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Movie review: “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” (2019)

May 15, 2019
“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” (2019)

Action/Comedy

Running Time: 104 minutes

Written by: Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Rob Letterman and Derek Connolly

Directed by: Rob Letterman

Featuring: RyanReynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy

Tim Goodman: “I don’t need a Pokémon, period.”

Detective Pikachu: “Then what about a world class detective? Because if you wanna find your pops, I’m your best bet.”

This week the latest video game adaption hits the big screen in the form of “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” (2019) that while having a decent premise as well as some emotional plot points that are refreshing, is ultimately predictable with a third act that suffers from what almost all major blockbusters these days suffer from, that is too much of everything, but it does have enough style over substance to keep audiences entertained for most of its run time. However it will ultimately fade into the background as more weightier movies are released throughout the year. This is the very first movie based on the ‘Pokémon’ franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri and the 2016 video game Detective Pikachu, judging from the way audiences have embraced it this will be the first of many which should succeed as long as the story changes and moves forward, as a straight sequel to his movie may struggle with originality.

What the writers and director have done with Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is something that many video game as well as comic book movies have successfully done over the past ten years or more, that is merge existing characters, in this case the Pokémon, with a classic story, in this case it is a detective story as well as a buddy cop movie and of course the requisite fish out of water narrative that pits a reluctant hero with a mystery to solve and of course with lots of supporting characters and revelations to follow. That is not a criticism, just a fact that assists the filmmakers and studios to endear their new property to not only existing audiences but to new ones as well.

Co-written and directed by Rob Letterman who has either been making animated movies or as is the case with this new movie, adaptations of one sort or another, it has to be said with very mixed success. His last movie was the R.L. Stine “Goosebumps” (2015) sort of adapatation, which was a minor success at the box office but a bigger critical hit as it was as original as it could be while maintaining a very good plot that was bolstered by a logical narrative and very good CGI. Unlike his previous movies “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” comes from one of the most popular properties on the planet, he does extremely well in harnessing a story while at the same time building a new world that audiences must be onboard with almost from the outset, if he fails in that then the movie falls apart. So much work is done with the first half of the story that by the time the second half as well as the climax of the movie arrives it becomes a big bloated mess, the saving grace, as well as the reason to see the movie is the performance by Ryan Reynolds, the special effects and the humour that is offered all the way through the story. All three of these elements sans the Ran Reynolds performance are present in all of Letterman’s movies, so he does have a style which is required when making the genre of movies he is involved in.

“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” concerns Tim Goodman a 21-year-old insurance salesman who had given up Pokémon training due to the death of his mother and the absence of his father Harry. While hanging out with his friend Jack, Tim learns that Harry has presumably died while investigating a case. He travels to Ryme City to collect Harry’s assets. Tim meets Lucy Stevens, a fluff columnist who wants to be a reporter and is suspicious of Harry’s death. While reminiscing in his apartment, Tim encounters a deerstalker-clad Pikachu that can speak and only he can somehow understand. From here the story moves along becoming the movie I have already described but I will not spoil the plot points as they are enjoyable to uncover as the movie moves along at a very good pace.

This movie is built around two elements the CGI effects as well as the central voice performance by superstar Ryan Reynold who mostly gives a ‘Deadpool’ like PG performance which is actually very good. The rest of the supporting cast are all very good, the standout is Bill Nighy who almost always steals every scene he appears in, he is really the second lead as it transpires. Playing opposite Reynolds voice is his onscreen partner Justice Smith whose largest part was in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018) where the part was an afterthought and actually not memorable at all. Here Smith does very well and the difficulty factor would have been large as he often acting in front of green screen and inanimate objects so he acquits himself exceptionally well. Overall the acting throughout the movie is very good especially for the genre it is within as well as it being full of special effects.

As “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is absolutely full of CGI effects they need to be of the highest standard possible with absolutely great backgrounds and foregrounds to highlight the world that all the real and made up characters inhabit. This is a fantastic looking movie with a mostly bright colour palette that shines even in the scenes set at night. It helps that this movie has a cinematographer like the legendary John Mathieson who aids the director with expertise making this movie look cinematic like few special effect’s movies have been which is a credit and makes it look amazing.

This is a very good movie with some issues such as the last half but it contains enough to make it an enjoyable trip into a new world that offers a lot of humour with the requisite heart that is needed to keep audiences engaged. Not only that but it is lovely looking, retaining some of the game elements but not making it an overly complicated narrative which us a plus in terms of video game adaptations. “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” should also be viewed on a big screen as it will reward that medium as there is a lot going onscreen which means the eyes need to roam over the lush visuals.
Movie review: “Brightburn” (2019)

May 14, 2019
“Brightburn” (2019)

Action

Running Time: 118 minutes

Written by: Mark Gunnand Brian Gunn

Directed by: David Yarovesky

Featuring: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones and Meredith Hagner

Brandon Breyer: “Mom, who am I?”

Mrs. Breyer: “You are a gift. I know it’s been difficult for you lately, that you feel different from other kids. You are different. After your dad and I got married, we prayed for a baby for so long. One night, someone listened.”

Released shortly into cinemas is what could be called the latest superhero movie, “Brightburn” (2019), this time with a twist in that the hero is actually a villain, his origin being one many should be familiar with, it is the Superman story, but instead of growing up good, with a purpose to protect humanity, this one tells the story of an alien super being with a destiny to destroy humanity, or at least bring us to our knees. On the very surface this movie may seem like an interesting idea, which to be fair it is, however that is all it is a very good idea that asks an important question about nature versus nurture which is something that has been asked for decades. Where this movie falls down is that it side steps any serious analysis of that question which would have been interesting and turns our antagonist into nothing more than a side show with some serious stalker issues as well as many other elements that can be found in any moderate slasher movie, which in case people have not noticed is so outdated modern horror movies don’t even use anymore. Not only that but evil, or bad Superman has been a range of storylines in comics for decades which reached its (possible) nadir with an alternate version, ‘Superman: Red Son’ which posited a reality where Kal-El was raised in the USSR. It was executed much better in the comics giving it the gravitas it deserved. This new movie is an attempt to frame something radical without actually offering much that is new or original which is a missed opportunity, the fault would have to be laid at the feet of the writers, directors and a producer who really should know better.

With a movie like “Brightburn” the experience as well as talent of the creators has to be addressed, here we find a screenplay by Mark Gunn and Brian Gunn who are the brothers of director (here producer) Jason Gunn as well as actor Sean Gunn. One need only look at their experience to see they have very little in creating original material, here all the heavy lifting is carried out by previous writers of any origin story mixed with the actual comics of ‘Superman’, any ‘Superman’ based television show or movie, in fact ninety percent of the plot of this movie is as ‘Superman’ derivative as anyone could ask for with a hint of a ‘bad seed’ and a generic slasher movie thrown in for good measure. This screenplay says nothing new at all, it does not push the genre forward anywhere at all, which is a crime when a central idea like this is put forward. This is what is most unfortunate about this movie, it had a chance to deconstruct the super hero movie in a way not seen since the M. Night Shyamalan genre defying “Unbreakable” (2000) did with not only an original story, but great characters, excellent performances and a well thought out narrative, most of which is missing in “Brightburn”.

