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Civil War (2024) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

The United States of America is in a state of Civil War with the Western Forces Alliance of California and Texas battling the Federal Government. A small group of journalists travel across the US in a bid to reach Washington DC to cover the final battle and interview the President.

Alex Garland's Civil War is not the film the trailers make it out to be. This is not your typical over the top, American action movie but rather a slower paced, heavy hitting and a more contemplative movie than you would expect. Sufficed to say that if you're looking for that action movie fix and a fun time then you're best bet would be to look elsewhere. However if you're looking for something that's challenging and uncomfortably unsettling in it's plausibility given the state of the world and (in particular) American politics right now then this is the film for you.

Alex Garland doesn't seem too interested in the politics of this fictional conflict however with the drama instead solely on Kirsten Dunst's Lee, Wagner Moura's Joel and Cailee Spaeny's Jessie as they traverse the war torn landscape of the US towards the frontline. I can't remember the last time I saw Kirsten Dunst this good with the toll of being apathetic among so many atrocities and horror going on around her increasingly weighing her down. As a film more about journalism in war, the film hovers on the edge of the conflict throughout most of its run time but doesn't directly depict it until its final act. The war torn dystopia of this United States comes off believably while the music gives off some serious The Last of Us vibes which I greatly appreciated. It's at times graphic, harrowing and always captivating but Garland tries to keep things apolitical and without judgment. It maybe a slower film than you expected but all the payoffs come aplenty with a thunderous final act as the battle for Washington DC unfolds around the protagonists. It's a powerful finale for a powerful film.

VERDICT

This is not a film that can be enjoyed as such but rather appreciated as a powerful cinematic experience and in this sense, Alex Garland fully delivers.

4/5

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WWE WrestleMania 40 - REVIEW

What an experience WrestleMania 40 turned out to be and may well rank as the best WrestleMania experience I've ever had even if it may not have been the best WrestleMania I've ever seen. I'm a fan of the 2 night format introduced for WrestleMania 36 and for me allows the overall event to flow better without feeling overstuffed with content. WrestleMania 40 is no different in that regard and featured what I thought was an overall good card although I personally thought it wasn't quite as tantalising as the WrestleMania 38 and 39 cards. The biggest and best thing going for this WrestleMania and made all the difference however was the storytelling. All the major matches on the card had a decent story going in and even the ones that carried my interest the least such as LWO vs. Dominik/Santos Escobar, Biance/Naomi/Jade vs. Damage Contrl and The Pride vs. Final Testament made up for it on the night with some solid performances, comedy elements and/or star power. If I was to judge Saturday and Sunday against each other then I would say that Sunday was the better of the two in but as a complete event, this was a WrestleMania that did not produce any absolute stinkers but rather some generally quality matches with a few absolute stand out moments to say the least.

Whilst this was a WrestleMania that was brewing a number of stories going in (LA Knight/AJ Styles, Bayley/Iyo & Ripley/Lynch) there's little doubt that the whole event was centred around the Bloodline, Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. Whether Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes was their original plan or not, few could seriously deny that WWE had crafted yet another compelling story from the Bloodline Saga going into yet another WrestleMania. At WrestleMania 38 they marketed the third Reigns/Lesnar encounter as 'The Biggest Main Event of All Time', frankly they could've done that here and it would've actually delivered on that tag line. The Bloodline is perhaps the greatest faction in the modern era of WWE that has dominated the landscape since 2020 and has constantly evolved to keep itself fresh and relevant when it sometimes felt that the story had run its course. The double Bloodline Main Event delivered two classic matches with finishes that felt right and complimented each other leading to the triumph that was the Sunday Night Main Event. Cody Rhodes' 'finish the story' arc has been going on for a lot longer than I think any of us expected. Many, including myself, felt that the WrestleMania 39 Main Event went the wrong way and was a missed opportunity yet the irony is that the result of this event was even more tantalizing because of the previous year. It felt poised for the story to finish but there was always a doubt about whether they would or not. It's testament to the long term storytelling approach of the current era and what makes it all work even more is the genuine emotion behind it. The closing moments of WrestleMania 40 are right up there alongside WrestleManias 20 and 30 yet those moments shouldn't overlook that Cody and Roman worked an an outstanding match to get there as did Seth Rollins and The Rock the night before. Both Saturday and Sunday's Main Events were full of near falls and incidents and the run ins (on Night 2) went completely off the chart with the Undertaker's appearance especially feeling very distinct. I can't remember the last time the Main Event of a WrestleMania was actually the match of the night but with WrestleMania 40, both main event matches stole the show for me.

Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch opened WrestleMania 40 with a very good match that I felt never quite reached the quality that Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair did at WrestleMania 39. I was initially disappointed because I was hoping for an absolute classic but it was later revealed that Becky Lynch was wrestling unwell which changes my perception a lot of this match. It was the predictable but right result and further cements Rhea Ripley as the top female wrestler in WWE today and it certainly didn't make sense for me to move the title onto Becky Lynch who frankly didn't need it at this stage of her career. A strong opening for WrestleMania 40.

Sami Zayn defeating Gunther and ending the longest Intercontinental Title run in history was a big WrestleMania moment for him and turned out to be one of the best matches on the card. Was this better than the Triple Threat Match Gunther had with Drew McIntyre and Sheamus last year? Not for me and I'm still not 100% sure whether Sami was the right person for this but there's no denying the quality of the execution. It was a great feel good moment that was well positioned to balance the card out when you consider how the result of the Main Event tag match was going to go. It was the feel good moment Saturday needed and was the second best match on the Saturday card for me. I'm a huge Gunther fan and while I'm disappointed his run as champion is over, truthfully he's done as much as he can with that title and will hopefully be positioned into the main event scene in the coming months.

The type of match Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre worked was not what I was expecting and reminded me of the sort of fast paced, frantic, finisher heavy encounters that we saw with Brock Lesnar in recent years. Yet it made sense when you factor in the long running injury storyline with Seth Rollins plus Rollins had worked a 45 minute match the previous evening. This certainly set the pace and mood for WrestleMania Sunday that it would be one that they followed all night right into the Main Event. What followed with CM Punk and Damian Priest however I thought was storytelling genius. McIntyre vs. Punk is gonna be a long gestating feud and the inevitable clash is going to be something to really look forward to and that's going to be in no small part due to this moment. Well judged, smart and forward thinking; this was one of WrestleMania 40's best moments.

I love a triple threat match especially when done well with superstars who have great chemistry, timing and creativity. Logan Paul/Kevin Owens/Randy Orton made for a great WrestleMania pairing and it delivered exactly what you would want for an event of this magnitude. It keeps getting said however Logan Paul deserves plenty of plaudits for the performances he delivers and this year is no different. Better than the WrestleMania 39 triple threat match? Still a no for me but then again that was a very different type of match that played out. This match here is one of the best WrestleMania 40 served up.

