Tag Archives: Dwayne Johnson

BLACK ADAM (2022): New Trailer Starring Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Shahi, Noah Centineo, Pierce Brosnan…

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.

Black Adam Release Dates: October 21st, 2022 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

RED NOTICE (2021): The Thing I Liked…

I’m disappointed to say that ‘quite forgettable’ is the most fitting phrase for how I feel about Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds’s latest action/crime/comedy, Red Notice.

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, I had a telling ‘bad feeling’ within the first few minutes of the movie starting. The kind of feeling that let me know that Red Notice won’t be as fun and engaging as I’d hoped.

I was soon proven right when the question ‘Why am I bored?’ crossed my mind during the scenes before the forty-minute mark. The answer is, the lacking script/story edit, a Johnson/Reynolds dynamic that didn’t work for me right away, a performance by Gadot that fell surprisingly flat, and the fact that very little if anything about Red Notice played as adequately new and exciting. 

I was finally fully engaged and glued to the action taking place at around the fortieth minute. I wish I could say it was all good from that point on, but even though there were some clever/fun moments, overall, what Thurber’s film did most well for me is not what I expected. 

In addition to doing well at setting up a sequel that might be more fun, Red Notice brought to mind Daniel Craig’s best Bond films. No doubt because Craig’s films excelled in areas that Red Notice did not. Especially where great pacing, highly engaging dialogue, well-drawn characters and exciting action sequences are concerned. 

I needed Red Notice to be better. But I wouldn’t call it completely unwatchable. Give it a chance if you’re particularly curious. 

Happy Film Loving

G

RED NOTICE (2021): New Trailer From Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot…

Red Notice (2021), Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Netflix
Red Notice (2021), Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  Red Notice (2021).


Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson’s latest action/crime/comedy, Red Notice tells the story of an Interpol agent. One whose job it is to track the world’s most wanted art thief.

From writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber; additional key cast includes Vincenzo Amato, Ivan Mbakop and Ritu Arya.

Talk about a super generous injection of charisma in one movie! How will I stay calm when I sit down to watch this? Not so easily is the answer.

Before I realised just how great this cast is, the other thing I noticed right away is Johnson’s brown leather jacket. Perhaps it’s the combination of the jacket and his character’s law enforcement status. But, the sight took me right back to the very fun early scenes of The Other Guys (2010).

Back to Red Notice: I’m even more excited for this one because Thurber directed one of my favourite comedies. We’re the Millers (2013). And, the happy news doesn’t end there, because We’re the Millers 2 is officially on the way.

May both movies be as fun as my greedy heart desires.

Red Notice Release Dates: November 12th, 2021 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

JUNGLE CRUISE (2020): New Trailer Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons, Edgar Ramírez…

Jungle Cruise (2020), Emily Blunt,Dwayne Johnson, Walt Disney Studios
Jungle Cruise (2020), Emily Blunt,Dwayne Johnson, Walt Disney Studios

A fun new trailer for Disney’s Jungle Cruise just landed.

A fantasy / adventure based on Disneyland’s theme park ride, where a small riverboat takes a group of travellers through a jungle where everything wants to kill you, and there’s a the promise of the supernatural…

Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, Edgar Ramirez and Jesse Plemons star while Jaume Collet-Serra directs.

I like that Jungle Cruise kind of reminds me of Jumanji – and not just because of Johnson and the jungle setting.

The Johnson / Blunt dynamic looks like a lot of fun and I can’t wait to hear more from the villains. For example, who is Ramirez playing because the snake through the face moment in this trailer is quite something.

Veronica Falcón, Andy Nyman, Paul Giamatti, Quim Gutiérrez, Raphael Alejandro and Mark Ashworth also star.

Jungle Cruise Release Dates: July 30th, 2021 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

JUMANJI – THE NEXT LEVEL (2019): The Things I Liked…

 Jumanji - The Next Level (2019), Dwayne Johnson, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jumanji – The Next Level (2019), Dwayne Johnson, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Jumanji – The Next Level, a comedy / adventure where four teenagers are sucked into Jumanji‘s world, the very place where they have to escape an endless variety of jungle traps and survive, is a movie almost as good as Jumanji – Welcome To The Jungle (2017)

There is a fair amount of newness in this second instalment to keep things interesting. Firstly, the characters are on a completely new level with new dangers, traps and puzzles. Then there’s the addition of Danny DeVito and Danny Glover’s characters. Yet, even with all this newness and more, the main reason director Jake Kasdan’s latest didn’t come out in front for me is in large part because sequels just can’t be as ‘fresh and new’ as their predecessors.