It is not only the writers who are out of their depth, director David Yarovesky, has only one other movie under his belt, a low budget horror movie five years ago which failed to make waves. As a director when at the helm of a movie like this, a vision needs to be created and maintained which definitely does not happen here, with a low budget (US$7 million) the special effects as well as stunts and other onscreen action needs to be believable, fit within the narrative and not cheat an audience as to what they are viewing. In this case it nearly works but the skill of Yarovesky, is exposed, we do not see Brandon fly until the last scenes which is a letdown for many reasons, the action is a little mundane and takes place offscreen. I realise why all this was executed this way but it adds nothing, maybe if we had never seen a comic book movie before it may have added tension instead of frustration, but it does not really work for me. If there was ever a template for this type of movie, that is a low budget, genre defying, original and surprising piece of work it is the great Monsters” (2010) written and directed by Gareth Edwards. With that movie we had new insight into a genre that at that point had been done to death, but with a good story wrapped around a micro budget the director was able to inform an audience about an entirely new world, some of those lessons could have been used here.

“Brightburn” concerns a mother, Tori (Elizabeth Banks) whose dreams of motherhood come true with the arrival of a mysterious baby boy. Brandon (Jackson A. Dunn) appears to be everything Tori and her husband Kyle (David Denman) ever wanted—bright, talented, curious about the world. But as Brandon nears puberty, a powerful darkness seems to manifest within him, and Tori becomes consumed by terrible doubts about her son. Once Brandon begins to act on his twisted urges, those closest to him find themselves in grave danger, as the miracle child transforms into a vicious predator unleashed on an unsuspecting Kansas town.

One would think that a movie about a superpowered boy would be led by that actor but the main and outstanding performance in “Brightburn” is the always reliable Elizabeth Banks who as a protective mother plays the part to perfection in that she has to portray someone who has been waiting on motherhood her entire life and presented with a gift from above wants to believe in that right to the end of the movie, where she must embrace the reality of what her child is as well as the choice she must make. However, the way in which this unfolds lets her down as she only has moments to portray this betrayal when really it needed much longer to give her the central part she deserved. To say that Banks is the shining light in this movie is an understatement, the rest of the characters seem underwritten to the degree that the actors portraying them are given very little to do and end up being cut out shapes with little empathy which is needed when asked to view a movie with such limited scope. In terms of Jackson A. Dunn the young actor playing Brandon, he has the difficult part of playing an alien, not really knowing who he is and in that regard he seems to do that well, although there is such limited range in the character it is truly difficult to know whether it was what was required or is he just wooden, which is what comes off the screen.

At a taught ninety minutes “Brightburn” begins as it is going to end, really saying very little, offering a movie that feels like we have been there and done that many times before with the relatively original way in which the story is actually about a ‘bad seed’ which as I have said is nothing new, I mean it is even a sub-genre, and not a very good one, even John Carpenters “Village of the Damned” (1995) is a better movie, it has better actors and at least gives credit to the original novel.If “Brightburn” had been a little honest it could have not only commented on nature versus nurture, but could have actually had some fun with it as well offering three dimensional charters that would have elicited emotion, even the conclusion is a little routine with some of the more interesting outcomes contained within the end credits which is a little insulting after having put up with a plot that is not that interesting in the first place.

In saying that if you want to see a middle of the road action movie then you will not be let down, it has obvious hints to ‘Superman’, if you are a non-comic book reader or do not see many comic book movies then this may be quite original to you which is not a bad thing. However if you are an avid reader and viewer of comic book material this will offer very little in the way of newness or originally but it is not inherently a bad movie.
Trailer: “The dead don’t die” (2019)

May 14, 2019
Trailer: “The dead don’t die” (2019)

The greatest zombie cast ever disassembled come together for celebrated auteur Jim Jarmusch and his attempt at a zombie comedy with “The Dead Don’t Die” which now has a new red-band trailer courtesy of Focus Features.

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Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Selena Gomez, Caleb Landry Jones, Tom Waits, Chloe Sevigny, Carol Kane, Iggy Pop and RZA among many more star in the project.

Jarmusch will premiere the film at the Cannes Film Festival shortly ahead of its U.S. theatrical opening on June 14th.
Trailer & featurette: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Six”

May 13, 2019

Trailer & featurette: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Six”

In the wake of the fifth episode of “Game of Thrones”, HBO has released the trailer for the next episode as well as a featurette for this weeks episode “Queens of ashes”.

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Television review: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Five – “The Bells” (2009-2019)

May 12, 2019
Television review: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Five – “The Bells” (2009-2019)

Fantasy

Six Episodes

Created for HBO by: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Featuring: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gwendoline Christie

Varys: “I hope I deserve this.”

There can be fewer television shows going today that are more closely watched than “Game of Thrones” (2009-2019), especially as the production has been cloaked in secrecy that has only increased from year to year, this has been magnified by the fact that there has not been a new episode in almost two years. Another reason that there has been so much secrecy is that this eighth season is also the shows last which has only heightened expectation as well as fans and news outlets offering their own theories about how it will all end, who will live, who will die and what will be the fate of the seven kingdoms of the fictional Westeros.

“Game of Thrones” (after a reportedly terrible pilot) has introduced new actors as well as directors and writers while at the same time blending them with more experienced and veteran talent which ten years felt refreshing but now in this final season it could be said that the entire cast (those that are left) are all now strong veterans who are on a victory lap of sorts no matter how the plot unfolds and resolves itself.

This weeks episode titled “Queens of the ashes” follows on from the death of Missandei outside the gates Kings Landing where a week has past, things have not really improved for anyone with Daenerys going down a spiral I fear will lead to some very bad decisions. I for one am a little disappointed that we are seeing this once great character reduced to a mindless caricature that has taken the place of the Knight King and will soon it seems replace Cersei as the big bad of the series. In all honesty it seems a waste of a narrative arc, not only that but within the story it is like many elements this season happening far to fast, it does not seem earned which is a result of not only a shortened season but I feel fatigue on the part of all those behind this show.

There are many elements of this episode that are outstanding, first and foremost are the performances of everyone involved, I have the feeling that with only a short time left that the actors have understood what is required to make this last season something special, acting wise anyway. As usual Peter Dinklage leads the cast with some very canny acting, especially opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who always makes a great scene partner. It is great to see Lena Heady in full force and we see for only the third or fourth time, fear and chink in her emotional armor. However the entire episode seems to belong to Emilia Clarke and Kit Harrington as one wrestles with his choices and the other seems to have already made a fateful decision that will propel us into the last episode where the body count will increase at least by a couple of our main characters.

