alindsayal Reviews

Mass Effect 3 (2012 Video Game)

A Great end to the trilogy

[8/10 · 17 May 2024]

It has finally happened that I have finished playing the Mass Effect trilogy and after two really good games we will have to see if the trilogy can finish it off in style and here is my review for Mass Effect 3. The premise of the game sees The Reapers finally invade the galaxy, Shepard must recruit the other species to work together to ensure they stand a chance against the greatest threat of all time.

Characters For the final time, we get to play as Commander Shepard and once again I am a Male Shepard voiced by the excellent Mark Meer and he absolutely nails it in this game. You really feel the wear and tear that goes on this character as he has to deal with this war. He has great emotional moments and quick humour that makes this a legendary character that encapsulates this overall franchise.

This game has an insanely large cast bringing characters back from the previous two games and they are all pretty much the same as they have been but a lot have them have way less time to shine here which sucks. One character that gets plenty of time is Liara T'soni played by Ali Hillis, she is back as a full time squad member this time around and she is a great character that sees progression here. She was my romance choice and I think she is one of the most fleshed out romances of the franchise.

Brandon Keener is back as Garrus Vakarian and once again he is awesome, he is just such a cool character and I really like how they show how the war affects people through him. He is a bit more ruthless with his thinking and is dealing with the greater responsibility that he is given.

Ash Sroka is also back as Tali and her story is actually quite similar to Garrus. She is given more responsibility in her government and she really struggles with it and isn't sure exactly what the best way to help her people is. She is once again a great character and even though she isn't introduced till later there is still plenty of time for her.

There's some new squad mates in this game. Starting with James Vega played by Freddie Prinze Jnr and I must say I enjoyed having him around more in this playthrough then I have previously. He is quite charming and I like his relationship with Shepard, he is probably the best Alliance squad member that we have had in the franchise. EDI played by Tricia Helfer gets a body this time and joins the squad and similar to James I enjoyed her more here, she has a dark sense of humour and her development is really clear and I thought it was well handled. Ike Amadi plays Javik the last Prothean, he was originally DLC but in the Legendary edition he is in the game proper and he is fantastic. He is a very angry and violent character that also has a clear development over the course of the game.

One last character to mention is The Illusive Man played by Martin Sheen, I forgot to mention how amazing a character he was in the previous game so I am going to mention it here and say that I love this character and the performance of Sheen. They make some questionable character decisions with him here but Sheen still delivers an effective performance.

Story The story is a real mixed bag. I love the feeling of this game and the tone of just how massive this war is and how it totally affects everybody in the galaxy. I also really liked how the two big storylines involve the Genophage & The Quarian/Geth war which are two things that have been talked about since the first game. However, it is the last act of storytelling is where it falls off a cliff. Turning Cerberus into moustache twirling villains was a real mistake and the ending just falls incredibly flat which is such a shame for this amazing franchise.

Side Content This game has lots of side content and for the most part it is very good. This is where you meet the majority of characters from previous games including squad mates from Mass Effect 2 such as Jack, Grunt & Samara. There are some annoying mini games where you cna collect objects to help the war effort, but these aren't essential and can be skipped. The 3 DLC's Leviathan, Omega & The Citadel are all brilliant and worthwhile editions that are now a part of the game due to Legendary Edition.

Gameplay From a pure gameplay perspective this is the best game so far in the franchise. Shepard is way more athletic and he can move a lot better which allows you to execute different moves. There is also a way better melee weapon which sometimes encourages play that gets you close to the enemy. The dialogue is also at its best and characters usually have something to say and actually interact with each other which is a big upgrade on the previous games. However, this game tries to limit how much fun you can have to play. For example, they add weight to the weapons which means you are incredibly limited to what weapons you can use as it affects your power use which I need being a Biotic.

Graphics The game looks beautiful, the new weapons and armour really adds plenty to the game. The vast battlefields that shows the destruction by The Reapers is realised really well for the majority of the game. The character models also look great and I really enjoyed the look of the universe that is plagued by war.

Overall Overall, Mass Effect 3 is a great finish to the Mass Effect trilogy, it just falls a little short of expectations. I had a great time playing a game and think it still has plenty of merit despite its poor ending.

Rating - 8/10.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

A Good Addition to the Franchise

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

Probably one of the most anticipated films of the year sees the fourth film in the new Planet of the Apes franchise as we get Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and I saw it yesterday and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film is set hundreds of years after the previous films event and sees an ape go on a journey to try and rescue his clan.

Main Character Owen Teague plays Noa who is the main Ape here and I thought he was fantastic. It was big shoes to fill after the great work of Andy Serkis as Caesar but I thought Teague knocked it out of the park. You see him really learning and having to step out of his comfort scene in order to help the other apes and forge his own personality. There is a clear character development and Noa's journey is easily the most interesting part of this film.

Supporting Characters Freya Allen plays Mae and I thought she did a good job in the film. I do think there were issues with her character and the way she was written but Allen did good work with the material. She had good chemistry with Teague and I thought she was decent.

Peter Macon plays Raka and I thought he was an enjoyable character. He was mainly used as an exposition dump but he managed to do it in a fun way and again I thought Noa & Raka had good chemistry together and his charm was a welcome addition.

Kevin Durand plays Proximus and is an awesome villain here. He isn't really in the film enough but he is so charismatic and intimidating in all the scenes that he is in. Durand absolutely nails it and feels like this cult leader really has control and is actually pretty scary.

The rest of the apes are all really cool too. The apes that are part of Noa's clan are really fun and the chemistry between Noa and his two friends is one of the best in the film and I feel like the film missed an opportunity to keep them together more. There is also a villain ape that was awesome too and a real threat in all of the action scenes.

Story The story of Noa and the apes is really good. Noa goes on this journey as a reluctant hero and I really thought his development was well handled. I also liked the villains psychology and how they use Caesar's beliefs in order to push their own agenda which I really liked. But this film has an issue with the whole human story, it is confused about how much it really wants to push the human story and trying to make it overshadow the ape story. It doesn't make much sense and it was less interesting and it makes me kind of wish there were no humans in this film and the focus was fully on the apes.

Script The script is okay, I thought the drama was sometimes conveyed well and there was actually a few chuckle worthy moments which I enjoyed. But this film doesn't have too many stand out emotional moments that rise it above and this film has like 15 mins that is just a huge exposition drop about the previous films and it just wasn't handled very well at all.

Style This film looks amazing, the CGI for the Apes has improved so much and the apes looks life like and it really helps in making you care about the apes on screen. The settings are great too and the film just is beautifully shot and looks fantastic. But this film has a real problem with its pacing, the final act is really good but it is a bit of a a slog to get there and I feel like the film would have been better had it cut a good 10 mins off of it and sped up the second act.

Overall Overall, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a good film and an enjoyable addition to the franchise. It falls a bit short of previous films of the franchise but it was a good watch and I think fans of the franchise will enjoy it and it is even a good launching pad for people who are new to the franchise.

Rating - 7/10.

The Idea of You (2024)

An Above Average Problematic Romance

[6/10 · 9 May 2024]

The Idea of You has been one of the most popular films this week and with being available on Amazon Prime, I decided to sit down today and watch the film and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a 40 year old woman unexpectedly end up in a relationship with a 24 year old lead singer of a world famous boy band.

Main Character Anne Hathaway is a great actress and plays the lead character Solene here and I thought she did a really great job in this film and really added a lot to this film. Hathaway adds to the real emotion of her character and takes this one dimensional person and turns her into an interesting character that you actually can care about.

Supporting Characters Nicholas Galitzine plays Hayes who is the love interest in the film and I actually thought he did a really good job too. He was a charming young man and I really saw the depth of his character and that he truly cared about Solene in the film. Hathaway & him had great chemistry in the film and I genuinely felt like these were two people who cared about each other.

The rest of the cast don't really offer a lot because the film doesn't really care about them. Ella Rubin as the daughter Izzy & Reid Scott plays the ex husband Daniel and they are both okay but the film doesn't give enough reason to care about them or give them much to work with.

Story The story is interesting and I think the chemistry of the two main leads made this story a lot better and easier to understand and follow. It also briefly looks at how something like this affects others but doesn't go far enough with it. I do wonder what the response to this film would be if the genders were reversed of the two characters but it wasn't an issue to me. However, this film is pretty predictable and at times pretty cheesy. It holds the film back and makes it feel like one of those romance films that you see released all the time which is a shame and the ending totally nails this.

Script This script is similar to the story in terms that it has promise but ultimately gives into the basic nature of romantic films. There is some dramatic moments that are good and some funny moments but it overall falls a bit flat and again feels pretty cliché.

Style The film looks decent in terms of how it is presented, there isn't really anything special about it but it just comes across as a nice looking film. But this film has serious pacing issues, it goes on for way longer then it should and really drags. It doesn't give some interesting ideas the weight it needs and focuses on silly parts of the relationship.

Overall Overall, The Idea of You is an okay film. The two main characters have really good chemistry but the film is let down by just being quite formulaic and not really adding anything new to the genre.

Rating - 6/10.

