SYNOPSIS: A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman (Joey King), her mother (Nicole Kidman) and her movie star boss (Zac Efron) as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.
MOVIE REVIEW:
A Family Affair marks the screen reunion of Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron after their infamous stingray encounter in the Lee Daniels’ drama, The Paperboy which was released in 2012. Hopefully, we hope we won’t need to wait another 12 years before we can see both of them in a more note-worthy rom-com.
It’s the season of May-December love as we just caught the Amazon release of The Idea of You. At least that is a better movie that this one. Efron plays an egotistical superstar, Chris Cole while former child star Joey King plays his long-suffering personal assistant, Zara.
After a long setup in which we sees Zara being constantly humiliated by Cole, the former decides to quit her job knowing her desire to be an associate producer is not going to be anytime soon. Cole on the other hand decides to apologise and make his way to Zara’s home only to find her mother, Brooke Harwood (Kidman), an award-winning writer alone in the house. One thing leads to another and to her horror, Zara finds them both in bed in the movie’s sole funny scene.
A Family Affair is a movie that can’t make up its mind to be a romcom between a lonely superstar and a lonely writer or a sad drama about Zara’s coming-of-age woes and Brooke embracing a new love after her husband passed away 11 years ago. If you are expecting something comedic, there isn’t any unless you count the scene where a grown-up has to consult a paediatric for a head injury. The constant gags on Cole’s "Icarus Rush" action movies isn’t particularly slapstick either.
The romance portion on one hand is beautiful staged and shot. As expected, Kidman is gorgeous in all sorts of fancy gowns. Of course, who can forget the obligatory romantic montage. Even a supermarket is thrown in as if it’s going to be memorable and romantic for the closing scene. For comparison sake, that’s not the same as the Empire State Building in Sleepless in Seattle. At the same time, Zara is dead against the relationship consider she has first hand knowledge of how a jerk Cole is to his many girlfriends. Yet she continues to be Cole’s personal assistant, writer, helper whatever.
Then there is Zara’s grandmother, Leila (Kathy Bates) who conveniently happens to be Harwood’s literary agent as well. Bates’ character pops in and out dispensing nuggets of wisdow to Harwood and Zara because she is playing a warm understanding senior figure. And then there is Eugenie (Liza Koshy), the best friend of Zara who has an unexpected sudden fallout with her because the plot says so.
Director Richard LaGravenese who wrote movies liked The Fisher King, The Bridges of Madison County and The Mirror Has Two Faces helmed this cringy mess. We are not exactly sure what LaGravenese brought to the table since the entire affair is 30 minutes too long and passionless even for a predicable Hollywood rom-com.
The cast is obviously watchable especially Joey King who turns in an effective performance as a likeable, plucky young Gen Z. The May-December angle however is less convincing and poorly derived. We need some real heart in the whole delivery but it’s hard to find it here.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama
Director: Ly Hai
Cast: Quach Ngoc Ngoan, Tram Anh, Truong Minh Cuong, Tran Kim Hai, Thanh Hien, Dinh Y Nhung
Runtime: 2 hrs 20 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:
Opening Day: 18 July 2024
Synopsis: The longest and most successful franchise in Vietnam delivers a rejuvenating twist with its latest instalment, taking audiences on an enlightening journey with Ba Hai, a 73-year-old widow who questions the meaning of family love after an injury forces her to depend on the care of her 5 busy adult children.
Movie Review:
Naturally, you’d think that this Vietnamese movie is riding on the popularity of Pat Boonnitipat’s commercially and critically successful How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.
The protagonists of both movies are kind looking grandma characters, and because of their old age, you know it’s a matter of time before they pass on. And you’d be heartless if you don’t feel anything or relate the story to your own experience.
It is important to note that for the Vietnamese production we are reviewing is a longest and most successful franchise in its home country. Known as the “Face Off” series in Vietnam, each title is a standalone tale. Director Ly Hai made the instalment in 2015, and he is delivering the seventh movie nine years later. Considering how each instalment has earned bigger bucks at the box office than the previous one, it is only a matter of time the success is seen in other parts of the world, especially in the Southeast Asian region where we are situated. In fact, there were many Vietnamese in the audience at the preview screening this writer attended, and it was evident that they enjoyed the 140 minute movie.
