1st Reviews

  In the past few years, romance novels have regained popularity, and romantic comedies have become hits for many. People have forgotten that love - whether platonic or romantic - can help anyone through difficult times.   One author has consistently delivered romantic novels, and she has now created her own little universe. Emily Henry skyrocketed the bestseller list and is now adapting her novels into films and television series. Her second novel,  People We Meet on Vacation,  is the first film to be adapted for Netflix. Emily Henry loosely based the characters of Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) on the blueprint of romantic comedy couples Harry Burns and Sally Albright from  When Harry Met Sally . Naturally, as a massive fan myself, this novel was right up my alley.  Co-writers Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo adapted the book well, while paying homage to other films in the genre.  The story of Poppy and Alex spans over a decade;...

  Hiya Georgie! Are you ready to find out whether Pennywise’s latest endeavour sinks or floats? You might not think Pennywise warranted so much additional lore, but It: Welcome to Derry proves the dancing clown has plenty of horrifying tricks left up his sleeve.  Taking place 27 years before it: Chapter 1, this prequel series unleashes more of the carnage and twisted scares Andy Muscietti’s movies were known for. We’re given a deeper exploration surrounding not only Pennywise’s origins, but the root of the evil that’s plagued Derry for over a century. There’s also a plot line with the military, and a cross over character from one of King’s most acclaimed novels. With just eight episodes, there’s a lot going on and it can lead to the series being a little too busy for its own good. With the exception of a shocking series premiere, the front half of the season is kind of clunky as it sets the stage for Pennywise’s first appearance. The back half is thankfully much stronger, with...

Stylish, propulsive, entirely absorbing - and that’s just the incredible table tennis sequences. Marty Supreme is a frenetic masterwork of a filmmaker operating in total control of orchestrated cinematic chaos. This is an epic odyssey of one man’s pursuit of greatness by any means necessary. Supreme doesn’t quite do this movie justice, because Josh Safdie has just delivered a future classic.   This is A LOT of movie, and I don’t just mean the two and a half hour runtime. It’s constantly in motion - stressful, chaotic and exhausting in all the right ways. The pacing moves swiftly, telling a story that rarely gives the characters (or the audience for that matter) time to breathe. It’s packed the Safdies’ signature anxiety inducing energy, but it’s also way more fun to watch than their previous films. Even as you’re watching so many things go wrong and fall out of alignment for Marty, there’s this undeniably infectious charisma the film exudes at any given moment. It’s oddly charming ...

  After three and a half years, we’re finally back in Hawkins for Stranger Things’ biggest season yet, as Netflix’s most iconic series comes to an epic conclusion. Despite a lack of inventiveness and stakes that don’t ever feel high enough, I’m relieved to report it sticks a mostly satisfying landing, albeit with a bit of turbulence along the way.  This show has gone through a major evolution over the nine years since it premiered. As it gained popularity and grew into an international sensation, its once intimate scale expanded as well. The Amblin style magic started to fade after the second season, and was almost entirely abandoned by season four, where the series became a bonafide science fiction epic, standing on its own without the warm nostalgia of its 80s setting. It gave us a compelling glimpse into Eleven’s past, and established Henry as a truly terrifying villain. It laid the foundation for what promised to be an exciting fifth and final season. Unfortunately, the sh...

  It’s hard to imagine who was asking for a film about a Neil Diamond tribute band, but this true story works due to its immense charm. Hugh Jackman shines as Mike Sardina, a misfit who dreams of bringing success to his Neil Diamond show. His charisma and excellent passion for music shine in the role. Kate Hudson gives one of her strongest performances as the band’s other half — together they’re “Lightning and Thunder”. Claire faces great tribulations but her resilience and desire to not be made small by those around her define her character’s journey. Craig Brewer directs the music performance scenes with a power that anchors the film, and though it doesn’t set out to reinvent the biopic, it works well thanks to its underdog energy and emotion. This drama about the convergence between music, love, and the strength to carry forward, has touches of strong humor but will also tug on your heartstrings, and may also make you curious to learn even more about the true story behind the du...

  All hail James Cameron - King of the Box Office! Fire and Ash will likely be the highest grossing movie of the year, and could be Cameron’s fourth to crack 2 billion. This isn’t just a blockbuster - it’s a cinematic event. This sequel isn’t short on flaws, but Cameron has delivered another truly epic theatrical experience that overshadows the film’s shortcomings.  Here’s where my inner critic and fun-loving moviegoer clash. I can’t ignore how frequently the film recycles elements from the previous instalments. It’s another iteration of “Evil human military wants to mine a foreign planet for resources, while native species must fight back”. The final battle is damn near identical to Way of Water’s climax. The dialogue is also really cringy at times (I lost count of how many times I heard the word bro). On the other hand, I can’t deny what a blast I had on a purely visceral level. I saw this in D-Box 3D, giddy as a kid on Christmas, being whipped around in my seat for 3 hours....