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It should surprise absolutely no one that I absolutely adored Wicked: For Good! Much like the first one, this is gonna end up as one of my favourites of the year without question! These Wicked movies are so good it's actually absurd, and watching them back to back one day is going to be such an amazing experience. I was spellbound!

If you know me, you know last year when I saw Wicked for the first time I was mesmerized. A big budget blockbuster of a musical with the grandest production I have seen from a major Hollywood movie in years that made my heart soar and allowed my mind to escape into the fantastical world of Oz? What was there not to love?! So when approaching Wicked For Good, I feel like my mind was made up months ago that I was going to love this movie, flaws and all. I've always heard the 2nd half of Wicked does not live up to the first half, but I didn't care. This movie felt like it was being made specifically for me. And now having seen it, it's so hard to try and write an unbiased and impartial critique. Yes, the movie has issues, notably with pacing and feeling like it's rushing from beat to beat. And no, it isn't as good as the first one. But WHO CARES?! I loved this movie. It's overall pretty well done and the scale of the production is spectacular. Not to mention, when a movie can make me sob uncontrollably over a certain song, over a simple shot of a door being closed, or a whisper shared between two friends, it's an instant thumbs up in my books. This movie is everything I wanted it to be and more, understanding the limitations set by the play. I love the deep, rich emotions, and the overall tragic nature of the story. I love the music. I love the performances, the set design, the cinematography and direction. And while it may not be cinematically or technically perfect, I love it all the same.

Wicked For Good is pure cinematic joy; brimming with heart and beauty, but also with deep, resonant emotion. It's nearly everything I could've hoped for in a cinematic adaptation of Act 2! The amount of love, care and attention to detail that clearly went into this production is on another level. Jon M. Chu has done the impossible and turned the beloved stage musical into a cinematic experience that somehow manages to be even better than the stage version. Like I said in my review last year for Wicked Part 1, he does for Wicked what Peter Jackson did for The Lord of the Rings - these two films will forever stand as one of the best Broadway-to-screen adaptations that we have ever witnessed. They will go down in history as all-time musical classics, alongside the likes of The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Chicago and more! The filmmaking and level of craftsmanship on display is dazzling, from the gorgeous costumes, to the highly detailed makeup and fantastical production design. The film is truly a grand spectacle to behold, but if you've seen Part 1, you already know this! Because these films were filmed concurrently, the quality of the production is very consistent! Under Jon M. Chu's visionary direction, each scene feels like it is defying gravity, lifting the story's emotional depth and visual splendour to breathtaking new heights.

Given how much I love the musical and the first film, I knew seeing the back half of the story come to life via movie magic was going to be an emotional experience, but I don't think I was prepared for how much this part of the story was going to rock me on screen. As fans of the musical know, the second half of the story is different. Part one starts to unearth the lies and cruelty happening in Oz, but then part two fully immerses you in them. And the movie is quite successful at painting a picture of a situation that can't be fixed with the snap of a finger. The mix of it being a beautiful journey of being changed for good but also one that acknowledges the power of public perception and how hard it can be to change it, even when it's based on lies, gives the film a significant amount of staying power. This is a much darker second half, dealing with the consequences and emotions of what happened in the first movie. I was completely enchanted by the darker, haunting brilliance of For Good - each character embodies a loss of innocence, rich colour palettes mask oppression, and the desire for love drives extremes. It's a cautionary conclusion on how people can change you for good or for even the worse, the desire to be loved and accepted pushing you to the brink of extremities, and how our actions can shape our inevitable fates. A total deconstruction of the Wizard of Oz in the most gleaming glittery fashion with a sinister soul lying in the shadows depicting the real story. And naturally, there are no large, upbeat musical numbers akin to "Dancing Through Life" in this film; instead, we get powerful ballads that unlock the thoughts and feelings of the characters, such as "Thank Goodness" which examines the dissatisfaction Glinda feels after having her dreams come true, or "No Good Deed" where we get to explore Elphaba's inner turmoil. And my god, are these sequences ever remarkable - "As Long As You're Mine" was my personal favourite (the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey was off the charts)! I was even a big fan of the new songs. They're not there just to give the second movie more music, but they're positioned in ways that truly bolster the narrative and hammer home what the movie is trying to say.

While For Good certainly makes a few more missteps than its predecessor, the overall quality is largely intact and results in what is a major improvement over Act 2 of the stage show. Most will likely favour Part 1 for its brighter energy and more iconic songs, and while I would count myself as one of those people, I still very much love For Good. I was still swept up in all the spectacle and emotion the film set out to deliver, despite the back half of the film sprinting through so much plot and character development that it became very jarring, especially since up until that point the film had done a good job taking its time and fleshing the world out. So many plot threads felt bizarrely rushed to be concluded, or never touched upon again. Again, much of this can be attributed to the nature of the original musical, and the team here did what I think is the best anyone could do while staying true to the story they are telling.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are phenomenal as Elphaba and Glinda yet again, but in new ways, delivering some truly powerful and emotionally resonant work with such nuanced vulnerability. Erivo is just electric in the role. Every moment she's on screen, she sizzles with determination. No Good Deed is especially breathtaking. And my favourite thing about Grande's performance this time around is what she's able to accomplish by doing less. It's such a blast watching Glinda's sky high flashiness and energy in the first film, however, For Good demands a much more internal performance, and Grande most certainly has the range to nail every ounce of it. I feel like Ariana Grande truly breaks free from the Kristin Chenoweth comparisons with this movie's version of Glinda. The comedy and charm remains, but it's her emotional honesty that turns her version of Glinda into something radiant. With these two films, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will go down in history as one of cinema's finest onscreen duos.