And rightly so, because the sentimental film plays out like a travelogue and features some of the most scenic locations in Vietnam. This makes it instantly relatable to Vietnamese who have been away from home for a while. The movie is also like a soap opera series with individual episodes that can be viewed independently.
This then brings us to the story. Ba Hai (Thanh Hien) is a widow who gave her all raising her children. When the kids grow up, she enjoys her time selling flowers and interacting with neighbours in a slow paced countryside of the country. A vehicle rams into her roadside stall one day and she ends up injured, and this prompts her five children to come up with a plan to take turns caring for their mother. The thing is, they live in different parts of the country and are seemingly too busy to make time for the poor old lady.
The movie conveniently segmentises the story to have Mdm Hai travelling to the different children’s homes. And expectedly, each chapter sees a situation where Mdm Hai saving the day with her almost perfect motherly instinct. There is the eldest son who stays in a swanky apartment but has a hard time with his uptight wife and rebellious daughter. Then there is the son who earns a living as a fisherman and you know something bad is going to happen when he heads out to sea during a stormy season. There is also the daughter who works as a farmer and tries to convince Mdm Hai that she lives a comfortable and luxurious life – this entertaining segment also happens to be our favourite. And not forgetting the son who runs a construction business and gets into trouble when some calculations go wrong.
As much as you think the drama in each child’s home is too conveniently scripted, you also have to admit that these are the issues that happen in your family. Amidst the shouting and arguing, it is also what makes the family, and at the end of the day, these are the people in your life that matter.
Movie Rating:
(A sentimental family drama that reminds you to appreciate of all the great things your mother has done)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Lee Jong-pil
Cast: Lee Je-Hoon, Koo Kyo-Hwan, Hong Xa-Bin
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Violence & Mature References)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 11 July 2024
Synopsis: In a military camp near DMZ of a divided land, Sergeant Kyu-nam has been planning to escape the North, land of repression, to head to the South, land of freedom. But he gets caught while trying to help another deserter. At risk of execution, Kyu-nam starts the chase for freedom.
Movie Review:
There is something queer about this action thriller, and it is not the plot which sees a North Korean soldier dreaming of a life with better possibilities across the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Movies like Steel Rain (2017), The Spy Gone North (2018) and Hunt (2022) have explored the tension between South Korea and North Korea, as well as the sentiments of the people from both countries.
Hence, Lee Jong-pil’s movie about a man who is doing all he can to escape from North Korea to South Korea isn’t something new. Instead, it is the character of the antagonist, a North Korean State Security officer, that is oddly fascinating – because the story written by Kwon Seong-hwi and Kim Woo-geun suggests that he had a secret romantic relationship with another man. How does this underlying tone work for a movie that is marketed as an action blockbuster?
Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam, portrayed by Lee Je-Hoon (Time To Hunt), is the protagonist of the movie. He has been meticulously planning his escape, only to be discovered by fellow soldier played by Hong Xa-bin (Hopeless). The two men eventually get arrested but when Major Li Hyeon-sang, portayed intriguingly by Koo Kyo-hwan (Escape from Mogadishu) enters the scene, Gyu-nam is transformed into a hero for his valiance to prevent a deserter from escaping. It turns out that Gyu-nam and Hyeon-sang are childhood friends.
When we first see Hyeon-sang, we sense that this character has a thing for the finer things in life. He uses lip balm (who would have thought tough men in the North Korean military would have time for self care?), and in a later scene, he delivers a magnificent performance on the piano. It turns out that he was lauded at international piano competitions, and has someone in his phone whose name is saved as “The Bastard That I Loved”. Of course, there are also the glances he exchanges with a party guest played by popular TV actor Song Kang.
Did we digress? Isn’t this 94 minute movie about Gyu-nam, who launches a full scale escape after he seizes the opportunity when Hyeon-sang promotes him to a higher rank in the force? Lee takes on the role with conviction, and we are fully committed to his escape throughout the duration of the movie. We see the poor guy run across fields, dodge bullets, get trapped in a quicksand mud, and fighting till his very last breath so he can make it across the border. If this writer was in Gyu-nam’s shoes, he would have given up before Hyeon-sang takes it upon himself to make sure the escape doesn’t succeed.
