Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

WAR MACHINE (2026): The Things I Liked…

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War Machine, the first Alan Ritchson film I’ve seen, was, to my surprise, rather enjoyable, thanks to Ritchson’s emoting, the great pacing, engaging story, special effects, and action sequences.

Directed by Patrick Hughes, the action/sci-fi thriller follows members of a special ops boot camp who encounter a war machine designed to hunt and kill every last one of them.

The only part of this otherwise entertaining film that didn’t fully work for me comes during the final ten minutes, which lean a little too heavily into Hollywood-style sentimentality in a way that didn’t necessarily feel fully warranted.

Still, if you’re looking for an entertaining action/sci-fi thriller that mostly makes you forget you even have a phone, or other things you might enjoy more, watch War Machine.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

THE DRAMA (2025): The Things I Liked…

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Even though I loved the trailer for Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s latest comedy-romance, The Drama, as I watched the film, I realised before the halfway point that I wasn’t enjoying myself.

Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s story, which follows a wedding week spiralling wildly out of control after an unexpected revelation from the bride-to-be, ultimately felt like a thought experiment I simply didn’t care for.

Even though there are a few amusing moments, the editing and overall execution proved more distracting than effective. To make matters worse, the musical score quickly became irritating, and I was immediately frustrated by Rachel’s huge overreaction near the beginning, which then shaped the reactions of everyone else around her.

What I can’t fault is the acting. It’s just a shame the story itself felt so contrived, and much of the drama overly forced. The heavy-handed music and that early overreaction certainly didn’t help.

My favourite scene is the very last one. Not because the film was finally over, but because the moment itself is genuinely touching.

If you’re curious enough about The Drama, you know what to do.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

APEX (2026): The Things I Liked…

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Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton’s latest action thriller, Apex, is watchable. That said, I didn’t have a great time sitting through it.

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, the film tells a dark story about Sasha, a troubled adrenaline junkie, played by Theron, and an even more unhinged nature enthusiast named Ben (Egerton), one who turns Sasha’s escape into nature into a deadly game of hunter and hunted.

The good news is that Theron embodies her character, well, both physically and emotionally. The problem is that I didn’t find her easy to root for, especially at the beginning, because of her ego and the resulting consequences.

To be clear, I did want her to make it out of the wilderness alive. I just had trouble sympathising with someone who shows so little regard for their own safety, even if I understand the reason.

My favourite thing about Apex is seeing Theron play such a convincingly capable woman. It’s just a shame that I spent most of the film feeling frustrated with her character, both because of what happens early on and her inadequate sense of self-preservation.

Watch Apex only if you absolutely must.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

THE RIP (2026): The Things I Liked…

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The Rip isn’t a bad film. It also isn’t on my list of best law enforcement movies I’d recommend.

From director and co-writer Joe Carnahan, the Miami-set crime/action/drama follows a group of cops who discover a stash of twenty million dollars in cash. When outsiders learn about the money, the officers find themselves uncertain of who to trust.

The entire cast, including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Steven Yeun, perform well. There are some well-executed, suspenseful moments, and the story structure isn’t bad. I just enjoyed arguably comparable films such as Training Day (2001) and End of Watch (2012) far more, partly because of their sharper, more intricate plots and their use of humour (dark or otherwise), something largely missing in The Rip.  

Have you seen The Rip?

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

REBEL RIDGE (2024): The Things I Liked…

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Outside of Mufasa -The Lion King (2024), Rebel Ridge is my first time watching a film led by Aaron Pierre.

From writer-director Jeremy Saulnier, Pierre plays a former Marine who finds himself up against small-town corruption, the kind that leads to an eventual standoff with the local police chief.

Also starring Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, and David Denman, I found Pierre’s performance engaging, and the story held my attention until the final third, when my attention slipped just enough for me to remember I had a phone.

My favourite moments, aside from Pierre’s emotional journey, include the reveal when the corrupt officers realise who they’re dealing with, and a second reveal at Rebel Ridge towards the end.

Would I say you’re missing out if you skip Saulnier’s film altogether? No. But if the premise really appeals, it may be worth your time, especially as a showcase for Pierre’s acting. Otherwise, I’d suggest A History of Violence (2005) instead, still my favourite action/crime/thriller set in an American small town.

Have you seen Rebel Ridge?

Happy Film Loving,

G