Of course “Game of Thrones” has been known not only for its action but also for the machinations of all the characters as well as their motivations in either ascending to the throne or helping others in their quest for the iron chair. This week however is like the previous battle episode all about spectacle as well as following the characters in very different locations. The effects work, especially the dragon is nothing short of breath taking as is the stunt work and other on-screen effects, if you like battles then this is one for the ages. We have over the years seen the dragons in battle but never like this episode it is a truly frightening moment when Daenerys and Drogon enter the fray and start to destroy all her enemies from above, one can only think this must have been what it was like when the Targarayans first came to Westeros, but far worse as they had more dragons.

Speaking of Daenerys it is not difficult to see the cracks that were forming in her psyche, her pain written all over her face, now turned to anger much like her brother and father before her, The only questions that remain are will someone have to either stand up to her or even take her down? Who will that person be, and how will her armies and her dragon react to that? It would be easy at this stage to say it would be Jon as the opposing force but I believe that Torman has hinted at Jon’s future in his farewell to him, I believe that if Jon were to survive he may end up in the very North with people he feels at home with.

I am not going to spoil this episode too much but there are segments that are great to see, the farewell between Arya and the hound, Jon realizing who is Queen really is, Tyrion also realising he has backed the wrong person and that much of the loss of life within Kings Landing is not only on his Queen but him as well. In fact Jon and Tyrion both will have to reckon with their decisions in this episode, and next week will have to reckon with Sansa who has proven she may indeed know more than anyone else in the story so far.

This is not perfect television but the difficulty factor on “Game of Thrones” is extremely high especially with only this episode and one more remaining. The weaknesses remain especially those involving logic as well as character decision making which sometimes is infuriating. Not only that but the jumps in narrative over the past two series have been frustrating in that many characters have to change from one scene to the next just to make sure the plot moves along at a pace so that the entire eight seasons can be wrapped up. What does that mean as a viewer, well it simply means that motivations do not make sense in the short term, unlike the long term if say this season was eight or ten episodes.

Looking forward it is difficult to know how the last episode will play out, especially now with many of the arch characters now dead. Obviously Arya will still have a major part to play, after that she has seen on the ground in Kings Landing, while she may not kill anyone I think she will assist Jon with what is to come. I do not think it is a reach to expect that there are going to be some major upheavals in the last episode, in fact I could see a sort of Civil War (although a very limited small one) occurring where Daenerys will end up on the throne but only briefly where her sins of the past will catch up, much like many of the characters this season, however she may say that price for the right reason.

Episode Five: “The bells”

Written & directed by: David Benioff & D. B. Weiss

Daenerys grieves while Tyrion has his concerns. Cersei and Euron brace themselves for the imminent battle. Jon and Davos observe the Dothraki and Unsullied as they muster before the Golden Company at the gates of King’s Landing.
Blu-ray/DVD review: “Instant Family” (2018)

May 12, 2019
“Instant Family” (2018)

Comedy

Running Time: 118 minutes

Written by: Sean Anders and John Morris

Directed by: Sean Anders

Featuring: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner, Tig Notaro, Margo Martindale, Julie Hagerty and Octavia Spencer

Karen: “Lizzie comes with two younger siblings.“

Pete: “Oh, my God!”

Ellie: “God, they’re adorable!”

Pete: “Why would you show us that? That’s wrong.”

This week sees the release of a new family comedy in the form of “Instant Family” (2018) a harmless diversion that seeks to capitalise on the more comedic side of Mark Wahlberg as well as teaming him with an actress that has proven herself to sometimes be the only bright part of any movie she is in with Rose Byrne. Of course, this is a movie that also seeks to replicate the success Whalberg enjoyed with two previous efforts in “Daddy’s Home” (2015) and “Daddy’s Home 2” (2017), the major difference being those movies teamed him with Will Ferrell who could carry much of the actual humour leaving his co-star to do what he is good at which is act, more or less, like a bully. What this new movie attempts is to make a something that does not just tip its hat towards being a family comedy, but embrace that completely by casting child actors as the major support for the two leads, which in itself can be problematic as it requires a certain sense of empathy for all involved. The other element of this movie that requires attention is the genre it is attempting to place itself in, while it does contain humour this really should have been a drama, however in doing that it would have come off more like a ‘movie of the week’, not a major motion movie with larger stars that permeate this story, such as Byrne, Whalberg, Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, comedian Tig Notaro and a whole host of very well-known character actors that all raise the bar on what is ultimately a fairly predictable story.

Of course predictability describes a vast majority of Hollywood movies which are on the surface very much enjoyable affairs, and it is not an easy task to market a movie about child adoption to a mass audience as it can be a tricky subject to either make a traditional happy story out of and to make fun of without reducing it to scenes that have all been done before or to make quick cutting montages, which is almost always the case. However, what is refreshing with this particular movie is that the director has left his (mostly) slapstick side seen previously, to offer some real scenes about characters that (mostly) feel authentic, which is a rare commodity within this genre, in fact there are few caricatures present in this classic narrative. There is actually much to enjoy in this movie, the fact that it is told from the viewpoint of the parents means that we see a side of this equation that is rarely explored, that is the courage, hard work, dedication, failure and sacrifice that is made by adoptive parents, especially those that adopt three siblings that are all older, set in their ways and are at some point resentful. “Instant Family” does complete the narrative by illustrating the positive elements that come out of adoption, the fact that if all the trials and tribulations are worked through the outcome is one of positivity as well as rewarding, because as parents they have chosen their children, standing by them, as in this movies case through good and bad. I was prepared not to enjoy or like this movie, especially after the trailer, but I had a great time with this story, it had its issues, but overall it was more real than any of Mark Wahlberg’s recent movies, dramas, action or comedies.

“Instant Family” is based around married couple Pete and Ellie Wagner, after being taunted by relatives who think they will never have kids, start considering the option of adopting a child. Initially half-serious, they eventually decide to enrol in a foster parent’s course. The couples are brought to a fair where they have the chance to go up to kids that they are interested in adopting. Pete and Ellie walk by the teenagers, although Ellie shows hesitance over raising a teen. Of course, you can guess where the story is going, not only do they take in a teenager but also the teenager’s younger brother and sister as well. From there the story goes where you might expect as well as places you might not, but I will not spoil it as it is rather enjoyable both in a comedic and dramatic way.

The two stars of this movie are Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as the parents who adopt the three children, they both give the performances you might expect, Wahlberg is a little stiff, attempting to play someone real, who is relatively normal and has degrees of subtly I am not sure he is actually able to play believably. However, the strength of this movie comes down to the performances of Rose Byrne and Isabela Moner as adoptive mother and daughter respectively who possibly have the most screen time as well as the most complicated relationship in the entire movie. Over the past few years Byrne has shown herself adept at playing real emotional characters that come to life onscreen, the only real thing holding her back are the projects she is involved in, I think she is better than almost all of them, I wish she could be in a film that would enable her to really stretch and show the kind of skill she obviously has. Then there is relative newcomer Isabela Moner who might only be young but has proven she is extremely talented, like Byrne able to portray emotional characters with some kind of agency much like she does her and did last year in the criminally underrated“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” (2018). A special mention has to be made of the two (slightly) comic relief characters in Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro who are a ying and yang like support for the adoptive parents, they also act as the main source of exposition but use comedy to do this which is welcome and they are both excellent.