Mass Effect 2 (2010 Video Game)

An Epic Sequel

[10/10 · 8 May 2024]

After playing through the first Mass Effect game, I knew I had to get started on Mass Effect 2 and mainly because of my enjoyment of this franchise, I have completed Mass Effect 2 and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees the return of Commander Shepard where he must recruit a team to take down The Collectors who are the agents of The Reapers.

Characters Once again I played as a Male Shepard who is voiced by Mark Meer and I loved playing as his character. He is just a great lead character and even though I played as the paragon character I still enjoyed the Whitty banter and the heroic nature of Shepard.

There are a huge amount of characters in this game, there are 12 squad mates and other characters so I obviously won't be able to talk about them all but just know that pretty much every new and returning characters are great (apart from Jacob Taylor who sucked)

Miranda Lawon is Shepards new second in command played by Yvonne Strahovski and she was a great character. She is obviously meant to be the attractive female character but there are real layers to her character and you see the complexity to Miranda and why she is so interesting.

Garrus Vakarian makes his return voiced by Brandon Keener and he is excellent here. He is so much better in this game and you really feel the chemistry between Garrus & Shepard and their banter is one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. Garrus is way more hardcore here but there is a story reason for it and it really fits his character.

Tali also makes her return played by Ash Sroka and she is also so much better in this game and much more fleshed out. She comes across as less naïve and more adult and I liked how she is more confident in her ability and that her relationship with Shepard has developed.

Mordin, Grunt, Jack, Thane, Samara, Kasumi & Zaeed are also really fleshed out characters with distinct personality and these are some of the best squad mates in any game possible.

Story The story is amazing in this game and I think that is because of the stakes that are put on it and that the game constantly reminds the player of the threat of The Collectors. As I said before, the characters are fantastic and their unique personalities makes this a way more interesting group of people compared the previous game. The final mission is possibly the greatest final mission in video game history and utilises all of the characters so well and makes the tension feel massive and that you want to keep all of the characters alive.

Side Content This game has fantastic side content. There are a bunch of loyalty missions that further expand all of the characters and makes you truly care about them and their personal issues. My favourite ones being Garrus, Tali & Miranda. There are other lesser important side missions and they are fun and probably overall better then the previous game.

Gameplay This is probably the part of the game that is most improved from the previous game and the action flows so much better then the previous game. There are so many different weapons and they feel really different and unique that makes gameplay enjoyable every time.

Graphics Just like the first game, I played the legendary edition of Mass Effect 2 so the graphics were vastly improved from the original game but even then the game looked better then the first Mass Effect game and the planets were way more unique and showed the different cultures that populated this universe.

Overall Overall, Mass Effect 2 is an epic game and a huge improvement of the first game. This is one of my favourite games ever and I just love this universe and the cast of characters that are introduced here that really improve this game.

Rating - 10/10.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)

A Good Show on Lesser Characters

[7/10 · 4 May 2024]

It happens every year and we have finally reached May 4th aka Star Wars Day and Disney decided today to release the follow up to the successful Tales of the Jedi with a new show Star Wars Tales of the Empire and I have watched it this morning and this is my review of the show. The premise of the show documents the journey's of Morgan Elsbeth & Barriss Offee and how their lives were affected by different events.

Main Character The first 3 episodes of the show documents the journey of Morgan Elsbeth with Diana Lee Inosanto reprising her role from The Mandalorian & Ahsoka and she is great. It shows how she became the character that we met in those shows. She does a really effective job of showing the anger and the devotion that she has to her new mission, her character was great in live action and it continues here.

The latter 3 episodes focus on Barriss Offee who is once again voiced by Meredith Salenger. The show picks up after she was expelled from the Jedi Order in The Clone Wars. Salenger does a good job, we still see the inner turmoil of her character and that even though she was against the Jedi, she might not be fully on board with the Empire and it is just nice to get some follow up on her which people have been asking for years.

Supporting Characters To be honest this show is all about the two main characters and doesn't have too much time for the rest of the cast but everyone does a good job. Probably the main one is The Fourth Sister who has a good story with Barriss and gives some more character to this pretty dull character so that was good to see.

It was also nice to see cameos from characters from the Star Wars universe such as General Grievous, Thrawn & The Grand Inquisitor. They all offer something to the stories and it was just nice to see them make a return here.

Story The stories are good. Seeing how Morgan Elsbeth went from surviving on Dathomir to become a Magistrate is well realised and it does set up future events in Ahsoka which is appreciated. I also enjoyed seeing Barriss journey to becoming an Inquisitor and how it showed her different viewpoints of the galaxy. But, there is no doubt that there is something missing here, it just isn't as interesting as I wanted it to be. Morgan's story doesn't do enough to tell us more stuff about her, it probably would have come across better if we had seen it before Ahsoka was released and we knew what happened to her. Barriss story does feel a little bit like missed potential and I think maybe they could have had 6 episodes just on that and it would have been better and the ending is incredibly abrupt and doesn't quite work like I think Disney thought it would.

Script The script is okay, this show is incredibly mature and dark and that does work and I am glad that this show goes with that tone and the lack of humour isn't an issue. The issue is that none of the drama really nails the mark fully, similar to the story I think Disney expected more and it just fell a bit flat at crucial times.

Style The animation looks fantastic. We have seen with other animated Star Wars shows that the animation has got better and better and this is up there with the best yet. The character models look fantastic and the action flows incredibly well and feels very smooth. But the pacing is where the issue is, with us only having 3 episodes each with these lesser known characters, plenty is left out and it feels a bit janky especially with Morgan Elsbeth which made it hard to really get invested in it.

Overall Overall, Star Wars: Tales of The Empire is a good show that has some merit to it and will entertain fans of the franchise. But it doesn't hit the landing as much as it should and feels like a slight let down in that way but it is still a decent watch.

Rating - 7/10.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

An Epic Apex of Comic Book Films

[10/10 · 29 April 2024]

Just over 5 years ago, the culmination of the first 3 phases of The MCU came to a head with Avengers: Endgame. This was one of the biggest Cinematic events to ever take place and with it hitting its 5 year anniversary, I thought I would give it a rewatch and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees the world in turmoil after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, with one last chance to make things right, The Avengers reunite to take on their biggest challenge.

Main Character Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark was the real start of this whole cinematic universe and he is brilliant in this film. He really delivers a strong performance, you see how the events of the previous film really affects him and motivates him to come to terms and once again become Iron man. He still has the funny quips and narcissism that made his character famous which is great.

Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers and similarly he does a great job with this iconic role. He has great chemistry with Downey & Scarlett Johansson and I thought this film did a great job putting him back in the spotlight and having him being an emotional centre of the film.

Supporting Characters Now this might be the largest cast in film history, so I will definitely miss some people out but everybody delivers on their performances and really bring the comic book characters to the cinema screen.

Mark Ruffalo reprises his role as Bruce Banner and I actually liked the direction they take his character in this film. They make him a more enjoyable character to watch and it is really good seeing The Hulk getting a bit more time to shine after missing for the majority of the previous film.

Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff and they really did some really good work with her character of Black Widow. She really struggles with the weight that comes with being one of the leaders of The Avengers who failed and Johansson is strong in her role here.

Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor and after the events of Infinity War he is really the character that is effected in a really interesting way. The film handles his failures in a way that I don't think anyone could have expected and it is handled well with Thor developing a lot during the film.

After missing Infinity War, Jeremy Renner & Paul Rudd are back as Clint Barton & Scott Lang respectively. The film really focuses on the issues that Barton has gone through since the events of the previous film and it is pretty dark and easy to relate too. Paul Rudd is mostly used for comic relief but is a lot of fun and when he needs to deliver some more dramatic scenes he is good at that too.

Don Cheadle gets more screen time as Rhodey and does a good job, Karen Gillan is given her best work yet as Nebula and Thanos played by Josh Brolin is a great villain, though he is clearly not the most important character like he was in Infinity War.

Story The story is great, it really fits the drama and feeling of a world in disarray after what happened in the previous film and the performances delivered on it. Despite having lots of characters and lots of story beats to hit, it really delivers on it and has twists and turns that wouldn't be expected and really drive it up. There is plenty of comic book film fun though and the last act of the film is pure cinema and an experience unlike any other, especially for fans of these films that have been watching since the beginning.

Script This film actually feels a little different to others in the MCU in that it is more serious. It realises the situation that the characters are in and realises it has to be a bit more serious and have these characters have emotional issues and I am glad they went in this direction. The film does have plenty of humour though and these people are naturally funny which does help.

Style The film has great action sequences, there is a lot of green screen and CGI but it looks great throughout and the way they managed to make the film seem really epic is through this. The film is 3 hours long but it really doesn't feel like it, it is paced really well and allows the audience to be invested in the story.

Overall Overall, Avengers: Endgame is one of my favourite films. Being a huge fan of Marvel, this felt like the apex of what could be achieved and the fact that everybody involved nailed it so well made it a truly special event and one that needs to be seen.

Rating - 10/10.