There is also an interesting exchange between the two men where they talk about whether life in South Korea will really be better, and the price to pay to take that plunge. It is also at this juncture we wonder whether Hyeon-sang would have grabbed the chance to live a different life, and it’s especially captivating to consider this from a queer character’s perspective. The movie also has a satisfying conclusion where we are reminded of Gyu-nam and Hyeon-sang’s poignant friendship.
Movie Rating:
(This movie about a man who dreams of a life beyond North Korea has he right dose of drama and action - it also explores an interesting viewpoint from a queer character's perspective)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Kim Tae Gon
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun, Ju Ji Hoon, Kim Hie Won, Moon Sung Geun, Ye Su Jeong, Kim Tae Woo, Park Hee Von, Park Ju Hyun, Kim Su An
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Rating: PG13 (Coarse Language and Intense Sequence)
Released By: Encore Films and Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 11 July 2024
Synopsis: Stranded on the Airport Bridge on the verge of collapsing, all survivors become targets! Due to sudden deteriorating weather conditions, visibility on the Airport Bridge is severely impaired, leaving people stranded and at risk of the bridge collapsing due to a series of chain collisions and explosions. Amidst the chaos, the canine subjects "Echo" from the military experiment "Project Silence," who were being transported in secret, break free, and all human survivors become targets of relentless attacks. Various individuals find themselves stranded on the Airport Bridge for different reasons - a government official from the presidential office (LEE Sun Kyun) who was seeing off his daughter (KIM Su An) at the airport; a tow truck driver (JU Ji Hoon) who was on his way to a multi-collision scene; an elderly couple (MOON Sung Geun, YE Su Jeong) who were returning from a trip abroad; sisters (PARK Hee Von, PARK Ju Hyun) who missed their flights, and Dr. Yang (Kim Hie Won), the researcher responsible for Project Silence - and a desperate struggle begins for them to escape to safety. In the wake of the worst chain of disasters, an extreme fight for survival begins!
Movie Review:
Project Silence is a CGI-heavy fest that stars the late Lee Sun-Kyun (Parasite) who committed suicide in December 2023 after a series of drug allegations. As for the movie which is touted as a disaster action flick, the movie by Kim Tae-gon is anything but silence.
The story has it that Cha Jung-Won (Lee), a bureaucrat and aide to the upcoming Presidential candidate is sending her daughter, Kyung-Min (Kim Su-an) to the airport. However, as fog engulfs the bridge leading to the airport, a multiple-vehicle pile-up happened after a reckless sports car stopped in the middle of it.
Besides the pair of father and daughter, there’s a tow truck driver, Jo Park (Ju Ji-Hoon) and his beloved dog, Jodie, a pro golfer Yoo-Ra (Park Ju-Hyun), her manager-sister Mi-Ran (Park Hee-Von) and also an elderly couple (Moon Sung-Keun and Ye Soo-Jung) trapped on the collapsing bridge. We will come to the collapsing part later.
The biggest threat of all is a pack of mutated killer canines on the loose. The dogs are part of a government secret plan to create hunting dogs to be deployed for wars. The researcher, Dr Yang (Kim Hie-won) in charge of the experiment is also trapped with Cha and the gang. The device used to control them seems to be wonky and their only hope is the SWAT team deployed to rescue them.
Project Silence to be frank is more of a creature flick than a straight up disaster movie. The aforementioned collapsing bridge is a result of a rescue effort gone wrong so it doesn’t really count as a natural disaster of sorts. Taking a cue from John Carpenter’s The Fog and Frank Darabont’s The Mist, the perpetual foggy atmosphere allows Kim Tae-gon to stage a handful of creepy moments however, he seems to lack the patience to deliver the necessary thrills, scares and relied heavily on the CG created canines for the most part to showcase the madness. Bear in mind, it’s also an effective way to hide the less than convincing visual effects.
