Hurraaaaahh - now this is a production I've been waiting for. Thanks Jon M. Chu. I remember reading news reports last year about Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel being adapted into a film - they had even cast this little known guy called Henry Golding who I knew from watching the BBC Travel Show. I counted down to August 2018 but when I went to arrange a cinema trip with my fellow Asian buddies, the November UK release date shocked me. But it turns out I'm not the only one who has been eagerly anticipating Crazy Rich Asians and the phenomenal box office success in the States has led to a quick bump up of dates to September. I've watched it once (the first of many trips) and now I'm truly excited for you to see it too. At the screening, leading lady Constance Wu spoke about how important this film was to her with the words "representation equals opportunities." Her co-stars echoed exactly that. In case you weren't aware, Crazy Rich Asians is the first film by a major studio in decades to feature a majority Asian-American (or Asian-British, Asian-Australian for that matter) cast. It's a glamorous and over-the-top rom-com set in Singapore that celebrates Chinese culture but also presents relatable characters in a cute heart-warming film that can be enjoyed no matter what your background is.


There will undoubtedly be a lot of hype surrounding the film's release but it's also important not to be swept away by it all. Historic milestones and box office records aside, as a romantic comedy, it's still solid fun and takes you on a journey from laugh-out-loud to little-bit-weepy...even if it is a bit/a lot formulaic.

The formula is essentially girl + boy + family + lots of social gatherings x drama + overcoming various hurdles + identity crisis / love = happily ever after??? And naturally, there's a hilarious but loyal best friend, a makeover and Cinderella moment, a wedding and an airport, "did she get off the plane?" style. The main subject in question is Rachel (Constance Wu), a smart NYU Economics professor who is refreshingly independent, self-assured and strong - she's American-born Chinese but has never visited Asia. The man she's been dating for the past year, Nick Young (Golding), on the other hand is from Singapore (but sounds international British). He convinces her to fly to Singapore with him for his best friend's wedding, also doubling as the perfect opportunity to meet the family. Thing is, his family is crazy rich and he himself is somewhat of a local celebrity/Singapore's very own The Bachelor. They're from "old money" and basically own all the Singaporean land. His cousin Astrid (Gemma Chan) buys lavish jewellery but hides them away from her husband, a couple of the other cousins are a bit OTT, and his mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) is head-strong but magnificently steely. Oh, and she does not approve of Rachel one bit. What follows is a sequence of fun parties -they could easily be shallow set pieces but there's a whole lotta soul-searching in the process.


Golding is naturally charming in his debut movie role, but the real star is Constance Wu and her character Rachel. I'm sure people all over the world will be able to relate with the identity crisis of being raised in a non-native environment, of feeling like you'll never quite fit in, of being challenged and having to hold your ground - and nerve. The scenes where she shows defiance and relies on herself rather than her boyfriend to save her are really quite poignant. There's one involving a game of mahjong that will surely be remembered as the standout goosebumps moment too. Strong female presence is matched by screen veteran Michelle Yeoh - part tiger mum, part rom-com "mother-in-law" baddie, part ice queen - but her backstory is an unexpected and moving one and her motivations make her bigger than a mere movie stereotype. The dynamic and interactions between Eleanor and Rachel are more intriguing, even if the Wu/Golding chemistry is rather lovely; the writers have deliberately shifted the focus and boy does it pay off. The entire cast are impressive in their own right (nope, not just because they're Asian and can act) including Ken Jeong, who plays his usual funnyman with 200% commitment, and Awkwafina, who's perhaps one of 2018's breakout stars with sassy performances in both Ocean's 8 and as hilariously memorable best friend Peik Lin. British star Gemma Chan gives an understated but powerful turn as Astrid, delivering poise and fragility in a single expression as she juggles her own family drama.

And even if the cast haven't won you over for some reason, there's still lots to play for. There's Singapore's wedding of the year, upping Harry and Meghan with a dress and sparkly aisle that will make you l-o-l and possibly tear up. In the very grand scheme of things, the wedding plays a less central role but it's still unashamedly the epitome of the word "extra" nonetheless. It's a wedding feast for the eyes. The film is visually pleasing everywhere else too, if grand mansions and gorgeous gowns are your thing. The cinematography is pretty cool, as is every setting (there are lots to keep you occupied), but you'll have to forgive the fact that it's actually filmed in Malaysia...whoops!

Going back to the cultural point, Crazy Rich Asians does well to explore a whole bunch of serious topics under its light, airy 'rom-com' umbrella. They explore the East vs. West culture clash by stamping out the differences between "Asian" and "Asian-American" alongside family politics, traditionalism vs. modernism, social class and the elitist and the like.  There are some meaningful flourishes, such as a multilingual covers soundtrack that will make your spine tingle as you hear the familiar chorus of Yellow, even if you don't understand the actual words.