Mass Effect (2007 Video Game)

A Great Start to this Franchise

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

When I was younger, one of the first games I really got invested in was Mass Effect and I have played through the whole trilogy many times. I decided to once again go through the trilogy and the spinoff Andromeda and review them. I really got back into the franchise when the legendary edition was released and all of the reviews will be the legendary versions of the game, so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees in a future where humans discovered they weren't alone in the universe, an elite human soldier must lead a team to save the world from a rogue agent.

Characters For this playthrough I decided to play as a Male Commander Shepard, but I have done previous playthroughs as a Female Shepard and Jennifer Hale is fantastic in the role and in the near future I am sure I will do another run-through as this version of the character. Mark Meer plays the Male version of the character and he is also fantastic, he feels really believable as this soldier and as the squeaky clean soldier is good. He is also really funny with his deadpan lines and Meer nails it for sure.

My favourite character from this game is Urdnot Wrex who is voiced by Steven Barr. He is a Krogan mercenary and he is the coolest character, he is the most intense and renegade character in the game but he has a sense of honour and the relationship that he builds with Shepard is really well handled.

Brandon Keneer plays Garrus Vakarian and he is decent here, he is a character that is clearly struggling with his place in the galaxy and sees working with Shepard as an opportunity to find his way. There is very much a professional relationship between him and Shepard which mean he doesn't quite have the chemistry that would be developed in future games.

Ali Hillis plays Liara T'Soni & Ash Sroka plays Tali and they are both good in the game but similar to Garrus they don't fully hit their stride in this game and are setting up the intrigue and they are good character but we only start to really delve into their character here

Last of the squadmates is Kimberly Brooks playing Ashley Williams and Raphael Sbarge playing Kaidan Alenko. As the only human squadmates they are naturally less interesting then their alien allies but the game does give them character and the voice actors do good enough work to make them valued part of the team.

There are so many fantastic characters in this game. Saren is a brilliant villain for this game and is perfect for this story. Captain Anderson played by the legendary Keith David is an awesome mentor for Shepard and Joker played by Seth Green is a great addition to the group.

Story This story is fantastic, it really does a great job of introducing us to this universe and cast of characters. The different species and motivations are well realised for sure. The main character being on the hunt for a rogue agent sounds quite simple but it really works and the more focus on the main plot with a few longer main missions is an interesting but effective choice. The ending is pretty epic and does an amazing job of setting up the future games with lots of effective choices for the player to make that will also affect the future.

Side Content There is plenty of side content in this game and some of the missions have really interesting subject matter that keeps things interesting when not focusing on the main plot. It allows the player to make their own decisions and gets to learn some more stuff about your squadmates. However, some of these missions are quite repetitive, the bases look the same and a lot of them just feel very similar which is a shame.

Gameplay The gameplay has definitely been improved with the Legendary Edition. The gunplay is good and this game has the most RPG feeling of the trilogy, you get plenty of armour, weapons and mods to use which makes the gameplay feel fresh as you play. However, it still isn't that great and it is the weakest part of this game, it is weaker gunplay then most modern shooters that you get today. The Mako is brought back and again, even though it is improved it is still frustrating to use and hindered my enjoyment of the experience.

Graphics Because I played the Legendary Edition version of this game, it looked fantastic. The character models are much improved and the planets themselves look a lot different and just feel unique. The cutscenes are really well rendered and it just made everything more exciting.

Overall Overall, Mass Effect is a great game. It rises above some of its weaknesses and introduces people to this amazing world and franchise that will continue to provide great content. If you haven't played this game then get The Legendary Edition a go and start this trilogy.

Rating - 8/10.

Fallout (2024– )

A Fantastic Video Game Show

[9/10 · 16 April 2024]

Before I start this review, I have to say that I have never played a Fallout game, though I know the basic premise so I won't be judging my opinion of the show based on any of the games. Though I have now finished watching the Fallout TV Show and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a post apocalypse world after a nuclear war which sees people living in vaults underground to avoid the dangers of the surface.

Main Character Ella Purnell plays Lucy McLean and she is fantastic in this show. Her character has a fantastic character development throughout and I just think she played up the role really well. She was a likeable character and somebody who was easy to root for in this show. There is a naivety to her as she interacts with other characters but it can come across as charming and gives her a way to develop.

Supporting Characters Aaron Moten plays Maximus and he is decent in his role. It personally took me longer to care about his character then the others and I just think Moten didn't convey much emotion or reason to care about him. But that does mostly change midway through the show and Moten starts to grow into the role and add some more personality.

Walton Goggins plays Cooper Howard/The Ghoul and he is tremendous in both versions of his character. We see Goggins as Cooper in his prime, before the nuclear war and it is interesting to see, especially compared to his undead bounty hunter persona in the modern day story. He is very charismatic and the fact that he has all this story about him does make him the most interesting part of the show and Goggins smashes it.

Moises Arias plays Norm McLean and he is very good in the show and gets given his own story arc which is actually important for the overall show. He is mostly separate from the other main characters but he does an effective job and I grew to like his character more after the first episode.

This has a big cast, that have smaller roles here and they are all great. This world is full of lively people and it feels like a vibrant world because of their performances whether they be on the surface or in the vaults, it was really effective.

Story The story is great, as I said I have no idea about The Fallout story in the games but I became really invested in this shows plot and interested throughout. We see stories both on the wasteland and in the vaults and both are pretty captivating and do a good job of developing the characters. The flashbacks are good as well and are used effectively to give more context for the storytelling.

Script The show is well written, it has moments of comedy in there but also plenty of dramatic moments that made me care. There are many twists and intrigue here and I think the writing did an effective job of showing this.

Style Amazon clearly had high hopes for Fallout as you can see the massive budget used and the show looks fantastic. Both the wasteland and Vaults look so unique and fully encapsulate the tone of the show. Though, I think there were some issues, mainly the overuse of slow-mo in action scenes. I think slow-mo is a tool that can be used effectively but it has to be used carefully and this show definitely overuses it. I also know that country music is heavily involved with the games and it is well treated here but again it is just overused, especially during some of the action scenes that didn't require it.

Overall Overall, the first season of Fallout was fantastic. It made me super interested in this universe and hyped for a potential second season. Even if you haven't played any of the games, this is still a show that should be watched because I think you will really enjoy it.

Rating - 9/10.

Barbie (I) (2023)

A Great Fun Film

[8/10 · 10 April 2024]

It has been almost a year since Barbie was released and I have finally found the time to give it a watch and here is my review for this global phenomenon that I didn't watch at the cinema. The premise of the film sees Barbie and Ken living their best life in Barbie Land, but when they go to the real world they see how that world affects both of them.

Main Character Margot Robbie plays Barbie and she is fantastic in her role, she is literally what I would expect when somebody was cast as Barbie and I think she knew that. She has that natural charisma and star power about her that means she owns the screen and plays the over the top Barbie well. But there are some dramatic scenes here where she takes this ridiculous character and makes you care about her and the situation that she is in. Though I don't think it defines her performance I think it was a shame that she didn't get an Oscar nomination for this role when others were given that honour.

Supporting Characters Ryan Gosling plays Ken and he is also brilliant in this film. He just understands what was required to take on this role and his chemistry with Robbie is fantastic. He is his own character and does have a character arc which I liked though it is definitely not a big priority of the film.

America Ferrera plays someone from the real world who has a real connection with Barbie and she is really good in the role. She feels like a real person and she seemed to really enjoy her role in the film and it feels like she adds something to the overall feel of the film.

Issa Rae, Kate Mckinnon & Emma Mackey are great as other Barbies as are Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir & Ncuti Gatwa as other Kens. These are some great performers and they bring life to some of these smaller roles.

Special shout out to Will Ferrell who really had me laughing throughout the film and maybe was the best pure comedic outlet for this film.

Story The story has way more weight and depth to it that you would expect from a film called Barbie. It looks at the human issues that women go through and the imposter syndrome that both Barbie and Ken experience in their different roles and it is mostly well handled. However, it does get a bit too much at times. I think the film could have benefited a bit more from being a bit more subtle at times instead of beating the message over our heads throughout the film.

Script The script is well written, this is actually a pretty funny film. It is pretty nuanced and adult humour which I very much enjoyed. It also does a great job with the drama and made me care about these characters and the plight that they were in.

Style The film looks great, Barbie Land is incredibly vibrant and colourful and it does an effective job of contrasting with the scenes that take place in the real world. The musical numbers are all well done too and all the music in the film is well used and pretty catchy. I do think the film has a bit of a pacing problem, the film doesn't spend that much time in the real world and it just takes a bit to get going after a rather long first act.

Overall Overall, Barbie is a great film. It is a fun film that does a good job at sending a message and it is nice to see an original idea get the love and attention that this film got.

8/10.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

An Epic Sci Fi Film

[10/10 · 8 March 2024]

A few years ago we got the first part of Denis Villeneuve's interpretation of Dune and I enjoyed the film though I thought it was a bit overrated. Well, now Dune: Part 2 has hit the cinemas and I have seen it so here is my review. The premise of the film sees Paul Atreides align himself with the Fremen in order to try and get revenge against the people that destroyed his family legacy.

