSynopsis: Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Tóth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost.

Hey everyone, Skeleton Crew just wrapped up its 8-episode run on Disney+ last week. My understanding is that the show was originally pitched as a limited series but pending the full viewership numbers, a potential season 2 is being discussed. In the meantime, I'll leave the title of this review to 'Season 1 Review'. I reviewed the first 2 episodes back in December and LUCKILY, this show has been the gift which keeps on giving. Proceed to find out why I think Skeleton Crew is easily the best Star Wars we've gotten since Andor and one of their strongest Disney+ shows to date, even if it's definitely aimed more towards kids!

The day has finally arrived: the first trailer for Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again has finally landed online. This show has endured tumultuous behind the scenes developments, namely a complete creative overhaul halfway through production of its initial plan for an 18-episode season. As wasn't the plan initially, Born Again is now set to take place in the continuity of the original Netflix series, which is now canon to the MCU's Sacred Timeline. Furthermore, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Jon Bernthal are now returning to reprise their iconic supporting roles in the show, alongside Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin and Charlie Cox as Daredevil. THANK GOD for that, because Daredevil is, I believe, unquestionably the single GREATEST superhero show of all-time. I have been very excited to see this show, which was unfairly cancelled too early initially, finally continue with these amazing characters once again. That being said, the behind the scenes madness has hindered how confident I am going into this show. Does the trailer confirm that Marvel really made attempts to return to the vibe and story of that original show? Find out in this initial reaction to the trailer.

The first project in James Gunn's new DCU - Creature Commandos - has wrapped its airing of season 1 on Max. Those of you who have been following me know that I have been deliriously excited for the DCU - and in particular, James Gunn's upcoming Superman film which I named my most anticipated upcoming film of 2025 - but I'd be lying if Creature Commandos was one of the most anticipated projects of their initial slate for me just because it felt too similar to The Suicide Squad. This show definitely explains why that is but I went into this more curious about it being the start of the DCU than anything. I reviewed the first 2 episodes and LOVED them, so it's time to catch back up with the show 5 weeks or so later. This review will contain SPOILERS.

Hey everyone, it's time for my favorite list to make every single year: my top 10 most anticipated movies of 2025! It's an exiting time, when we have a whole new set of movies to look forward to, from exciting new genre films, big comic book movies, sports films and big directors making a huge return. The whole point and fun of these lists are that they are so subjective; this is a list of MY top 10 most anticipated movies of the year and they're on the list because of MY taste. That means that your list could look completely different and that's awesome! So, strap in, grab some popcorn and enjoy this epic countdown of my most anticipated movies of 2025! Make sure to leave me your list in the comments on Spotify and let me know which of the films I list you're most excited for on the Spotify Polls!

2024 has now come and gone... which means it is time for my slew of end of the year rankings! 2024 was a huge year of change in my life and 2025 will continue to be so... but it will also likely be a year of huge change for the format of this podcast and my content creation, especially once we get towards the summer. However, it isn't quite that time yet so let's reflect on 2024! My annual best of the year list has been delayed until the end of January simply because there are too many films that had a wide U.S. release date in 2024 that I won't have a chance to see for a few weeks, because of delayed releases in both the U.K. and Asia. That's how you know the movies have truly bounced back! In the meantime, I'll be kicking things off with a double-header: my top 5 most surprising and top 5 most disappointing movies of 2024! I'll be starting off with my most disappointing and then ending this episode off on more of a positive note, with my most surprising films of the year. 2024 was a huge mixed bag of a year of movies, if you ask me, and this list definitely reflects that. These are NOT my least favorite and favorite films of the year, but rather films that fell short of and exceeded my expectations respectively. As always, this is a subjective list so make sure to give me your lists in the comments on Spotify! Also let me know which of the films I have listed were you most disappointed by in this episode's associated Spotify Poll!