You could say there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese/Asian films produced over the years, but this is one not for the native audience. It'll speak more to those who are an ethnic minority in their society. You could also say it's not a true representation of "Asian" (Asian could be Indian/Vietnamese/Filipino/Japanese/Korean etc. and there is no one size fits all - obviously) but that would be missing the point and the bigger picture. Critics could also choose to hone in on the fact that not all the actors aren't Singaporean/Chinese (eg. Henry Golding is half-English, half-Malay) but what's important here is what the entire cast represent - monumental steps in the right direction. Credible actors playing roles that aren't the villain or the best friend or the martial artist or any form of tokenism; faces that many will identify with. Just the everyday relatable people - even if some of them are basically billionaires. Maybe not everyday then...

I felt a little bit emotional as the credits rolled - a) because I love a good love story but also b) because this story strikes a personal chord with me as a BBC (British Born Chinese). I haven't seen 1993's The Joy Luck Club so this is the first non-Chinese film I have watched where I finally feel this kind of representation in film. Not that I notice it in other films usually, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Sure, the film's not perfect and if you dissect it I'm sure there are a lot of pitfalls that could detract your focus. But I'm choosing to focus on the feel-good factor, rom-com freshness and the razzle-dazzle, in addition to the hope that someday a casting like this won't be a crazy big deal.

Crazy Rich Asians is released in UK cinemas on 14th September. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before is available on Netflix now.

The Mission: Impossible series has been steadily evolving through the years - building on the pace, amplifying signature action sequences and credibility - all whilst Tom Cruise has been aging like a fine wine, cut from the same unbreakable cloth as the likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Seriously, the impossible guy is a superhero with limitless energy and the ability to outrun Forrest Gump. Ethan Hunt's latest chapter of the franchise is called "Fallout", but it may as well be called "Jumpout". We have buildings, helicopters, planes...you name it, Ethan Hunt has probably jumped out of it. Can you believe this is film number 6, a whopping 22 years after the first? And yet, whilst critics several years ago predicted the films would flag and fizzle out, Fallout has proved the exact opposite. It's explosive and the latest critiques are right: this is the best one yet.

Fallout wastes no time with the set up and heads straight for the set pieces. Hunt receives his mission, should he choose to accept it, within minutes and of course he chooses to. He discovers that the last film's captured villain/criminal ringleader Solomon Lane still has terrorists, now working under the group name "The Apostles", and the plot thickens when Hunt is forced to break Lane out as part of a deal (more on that later). A returning villain? That's new. It's this continuity that features prominently in the series for the first time; Lane's back, MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) is back, IMF teammates Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) are back, and even once-wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan) returns after 12 years.  Director Christopher McQuarrie is also on familiar terrain after directing 2015's Rogue Nation. It makes sense that McQuarrie doesn't feel the need to re-introduce everyone, and consequently, there's much more room for action and a very juicy plotline without being too confusing for audience newcomers.

What is this plot, you say? Well, like all its predecessors there is some sort of global threat, baddie/group and a heavily improvised mission to save the world, courtesy of Hunt and his team. It's always seemingly impossible and things will definitely go wrong, but Hunt always finds the "possible". Expect no less in Fallout, but with more death-defying stunts, depth and genuine unpredictability. After Hunt lets three plutonium cores be taken by The Apostles (though it's not really about the terrorist group this time), he is tasked to get them back before nuclear destruction. He's being childminded by tank-like CIA agent August Walker (Henry Cavill) whose brutal 'just business' tactics and values conflict with Hunt's, plus Hunt comes across a mysterious armsdealer called the White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) whose deal price for the plutonium is that her buyer wants Lane. Ilsa Faust also crosses paths with the group on a conflicting mission, plus there's a villain who believes that "the greater the destruction, the greater the peace" and is after the plutonium to make it happen. Back to the plot, which has enough double/triple crosses to make you go cross-eyed - it's probably the most layered recipe yet and will need some digesting to identify who's cat or mouse. That, and mix in a reunion with Hunt's wife Julia from MI3 that finally answers questions about her own story (and recent absence), plus giving Cruise a chance to showcase a more emotionally vulnerable side.

There ought to be a separate paragraph for stunts, given that the film received so many headlines whilst filming due to the injury Cruise sustained whilst jumping from a building. Yes, the scene makes the cut and it's distinctly recognisable and wince-worthy. Yes, Cruise does a lot of his own stunts (and running). This is a film where essentially the writers have sat down and thought of every stunt possible and said yes. Motorcycle chase? Car chase? Helicopter chase? Casual cliff climb? A Google Maps route involving rooftop runs via breaking through office windows? Yes to all. Why not?  What's even better is that they're stupendous but somehow not stupid. They're shot in a way that puts the audience right next to the scene and ludicrously realistic. The finale is equally spectacular and gripping from all angles, with action in the air and on ground, suspenseful to the very final second. Naturally. Hand-to-hand combat gets an upgrade here too, with muscle man Cavill making it interesting, and Ferguson continues to impress with her combat scenes - and any other scene for that matter.