Main Character Timothee Chalamet plays Paul and he is brilliant in this film. His character has a great stroy arc throughout this film and feels like a natural continuation from the first film and this is such an interesting character fuelled by a great performance. This is a huge cast but Chamalet stands out and definitely holds the weight of being the lead actor on his back very well.

Supporting Characters This film has a big cast with big stars throughout and I am sure I will not be able to mention all of them but I just want to start here that everybody in this film does a stellar job and there isn't a bad performance here.

Zendaya plays Chani, after her small role in the first film she gets way more to do here and I really liked her performance. She is a great companion to Paul but I also really like her individual journey that the character goes through. It is nice to see Zendaya deliver some impactful scenes here and give a great performance.

Rebecca Ferguson is back as Jessica and she goes through a real transformation here from her character in the previous film. She has had to adapt to her new surroundings and responsibilities and seeing her characters development from the previous film is impressive from Ferguson.

Javier Bardem is back as Stilgar and I have to be honest he might have been my favourite character in the film. He is actually pretty funny and I really liked the relationship that he had with Paul and it makes him a great ally to him. Bardem really commits to the role and I really enjoy watching him on screen.

Austin Butler plays villain Feyd-Rautha and this is a truly imposing villain. He is cold and violent making him an impressive opposition to Paul. His introduction is very memorable and Butler really wanted to make this character memorable and he really nailed it.

Story The story has quite a lot going on but I found it much easier to follow here. The two factions are both interesting in their own ways and I really liked the way The Fremen are showed and given loads of depth. The characters go through lots in this film and the majority of them have compelling stories over the film with a really satisfying ending to this film.

Script This film has way less exposition and is way easier to follow then the first part and that is because the writing is a lot better and focuses on its characters and the plights that they are going for. There are slight pieces of humour that goes well with the characters and shows their natural charisma.

Style This film looks absolutely beautiful. The cinematography is some of the best ever put onto film and the action sequences are really well filmed and they feel different depending on who is fighting. Also this film has an amazing use of sound and music, the score is harrowing and adds to the overall feel of the film.

Overall Overall, Dune Part 2 is a special film and is one of the best sci fi films that I have seen in years. It is such a vast improvement on the first film and despite its long runtime I was never bored and engaged throughout and I would say that this is a must watch at the cinema.

Rating - 10/10.

The Iron Claw (2023)

A Great, Emotional Film

[8/10 · 1 March 2024]

Growing up I was a big fan of wrestling, over the years my interest has waned but I do have an appreciation of the history of this industry and that is why I was really interested in The Iron Claw. I knew a bit about the story of the Von Erichs so I knew this wasn't going to be a happy film but I hoped it would be an interesting one and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a group of young men following their fathers dream of becoming professional wrestlers and how their entry into this world would change their lives forever.

Main Character Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich and this may be the best performance that he has ever given. He nails the human side of this man and the physique that made him believable as this world class professional wrestler. Efron has to really deliver some tough scenes here and he is a person that you really want to root for here.

Supporting Characters Jeremy Allen White plays Kerry Von Erich and he is also great here. Despite the fact he doesn't quite measure up physically with the real Kerry, he nails the troubles that the man went through and he has a really interesting story throughout the film.

Harris Dickinson plays David Von Erich, he was the one I knew little about but I thought he was great. It was interesting to see how he was a better talker then Kevin and that is what got his push in wrestling and how that created a bit of friction.

Holt McCallany plays the father of the Von Erichs and he is so good in this film. He has to be one of the most unlikeable people that I have seen in a film in some time and that is clearly what they were going for here and they nailed it with MaCallany giving a stellar performance.

Lily James plays Kevin's wife and she is good, she definitely is a smaller part of the film an overall story but fits well and is a worth addition to the cast.

Story This story is really sad, the tragedy of the Von Erich family is a hard watch for sure and this film lays it on pretty thick and does it well. It also does a really good job of showing the wrestling business and how this business affected people whether they be the wrestlers or the people surrounded by the wrestlers such as family. However, I think the film is a little bit rushed in its last act, lots of tragedy kind of comes out of nowhere and years pass without much explanation, I wouldn't have minded this film being longer if we had more content and detail.

Script This film is incredibly well written, the dialogue just feels very natural and like these were real human beings. There is a real bond between these brothers and the situations that they are put in and how their father influences their lives in different ways. Obviously, the drama is really good and there is little humour but it just is a well written film.

Style The film is shot in a way to make it look like it is from the time period that it is set and progresses as the film gets closer and closer to modern day. The wide shots of the wrestling was great and a well done part of the film. But I found the close up shots of the wrestling to be very shaky and a even a bit nauseous inducing. The film also didn't have the greatest pacing which as mentioned above kind of affected the storytelling of the film.

Overall Overall, The Iron Claw is a great film that is an intense and emotional watch. Even if you aren't a wrestling fan this is definitely worth a watch and appreciate some great performances and a sad story based on true events.

Rating - 8/10.

Madame Web (2024)

One of the worst Comic Book Films Ever

[1/10 · 16 February 2024]

With Marvel Studios taking on more responsibility involving Spider-Man, Sony have decided to try and build a universe involving smaller characters from the same lore as him. We have had Venom and Morbius and will get Kraven The Hunter later this year but here we have Madame Web. I saw this film last night and here is my review for Madame Web. The p[remise of the film sees a women bestowed with powers where she has to save 3 girls from being killed by a villainous foe.

Main Character I must be honest that I have never been a huge fan of Dakota Johnson and she plays Cassandra Web here and I have to be honest she isn't particularly good here. She is overacting everything here and her character is super unlikeable and hard to care about. She is clearly hampered by the awful writing in this film and she can't rise above it and give us a lead role to support or care about and Cassie Web will go down as one of the worst leads in a comic book film ever.

Supporting Characters Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced & Celeste O'Connor play the three girls that are in the view of the villain and they are all pretty awful. Their characters are really awkward and not particularly likeable, the film tries to force you to like and care about these characters but it comes across poorly and these actresses aren't good enough to make me care.

Tahar Rahim plays Ezekiel Sims and he is one of the more frustrating parts of this film because I have seen him be a good actor and this character had some potential but the film really flops here and makes him this over the top villain that is so stupid that it really takes you out of the film.

Adam Scott as Ben Parker is probably the best person here but he isn't really given much to do and it still upsets me that he plays Ben Parker and it is really clear that this was just done to provide some stupid fan service that actually annoys me even more.

Story The story is nonsensical and completely stupid. The plot makes no sense and characters do things that make no sense, Cassie Web in particular is one of the dumbest characters that I have seen in recent movies. This film also tries its best to ruin the character of Spider-Man even though he isn't in the film and it is just the backdrop to this pretty dull and horrendous adventure.

Script This is a really awfully written film. Things make no sense, characters are unlikeable and there is no humour here at all. There are so many plot holes it is crazy and the film has nothing interesting about it at all.

Style I mean I guess the action scenes are okay and the bad guys suit was okay but that is it. The film is filmed really poorly, the editing looks unfinished and at times it is actually quite jarring to watch it. There are way too many jump scares especially for a film that is not a horror film. The trailer shows things that barely happen in the film and it feels like we were sold a different film that never got made.

Overall Overall, Madame Web is a truly disastrous film. This is up there with one of the worst films I have ever seen and is up there with the worst comic book films of all time. Though I am glad I saw this film to have this experience but at all cost avoid this garbage and do something better for 2 hours.

Rating - 1/10.

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015 Video Game)

A Great End To The Trilogy

[8/10 · 3 February 2024]

After playing Asylum & City, I have now competed Rocksteady's Arkham trilogy with Arkham Knight and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees Gotham City evacuated after a terrorist threat from Scarecrow, along with a new villain called The Arkham Knight he aims to take down The Batman. On one night, Batman has to use all of his skills and gadgets in order to take down all of the villains currently lurking in Gotham.

Characters The late Kevin Conroy is back as Batman/Bruce Wayne and he is tremendous here and is probably his best performance in the trilogy. They really make it clear that this is the biggest challenge that Batman has ever been through and Conroy really conveys that. He is still intimidating as Batman but also has some emotional moments and scenes with other members of the Bat Family.

John Noble takes over the role of Scarecrow and I really like the depiction of the character here. He is really calculating and cruel and Noble really delivers a chilling performance as this character that is worthy of taking over the responsibility of being the main villain.

Jonathan Banks plays Commissioner Gordan here and this is the game where he has the most impact and Banks fills the role well with his gruff and intensity adding plenty to the character. The chemistry between himself and Conroy is really good and feels very believable.

Ashley Greene and Matthew Mercer take over the roles as Oracle & Robin and I thought they felt pretty natural for this game and fit it in really well with Batman and the game. They are good in their roles and I thought they were great additions to this game.