I did also find the ending of the first movie / solving of the final puzzle that little bit more satisfying and action packed. That’s not to say that Kasdan’s film doesn’t feature some very well choreographed action sequences of its own – because the scene with the mandrills and bridges is quite impressive.

In terms of the characters, DeVito as grandpa is the main highlight for me. Followed by the parts played by Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson – unsurprisingly. I just really love their great chemistry, comic timing and fun dialogue. I also remember particularly appreciating Hart’s delivery of the below line, in Glover’s speaking voice and cadence. 

Did I die – and turn into some kind of muscular Boy Scout?’

One more highlight is of course, the ‘special skill’ of the beautiful black horse.

Watch Jumanji – The Next Level because you’re curious and it’s good. Also, especially if you had fun watching 2017’s Jumanji movie.

Happy Film Loving 

G

JUMANJI – THE NEXT LEVEL (2019): NEW & Final TRAILER From KEVIN HART, DWAYNE JOHNSON, Nick Jonas, JACK BLACK…

Jumanji – The Next Level (2019), Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Jumanji – The Next Level (2019).


It’s time for the final Jumanji – The Next Level trailer, starring Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black… 

I want to find out if the movie will have me as slightly confused as this trailer. I’m definitely in for the jokes, adventure plus Hart and Johnson’s beautiful bromance.

Awkwafina, Karen Gillan, Alex Wolff, Danny Glover, Madison Iseman, Danny DeVito, Colin Hanks, Ser’Darius Blain and Rhys Darby also star.

Jumanji – The Next Level Release Dates: December 13th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS – HOBBS & SHAW (2019): The Things I Liked…

Fast & Furious Presents - Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Jason Statham
Fast & Furious Presents – Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Jason Statham

I personally haven’t watched a Fast & Furious movie in a very long time because I was never overly enthused by them. The main reason I tuned in to Fast & Furious Presents – Hobbs & Shaw is the fun trailer and its main star, Dwayne Johnson. Another reason is the promise of entertaining brotherly banter between Johnson’s Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Shaw, because they’re forced to work together.

My experience with the older Fast & Furious movies I’ve seen prepared me to not expect anything more than some action packed – yet light entertaining fun. As such, when I found myself thinking: ‘It’s OK but I feel as though something’s missing’ – that ‘something’ being depth and notable acting, I was neither mad nor surprised. I did enjoy the chemistry between Statham and Johnson. I just wish that a fair amount of the amusing quips between the two weren’t used up in the trailer. What stands out most for me in Hobbs & Shaw is a very well executed and captured stunt or two – or three. One of them being the motorbike under the truck manoeuvre. 

Other key highlights include, the characters played by Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart. I also loved that gorgeous ring on Helen Mirren’s character’s finger. It certainly stole almost all of my attention during the prison visit scene.

As for the less memorable aspects of Hobbs & Shaw, they would be me finding Idris Elba’s villainy to be OK rather than great. There’s also the matter of the first two songs that played once the movie started – not the best choice in my humble opinion. 

There’s indeed some fun to be had with director David Leitch’s action / adventure. Just remember not to expect too much and enjoy the stunts.

Happy Film Loving 

G

JUNGLE CRUISE (2020): New Trailer From Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, Jesse Plemons, Jack Whitehall…

Jungle Cruise (2020), Emily Blunt,Dwayne Johnson, Walt Disney Studios
Jungle Cruise (2020), Emily Blunt,Dwayne Johnson, Walt Disney Studios

Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons and Jack Whitehall are the stars of Jungle cruise, a new fantasy / adventure based on Disneyland’s theme park ride.

A ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travellers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals, reptiles, and with a supernatural element…

Looks like quite a fun cross between, Tarzan, and Jumanji. Also, just yesterday I was thinking, ‘I haven’t seen Emily Blunt in a while…’ And now, here she is.

Paul Giamatti, Edgar Ramírez, Veronica Falcón, Andy Nyman, Raphael Alejandro, Mark Ashworth and Quim Gutiérrez also star.

Jungle Cruise Release Dates: July 30th, 2021 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G