Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a spectacular time with your loved ones. I'll shortly be sharing my 2017 round-up of all things film, but now that New Year's Eve is just around the corner, it's time to start getting excited about 2018 in film too. A lot of trailers have dropped recently and if you follow my Facebook page, you'll know I am a big fan of the trailers! And if you have some spare time over the holidays, hopefully it'll mean you have a spare few minutes to watch them too.

Black Panther

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The Post

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

So it's not perfect and aca-awesome, but there's no reason why you can't enjoy this song and dance one last time.  

Back in 2012, Pitch Perfect was a surprise smash hit, with critics and audiences singing its praises for being a musical hilarity. A capella groups rose in popularity, riff-offs became a thing, and the Cups sequence became a party trick. (For the record, I'd been doing that for years.) The group rivalries and frank characters were refreshing, with noteworthy performances from Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick, and the sequel 3 years later was even more popular. It's now 2017 and the long-graduated Barden Bellas are no longer Barden Bellas, but there's another sequel because if the formula's good, why not make it a trilogy? Pitch Perfect 3 is what it is: a goodbye, an encore even.

The glory days are over and they're all trying to go about their grown-up lives and careers, but the Bellas decide to reunite one last time. It involves an overseas tour performing for the troops and a contest to be the opening act for DJ Khaled, this time against actual instrumental bands that couldn't care less about riff-offs. The storyline and 'competition' elements are already far less convincing or captivating (a band called "Evermoist" featuring Ruby Rose are the main rival, for example), searching for a shoe-in that doesn't come naturally. What does come naturally, however, is the group dynamic and believable friendship, and believe it or not, the bursting into song. So focus on that and lower your expectations - let the plot take a backseat, and enjoy the show. There's no college in sight, and even some very prominent characters from the franchise are completely missing. The only further plot development involves John Lithgow as Fat Amy's shady dad blast from the past and some decent and extremely unexpected kick-ass action scenes. It's all a bit random really.

The film that springs to mind is Magic Mike XXL - yes, really. It said goodbye to any kind of kinda-serious plot and instead, was all about getting back together for some entertaining dance sequences here and there. Same story here (but with more clothes). The songs include Toxic, plus some more recent hits since the last movie like Ex's and Oh's, Cake by the Ocean, and Cheap Thrills and it's all just harmless fun song and dance which I thoroughly enjoyed. Whilst the spotlight is mostly on Fat Amy's family drama, it also eventually brings Kendrick's Beca back to centre stage in a moment that's almost High School Musical. Throw in some cute guys, funny gags, lots of DJ Khaled, and a message about the importance of family, and that's essentially the film.

It's a film that didn't have to be made, but hey ho. It's the end of a chapter, it feels like it, and there's even a sigh of relief as some characters realise they don't have to perform again; the film and its stars know it can't run forever. For me, I was lost in a bubble of guilty pleasures so I almost wish there were more to it so we could get a longer film (90 mins, 20 mins shorter than the last two) but I doubt that's even possible. The autotuned melodies are pitch-perfect but Pitch Perfect 3 is not perfect. But then again, were we ever expecting it to be?

Pitch Perfect 3 is in cinemas now.

Is it big? Yes. Is it bold? Very. Is the Force strong with this one? Yes - but some may disagree. The Last Jedi is paving the way for a new course of direction for our Star Wars heroes. 

Let's be honest - The Force Awakens was A New Hope V2. The Last Jedi, however, is a smart homage (but definitely not replication) to the past, presenting a strong stance on the future with director Rian Johnson pulling some bold moves out of the bag. Like The Empire Strikes Back, it strikes a darker tone but still remains epic, galactic, funny, a little corny and brave. It's been slightly controversial (more on *those* petitions later) but all in all, a worthy sequel.

Two years ago, the pressure was ON to see if Disney had ruined George Lucas's space opera cult classic - would the new characters be strong enough to stand on their own two feet? Would it be weird to see the old returning characters no longer as icons frozen in time? But now, with a warmly-received Force Awakens and a stellar Rogue One amping up the Disney galaxy-street cred, you could even view The Last Jedi as a game-changer.