Aside from the canine attacks, most of the character development focused heavily on Cha and his rebellious teenage daughter. Having just lost their wife/mother to cancer, the exchanges between father and daughter is at best icy until this unfortunate incident which ironically allows them to mend their near broken relationship. On top of it, Cha’s boss, Jung Hyun-Baek (Kim Tae-Woo) might be connected to the deadly experiment given the heavy hinted political conspiracy. Of course it doesn’t take a genius to figure things out.
Another obvious problem is the tone. Instead of being a dark comedy, Project Silence is too serious for the whole time except Ju Ji-Hoon who threw in a couple of laugh-out-loud moments as the movie’s sole comic relief. In addition, there is the obligatory dementia-stricken spouse, a pair of squabbling siblings and the selfish researcher, characters that don’t really matter to the whole affair.
Still, Project Silence is the sort of mindless CGI entertainment that Hollywood used to churn out. The pacing is relentless while the action scenes are relatively well-choreographed. As compared to other superior creature and horror flicks liked The Host and Train to Busan, the movie lacks the essential ingredients, treatment to make it a memorable effort. Characters are flat and the computer generated hounds simply lacks the terror and bite to scare the wits out of us. The surprising tame PG13 rating doesn’t help in showcasing the brutality too.
Movie Rating:
(Ju Ji-Hoon shines in this somewhat entertaining but mediocre creature flick)
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Nostalgia plays a huge part in the latest entry of the Beverly Hills Cop series. If you can recall, the successful franchise spawned three sequels, the last being released in 1994 to mixed reviews and weak box office.
Given Eddie Murphy's career resurrection in recent times, nothing can stop the return of Axel Foley, the fast-talking, street-smart cop from Detroit. He is back in Beverly Hills yet again to investigate a cop-killer case involving her estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige) who is working as an pro-bono attorney. Her life is in danger as the cartel might be planning to silence her.
With the involvement of his old partners, Detective turned private investigator Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), Chief John Taggart (John Ashton), Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser) and newcomer, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), they uncover a massive conspiracy ring involving crooked cops and drug trafficking.
The reunion means more to those who have been following the franchise since the early 80s. So what transpire after the rousing prologue where we see Foley busting a robbery at a hockey match is inconsequential as it proved that Axel Foley has not lose his trademark comedic touches even after a span of almost 30 years.
With writer Will Beall who just gave you Bad Boys: Ride or Die onboard, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F moves at a break neck pacing delivering both wacky action and comedy bits even if the main villain is revealed early in the movie. Eddie Murphy is in his finest form yet. The comic legend knows the character of Foley has aged over the years and while he still more or less manages to deliver the level of maniac energy, he also provides a subtle touch opposite his onscreen estranged daughter. The father-and-daughter relationship is after all a surprise addition to all the madness happening.
The extensive on location shoot around LA and Beverly Hills also bring viewers back to a time where movies are actually shot at least partially on a real street or at a real mall. The action is mostly over the top but executes with way more flair and excitement than the average contemporary action movie.
Playing opposite the veterans is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who plays the straight man to the absurd Foley, a cop that can basically talk himself out of any sticky situations without resorting to violence. Also Kevin Bacon who needs no introduction what kind of role he is playing here.
Again, nostalgia can be a tricky thing when it comes to a classic franchise liked Beverly Hills Cop. Fortunately, everything is in top form especially Murphy and his improvisation. Certainly, it lives up to be a worthy entry in the flagging franchise. That’s saying a lot for someone who is not much of a fan of reboots, remakes and revivals.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Tiffany “Rex” Simpson (Emma Roberts) has always dreamed of going to space, and with a “doctored” application she gets into NASA’s ultra-competitive astronaut training program. In over her head, can this Florida girl get through training and into the cosmos before she blows her cover?
MOVIE REVIEW:
Even though it might be a tad hard to pinpoint Emma Roberts’ most memorable onscreen effort, the former child star doesn’t seems to age over the years since we first noticed her in Aquamarine and Nancy Drew. In Space Cadet, besides starring in the lead role, she has taken on a role of a producer as well.
