I had to watch Beast, director Baltasar Kormákur’s story about a family of three trying to survive several attacks by a rogue lion in South Africa for three reasons. The first is Idris Elba. Second, knowing that Sharlto Copley always brings a very engaging quality to every role. And three, I adore big cats. So, unsurprisingly, even though the acting and story are not terrible, the well-executed special effects, a.k.a the ‘lion stunt work’ remains my favourite thing about Beast.
Kormákur’s film is a redemption/ vengeance story that gets better as it plays. And there are some clever and memorable moments, including that final showdown. As such, if the idea of watching a movie where the ‘bad guy’ is the stunning and majestic lion isn’t too much, give Beast a chance the next you’re looking for something that isn’t necessarily perfect but does offer thrills and a fun distraction.
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.
Watch it if you’re curious. There’s definitely some fun to be had.
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.
Directed/co-written by Ricky Staub; Concrete Cowboy stars Idris Elba, Lorraine Toussaint and Caleb McLaughlin.
Set in North Philadelphia; the drama focuses on a teenager’s discovery of the world of urban horseback riding, when he moves in with his estranged father.
I love the music and how unexpected this trailer is. I’m definitely in to watch as father and son heal their relationship.
I’m also ready to be immersed in this world that’s completely new to me; especially considering this story is based on the real life Fletcher Street Cowboys, a century-long tradition of black urban cowboys and horsemanship in North Philadelphia.
Lastly, I’m excited to watch young McLaughlin acting opposite one of my favourites, Monsieur Elba.
Jharrel Jerome, Method Man, Swen Temmel, Byron Bowers, Liz Priestley, Patrick McDade, Jennifer Butler, Charles W Harris III, Seyler Fox, Kristoffe Brodeur, Dominic Jackson and Aedan Jayce also star.
Cats, the story of a tribe of cats who must decide yearly which one will ascend to the ‘Heaviside Layer’ and come back to a new life is here in animated movie form.
Directed by Tom Hooper; key cast includes Idris Elba, Rebel Wilson,Taylor Swift, Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson…
I’m not overly familiar with the musical Cats but I do know that it has both fans and those who can’t stand it. I’ll be watching for the special effects and what sounds like good music. What wonderfully eclectic cast.
Ray Winstone, Jason Derulo, Daniela Norman, Laurent Bourgeois, Laurie Davidson, Mette Towley, Larry Bourgeois, Robbie Fairchild, Zizi Strallen and Melissa Madden-Gray also star.
Idris Elba, Piper Perabo, JJ Feild and Frankie Hervey are the stars of new Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie.
Elba plays struggling DJ and eternal bachelor, Charlie. Charlie is given one last chance at success when he reluctantly becomes a manny to his famous best friend’s ‘problem-child’ daughter…
I’m interested because of how different this looks compared to the kind of TV shows I’ve come to expect from Elba. I can’t deny that the sunny summer days shown are an additional incentive.
Cameron King, Zak Holland, Daniel Brown, Ivana Basic, Janine Catterall, Nikkita Chadha and Sarah Sharman also star.
In Fast & Furious Presents – Hobbs & Shaw, a spinoff of The Fate Of The Furious, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s characters, Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance.
Directed by David Leitch, Fast & Furious Presents – Hobbs & Shaw also stars Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Joe Anoa’i…
I just really want to find out how well this spinoff and the chemistry between Johnson and Statham works. So far, based on this trailer, it’s looking like fun.
The Mountain Between Us, a story about two strangers whose plane crashes into a remote snow covered mountain is a movie I tuned into to find out if and how the strangers survive. I also just had see Idris Elba and Kate Winslet on screen together.
Directed by Hany Abu-Assad, The Mountain Between Us did enough to keep my attention, especially during the first four fifths of the film. I specify four fifths because the last fifth leading up to the final conclusion moved slower than my impatient self would have liked.
As for the onscreen chemistry between Elba and Winslet, any sparks that flew certainly weren’t bright enough to blind me for a second. As such, I’d say that the chemistry was adequate at best. Perhaps I know too much about the actors to buy their characters fully as a couple. It could also have been the semi- awkward love scene. On the other hand, perhaps the story somehow just didn’t give me all that I needed to believe in the central relationship. Whatever the answer, something was a little off for me.
The Mountain Between Us (2017), Idris Elba
If I were to watch The Mountain Between Us again, it’d probably be just a little chunk or two to remind me of Elba and Winslet’s chemistry. A second reason might be the beautiful shots of the snow covered mountain and surrounding landscape. Additionally, I may not have loved the song choice for when the credits started to role (ZAYN – Dusk Till Dawn ft. Sia), but I’ll alwayshave time for another glimpse of the way Elba’s surgeon character is dressed when we first meet him. Two thumbs up to that look, ALWAYS!
Applause to the film’s costume department aside, the moment that impressed me the most in The Mountain Between Us is actually the inevitable plane crash scene. It just felt so believable to me. More so than most, I think.
Overall, I see Abu-Assad’s movie as an OK film that’s worth seeing if something about it appeals enough. It’s also a movie that forced me to contemplate the benefits of having a dog… someday, probably.
The Movie My Life 