We pick up exactly where we left off, with protagonist Rey coming face to face with Original Rey aka Luke Skywalker. (This dynamic reminded me a little of Kung Fu Panda but with less training and finally a breakdown of the light-dark balance.) The general plot follows potential Jedi Rey receiving training and discovering past secrets from potentially no-longer-Jedi Luke in order to bring down the First Order which includes baddie Kylo Ren (Han Solo and Princess Leia's son) and Supreme Leader Snoke (think Palpatine). All corners of the story seem to be firmly stationed somewhere, so if it's not a secret island, it's General Leia and her Resistance crew on a ship, or Snoke's ship...moving but not moving off it, unfortunately. Some of the most standout scenes are actually with Finn and marvellous new character Rose as they actually get to venture out and explore this galaxy far, far away whilst trying to save their fleet from impending doom.

As the title suggests, The Last Jedi is looking at just that. Is Luke this last Jedi - whatever will happen next? We re-meet our man of mystery in a bittersweet haze; remember the good old days when young Skywalker learned from Master Yoda, befriended Han and his long lost sister and ultimately saved his father, saving the galaxy and all with that look of undeterred bravery in his eyes? Yep that guy's gone and this might be hard to take, depending on which stance you'll take. Instead, we have a fallen hero with a multitude of emotions and history, brilliantly played by Mark Hamill. There's a lot of this old vs. new tension that, again, may feel divisive because it extends beyond characters and into the core of the filmmaking and the very core of Episode 8. Are the old Star Wars manuscripts all being burnt? Time will tell.

Ok, without giving too much away, what else happens? There is a secret plan of action that involves disobeying orders and infiltrating enemy lines and following a plan that was never going to go smoothly. There are, naturally, high speed space chases. There's a lot of Force in action. There are also some lovely and poignant scenes with the great Carrie Fisher who will be sorely missed. There's also cute creatures - you might  have picked up on the buzz around these little beings called "porgs" who are adorbs comic relief and you can already pick up some plush Porg Christmas presents from Amazon and HMV. This is Disney, remember? Of course we're going to get damn cute characters (and memorabilia). It's all the stuff that diverts from the Star Wars DNA that's causing mayhem and ticket refund requests and even petitions for the entire film to be remade.

Our heroine Rey (Daisy Ridley) is great as usual but I almost wanted more from her. They focus a lot on the mystery of her family and we finally get some answers - all the character development time is put on her but I still feel like we need more if we're going to leap into this final (or not-final - we never know) chapter of the new trilogy. I also want even more lightsaber action please! Our villain Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is directly pitted against Rey with an exploration that says good vs. evil is not that simple, and we even get to see the Force version of Skype and some very close connections. Like, OMG are they going to hold hands or something? Ren is probably the most conflicted bad guy we've seen on screens for a while and definitely not like previous Star Wars villains because he does all sorts of crazy stuff like get mad and destroy his signature helmet in the first few scenes. Symbolism much? I had my doubts from the first film but I finally see where they're going with this (far, far away).

In a nutshell, there were a few things that didn't do it for me. I'm still not quite sure what's going on in the wider galaxy and although the film feels like an epic, it felt more grounded than usual. I want to know more about the First Order and the threat the galaxy are facing if they win. There are also some characters that could do with some further fleshing out, especially given that we had the longest Star Wars installment to date. And on that point, it had a thrilling third act but dragged in places. But back onto the good - Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) is a joy, a real representation of hope and she manages to shine in her role. John Williams's score is pretty much faultless, and there are also some fun cameos from certain legends. Plus, Laura Dern makes an appearance with bright purple hair in a subplot that is quietly powerful.

