Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

THE NAKED GUN – FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD! (1988): The Things I Liked…

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The Naked Gun - From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Leslie Nielsen, Paramount Pictures
The Naked Gun – From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Leslie Nielsen, Paramount Pictures

I finally watched The Naked Gun – From the Files of Police Squad! And immediately, I knew I’d picked the right film, as the thoughts, ‘such baffonery’ and ‘Hello, levity’ entered my mind as I smiled and giggled.

Directed by David Zucker; Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban, and O.J. Simpson are among the key cast of this most charming and entertaining comedy/crime film. One about the adventures of Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), an incompetent Police officer let loose on the streets of L.A.

I enjoyed all the silliness and physical comedy, including the smart use of stunt dummies. As for the one thing I didn’t like? That would be the instances of Wilma’s tearless wailing, which thankfully, only happened at the start. Maybe one day I’ll stop letting tearless crying in film bother me. That day hasn’t quite arrived yet, clearly.

You probably already have, and more than once, but if not, enjoy The Naked Gun – From the Files of Police Squad! You may not think ‘Hello, levity’ and ‘such buffoonery’. But you’ll likely smile and giggle.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Sport

F1 – THE MOVIE (2025): The Things I Liked…

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F1 (2025), Brad Pitt, Warner Bros. Pictures
F1 (2025), Brad Pitt, Warner Bros. Pictures

As someone whose interest in Formula One generally starts and ends with Lewis Hamilton, the most successful F1 driver of all time, according to many, his involvement as a producer in F1 – The Movie is one of the reasons I had to see it. The main reasons are the well-edited trailers,  its stars Damson Idris, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem. 

I’m happy to confirm that I have absolutely nothing bad to say about my experience watching director Joseph Kosinski’s film. F1: The Movie may not have turned me into someone who, suddenly, has ambitions to attend a live F1 race, yet I cannot imagine what could have made the movie experience better.

FI (2025), Damson Idris, Warner Bros.
FI (2025), Damson Idris, Warner Bros.

Kosinski has delivered a memorable film with a rhythm, writing, pacing and editing that, for me, leaves nothing to be desired. It’s no wonder the music is another key highlight, for the one and only Hans Zimmer is the composer.

At the heart of F1 – The Movie is a story of perseverance, resilience, friendship,  teamwork, redemption, respect and people living their very best lives; all things that speak very loudly to me.

Make time for F1 The Movie if you haven’t yet and you’re curious. It’s perhaps my second favourite movie of 2025, second only to Sinners.

Happy Film loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

SUPERMAN (2025): The Things I Liked…

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Superman (2025), David Corenswet, DC
Superman (2025), David Corenswet, DC

I had high hopes for the latest Superman film. I was looking forward to the kind of hopefulness and warm feeling Christopher Reeve’s Superman films represented and inspired. A Superman whose admirable qualities and, specifically, words about what humanity meant to him read as true rather than contrived.

Director James Gunn’s version of the Superman story is not a terrible film, because I did enjoy the special effects and Lex Luthor’s wardrobe. However, I cringed more than I expected to at moments that were supposed to be moving. For example, that all-important speech when Superman speaks about ‘being human,’ I honestly don’t recall the last time I heard something that sounded that forced. 

I did not buy the Lois Lane and Clark Kent romantic pairing. It felt off to me. The necessary chemistry seemed to be missing. And, as wonderful an actor as Rachel Brosnahan is, she’s unfortunately, simply not ‘my Lois.’

Superman (2025), Nicholas Hoult, DC
Superman (2025), Nicholas Hoult, DC

David Corenswet was okay as Superman. Nevertheless, I’m starting to believe that no Superman will ever come close to Christopher Reeve, the first one I ever watched. Similar to how Christian Bale is my Forever Batman.

As for Nicholas Hoult as Luthor, he didn’t do badly. Yet, it still wasn’t the stand-out performance I’d hoped for. I mean, I do have high expectations. Perhaps the script is to blame, or my high expectations.

James Gunn brought a kind of silliness to Superman that I don’t feel it needed, and that silliness includes Superman’s ‘teammates’, who, I may or may not have eventually warmed to, just a little by the end.’ 

Also, I could have sworn I saw the Game of Thrones Night King/Whitewalker character show up, which threw me. 

Watch Superman if you haven’t already and are curious enough. Many people seemed to have had a good time. I had more Fun with F1 – THE Movie (2025) and Jurassic World – Rebirth (2025).

Have you seen Superman yet? Perhaps you liked it more than I did.

Happy Film loving,

G

Action, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

28 YEARS LATER (2025): The Things I Liked…

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28 Years Later (2025), Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, Sony Pictures Entertainment
28 Years Later (2025), Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Having only watched 28 Days Later (2002), the first movie in the trilogy that includes 28 Weeks Later (2007) and now, 28 Years Later (2025), just a few weeks ago, I had high hopes for the latest instalment. How could I not after the memorable trailers starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Alfie Williams?

Written by Alex Garland of Ex Machina (2004) and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later is my favourite of the three films set in a United Kingdom that has been taken over by a mysterious and incurable zombie virus, leaving just a handful of survivors.

It’s the great pacing, musical score, performances (by Comer in particular), visual effects, shooting style, cinematography and editing that places 28 Years Later at number one, for me. I appreciated the editing so much that for the first time in all my years of loving film, I took note of the editor’s (Jon Harris) name. 

I’m glad that even though 28 Years Later is partly a horror film, I didn’t see anything that resulted in nightmares. And, truth be told, Sinners may still be my favourite film of 2025, so far, but I’d say that 28 Years Later is at least in the top five. 

Watch Garland and Boyle’s latest for all the reasons above, and one more: the stunning alpha chase sequence. You know how much I enjoy a well-choreographed chase sequence.

Happy Film loving,

G

Action, Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

JURASSIC WORLD – REBIRTH (2025): The Things I Liked… 

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I’m not a big enough fan of the Jurassic World films to have a favourite, but I did enjoy Jurassic World Rebirth. The biggest highlight for me was Scarlett Johansson as the leader in charge of keeping everyone physically safe.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, this instalment of the Jurassic World franchise is a movie that proved most exciting in the last third. The scares, monster special effects, and the action sequence were good. The latter, even more so whenever Johansson was at the centre of it all in her more than capable mercenary mode. 

Based on the trailers, I’d expected the dialogue in Jurassic World Rebirth to be memorable. Yet, outside of Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey’s) lines about intelligence, which I enjoyed quite a bit, I’d classify the dialogue in Edwards’s film as okay to good enough. My classification of the directing and story/script is similar.

I must admit that Bailey’s American accent was a tad spoty in parts. But, thankfully, nothing like Don Cheadle in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), where the Cockney accent is butchered/ obliterated like never before. I tried to find a clip to share here, but YouTube sadly did not deliver. 

As for the all-important (to me) question that no one asked about: As stories about humans going where they don’t belong, into jungles occupied by monsters, do I like Jurassic World – Rebirth or Kong – Skull Island (2017) more? It’s simple. Which one stars Tom Hiddleston?

Watch Jurassic World Rebirth if you’re curious. It is quite the entertaining summer blockbuster. 

Happy Film Loving,

G