Jumanji: The Next Level

Official Australian release date: 26/12/19. Viewed: 26/12/19.

Director: Jake Kasdan

Actors: Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart

Genre: Action / Comedy

Rating: PG

  

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ is technically the fourth ‘Jumanji’ film, but the second of the new sequels, with all the main four back – Martha/Ruby (Gillan), Bethany/Sheldon (Black), Spencer/Bravestone (Johnson) and Fridge/Franklin (Hart). They obviously get sucked into the game again, but for a stupid reason – and this time, Eddie (DeVito), Milo (Glover) and Ming (Awkwafina) are along for the ride too.

The concept is pretty much the same, with most of the comedy coming from the actors playing the “real life” versions of themselves, which is funny when it’s The Rock acting like Dany DeVito. Kevin Hart talking really slow like Danny Glover is great to watch. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, as Eddie & Milo come to terms with the video game they’re in. It’s also good to have Nigel (Darby) and Alex (Hanks) back and Awkwafina is funny as usual, but doesn’t get too much screen time.

Some new settings, with the desert when they first enter the game and snowy mountains for the final act. It’s obviously left open for another film, but it does fly by and seems like less than 2 hours. It’s fun and easy to like, with not that many flaws, once you suspend believability. I think focusing on Martha & Spencer is OK and the story of Milo & Eddie is very nice. The Rock has less to do and the first half is mostly carried by Black and Gillan, which works for the film.

Overall: Good, fast-paced family comedy.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars. 

Ip Man 4: The Finale

Official Australian release date: 20/12/19. Viewed: 23/12/19.

Director: Wilson Yip

Actors: Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Van Ness, Yue Wu

Genre: Action / Drama

Rating: M

  

‘Ip Man 4: The Finale’ is the final film in Yip’s saga of kung fu Master Ip (Yen)’s journey of taking his Wing Chun teachings across China, and this time to America. Not sure there needed to be a fourth film, but they wanted to shoehorn some of Bruce Lee (Chan) into it, as he was Ip Man’s most famous student. Ip Man travels to San Francisco to find a boarding school for his son, so he can learn independence.

Once in America, Ip Man is confronted with adversity from other kung fu masters, led by Wan Zong Hua (Wu), the tai chi master – they don’t like Bruce Lee trying to teach non-Chinese people kung fu. Ip Man must prove himself is an impressive battle with Hua, as Bruce Lee has to do in an alleyway fight scene.

The political commentary comes from a young marine, Hartman (Ness), who wants to incorporate Wing Chun into the US Marines’ hand-to-hand combat training. This is not appreciated by Geddes (Adkins), the racist Sargent who then becomes the main villain and beats Hua and then has the final fight with Ip Man. It’s a bit predictable by the final act, but it’s very impressive to see Yen’s skills and see what he can still do as a 56 year old.

Overall: Solid conclusion to kung fu saga.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Official Australian release date: 19/12/19. Viewed: 19/12/19.

Director: J.J. Abrams

Actors: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action

Rating: M

  

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (Episode IX) is the final piece of the trilogy of trilogies that comprise the Star Wars film phenomenon. It’s hard to sum up the film objectively, as there’s so much history, emotion and identity associated with the films – I can only imagine what it’s like for people who saw the original trilogy in cinemas. I doubt this is the last time we’ll see the opening title crawl & trumpets, but it will be the end of the Skywalker saga. It’s a massive shame Carrie Fisher didn’t film all her scenes before she passed away, but Leia still has an important role in the film   

Similar to the last two films, the plot centres on Rey (Ridley), Poe (Isaac) and Finn (Boyega) as they try to stop Kylo Ren (Driver) and the First Order. I don’t think it’s a surprise to say the Emperor (McDiarmid) is back in this film – via cloning and the Dark Side – adding to the direness of the Resistance’s situation, as they have to fight more than they bargained for. There’s plenty of cameos from old hands and new, and a small but suitable role for Luke (Hamill) one last time. The glue holding the story together is the interactions between Rey & Kylo, their ability to communicate even when not in the same place and whether Kylo will return to the light or if Rey will fall to the dark.

The overall palette is dark & foreboding, with the Unknown Regions planet the Emperor is on being the setting for the third act, with plenty of clouds, stone and lighting. But, as ever in Star Wars, hope is never lost, so long as they stick together and help one another. Plenty of nice moments throughout – I almost cried at a moment with Chewie – and the film does well to tie up 42 years of shared film history. It’s by no means the best film, but is certainly not the worst of the series. Will see how it ages as a ending over the next 30 years before comparing it to ‘Return of the Jedi’!

Overall: Fitting finale that holds true to the Star Wars ethos.

Gav's Rating: 4 stars.