I've been looking forward to this film for months (I even mentioned it a while back to a Lego Store employee who held a Lego lightsaber, cue 10 minute conversation) and it wasn't a disappointment. I still can't tell whether it's trying to capture the attention of brand new fans, or take the existing ones on a rollercoaster. What is clear, however, is that these guys are serious when they talk about Han Solo prequels and new TV shows and endless films and different trilogies and everything in between. They have a strong starting point and not necessarily a single direction. Who knows where they will take us next?

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is in cinemas now.

The (other) superhero party has finally arrived...but is it 5 years too late to the party? Justice League unfortunately doesn't wipe the DC reputation slate clean, but it isn't a complete waste of time. I'm still hopeful! 

2012's The Avengers grossed over 1.5 BILLION dollars. It was the superhero team-up extravaganza everybody had been hoping and waiting for, stemming from a careful concoction of standalone origins like Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor - all slightly different but credible in their own right...and buzz building. We got to know them and all wanted to see these loveable mighty misfits get together and save the world. Flash forward half a decade and it's difficult not to make those Marvel/DC comparisons, try as I might. With Justice League, what we get is something that feels rushed, something for the sake of doing something, more an afterthought than thought out. It's a real shame, too. All the ingredients are there - these are kick-ass superheroes we're talking about. But it just feels like it's lacking *something*. And it probably doesn't help that we now see about 500 films of that genre per year either.

Ok, let's go back a bit and start with some basics. Who's in it? What happens? Who's the bad guy? Why do they need to team up? What actually happened before?

Who's in it? The posters have been heroing Wonder Woman, Batman, Cyborg, The Flash and Aquaman. Three of these are brand new characters, so their backstories have to be squeezed in too, though you can be assured you'll get solo outings at some point. Cyborg/Victor Stone is the result of an accident/experiment, and he thinks he's a soulless robot but his emotions are still in tact it seems. Aquaman is from Atlantis, and can talk to fish and stuff. He gets his own film next year, and is one to watch - a) because Jason Momoa has been perfectly cast and embodies the wild creature of the sea to a t, and b) because an underwater kingdom/king is pretty cool, something we've actually not seen before. The Flash (a delightful Ezra Miller) actually looks excited to be there, and his superfast electric action sequences are still fun and fresh, even if we've kinda seen them before in the form of X-Men's Quicksilver. Ben Affleck's Batman is back too, this time playing the superteam co-ordinator which is far less fun but I guess makes sense considering he's stupid rich.. And of course, there's our beloved Wonder Woman, fresh from her praised solo just a few months ago. But wait - you're probably thinking there's someone big missing, and that's because he's *spoiler alert* dead. You're probably also thinking that was never going to last, and you're probably right. It's a catalyst, and things make sense in the context presented, but it's all a little bit underwhelming.

What happens? Well, Batman sets about forming a team because a global threat is imminent and the most Super of the lot isn't there to save them. He has to convince them and then bad things happen and it's up to the good guys to fight the bad guys. Sound familiar?

Who's the bad guy? Introducing the formidable global threat...Steppenwolf! Who? Yeah, I don't know either. He's supposed to be bad and scary I think? Here's where Justice League falls down majorly. If the threat level is so high you need goddesses and underwater royalty involved, it needs to be threatening. Aka, there needs to be a damn decent villain. Steppenwolf has the personality of a brick, and quite frankly I don't quite remember what he even looks like. The storyline visits Lord of the Rings territory, where Steppenwolf and his army wanted to conquer Earth through the energies of these Mother Boxes. He was defeated by an allegiance of armies (humans, Amazons, gods etc.) who separate and hide the boxes around the world.

And so the questions go on. It isn't a particularly hard plot to grasp, but it's not exactly a genius or deep one, given that people have been willing DC to dig deep to redeem their less than sparkly track record. In terms of vibe, it follows the Zack Snyder dark, mysterious and CGI road so nothing new there. They don't do "small scale". At least it makes it distinctive, and the doom and gloom is appropriate. What was surprisingly nice were the lighter script, one-liners and opportunities to laugh, though these are limited and you can get the gist of it from the trailer alone.

