Film Review Club

Zoe and Ben, despite their efforts, find themselves back in another game of life and death as they are trapped in another escape room. But this time all of the contestants have been through this trauma before. Escape Room 2 doesn’t quite have the same flare as the first, feeling rather repetitive and the characters just don’t attract the same level of emotion compared to how I felt about the first lineup. I knew what was coming, one would die per challenge and our two main protagonists would survive. That being said, it was still a fun watch, with some creative challenges and a couple of nice twists thrown in there too. It might not be a masterpiece but it does have me intrigued to see the third film that’s teased at the end!  Overall (6/10) Thanks for reading. Callan

Lured into a state of the art escape room by the temptation of a £10,000 prize for the winner, a group of people soon realise that more than money is at stake in this game. Going into the movie I expected another tacky rip off of the Saw franchise but I was pleasantly surprised by how it didn’t fall into the obvious trap of including cringey horror tropes. It actually felt quite unique considering its influences from other movies. I appreciated how they still managed to include some solid character development and provided enough context for us to get invested into the characters on screen. Don’t get me wrong this isn’t breaking new ground and if I’m being honest, it’s quite forgettable. Nonetheless I had fun watching it and the familiar faces help make it more enjoyable too. Overall (6.8/10) Thanks for reading Callan

World changing events spectacularly impact the itinerary of a young group of stargazers and genius prospects in a small town in the Desert, circa 1955. Asteroid City is a beautifully constructed movie from a cinematography standpoint, including all of the trademark Wes Anderson shots, colours and set designs, that make his films so unique. From a story perspective, it actually makes a lot more sense compared to some of his previous works, it’s relatively easy to follow and the two stories that run alongside each other are very clearly connected. Unfortunately I found the humour wasn’t the strongest in Asteroid city, that awkward, straight talking dialogue is still there but the discrete punchlines just weren’t as effective.  When it comes to the cast, it can compete with Oppenheimer for how stacked it is and they all worked incredibly well together. There’s even a couple of tiny cameos that just fit perfectly within the film. However, across the entire cast there is a nice mix of ages

Worlds collide when The Flash uses his powers to travel back in time and change the past. When his attempts to save his family inadvertently changes the future, he becomes trapped in a reality where foes like General Zod still wreak havoc. One of the most discussed and controversial films of the year, The Flash actually takes us on a humour filled, yet heartfelt journey exploring the multiverse and time travel. I must say that Ezra steals the show with their comical timing, as well as their dramatic execution of Barry Allen’s more emotional plot points. Playing two identical characters that work so incredibly well together, looks very difficult, but it was super entertaining. Then you throw Michael Keaton into the mix and suddenly you have an amazing dynamic that elevated the film ten fold. They seemed to bounce off of each other, not to mention Keaton just looked like he had so much fun returning as Batman. The final actor that deserves praise is Sasha Calle who had pretty limited scr

During the war in Afghanistan an interpreter risks his life to carry an injure sergeant across dangerous and deadly terrain, battling the elements and the enemy. Guy Ritchie returns with an impressive war film that is reminiscent to the Lone Survivor movie. Jake Gyllenhaal performs well and creates an intriguing lead character, although credit has to be given to Da Salim who portrayed Ahmed because his performance stole the show. The plot itself is gripping, tense and full of action. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a groundbreaking film within the genre but it’s one that’s an easy, enjoyable watch with impressive set pieces. If I was to raise any criticism I’d probably say it falls into the trap of becoming quite predictable, following the usual tropes of modern war movies. Fortunately that doesn’t affect it too much because the cast and action will reel you back in, making you forget about that predictability pretty quickly. Overall (7.5/10) Thanks for reading. Callan

Nick Dunne discovers that the entire media focus has shifted on to him after his wife mysteriously disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. Gone Girl masterfully ignites a feeling of uncomfortably in the audience, even more so with how the film concluded. It’s not a happy ending, it’s not justice served and that’s not the typical template of a Hollywood film, for that it has my respect. I was surprised and when a film achieved that, it’s doing something right. Rosamund Pike steals the show as this psychotic wife, her performance is chilling and it sets the tone of the film right from the off. Ben Stiller also performs well, suiting that character perfectly. David Fincher has the perfect style to execute this movie, the atmosphere he creates amplifies the tone and mood, pulling the audience in, sitting on the edge of their seat. I strongly recommend watching Gone Girl if you haven’t already, a fantastic thriller. Overall (9/10) Thanks for reading. Callan 

Set in the north of England, Vinnie and his friends are strapped for cash and are forced into a life of petty crime. Plan after horrendous plan, the group keep finding themselves in quite the tricky situation. Brassic is one of the best TV shows to come out of the UK and although it’s rated highly by critics, I still believe it’s being slept on by a lot of general audiences. The humour is absolutely brilliant and it sums up British culture really well. Talking of underrated, that’s exactly what Joseph Gilgun is, who portrays the lead role of Vinnie. The man performs to the highest standard in every project he’s involved in and it’s no different here. That being said, I have to credit the entire cast because each of them contribute a lot to the show and the humour wouldn’t be the same without all of them. The latest season injected so much heart into the show and developed these characters even further. I’ll be front and centre for season 5. Make this the next show to watch, you won’t r

An American football coach is hired to manage an English football club but what he lacks in knowledge he makes up for him optimism and kindness! Ted Lasso summed up in one word would be ‘Wholesome’! It might be funny and lighthearted but it also tackles some incredibly hard themes and does so in a way that makes those subject matters relatable and approachable. There is no doubt that it’s the reason this show has become an instant fan favourite and is one of Apple TV’s marquee shows. The performances are exaggerated but boy are they impressive too, you can’t help but love these characters and the development ancross all three seasons is amazing. A must watch for anyone looking for an easily digestible programme. Overall (8.5/10) Thanks for reading  Callan

Set in the early 90’s Optimus Prime and the Autobots must team up with a group of transformers known as Maximals in order to stop their biggest threat yet. Rise of The Beasts has done well to stamp its own mark on the Transformers franchise, providing a unique take on the group of characters that we have all come to love over the years. It’s a version of Optimus Prime that we haven’t seen before, a leader hesitant and almost resentful of human kind, desperate to leave Earth and return home. This provides an interesting character arc that develops nicely along side the lead protagonist Noah, played by Anthony Ramos. The characters were definitely one of the strongest aspects of the movie, they had a little more depth and that not only relates to the human characters but the transformers too. Unfortunately despite that, I don’t think any of them can quite live up to the legacy of Sam Witwicky from the original movies.  Now I have to mention my favourite aspect of the film, it’s soundtrac

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Miles is catapulted into the multiverse where he encounters an army of Spider-Men charged with protecting its very existence. Across the Spider-Verse is the single biggest and best form of advertisement for animation as a medium. The artistic prowess on display here is nothing short of spectacular. The multiverse is a more prominent theme of the movie and that meant different styles could be incorporated into each frame, each world having a unique design that can impress the audience. The storyline itself encapsulates what it means to be Spider-Man; sacrifice, hardship and of course, a good underdog story! But of the 100’s of iterations we see on screen, no one embodies the values of Spider-Man more than Miles and that’s what puts him at odds with Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099). It’s for this reason that I believe, like many others, that over the course of the next 10-20 years, if Sony continue with this level of quality for the character and his devel