I have to highlight the supporting cast as well. Jonathan Bailey was once again incredibly charming as Fiyero and a perfect fit for the role. When he started singing in "As Long As Your Mind" I think I lost it, he is just so damn talented. Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh were both fantastic in their roles, however I wouldn't ask them to sing for a role again! Who really stole the show for me with very limited screen time was Ethan Slater as Boq. Very small role, but he destroyed every single scene he was in and showed the benefit of bringing in Broadway trained actors into your musical films.

I could go on about how much I love this film for ages. The film is imperfect, but there is just so much to love, and I cannot wait to see it again! Wicked: For Goof is a sensational spectacular - a genuine showstopper improving on the stage show. A magical film for our times that features some very relevant sociopolitical messaging about our modern world. This is dazzling blockbuster entertainment, an emotional triumph that is darker, richer, more propulsive than Part 1, that is very different but also a brilliant counterpart to it. "No Good Deed" brings the house down. "For Good" had me and my audience in tears. (Frankly I cried through the last half hour and loved that it got me that emotional!) Not to mention the final shot, which got a big smile out of me! It was perfect in my eyes. Jon M. Chu and his team have once again pulled off a crowd pleaser! Every tactile detail in its craftsmanship (from the wardrobe textures to the yellow brick road) is rapturous, bewitching and spellbinding. And while the stage musical will always be beloved, much like with the first film I was so struck by how the power of a good close-up can add a whole new emotional layer to the experience. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both shine, every lyric lands, every beat matters. It moves fast and it leaves its mark. This is what a sequel should be: bigger, braver and unforgettable.

Eternity is one of those special films that the minute it ended, I knew it was one of the best films I have seen all year. A hopelessly romantic rom com that wears its heart on its sleeve, elevated by a knockout cast and exquisite world building. The way it emotionally resonated with me was so profound and impactful; it took me through a full rollercoaster ride of emotions as it explored the beauty of life, love, loss, and the million small things that make life worth living. I laughed, I cried (okay I bawled through it), and was completely swept away by how beautifully it all came together. It's The Good Place, meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (aka right up my alley), and I really loved the magical realism of it all. The film perfectly nails the sweet spot between a clever high-concept idea and genuine heartfelt emotion. It has the same effect as a Pixar film; in fact it really is a live action Pixar film. So yeah, this might be one of my favourite romantic comedies ever. It excels on the charm of Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Calum Turner, boosted by hilarious supporting work from Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early. Eternity is sweet, poignant, and funny, with ingenious production design and a warmly affecting score. It offers such a clever take on love and the afterlife that if eternity really exists, this is the version I would personally prefer. There may be no such thing as perfection, but Eternity comes remarkably close for the romantic comedy genre. It is genuinely hilarious, imaginative, and so incredibly charming - an actual feel good romantic comedy that had me laughing and crying, what more could you ask for?

Highly recommend.

Edgar Wright's The Running Man is pure 80's esque popcorn cinema in the best way, and yet has such strong, gripping sociopolitical commentary laced throughout! Plus, it's one of the most faithful Stephen King adaptations out there! A huge improvement over the 1987 Schwarzenegger film, The Running Man often packs a punch, with Glen Powell dragging us into a wildly over-the-top thrill ride that hits on timely themes amid a barrage of epic action set pieces. It's damn near impossible not to get swept up in this gloriously chaotic dystopia, yet a reoccurring thought kept creeping in: this never quite screams "Edgar Wright." The movie sorely misses his signature style and finesse, which used to carry such a distinct personality. It does show up here and there, but ultimately felt like this movie could have been directed by anyone. That isn't to say it was poorly directed, it just didn't have that distinctive flare. This is still a violently entertaining and delightfully wacky time, however it feels like this could've been an opportunity for Wright to flex his signature style in a much darker story. He seems oddly restrained here; his hyper-kinetic camerawork and wild editing are mostly absent, replaced by something much more mainstream-which is disappointing, because the moments when his trademarks do sneak in are the best parts of the film. The final product is an adrenaline-fueled good time with some great sociopolitical commentary, so it's a recommendation from me, but I kept thinking of what could have been. I know it sounds like I'm ragging on the film a little bit, but it's only because I have such high expectations from Wright. I still loved the movie!

Though its trappings say otherwise, it's tough to call The Running Man dystopian because it unflinchingly reflects our reality too well. It's invigorating! Wright masterfully marries the veneer of 80s glam and excess with King's prescient view of 2025 exposing the uncanny reality we've been inching toward ever since publishing in 1982. Glen Powell is magnetic, again proving himself as a charismatic action star, giving a cathartic performance that functions as a furious vessel for our contemporary frustrations and anxieties surrounding an unjust, broken system fed a steady diet of outrage and misinformation. Where desperation is twisted into depravity and the marginalized become boogeymen. It allows Wright to be direct and blunt; cheeky, but not too, as he brilliantly employs his heat seeking missile of a protagonist to torch through our reality exploring the dehumanizing effects of spectacle and the utter contempt it has for the viewer. We're out of touch and the only solution is to unplug, stay vigilant, and fight back. The truth is found in each other, empathy recovered through openness and understanding. One of the most radical blockbusters you'll see all year - and it balances the commentary with the action so well!