MovieRankingReviews

  The Fantastic Four is one of Marvel’s most iconic teams, yet they’ve never quite been done justice in a live-action film, until now. The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks Marvel’s first attempt at rebooting the team since regaining the rights to the IP. With the underwhelming Multiverse Saga still fresh in viewers’ minds, the pressure was on. So, is this a fantastic first step or just another misstep from Marvel? If there’s one thing Marvel consistently excels at, it’s casting, and that continues to be the case here. Vanessa Kirby is phenomenal as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), bringing warmth and kindness to the character, while also showing plenty of strength and resolve. When Sue gets angry, it’s genuinely impactful. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is equally excellent as Ben Grimm (The Thing), perfectly embodying the “monster with a heart of gold” persona. Joseph Quinn delivers a terrific performance as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), capturing the flirty, high-energy charm th...

  Sony Pictures Animation has delivered an outstanding original animated film, something that’s been sorely missing from Disney and Pixar lately. The movie features a stunningly beautiful animation style that seamlessly blends 2D and 3D, compelling world-building, fluid and thrilling action set pieces, and a fun, lovable main trio. To top it all off, it boasts phenomenal K-pop music! While the plot is fairly predictable and the third act feels a bit rushed, the film would have benefitted from being about 10 minutes longer. It also leaves a number of dangling plot threads that seem to be setting up a sequel. Still, this was an absolute surprise! With a title like that, I wasn’t expecting something so thoroughly enjoyable.

  It’s been 12 years since Superman’s last solo outing, and this new film not only marks his return but also launches James Gunn’s revamped DC Universe (DCU). I’ve always had a soft spot for Man of Steel (2013), though Batman v Superman (2016) left me disappointed. So the question is: does this fresh reboot soar or crash? The new cast is superb. David Corenswet had enormous shoes to fill, but he absolutely delivers. He captures Superman’s inherent kindness and warmth, while adding a layer of vulnerability that makes the character feel more grounded and human. Rachel Brosnahan is equally strong as Lois Lane, bringing intelligence and charisma to the role, and her chemistry with Corenswet is genuine and compelling. Nicholas Hoult is a standout as Lex Luthor, delivering an obsessive, petty, and sharply calculated performance. It’s exactly the kind of Lex we’ve been missing. Among the supporting cast, Nathan Fillion is a delight as the cocky Guy Gardner Green Lantern, bu...

  The main character’s relationship with his wife is barely developed so you barely feel his grief. And you’d think they’d lean into the fun spy stuff with the nerdy guy and his gadgets, but nope. The plot is your standard revenge fare and doesn’t really get more interesting than that. If you start thinking about it too much, a lot of things stop making sense. Laurence Fishburne brings some much-needed charisma, but he’s barely in it. And Jon Bernthal shows up… for reasons? He has no real impact on anything, which is a shame. Also, the ending? Kind of silly. That said, there are some fun action scenes and a bit of decent tension sprinkled in. So if you’re in the mood for something Jason Bourne-ish and don’t mind turning your brain off for a bit, it’s a decent way to kill a couple of hours.

  Jurassic World Rebirth is somehow the seventh entry in the Jurassic franchise. After the massively disappointing and downright abysmal Jurassic World Dominion (2022), it felt like time to let the franchise rest. However, considering it made over $1 billion, the studio was never going to let it die, and now we have another installment. The only redeeming news, in my opinion, was that Colin Trevorrow was no longer involved. Instead, we have Gareth Edwards, director of Godzilla (2014) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). So, does this bring new life to the franchise, or should it have remained extinct? To start with the positives: the dinosaur set pieces are genuinely enjoyable. There’s a horror-movie-style sequence in the opening, a thrilling Jaws-like moment involving the Mosasaur at sea, and a fun finale set piece that echoes the spirit of the original film. The standout set piece, however, is easily the tense and terrifying T-Rex scene involving a raft. Scarle...

  Gi-Hun’s return to Squid Game comes to a frustrating conclusion. It’s hard to believe this season was written by the same mind behind the original. The tension, clever twists, and emotional depth are all gone. No-eul’s subplot, which initially seemed like it might offer a fresh perspective by showing someone working within the Squid Game system, ultimately goes nowhere. It ends up feeling like filler, a meaningless detour that adds nothing to the main story and only serves to pad the runtime. But the most insulting narrative choice involves Detective Jun-ho. After two seasons of building intrigue around his investigation and survival, his arc collapses with an underwhelming thud. His presence in Season 3 is so useless it borders on parody, a complete waste of potential. And then there’s the ending. It’s not just unsatisfying, it’s blatantly designed to keep the franchise alive at all costs. It’s less of a conclusion and more of a corporate strategy, and you can feel...