What a statement this match was. Not only was this match high up on the card but it featured a trailblazer for women's wrestling who finally got her WrestleMania moment against one of the finest to come out of NXT. A real opportunity to showcase the biggest night of the wrestling year and neither of them disappointed. I did wonder whether they had the best chemistry but they put on a great performance and the match was helped by a crowd who were into it from the very start. Very good match.

BEST NIGHT - Sunday/Night 2

BEST MATCH - Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and The Rock (Night 1)

WORST MATCH - Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso (Night 1)

BEST MOMENT - Cody finishes the story

WORST MOMENT - The table accidentally breaks in The Pride vs. The Final Testament match

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS - LA Knight vs. AJ Styles

SHOULD'VE BEEN BETTER - Naomi, Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Damage Contrl

BEST ENTRANCE - Seth Rollins (Night 2)

WORST ENTRANCE - Bayley

UNSUNG HERO - Seth Rollins

VERDICT OF WRESTLEMANIA 40

A WrestleMania of generally high quality matches supporting two Main Event matches telling a compelling story. This is a WrestleMania that will rightly be remembered as the night Cody finishes his story in one of the greatest feel good moments in WWE history. A very good WrestleMania but perhaps not the best WrestleMania.

****

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Godzilla Minus One (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima returns home to a Japan that has been left devastated by the Second World War. With his family killed in the bombings and wrecked with survivor's guilt, Shikishima takes in displaced Noriko Ōishi and orphaned baby Akiko as they try to rebuild their lives in the ruins of Tokyo. But soon their world faces destruction once again by the arrival of Godzilla.

If there ever was a film that could teach Hollywood a lesson in how to execute large scale spectacle while telling a compelling and emotionally involving story, then it's Godzilla Minus One. In one of the most unexpected cinematic experiences I've had this year, I was genuinely shocked to find myself absorbed in the characters and story even during the longer sections when Godzilla wasn't on screen. The film doesn't of course lack spectacle but director Takashi Yamazaki finds a perfect balance between set pieces and humanity that makes this one of the most satisfying and best films of 2023.

The film wouldn't work for me if the central performance of Ryunosuke Kamiki didn't deliver but Kōichi Shikishima is an instantly compelling and sympathetic lead as a kamikaze pilot whose fear of completing his mission plus a brutal early attack by Godzilla, leaves him with intense survivor's guilt. Even when the films tone becomes more lighter and even funny with the arrival of the post-war minesweeper crew (Yuki Yamada, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Kuranosuke Sasaki), you can see that guilt on Kamiki's face which acts as a barrier to him moving on and starting a new, fulfilling life with Minami Hamabe's Noriko and Akiko. The 1940's post war period is exceptionally realized and their survival in the ruins of Tokyo is a fascinating and absorbing drama in itself before you even factor in Godzilla.

The large scale destruction doesn't disappoint and would fit perfectly alongside the big budget offerings that Hollywood has given us over the years. A particular highlight is a chase sequences that feels familiar to Steven Spielberg's Jaws and had me on the edge of my seat. The biggest factor that makes this film so compelling is the way Yamazaki balances the film between the human parts of the story and the monster movie its trying to be and for me this is the films biggest success. Thanks to the time spent with all the main and side characters, the set pieces feel like they have consequence as you care what happens to them. The attack on Tokyo is particularly stunning with Godzilla's 'heat ray' looking very reminiscent of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which thematically played a huge part in the creation of the original Godzilla movie. Thematically this deals with similar themes of life and death and has a refreshingly positive approach to its message which is backed up by an ending that feels very well earned.

VERDICT

Godzilla Minus One is exceptionally well balanced and tells a compelling human story alongside large scale destruction and action set pieces. The drama, spectacle, shocks and a few pleasant surprises make this one of the years most satisfying experiences.

5/5

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The Marvels (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

When the new leader of the Kree Empire threatens the worlds she protects, Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers sets to save them but her quest is complicated when her powers are linked with those of SABER Agent Monica Rambeau and 16 year old high school girl, Ms Marvel/Kamala Khan.

The latest entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe lands at a very difficult time when questions are being asked about the quality of its output as well as whether audience fatigue with superhero movies in general is now a major factor. The box office certainly doesn't bode well and to be fair, The Marvels isn't likely to win over any naysayers however it is none the less a film that is refreshingly lean, not too taxing and a whole lot of fun. Part of the issue for me is timing, The Marvels certainly isn't a Civil War, Infinity War or Endgame level event and does nothing to propel forward what is increasingly becoming a stagnating arc for the MCU. The action set pieces are creative, Zawe Ashton does what she can with another run of the mill villain however the film is undoubtedly at its best when Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani share the screen together.

As a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, this is a much breezier affair with Brie Larson's Carol Danvers clearly having a lot more fun this time around. Larson's Danvers and Parris' Rambeau have the more complicated relationship of the three but their estrangement doesn't lead to the predictable conflict you might expect and instead the writers rightly for me don't drag this out too far along. The real MVP however is Iman Vellani's ever fangirling Kamala Khan whose infectious joy for just being there consistently steals the show and is a delight throughout.

Although it's true that the Marvels doesn't really do much to challenge the MCU formula, it is refreshingly short, doesn't outstay its welcome nor does it feel too overstuffed. The power switching is cleverly edited and leads to some creative set pieces while a visit to the planet Aladna will undoubtedly challenge parts of the audience but is none the less one of the films boldest and funniest moments. Yet despite having a cosmic setting, the story never feels too consequential even with the planetary stakes involved so credit must be given to the three leads plus support from Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury, Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur to keep this a lighter and more humorous affair.

VERDICT

Maybe it's not the film that the MCU particularly needed right now as it is less consequential than Quantumania but it this does remember to be a lot of fun. Larson, Parris and Vellani have great chemistry and the film has plenty of laughs, a few bold creative choices and while its timing may be questionable, it remains worth your time.

4/5

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Spider-Man 2 (PS5) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Peter Parker and Miles Morales are struggling to balance their lives respectively as Spider-Man and each are put to the ultimate test when Kraven the Hunter designates New York City as his new hunting ground.

Spider-Man 2 is a game I've waited a long time to get my hands on following the experience I had with the 2018 game which I described as "a joy to play". Spider-Man 2 doesn't stray too far from that established formula as tonally and aesthetically it's near enough identical while other mechanical aspects such as combat, web slinging and levelling up are also very familiar. Like any sequel, it offers up new elements including a larger open world, web gliding, new side quests, missions, abilities and suits. The balancing of 2 Spider-Men works seamlessly within the game as is the switching between both Peter and Miles depending on the mission you're playing. Both are compelling in their own right, charismatic and enjoying great chemistry with Miles in particular getting more out of this larger game and keeping the story more grounded with his side missions. Each also have their own Skills Tree abilities to unlock as well as a shared one that you need to work through to increase your move arsenal and develop. Gone are the Suit Powers of the previous game in favour of Suit Tech upgrades while the number of Gadgets to acquire and use have also been reduced and in some instances have been merged together as you progress. It's a generally familiar set up but accessing gadgets and abilities via either the L1 or R1 button does make combat more straightforward than switching between equipped gadgets.

