The Emoji Movie is being released this week. Yep, an EMOJI movie has been commissioned and even attracted the voices of Anna Faris, James Corden, Christina Aguilera and the obvious choice, erm, Sir Patrick Stewart. Wikipedia tells me, "The film centers on Gene, a multi-expressional emoji who lives in a teenager's phone, and who sets out on a journey to become a normal meh emoji like his parents." I mean, what even is a 'meh' emoji? To be fair, we have had an Angry Birds movie, and also a superb Lego Movie and Wreck it Ralph that was based on a video game but was actually quite incredible. But a movie about emojis? (Do kids even use emojis?) I say, why stop there. Hollywood, please accept my suggestions free of charge for future movies.

The Dancer Emoji Movie

A spin-off based on the flamenco red dress dancer (played by Sofia Vergara in The Emoji Movie). It seems she's lost her hands so it's all about the journey to find them.

The Candy Crush 

Plot twist - this is actually a high school movie about a red jelly bean that has a crush on a pear drop. It will later become a series of 6 so it's a saga.

Snapchat: A Ghost Story

A horror film made entirely from 10 second snippets.

The Dog Filter

The sequel to the critically acclaimed Snapchat: A Ghost Story. Humans all around the world are walking around with dog body parts and nobody knows why.

Sims: The Movie

The Facebook Status

The Selfie Movie

Yay, it's trailer time! Courtesy of San Diego and everything that's going on over there, we get to enjoy all the upcoming film goodness from the comfort of our own homes. Ok, there are a lot of superhero-related clips to get through, but there's also new TV too - Westworld is one I'm particularly excited for. And let's not forget THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (starring Jackie Chan cos they rejected my audition).

Thor: Ragnarok

Justice League

Marvel's The Defenders

Stranger Things Season 2

Westworld Season 2

The LEGO® Ninjago® Movie

Ready Player One

And last but not least, no YouTube trailer for Avengers: Infinity War, but they've released this concept art poster which is pretty epic. Also, the trailer has leaked on Twitter (I have goosebumps!) but I expect they'll release it officially soon enough. Feast your eyes upon this!

Everybody's talking about Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan's latest epic is epic in a different sense. He's taken one of the biggest historical stories of the 20th century and given it the big screen treatment, but not the Hollywood treatment. It doesn't say a lot to speak volumes - a triumphant piece of cinema that's not about action heroes but the everyday heroes; not winning the day but merely surviving til the end of the day. 

When I was studying History at school, I remember writing an essay: "Dunkirk: Victory or Defeat?". Triumph or disaster? The Dunkirk miracle? I think I came to the conclusion that it was a victory in morale and the turning point of the Second World War. In Dunkirk, Director Christopher Nolan has come to a far more considered conclusion; his is far more detailed and nuanced and well-researched. At no point will the film have you fist-pumping the moral victory - instead, it's bleak and the feeling of fear will reach out from the screen to your seat. Remember those 4D films that you used to watch at the theme parks, complete with seat buzzing and water splashes from the ceiling? This encounter is like that, but far less annoying.

Several story arcs are gradually thread together to show a few perspectives and characters, jumping straight into tense action within seconds. From the Allied soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk, to the air, to the sea, we're shown a window overlooking just a tiny sliver of what happened in summer 1940. But the film's effort to be immersive is so great the audience are practically through the window. What actually happened was that more than 300,000 stranded soldiers were evacuated in a matter of days, a number far greater than any expectation, with the help of an unbelievable armada that even included fishing boats. In Dunkirk, we have Tom Hardy in the skies, Mark Rylance on a civilian's boat, Kenneth Branagh playing a naval officer on the pier and brilliant newcomer Fionn Whitehead as a soldier on the shores, like many, desperate to survive. I'd say Whitehead is a definite name to watch out for.