Roberts plays Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a gung-ho Floridian girl who works as a bartender, occasionally wrestles gator, helps at her father’s ghost tour business, save manatees among many other ventures. But her biggest wish has always wanting to be an astronaut if not for the unfortunate passing of her mother. Family comes first for her and college somehow never happened.
One day after meeting her ultra-successful former classmate, Rex decides to apply to NASA. However, her best friend, Nadine (Poppy Liu) submitted a phony resume on her behalf and Rex somehow gets into NASA training program and the rest they say is history. No, of course not.
Space Cadet wants to be Legally Blonde in Space but lacks the charm, jokes and story to make things work. Although there are some positive messages about pursuing your dreams etc, it turns out to be an insult to those women who have worked so hard to get into NASA. You know you need a long list of qualifications and not just a gutsy, street smart attitude to be an astronaut, right? It’s one thing to celebrate the accomplishments of women but to fully demonstrate the true meaning of it is another.
Director and writer Liz W. Garcia fills her movie with an ensemble of characters that you probably have seen in other movies. The stuck up doctor, the self-doubting geek, the all too cool military woman and man, characters that don’t contribute much to the entire story or gags unlike the now cancelled Netflix series, Space Force who consists of a wide variety of entertaining characters.
That leaves Emma Roberts. Honestly, Roberts delivers the goods as the plucky Rex. You can tell that her character is a genuinely wonderful human being who will let no one or herself down. The romance angle with one of NASA directors, Logan O’Leary (Tom Hopper) is cute rather than awkward. Liu gets to ham it up as Rex’s moronic buddy and contributes a few laughs here and there. And who can forget about Gabrielle Union who is totally wasted in the whole affair.
Space Cadet is a feel-good comedy for the entire family but we can’t recommend it for its silly treatment of the subject matter.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
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BOOK REVIEW #50: FRIENDS, LOVERS AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING Book ReviewPosted on 08 Jul 2024 |
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Matthew Macfadyen
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence and Coarse Language)
Released By: Walt Disney
Official Website:
Opening Day: 25 July 2024
Synopsis: Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.
Movie Review:
At one point in this highly anticipated superhero flick, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds doing his thing) wonders whether he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Understandably so, because the Merc with a Mouth has been talking almost non stop since the movie started, and we’re guessing it’s not just his on screen partner Wolverine (Hugh Jackman in a role that is meant for him and no one else) who wishes he would shut the f*ck up.
Listening to Deadpool go on and on and on (sometimes even breaking the fourth wall to speak to audiences) is like listening to a kid trying damn hard to please his friends. And that is also somewhat true for this sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).
If you are reading this review, it is probably not news to you that this marks Wade Wilson/ Deadpool’s debut appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fanboys and nerds have been eagerly waiting for the release of the 34th movie in the MCU, and they won’t be disappointed because the 127 minute ride is a thoroughly enjoyable one, chockful of cameo appearances (and we mean MANY - with some that will send viewers howling and applauding in approval), as well as countless Easter eggs (you probably won’t be able to spot of them in just one viewing). Heck, even trying to catch all the names under the cast list during the rolling end credits is a challenge.
So we are happy to report that the movie does an exceptionally fantastic job at pleasing fans, while managing to deliver a very funny (and violent) standalone comedy for those who do not know what the Time Variance Authority is. After all, not everyone is a MCU fan who watched the Loki TV series on Disney+. For the rest of us, just watching the sequences featuring *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” and Madonna’s “Life A Prayer” are worth your time.
What does this latest entry in the MCU do for the franchise, especially in terms of how the storylines across the various multiverses is going to move forward? Not much actually, because director Shawn Levy (Free Guy) and his team of writers probably know that the current status isn’t looking too good, and the least they could do is to make things worse – they even managed to get Deadpool to admit this on screen.
Instead, the filmmakers chose to focus on something that’s a sure win. Both Deadpool and Wolverine are characters from 20th Century Fox’s film series, and this is the first time they are teaming up since the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019. There are many jibes at how Disney hasn’t been the most welcoming when it comes to NSFW content (f-bombs, crude jokes, blood and violence), and this M18 movie approaches these jokes in an entertaining way while retaining the naughty humour. We even found ourselves reminiscing some of the good ol’ days of watching Fox’s superhero movies.