The PS5 format allows for an improved performance and it certainly makes for a more refined gameplay experience rather than radical overhaul or progression but where the game truly shines is with its story. Spider-Man 2 tells another enthralling story that blends gaming with cinematic scale set pieces and confrontations with incredibly personal stakes. As an overall experience, I can't honestly say that I preferred Spider-Man 2 over its predecessor but it is a game filled with plenty of 'WOW' moments.

The game is a technical marvel with incredible graphics, instant load times and a smoother control system. On paper this screams superiority over the last two games yet throughout my runtime I couldn't help shake the feeling that something was missing. You have both the 'Just the Facts' and 'The Danikast' returning during free roam sections but there were less of them. A far more subtle and perhaps personal observation was that Crime reports that were previously called out on the Police radio channels now pop up through the in-game FRND app which made the city feel less lived in for me. The 2018 game itself wasn't exactly groundbreaking with its open world and some of the side content was pretty standard stuff but it did at least provide breaks in the gameplay with time trials, puzzles, stealth missions and other challenges that offered up more variety to the gameplay. This is something I felt Spider-Man 2 was sorely lacking at different phases of my play through especially when not all of the side content was fully available did my options feel limited with some parts of the map having nothing to do. An unexpected consequence for me is that it took me out of the experience rather than having the more immersive experience I had with the first game.

Most of the side content in Spider-Man 2 is primarily combat focused with only a few tasks such as the Emily May Foundation, Prowler Stashes and Unidentified Target chase missions (a challenging highlight) offering up non combat based challenges. It's not exactly like these other options aren't in the game because they are, my issue is simply there's not enough of it. In fairness the combat in Spider-Man 2, like the previous games, is excellent and has seen improvements with smoother controls, more challenging enemies with even more enemy types to overcome. However given the increased size of the map, I found it noticeable that there seemed to be less content outside of the main story. One of the more unusual aspects late on in the main story I noticed was how suddenly leveling up awarded you 2 Skill Points rather than the standard 1 point you recieve all game long. It's almost as if the developers realized that they had run out of content and doubled it to ensure you can unlock everything. It felt rather strange and as a whole, I found the game somewhat disappointing and feel the developers could've done more.

Spider-Man 2's greatest selling point is undoubtedly the story which brings both Kraven the Hunter and Venom into the Insomniac Spider-Man series for the first time and neither disappoints. The story takes its time moving its various pieces into play so that when the big dramatic moments do occur, they feel rightfully earned and pack a mighty, emotional punch. Spider-Man 2 is also a significant set up in terms of incorporating gameplay into large cinematic set pieces and boss battles against the likes of Sandman, the Lizard, Kraven and of course Venom. But the most notable change in this regard is with the difficulty level which goes hand in hand with the refined combat thus ensuring that Spider-Man 2 is not just about cinematics. Each boss battle resulted in death several times and required me to improve my anticipation and response time to enemy attacks making my triumphs all the more rewarding and improving the overall experience.

OVERALL

To say that I'm disappointed with Spider-Man 2 would be a disservice to the overall quality of the game because it is a very good game that I enjoyed playing. But I think more could've been done to make better use of a larger open world, more variety could've been added to the gameplay to make it a more rounded experience. The characters and story however are oustanding, Spider-Man 2 delivers plenty of thrills, satisfying moments and leaves you eagerly anticipating the inevitable third game.

4/5

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Hogwart's Legacy (PS5) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Set a century before the events of Harry Potter, you play a fifth year student whose transferred to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You'll not only have to play catch up with fellow students in learning new spells and attend classes but also work with mentor Professor Fig to uncover a deepening mystery surrounding an ancient form of magic and a goblin uprising.

Even as an ardent Harry Potter fan, I must confess that it took a little while for Hogwarts Legacy to win me over. The controls are not the smoothest when it comes to the character movement and the jumping and interacting with the world environment feels particularly clunky. Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst I've played and it's certainly not a bad game either but given the amount of outstanding open world games we've seen in recent years, Hogwarts Legacy should be better than it is. But with at least 60 hours played and with 82% overall completion, there's no denying that Hogwart's Legacy, despite the issues it has, is still a fun game to play which ultimately is what counts most.

Legacy's greatest selling point is that it is the ultimate Harry Potter experience to this point and finally allows fans like myself to become immersed in the world of Hogwarts like we've never been able to before. The character you play is completely customizable and up to you how they look and sound which is a nice touch. Also adding an extra dimension is that the game gives you the choice how to respond to each character you interact with from students to Professors to strangers you encounter throughout the open world. The only odd decision is that there is no in game consequences to your actions. There had been discussions about the lack of a morality system in this game and now having played it and experienced it, I find it to be a strange omission. The only morality system in the game is the one you the player decide upon.

Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are gloriously realized and free for you to roam and explore to your hearts content. Do I wish that the NPC's and the environment reacted to your character more than they do? Absolutely. There's always things happening in the background including ghosts, Peeves, student conversations and magical mishaps but at no time did I feel that they and the environment (outside of the main story and quests) responds to you directly. As for being an open world game, Hogwart's Legacy is perfectly fine for newcomers who are experiencing one for the first time. However the more experienced gamer might find it somewhat predictable, repetitive and a little basic. It's certainly not lacking in things to do and in that sense the game keeps you busy but I found the difficulty level to be wildly unpredictable. The Merlin Challenges are a prime example with some of them barely worth being called a challenge while others requiring a surprising amount of thought at times. But far more satisfying is the collecting, resource gathering and breeding of Magical Creatures, cultivating of plants and brewing of potions that will help you in combat situations throughout the game.

Where the game truly comes alive is with its combat system which is consistently fun and never becomes tiresome even if the enemy variety does dry up. Combat requires you to time your blocks to perfection while the attacking spells you use can vary depending on the shielding your foes implement. The combat can be quite frenzied but it is immensely satisfying as you overcome large groups of foes which in itself can be very challenging. This is the games greatest asset and compensates a lot for the game's general lack of fresh ideas. The story itself is fine but getting to know the recurrent characters such as Sebastian, Poppy, Natsai and other Hogwart's Professors is where the greatest satisfaction lies. Like Hogwart's Legacy is a fun game to play but with the generic nature of the open world, I could never escape the feeling that this game could've been so much more.