Story The story here is all over the place, there is so much the game has to do that it loses its way. I really like the personal story Batman goes through in this game as he deals with all of the stress that comes with the night and other factors that come into play and it has a very interesting ending. But the game fumbles plenty of things, particularly the portrayal of The Arkham Knight, there was so much hype for him but it falls flat and he is a really disappointing part of the story here. Other characters from the previous games such as Two Face & Hush are totally underutilized and could have been a major part of the main plot instead of smaller side missions.

Side Content This game is huge, it is one of the biggest maps I have ever played and there is loads for Batman to do, along with lots of DLC where you play as not just Batman but other members of The Bat Family. Unfortunately, its a mixed bag in terms of the side content. There is some really good side content, for example the Professor Pyg investigation and Azrael's story are some of my favourite butt there is just too many misfires. Basically everything to do with The Arkham Knight's Militia is really repetitive and mind numbing and certain characters are in side missions that aren't given the time to matter or truly care.

Gameplay This is easily the most fluid combat system for any of the Arkham games and flows incredibly well. The extra use of gadgets in combat and the way that Batman moves more aggressively makes it a much more enjoyable experience. Onto the elephant in the room and that is The Batmobile, a huge part of the marketing was the use of The Batmobile and I can't deny that it is fun to use. Facing Tanks in the car and traversing through Gotham with it is really enjoyable but there is no denying that it is overused and does become a bit repetitive at times.

Style Maybe the best part of this game is the style. It is a beautiful game and this game came out 9 years ago looking way better then most modern day games. Gotham itself feels huge and looks great with the horrors of the night being emphasized well.

Overall Overall, Batman: Arkham Knight is a great game. Replaying the game has given me a different perspective and realise that there is lots to really enjoy here and that it deserves to be played by Batman fans and alike.

Rating - 8/10.

The Beekeeper (2024)

An Above Average Action Film

[6/10 · 26 January 2024]

Over the years, Jason Statham has been a part of plenty of action films which have differentiated in quality. We have another one with The Beekeeper and I have watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees after someone close to him is robbed and killed, a Beekeeper goes on a revenge mission showcasing his former skills.

Main Character As mentioned above, Statham has played the lead role in an action film many times and he does a great job here, it feels like he can play this role in his sleep. It isn't the toughest role he has ever taken on but it just works and he adds some legitimacy for this role and it is fun to see him play a Beekeeper.

Supporting Characters Josh Hutcherson plays an annoying bad guy here and it took a while but I liked his performance here. He is just so arrogant and annoying that you really want to see him get taken down and this made me root for Statham even more in this film.

Jeremy Irons plays the head of the company that Statham is after. He again is good in the role and is charisma is on full display here. It is probably one of the easiest pay checks that he has ever got but he is clearly enjoying the role.

Emmy Raver-Lampman plays a cop and I didn't really care for her performance. She is a bit over the top and her character just makes some strange decisions and it is kind of convoluting as to why she does certain things in the film.

Bobby Naderi plays her partner and he is also cheesy and really over the top. The two of them have decent chemistry but for me it doesn't really work in this film.

Story The story is pretty basic here and focuses on this guys revenge mission and in that it is pretty cool and exciting seeing Statham's character go after the people that have wronged him and the people he knows. There is also a pretty cool twist towards the end of the film that made things way more interesting. But some of the others character motivations are pretty strange and the overall explanation for Statham's training doesn't work with other things that happen in the film. Worse of all is the really abrupt ending of the film that doesn't really answer any questions and feels really out of place.

Script This is where the film really falls flat and that is the writing. This film has some real cringe worthy dialogue here, especially when it comes to the bee metaphors. But it is like the film doesn't have an ending and like the writers weren't sure what to do.

Style The film has some really great action sequences. The majority of people are just here to see Jason Statham beat up and kill people and you get that here in spades and it is easily the highlight of the film. The film also has pretty good pacing, it doesn't overstay its welcome and I thought moved pretty well.

Overall Overall, The Beekeeper is an above average action film. Statham is great and the action is fun to watch but it is exactly what you would expect. This is probably one to watch when it comes to streaming at home instead of rushing to the cinema to watch it.

Rating - 6/10.

Batman: Arkham City (2011 Video Game)

A Fantastic Sequel

[9/10 · 20 January 2024]

After playing Arkham Asylum, I very quickly decided to start playing the sequel Batman: Arkham City and I have now completed the game and here is my review for it. The premise of the game is set after Arkham Asylum and sees a portion of Gotham closed off for the criminally insane, led by Hugo Strange. Batman & Catwoman must deal with the challenges of Arkham City to make sure they survive the night.

Characters Reprising his role from Arkham Asylum, Kevin Conroy is back as Batman and he is fantastic in the role. As he ventures round this city of craziness you see how it is affecting him and how he is trying to keep up his very confident aura with the real issue with his enemies. He just fits the role superbly well and I just think Conroy is a truly legendary interpretation of Batman and he really nails it here.

As mentioned above, this game adds Catwoman as a playable character and this is a truly brilliant addition. Voiced by Grey Griffin, she is a brilliant addition to this franchise and feels like a different character to Batman both in the way she plays and the way she comes across. She has her own story which is cool to see the developers taking the time with this extra addition.

Mark Hamill also reprises his role as Joker and he is still a real integral part of this game. There is more villains and a grander story but the relationship between Joker & Batman is at the forefront of it and once again Hamill & Conroy have an amazing chemistry together.

Corey Burton play Hugo Strange and I really liked the depiction of the character, he is a very different villain to the others that Batman has come across and he battles Batman on a different level to them. Burton nails the mannerisms and sliminess of the character.

As mentioned above, we have more villains here and Mister Freeze, Penguin & Two-Face are given some time to shine and it is cool seeing their additions.

Story The story and premise of the overall idea is really good. There are way more villains here and I love how the criminals have their own gangs and are basically having a gang war in Arkham City. Batman has a lot of fires to face and there is a ticking clock and that made this feel different and more open then the previous game. However, the overall quality of the storytelling takes a dip in the final act and feels kind of rushed with some strange story decisions being made which holds back the overall quality of the story.

Side Activities Unlike Arkham Asylum, Arkham City is an open world game which means there is way more side content here. There are really fun side missions including characters such as Bane, The Mad Hatter & Hush. The Challenge Maps are back but this time you can play as Batman, Catwoman, Robin & Nightwing which provides way more variety to the play and though they aren't that interesting they were good enough here with all the other content. There is also a fun DLC called Harley's Revenge which I also enjoyed playing.

Gameplay The gameplay has been massively improved and just flows so much better. There are more gadgets to be used here and the combat is leagues better then it was in Asylum. With it being an open world game, it is great to glide across the map as Batman, taking down random thugs along the way. Catwoman has her own combat and she is also a lot of fun to play as and it shows how much care was put into her character.

Style This game looks great, it has a way more open feel which makes it stand out from Arkham Asylum. The developers wanted us to feel the grand scale of Arkham City and I think it really achieved that. It made the player feel like they are Batman and it just pushed it above Asylum.

Overall Overall, Batman: Arkham City is a fantastic game and a brilliant love letter to the character of Batman. I think it is slightly better the Arkham Asylum but this is a must play for any gamer and especially for Batman fans.

Rating - 9/10.

One Life (2023)

A Good film about an amazing man

[7/10 · 16 January 2024]

I managed to see this film last week and I am finally getting around to review One Life. It is getting around award season which means films like this are released more frequently and this is the one I am starting with. The premise of the film is based on the true story of Nicholas Winton who during WW2 managed to save a large amount of children from hostile environments.

Main Character Sir Anthony Hopkins plays the older version of Winton and as usual he is fantastic. He just has such an aura towards him and Hopkins nails the trauma that this man has been through, the film focuses on him more then I thought it was going to and that definitely helps the film because of the overall quality of his performance.

Johnny Flynn plays the younger version of Winton and is also very good in his role. It is interesting seeing him at work during the awful conditions of a Nazi occupation and how he was convinced that he could help people without looking for any praise himself. The two actors fit the role really well and I actually felt like it was the same person in both parts of the film.

Supporting Characters This film has some strong actors in it. Lena Olin plays Winton's wife and she is a good support system for him during the hard times that he goes through. The scenes between her and Hopkins are well realised and they just have good chemistry too.

Helena Bonham Carter plays Winton's mother in the flashback scenes and she is pretty good too and I think that is down to the strength of her as a performer, She worked well with Flynn and they did some really good work.

The issue here is that this film doesn't care much about the supporting cast of this film, it is all about Nicholas Winton. To clarify that isn't a bad thing, but it is hard to really care about any of the other people in the film when the film doesn't exactly give them any time. Take Jonathan Pryce, a great actor who only has one scene in the film, it just feels like there isn't much depth there.

Story The story works well enough. The story of Nicholas Winton is realised incredibly well in this film, it is an emotional story that makes you care about this man and the hopes and dreams that he had to help other people. The fact that he is a real person and a lot of this film is based on truth tells you how incredible it can be. It is just the execution of some of the elements that don't quite work, for example the film maybe doesn't fully show the horrors of war and kind of falls a little flat in that way. Also as I mentioned above, the other characters in this film aren't really given much to work with or really make you fully care.