This is by no means a perfect movie but there is enough going on within the narrative for most and it is a genuine family movie in almost every way which is a relief when searching for something that is appropriate for almost all ages. Directed and co-written by Sean Anders who at this stage if his career is an experienced film maker he knows how to construct a narrative around a plot as well as how to harness all his actors which is a delicate element with this kind of subject matter. “Instant Family” is his most serious movie to date especially compared to his previous efforts which are more broad comedies that are all fairly uneven, unlike this new movie. Hollywood directors moving from comedies to dramas is nothing new, in fact it is occurring more and more, where this differs is that all important tone or genre within which it fits. What would have been more original as well as more impactful would have been to move this movie more towards a drama, this may have meant it would have had more of an impact as well as pushing through the social element thereby impacting on audiences other than with an emotional element which can come off as manipulative.

Ultimately though this is a very enjoyable movie and will be a lovely surprise to viewers who have no idea what to expect from this as it was not marketed well. In fact as I have said this is a movie that has lessons to instil for those who wish to receive them.
New Trailer: “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”

May 11, 2019
New Trailer: “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”

“John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” features Keanu Reeves as the titular character in the third installment in the John Wick film series, following John Wick (2014) and John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017). The film is directed by Chad Stahelski and with a screenplay written by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins and Marc Abrams, based on a story by Kolstad. It also stars Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Saïd Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn, Tobias Segal, Boban Marjanović, Anjelica Huston and Ian McShane.

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Still on the run following his assassination of Santino D’Antonio in The Continental, and with a $14 million global contract on him, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is banned from every Continental service, which forces him to fight his way out of New York City with the help of a hitwoman (Halle Berry) who still trusts him.
DVD review: “Delicious: Series Three” (2019)

May 10, 2019
“Delicious: Series Three” (2019)

TV Series/Drama/Comedy

Episodes: Eight

Created by: Dan Sefton

Featuring: Dawn French, Emilia Fox, Iain Glen, Sheila Hancock

Dawn French: “This is Cornwall – there are no secrets.”

These days cooking and comedy go together so well that it’s easy to forget when shows about cooking were relegated to Saturday and Sunday afternoons with Julia Childs and Hudson and Hall. Of course now they are an industry unto themselves, so it stands to reason that combining a good story, great actresses as well a touch of cookery would be an obvious thing to do. Introducing the dramedy “Delicious” (2017) featuring Dawn French, Emilia Fox and Iain Glen. “Delicious” follows in the footsteps of other similar shows going back to “Shelly” (1979-1992) where there was a dramatic edge with a comedy heart. Of course “Delicious” skews to the more dramatic elements but with a central talent like Dawn French and support from Sheila Hancock this show was always going to have humour, it doesn’t seem to want to take itself to seriously.

Sure there are elements of the soap opera genre that are present right from the outset but for me that’s what made it fun, not to be taken too seriously at all – it also had elements from the HBO show “Six Feet Under” (2001 – 2005) but transferred to the location of a high class restaurant instead of an undertakers business. Interestingly the talents behind the scenes, creator Dan Sefton as well as Directors John Hardwick and Clare Kilner, have all had a breadth of television experience in the UK which is a breeding ground for this kind of show – that can be a positive as well as a negative as it can limit the impact of the show as well as being confined to a formula of a sort. This is not a perfect show but it is very good, and is extremely entertaining.

The series is set in Cornwall, England, where celebrity chef Leo is married to the beautiful Sam and has a successful hotel business. However, he is having an affair with his first wife Gina, a talented cook from whom he stole many of his recipes and cheated on for years. After his death things hot up for all the lives he touched.

For me the real strength of this show is the talent that has been assembled onscreen, with Dawn French and Amelia Fox as the duel antagonists/protagonists, with the awesome Sheila Hancock and Iain Glen in meaty supporting roles that show off talents not seen before in other roles. There is no doubt that Dawn French is the star of the show, having really taken a backseat to writing and producing partner Jennifer Saunders for years, it is great to see French in a role she can sink her teeth into over four episodes – something she has never really done dramatically so this is refreshing for an audience. I do admit I was waiting for the other shoe to drop in terms of her performance, that is move into some kind of character shtick, but this never happens. On the other hand Emilia Fox, best know for her work on “Silent Witness” (1996 – present) is a real revelation as she shows her comic timing, matching French scene for scene, line for line. Then there is the always-reliable Iain Glen who is on another level thanks to his role as Jorah Mormont in “Game of Thrones” (2011 – present). What is nice to see is that he has range, which he has shown before but it is here with other experienced actors that he excels, you can see the glint in his eye – he doesn’t have to hold back or be reserved, he can just let loose, a sight to see for sure. Glen has always been that character actor who could be relied upon to show up and do his job, but for all intents and purposes he is the catalyst for this story, which endures after he is long gone.

As with many television shows produced about ‘real’ people the geographic area they inhabit, work and live in becomes vital and important, but instead of representing isolation “Delicious” uses its locations in very different ways. Set and shot in Cornwall it is a holiday destination for families and has a warm climate which is a great setting for a restaurant as well as fine food which a large aspect of this show relies on.

This is an excellent example of using resources and talent to create really good show that could have been mundane in different hands or with different onscreen talent. There is a B story involving the children of the two main characters, which is nice. There are also ‘soap’ and drama tropes that have been overused in the past few years, and are on hand here, i can only hope these might be dispensed with on the second season. I think that this is a real new millennium family drama about people who want to fit in but have issues because of one person’s vanity and bad choices. It is a real affirmation that the women in this show are the real heroes that have to not only come to terms with a real loss but also need to start to forge a future for their respective families. This show is definitely worth owning, it can be rewatch and that is down to the narrative as well as the cast which is top notch.
Teaser Trailer: “IT: Chapter 2” (2019)

May 9, 2019
Trailer: “IT: Chapter 2” (2019)

Adapting the other half of Stephen King’s iconic novel, “IT” sees evil resurfacing in Derry as director Andy Muschietti reunites the Losers Club – back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film – in a return to where it all began.

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Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone and Andy Bean star as the adult versions of the Losers Club, with the same kids returning for appearances.
DVD/Blu-ray review: “Mary Queen of Scots” (2018)

May 9, 2019
“Mary Queen of Scots” (2018)

Drama

Running Time: 125 minutes

Written by: Beau Willimon

Directed by: Josie Rourke

Featuring: Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant and Guy Pearce

John Knox: “We have a scourge upon our land. Tis a woman with a crown.”

Released this week on DVD and Blu-ray is what could have been a major highlight in film from last year (as well as an awards contender) in the historical drama “Mary Queen of Scots” (2018) that brings to the screen the epic rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and the titular, Mary Queen of Scots that while at times a riveting show piece that sees two formidable women outdoing each other in machinations that rival anything in history, ultimately it either brushes over major periods of time, creates history where there was none or feels small in its direction, never really living up to its hype or potential, especially with two actresses that have really come into their own over the past few years in Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan. This should have been a film for the ages with young actresses giving weighty performances of real woman in a post #meto environment, instead it feels lightweight as well as post modern in the worst way possible.

