MovieRankingReviews

  The last 15 minutes is incredibly gritty, brutal and violent Punishing that is just a blast to watch! Jon Bernthal continues to deliver a strong and ferocious performance as the titular character. I was also genuinely surprise to also see such a powerful and emotional performance as well. It was also great to see Jason R. Moore return as Frank’s friend Curtis, even if it was just a hallucination. It was a shame that Amber Rose Revah nor Ben Barnes got to return as Madani and Billy respectively though. The villain Ma Gnucci is also sadly very underutilised. Plus, it can also be a bit repetitive to see Punisher repeat the plotline of giving up Punishing, only to return again. Still, for 45 minutes, this is an entertaining watch and I look forward to seeing more Punisher in the future!

  I had a lot of concerns when Daredevil was moved over to Disney. However, Born Again Season 1 ended up being better than expected. It was still definitely the weakest season of Daredevil , but considering the behind-the-scenes creative drama, the final product turned out surprisingly solid. With Season 2, though, the series was fully under the creative control of Dario Scardapane as showrunner. So, does Season 2 finally deliver a more promising follow-up? Yes, it does. The season is far more consistent visually, as well as in terms of quality and writing. It doesn’t suffer from the strange dips in quality or tonal shifts that Season 1 had. The story is much more focused and engaging, making it enjoyable to invest in Daredevil’s struggle and the resistance effort against Kingpin. Watching the characters slowly weaken Fisk’s forces, damage his credibility, and search for evidence makes for a far more entertaining season than the slower-paced nature of the first. There ...

  The first Mortal Kombat film in 2021 had some good elements and felt closer to the games. However, it had a lot of problems, and there were definitely some odd creative choices made. Still, there was potential for the sequel to be a major improvement. Is that the case with Mortal Kombat II? Right from the get-go, I appreciate that the director and writer listened to the feedback and criticism surrounding the first film. One of the major issues with the original was the boring and dull movie-original protagonist, Cole Young. This time, they have replaced him with the far more charismatic Johnny Cage and the more interesting Kitana, both of whom are actual characters from the games and are played wonderfully by Karl Urban and Adeline Rudolph. Johnny Cage serves as the fish-out-of-water character: a washed-up actor who is thrown into the Kombat tournament. He is funny, cynical, and charming, with a character arc that is far more enjoyable to invest in. Kitana acts as ...

  Sam Raimi turns a very predictable story into an entertaining two-hour flick. He injects many of his signature quirks such as the dark comedy, visceral horror, gruesome gore, and a kinetic filmmaking style which elevate the film. Rachel McAdams delivers a terrific, layered performance as the lead. She begins as someone awkward and cringy but gradually evolving into someone genuinely menacing and unhinged. The highlight of the film is the tension between her character and Dylan O’Brien’s. Despite all this, the film feels somewhat tame and isn’t among Raimi’s most memorable works. Still, it’s enjoyable enough that you’ll leave feeling you had a good time.

  Liam Neeson plays an authentic 70-year-old man with a bad back. It’s admirable to see him give a more believable performance for someone of his age. The rest of the film is okay with some light chuckles and gory moments. It never takes itself too seriously, leading to a mildly enjoyable popcorn flick.    

  Michael Jackson was, without a doubt, one of the biggest pop stars in history. It’s no surprise that he was going to get a biopic; if anything, I’m surprised at how long it took. He is one of my favourite artists ever, so of course I was going to watch this film. However, does it live up to his legacy? I remember having a lot of concerns about Jaafar Jackson’s casting. Firstly, it felt like nepotism, with them going for Michael’s own nephew, and secondly, I wasn’t sure whether he could handle the weight of portraying Michael in his acting debut. Those concerns ended up being unfounded, as Jaafar Jackson shines as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. There are many moments where it genuinely feels like Michael himself is on-screen. He nails the look, the moves, and the mannerisms of his uncle. Colman Domingo is equally effective, portraying Michael’s father, Joseph Jackson, as both detestable and menacing. Special praise must also go to the costume and set designers fo...