Script The film is well written. I really ended up caring about the overall story and wanted to learn more about the heroic acts of Nicholas Winton. It can be pretty emotional and nails that as it gets towards the end of the film. It has its moments of charm too and I think it is pretty well done here.

Style The film is well made and it looks good, it nails both time periods pretty well and does have some atmosphere. It uses camera techniques to convey emotion well and to make you care about the serious content. But the film has a slight pacing issue, especially in how it balances the flashbacks and the main story. It is a bit jarring at times and like there isn't a complete connection between the two especially with the flashbacks being stopped pretty abruptly.

Overall Overall, One Life is a good film behind an amazing story and man. If you have any interest in the subject and the feel of the film then I would say it is worth a watch for sure, but I do wonder in other circumstances this film could have been even better.

Rating - 7/10.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009 Video Game)

A Great Start to this Franchise

[8/10 · 8 January 2024]

Ahead of the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, I thought I would go back and play the Arkham games that lead into that spin off. This starts with the first game in this franchise Batman: Arkham Asylum, I played the game when it originally came out and have replayed it as part of the Return to Arkham remaster recently and here is my review for the game. The premise of the games sees The Joker taking over Arkham Asylum, Batman has one night to figure out his plan and stop him and the other super criminals from taking over.

Characters Reprising his role from Batman: The Animated Series, the late great Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman and he is phenomenal here. He just fits the role incredibly well, his stoic nature nails the quiet confidence that he has. It really feels like this is an experienced Batman and that he has a built in relationship with all the other characters in the universe. For me, Conroy is in the discussion for the best ever Batman and that is no different here.

Also reprising his role is the tremendous Mark Hamill as The Joker. He is such a star here, Joker is amazingly well realised and comes straight out of a comic book or the animated series this game is heavily inspired by. He has so much recorded dialogue here that you probably here him more then Batman and it is written and delivered incredibly well. The two of them are amazing together and the best part of the game.

This game is filled with comic book characters that are all handled really well. Harley Quinn is once again voiced by the late Arleen Sorkin and she is also brilliant. She is really playful and evil as she should be and Sorkin is just what every other actress who has played the role has had to live up too.

Other characters such as Scarecrow, Killer Croc and Poison Ivy are given quite a lot of screen time as secondary villains and they are a lot of fun. The boss battles are all different and unique and fit the characters really well.

Story The story is really good. It is really interesting seeing Batman work his way around Arkham Asylum searching for ways to stop Joker and the other villains. It is the atmosphere created by the location and the feel of the narrative that drives the game through. The relationship between Batman and Joker is at the forefront and even though they only share a few scenes together you really understand the dynamic.

Side Content Unlike the other Arkham games, Arkham Asylum is not an open world game and is a more linear experience. It has some challenge maps where you can play as either Batman or Joker and they are entertaining to play and I definitely got a kick out of it but there isn't that much depth to it. The collectibles and Riddler trophies in the main game are just window dressing to the overall game.

Gameplay The gameplay for this game actually turned out to be revolutionary, it inspired so many other games to use combat styles just like this game and it is good here. Batman moves pretty quickly and is able to take down a group of thugs pretty easily which is fun to play as. The boss battles are mostly fun too with Poison Ivy and Scarecrow being unique and fun to play. It is just there are some issues with the combat in that I found it hard to string combos together at times and it feels like this is the start of this idea and will be improved in later games. Also the final boss battle falls really flat and doesn't feel like a boss battle that fits this games high quality.

Style With the remastered version, this game looks beautiful. The character models (Apart from Gordon) all look fantastic and the cutscenes flow incredibly well. As I mentioned above, the overall feel and intimacy towards this location using sound and style is one of the best highlights of the game.

Overall Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a great game that is a clear starting point for a new video game Batman franchise and I had a great time with it and any fan of this franchise needs to take the time to play this game.

Rating - 8/10.

Grand Theft Auto V (2013 Video Game)

A Great Legendary Game

[8/10 · 2 January 2024]

It has been over 10 years since Grand Theft Auto V was released and it has seen many remasters and re-releases since then. The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was released recently so it inspired me to go back and once again play GTA V and see how I found it all these years later. So I have completed the main story and done the majority of the side missions so it is time to review GTA 5. The premise of the game sees 3 criminal brought together in their aims of survival, progress & hitting the biggest score ever.

Characters The first character we meet is Franklin Clinton played by Shawn Fonteno. Franklin is a local gang member who is down on his luck and not achieving the success he wants. Franklin is a really cool character, we see his progression throughout the game from local hood to leading big heists. He is really funny and his dynamic as the new member of this friendship group is handled really well.

The second playable character is Michael De Santa played by Ned Luke. Personally, Michael is my favourite of the characters, he is super flawed but it is cool seeing this older criminal who has clearly done well and lives a kind of Soprano life style. His past transgressions come back to haunt him but Michael goes through a journey of trying to better himself and it is well realised.

The final playable character is Trevor Phillips played by Steven Ogg. This is probably the most memorable character in the game, he is pretty crazy and is the character you use when you are in the GTA mentality of causing chaos. Though, Trevor clearly has a soft side and you see how he has true loyalty to the people that he works with.

There are so many characters you meet in this game that it would take hours to discuss them all, but everybody is fantastic in their roles. The characters you are meant to like are well realised and the characters you are meant to dislike come across as bad guys.

Story The story is a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked the characters individual stories and how it progresses throughout the game, the three work together really well and the huge amount of dialogue really fleshes them out. But the actual story isn't really fleshed out that much, so much crazy stuff is happening that it becomes a bit weary and non-important. The game has three endings but that kind of feels like window dressing as two of them suck and I would estimate that around 90% of players will pick the same ending.

Side Content There is so much side content in this game, I mean hours and hours of content and with any game like this that makes it a mixed bag. Some are really fun such as Trevor going on his Rampages or Franklin doing Assassinations for Lester. But there are some really dull ones, mainly the fetch quests that are never a priority. Also, Michael has a lack of side content which is a shame because it means you probably spend the least amount of time with him.

Gameplay The gameplay is great. The gunplay is a lot of fun and the amount of weapons that can be used manages to keep it varied enough to keep it entertaining. There is plenty of variety in the things that you can do such as flying, driving and fighting and for the most part it still holds up well. The activities such as darts and golf also feels good and it is a fun thing to do when you aren't shooting people.

Graphics As, I have mentioned this game has been re-mastered a few times and it looks great. Los Santos is incredibly vibrant and it clashes well for when you visit San Andreas and it is really dull but gritty and it really fits Trevor's character.

Overall Overall, Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most influential games to ever exist and it is a really great game. It still stands up to to date and though it isn't the best Rockstar game, it is still a really great experience.

Rating - 8/10.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

An Above Average Super Hero Sequel

[6/10 · 28 December 2023]

After 10 years the DCEU has finally come to its end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The first film was a big success both in terms of quality and financially but lots has happened since then and I watched the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film is set four years after the first with Arthur Curry as the King of Atlantis and a new father when a ghost from his past in Black Manta returns to try and destroy his world.

Main Character Jason Momoa is back as Arthur Curry/Aquaman and once again he is really good here. He is just clearly having a blast in the role and I think that really helps in terms of making you like the character. You can see that Arthur is really struggling with all of his responsibilities and though that is kind of pushed aside at certain parts I did like that it was included. With this probably being his last time playing the role, it is easy to say that Momoa has been great in this role and has added much needed freshness to the DC universe.

Supporting Characters Patrick Wilson reprises his role as Orm and he is a real highlight here. Momoa and Wilson's chemistry is easily the best thing about this film, there is charm but anger still there from the first film and both of them deliver there. I mean it is way to similar to Thor & Loki but that isn't Wilson's fault and he does an admirable job in the role.

Randall Park made his return as Dr Stephen Shin from the post credit scene in the first Aquaman and he gets a sizeable role here which is great and he is a fun aspect of the film. He gets plenty of screen time and Park chews up the screen and just conveys his character really well.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gets a bigger role as the main villain Black Manta this time and I have really mixed feelings here. I think Abdul-Mateen is doing his best and has a real presence on screen it is just the writing for his character that doesn't quite work. Black Manta is given plenty of screen time here but the film never evolves his motivations and his link to a certain object makes him feel like a secondary part of the film.

Nicole Kidman and the much maligned Amber Heard are back from the first film as Atlanna and Mera but there roles are basically cut in half which in Heard's case makes complete sense. But it means they are really insignificant here and feel like they are just here because they were in the first film and not for any narrative reason.

Story The main factor of the story is the dynamic and relationship between Arthur & Orm and that is handled pretty well to be honest. The two of them have good chemistry together and it does feel like they are genuinely growing as people and with their relationship. The rest of the story is a mess, as mentioned above Black Manta's character is all over the place and isn't well written. Other characters are given nothing to do and it has an ending that is literally ripped from another comic book film.

Script This film isn't as serious as some of the other films in the DCEU. It has that banter in it and it is chuckle worthy for sure, but falls flat of really funny moments and writing that makes these characters really fun. The emotion also falls short and actually comes across as quite cringy which is a shame because there was quite a bit of potential here.

