ruelshepperd

There was a lot riding on this film. After Thunderbolts, the MCU was looking to be back on track and this film needed to carry that momentum forward. Furthermore, every Fantastic 4 film before this hasn't exactly been great. It had a unique look with a good cast, so does Marvel Studios finally get Fantastic 4 right? I'd say certainly.

Fantastic 4: First Steps is a very solid film, with a great visual style. The retro-futuristic 60s setting makes this movie incredibly distinct and less held back by the wider MCU. The visuals and soundtrack more than support this world, with a killer main theme by Michael Giacchino and solid vfx. And yet, the film hits its peak when in space. The Sci-fi elements of this film are by far the strongest, both visually and story-wise. They really get the most out of this concept with some utterly jaw dropping sequences. A personal point of joy for me was Galactus and the Silver Surfer, both incredibly intimidating and are given the weight and gravitas in the story they deserve. This movie is just excellent tonally.

The characters are all very likeable and solid, with the cast all doing excellent jobs. The standouts for me were Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. Kirby especially stars as the emotional core of the film, really giving it her all. She really makes the film hit hard at certain points. The characters all have great chemistry and they really feel like a family. The only shortcoming is really Ben Grimm/The Thing who gets the short end of the stick. Maybe there was an arc left on the cutting room floor.

The primary issues with the film revolve mainly around the plot, editing and pacing. Time passes fairly quickly in this film and we move so quickly few certain events that you barely have any time to process it. The editing at times feels jarring as a result. There seems to be a lot of cut content in this film and you can definitely tell at points.

But really, those are minor gripes in what is otherwise another solid MCU film. It's distinct, fun and full of charm. Check it out.

After 29 years, Tom Cruise's non-stop marathon has finally come to an end. And what an end it was, following up on the pretty good Dead Reckoning and ultimately ending the saga of Ethan Hunt is no easy feet so does this film succeed? Yes. And no.

To start with the positives, the action. It's spectacular. The two major set-pieces in this film are perhaps the best the franchise has to offer. Tom Cruise does it once again. The finale to this film fully delivers. The cast all deliver good performances and there are plenty of good moments of fan service.

Unfortunately, this is a film of two halves and most of the positives are in the second half while the first half has all the negatives. McQuarrie's style is at its very worst here with boatloads of repetitive exposition, most of which is stuff we already know. The first act is also poorly paced, surprisingly poorly edited and incredibly bloated. It feels like a first draft. The problems of Dead Reckoning unfortunately carry over to this film with Gabriel still being a poor antagonist and the jarring decisions of DR leading to lacklustre character pay-offs in this one. However, this film does appropriately raise the stakes, and The Entity really feels scary in this one.

Overall, I of course would recommend this film if you love Mission Impossible and action in general. You just have to wade through a sluggish first act/half. But it ends on a great note meaning you'll be walking out with a smile and sweaty palms.

Holy crap. What a show. This is perhaps the best Star Wars has ever been since 1980, maybe even better. In an era of Star Wars dominated by cheap-looking and over-budgeted streaming shows, Andor stands out with brilliant visuals, acting, writing and set design. It truly has everything. What started as a TV show about the 2nd main character from Rogue One has become the definitive story about the fight against fascism.

The most obvious place to start showering praise is of course the technical aspects. The visuals are unparalleled, even by other Star Wars movies. The set design and cinematography immerse you in this galaxy far far away and it has never felt more alive and well-realised. The score is masterfully put together and it would take a whole other essay to explain why. For once, a Star Wars TV show looks worth its massive budget.

The next aspect that is immaculate is of course the writing. Damn is this show well-written. From character conversations to absolute top-notch monologues, all the writing is full of subtext and nuance. This extends to the characters as well. Almost every character is memorable and fleshed out in this show. One-off characters go through strong arcs and the main characters are absolutely amazing. Cassian Andor is now one of the best characters in all of Star Wars.

In keeping with this show's high standards, the acting is excellent. Diego Luna, Genevieve O'Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller all give excellent performances this just a small list of the actors who bring their A-game. Everyone plays their characters to perfection.

Finally, this show might just be the most politically relevant of this decade. Star Wars has always taken its influences from the politics of its time but never has it been more apparent here. This show is unabashedly about the fight against fascism, exploring how fascist organisations oppress, manipulate and consume people, the true cost of fighting against it and the morally complex choices the characters have to make for the sake of rebellion. All of it is done with care and nuance and it is all emotionally riveting.

Overall, this not only stands as the very best Star Wars has to offer, it is one of the finest TV shows ever made. It is infinitely rewatchable, excellently written with no shortage of excellent spectacle. A treat for fans and non-fans.