Deadpool & Wolverine

Official Australian release date: 25/7/24. Viewed: 24/7/24.
Director: Shawn Levy
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen
Genre: Action / Comedy
Rating: MA

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (or Deadpool 3) comes almost 8.5 years after ‘Deadpool’, over 7 years after ‘Logan’ and 24 years after ‘X-Men’. A lot has happened in the MCU in that time – not as much in the Fox-verse – but it’s almost instantly comfortable and fun being back in Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Reynolds)’s world. The film does a great job of both making fun of both the MCU and Fox films, whilst remaining true to the Deadpool and Wolverine/Logan (Jackman) characters and simultaneously integrating them into the MCU via the Time Variance Authority (if you haven’t watched both seasons of ‘Loki’, highly recommended and will help with some of the multiverse aspects).

That said, this still works well as a standalone unwilling-buddy-journey film, with Logan being a curmudgeon with no hope and Wade being a defeated optimist trying to save his friends. Wade, obviously, does most of the talking, with Reynolds banter as fast and dirty as ever, but Jackman holds his own. Cassandra Nova (Corrin) and Paradox (Macfadyen) are good as the not-always-sure-they’re-100%-villains. The fight scenes, especially between the 2 of them, are fast and fun. But this is still an MA-rated film – there’s lots of blood throughout! The score and soundtrack are great, with some very famous songs used in unique and funny ways throughout.

There’s so many nods/references to comics and past films from both studios that I won’t mention any here. Except that Peter (Delaney) is back and has a few great moments. Needless to say, as a fan that’s been following these characters since I was a teenager, there’s not much more I could ask for from this film. It’s maybe not as good as ‘Logan’, or the original ‘Deadpool’, but it certainly delivers a fun and emotional journey for both characters, with enough jokes to not get too serious, enough action to make it a blockbuster and enough heart to not let it descend into caricature.  

Overall: Fun, fitting, enjoyable, beginning..?

Gav's Rating: 4 stars

Twisters

Official Australian release date: 11/7/24. Viewed: 16/7/24.
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Actors: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, David Corenswet
Genre: Action / Thriller
Rating: M

‘Twisters’ is not necessarily a sequel, but a semi-reboot of 1996’s ‘Twister’, with no direct links to the original film, but lots of nods. This time we have a more noble storyline, with Kate (Edgar-Jones) using science (meteorology and polymer chemistry!) to attempt to dissipate tornadoes before they destroy towns. And if the science is questionable, she has a “gift”, so it’s OK. Her high-school friend Javi (Ramos) has a good story-arc and Tyler (Powell, in everything right now!) is the tornado-chasing cowboy – a nice change, as Paxton and Hunt were exes.

It's filmed in Oklahoma, so looks the part, and has a fair bit of Americana in it, not least of which is the mostly-country soundtrack. The score is good though, and there’s plenty of tornado-action, with not more than 15min of screentime passing without having one on screen, so it delivers on that front. The 3 main characters take a while to grow on you, which also helps, as they have to earn your cheering for them. The film starts quickly and strongly, wasting no time in proving that it’s not afraid to have on-screen deaths.

It's not all hectic, but does go fast at 2 hours. Kate and Javi have good stories and Tyler isn’t as cliched as he initially seems. Scott (Croenswet) is adequately punchable. There’s still plenty of dumb/“as if” moments, but the GCI of the tornadoes is good and the sound effects hit home. Solid ending, and another great cinema scene.

Overall: Better than ‘Twister’

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars

 

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Official Australian release date: 4/7/24. Viewed: 7/7/24.
Director: Kevin Costner        
Actors: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jon Beavers
Genre: Drama / Western
Rating: M

‘Horizon: Chapter 1’ is a Western in every sense of the word – set in early 1860s Arizona/Utah, as white settlers try to establish a new town called “Horizon” in Apache territory, while the Civil War is being fought back East. There’s a lot of characters and storylines started, but most centre around Horizon as the focal point of the frontier and it’s attached by Native Americans. Interestingly, we don’t meet Hayes (Costner) until almost halfway through, further north in Wyoming. He comes across Marigold (Lee) and a child who are being pursued by Sykes (Beavers), setting in motion their journey.