VERDICT

Hogwart's Legacy isn't a groundbreaking experience but it compensates with an excellent combat system and having the added benefit of the 'Harry Potter' label attached to it. It's fun enough but could've been more.

3.5/5

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Oppenheimer (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer is recruited by the US government to lead the Manhattan Project during World War II in the development of the worlds first atomic bomb.

During a recent interview for the Empire Podcast, Christopher Nolan questioned whether there was such a genre as a biopic. He suggested that when a film based on someone's life successfully tells their story, that they are not thought of as a biopic but rather an excellent drama or adventure story. The description of biopic is therefore used more as a "pejorative" (Nolan) when a film follows a formulaic pattern that can somehow leave you unsatisfied from a cinematic sense. It's an interesting point and one that I don't particularly disagree with because when it comes to Oppenheimer, biopic is not the description that best comes to mind when describing it. This is very much a Christopher Nolan film; it refuses to follow a predictable structure, has a visual quality and scale from Nolan's insistence in using practical effects all the while telling an uncompromisingly complex story to its audience. Oppenheimer is a character study that prefers to ask questions of its title character rather than answering them.

This is a lengthy, complex and very talky drama that makes no allowances for those who may not be familiar with the history of the period or the subject matter. There are no action set pieces, no World War II battles or events depicted to separate the narrative. But your understanding of history and/or theoretical physics is no barrier to enjoying the film. Much like Inception and Tenet before it, Nolan trusts his audience to be able follow what's going on despite being 3 hours long and having a unique non-linear structure split between the Oppenheimer focused 'Fission' narrative and the black and white 'Fusion' narrative told from the perspective of Robert Downey Jr's Lewis Strauss. As a result this is perhaps Nolan's most extraordinary work in creating such prolonged and tense sequences through his manipulation of the narrative structure and by shifting between different genres. Oppenheimer is at different points an origin story, a thriller and political courtroom drama while telling its story from multiple points in Oppenheimer's life but keeping the events linked together. So far so Christopher Nolan.

If you're hoping to come out of this with a greater understanding of the science that went into the creation of the atom bomb then you'll walk away disappointed. This is a strictly character focused affair and Murphy's J Robert Oppenheimer is very much the main focus of the film almost to a fault. There are so many characters introduced and re-introduced at different points that it does require the audience to follow closely what's going on. But let's make one thing clear, this is a triumph for Cillian Murphy who delivers an outstanding lead performance amongst a heavy weight cast not to mention how satisfying it is in seeing him elevated to lead star. What unfortunately doesn't work for me is the depiction of the relationship between Oppenheimer and the women in his life. Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh do their best with material that perhaps exposes Nolan's weaknesses as a writer. There is nothing romantic, sexy or compelling in their relationships, it feels as if Nolan's included it just to be faithful to history. But this is a relatively minor complaint for a film that is so ambitious and well executed and for me avoids the trap of overly glamourizing the central figure. With Oppenheimer, you get the sense that Christopher Nolan and co have made a genuine effort to understand the man himself and in this sense, ironically, is perhaps the truest biopic I've ever seen.

VERDICT

Oppenheimer is an unexpected thriller and absorbing political drama while being no less complex and ambitious than anything Christopher Nolan has delivered. A few flaws doesn't prevent this from being a must see while always asking questions of the title character.

5/5

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

On the brink of retirement, Indiana Jones is forced to don the hat and whip one last time to save his goddaughter from the last Nazi threat as she's caught up in the pursuit of an ancient artifact that could change the course of human history.

I'm no Indiana Jones aficionado despite being raised on the Steven Spielberg/George Lucas films of the late 70's and 80's, somehow Indiana Jones managed to pass me by. As a result I'm not a devoted fan of the series, I even thought that the reaction to the last outing (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) was and is over the top. With that said however, Dial of Destiny is a better film than Crystal Skull; it looks better, the story is better, it doesn't have too many characters and the various set pieces are rather thrilling and exciting. Harrison Ford effortlessly dons the cap one final time and seamlessly steps back into the role that helped turn him into a superstar. James Mangold doesn't let the character down even if he can't quite create a film that stands on par with the originals.

Dial of Destiny starts very strong with an extended sequence set in the dying days of World War II as a younger Indy clashes with the Nazis once again in the pursuit of an ancient artifact. The train set piece is fast and thrilling filled with near hits, misses and even a few typical Indy jibes. Yet as fun as it is, the de-aging technology is still not quite there and is enough of a distraction to be noticeable and slightly tarnishes what is a strong start none the less. From the escape sequence in 1969 New York to an extended chase set piece in Tangier, from an action set piece point of view, this is a film that never disappoints. Also helping the film are the new characters introduced with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Helena Shaw being an absolute highlight while enjoying great chemistry with Ford's Indy. Mads Mikkelsen is always dependable and makes for particularly nasty Nazi villain but this is, as it always should be, Harrison Ford's film.

As fun as it is, it is a film that doesn't tread a lot of new ground (pre-finale). There isn't much in here that hasn't been seen before which isn't necessarily a bad thing but the film does feel like it missing a magic ingredient to raise it up somewhat and that ingredient is humour. When the film does slow down, the exchanges between Indy and Helena are witty, sharp and occasionally melancholic but there aren't a lot of laughs in there. Whether this is by design I'm not sure but the pursuit of another ancient artifact is only as fun as far as the puzzles, traps and set pieces go and without the humour backing it all up, Dial of Destiny feels like its missing something. It's a shame because the cast, set pieces and characters are strong enough and a healthy dose of humour could've pushed Dial of Destiny to greater heights. Dial of Destiny never a bad film and it is still a lot of fun especially with its bold and crazy finale but I also have this feeling that it could've been better than it is.

VERDICT

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an improvement on Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with a great cast and thrilling set pieces plus another great turn by Harrison Ford as the titular hero. But there's no escaping the feeling that it could be a more rewarding experience with a healthy injection of humour.

4/5

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

When Rocket is seriously injured following an attack by Adam Warlock, the Guardians of the Galaxy recruit Gamora to hunt down Rocket's creator; the twist High Evolutionary to save their friend's life.

The rather disappointing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has led to some difficult questions being asked of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It would be foolish to say that this represents a genuine crisis, it is rather fair to say that this phase of the MCU has struggled with the overarching story and has left some questioning where is it all going. The Guardians of the Galaxy have always felt standalone in the way that James Gunn has approached their story and he does the same again here. While this doesn't answer any questions regarding the overarching narrative, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gives the MCU a much needed boost with a crowd pleasing sequel that ticks off everything you'd expect to see on a Guardians checklist. A stylish soundtrack? Check. Colourful, crazy, imaginative and physics defying space locations? Check. Memorable characters and side splitting humour? Also check. Pushing the boundaries of just how dark the MCU has ever gone before? I didn't see this one coming and was definitely not on any checklist I would've had going into this. But it is this tonal shift and bold storytelling that helps set Vol. 3 apart from other entries.