When it comes to movies (and television shows) based around the English monarchy there is surely no shortage at all, in fact they are so prolific as to almost be a genre unto themselves. What this means for this movie as well as any other similarly themed movie is that for them to gain traction, be noticed, relevant as well as successful they have to either say something new, reveal something unknown about characters or look and feel unique. It is unfortunate then that while this movie was filmed in some spectacular locations, has two very good leads as well as at times a fantastic supporting cast it comes off as very ordinary, indeed mundane which for a film that contains as much intrigue as this one does against an amazing backdrop is unforgivable. At the time this was set there were many people vying for power, attempting to wrest control in their own ways throughout the Empire of which we see very little in real terms.

The main issues, for me, arise from the writing as well as direction which may seem obvious but a movie that contains this much history needed to be led by someone who not only had an understanding of the plot, but could also rope in the narrative so that it became a compelling, almost thriller like story, in fact if anything the sheer breadth of the narrative meant that a longer form medium was possibly the better way to go, instead of a two hour film. Directed by Josie Rourke in her debut really has no scope to frame what is occurring between the two women in power, in fact the entire framing visually is tight and restricted, when you have the immense power of the Scottish landscape as well as the growing city of London but never see them in all their glory, this is a crime that is unforgivable. We see two women vying for power but over what and whom, Elizabeth I said she was married to her people, but where are they? It is also unfortunate that in many scenes characters are all exposition with little action, it can be easy for a first-time director to rely on actors to tell the story but sometimes the camera has to tell the story as well. With a script by Beau Willimon it is no wonder that this film plays like a short version of televisions “House of Cards” (2013-2018) as he was the head writer on that once great series. Of course, the issue with that show was the ending as well as the fact that everything that was going on was absolutely fully explained to the audience, two elements it has in common with “Mary Queen of Scots”. Finally, the last, and most successful, element to address is the cinematography by the great John Mathieson who has worked on some of the greatest modern films of all time. What Mathieson brings to “Mary Queen of Scots” is some sense of history as well as cinematic experience, he knows how to frame shots as well as putting sequences together, he can assist the director in terms of composition, light and what looks good, of course that is where it stops as everything else is up to the director where there is a definite deficiency.

The main plot is set in the 1500s, nineteen-year-old Mary, Catholic Queen of Scotland, returns to her home country from France following the death of her husband, Francis II of France, to take up her throne, where she is received by her half brother, the Earl of Moray. In neighbouring England, her cousin, twenty-eight-year-old Elizabeth is Protestant Queen of England — unmarried, childless, and threatened by Mary’s potential claim to her throne.

While “Mary Queen of Scots” is billed with two lead actresses there is no doubt at all that Saoirse Ronan, as the titular character is the lead and is ably supported by Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I. Over the past few years Ronan has proved herself an incredibly able actress able to play a variety of different characters, she has enough Oscar nominations to prove how brilliant and accepted she is. The other aspect of Ronan is her fearlessness in not shying away from difficult parts, she seems to relish playing a wide range of characters that all at some point have their own agency. Here she plays a confident Queen who is finding her way in a foreign land contending with duplicitous men as well as a rival that is in many ways superior to her. Margot Robbie as Ronan’s co-star has the role that is a little splashy, more well-known and she is able to dip in and out of the narrative making an impact but no real requirement to do the heavy lifting. This is where the performances are limited as there is a need to bring both Mary and Elizabeth together to have them spar with each other which happens once but after they meet it is all downhill from there. The support cast is fantastic with my personal favourite David Tennant showing why he is such an adept actor but he was not in it enough to bridge the gap between Ronan and Robbie.

There is a need when audiences view a film based around real people or events that the subject being portrayed is authentic or at least as authentic as possible. What the movie going public has been educated on is that sometimes events play out differently in a narrative film as opposed to real life or even a documentary. The reasons for differences or variations in a good film normally revolves around structuring not only a cohesive narrative, something people are able to follow, or even to alter the time it takes for action to unfold. In some cases characters will become one fictional person so that it is easier to get from one point to another or conversation will take place to expediate the story, sometimes it is even done to create tension. Of course “Mary Queen of Scots” has a few factual errors which do not detract in terms of their errors, except one, which is a big one, even for a movie, especially when the trailers lead audiences to believe it really happened, that is the meeting between Elizabeth and Mary which never happened, to my mind this is unforgivable as well as a testament to the idea that this is a movie that needed to be helmed by someone with some more experience.

Ultimately this is an enjoyable movie, however it does have pretentions of being of a higher quality than it actually is. This is a middle of the road historical drama that has excellent actors as well as a compelling story which does get a little lost in the mix coming off as a melodrama that never scales the heights it wants to. If you can catch it on a streaming service or rent it you will be pleasantly surprised but it is a one watch only.
Featurette: “Game of Thrones – Season 8 – “The last of the Starks”

May 6, 2019

Featurette: “Game of Thrones – Season 8 – “The last of the Starks”

In the wake of the fourth episode of “Game of Thrones”, HBO has released a featurette covering “The last of the Starks”.

https://videopress.com/v/xeGKNkzE
Trailer: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Five”

May 6, 2019

Trailer: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Five”

In the wake of the fourth episode of “Game of Thrones” second episode, HBO has released the trailer for the next episode.
Trailer: “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019)

May 6, 2019
Trailer: “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019)

Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have premiered the full trailer for “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” the upcoming sequel to “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and directly continues on after the events of “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).

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Peter Parker goes on summer vacation to Europe with his friends and while abroad he teams up with Mysterio to battle the Elementals. The new trailer contains spoilers for not just ‘Endgame’ but also confirms a recent rumor – that Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio hails from another Earth with Marvel now able to access the multiverse in the wake of ‘the snap’.

Tom Holland, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau and Jacob Batalon reprise and are joined by Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury and Coby Smulders’ Maria Hill. The movie is slated to open in cinemas on July 5th.
Television review: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Four – “The Last of the Starks” (2009-2019)

May 5, 2019
Television review: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Four – “The Last of the Starks” (2009-2019)

Fantasy

Six Episodes

Created for HBO by: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Featuring: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gwendoline Christie

Daenerys Targaryen: “We have won the Great War. Now we will win the last war.”

There can be fewer television shows going today that are more closely watched than “Game of Thrones” (2009-2019), especially as the production has been cloaked in secrecy that has only increased from year to year, this has been magnified by the fact that there has not been a new episode in almost two years. Another reason that there has been so much secrecy is that this eighth season is also the shows last which has only heightened expectation as well as fans and news outlets offering their own theories about how it will all end, who will live, who will die and what will be the fate of the seven kingdoms of the fictional Westeros.

