Maleficent – Mistress Of Evil (2019), Angelina Jolie, Walt Disney Studios
The trailer for the long awaited sequel I’d almost forgotten about, Maleficent – Mistress Of Evil just landed.
Starring Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Skrein and Elle Fanning; director Joachim Rønning’s movie will further explore the complex relationship between Maleficent and Aurora, as they face new threats to the magical land of the Moors…
I’m certainly happy to see Jolie on the big screen again. And as my favourite evil queen of all things.
Cant wait for the visuals and to watch the dynamic between Maleficent and Pfeiffer’s Queen Ingrith.
Juno Temple, Kae Alexander, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Harris Dickinson, Teresa Mahoney, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Sam Riley aslo star.
Doctor Strange (2016), Benedict Cumberbatch, Marvel Studios
‘Fun’ and ‘good’ are the words forDoctor Strange; Marvel’s story of a brilliant neurosurgeon who’s drawn into the mystic arts while seeking physical and spiritual healing.
Starring the well-voiced Benedict Cumberbatch, director Scott Derrickson’s film is definitely a superhero movie. And as someone who was in the midst of superhero movie fatigue at time of release, I’m happy to say that the film’s different class of weaponry / enemy really worked to make the experience that little bit different and certainly more interesting.
I don’t know how great a thing this is but the impressive visual effects in Doctor Strange kind of kept my beloved Inception (2010)at front-of-mind, at least half the time. In fact, I couldn’t help but wonder about how much more amazing I’d find Marvel’s move if I hadn’t seen much of the style of effects first in Christopher Nolan’s Inception.
Arresting visuals aside though, the execution of the growth of Strange’s character from beginning to end; that – particularly how satisfying it was to watch the growth because he needed it is my favourite thing about Derrickson’s movie.
I absolutely took some time aside to fantasise about personally having Strange’s abilities… without the suffering that came before, of course.
What Men Want (2019), Taraji P. Henson, Paramount Pictures
What Women Want (2000), the Nancy Meyers directed comedy starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt is definitely a movie I remember enjoying. I only wish that I could say the same about the movie’s recent remake, What Men Want.
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Max Greenfield and Tracy Morgan, the plot of both movies is centred around an executive who wakes up at the hospital after an accident, and is suddenly able to hear the thoughts of the opposite sex. This is clearly a predicament that lends itself well to comedy. It’s just that there are very few laughs to be had in director Adam Shankman’s movie.
The biggest issue with Shankman’s film is the disappointing script. I found that the clichéd and seemingly lazy plot choices worked to make continuing to watch What Men Want into a tedious and humourless endeavour. Furthermore, there are a number of decisions made by Traraji P. Henson’s character that I just didn’t buy as something she would do or allow to happen… drunk and upset or not.
Where acting skills are concerned, I’m quite sure that What Men Want really isn’t close to the best we’ve seen from Henson. I wish very much that I could pinpoint a favourite dramatic / humorous moment. Unfortunately, all that really comes to mind as favourites are the black and white hounds tooth jacket and the movie’s sunny location.
If you’re very curious, sure, take a chance and give Shankman’s movie a go. Otherwise you’re highly likely better off watching What Women Want (2000). I said it.
Star Wars – The Rise Of Skywalker (2019), Daisy Ridley
Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong’o and Adam Driver, the trailer for Star Wars – The Rise Of Skywalker, the final chapter of the Star Wars saga is here.
Co-written and directed by J.J. Abrams, other key cast includes Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Carrie Fisher, Dominic Monaghan and Keri Russell…
Episode 9 may well be called ‘the final chapter’ but there’s without a doubt, many, many more Star wars movies to come.
A very cool trailer, of course. Also, that great jump by Ridley’s Rey really had me wanting to sign up for a gymnastics class. Granted it was a fleeting thought but for a second there, nothing was more true in my world.
Aquaman (2018), Jason Momoa, Warner Bros. Pictures
In director James Wan’s latest, Jason Momoa is Aurthur, a.k.aAquaman, a man who reluctantly begins a journey to take his rightful place as heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis and become a hero to the world.
Considering how DC Comics’ recent films have turned out, Wonder Woman (2017) being an exception; as much as I enjoyed the Aquaman trailer, I made sure to not get too excited.
Having now seen it, even though Aquaman is not my favourite super hero movie, there is definitely some fun to be had by watching. For example, I found Momoa quite delightful, thanks to his aesthetic, physicality and charisma. If I had to choose though, it’s definitely the underwater special effects in Aquaman that I loved most. From the toothy flesh eating creatures to the beautifully lit colours of the deep, I couldn’t help but be reminded to look forward to the upcoming C.G.I-rich Avatar movies… whenever director James Cameron is ready.
Other key highlights in Aquaman include the action sequences in Sicily, Willem Dafoe’s performance and Nicole Kidman’s rather convincing fight sequences. Maybe I’m really into seeing Kidman fight because I don’t remember having seen her fight like that in a movie before. Either way, I remain impressed.
In terms of the elements I wish weren’t quite so about Wan’s movie, that would be the romance between Aurthur and Mera. ‘Forced’ is the word because I simply didn’t buy it. I also noticed a few awkward instances regarding the placement of music as well as some less than inspiring dialogue. Lastly, we have Manta; he’s simply not the best superhero villain I’ve ever been exposed to.
By the end of Aquaman, I was just glad that I found more things to enjoy than not. Plus, I’m happy for DC Comics because things seem to be turning around.
Following the ‘Special Look’ Aladdin trailer released just over a month ago, we now have the official trailer with plenty more story and the characters played by Will Smith Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Billy Magnussen…
I’ll be honest, I’m happy to report that Smith is definitely looking less and less like a casting error. Who knew… besides the film makers, that is?
Up until 1:47 minutes into this new trailer, I’d completely forgotten that Aladdin is actually a musical. I guess now I’m most looking forward to the visuals and the parts without singing. That’s unless this movie somehow manages to revert my lifelong aversion to musicals. You never know…
Kamil Lemieszewski, Numan Acar, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban and Nasim Pedrad also star.
Starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, Ana De Armas, Kate McKinnon – and directed by Danny Boyle; Yesterday is a new comedy / fantasy about a struggling musician who realises something unexpected after an accident.
He learns that nobody in the whole world except him knows of The Beatles, one of the most successful bands of all time.
I have to see how this extraordinary situation plays out, especially since it’s directed by the rather reliable Mr. Boyle. I need to know whether our protagonist ends up feeling guilty and what he intends to do with all his newly found financial success.
What if the whole thing turns out to be an elaborate social experiment? So many questions…
Ed Sheeran, Camille Chen, Derek Siow, Joel Fry, Alexander Arnold and Lamorne Morris also star.
Starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud and Billy Magnussen, finally, the new Aladdin trailer shows us what will smith will look and sound like as the famous genie…
Overall, I like this trailer and my favourite moment in it is the sight of Naomi Scott as Jasmine. What I can’t deny though is my immediate reaction after seeing Smith as the the genie. An undeniable sense that a massive miscasting may have taken place definitely came over me. However, I’ve decided to ignore that feeling and wait to see how the film actually is.
I of course wish that my reaction was undoubtedly positive and filled with excitement – both for the entirety of the trailer and afterwards. Nevertheless, who knows, perhaps I’ll look back and wonder what I was worried about in the first place, once I’m watching director Guy Ritchie’s movie. He is the man behind my favourite British film of all time after all… Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels(1998).
Numan Acar, Kamil Lemieszewski, Nasim Pedrad, Marwan Kenzari and Navid Negahban also star.
