Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra; Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahi , Noah Centineo and Pierce Brosnan are the stars of new action/fantasy/sci-fi, Black Adam. A character for whom unleashing his unique form of justice on the modern world is a key goal.
And who can blame him really, when nearly 5000 years ago, he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods-and imprisoned just as quickly.
I Can’t wait to see what Johnson brings to this. Even as fatigued as I am with the superhero genre, the hope and possible promise of some difference always has a way of making me sit up and pay attention.
Also, surely it’s a positive sign when something that happens in a movie trailer results in at least one loud ‘WOOO….’ from me. Let’s hope!
Uli Latukefu, Aldis Hodge, Marwan Kenzari, Joseph Gatt, Quintessa Swindell, Chaim Jeraffi and Jalon Christian are among the cast.
As far as movie disappointments go, Suicide Squad (2016)is up there for me. And since I’m one of those ‘once bitten, twice shy’ people, I took my sweet time to watch The suicide Squad (2021); DC’s James Gunn directed attempt to redeem themselves.
My main hope with Gunn’s movie was for the story to be great. And for the finished film to be worthy of Margot Robbie’s super captivating take on Harley Quinn. If you’ve seen the Suicide Squad Comic-Con trailers, then you understand.
I can say without hesitation that The Suicide Squad is unequivocally better than Suicide Squad (2016). But, did I love it? Well, my favourite characters are played by Robbie and Idris Elba; no surprises there. Robbie’s Harley Quinn isn’t even featured particularly heavily. But, thankfully, when she was on screen, missing her a little in other scenes proved just about worth it.
Story-wise, I had more fun with this second movie, thanks in part to one or two surprise twists and turns. There’s also the moments of excellent camerawork, stunt work, special effects and a particularly well-executed last quarter.
The Suicide Squad (2021), Idris Elba, Warner Bros. Pictures
The parts that made my experience less than desired include the rather annoying characters who worked closely with Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller. There’s also a specific emotional scene between Elba and Cleo Cazo’s Ratcatcher that felt forced and not entirely earned. Lastly, I don’t love rats, AT ALL. But that weasel!
Perhaps I should just be grateful that this movie did a better job of weaving a story around many hardly known characters than the 2016 film. By ‘hardly known’, I mainly mean hardly known by non-readers of comic books, such as myself, of course. I’m certainly glad that Gunn’s movie is an improvement on the Suicide Squad story. Even if the film still has a somewhat empty/surface-level quality to it.
Besides The Suicide Squad being quite fun, particularly towards the end, both films are fixed in my mind as reminders of just how difficult it must be to deliver a truly great story, one that features many comic book characters.Â
Watch it if you’re curious. There’s definitely some fun to be had.Â
I haven’t watched many video game movies. That’s largely because upon release of the films of the past, even though the trailer may have had me super excited, soon after release, I hear nothing but bad things.
Mortal Kombat, a hugely successful video game I’ve played in the past, and the story of the search for Earth’s greatest champions to fight in a high stakes battle for the universe is a fun movie. One with great special effects and an engaging story.
Mortal Kombat isn’t perfect, but it is the best movie based on a video game that I’ve ever seen. Starring Jessica McNamee, Joe Taslim, Josh Lawson, and Hiroyuki Sanada, and more; I had so much fun that I thought about how proud I hope everyone who made it is. Because more than twice, the words ‘This is so fun/cool’ escaped my lips as I beamed. The fight choreography and special effects are my favourite thing. Then comes the characters and all else.
If you’re familiar with the game, then you know that this is a violent film. However, it still didn’t feel as gruesome as some Tarantino movies I’ve seen.
There’s one moment in director Simon McQuoid’s film where a key moment involving Cole Young could have been executed slightly differently because it deserved more to be made of it. Yet, a few seconds later, that minor disappointment was behind me and I was back to hoping that everyone involved is super proud of what they’d achieved. It’s likely that the action was just relentless, engaging and fun enough to think about, let alone care about the areas the movie could improve. But what can I say? I wanted fun action and great special effects, which I got.
Even if you’ve never played the game, watch Mortal Kombat. And if you’ve seen other fighter/action/adventure video game movies, by the end of this one, you may just have a new favourite.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Awkwafina, Marvel Entertainment
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the latest offering from Marvel Entertainment isn’t something I was expecting. But I sure am glad it’s here.
Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung; director Destin Daniel Cretton’s action/adventure/fantasy movie is based on a Marvel comic book, of course, and it focuses on a character named Shang-Chi who’s forced to deal with his past and the mysterious Ten Rings organisation.
So many reasons to be excited about this one. Firstly, I used to watch comedy series Kim’s Convenience. And it’s so great to see one of its stars (Liu) as the lead in a Marvel movie.
Second, I personally had zero prior knowledge of this story. befor ethis trailer. I therefore can’t wait to find out and enjoy all the ways Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is both similar to, and different from other Marvel movies.
Lastly, who could possibly resist the combination of a troubled father/son relationship, exciting fight choreography and all the usual ‘Marvel cool,’ and more? Not me!
Florian Munteanu, Ronny Chieng, Fala Chen, Dallas Liu, Meng’er Zhang and Kelli Bailey also star.
IsLokithe Marvel Studios/Avengers spin-off series I’m most excited about? Yes! And full disclosure, as a non-reader of comic books, I have no idea about what the synopsis could be, since Marvel hasn’t revealed much and I recall nothing of the last one or two Thor movies. Because I haven’t seen them… yet.
Still, who needs a synopsis anyway, when Tom Hiddleston is reprising his role as the favourite villain of many movie fans?
The excellent cast includes Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Owen Wilson.
How much fun is this trailer? So much fun that it has me ready to place Loki at the currently short list of recent Avengers spin-off shows. The Falcon and the Winter Soldieris in second place and unfortunately, last has to be WandaVision, for reasons outlined in the linked post
Richard E. Grant, Lucius Baston, Chris Brewster, Cailey Fleming, Isabelle Fretheim, Michael Rose, Aaron Beelner and Reese Giles also star.
The super-secret and highly shady Task Force X is the team responsible for gathering The Suicide Squad; a selection of Super-Villains including Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Bloodsport, and other convicts from Belle Reve prison.
Dropped off at Corto Maltese, a remote, enemy-infused island, The Suicide Squad are tasked with destroying Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison/ laboratory.
Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, John Cena and Viola Davis star, while James Gunn directs.
I still remember how excited I was after watching the trailer for the 2016 Suicide Squad movie. I’m looking at this as a do-over, in hopes that it will be thestory that Robbie’s excellent turn as Harley Quinn always deserved.
This is one good looking trailer indeed. I can’t wait to enjoy the dialogue and take in all the colours plus, the exciting spectacle of it all.
Sylvester Stallone, Jai Courtney, Michael Rooker, Alice Braga, Nathan Fillion, Pete Davidson, David Dastmalchian, Sean Gunn and Mikaela Hoover also.
Based on the books by Leigh Bardugo; Shadow and Bone is a new fantasy/adventure about a young woman with newfound powers who tries to save her land from a powerful, evil force.
Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux and Freddy Carter are among the key cast.
Shadow and Bone is a title I’d heard before but knew nothing about. Even though very little is revealed in this teaser trailer, the quality that hints at an epic story is the reason I’m intrigued.
By the end f this trailer, I couldn’t help but think of how much fun it was at the height of The Hunger Games. Perhaps this will be as epic and near-enough as all-consuming as that.
Amita Suman, Simon Sears, Kit Young, Julian Kostov, Danielle Galligan, Balázs Megyeri, Daisy Head, Sujaya Dasgupta, Caroline Boulton, Tom Fyans, Jim High, James Littlewood, David Wurawa and Elizabeth Rider also star.
Monique Rockman, Carel Nel, Alex van Dyk and Anthony Oseyemi are the stars of new drama/fantasy horror, Gaia.
Directed by Jaco Bouwer; Gaia follows Gabi (Rockman), a park ranger on a surveillance mission in a primordial forest. A mission that leads to an encounter with two survivalists living a post-apocalyptic lifestyle. One that involves a very mysterious relationship to nature. Following a series of unexplained happenings, the imminence of a greater threat soon becomes abundantly clear.
The super creepy visuals are why I’m most intrigued. I want to believe that I’ll be able to watch this. However, I am in fact known for being quite the wuss when it comes to scary movies. Right now, what I am is equally horrified and very curious, especially where those mushroom/fungus special effects are concerned. Aren’t you?
The Movie My Life 