While the trailers suggested a more darker aesthetic than what we had in Vol. 1 and 2, I seriously doubted whether any MCU film, particularly the Guardians of the Galaxy, would ever go to the sort of places that James Gunn takes us here. Let's be clear about it ... Rocket's backstory depicts the darkest, saddest and most horrifying concept yet seen in the MCU. So unsettling is some of the scenes that you would have to question whether it would be suitably for young children to come a long and see it. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bleak film but the horrifying concepts being explored here is only heightened visually with a degree of gruesomeness I wasn't expecting either. Factoring into this also is perhaps the nastiest and cruellest villain yet seen in Chukwudi Iwuji's High Evolutionary who gives off some Kang vibes with his unstable and menacing performance. Rocket's origin steals the movie for me and helps elevate Vol. 3 to upper tier MCU levels but it's also to Gunn's credit that the rest of the film delivers.

The Guardians enjoyed great outings in Infinity War, Endgame and the recent Christmas Special and Gunn's writing builds upon these with Karen Gillan's Nebula and Pom Klemetieff's Mantis in particular getting much more to do this time around. But that doesn't mean that this is an imbalanced affair, in fact one of the things I admire most about Vol. 3 is that each Guardian is given something to do and moment(s) to shine. Yes this is a dark film at times but it is balanced with moments of levity and a strong emotional centre. Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista are as good as they've ever been in both their comedic moments and dramatic moments. Gunn is balancing a lot character threads; perhaps too much as he's balancing all the relationships between the Guardians, Rocket's backstory and Quill's unresolved issues with Zoe Saldana's alternate Gamora. Will Poulter's Adam Warlock doesn't get a lot of screen time and you do wish slightly more was done with him, Gunn gives him just enough to justify his presence in the film. Whilst it would've been tempting to provide a fan pleasing finale, Gunn is true to his word in the sense that this feels like a genuine finale for this set up of characters. Vol. 3 is a return to form for the MCU and it came at just the right time.

VERDICT

Vol. 3 is a fun, character driven thrill ride that also serves up dark and emotional themes that you might not have expected from a film called Guardians of the Galaxy. A complete triumph and perhaps the best film since Avengers: Endgame.

4/5

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

A Bard, a Barbarian, a Sorceror and a Druid must team up and find a way to break into a castle to save the Bard's daughter from a treacherous Rogue and a powerful Wizard.

It can be a great thing to be completely wrong about something and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is one of those very rare surprises that you just didn't expect at all. The first trailers did nothing to win me over; sure the visual effects looked impressive enough but everything else about it just screamed generic, throwaway fantasy of the likes of say Eragon. While Eragon remains a truly terrible cash-in, Dungeons & Dragons couldn't be far from that if it tried. Contrary to the special effects, huge Lord of the Rings-esque landscapes, magical creatures etc; Dungeons & Dragons greatest asset isn't the spectacle but rather its heart. This is a film that is very earnest and the writers (Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley and Michael Gilio) have put a lot thought and effort into characters who you are more than happy to just hang around with while on this adventure.

It's an eclectic group of characters who all have different personalities and abilities that they bring to the table (much like in the game) but all are grounded by their respective personal and somewhat relatable demons. Justice Smith's Simon is a sorceror with self-esteem, confidence and performance issues, Michelle Rodriguez's Holga struggles with being outcast for marrying someone her family disapproved of while Chris Pine's Edgin grieves the loss of his wife and trying to manage with fatherhood. Yes there's a fantasy adventure for them all to go on and challenges for them to overcome but it is the amount of depth that they are given as characters that is the biggest surprise. A scene where Holga visits her ex-husband (Bradley Cooper) could've been played for just laughs but it's an incredibly tender scene and the subsequent exchange with Pine's Edgin afterwards that is memorable. Each character has a moment like that of sorts with perhaps Sophia Lillis's Doric receiving slightly less from a character perspective but even then she is no simply bystander. The main take away from this is that this is a film whose foundations are firmly rooted on characters that you are actually given a reason to care about and makes you invested.

But of course what also helps the film is that it is just incredibly good fun and you get that sense from the opening and hilarious escape attempt from a barren and icy prison. Effortlessly blending the standard exposition with the type of humour that Chris Pine does so well, you know very early on you're in for a fun ride. The humour is neither mean spirited or seeks to mock but is playful and endearing with respect to the source material and those who play it with a graveyard interrogation scene a particular stand out for me. Pine and Rodriguez enjoy great chemistry in a platonic relationship but perhaps no-one appears to be enjoying themselves more on screen than Hugh Grant's treacherous Rogue; Forge Fitzwilliam. But it's Regé-Jean Page's Paladin Xenk Yendar who gracefully wanders into the film and steals it from everyone in the roughly 20 minutes he's in the film for. I could go and say more but sufficed to say, the greatest compliment I can pay Dungeons & Dragons is that it is the type of film you could watch over and again no matter what mood you're in.

VERDICT

An unexpected triumph but a delightfully entertaining one at that. With a strong cast, likeable characters with plenty of depth and a genuine earnestness, Dungeons & Dragons is a blockbuster you will want to revisit again and again.

5/5

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John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

John Wick returns to wage war against the High Table.

This is a movie I've been looking forward to since the end credits rolled in Parabellum and it doesn't disappoint. Each entry in the series has progressed and escalated since the first John Wick with the set pieces becoming more complex and elaborate all the while the lore of this world is expanded even further. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum introduced a sense of urgency into the series and with Chapter 4 we do retain parts of that urgency as the All Out War between Wick and the shadowy High Table commences. Chapter 4 is filled with everything that you would expect from a John Wick film; new lore, fresh characters, new villains plus bigger hard hitting and bone crunching action set pieces. What does stand out for better or worse is the size of it all; Chapter 4 is nearly 3 hours long with near constant action that only stops for just a few minutes or so. With such an action heavy focus, those near 3 hours absolutely fly by and you've got to admire the craft on display but none the less this is movie where at times I felt that less would've been more.

Chapter 4 is unquestionably an action epic with many extended set pieces of complexity and variation that each of whom could've been the finale of any action film. John Wick Chapter 4 is filled with several of these sort of set pieces in just one film and when you consider that this chapter is depicting the war between Wick the all powerful High Table; it is suitably epic. Action fans have more action here than they could ever have dreamed of to enjoy in one sitting but for me this can be a case of having too much of a good thing. I think the runtime could be trimmed as a few of the set pieces go on for a bit too long. While the card table scene is superb, the set piece in Berlin for instance felt a little much and the steps to Sacré-Coeur in Paris went on slightly too long for me. Having said that, the Shanghai and Paris set pieces are genuinely spectacular with sequences involving Nunchucks, a sword fight and an extended overhead point of view camera angle being absolute highlights.