“Game of Thrones” (after a reportedly terrible pilot) has introduced new actors as well as directors and writers while at the same time blending them with more experienced and veteran talent which ten years felt refreshing but now in this final season it could be said that the entire cast (those that are left) are all now strong veterans who are on a victory lap of sorts no matter how the plot unfolds and resolves itself.

The Battle for Winterfell saw the Night King and his army of the undead take on the living in a massive battle that while making a huge dent in the armies of both the North as well as Daenerys, it was actually light on main characters deaths which may have irked some audiences. Not only that but the dispatch of the Night King by Arya has also left some people a little cold (pun intended) in terms of the undead storyline being over, of course that means with three episodes left we are faced with how the battle against Cersei will unfold. The first indication of how that will play out as well as the question as to what the armies at Kings Landing has been doing over the past few episodes is made very clear with this new episode.

This weeks episode titled “The Last of the Starks” follows on from the battle with a funeral pyres lit as well a a brief catch up to not only the surviving characters but also some goodbyes to them as well. I have to admit I was expecting a more low key episode, especially following one so massive of scale but while this does begin as a melancholy conversation driven story we are soon thrust into some action as well as some significant losses for Daenerys who at times is seething with anger. More of that later though as we are still witnessing a divide that is only growing between this Queen and the Lady of the North, Sansa.

There are many elements of this episode that were outstanding, first and foremost is the performance of Sophie Turner as Sansa who this season has been a revelation, not just for her character, but her performances have been nothing short of revelatory. Interestingly as Sansa has gained more recognition and personal strength, as well as ageing from the young girl we met in Season One to the young woman we see in Season 8, it is Turner who has turned out to be the one to watch, she has gained exceptional skill in her acting which is reflected here. That is really saying something as she is playing fourth (sometimes fifth) fiddle to the rest of the main cast, but each week I look forward to her scenes more and more, I hope she is not sidelined with only two episodes now remaining.

Of course “Game of Thrones” has been known not only for its action but also for the machinations of all the characters as well as their motivations in either ascending to the throne or helping others in their quest for the iron chair. This week much time has been spent with Tyrion and Varys who are now at odds in regard to who should inhabit the throne, Jon or Daenerys, especially with Jon’s true family history now being revealed to many of the main players, which is something that is now happening off camera, as well as something that Daenerys wanted to keep secret.

Speaking of Daenerys we are as expected witnessing a testing of her character as not only did she suffer major losses in “The Long Night”, but her most trusted friends and advisors, not to mention her dragons are falling around her in front of her eyes while she remains unable to do anything about it, this is the most powerless we have ever seen her since her introduction in Season One. It is not difficult to see cracks forming in her psyche, her pain is written all over her face, the only questions are will she crack, becoming like her father? Will someone have to either stand up to her or even take her down? Who will that person be, and how will her armies and her dragon react to that? It would be easy at this stage to say it would be Jon as the opposing force but I believe that Torman has hinted at Jon’s future in his farewell to him, I believe that if Jon were to survive he may end up in the very North with people he feels at home with.

This weeks episode is also striking for its crisp as well as cold cinematography as we see that Winterfell is not the only one feeling and looking tired and broken. Every single one of the characters look, as they should, worn out from not only the previous battle, but their entire journey from the very beginning to where they all find themselves now. Not only that many look older than they should which is a testament to not only the make-up but to each of these actors as well. It has been a long journey for many and there have been numerous deaths to contend with, it is not surprising that with the end now in sight, that with so much riding on any outcome that mistakes will be made from people who are completely exhausted.

Of course this episode ends with the promise of another battle to come, there is no doubt that there will only be one winner in the war to come between Daenerys and Cersei, it remains to be seen what collateral damage they will incur, but it will be heavy. Of course the bigger and more interesting question is how will the other characters make their intentions known, we have had a small look into what some think, as well as what we see as another fracturing of the main cast into either smaller groups or seemingly heading off to start new lives. The most enticing of these groups is the one made up of Arya and ‘The Hound’ who are off to Kings Landing to settle scores, I for one expect both to die meeting their own goals, which will close out their own arcs as well as the series in episode six.

This is not perfect television but the difficulty factor on “Game of Thrones” is extremely high, so it seemed shoe horned that we are reintroduced to Bron who was tasked with killing Tyrion and Jamie. Bron’s storyline seems almost wound up with a brief conversation as well as the promise of a bribe for reneging on his promise to Cersei which seems off hand as well as dismissive while tying his narrative arc up, which is unfortunate for someone who has been around from Season One.

Looking forward we know there is going to be one more major episode that will be devoted to a massive battles clocking in at around an hour and a half so outside of that we will possibly have one more narrative based episode which will be good counter programming as well as hopefully sorting out storylines from previous seasons.

Episode Four: “The last of the Starks”

Written by: David Benioff & D. B. Weiss Directed by: David Nutter

The North mourn their dead, burning them on funeral pyres. During a somber feast, Daenerys legitimizes Gendry as a Baratheon, and names him as Lord of Storm’s End. Gendry proposes to Arya, but she declines. Jaime and Brienne become lovers. To protect her claim as queen, Daenerys asks Jon to conceal his true parentage, though he wants Sansa and Arya to know. Tormund tells Jon he and the Wildings will return north. Bronn arrives to kill Jaime and Tyrion, but spares them in exchange for Highgarden. During a war council, Daenerys wants to immediately attack King’s Landing with their depleted forces, but Sansa prefers to wait. Jon reveals his Targaryen claim to Sansa and Arya, swearing them to secrecy. Wanting Jon as king, Sansa tells Tyrion, who informs Varys. Daenerys and her fleet set sail for King’s Landing, while Jon leads the Northern army. Arya leaves Winterfell with Sandor Clegane, heading for the south. Euron Greyjoy ambushes the fleet, killing Rhaegal with a more powerful “scorpion” weapon, and capturing Missandei. Daenerys considers seizing King’s Landing using Drogon’s fire. Varys believes Jon would be a more tempered ruler than Daeneyrs, who may be growing mentally unstable. After receiving news of Cersei’s victory, Jaime leaves Winterfell. Daenerys arrives at King’s Landing, and Tyrion conveys her demand that Cersei surrender, but a defiant Cersei instead executes Missandei.
Trailer: “Late Night” (2019)

May 3, 2019
Trailer: “Late Night” (2019)

Emma Thompson stars as Katherine Newbury, a pioneer and legendary host on the late-night talk-show circuit. Facing low ratings and a network that wants to replace her, and accused of hating women, Newbury hires a woman named Molly (Mindy Kaling) to join her all-male writer’s room.

https://videopress.com/v/zjRnG5ov
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Molly, determined to prove she’s not just a diversity hire, is determined to help and aims to revitalise the show and enact bigger change at the same time. Max Casella, Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Denis O’Hare, Reid Scott, and Amy Ryan co-star in the film which Nisha Ganatra helms. It opens June 7th.
Trailer: “Blinded by the Light”

May 2, 2019
Trailer: “Blinded by the Light”

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the trailer for “Blinded by the Light,” an upcoming true story inspired musical drama set to Bruce Springsteen’s songs. The film is slated for release on August 14th.

https://videopress.com/v/MLc2Hcne
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Gurinder Chadha helms the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in a small English town in 1987. Amidst racial and economic turmoil, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father.