The characters each share a small piece of the story, and even though there are a lot of big names involved, their biggest achievement in Dunkirk is portraying characters so realistic we forget which Oscar-winning actor is which. The same can actually be said about singer turned actor Harry Styles who has been surrounded by media and fan and sceptic buzz - but you should believe me when I say he blends into the film and that's that. Maybe the first time he speaks, you'll be a little shocked. But get used to it because he has some of the heavier lines and plays his part rather well. Nolan wouldn't have cast him otherwise and it's clearly not a big deal to him so it shouldn't be for you. The fact that many characters are nameless also says a lot. This is a film not about egos and backstories and character development and attachment, but instead those brief moments of time in the lives they all lived.


Unlike many films concerning war, the opposition isn't antagonised. The heroes aren't glorified. There isn't even much in the way of combat. At last week's premiere screening, Nolan told us, "this isn't a battle film. It's a suspense film." And this absolutely sums it up. The promo posters echo this, shouting the message "survival is victory."

You can’t ignore the constant clock ticking throughout the film, and this is a deliberate motif showing the race against time. Cue more suspense! Apparently Nolan recorded a watch of his own and sent it to composer Hans Zimmer. Speaking of Zimmer, I'm a big fan of his previous scores and naturally we'd expect a Nolan+Zimmer collaboration. However, the music isn't something you'll later learn on the keyboard or stream on repeat (I did both). It's deliberately eerie, queasy, nerve-wracking, emotional...genius. One of the questions at the screening Q&A was about how Nolan directed him on the form of music to write, and the answer was simple: "You don't direct Hans Zimmer!" 


Dunkirk is quite straightforward. It's in the editing and the physical film mastery that Nolan has made his mark this time. It's a film on a very big scale that equally manages to hit home too. No twist, just a cinematic history lesson. No, not even a lesson because we don't exactly have a long list of things to learn; call it an experience. We feel these things instead.

Dunkirk is in cinemas on 21st July.

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas at the BFI Premiere of Dunkirk

Go ape. This film is thrilling and fantastic. No monkey business here - it's all soul and all serious. 

Let me start this review by telling you how I ended up at the cinema. At 10 in the evening at a birthday dinner, someone mentioned all the rave ratings War for the Planet of the Apes was receiving. Someone else mentioned how they would be up for watching it, and after a quick search of nearby screenings, we ended up in the cinema at the last showing just as the opening titles rolled. Spontaneous cinema trips are just the best.

It was definitely worth the late night/early morning trek home, too. War... is a war drama that focuses on conflict but hones in on a personal tale and vendetta almost like an old Western. It's not as generic as man vs. ape as the trailer suggests, and unlike the previous two films, it is wholly from ape perspective. Considering predecessors Rise (2011) and Dawn (2014) were such critically acclaimed outings, War had a lot to live up to. It's the third (but not necessarily last) chapter in the series, but definitely feels like a finale. But a fitting one at that. Previously, an out of control virus led to the apes gaining enhanced cognition and intelligence, and a global pandemic that wiped out millions of humans. The ape clan leader Caesar (a once again phenomenal Andy Serkis) is still haunted by his demons - a rebel ape named Kobo, and is now facing the Colonel (Woody Harrelson who smiles way less than Colonel KFC). Colonel wants to wipe out all apes; it's a showdown that involves a militant dictator building a wall. Hmm. It's hard to easily define 'good' vs. 'bad', because ideally they'd co-exist, but it's equally hard to root for the humans. But then again there's darkness within Caesar; it's subtly not very straightforward.

Caesar's journey of vengeance brings him and his closest followers across the country as he hunts down the Colonel. Two of the new characters that accidentally join this journey are two that couldn't be more different. One is a "Bad Ape" (Steve Zahn), a gilet-wearing wildcard from the zoo who provides the comic relief in a way that somehow reminds me of Frozen's Olaf and Star Wars' Yoda. He's not quite loveable but certainly is something else. The other character is a sweet child nicknamed Nova (Amiah Miller) who is adopted by the primates and whose innocence is a bit like Caesar's from the first film. She spends a lot of time gaping at the apes, looks like a young Amanda Seyfried, gets the most goosebump-worthy scene, and plays a big role in one of the questions the film raises about identity: what makes a human, human?