One area in which more is more in Chapter 4 are the new and interesting characters it introduces with varying degrees of complexity. Chief among them is Donnie Yen's blind assassin Caine, Shamier Anderson's Tracker Mr. Nobody and Bill Skarsgard's villainous Marquis Vincent de Gramont. There a few others who make fleeting appearances but it is this new trio who are consistently at the forefront of the story and have one thing in common; killing John Wick. For Caine it's about safeguarding his daughter whom Skarsgard's Marquis has placed under threat while for Mr. Nobody it's about the price. Yen's Caine is the most complex of the three as his reluctance to participate in the hunt makes him a far more sympathetic character despite some of his actions. But there's never a question of who the real MVP of the movie is and that's Keanu Reeves who just oozes charisma and possesses such presence as this character. To put it simply; John Wick wouldn't work to the degree it does without Reeves' presence and Chapter 4 is no exception.

VERDICT

This may not be the best John Wick film (for me that goes to Parabellum), but this is a series that has maintained consistent quality and Chapter 4 is another satisfying addition.

4/5

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65 (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

After his ship crashes on prehistoric Earth, the pilot rescues a young girl, the only surviving passenger, where they must traverse the dangerous landscape to reach an escape ship that was lost during the crash.

It has a premise that is never explained, the set up is achieved in some very questionable circumstances but none less what we should have is a fun filled adventure that sees Adam Driver take on some dinosaurs. 65 has some other things going forward it as well; it's only 90 minutes long so it doesn't outstay its welcome, the dinosaur effects are good and the back drop is stunning. Yet 65 is just so unforgivably dull and disinteresting during its first half that I struggled not to walk out. What also didn't help matters was the awful editing that at times swiftly took a character out of what seemed like imminent danger and into a place of safety. Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt give strong performances as a pair hindered by a language barrier and their relationship does develop to the point that I sort of cared what happened to them. The second half is a lot stronger than the first but given that the first half was so dull, my investment simply wasn't there to make it a satisfying experience.

VERDICT

Despite its committed lead actors, 65 is too dull for too long to be a satisfying experience.

2.5/5

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Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Shazam and his superpowered siblings face off against a trio of Gods looking to reclaim the magic of their father and seeking revenge against mankind for imprisoning them.

Judging solely from the trailers, Shazam! Fury of the Gods practically screamed out 'standard sequel' to me and given the competition out than when it comes to superhero content, my expectations weren't high. The first Shazam surprised me in a number of respects; the DCEU wasn't in the best shape following the Justice League debacle and even the trailers didn't do much to stoke my enthusiasm at the time. But Shazam did surprise me by its willingness to take its time to set up the concept and the central story surrounding young Billy and Shazam turned out to be very funny indeed. While Fury of the Gods isn't quite the surprise of its predecessor, it still managed to surprise me again by being a lot of fun in its own right. Is it the type of sequel that's going to be notable for improving on the first? Not for me because as fun as it is, Fury of the Gods does undercook parts of its story that should be driving it forward thematically and where the meat of the story should be.

It may be a strange thing to observe, but Shazam is pretty much just focused on the superhero element of its story at the expense of anything else which is a surprise given the unique set up of these characters. In its defense, a lot of humour is played out and works because of the unique set up but it lacks a lot of dramatic satisfaction by not having much of a story for its lead characters outside of their alter egos. It's briefly mentioned that Billy is set to 'age out' of the foster system, another sibling is hiding their sexuality while another is facing the prospect of getting a job ... but none of it plays too much of a part as you go along. It's a strange decision and one that robs Fury of the Gods more of a weighty story to rival the first. It isn't enough to sink the film as a whole because it is a generally breezy superhero affair that will keep you entertained but the only question is in the long run does it provide enough satisfaction?

The describing of a movie like this as 'fun' can sometimes sound like faint praise but it shouldn't be underestimated either. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had a tragic undercurrent while Ant-Man Quantumania had a set purpose but neither of them were as fun as Fury of the Gods. There are plenty of laughs scattered throughout and I never once got bored of scenes between Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy and Djimon Hounsou's wizard. Helen Mirren steals the show as Hespera and is clearly having a good time playing a God alongside a vengeful Lucy Liu and conflicted Rachel Zegler. The set pieces are fun and the visual effects look strong. Don't come in expecting anything too heavy or a sequel to redefine the genre and there's no reason you can't have a good time with this.

VERDICT

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a sequel that isn't going to set the world on fire nor is it a disappointment. While it falls short of improving upon the first film, Fury of the Gods is still a breezy and fun ride that you can have a good time with which sometimes is all that you need.

3/5

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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves trapped within the Quantum Realm only to discover a much larger world exists including a great threat in the form of Kang.

Let's be clear, this is a film that's about one thing and that's introducing the new major villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). Does it succeed in this task? Absolutely it does but does Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania succeed as a film? Well that's a different matter; it couldn't be more further away from its predecessors with a visual scale and style that's more akin to James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy and Taika Waititi's Thor sequels. Yet Peyton Reed doesn't seem to fully embrace the quirky weirdness of that visual style in a film that seems too focused on its singular purpose that it feels somewhat undercooked. There are characters and plot threads that are underdeveloped to the point that you don't really care about them or the more wider stakes of the third act. But most surprising of all is that for a film called 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania', it really should be an absolute blast for comedy especially with the more light hearted tone of this particularly property of the MCU. But Quantumania barely lands any significant laughs or has much in the sort of comedy moments that stay with you once the credits roll. That's not to say that I think this is an outright bad film but Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a film that I can't help feel could've been better than it actually is.

One thing that continues to baffle me about the Ant-Man sequels is why they even bother to have 'The Wasp' in the title. If you take a look at the poster at the top of this post alone then the conclusion you would draw is that this is a single lead movie despite the team up in the title. Evangeline Lily's Hope van Dyne is a character that has enjoyed some great action beats in these films and has in fact been the more competent hero of the pairing. However the major character arcs have always been focused on Paul Rudd's Scott Lang and never for Hope. Quantumania is pretty much an Ant-Man movie in everything except name and Hope feels nothing more than a spectator in a movie that should also be about her. It's a consistent waste for this series even though Reed does do a better job serving other characters such as Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) and most of all the original Wasp, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer). They smartly expand on Janet's previous exile in the Quantum Realm to create history and personal with Kang. Michelle Pfeiffer is one of the standouts of film as her character is given greater depth all the while she's utilized to develop and build-up the anticipation to the films standout element; Kang the Conqueror.