But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.

Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell and Dean-Charles Chapman star in the film based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir “Greetings from Bury Park”.
Blu-ray/DVD review: “The Favourite” (2018)

April 30, 2019
“The Favourite” (2018)

Drama

Running Time: 130 minutes

Written by: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara

Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos

Featuring: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith and Mark Gatiss

Queen Anne:“Some wounds do not close; I have many such.”

Critical Review:

It is truly amazing how quickly the critical establishment can turn against a director, then return him to favour, this is what has happened with newly Oscar nominated Yorgos Lanthimos, who directed the truly genre defying classic “The Lobster” (2016) then was shunned a little when his next film “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017) was released, not meeting expectations, not in terms of quality but what it does with narrative, plot and subject. Yorgos Lanthimos is definitely a unique director with a vision that is singular, at once accessible but aloof in caring what audiences think about the end product, that is true in the case of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and his new film the great “The Favourite” (2018). This new film is an oddity in the best possible way, it is a drama, with elements of comedy, post #metoo zeitgeist, a love story, political thriller and a healthy does of historical reimagining. There are so many elements of this film that I really enjoyed that any parts of it that didn’t quite mesh with me had no real effect, as the style and vison are so clear that you might be thinking someone with far more experience has directed it. Interestingly this is the first film that Lanthimos has not written himself so this may have freed him up to concentrate on how he wanted the film to look, feel, flow and give it even more flourishes than his previous efforts.

This is a spectacular film based around part of the life of Queen Anne that covers some true events of her life such as her many lost children, the tension between the Royalty as well as the strands of government in that time, but takes artistic license with so much more such as her sexual affairs with both Sarah Churchill as well as Abigail Hill. However its not to say it is not fun watching two women vie for the attentions of the Queen no matter the cost to themselves, each other and England itself which is a treat considering the talent onscreen. What sets this movie apart from previous Lanthimos films is that it is possibly less pretentious, as well as being set in an actual real world although to be fair everything about this world is heightened, turned up to eleven if you will. Another aspect is that it is driven by women who all at some point have their own agency as well as aims in life but never settle or give up even when what they are striving for may seem like a lost cause. Like many films that are set in a Royal Court or are about aristocracy this works well as we see the Queen from very different points of view, we see her from a commoners point, the lower class, the political point of view and from an upper class point of view as well with all that entails in terms of the treatment to and from each class, as well as deep manipulation with almost everyone involved.

“The Favourite” is set in 1708, Britain which is at war with France, and Queen Anne sits on the throne. In frail health due to gout, Anne shows little interest in governing, instead preferring eccentric activities such as racing ducks and playing with her rabbits, which represent the seventeen children she has lost over the years. Her confidante, adviser and secret lover Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, effectively rules the country by the confidences she passes to the Queen. Abigail Hill, Sarah’s impoverished younger cousin, arrives at Court in search of employment. Abigail is at first forced to do menial work as a scullery maid in the palace, but after seeing the Queen’s condition, she sees an opportunity to ingratiate herself with Sarah and, eventually, Queen Anne herself. To say that this story is simple is a crime; it has intrigue as well as humour that really does make it something very special.

The film is definitely given a boost as well as sending it into the top of peoples best films of the year in large part because of the performances of the three leads, who have also all been nominated for Academy Awards in Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, they all do very different things while playing characters that could be seen as similar but are in fact extremely different. While technically onscreen less than her two co-stars this is very much Olivia Colman’s film, she shines in a role where she must almost be three different people sometimes in the same scene, she can be funny, loving, dramatic, coy and vicious all the while maintaining some semblance of royalty as the Queen. She also seems to be having the most fun in her role playing against two tough women who also shine. It is no small feat in wrestling the spotlight away from two Oscar winners in Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Both supporting actresses seem to be having a ball also in parts neither of them have ever played before, they are manipulative, calculating and above all have to seem to love the Queen at all time, attempting to one up the other at every turn without paying to any existing stereotype. I have to think it helps the director as well as Colman and Weisz that they have all worked together before on the breakthrough “The Lobster” which means they know just how to act in one of his films.

“The Favourite” is one of those unique films that mixes drama and comedy as well as bringing in many contemporary ideas, props, music, language and even dance numbers but it all feel like it fits naturally within the very simple narrative. It offers audiences a look into a life that is once alien but also instantly recognisable especially in the age we live now with fake news, an insane US government and court intrigue that today would be better suited to reality television and gossip magazines. To say that the writers have created something unique is an understatement, both Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara have never shown any ability to produce something as layered as this, it is politically astute as well as socially conscious in its representation of women as well as politicians. I have to believe that director Yorgos Lanthimos has also layered his own tastes as well as his own unique penchant for storytelling to make it personal for him, which it has, as this is one of the better most unique films of the past year.

This is without doubt one of the movies of 2018 with great actors and one of the best modern directors working today with an individual signature that sets him and his films apart from anyone working today. This is also a film that deserves to be seen in a cinema as it has a great sound as well as a magnificent look with a unique colour palette and a variety of lenses used to give it a feel of wonder, which is surprising in such a character based film. In a world where we are constantly spoon fed movies that are a dime a dozen or set themselves out to be just what you see it is refreshing to think that a film like “The Favourite” is still able to be produced to such a high degree and be seen by enough people that it can be considered a hit as it was a front runner at this years Oscars, winning Best Actress for Olivia Coleman.

Technical Review:

Video Review

“The Favourite” was shot on 35mm film using primarily the Arricam LT and Arricam ST. It is presented on home video in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Outdoor sequences look the best, overall. The director/cinematographer team shot many an establishing or transitional shot with a fisheye lens, which I found distracting for the way it makes the image appear as if you’re looking through the wrong end of a telescope, with things rounded around the edges; none of the fisheye footage looks all that great on Blu-ray.

Audio Review

The featured track for the Blu-ray is an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio one, and it’s about everything one would want from such a mix. The score by composer Komeil S, Hosseini is also enhanced by the track, and dialogue is always crisp and clearly understood. It’s a wonderfully well-mixed track that certainly adds to the presentation.

In addition to the lossless English 5.1 track, a 5.1 English Descriptive Audio track is available, as are 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks in Spanish and French. Subtitles are optional in English SDH, Spanish and French.

Special Features
- Deleted Scenes (HD 2:47) – Four deleted scenes from the movie, consisting of Emma Stone’s character taking a running leap into the Queen’s bed; Rachel Weisz’s character getting hit on by James Smith’s character during a late night encounter; and a brief sequence with Olivia Colman; a conversation between the characters played by Emma Stone and Nicholas Hoult (at the end of which the shadow of camera equipment can be seen – perhaps why it got deleted?).
- The Favourite: Unstitching the Costume Drama (HD 22:19) – This is an overall behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie and how the film was made to be a period piece, but with a very much modern film. Included here are comments from the cast and the crew.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD 2:10) – The original theatrical trailer for the movie, which makes it look more like a straightforward comedy than the occasionally dark and twisted tale it actually is.
Television review: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight – “The Long Night” (2009-2019)

April 29, 2019
“Game of Thrones – Season Eight – “The Long Night” (2009-2019)

Fantasy

Six Episodes

Created for HBO by: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Featuring: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gwendoline Christie and Alfie Allen

Melisandre: “What do we say to the God of Death?”

