Reviews

I knew I was going to like this movie from about 10 minutes in. The main character is funny and his dynamic with all the characters is perfect. His best friend Bo is so likeable and I love how much we're seeing Ben Wang in things these days. Zoe Renee played the wonderful love interest and was assertive and independent in a role that could've just been about two guys fighting over her. Dexter Darden is BRILLIANT as Chang's coach and he made me smile from his first scene. Bloom Li is an excellent lead character and he gives some very emotional and raw performances throughout this film which were beautiful to watch.

The film was also really funny, I loved the basketball references and the montages were so good, if any film wants to put montages in their film and have them be entertaining and fun watch this film. It gave the film a lovely nostalgic 2000s throwback feel which was so enjoyable. It also does such a great job of showing the Asian family dynamic (and also the modern version with separated families) without demonising the mother as is so often done. Instead, it shows BOTH sides and I loved how they showed Asian expressions of love e.g. Giving your child the food off your plate just so they can eat more etc.

I love how the main character made a pretty huge mistake, was rude and hurt lots of people because we then got to see him grow and make amends which never usually happens in these sorts of films. The main character might say something rude but never majorly messes up and I think this film sends a much healthier message to kids that even if you do something really stupid and embarrassing, with hard work and the right mental attitude you can come back from it. I also loved the general message of the film, that anything is possible but that you shouldn't be chasing anyone else's approval except your own.

Witty, emotional and unlike anything else out there. Really glad I found this film.

This movie is such an accurate representation of being a minority in the modern world and says things which we're never usually allowed to say on the big screen. Justice and An-Li had great chemistry and you were really routing for them to find a way to be together. There were so many great scenes but I loved when Aren was trying to tell Jason that his life wasn't free of influence and as he got closer and closer to saying the truth he got closer and closer to falling down the stairs. The symbolism was beautiful and so subtle but effective. I also loved the climax scene where Aren is on stage just taking up space he's been denied for so long. It was so satisfying to have him continue to talk and shout as people tried to silence him. This film was wonderful and it's so needed, which is probably (ironically) why it's not performed well. A great film about the modern world that's funny, interesting and deeply honest.

Gosh this film was BORING!!!! I contemplated walking out of the cinema so many times and kept naively thinking the film would end soon but no there was always another unnecessary fight or chase scene. Anya Taylor Joy (who I came to see this movie for) wasn't even in it until a third of the way into the movie and when she does appear she's mute! It's like they wanted a female lead but didn't really so used a child and then had her play mute to reduce her lines. All the villains were boring and I don't think I cared about a single character in this film. The violence was redundant and so boring by the end. There was virtually no plot and the movie could've been 45 minutes if they did use the plot they had. I spent the whole film frustrated because none of the characters seemed to have a brain or any motivation and nothing made sense. Why were there Uncle Festers everywhere? How did 4 people take over an entire plant? Did nobody really recognise her just because she cut her hair? Nobody wondered where the little girl went or where a boy suddenly appeared from? What were the humans even being used for and who has the fuel for hundreds of motorbikes or who even has hundreds of motorbikes in the apolocypse? The ending was anti-climatic and virtually no females speak to each other in the entire film. The main character falls for the only man in the entire film who is nice to her and nice is probably a strong word, he just gives her basic respect. THEN after 2 hours of people just trying to prove they're better than one another we don't even get to see her go home?!?! The worst action films I've ever seen and hours of my life I will never get back. Sorry Anya and Chris but even you couldn't make this interesting, I would've fallen asleep if there wasn't an explosion every 20 seconds. If you want a good action film WITH a plot go see Monkey Man or Fall Guy, they're both 10 times the film this horrible never-ending thing was.

This was a really good movie with a great cast and a fast-moving plot. Ryan and Emily have excellent chemistry and scenes with them riffing off each other were brilliant. The plot was interesting (if thin in logic at times) but went in unexpected directions and I have never cared about an action movie couple so much before. I've never wanted a character to make it to karaoke night so much before!

I think what really helped this movie was the main character being a stuntman so the stunt scenes were necessary and realistic (as in it's not an average guy doing incredible tricks or a retired spy somehow still being indestructible but someone who is trained to do stunts and take hits). So instead of it being "oh no we need this phone let's destroy all of Sydney in a huge driving scene we don't need" it was "okay let's scare the villain by doing an incredibly big stunt into getting a confession out of him" which make the actions scenes so much more logical. There were of course that were just there for show and could've been kept out but overall the action sequences were tied in very well to the plot.

I also enjoyed how this was basically a love letter to everyone behind the camera of the film and it was nice to show the effort that goes into making a film from all the crew and production team.