The MCU doesn't have a good track record when it comes to the villains for their non-Avengers movies and the Ant-Man series hasn't really been much different ... except now. In Quantumania the villain not only delivers but is easily the best element in the movie and is when the film comes into its own. Jonathan Majors Kang gets excellent treatment; he's carefully established initially as an off screen presence as the various displaced, oppressed (and underdeveloped) characters of the Quantum Realm speak cautiously of a "Conqueror". His appearance feels a long time coming and is all the more effective due of the build-up and Majors doesn't disappoint in the role. There's a genuine sense of threat to Kang as Majors brings an imposing physicality to Kang in the several set pieces he is a part of and in the way he delivers his lines in several outstanding exchanges with Pfieffer and Rudd. The struggle against Kang is by far the most satisfying part of Quantumania it's just unfortunate that other aspects of the story falls flat in a sadly too formulaic third act.

Quantumania's lack of depth when it comes to new characters such as Katy O'Brian's Jentorra and William Jackson Harper's telepathic Quaz leaves the story feeling somewhat thin. It all feels at service to introducing Kang rather than being a satisfying part of the story on its own although it does also go hand in hand with the story between Cassie and Scott. But it is the lack of screen time and the surprising lacks of humour that prevents these characters from having any meaningful impact like the way that Korg did in Thor: Ragnarock. The writers simply haven't given the audience to care about in this regard which is disappointing. What does work however is exploration of the relationship between the now teenage and her father while Janet's hidden backstory with Kang is the source of needed tension in the Van Dyne family. All of this is held together by the threat of Kang who is more of a match for the heroes which ensures that there are some genuine stakes. The finale itself does feel like a missed opportunity for Quantumania and Kang to leave an immediate and lasting impact but fans of large scale set pieces will be thrilled by the effects heavy spectacle. That this film isn't more funny than it is is as baffling as it is unforgiveable because even the weaker elements could've been lifted some great comedy.

VERDICT

Quantumania isn't top tier MCU and it demonstrates that the formula is starting to show signs of wear but the imagination of the visual effects, the likeability of the main characters and Jonathan Majors Kang offers just enough to make it a fun experience despite it flaws. But how this isn't more funny than it is I'll never know.

3/5

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The Fablemans (2022) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

It's been over 40 years since the release of E.T which has often been described as director Steven Spielberg's most personal film; now comes The Fablemans which is a film that Spielberg himself describes as his most personal film. It's not difficult to understand why as the film is an autobiographical account of Spielberg's childhood and his journey towards becoming a filmmaker which itself has a few nods to the classics he would become well known for. This alone makes The Fablemans a fascinating watch to understand how the man who created so many classic films for an entire generation came to be the man that he is. The film is often quite charming, it's funny and it has been obviously crafted by a filmmaker who is showing more of himself than we've ever seen. Critically lauded and nominated for many awards, the film has been desribed as Spielberg's masterpiece ... I for one unfortunately don't see it. For such a passionate project, I just wish that the film was truly something great because but for me it isn't.

The Fablemans is a fine film in its construction; it looks, sounds and is acted very well and it has an exceptional cast. Michelle Williams is the absolute stand out and likely to receive the most plaudits but the trouble is that this is a film that never emotionally resonates with me. There's little dramatic tension to be invested in as everything generally plays out rather understated and quietly. There are some moments where the film does provide some satisfaction particularly during the Prom sequence but they are too few and far in between. This is a film that's elevated because the subject matter is Steven Spielberg himself as it is a genuinely interesting and very pleasant watch. When considered as a love letter to Hollywood it's certainly a good one but there are still better ones out there. Unfortunately this is a film that just doesn't hit the emotional notes for me to make it a satisfying and fufilling experience. The Fablemans is a well intentioned film and definitely worth your time but don't expect it to stay with you after the credits roll or one that you might think much about of later on.

VERDICT

While the The Fablemans is an enjoyable watch and competently made, the film, unlike Spielberg himself, fails to achieve greatness I'm afraid.

3.5/5

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WWE Royal Rumble (2023) - REVIEW

I absolutely love this PPV for WWE as it gives so many of its stars the opportunity to shine but it also makes for some interesting pairings at times and this years event was no different especially with a lot of great talent all vying to be the next big thing. The build-up for me was very strong with a number of interesting threads that were gonna collide in single's matches or the two Rumble's themselves. Considering you had the excellent Bloodline/Sami Zayn story dominating things, Damage Control/Becky Lynch leading the women's division plus Bobby Lashley/Brock Lesnar and Bianca Belair/Alexa Bliss feud. All in all however, I think this Rumble delivered even if it didn't produce any major shocks.

Match 1 - 30 MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

For me the opening match turned out to be the match of the night. This was such an excellent Rumble for me and one of the best in recent years. OK sure were there many surprises ... no but that's not what makes a good Rumble match. Everyone involved in this gave a good showing of themselves, it was competitive, the action was consistently engaging with a lot of talent on display. It did well also to add fuel to the fire with the Edge/Judgment Day story, Bobby Lashley had a moment to put out Brock Lesnar and they set the seed for what seems to be a clash between Seth Rollins and Logan Paul at WrestleMania. Cody Rhode's return was pre-announced but it was still a moment worth staying up for and his ultimate triumph, while predictable, felt right and sets up a tantalizing main event with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.

But where this Rumble really stands out for me is that of Gunther. I am a huge fan of his since his Walter days; his gradual establishment over on Smackdown has been perfectly handled, his dominance believable and his standing here rightly shows that there is alot of faith in him. I can't wait to see what happens next with him.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes

Match 2 - Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight in a PITCH BLACK MATCH

Let's be honest ... this was never going to be a technical wrestling match nor was it ever going to be match of the night material and I found it interesting that the full format for this Pitch Black Match was not revealed before hand. Visually it was certainly striking and not as bad as the red light of the Fiend years it but it was nothing less than you would expect for a Bray Wyatt encounter. Was it worth the wait to see Wyatt back in the ring? Not quite for me but the storytelling leading up to it was interesting enough and both deserve credit for it. Thankfully not too long but why Wyatt and Knight couldn't have gone out and just had a good match I don't know especially as the 'Mountain Dew' sponsorship tarnishes it a little for me. Some visual work for one WWE's most unique talents despite Uncle Howdy missing on the dive.

WINNER - Bray Wyatt

MATCH 3 - Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss (RAW WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH)

An interesting clash between two contrasting superstars; one who is excellent in the ring but lacks character while the other excels at character but is less gifted in the ring. The focus for me leading into this was on Alexa Bliss because frankly there was a lot more going on for her than Biance Belair. Bliss' ringwork has noticeable improved for me during the run against Damage Control and her gradual succumbing to Bray Wyatt once again has become as compelling as it was last time. Bianca Belair on the other hand didn't really stand a chance; she and Bliss don't have much in-ring chemistry anyway plus she seemed to get caught up as a bystander in the Bliss/Wyat storyline at a time when it seems to me that her title run has run out of steam. The match here was solid but it's a shame the crowd were somewhat dead throughout. The thing is that I never thought that they would actually drop the title here this close to WrestleMania with both stars on clear paths to Mania.