Style Recent comic book films have had some poor CGI but this films CGI is pretty good especially with the difficulties that come with a film that takes place underwater for a majority of it. Black Manta's costume in particular is awesome and one of the better designs in any recent comic book film. But the film is paced poorly, it was just pretty boring at times, especially in the first act. I felt like the film was way longer then it actually was and that is never a good thing.

Overall Overall, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is an above average sequel. It is a big drop off from the first film but it still is a pretty fun time at the cinema and has all the things you would expect from a superhero film in 2023. It certainly isn't one to rush out too but maybe down the line it could be worth a watch.

Rating - 6/10.

Reacher (2022– )

A Fantastic Action Packed Show

[9/10 · 13 December 2023]

Ahead of the release of the second season, I decided to go back and watch the first season of the acclaimed Prime Video show Reacher. I got through it pretty quickly and here is my review for the show. The premise of the show sees a mysterious man get arrested for murder but is needed by the police to help solve the crime.

Main Character There have been a few films based on the character of Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise in the lead role which didn't quite work. This time we get Alan Ritchson playing the lead role and he was perfect for this role. He is physically intimidating person but you can tell that he is fantastic at his job and that he is one step ahead of everybody. He is very charismatic and Reacher is one of the better characters that I have seen in a TV show.

Supporting Characters Malcolm Goodwin plays Oscar Finlay who is a police detective who sort of works with Reacher. He is a really interesting character here, there is a huge juxtaposition between Reacher & Finlay and I think that is why it really works and why this character adds so much to the role.

Willa Fitzgerald plays Roscoe Conklin and she is great on the show. The chemistry between her and Ritchson is brilliant and a true highlight of the show. She is a strong character and from the moment she is introduced Fitzgerald does a great job.

Maria Sten is bought in as Frances Neagley and she is a fantastic addition. We don't meet her till like the mid-point of the show but its a great new character, she has a history with Reacher in the war and I liked the dynamic between the two as former war buddies.

Bruce McGill plays the Mayor and he is exactly what you would expect, he is a snivelling corrupt Mayor and he really is great as this unlikeable guy.

Overall, every single performance is fantastic and I really credit the entire cast for their hard work.

Story The story is very effective, its basis is pretty simple. We see this outsider get arrested but it ends up that he is crucial to investigating what exactly is going on and it is done really well. It feels like the town of Margrave is its own character and that it controls what Reacher does. However, I think they slightly fall a bit flat on the ending, it feels a little rushed and a little convoluted which kind of goes against the overall vibe of the show.

Script The script is fantastic, Reacher is sometimes a man of few words but when he does talk he is both charming and intelligent. There is a lot of drama & intensity to the dialogue but almost moments of gravity and humour that makes the people and situation feel real.

Style The show is paced really well. The 8 episodes flew by and I was interested throughout each one of them because they all feel slightly different. The action is fantastic, it moves really well and feels brutal, it is violent but only a few times does it ever get very gruesome but they are very gratifying.

Overall Overall, Reacher is a fantastic show that had me gripped throughout. This is easily the better depiction of the character and if you are a fan of crime shows then this has to be seen and now I am really excited for the second season.

Rating - 9/10.

The Marvels (2023)

A Good Fun Film

[7/10 · 12 November 2023]

I think most people can agree that this isn't currently the best time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and some of their projects haven't got the best responses. The next film to come out under this banner is The Marvels and I saw it the other day and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Captain Marvel get her powers entangled with Kamala Khan & Monica Rambeau forcing them to work together in order to try and save the world.

Main Character Ever since she was cast as Captain Marvel it feels like Brie Larson has received a bunch of unnecessary criticism and I am going to say that I thought she was really good here. It seemed that she was actually having a lot of fun here and she made Carol Danvers a likeable character and one that I actually cared about. She has progressed as a character and the film does a good job in making her less over powered then she has been in previous films.

Supporting Characters I wasn't a huge fan of the Disney+ show Ms Marvel but I can't deny that I really enjoyed Iman Vellani's performance as Kamala Khan in this film. She is a complete fangirl here and she added so much energy to the film and was really fun as part of this larger project.

Teyonah Parris reprises her role as Monica Rambeau and I thought she was very good too, she is the most serious of the three characters and the film does an okay job of showing that but Parris sells it well and makes you care about how her character has been affected by other characters actions. The chemistry between these three characters is what carries this film.

Samuel L Jackson is once again back in the role of Nick Fury and he is clearly having the blast. The serious character from Secret Invasion is gone and he is here for comedic relief and though that is a little frustrating I can't deny that it was fun watching him here.

Zawe Ashton plays the main villain Dar-Benn and she does a decent job, this won't be one of the most memorable MCU villains but I thought the character was pretty well written and Ashton did the best she could with the amount of screen time she had.

Story The story is okay, I think it does a really good job of establishing the three characters in case you haven't seen the Disney+ shows that Kamala & Monica are in. It establishes a bond between the three main characters and the issues that concern them, they also give the villain an interesting motivation that makes some sense. But the issue is that none of it is developed enough, it feels a bit rushed and like certain arcs aren't given enough time to shine and that holds the film back a bit.

Script The script is also just okay. There is some pretty good humour and some moments of conflict that hit hard but there just isn't quite enough. It doesn't take many gambles and is quite generic which leaves it a little short.

Style The film looks pretty good it avoids the CGI issues of some previous MCU films and has some fun action sequences that due to some certain story choices allows for some real creativity. It's more of a pacing issue that the film has, it takes a bit of time to get going and then seems to rush at other times which makes it a little jarring.

Overall Overall, The Marvels is a good fun film. It will not save the MCU but it is a quick and easy fun film to go see, I think the reviews have been pretty harsh and I think it is worth a viewing especially for comic book fans.

Rating - 7/10.

Tomb Raider (2013 Video Game)

A Good Origin Story

[7/10 · 6 November 2023]

Between the releases of Mortal Kombat 1 and Spider-Man 2, I wanted to play an older game that I remembered enjoying so I decided to replay the reboot of Tomb Raider. Now that I have paused playing the other games, I have completed my playthrough of this game and here is my review for it. The premise of the game sees a young Lara Croft and the rest of her crew stranded on an island that has some mysterious challenges for survival.

Characters Camilla Luddington takes over the iconic role of Lara Croft and she does a fantastic job in this game. She delivers her lines well and I felt like she was realistic in the role, she is new to the majority of this stuff but has enough training to make it believable that she can stand up to the opposition. I cared about Lara and this is easily the most brutal depiction of the character ever, it isn't sexualised and treats her as this survivor that this whole game is building her up to be.

Unfortunately, the rest of the characters don't fair so well. There is a big crew that arrives with Lara on the island but none of them are particularly interesting. The best the game does is Sam who is Lara's best friend and Roth who is her mentor but these aren't that great and it makes some emotional moments fall flat. The rest of the crew are super generic and I didn't care about any of them even though the game clearly wants me too.

The villains are also poor. It is just some random group of mercenaries led by a guy who offers very little to the character. They do introduce some different villains towards the end of the game but don't really explain them very well and leave it too late to introduce them.

Story Despite the lacklustre characters, I actually really liked the story that was told here. It depicts this young woman trying to survive on this island by using just her wits and weapons she can get a hold of. Lara's personal journey really works here and the actual story does a great job of telling this origin story for the character we all know and love.

Side Content The side content is a mixed bag. Even though this game is called Tomb Raider, the actual Tomb's are a side content and they are pretty well done. These activities made me think about how to complete them and it feels more like a traditional Tomb Raider game which is nice to see. However, there is some side content that feels like window dressing and underdeveloped. For example, there is hunting in this game, but it isn't actually its own thing and is way worse then a game such as Red Dead Redemption 2. The collectibles are also pretty dull and didn't really incentivise me to collect them.

Gameplay This game is really fun with its gameplay. You start with a bow and arrow and as the game progresses you collect more weapons and tools to use to help Lara. The movement and platforming is really fun and traversing this massive island was a joy. But I did feel some of the gameplay was a little janky and hard to use, especially with the gunplay. I do wonder if they did that to link with Lara's quality which does make some sense but it was a little annoying. Also the final boss battle felt way too easy and like they rushed the ending which was a big shame.

Graphics The graphics for the game are fantastic. The character models looks great and the island as a whole is really fun to travel across and never get bored of. It is a really nice looking and sounding game that clearly has a load of hard work put into it.

Overall Overall, Tomb Raider is a good game. It does a really good job of building up the character of Lara Croft and despite some miscues I had a good time playing it. It is probably really cheap now so I would recommend giving it a go if you have the time.

Rating - 7/10.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

A Good Whodunnit Film

[7/10 · 30 October 2023]

I was a fan of the Murder on the Orient Express that came out a few years ago so I finally got around to watching A Haunting in Venice and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Hercule Poirot in retirement, reluctantly accept to go to a seance. When a murder takes place it is up to Poirot to figure out who the killer is and whether they are from this realm or beyond.

