Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

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

Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

LOVE STORY – JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. & CAROLYN BESSETTE (2026): The Things I Liked…

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A good watch overall is how I feel about Love Story – John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, a nine-part series about one of the most iconic couples of the 1990s.

It’s just aspects of the final two or three episodes that proved a little tedious and taxing, largely because they focus on the couple at their most miserable. That stretch also made me feel the series did not need to be nine episodes long. Eight could have been enough. Furthermore, I didn’t like the frequent cuts to black after key scenes, even though I understand why that choice was made.

Starring Paul Anthony Kelly, Sarah Pidgeon, Alessandro Nivola, and Naomi Watts, the cast delivers strong performances throughout. Love Story may have lost some of its appeal for me towards the end, but thankfully, I found plenty to enjoy in the earlier episodes.

Love Story - John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (2026), Sarah Pidgeon, FX
Love Story – John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (2026), Sarah Pidgeon, FX

In particular, the look and feel of the series is a visual feast, especially for anyone who appreciates the style, elegance, and muted colour palette of the 1990s, very much in the spirit of Calvin Klein.

From the set design to the costumes, and even the general attractiveness of the cast, there were moments when I found myself thinking, ‘How is one supposed to focus on the story with this much beauty on display?’

Luckily, despite the distractions, the story and performances proved strong enough, and the soundtrack well chosen enough, to keep me engaged overall.

Two further highlights include Alessandro Nivola’s magnetic performance as Calvin Klein, and this line:

‘Success isn’t all that triumphant when it’s expected of you.‘

Have you also made time for Love Story? What are your thoughts?

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

BRIDGERTON SEASON 4 (2026): The Things I Liked…

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The time has come for me to bow out of watching future Bridgerton stories.

For six years and four seasons, I’ve been quite devoted to following the love stories of the eight Bridgerton siblings. Season one was good, even if it had its frustrating moments. Season two remains my favourite, largely because of the Viscount, Anthony, though I wouldn’t call it perfect either.

My enjoyment dipped more significantly with season three. Season four, the most recent one, ultimately confirmed my decision to step away.

One might say I’ve had my fill of the colourful costumes, opulent set design, and clever use of modern music that the Regency-era series is known for. In truth, though, it’s the stories themselves that have gradually lost their hold on me. With each season after the first two, I’ve found the siblings’ love stories less engaging. It didn’t help that the most recent season leaned quite heavily on Cinderella.

Bridgerton - Season 4 (2026),Isabella Wei, Katie Leung, Michelle Mao, Netflix
Bridgerton – Season 4 (2026),Isabella Wei, Katie Leung, Michelle Mao, Netflix

Ironically, the part I enjoyed most in season four was the storyline involving the ‘evil’ stepmother and her two daughters. I was fully invested in seeing their behaviour exposed and their comeuppance delivered. I also appreciated the conclusion of the Queen’s best friend and her new lady-in-waiting storylines. Those are my main highlights, along with one more: a very sweet scene featuring the youngest members of the cast dancing.

Even though I’m bowing out halfway through, with eight Bridgerton siblings and a season planned for each, I’m grateful for the good times I did enjoy because the series happened. That includes attending two London premieres and eating the best gluten-free scone of my life in Leicester Square on April 21st, 2023. It was so good I even tried, unsuccessfully, to track down the caterer. I digress.

From here on, I intend to leave the series to those still fully enthused by it. The most I’ll do, if anything, is feature an especially great Bridgerton trailer, but that’s it.

Are you one of the fully enthused Bridgerton fans? If so, which season or character is your favourite?

Happy Film Loving,

G