Winston Duke was great and his vendetta with the large mercenary was very impressive to watch. Hannah played a perfect villain and I was pleasantly surprised to see Stephanie's cameo. The only character that I didn't get was Aaron Taylor Jonhson's. Particularly the scene at the end where he gets a small redemption arc? Wasn't necessary and was really confusing. Ryan and Emily were of course the starring duo and I would love to see them in more things together.

Thrilling, entertaining, funny and oddly sweet and romantic. Definitely one of the best films this year so far.

This movie was fun, visually very appealing and had likable characters. I would go as far to say this is Stewart's best character and ultimately the chemistry between the girls is the best part of the film. The storyline starts from a place every modern day woman can relate to and Banks plays a great Bosley. Ella Balinska plays a very good powerhouse but falls slightly short of the tough heartless act but is still a good character. Naomi Scott's character is probably the least likable and the character sometime comes off cringey and annoying but this is often the case with main characters. Stewart as the villan was genius and he plays it excellently. Overall it's a wonderful film about the power of women when we come together and use the patriachy to our advantage and there lies the reason for the negative reviews. I can't help but think this film would be much better recieved if it came out around the Barbie era. A great film to show young girls or anyone who feels powerless.

While this was a very beautiful episode I actually felt like it ended the series on a bad note and I felt a little disappointed as a whole based on how Hilda treats Johanna. Throughout the whole show Johanna has risked everything for Hilda and there have been some really tough moments where the two have butted heads because of this. There was even an episode earlier this season where Johanna went all John Mcclane to save Hilda from the river spider. Johanna had been through a lot and we see even more of that in this episode. Therefore, I was actually really annoyed that Hilda wanted her mother to abandon her long-lost parents (who she thought had abandoned her only to learn they sacrificed themselves for her) just so Hilda could go back and be with her friends! Hilda was so incredibly selfish and insensitive and I get she's a child but it was really cruel to give Johanna barely a day with her parents before they go back to just being shadows who lurk around. As the show finished I couldn't help but think "is this really meant to be some comfort for Johanna? That her long lost parents are shadows she can't touch or communicate with in any way?". I have no idea why the writers didn't just create a way for Johanna's parents to come back so they could be together. Now the whole season just seems sad and depressed because all I can think of is the final scene of Johanna sitting on the wall looking a little sad while Hilda is off having tons of fun. Kids should come first but give her mum a bone at least!

There are several positives for this film and the first is every single scene is visually stunning. The animators did an excellent job and it gives off a perfect fairytale impression which is exactly what Disney ordered. Second, the songs were beautiful, the lead was the perfect Disney lead with a powerful musical voice and there was a nice mix of different genres so the musicians clearly had fun. Thirdly, the characters were likable, unique and fun. Star and the Queen in particular were my stand outs and again they were all animated beautifully. The one downside? The plot didn't match up and the story felt unfinished. If you told me the original script was scrapped and this was quickly put together a month before release I would believe you. The story felt aimless and vague and sadly, is a pretty big flaw. So if you want a movie with a great ending impression or take home message, this isn't the movie for you. However if you want a nicely animated short film with good music, then this is right up your street.

I think the best way to describe this film is disjointed. It felt like they spent too little time on each of the characters but at the same time scenes seemed to drag on and the dialogue was boring. There was no chemisry between the two main characters and their romance was high unbelievable but is the main point of the film. It jumps from the capitol, to the games, to district 12 so much I can't help but think it would've been better as a tv show so it could've properly been broken down into different parts. Some things were just highly unrealistic too such as a bunch of Capitol studens chanting to free a tribute? Never going to happen. Also Lucy trying to kiss Snow within what a daty of meeting him? Also how was there so little fighting or action in a film about people fighting to the death? Some plot points just didn't make sense like how on earth Snow sent a bird with his friend confessing treason then being upset when his friend was killed to the last 30 minutes of the film where the characers did a 360 and admitted killing people without telling us who. It had good potential and I liked he easter eggs to the later movies but overall missed the mark for me. Just go see The Marvels instead.

This was one of those films which just lacked any personality and was unlucky. It had all the correct elements. Interesting concept, nice animiation, good voiceactors but it never really hit. The story just felt very 2 dimensional and I think many of the characters and dialogue just seemed to fill the time instead of actually being important. It felt similar to Disney's Turning Red but not done as well. The friends were way too cheesy and didn't get the good balance Turning Red had between silly but sweet. Similarly apart from her mum, the main characters family members were largely redundant and didn't bring anything. The only character I really enjoyed was Annie Murphy's character because she was so lively and injected a breath of fresh air into the film...which they then ruined by turning her evil and having the "mermaids are bad krakens good" seperation return. Not the worst film I've seen this year but I'm glad I didn't pay for my cinema ticket myself.