There’s about 4 main storylines: Hayes & Marigold on the run; Frances Kittredge (Miller) & daughter Elizabeth (MacPhail) and their interactions with Lieutenant Gephart (Worthington) and Sergent Riordan (Rooker) at the Fort; then Elias (Haze) & Russell (Kellici) who are out hunting the Apache that attacked Horizon. And finally there’s the new settlers heading West on their wagons, being led by Captain Van Weyden (Wilson). It’s not all perfectly linked yet, but you can start to see how most of it will connect.

The pacing is quite good, considering it’s 3 hours, with a few slow moments, but given the amount of characters and the 4 distinct threads, it does well to give enough info, but also spend enough time on the epic landscapes of Arizona and Utah, with plenty of beauty on show. The score is particularly impressive. While it may sound long, I’m liking the idea of 4 longs films instead of a 15-part TV series. Costner has set things up well – and while this isn’t a perfect film, with no fitting ending, I’m looking forward to the next chapters.

Overall: Nice platform for a Western epic

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars

 

The Promised Land

Official Australian release date: 20/6/24. Viewed: 30/6/24.

Director: Nikolaj Arcel        

Actors: Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Melina Hagberg, Simon Bennebjerg

Genre: Drama / Biopic

Rating: MA

‘The Promised Land’ (‘Bastarden’ in Danish) is set in the 1750s and follows a former Army Captain, Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelsen) as he sets out to cultivate the inhospitable heath in Western Denmark, with it’s poor soil and bad weather. He encounters all sorts of bureaucratic, personnel and personal hurdles. This is an at-times violent battle of wills shown over a few years, all with subtitles.

His efforts are helped by two runaways, Ann Barbara (Collin) & Johannes (Andersen), priest Anton (Lindh) and then little Roma/Tater Anmai Mus (Hagberg). Kahlen is then unknowingly pitted against the entitled “county judge” Frederik de Schinkel (Bennebjerg, a great “bad guy”), who claims the heath as his own. Matters aren’t helped when de Schinkel’s supposed finance, Edel (Thorp) takes an interest in Kahlen. While it’s a brutal time and place to be alive, the cinematography is excellent and makes you want to visit (when it's not winter!).

It goes for 2 hours and doesn’t drag too much, even if at times you’re not sure what’s driving the plot forward. But it manages to fit a lot in and fits quite a few genres in: Western, revenge thriller, family-overcoming-adversity, romance and drama. The ending is mostly satisfying and while I can’t say it’s flawless, it is a well-made film, carried relentlessly forward by Mikkelsen’s determination and stare.

Overall: Solid foreign historical drama

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars

A Quiet Place: Day One

Official Australian release date: 27/6/24. Viewed: 27/6/24.
Director: Michael Sarnoski        
Actors: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, Alex Wolff
Genre: Thriller / Horror
Rating: M

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ is the prequel to 2018’s ‘A Quiet Place’ and while we’ve seen some flashbacks to the alien invasion in the other two films, this follows Sam (Nyong’o) on her trip into New York City from her hospice (she has an undisclosed disease), which coincides with the chaos of the invasion. While we see some of the widespread destruction, we effectively follow Sam and her cat (who has the third most screentime!) as she tries to stay alive as the hundreds of blind sound-sensitive aliens attack. 

While there’s some scares, it’s not necessarily a “horror” film – only rated M after all, and a lot filmed during daylight – but does make you question how fragile civilisation sometimes seems… There’s some cameos from Hounsou and Wolff, but other than that, it’s pretty much only Sam, the cat and Eric (Quinn; Eddie from ‘Stranger Things’) on screen the entire time. Like the other films, lots of whispers and score only, as we watch the characters try to adapt.