I feel like I've been focusing on the negatives, and I don't believe it's all bad. In fact, I saw a Facebook status review saying it was "far from being anywhere near good", and originally commented with "Agreed!" but I've changed my mind since. It isn't great, it isn't that good, but it isn't far from anywhere near good...it's close. The action sequences! They're good. They hone in on several key sequences, and even if Steppenwolf is a shoddy opponent, there are still moments of "good" things. Wonder Woman! She was great in her own film, and good in Justice League. You can see Gal Gadot really owning the role and whilst you shouldn't rely on her too much, she does add an unbeatable kapowww to the series (sorry, Black Widow and Scarlet Witch don't even come close.) The group power-walking scenes! They're...good. You might get goosebumps watching them stand together? I also don't think the film particularly drags - it's engaging enough and there are some nice moments plus directions for future installments.

Going back to an earlier point on context, there are a few things I accept are inhibiting the full potential of this film. Firstly, it's not been helped by the predecessors - this universe's Batman is still overshadowed by the amazingness that belonged to Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale, and we're not really that invested in the rest of them (yet). Another fact is that Snyder dropped out of directing due to a family bereavement and Joss Whedon (the very same Joss Whedon, director of The Avengers!!) had to step in. This explains some of the inconsistencies in tone, and apparently people have been calling for Snyder's directors cut to be released. I'm not sure it would have saved all the film's faults, but all things considered I did have fun watching the world being saved (again). I think there's a light at the DC tunnel - there has to be - and I'll probably keep watching them all anyway until I see it.

PS. Stay for the post-credits and end credits scene!

Justice League is in cinemas now.

I've been posting more about the sequel to Paddington more so than I usually would, but that's because I've been genuinely so looking forward to it. And with my other 2017 all-the-hype sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle letting me down a little, there was a lot of pressure on this little bear's shoulders. A-a-a-aand I'm happy to report that YES I have seen Paddington 2 and YES it is really, really good!

The last time we saw him, dear Paddington had finally found a home in London with the Brown family. Fast forward a few years, and he's starting to get the hang of London life, although he's still as endearingly clumsy as ever and the film and returning director Paul King has boundless fun imagining up scenarios to illustrate this. He's the neighbourhood Samaritan, window cleaner, matchmaker - everybody's bear buddy. But of course, domestic bliss will never last more than 5 minutes as a mysterious pop-up book lands Paddington in hot water - and behind bars. It doesn't take a genius to piece the plot together even before watching, but the fun will play out, believe me. The storyline is absurd and heartwarming in equal parts, and even though there's less intrigue and tricks than the first film, there's something special about this sequel. Besides, Paddington's biggest achievement may well be making London look so bright and friendly.


I'd already watched a few preview clips before heading to the screening, and given how entertaining they all were, I was slightly worried I'd seen the best of it. Fear not, I was wrong. It does largely follow the very successful formula of Paddington the original, but that doesn't detract from how brilliant it is in its own right. The enjoyment comes from the heart of the movie, and the heart comes from our big-hearted bear. The other common threads are the fact that Paddington is constantly (accidentally) getting into trouble, and that the pantomime bad guy is played by a superfamous actor - just like Kingsman, hey! Previously Nicole Kidman as the museum curator / wannabe bear-stuffer, this time it's Hugh Grant as a narcissistic actor past his heyday, Phoenix Buchanan. The film makes no efforts to hide Grant's meddling involvement, and in fact his laughable disguises become a running source of laughter. All he wants to do is be on stage again, but instead he has to settle for dog food adverts. Aww. And if there isn't enough gentle self-mockery of his caricatured self, there is a priceless mural of 1990s Hugh Grant portraits.

Prison is an unexpected setting for Paddington 2, far from the quirky colours of Windsor Gardens, but it is genius and a lot of fun. 100% unrealistic, but a lot of fun. It gives Pads a chance to stay true to who he is in adverse circumstances, and a chance for the Paddington power to transform yet another place. A lot of the jail scenes are like something out of a cartoon, with the scary prison chef Knuckles McGinty (a perfectly cast Brendan Gleeson) and scenes that will remind you of Tangled 's I've Got a Dream. The basic plot is just that - basic, however lots of mini adventures are wrapped up in a fully entertaining and immersive story.