Fans are also hyped up for this movie because it is the first official appearance of Wolverine in the MCU. A favourite from Fox’s X-Men franchise, we thought the studio had already sent the character off in the very well made Logan (2017). So it is to our surprise that this MCU movie brought him back in a respectable way, and with it, a much needed emotional aspect to the film. We really can’t think of a better actor than Jackman to portray the mutant.
It is evident that Reynolds and Jackman’s on screen chemistry serves this movie well. Their friendship in real life probably adds to the charm, and while we wished to see more of Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova (aka the evil twin sister of Charles Xavier), we know that the real draw here are the two best bubs – engaging each other in bloody fights and dirty jokes, while gloriously decked in their signature ketchup and mustard superhero outfits, no less.
Movie Rating:
(With countless cameos and Easter eggs, together with an abundance of crude humour, this extremely entertaining MCU movie will please fanboys and nerds, as well as viewers who just want to have a blast watching Deadpool and Wolverine exchange f-bombs)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington
Runtime: 2 hrs 28 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence)
Released By: UIP
Official Website:
Opening Day: 14 November 2024
Synopsis: From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Movie Review:
More than two decades after one of the most definitive films of his storied career, Ridley Scott returns to the Roman arena for ‘Gladiator II’. Picking up 15 years after he was sent away by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) to escape the treachery of Rome, the sequel establishes Lucius as a happily married soldier named Hanno (Paul Mescal) living a simple life in the North African province of Numidia. As fate would have it, Numidia is invaded by a fleet of Roman warships led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), and after losing his wife in the ensuing battle, Hanno returns to Rome as a slave, vowing revenge on Acacius.
It is no surprise that Hanno’s road to vengeance will lead him into the gladiatorial arena, trodding the path that his father Maximus had taken. Despite that familiarity, there is indeed still strength and honour in Scott and writer David Scarpa’s do-over, as Hanno rises not only in prominence with each successive match in the arena, but also rises up as a rallying figure amidst the decay of the Roman empire under its twin-brother emperors, the fey Geta (Joseph Quinn) and the even more fey Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). There is also plenty of political intrigue, what with Lucilla now married with Acacius and plotting to overthrow the kings with the help of a loyal 5,000-strong army.
We all love a good underdog story, which is why we are predisposed to embrace Lucius’ comeback. That said, those expecting it to be as rousing or poignant as that of Maximus will probably go away disappointed; unlike Maximus, Lucius is driven for the most part singularly by brooding intensity and simmering rage, and only begins to embrace a larger ideal in the last half hour of the movie. For that reason too, as accomplished as Irish actor Mescal is in the role, he lacks the keenness and gravitas that Crowe had as Maximus. It is also somewhat a pity that Lucius is relegated as a pawn in the machinations of the supporting characters around him, especially his master and mentor Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave who leverages Lucius’ prominence to get the attention of the emperors for his own Machiavellian intentions.
It says something indeed that we are more intrigued by Acacius and Macrinus than we are by Lucius, in part because both veterans Pascal and Washington steal the show. Like he did in the excellent HBO series ‘The Last of Us’, Pascal brings both depth and nuance to his role here, a true Roman patriot who sees the decline and excess around him and is motivated by his duty to country. On the other hand, Washington leans into the enigmatic role of Macrinus with absolute gusto, portraying him as a canny player of greed and ruthlessness. Washington calibrates his performance with utter finesse, combining charisma, steely authority and sly humour into an mesmerising vision of ambitious evil.
On his part, Scott keeps the proceedings pacey and tight throughout the film’s two-and-a-half hour duration. Scott’s commitment to big-screen spectacle remains undiminished, and he pulls out all the stops for the big-action arena scenes. Besides brutal man-on-man fights, Scott kicks things up a notch with savage baboons, a man riding on a giant, marauding rhino, and even a re-enactment of a nautical battle within the flooded, shark-infested pit of the Colosseum. Those criticising the film for its lack of historical accuracy miss the point; ultimately, at the grand old age of 86, Scott has simply let himself loose to unleash a couple of no-holds-barred set-pieces, bad CGI be damned.