Fallout explores pressure points and the moral question - save one life or save millions? Ethan Hunt's a killer but is he a cold-blooded one? Can he let the fate of a friend come between him and his mission? Does he think a mission is ever impossible? The film is more character and heart-driven than your typical action flick, but it's still satisfyingly about teamwork and the familiar team dynamics are just as great. Furthermore, there's not one, but three more-than-capable and kickass female characters who aren't there just for eye-candy (surprisingly rare even in today's action films.) The stakes are higher, the stunts are bigger etc. etc. but when it goes back to its roots - the teamwork, the fun trickery through those life-like masks, the unpredictability and 'improvisation' - it is just a joy for any MI or action fan to watch. Hunt has a habit of saying "I'm working on it" when asked about any given plan or situation. The new bar has been set rather high, so here's hoping they manage to work on a follow-up that makes beating it a mission possible.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is in cinemas now.

Oh hey there,

If you're scrolling through and wondering - where the heck are all the reviews? Has this girl even stepped foot into a cinema since Ghost Stories? The answer is I have dozens of times but have had a classic case of half-written drafts and "no time" excuses from the busyness that is work and other writing and Love Island distractions. However, here's the good thing - I am determined to un-backlog the backlog and will finally publish reviews such as Avengers: Infinity War (I KNOW - how did I never finish that review!?), Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, The Incredibles 2 and more.
Please bear with me. And I'm not just only doing it because Love Island concludes on Monday.

Much love,
Bev

Arnold is back (again) but you'll be killing time before anyone starts killing Gunther in this hitman mockumentary.

Here's a bit of advice before you start watching Killing Gunther: try not to take it seriously. Luckily, writer, lead actor and first-time director Taran Killam doesn't seem to be either. His mockumentary with a killer edge features a recognisable line-up of sitcom and Saturday Night Live familiar faces, headed up by the star billing of Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he's not firing people on The Apprentice or arguing with Trump, he's masquerading as the world's greatest hitman (not showman) - Gunther.

Killing Gunther has a TV comedy (almost The Office) feel to it, and it's action-packed with no shortage of self-aware silliness. The general plot follows Blake (Killam) as an eccentric hitman who seemingly wants to be the best by taking out the world's best, Gunther. In an age of Avengers, Expendables and various other Squads, teamwork makes a dream work and the common dream of killing Gunther leads to an odd mishmash of personalities. There's poison-obsessed, non-gun Yong (Aaron Yoo), explosive Donnie (Bobby Moynihan), Sanaa (Hannah Simone, worlds apart from New Girl) and many more who don't really make much of an impact. They're more caricature than deadly but that's the fun of it. And in an age of "pics or it didn't happen", naturally you would be compelled to hire a documentary crew too because, why not? As a result, it brings about an unusually fresh approach to the otherwise repetitive genre. The mishmash applies to plotlines too, however, and it ends up being the assassin version of a wild goose chase. It doesn't take much guessing to guess that such a large group of killers will end up being killed, and even less of a guess to guess whodunnit.

It takes a while to get into it, and there's also a catch: Arnie takes his sweet time to join the party. You could excuse him because Gunther's clearly so talented and light-footed if he's as good as they say he is... Or, perhaps, it was literally all in a day's work. If you came here to watch the return of Schwarzenegger you may feel short-changed, but when he is actually on-screen, he's delightfully funny and clearly having a ball. He may not be legendary for his acting skills, but he's always well worth a watch nonetheless. Who else would even think about ripping off a fridge door to use as a weapon? And I bet you've never seen him in tinted glasses and a butterfly suit!?

For a first film, it's intriguing enough and a half-decent first attempt. They're playing for more obvious laughs and the script can often come across as obviously improvised if that's your kinda thing. It's hardly a sophisticated film and Killam's brainchild is more of a mindless watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Having said that, there are some nice touches, especially if you view it as an extended TV comedy rather than a fully-fledged film. Killam's real-life wife Colbie Smulders also makes a reliable appearance, representing the "personal" side to the story. Also, the fact that this has gone straight to Video On Demand means you could always play Where's Wally with Gunther and skip ahead if need be. You probably wouldn't watch it again, but there's fun to be had by embracing a silly film when you know it's going to be silly from the get-go. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Killing Gunther is available to download now from iTunes, Amazon, Rakuten TV, Sky Store and more! 