Without giving too much away, Paddington is after a beautiful, old pop-up book of London as a gift for his Aunt Lucy. I think the pop-up book coming to life may well be one of my favourite scenes from 2017 cinema so far...and that's a big statement considering how many films I've watched this year! The first film had an exceptional CGI team, who have once again worked their magic to draw out scenes from Paddington's world in a way that is stunningly effective, like entering the imagination of a young child. The film strikes a careful balance of such intricate moments alongside some pure, unashamedly slapstick British comedy. There are one-liners, cringe-worthy gags that you'll let slide cos you enjoy them so much, and scenes that could be lifted out of Mr Bean. The cameos from Richard Ayoade, Joanna Lumley and particularly Tom Conti as a judge are further highlights. Don't write Conti off - he's a very well-played long-running in-joke.

What's lovely about Paddington and his family, is that we're rooting for the family too. Hugh Bonneville's Henry Brown may be entering a yoga-filled midlife crisis, but he plays a risk analyst with bold flair. Sally Hawkins is equally reliable and likeable as Mrs Brown, and the same can be said about Julie Walters's Mrs Bird. It's a film about family, and this is a family of hidden/budding talents which all get a chance to shine. Because that's what sort of film this is. And let's not forget the unspoken speaking talent of Mr Ben Whishaw - he wouldn't have been my first pick but I can't imagine anyone else as the earnest voice of Paddington.

You can also read into what the film says about morals (be nice to everyone - it pays off!), being an outsider, friendship and family...even Brexit and immigration. It's something for the kids, but will also hit home for the non-kids. The film is utterly "Paddington" through and through, with feel good-ness and life lessons too; forget that out of date phrase about lemons...when life gives you oranges, you obviously make marmalade with Aunt Lucy's recipe. Cynics may think the plot isn't realistic in the slightest, but then you ought to realise that you are watching a film about a talking bear from darkest Peru wearing a blue rain jacket. Think again. Paddington 2 is irresistibly charming in every way...it's pawsome and pawfect and bear-illiant. The best thing since sliced bread (with marmalade filling).  I'll stop now; when can I watch it again?

Paddington 2 is in UK cinemas on 10th November.

Visually exciting and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, we get to explore what it means to be a superhero / Lord of Thunder. Thor: Ragnarok hits a bold strike, Marvel continues its roll.

I'll come right and say it - this is one of those films I was so keen to see on opening weekend that I ended up in the cinema on a Sunday afternoon on my own. #noshame. Marvel strikes thunder again (just one month before DC's Justice League opens) with a thoroughly entertaining and action-packed third chapter in the Thor universe. This universe includes much more of Asgard than Earth, and we see a relatively straightforward storyline unfold with the introduction of evil (secret) older sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) who is out to wreak havoc on Asgard. Both Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) are in fine form as they return - will they or won't they team up again?
In a plot that essentially is the latest series of Sherlock, a hidden-away evil and much more powerful sister escapes from captivity (locked away for being too evil) and she's hela-bent on continuing the expanse of the Asgardian empire. Previously, she'd fought side by side with her father Odin, but soon grew too ambitious whereas he grew a conscience. And so we end up here - with Blanchett's scary and also Halloween-costume-worthy character ruling the place whilst the adoptive brothers are stranded on the planet Sakaar. Also, to give some context on "Ragnarok", it is the prophesied grave destruction - "the end of all things" as described by producer Kevin Feige. A couple of Marvel films have hinted towards these events, so you'd expect the film to be much darker, but it's actually full of confident humour through the script, and new characters like Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster (the planet ruler who shoves prisoners into a giant arena to fight each other for fun).