Arya Stark: “Not today.”

There can be fewer television shows going today that are more closely watched than “Game of Thrones” (2009-2019), especially as the production has been cloaked in secrecy that has only increased from year to year, this has been magnified by the fact that there has not been a new episode in almost two years. Another reason that there has been so much secrecy is that this eighth season is also the shows last which has only heightened expectation as well as fans and news outlets offering their own theories about how it will all end, who will live, who will die and what will be the fate of the seven kingdoms of the fictional Westeros.

“Game of Thrones” (after a reportedly terrible pilot) has introduced new actors as well as directors and writers while at the same time blending them with more experienced and veteran talent which ten years felt refreshing but now in this final season it could be said that the entire cast (those that are left) are all now strong veterans who are on a victory lap of sorts no matter how the plot unfolds and resolves itself.

The Battle for Winterfell saw the Night King and his army of the undead take on the living in a massive battle that took place at night and often in a blizzard which, combined with high traffic fan demand and low quality streaming services, turned what should’ve been some of the most epic visuals put to screen into something of a blurry, muddled mess at times.

This weeks episode titled “The Long Night” follows on from the previous one as we witnessed the arrival of the army of the dead as well as the readying of the stronghold of the North, Winterfell by not only the Northmen but also the army of the Unsullied as well as the wild Dothraki, not forgetting the two dragons as well as their dragon riders, Jon Snow and Daenerys. In terms of the plot their were many questions to be answered, uppermost was, would the army of the living defeat the army of the dead, if so who and what would be the casualties, how would these effect the narrative of the show and who, if any of the cast would meet their own deaths. How “The Long Night” plays into the history of the show, well this one was a huge undertaking as well as some of the best battles yet seen in the seventy episodes of the show, not only that it has been the most expensive undertaking yet, with the longest shoot yet for the “Game of Thrones.”

In terms of the narrative of the “The Long Night” it is relatively linear taking place over one dark and stormy night, with both external as well as internal scenes that basically show one battle that for the most part illustrates what happens when an immovable object (Winterfell) is set upon by a seemingly unstoppable force, the result is definitely one of the biggest action set pieces seen on televisions ever. The good news is that this a very enjoyable episode where we see the full force of the army of the dead, how large it has come as well as how terrifying it would be to come face to face with it on a battlefield. This is keenly illustrated in the opening scenes where we see the Dothraki charge the unseen army in the distance as well as quick retreat and fear on their faces as they do, it is some of the best and terrifying scenes ever, much like the opening of “Game of Thorns” when we met a terrified soldier who had come face to face with one Wight, he knew then what we know now, the horror of animated death.

I am not going to give away too many spoilers as this episode needs to be seen to feel the full impact, but needless to say that there are a few character deaths that will hit home but in the scheme of the entire show are fitting as well as required to push the story forward in a meaningful way. Of course many meet their ends in heroic deeds but what is interesting is that there are still many whose fate has not yet been made clear. For me this is an interesting choice as it puts a great deal of weight on next weeks episode that will reveal who still stands to take on the armies at Kings Landing.

As with the previous episode there are a few callbacks to previous episodes, especially in terms of the battle as well as how complicated it can be. As I have noted there are some pivotal scenes in this episode, such as the opening, a great dragon dog fight that at times was confusing but added to the feeling that Jon and Daenerys, we also see Jon take on the Knight King with some devastating consequences, we also see Arya come into her own on one hand but frightened on the other, Bran of course is as weird as usual with some unexplained actions that should come to light at a later date and of course we see people hiding in the Winterfell crypts which was a part I enjoyed immensely.

When we see Tyrion, Sansa as well as the rest of the non-fighters there is an immediate call back to the episode “Blackwater” from season two where there was a similar feeling and look, in that episode there was a fear that Kings Landing would be lost to Stannis and his invading force, however because of Tyrion the city was saved. Here we have Tyrion in the mode of thinking he can make a difference but Sansa (in the Cersei) is the one preparing for defeat in some very cold ways, of course unlike that episode the place of safety is not very safe at all.

Interestingly in terms of this episode as well as the technical aspects this has more CGI, stunts and special effects than any other previous installment. To make the episode more atmospheric, give it a sense of doom as well as making the effects easier to hide the entire battle is at night, from sundown to sunrise. In fact this led to some issues, as soon as the episode kicked off, tweets flooded social media with complaints that the episode was so dark that viewers had difficulty discerning what was happening. Gizmodo has looked into this and found that even with a good quality screen on a high-quality OLED (the best consumer TVs for shadow detail) people were still having issues.

Of course this episode ends with the battle ended, one side remains standing, although much of their armies have been killed so the resources they have now are much smaller in size so planning for the next stage of their journey may need to be altered. We also do not know who has survived, although we do know who has actually died. The fate of both dragons remains, at this stage unknown.

Looking forward we know there is going to be one more major episode that will be devoted to a massive battles clocking in at around an hour and a half so outside of that we will possibly have more narrative based episodes which will be good counter programming as well as hopefully sorting out storylines from previous seasons. My feeling is that Arya will play another large part moving forward, as well as I believe Daario will make a comeback to bolster Jon and Daenerys forces. We have not yet seen how the revelation that Jon made to Daenerys will play out but I am picking this will be a bone of contention in the final episode with a showdown of sorts that will not end well for those people who like seeing them together. We may also see the demise of all the dragons as Westeros moves into a new age.

Episode Three: “The Long Night”

Written by: David Benioff & D. B. Weiss Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik

The Night King and his army have arrived at Winterfell and the great battle begins.
Trailer: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Four” and “The Long Night” Featurette

April 29, 2019

Trailer: “Game of Thrones – Season Eight, Episode Four” and “The Long Night” Featurette

In the wake of the third episode of “Game of Thrones” second episode, HBO has released the trailer for the next episode as well as a featurette covering “The Long Night”.

https://videopress.com/v/2KngkTkI
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Trailer: “Men in Black International” (2019)

April 26, 2019
Trailer: “Men in Black International” (2019)

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are the lead agents H and M respectively in this UK-set take on the sci-fi comedy films. Their latest case will call upon them to solve a murder mystery with global implications and a new threat called The Hive which has infiltrated the organisation.

https://videopress.com/v/QCNPvOIX
men_in_black_international_official_trailer_2_F3lJwV7ZIIk_1080p

The film won’t include Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith’s characters but will be set in the same continuity. Liam Neeson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, Rebecca Ferguson and Emma Thompson also star.

F. Gary Gray (“The Fate of the Furious”) helms the new take from a script by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. It opens June 14th.

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