What's really intriguing about War is its imagery, mythology and layers. It alludes to American slavery, civil war, civil rights, Biblical stories, and it all fits into a neat storyline of the apes wishing to find a new, peaceful home. Eden is so close yet so far. There's all this stuff we can't see, but there's also a marvellous amount we can see. The visual effects are top notch as expected, with Andy Serkis bossing it as per usual. We probably see Caesar in his most emotional state to date, and that heartbreak is conveyed perfectly despite the fact that Serkis has CGI dots all over his face. Bravo Serkis, bravo tech people. Technology has come a long way since the 1968 film and it's great.

I couldn't quite give War for the Planet of the Apes a full 5 stars. The heavy dramatic slow-mo moments are overplayed a bit too much and for me lost some effectiveness as a result. I also can't help wondering what's going on with the rest of the planet outside of America, but maybe that's just me. However, from the very start, we're sucked into an utterly convincing and wholesome story that doesn't need to speak volumes and will make you want to give Director Matt Reeves a pat on the back. It may be nearly 2 and a half hours long, but view it as an extended poem. It may also consist of 80% ape interaction, and actually we're so immersed in this world that we forget we're not apes? What? Nonetheless, this is a film about our very humanity and you'd be a silly human not to watch it.

War for the Planet of the Apes is in cinemas now.

Another Spider-Man swings into our lives but this time we skip the origins and go straight into an Avengers-approved reboot. Tom Holland shines in this web of fun-filled action.

I know what you're thinking. Do we REALLY need another Spider-Man movie? Didn't the last reboot only just come out last week? Every other day there's a new superman flick and is this just another to add to the pile? #marvelmoneymakers. Also, the promo poster has got to be one of the worst I've ever seen. Thankfully, however, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a film I can get on board with. It's not exactly new, but we land on both familiar and fresh ground with the Marvel Studios treatment.

Following in Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfields' spidersteps is Tom Holland, who has already been introduced via cameo in Captain America:  Civil War. Here, we get to skip the origins story (he got bitten by a spider, okay? It was painful, apparently) and skip straight to the high school fun. What we get is a Spidey who fits in quite nicely with the Avengers universe, and seeing as that universe is taking over our universe, it makes sense. What would you expect from a 15 year old in a high school film? Girl problems, bullies, best friend bro bonding; you take all of that and then add the dilemma of taking on a local, scary but everyman, crime boss in your very own neighbourhood. He may be under the iron wing of Iron Man, but Parker's very much on his own in what feels like a deliberately local film.

Spider-Man films always have a very prominent villain, and this time it's The Vulture, played by Bird Man Michael Keaton. His backstory is an interesting, borderline Robin Hood For Bad Guys one, and he's not 'evil' just because. Watch out for the Italian mobster references and speech inspiration a la The Sopranos. It even ties into the Battle of New York from the first Avengers film. (Side note: there are a lot of tie-ins and references to the Avengers, erring on the heavy side but you will see some entertaining Captain America videos that will make you wish you went to school in Marvel NYC.) Vulture is harnessing alien power to create all sorts of havoc - weapons that can somehow make solid matter disappear and reappear; is he really that different to goodie Tony Stark? What is slightly unconvincing is his ability to do this completely under the radar even though the S.H.I.E.L.D guys should be all over this stuff. All it takes is an accidental stumble-upon and really convenient well-timed moments for local Youtube star/Spider-Man to get himself embroiled in the mayhem. All he wants to do is to do good, prove himself, and join his idols The Avengers.

There is more of a teenage high school feel in this one, the benefit of having a more youthful - and fun - Spider-Man. As a result, there's a cool juxtaposition of large ferries being torn apart by alien technology, and the struggle of being invited to your crush/the most popular girl in school's house party. This creates more scope for Parker's personality to shine through. I'm also a big fan of the Ned friendship, with sidekick Ned played by a hilarious Jacob Batalon. It's unashamedly silly but also provides the biggest laugh-out-loud moments. Did I mention Ned is also conveniently a pro-hacker? He's Spider-Man's guy in the chair. The school squad is made complete by Zendaya as deadpan Michelle and Laura Harrier as love interest Liz. And of course not forgetting the wonderfully rebooted Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr actually in the sidelines for once), plus Jennifer Connelly as the A.I suit voice. (It's fitting because Connelly's husband Paul Bettany voiced Iron Man's A.I Jarvis.)  One thing of note that should be celebrated is the diversity of this cast. The actors/actresses aren't there just to fill quotas - they are all individually brilliant and more film promo photocalls should look like Spider-Man: Homecoming's.