Jeff Goldblum looks like the Hunger Games's Caesar but I was probably slightly distracted by the blue lipstick stripe on his face. He provides absolutely priceless comic value, and the whole vibe combined with the scrapyard planet definitely rings bells of Guardians of the Galaxy does Gladiator (with the tone much more GOTG than G). Also, watch out for the runaway favourite gladiator Korg and his panniest deadpan (voiced by talented Director Taika Waititi). This is a film as much about its ensemble cast and characters than the titular character, and audiences will be happy to see the return of the Hulk, last seen plummeting to an unknown demise. The demise is eventually becoming the Grandmaster's prize fighter, so we'll get to see Thor vs. Hulk. If that - and the on-screen festival of the Hulk - doesn't sell cinema tickets, what will? And if that wasn't enough superhero geeking out for you, Doctor Strange makes an appearance, and the award for best, funniest cameo goes to Matt Damon. Watch carefully, this is as close to Damon in a Marvel film as we can get and it's fall-to-the-floor fantastic.

This is definitely a different type of Marvel film. I say this every time I review one - yet they always find a way for it to feel fresh, not a repeat of an overused film concept. Just how do they do it!? In my notepad I'd written down elements of Tron and Lord of the Rings which I never thought I'd be writing for a superhero flick. Despite it feeling light, it's simultaneously dark and Thor is really tested this time. We've had apparent budget cuts in the studio: Captain America away from his shield, Spiderman separated from his hi-tech spidey suit...now what do we get if we strip Thor away from his hammer and long locks of golden hair? The answer is an edgier, rockier heavy metal Thor (minus the long hair), but needless to say Hemsworth gives a credible, fascinating performance no matter which hairdo he rocks (#NewHairNewMe). It might be limited, but we do get to dig a little deeper. Also, with a really smart script and bold decisions, Thor has never been funnier!


It's always great to see Hiddleston as the baddie we love to hate, plus this time there are two really strong female characters - Hela and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a legendary Asgardian warrior and maybe love interest. Her character, also a bounty hunter called 142, is slightly predictable and sometimes feels a bit shoehorned in, but makes a good addition to the team and I'm sure we'll be seeing her again. Hela, on the other hand, is a worthy villain, but almost too effortlessly powerful. She isn't given too much of a personality since she's too busy being bad-ass and destroying everything with a single swipe. She does get to talk about the "eternal flame", however, which I found slightly hard to take seriously without wanting to burst into song.

Thor's third "solo" outing certainly gives all the other heroes a run for their money. With an interesting twist, some serious blinding repercussions for future films, and one of the funniest scripts we've ever had, it has certainly raised the standards and kept the momentum going towards Avengers: Infinity War. Of all the Marvel films, I've always been slightly less enthused by Thor (I blame it on a poor edit of the first film's first trailer), but I'm pleased to say we got off on the wrong foot and I will be recommending this to friends. And if you can't find friends to cinema with, just go in and watch it by yourself anyway.

Thor: Ragnarok is in cinemas now.

Paddington is b-b-b-back! Since I went to the sneak preview several weeks ago, there's been a new trailer, poster and a whole host of character posters too! The countdown is on for 10th November and I can't wait. He'll be settled down in his new home and neighbourhood, but it's going to be all about the chaos when he gets muddled up in an antique book theft...and now we know for sure he's going to be a bear behind bars. Yup, the plot sounds a tad far-fetched but there's just something so heartwarming about our favourite bear. Can he live with me for the next film please?

The Paddington promo has been looking pretty exciting so far - surely you will have seen photos of the Duchess of Cambridge dancing with Paddington (lucky her) and just earlier today, a pop-up tour was launched so you'll get to see some very lovely installations celebrating both London and Paddington. Didn't you just LOVE pop-up books as a child? Now you'll get to step into one...literally.


With the character posters we also get a good glimpse at Hugh Grant's character Phoenix Buchanan, which is quite relevant for me because I watched Notting Hill last night starring Grant and Hugh Bonneville! They'll be on-screen together again, with Bonneville as Mr Brown.

Watch the trailer for Paddington 2 here!