Main Character Sir Kenneth Branagh plays Hercule Poirot for the third time and he also directs the movie. He is clearly passionate about the role and I thought he was great in the film, he encapsulates what I would expect from Poirot with his intelligence and the way he deduces crimes. But this film also looks into his character and how he is dealing with something new and how it makes him really question his faith which I thought was a nice addition here.

Supporting Characters Like the other films in this franchise it has a big cast and they pretty much all do a really good job. I was really surprised that Tina Fey was in this film and is actually a major part of the film. She has good chemistry with Branagh and doesn't go too much into the comedic area which was nice to see from her.

Jamie Dornan plays a doctor here and they do a good job in showing his character off and spending time in making us care about the situation he has been in. Dornan is a really good actor and it is nice to see him move on from his 50 Shades of Grey stigma.

Kelly Reilly is an actress that I haven't seen do enough but she is great in this film. She is the owner of the house that the seance takes place in and Reilly's character has plenty of depth to her and she does a good job with it.

The rest of the cast are also effective and as you see Poirot interviewing everybody you learn more about them and the motivations they have for being there and why they might be the killer.

Story The film is a good old fashioned whodunnit and when it comes to that style of film it really works and kept me intrigued throughout. There are many suspects and all of them are intriguing and the film keeps you on your toes as it goes on. It also nails the final reveal in my opinion, it is explained really well and makes sense with the overall arc of the film. However, there is one specific element of the story that falls a bit flat and by the end of the film I kind of felt like it wasn't resolved which was a bit frustrating.

Script The script in the film is okay. The drama was well delivered and as I mentioned above the actual writing for all the twists and turns was well done and well realised. But without going into spoilers I felt like the more supernatural stuff wasn't particularly well written and was my least favourite part of the film.

Style The film looks really good, it is pretty creepy and Venice as a setting feels like a character on its own. The film is also paced well, it is a pretty short film but it is slower paced and makes you pay attention to what is going on in the film. However, like most films that have an horror element there is an overuse of jump scares here. I am fine with 1 or 2 but there were just too many and it loss its value as the film progressed.

Overall Overall, A Haunting in Venice is a good film that did its job effectively. It is a solid whodunnit and if you are a fan of films like that with a bit of horror chucked in there then this is a film for you.

Rating - 7/10.

Spider-Man 2 (2023 Video Game)

A Fantastic Spider-Man Game

[9/10 · 26 October 2023]

Over the last few years Insomniac have released two fantastic Spider-Man games. This has led to much anticipation for the sequel to the original game and its spinoff Miles Morales. I have played through this entire game and here is my review for Spider-Man 2. The premise of the game is set a few years after the original game, both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are Spider-Man and using their powers to help New York but not succeeding in their personal lives. However, the return of an old friend and a new powerful enemy forces them to work together to face their biggest enemies.

Characters Yuri Lowenthal reprises his role as Peter Parker and he is fantastic, to me he is an absolute perfect choice for this video game Spider-Man. He plays the experienced version of the character well and this game pushes him in different ways that the previous one does. He is brilliant here and I think he deserves to be in the same discussion as the iconic film versions of the character. I have even got used to his new face here and I am totally fine with it.

Nadji Jeter also reprises his role as Miles Morales and he is also great in the role. We have really seen his journey over the three games and the chemistry between him and Peter is fantastic. He is given a really interesting story here and it shows a more serious side that maybe his game slightly missed. The game does ebb and flow but it does feel like two equal lead characters and that is fantastic to see.

Laura Bailey is back as Mary Jane Watson and she is once again great in her role. She supports both the Spider-Men really well and they give her a story herself but it doesn't overshadow the main plot and she does the character real justice.

Graham Phillips is here as Harry Osbourne and he is fantastic, it feels like these characters have known each other for years and credit to Phillips who has joined the cast and felt like he has always been there. He also has a really interesting character arc and it follows up really well with what we have been told about him in the previous games.

Jim Pirri plays Kraven The Hunter and I love this portrayal of the character. He is physically intimidating but you see how his mind works throughout the game and what his motivations are for the actions that he takes. He is a great villain that is perfect for the story that is being told here.

Also he was in the trailer so I will say Venom is fantastic when he is used here and that is all I will say.

Story This story is fantastic, it does a fantastic job of showing Peter and Miles in their own difficult situations but also situations that affect both of them in their personal life and as Spider-Man. It weaves characters into the story and provides plenty of emotion throughout with a solid ending here. Personally, I actually think I preferred the story in the first game but that doesn't mean this one isn't fantastic in its own way. Some are arguing that it isn't long enough and I kind of get that, but I think it uses everything effectively and it still took me around 18-20 hours to complete which for me is plenty for a video game.

Side Activities The game has plenty of side content and it is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some excellent side missions, one in particular really hit me and made me realise that the game developers really cared. They also do a really good job of setting up future threats for Peter & Miles which is something a bit fresh here. But the majority of the side missions end up seeing either Spider-Man doing the same activity multiple times and it just gets a bit repetitive. I know most open world games has this but it felt like it here and I wasn't a huge fan of it this time.

Gameplay Insomniac decided to go with a more revolution over evolution of the gameplay. It is pretty similar to what we received in the previous two games. This game is pretty clear that Miles & Peter play differently and it provides fresh gameplay in different activities. It provides fantastic action and web swinging along with the web wings allowed for easier traverse across New York. Also yes the MJ missions are back and at first I sighed but they are way better here and I didn't actually mind them and appreciated that Insomniac decided to improve this factor instead of just getting rid of it.

Graphics This game looks beautiful. The character models are great and I love how both Spider-Men look in their costumes and it is great to see them in action. The other villains also look fantastic with Kraven, Lizard and Venom all being beautifully represented here. It shows New York in a fantastic way and made me care about it, overall it is a great looking game.

Overall Overall, Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic game and one of the best superhero games that has ever been made. It tells an amazing story and manages to showcase both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in a really great way. It falls a little short with its side content and overall length but It is still absolutely worth a purchase and anyone with a PS5 must give it a playthrough.

Rating - 9/10.

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023 Video Game)

A Great Step In The Right Direction

[8/10 · 7 October 2023]

Over the last few years I have become a fan of Mortal Kombat, the first few trailers for the new game Mortal Kombat 1 had me super excited for this sequel/reboot and I have now played enough of it to review it, so here is my review for Mortal Kombat 1. The premise of the game is set after the events of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Liu Kang has created a new timeline which sees legendary characters reimagined and able to make their own decisions in the new era.

Characters After the events of the previous game Lord Liu Kang is now the protector of Earthrealm and I really like his character progression. He is now the god in this universe and he plays the role really well, he has clearly tried to help as many characters get a fresh start and his new timeline is interesting.

There are some iconic characters who are changed up such as Raiden, Kung Lao, Scorpion & Sub-Zero. They are all so different from the previous timeline and I like how the game really doubled down on it and gave them the attention that they deserve.

But some of the lesser known characters also got time to shine with Reptile, Baraka & Mileena all having way more to do then they have in previous titles. It makes this game feel fresh and new to fans of the franchise and I give the game real credit for that.

Pretty much every character is great (apart from Nitara) and I really give credit for to the developers for fleshing them out and making them more interesting then they have ever been.

Story The story is a reboot/sequel and it does a brilliant job changing up establish characters and setting this up as a new but exciting timeline. It gives lesser characters important roles and is a fresh story that kept me guessing throughout. However, I do have a complaint and it is one I had in Mortal Kombat X. There are 2 characters here who play major roles in the story but are paid DLC, it means they are complete and Neatherealm are making us pay extra for characters that should already be a part of the roster. Also I am used to having dialogue between the characters in the other modes but it isn't here and it makes the game feel a bit lifeless.

Side Activities The game adds a new mode called invasions. It is basically a board game type simulation where you go between short fights with modifiers and gaining unlocks. I actually enjoyed it and switching between characters for tactical advantages. I mean, I couldn't play it for long spells because it becomes repetitive and dull but in short doses its pretty fun. I also had quite a lot of fun with multiplayer, I am not great at the game but for the most part I managed to hold my own and get some wins. Towers is the same as usual and does a decent job in keeping me interested with some good character endings. However, it just feels like something is missing. The lack of creativity in the customisation and the lack of a Krypt this time does make certain aspects feel a little under developed.

Gameplay The one thing that hasn't let Mortal Kombat games down is the gameplay. The game is a lot of fun and flows really nicely. All the characters feel unique and that time has really been taken to craft them and make them play really well. This game introduces Kameo Fighters, they assist you in battle and all feel different, its a fantastic addition to the game and adds more layers to the gameplay. Fatalities are brutal as always and violence is definitely still here in the bucketloads.

Graphics The game looks fanatastic and continues the great graphics from the previous game. It looks incredibly life like and full of colour. The Stages that the battles take place on are so in depth and it is clear that care has been put in to make it all unique. As I mentioned Fatalities and Brutalities are over the top and the violence is still at the forefront of the franchise.

Overall Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a great game that I thoroughly enjoyed, It feels like a great fresh start for the franchise and though I still think improvements can be made this is a great step in the right direction.

Rating - 8/10.