The Darkest Minds
What’s it about?
In a dystopian fu … sigh. Come on everyone, say it with me: Evoking epic themes, the chosen one flees persecution, seeking a hate- (and adult) free utopia, overcoming perils with heartbreaking sacrifice.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: It’s perfect for tweens born too late for <select your preferred coming-of-age analogy – Hunger Games / Maze Runner / Twilight / Harry Potter / Buffy / Star Wars / Logan’s Run / Tomorrow People / Lord of the Flies / Watership Down / I’m sorry if I missed your favourite>.
Don’t get me wrong, kids WILL love it because it IS their version of the teenager heroes journey.
It just a shame this seen-it-before, plot-hole-ridden, quest-for-a-new-cash-cow is aiming to fill the gap for gen-whatever-are-we-up-to-now as it frustratingly fails to reach its potential and feels like a pilot for a Netflix series of Legion Jnr.
Special, one-off tiered rating system:
30 and over: ★☆ (you’ve seen it before done so much better)
18 – 30: ★★☆ (your tastes are still developing – it’s not that bad)
Under 18: ★★★☆ (go on, you’ll love it)
The Meg
What’s it about?
A research team discovers an undersea ‘Lost World’. When they accidentally release a 25 metre long predator they resolve to repair their mistake… with explosions.
What we thought
Dan says: There is absolutely no way to make a action-packed shark attack film and not make it contrived. For there to be any risk, people need to keep falling in the water. In The Meg, many people fall into the water.
There’s something special about beautiful bad movies. They don’t need character arcs. They don’t need well crafted monologues. They don’t need compelling relationships. Now don’t get me wrong, I wish that this film had those things.
See it in a crowd. Laugh at it together. Try not to get schlock on your boots.
Book Club
What’s it about?
Four women (Jane Fonda, Candice Burgen, Mary Steenburgen and Diane Keaton) who have a decades-long book club decide to read 50 Shades of Grey, which makes them all realise different things about their sex lives.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Book Club is the uncomfortable answer to the question: “Why don’t they make another Sex and the City movie?”
BlacKkKlansman
What’s it about?
Colorado Springs is welcoming their first black officer to the force. He ingratiates himself over the phone with the local Ku Klux Klan before becoming their first African American member.
What we thought
Dan says: This is exactly what a dark comedy should be. Not a lot of dumb gags but a compelling and humorous look at a true story of Ron Stallworth. People with an interest in progressive politics will get a lot out of this but so long as you don’t emotionally bond with neo-nazis you should enjoy this thrilling romp.
Warning: Spike Lee uses his platform to append real footage of race crimes as an addendum to the film. While the message is powerful it is confronting and adds little to the film’s story. I preferred to avoid this footage when I first had the opportunity to see it and didn’t appreciate it being sprung on me. Avoid this segment is you’re sensitive.
3.5 stars
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
What’s it about?
This follow up to the 2008 musical based on the music of ABBA sees a pregnant Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) discover more about her mother Donna (Meryl Streep/Lily James).
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At once a sequel and a prequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is ridiculous, unnecessary, overly sentimental and wildly enjoyable. With the bulk of ABBA’s hits used up on the first movie, the soundtrack tends towards B-sides and repeats (with a few notable exceptions*). It doesn’t matter a bit. It’s great fun to see young versions of some of the main characters, and the overly elaborate set-up necessary for Cher to sing a particular song is in itself worth the price of admission. Bring your dancing shoes, your tissues and your mum.
*Editor’s note: Stephen says: before we get attacked by ABBA fans, 6 of the 18 songs are A-side singles that weren’t in the original (one of which is their biggest single, and at 10 million copies, one of the highest selling songs of all time- guess who gets to sing that one?), and there are quite a few album tracks from Arrival and Voulez-Vous (two of this reviewers favourite ABBA LPs). #ABBAFan #NerdAlert
Skyscraper
What’s it about?
The Rock reimagines Die Hard by saving his family from terrorists in a locked-down skyscraper.
What did we think?
It’s time to put aside the Chuck Norris jokes and declare that gravity doesn’t affect The Rock; The Rock affects gravity. Skyscraper walks a fine line between homage and plagiarism but if you just want to see Dwayne Johnson saving the day amidst explosions and eye-rolling stunts then you will love this mindless action film. There are actually a few good scientific tidbits and accuracies in here as well as an interesting motive. It’s a shame that there are also flaws that render any credits from them immediately worthless. It’s highly predictable but to be honest, Liz and I had a blast predicting lines and cliched incidents (it even had a Rocky shout out) so would be fun slightly intoxicated. At the end of the day there’s one sentence that will decide whether you’ll see it or not: it’s The Rock.