And to his credit, ‘Gladiator II’ remains a giddily entertaining popcorn epic from start to finish, even if it doesn’t match up to the brilliance of the original. It is still an engrossing mix of battles, swordplay, bloodshed and Ancient Roman intrigue, this time with a lot more camp than the previous time round, but there is good reason why ‘Gladiator’ won both Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. As much as we respect the collaboration between Scott and Scarpa over the past few years, we hope Scott finds a stronger writer for his next few works, because it is ultimately no coincidence that the one weakness across his last few films has been a less than compelling narrative.
Movie Rating:
(While not quite matching the magnificence of the original, 'Gladiator II' is still an engrossing swords-and-scandals epic that packs gladiatorial action, bloodsport and camp with some delicious political intrigue)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Thriller
Director: Ishana Night Shyamalan
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, Olwen Foué, John Lynch, Alistair Brammer
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: PG13 (Horror & Some Violence)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website:
Opening Day: 6 June 2024
Synopsis: The Watchers follows Mina, a 28-year old artist who gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers that are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
Movie Review:
Being a nepotism baby can be a tricky thing even though actor Jack Quaid embraces the label and agrees he is indeed an immensely privileged person. However, expectations can be sky high when your parents are as famous as American’s sweetheart Meg Ryan or renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.
With the release of The Watchers, all eyes on Ishana Night Shyamalan who is making her debut screen feature under her famous dad’s production label, Blinding Edge Pictures. Adapted from the novel by Irish horror writer A.M. Shine, the younger Night wrote and helmed the suspense horror feature. It’s no surprise why Ishana choses The Watchers to be her debut feature as the material fares close enough to her dad’s earlier works such as The Village and The Lady in the Water. Part mystery, part fantasy and the obligatory big twist. It’s all there whether you like it or not.
Still, you can’t undermine Ishana Night Shyamalan’s talent despite the presence of his father who is the movie’s producer as well. For a start, The Watchers is brilliantly shot with the help of cinematographer Eli Arenson (Lamb). The movie is heavy on atmosphere, creepy and visually enriching absolutely fitting for a mystery, suspense feature. To add on, the lush forests and greenery in Ireland does contribute to the various ominous scenes.
But wait, let’s detour to the story. Mina (Dakota Fanning), an American woman for reason unexplained works in a pet shop in Ireland. One day, her boss tasked her to transport a parrot named Darwin to a zoo in Belfast. Coincidentally, her car broke down in the middle of a forest, she is stuck with no signal and what should you do when you hear mysterious loud hungry noises? Panic might be a good start.
Lucky for Mina, a mysterious white-hair lady, Madeline (Olwen Fouéré) led her to a bunker-like building, nicknamed "The Coop”. There’s also another young woman, Ciara (Georgina Campbell) and young man, Daniel (Oliver Finnegan) inside the room. Mina is told by Madeline not to leave the bunker during night time as there are some mysterious violent forest creatures observing them via the two way mirror as if they are some sort of actors.
Needless to say, we are approaching spoiler territory if we continue with the story. Apparently some chilling Irish folklore is weaved into the whole narrative if you insist on knowing. The good thing is Ishana manages to keep her cards close to her chest which also explains why things can be a little sluggish for the first half. The premise starts to pick up in the second half with interesting mythology and fantasy elements thrown in to make it a thoroughly intriguing fairy tale.
Mina remains the most interesting layered human character in the entire movie. She is tortured by the death of her mother which sadly was indirectly caused by her own stubbornness. Though the movie never really explains why she prefers to lead a solitary life away from her twin sister, you sort of know it’s guilt, trauma perhaps. Dakota Fanning is a tour de force despite the minimal dialogue and often intense environment. Georgina Campbell on the other hand is kind of shortchanged and Olwen Fouéré will likely be remembered as the creepy white haired lady.
In the end, The Watchers is more of a modern fairy tale than an all-out horror story. If you approach it from the right angle, we are pretty sure you are going to enjoy Ishana’s directorial feature. As Palpatine says, we will watch her career with great interest.
Movie Rating:
(Give this imaginative Irish-inspired fairy tale a chance)
Review by Linus Tee
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