Quite quick overall (100min), but still drags a bit in the middle. Not sure what’s missing – maybe Krasinski directing, maybe it feels like lower state without Emily Blunt and the kids? Maybe needed more aliens? It’s certainly not bad, with a few minor chuckles, some good jump-scares and a mostly-satisfying conclusion. Just not sure it does anything too new or adds anything to the franchise. That said, will watch the next one! (Spoiler: the cat doesn’t die)

Overall: Lupita gets a pizza

Gav's Rating: 3 stars

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Official Australian release date: 6/6/24. Viewed: 9/6/24.
Directors: Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah
Actors: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eric Dane, Jacob Scipio
Genre: Action / Comedy
Rating: MA

‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (or Bad Boys 4) comes only 4 years after the 3^rd film, a record turnaround-time for this franchise. It picks up the plot from that film, with Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Lawrence) dealing with the fallout of Mike’s newfound son, Armando (Scipio). They have to try to clear Captain Howard’s (Pantoliano) name, after he’s framed by the bad guy, McGrath (Dane).  

Great, opening, re-establishing Mike & Marcus’ connection, with Marcus then having an epiphany which leads to lots of funny moments throughout the film. Lots of the cast are back from the last film: new Captain, Rita (Nunez), Marcus’ son-in-law Reggie (McDonald), and young cops Kelly (Hudgens) & Dorn (Ludwig). We also have Judy (Seehorn) as Captain Howard’s daughter and Lockwood (Gruffudd) as Rita’s partner/future mayor. Everyone does their bit and no more.

When Mike & Marcus are set-up and have to save Armando, they end up on the run south of Miami. This also helps grow Mike & Armando’s characters. It then sets up the big show-down at the end in an abandoned alligator park – what could go wrong? Pretty great final act, lots of explosions, gun battles and always some comedic quips. Nothing feels too long, and there’s a bit more fun in this film than the previous one.

Overall: Best ‘Bad Boys’ since the original

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars

The Garfield Movie

Official Australian release date: 30/5/24. Viewed: 1/6/24.
Director: Mark Dindal
Actors: Chris Pratt, Harvey Guillen, Samuel L Jackson, Ving Rhames
Genre: Animation / Family
Rating: G

‘The Garfield Movie’ is the first fully-CGI Garfield film, 46 years after our favourite fat-cat first appeared in newspaper comics. I can’t compare this film to the other Bill Murray films, as I haven’t seen them. This time, Garfield is voiced by Chris Pratt, who’s earning a solid living voicing lead characters in animated films – ‘The Lego Movie’, ‘Onward’, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’. We get a nice flashback to how kitten Garfield, super-cute, and Jon (Hoult) first met and their comfortable life with dog Odie (Guillen).

The film then turns into a Mission:Impossible style heist film, as Garfield’s dad, Vic (Jackson) is blackmailed into robbing milk from a dairy, that Garfield and Odie are coerced into too. The “baddie” is Jinx (Waddingham) – a fluffy-white cat that’s straight out of Blofeld’s lap from James Bond – as well as her mean-looking dog goons, Roland (Goldstein) and Nolan (Yang). This is where we meet Otto (Rhames), the bull – very fitting having Ving Rhames in the heist part of the film! There’s lots of action and slapstick “injuries”, as Garfield, Odie and Vic break into the dairy factory and also a train.

The whole Garfield-out-of-the-house is a little different and means Jon’s not really in it much. Garfield also isn’t too surly and is actually friendly with Odie, which is nice. There’s probably not as much charm as ‘The Peanuts Movie’, but it does have a nice little story about family, with Vic and Garfield and explaining why they were separated for the kids. Some smaller kids may find parts scary, particularly the big dog and the factory scene with the cheese and knives. Nothing too hilarious, but enough laughs for the adults to keep it interesting.

Overall: Predictable kids animated adventure

Gav's Rating: 3 stars