Retribution is another entry in that paranoid action movie sub-genre, the Liam Neeson film. As many will now be familiar, the formula for these films involves Liam as a seemingly ordinary guy suddenly being thrust into a deadly situation where he’s trapped in some form of transport with a mysterious fiend sending him cryptic messages and threatening to kill people
Read moreAfter the decidedly mixed critical reception for their last overblown superhero extravaganza, The Flash, those behind the DC Extended Comic Universe would have been very keen to resurrect the fortunes of their franchise with their latest effort Blue Beetle. Unfortunately, despite a few fresh and appealing touches, this is just another generically plotted, noisy, frenzied and juvenile superhero action comedy.
Read moreFor those who (like me prior to seeing this film) are complete novices in the Paw Patrol world, this is a computer animated series for youngsters that mixes Thunderbirds-style rescue adventure with the adorable cuteness of puppies. In this world, in which dogs can talk and drive cars, a very likeable group of hounds Rubble, Skye, Liberty, Chase, Zuma and
Read moreLow-budget British drama, Scrapper takes a slender plot and infuses it with pathos and slightly erratic humour for one of the year’s more engaging cinematic oddities. Following her mother’s death, 12-year-old Georgie (Lola Campbell) is living by herself on an English council estate. Dodging school, making money selling stolen bikes with her friend Ali (Alin Uzun) and duping social services
Read moreThe restrained and low-key romantic drama, Past Lives will feel to some like it’s saying little and doing so at a glacial pace while many will find it a subtly seductive film with a powerful emotional undercurrent. Past Lives tracks the 36-year relationship of South Korean woman Na Young (Greta Lee) and male friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo). They spend
Read moreFollowing Murder on The Orient Express and Death On The Nile, A Haunting In Venice is the third entry in Kenneth Branagh’s vivid, energetic but at times erratic and overcooked Agatha Christie adaptations. Like the two previous films, this one benefits from a few standout performances and its probing of detective Hercule Poirot’s formidable intellect and complex psyche. More than
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