Watch the trailer here:

Slick, stylish and epic on many levels, the game-changing Black Panther claws its way into Marvel - and cinema - history. With his new kingdom under threat from both external and internal forces, what sort of king will T'Challa be, and what sort of superhero is the Black Panther?

There's something different about this Marvel film. I've probably said that about 3 different Marvel films now, but this one is different. Can you believe there have now been 18 MCU films? Eight-teen. In a universe where the big movie bosses are churning out film after film after film in an origins-villain-global-threat-redemption factory, it's amazing we haven't gotten bored already. Luckily we haven't, because Black Panther is far bolder than any before it, and it's attention-grabbing for all the right reasons. Not just because of all the headlines about race ("Finally! A Black superhero! An all-Black cast!") but because of all the details coming together, and not just as a show of tokenism. It tackles genuine, rooted problems facing non-superhero society today, colonisation of the past, ongoing oppression, and, just like the hidden country of Wakanda, that's just scratching the surface.

Wakanda, briefly introduced in Captain America: Civil War is a fictional country in East Africa about to welcome new king T'Challa aka Black Panther. What most people don't know, however, is that ostensibly poor Wakanda is actually an incredibly (secretly) technologically advanced state, thanks to it being built on super-powerful metal "vibranium". And thanks to this vibranium, the creatives in the film crew have really had some fun in limitlessly imagining up stuff. Some of the best gadgets can be found here (fake cars, med-tech, hologram bracelets, Black Panther suits etc.); Iron Man eat your heart out. Already, there is so much personality in this setting that's been referred to as "Afro-futuristic". It's a stunning mix staying true to African kingdom, yet gloriously and shamelessly otherworldly, a sci-fi lover's dream. Though it's to get lost in Wakanda, we have to remember that guy from the title in the suit. Cool-under-pressure regal T'Challa (played by a mesmerising and completely in-control Chadwick Boseman) is put through his paces as he faces the new challenge of being king, but more dangerously, a mysterious blast from the past, as well as the internal conflict of serving your people versus serving the world. Also, in case you didn't know, he's also has superpowers/enhanced abilities from a magical purple herb. It's pretty cool.

This is not so much an origins story - in fact, there's barely any mention of T'Challa's childhood - but there's still a strong emphasis on family and backstory, and these pack the biggest emotional punches in various different contexts. After an intro to Wakanda and a vague search for identity from our king, we're thrown into the film's threat which then leads us to Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (Michael B. Jordan). Good vs. evil doesn't quite fit the mould here, and we're treated to one of Marvel's best and most complex villains in a long time. He's a villain that can related to, even pitied. Credit's certainly due to Jordan too - damn, he's just so cool.

Fortunately, Black Panther isn't alone in his fight and this is possibly one of the best things about the film, establishing some very formidable characters. It's worth pointing out here they are all female - although you barely register it whilst watching because it just makes the film without making a big deal out of it. Let it be universally acclaimed that the Dora Milaje (Royal special forces) is a group of fearless kick-ass women. There's Lupita Nyong'o as spy Nakia, who has great chemistry with T'Challa and also oozes class. Danai Gurira plays chief Dora Milaje Okoye who has the most incredible screen-presence and gets some of the most memorable scenes (which she owns, naturally). Then there's T'Challa's teenage sister Shuri (played by Brit Letitia Wright) who is a surprise instant hit with her laidback comical turns (a fun foil to her brother), and actually has a significant role as tech-whiz "New-Q". You can also watch out for Martin Freeman returning with a questionable American accent as CIA agent Ross, Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluuya, and Angela Bassett as Queen Mother.

There are a few more things Black Panther gets really right. It strikes the right political tone and criticism, and seems respectful of African culture. I watched the film on opening night and ended up in an African Society's screening, and I've honestly never been in a cinema with so much whooping and cheering throughout. Secondly, the combat. From the  gripping cinematography of the waterfall fights, to the final showdown, and of course all of Nakia and Okoye's fights, it's these scenes that remind you it is a superhero action movie. Thirdly, the soundtrack that's been making waves and topping charts. Kendrick Lemar curated it and it's fused seamlessly into the film's DNA, adding sheer levels of coolness and the right electrobeats in all the right places.

Avengers Infinity War kicks off this year but Black Panther has set the bar ve-ry high. In fact, you barely even register that it's "the last Marvel film before Infinity War!" because it feels independent, and this works superbly in the film's favour. It needs to be, because it feels like such a monumental shift in the superhero dynamic. It's not just about glorifying the character in the title like others before it have done, and you don't even need to know much about the past films to enjoy it.

Should Wakanda stay secret and self-sufficient or do they owe it to help others in need, when they have the resources and technology to do so? This is the question that will have you wondering, as you chant "Wakanda forever!". You'll also be wondering, "When can I watch this again?"

Black Panther is in cinemas now.