WINNER - Bianca Belair (still Champion)

Match 4 - 30 WOMEN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

I love the Women's Royal Rumble match partly because it's still a rather new event and it gives WWE's women some much needed visibility compared to their male counterparts and for me these matches have often topped the mens match. However this one, despite sitting higher on the card, doesn't hit the same heights of the first Rumble match. Both Rumble matches showcased the potential for future potential Rumble winners but if I'm being honest, this year's match felt that there really wasn't much choice of a realistix winner. The result generally never felt in question and while Rhea Ripley is a big star and deserved the win, the rest of the match didn't seem to possess as much star quality to ever make you doubt just for a moment how it was gonna go. If I had to shout out some competitors then I would have to shout out Damage Control, Asuka, Raquel Gonzales and especially Liv Morgan. For me I wonder whether going for Liv Morgan would've been the better option as she has come a long way since her title run ended. This could've set up Morgan vs. Charlotte on the Smackdown side while leaving Ripley for Belair on the Raw side at Mania. But it was a fair result in an ok Rumble match.

WINNER - Rhea Ripley

MATCH 5 - Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH)

Easily the best storyline going into the Rumble with The Bloodline and Sami Zayn plus an exciting encounter between Reigns and Kevin Owens for good measure. The storytelling is excellent; The Bloodline is a faction that has endured and remained popular far longer than I think anyone could have anticipated and you still don't know just much more it will last. It's been that good. With that said, this match wasn't as good as their previous encounters back in 2020, the biggest take away and most memorable aspect is the storytelling ones that come after the match. A brutal and uncomfortable watch as Owens is ruthlessly beaten by the Bloodline but Zayn's turn and Jey Usuo's walk from the ring have made WWE's best piece of long term storytelling even more exciting, That's quite an accomplishment.

WINNER - Roman Reigns (still Champion)

Overall then ... the first Royal Rumble of the post-McMahon era provided us with one of the best Rumble matches in years and another excellent twist in WWE's biggest and longest running story. This is a show that gives a lot of the talent opportunities to make a mark and many did ... in that respect it didn't disappoint. However what I would've liked is a bit more build-up of stars who you might think could win the Rumble and where WWE could make you doubt just for a moment that they're going down a different route. But this doesn't take away from a fun show to get 2023 WWE off to a great start.

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His Dark Materials (2019-2022) - REVIEW

SYNOPSIS

Young orphan Lyra, who resides in an alternate world governed by the autocratic Magisterium, lives with the scholars in Jordan College in Oxford. When her friend, Roger goes missing, she goes on a quest with her daemon Pantalaimon to find him and discovers a secret that involves several kidnappings.

This television adaptation, a joint project between the BBC and HBO is a far improved offering than 2007's 'The Golden Compass' which was a disappointingly tame adaptation. Based on Philip Pullman's trilogy of novels, His Dark Materials is a bold fantasy dealing with parallel worlds, angels, witches and has some pretty dark content. But perhaps the biggest talking point of the novels and something that the show has maintained is its anti-religious themes; the story is literally about waging war to overthrow God. Yet His Dark Materials is a show that doesn't appear to be talked about too much; the scope is no less ambitious nor the story any less complicated or action packed. But His Dark Materials does feel like a high end BBC drama as it sadly lacks the spark to match the more cinematic and spectacle driven television we have gotten used to. It's a shame because the story has a lot of high stakes, plenty of consequences plus interesting and complex characters to get fully immersed in.

After impressing in 'Logan', Daphne Keen makes for an engaging lead as Lyra Belacqua who starts off as someone caught up in the games of others and realizes that she is also a major player in them. Her lineage is as complicated as the central plot revolving around child abductions, the theories of her Uncle, Lord Asriel which are all linked to the ruling Magisterium's obsession in suppressing the knowledge and influence of the phenomenon known as Dust. The subject of Dust is what drives the story throughout all three seasons and links the characters together including Will Parry (Amir Wilson) who becomes as much as a lead as Lyra, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) who's seeking to overthrow the Authority, the ambitious Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) and Lee Scorsby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) care-free American adventurer just to name a few. There are so many characters on the board to consider and the writers aren't afraid to sacrifice them when needed plus this doesn't take into consideration the daemons. The characters from Lyra's alternate reality exist with animals called daemons that are a physical manifestations of their souls that can talk and interact. But there's no doubt that the MVP character/actor who stands out above them all is Ruth Wilson's Mrs. Coulter who, along with her golden monkey daemon, is as mysterious and terrifying in equal measure as any character gets in this show.

It's a show generally grounded in a gritty reality rather than the more extravagant fantasy set locations that you might come across in other shows. Lyra's world is both familiar but also different to our own with its more fantastical elements coming through the depiction of the various creatures, races and worlds we encounter across all three seasons. The use of airships, the noticeable lack of modern technology such telephones and mobile devices, the Gyptian river boat community, the city of Cittagazze to the Kingdom of the Armoured Bears. The third season introduces the more fantastical elements as Lyra and Will travel to the Land of the Dead while Lord Asriel confronts the Clouded Mountains hiding the Kingdom of Heaven. The production values and special effects are superb especially with the talking animal creatures such as Lyra's daemon, Pantalaimon and the Armoured Bear, Iorek Byrnison. The later inclusion of Angels, Spectres and the strange Mulefar's also convincin on screen, in fact there's not many instances where this show doesn't deliver from a visual perspective. What does betray its television budget somewhat is the absence of daemons in some scenes with large amounts of people. It's understandable from a production point of view and they try to imply their presence by having a few visible, but it is quite distracting and only really where the show reveals its limitations.

For just 24 episodes, His Dark Materials is a series that doesn't outstay its welcome, each season feels generally well balanced nor does any particular season hinder the storytelling at the expense of the others. James McAvoy's virtual absence from season two is perhaps the only exception to this but he makes up for it with a strong standing in season 3 as the show does well to build itself across three seasons towards the long teased battle against Heaven. It's also got its fair share of set pieces and excellent character interactions in a generally excellent adaptation of the novels and puts to bed permanently the memory of the poor 2006 feature film. The controversial themes are at the forefront, it executes its set pieces efficiently and the computer generated characters are never not convincing. What it does lacks maybe is some emotional warmth, this is a dark adaptation filled with horror, betrayals and deaths and there's very little in here to compensate for that darkness. But otherwise it is a handsomely made fantasy series that should be a showcase for the BBC even if HBO have bigger and more popular heavy hitters such as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon to bear the flag.

VERDICT

While come across as a little low key than other fantasy shows, His Dark Materials has plenty to offer with a well realized series of alternate worlds, multiple threats and memorable characters.

4/5