Oh, and then there's Tom Holland. Holland genuinely looks like he's having the time of his life, let alone the easily excitable Peter Parker. You get a glimpse of this through a very 2017 intro replaying the scenes from Civil War, and the energy just keeps on flowing. There's a mischievous sparkle in his eyes that says Holland was born to play Parker. He's a Spider-Kid for now, the Man is yet to come but  hey - that's not a bad thing. As a former Billy Elliott, you have to give the trained ballet dancer props for his movement too.

From old-school Spidey music, some nice nods to the comics, cameos and a refreshingly light tone, Spider-Man: Homecoming ticks many boxes. It's not perfect and yes it is another Spiderfilm, but it's a film the audience can really get behind. The studio guys have really thought about how Spider-Man can fit in the universe they've created. Watch it for the Stan Lee cameo, classic drop-your-popcorn twist (which I kinda called!) and the satisfyingly predictable scenes too. And, as always, don't forget to stay until the lights come back on! Spoiler alert: Spider-Man will return. Cannot wait.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is in cinemas now.

2017 has already been quite the exciting year in film, and we're only halfway through! I've just come across a new app called My Film Club which is aiming to bring a digital social element to cinema-going. You can book tickets, find out more about the latest releases, create film clubs and meet fellow film-lovers. There's even an exclusive discount for outdoor cinemas this summer! Uh, yes please. It's definitely a platform and outlet I'm actually going to be using this summer.

Anyway, the fun Film Club people have created a quiz to test your knowledge on this year's upcoming movies - test your knowledge here. I scored 50%. Whoooops.... Have a go - do you know your Kingsman and Star Wars sequels? What will you get?

I must admit, when I first saw a still of A Change in the Weather I was a little freaked out. Is that a mannequin, is it a horror, what's going on!? But weirdly enough when it came to that particular scene, it was oddly mesmerising so fear not; it's a delicate drama about going through the seasons of life..and a change in the weather along the way. But then they start dancing with the creepy mannequin for minutes so yeah it is kinda creepy.


Let's start from the beginning. The film begins with Lydia (Anna Mottram) being interviewed candidly about her husband in a weird set up, enough to make you sit up and go, "ok...". Unfortunately, you don't really get any answers, or even that much to question for that matter. We go through life finding out more and more (if you can call it 'more') in a clever but patient set up. Be prepared to wait for the pay-off and then *no spoilers* you can decide if it paid off.

A Change in the Weather is the story of theatre director Dan (Bob Goody) who is writing a play that kinda mirrors his own life and marriage. In the process he has hired two female performers to play the stage version of Lydia in various stages of life: Elsa. It's conveniently set in gorgeous Southern France with a rustic feel throughout and some lovely landscape views and eerie piano score. There's a lot of slightly awkward dancing, pensive stares and authentic dialogue. However, obviously, nothing is as it seems. History and revelations...if you're patient. The blurred lines between art and reality can mess with your head if you let yourself become emotionally attached to the characters. Character development is a sly, cryptic one but much of the emphasis lies on change. By the end of the film, you'll have stuff to mull over and for cinema, that's a good thing. Its strengths lie in being quite real and down to earth when it comes to it.

This may be a film of low budget but a lot of thought has evidently gone into it. Birdman, it may be not, but it could almost be made for theatre (a play within a play?). It's unsurprising that many of the great actors have an extensive background in theatre; apparently a lot of the script was improvised too which is pretty impressive. Watch it for an artistic, thoughtful albeit confusing film (though it deliberately feels more like an intrusion of private life than a film) and creative experience. If you have the patience.

A Change in the Weather is in UK cinemas on 7th July.