Fate of the Furious
What’s it about?
Family. But also a buttload of action scenes with cars somehow still being the main attraction. If we’re being real? Cipher (Charlize Theron) makes Dom (Vin Diesel) turn on the crew for mysterious reasons.
What did we think?
Nick John Bleeker says: F8 shows the Fast franchise starting to lose its creative edge, but you just can’t shake the fact that hanging out with the crew is still tonnes of fun. The addition of Theron as a nutcase villain adds to the mix nicely and, at the end of the day, the action is, as always, wonderfully explosive and utterly ridiculous. Exhausting but still a damn good time.
Ghost In The Shell
What’s it about?
Major’s brain was saved from a terrorist attack and was the first human brain connected with a robotic body. The military wants her for her murder skills. Everyone else just likes that she gets around naked all the time.
What we thought
Dan says: The prospect of exploring the human condition as it struggles to find itself in this increasingly tech driven environment is quickly shelved to show a naked lady beating seven hells out of robot assassins then sitting in a car talking for 20 minutes. Scarlett Johanson’s butt does so much heavy lifting in this film that you wonder if it wouldn’t have a more promising career if it left ScarJo for a solo career.
There’s some interesting design in this film that’s lifted straight from the source material. A couple of the secondary characters are watchable and have a handful of satisfying moments, but this film is… boring. Unless you really want to watch robots, gunfire and naked ladies, I’d probably take a pass on this one.
Smurfs: The Lost Village
What’s it about?
A collection of cobalt forest goblins have funky forest adventures. Each one has a strongly defined vocation except for the singular girl goblin, “Smurfette” who is defined only through her gender. In a massive departure from tradition, Hollywood attempts to address this.
What we thought
Dan says: This film is for kids. It’s not scary, there are almost no stakes. If you’re stuck in the same room as children watching this then you might get a couple of chuckles out of it. You’ll appreciate how pretty it is and find yourself trying to play ‘spot the famous voice’. Sadly “because magic” seems to be the solution to any actual dilemmas. At the end of the day this film is just a bit…
Laaah Lah lala la blaaah
The Lego Batman Movie
What’s it about?
It’s The LEGO Movie spin-off featuring the hilarious, egotistical Batman you came to love. This time the lone vigilante is faced with a citywide invasion from the Joker’s evil army, after he refuses to reciprocate a love-hate relationship with the villain. In order to save Gotham, Batman is faced with his hardest struggle: working with others.
What did we think?
Candice says: There may not be a catchy sing-a-long to rival Everything Is Awesome, but The Lego® Batman™ Movie still hits the right notes! Theres something for everyone, with plenty of comedic Batman references and pop-culture jokes to keep the adults happy. Batman’s newest orphan recruit Robin and his long-serving butler Alfred add layers of witty, silly (and at times rude) banter between the figurine co-stars. The film gets a little heavy towards the end and may stretch the attention of some younger folk in the cinema, but they’ll quickly be won over with the musical finale.
Looking to take a little bit of The Lego® Batman™ Movie home with you? Say ‘Hey Puter’ to Siri. You’re welcome.
The Boss Baby
What’s it about?
A seven-year old with an overactive imagination discovers the new baby in his home (voiced by Alec Baldwin) is really a middle-manager from the place ‘where babies come from’; here to complete a spy mission and climb the corporate ladder.
What did we think?
Lisa Clifford Says: while mildly amusing, being convoluted and overly long means The Boss Baby probably won’t become a family favourite. There are genuinely funny moments, though most rely heavily on the corporate executive schtick Alec Baldwin honed on 30 Rock.
In a missed opportunity, it raises, but fails to deal with, the tricky issues for kids around feelings of jealousy and displacement when a new baby arrives, and how a parent’s love is quantified and divided between siblings.
If you miss 30 Rock and have to watch a G-rated movie, The Boss Baby will keep you entertained for about an hour*.
*Full running time is actually 97 minutes
Beauty And The Beast
What’s it about?
Really? We’re really going there? Fine. In a shocking twist, Beauty And The Beast Redux is actually a big-screen offshoot of Marvel’s Legion: a fever dream where David places himself in yet another musical hostage situation. But will Stockholm syndrome work for or against this powerful mutant?*
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: an epic revitalisation of the golden Hollywood musical, replete with a dastardly villain, breathtaking choreographed-from-above dance numbers, and a happy ending for all. There are winks and nods aplenty within this utterly adorable Best Picture Oscar winner for 2018 (without Silence of the Lambs it’ll be a shoe-in).
*1 It’s your fault. You asked. What a stupid question “what’s Beauty and the Beast” about. Idiot.
*2 If you haven’t watched Legion yet, get thee to FX immediately.
What’s Popular
A Simple Favor
What’s it about?
A somewhat intense mommy blogger is befriended by a worldly but blunt fellow mother. When her new best friend goes missing it sets events into motion that will forveer change their lives (cue dramatic music).
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt (who has NOT read the book) says: It would be simplistic to describe this as Gone Girl Gone Wild but it’s hard to escape some comparisons with the 2014 thriller. The major difference is the tone. Director Paul Feig interjects humour at unexpected moments which prevents you from fully engaging with anger at the characters – all of whom you dislike at some point. Even the ending has a touch of slapstick that robs the film of some gravitas. Quite simply there aren’t enough laughs for it be called a comedy but enough where it detracts slightly from the thriller tag. Despite all this, it’s actually a pretty good flick that keeps you guessing and off balance. Great performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively keep you focused and wanting them to be innocent and, more importantly, ensuring you leave with a smile on your face. 3.5
The Predator
What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.
What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.
Teen Titans Go To The Movies
What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.
The Nun
What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.
What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.
Editor's Choice
A Simple Favor
What’s it about?
A somewhat intense mommy blogger is befriended by a worldly but blunt fellow mother. When her new best friend goes missing it sets events into motion that will forveer change their lives (cue dramatic music).
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt (who has NOT read the book) says: It would be simplistic to describe this as Gone Girl Gone Wild but it’s hard to escape some comparisons with the 2014 thriller. The major difference is the tone. Director Paul Feig interjects humour at unexpected moments which prevents you from fully engaging with anger at the characters – all of whom you dislike at some point. Even the ending has a touch of slapstick that robs the film of some gravitas. Quite simply there aren’t enough laughs for it be called a comedy but enough where it detracts slightly from the thriller tag. Despite all this, it’s actually a pretty good flick that keeps you guessing and off balance. Great performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively keep you focused and wanting them to be innocent and, more importantly, ensuring you leave with a smile on your face. 3.5
The Predator
What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.
What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.
Teen Titans Go To The Movies
What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.
The Nun
What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.
What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.