In the not-too-distant future, an Artificial Intelligence-led nuclear attack on Los Angeles leaves millions of humans dead. Realising the active threat AI poses to the very fabric of our ongoing existence, the West wages war on all AI, however not everywhere on the planet agrees with this approach. In New Asia, AI lives harmoniously with humankind, and it’s there that a rumoured new ‘weapon’ is being harboured. Joshua (John David Washington), a former military man, is tasked with helping a covert mission to locate and destroy this threat, but when the AI is revealed to be a child (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), Joshua must wrestle will mixed emotions, including a link to his traumatic past.

The ensemble of ‘The Creator’ is impressive, with John David Washington once again spearheading a bold and ambitious science fiction epic with authority and undeniable screen presence (especially after his turn in Christopher Nolan’s polarising ‘Tenet’). Washington’s Joshua shares a believable chemistry with Gemma Chan’s character Maya. Chan gives an effortless grace and poise to every project she’s in. Young Madeleine Yuna Voyles is impressive as Alphie, the AI that could spark the end of the world. It’s nice to see Allison Janney steal her scenes as Colonel Howell, a dogged military officer on the trail of Joshua, and even Finch from ‘The Office’ aka Ralph Ineson pops up as a army general looking for Joshua’s help in defeating AI for good. The legendary Ken Watanabe is also a big highlight as Harun.

‘The Creator’ is truly a labour of love for Gareth Edwards, and you can see that in every frame on the big screen. His vision lends itself perfectly to big-format cinema, with IMAX screens certainly the best way to fully immerse yourself in this fantastical world. The film is gorgeously rendered and offers a beautiful study into the marriage of man and machine in the not-too-distant future. In a world where we are used to seeing impressive visions of futuristic existences from the likes of ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Terminator 2’, ‘Robocop’, ‘Avatar’ and ‘Minority Report’, ‘The Creator’ manages to deliver that awe-factor to its visuals, keeping the viewer utterly enchanted by the feast laid out in front of their eyes.

The story of ‘The Creator’ isn’t as fresh or ground-breaking as it would like itself to be though, with audiences having already seen this type of narrative played out many times before, most recently in ‘Avatar’ – essentially a hero infiltrates a native species, but soon learns to love them and their plight before rampant corporatism and military action come knocking. ‘The Creator’ basically follows along similar lines, but it does so with its own panache.

A tad too long, and with a second act that loses the impressive momentum built from the film’s brilliant opening sequences, ‘The Creator’ is still a rewarding watch. It’s nice that big subjects like AI taking over our world are explored, and even better that the machinations of a potential AI treat is weighed up against human error and our own insecurities. ‘The Creator’ offers up a lot of interesting questions about where we, as a civilisation, are heading in the future, and the role technology has to play in not only our day-to-day lives, but on the bigger subjects of existence and purpose. ‘The Creator’ is an engaging sci-fi with an impressive visual style and lots of emotional weight, that holds your attention throughout.

Cast: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Ken Watanabe, Ralph Ineson, Sturgill Simpson, Veronica Ngo Director: Gareth Edwards Writer: Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz Certificate: 12A Duration: 133 mins Released by: Disney Release date: 28th September 2023

The post ‘The Creator’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The plot involves Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) banding together the latest iteration of his Expendables Special Forces team, under the guide of government agent Marsh (Andy Garcia), to stop some stolen nuclear devices from being activated. His right-hand man Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) joins up with old regulars Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) and Toll Road (Randy Couture). Along for the ride are new recruits Easy Day (50 Cent), Galan (Jacob Scipio) and Lash (Levy Tran), with Lee’s on again-off again girlfriend Gina (Megan Fox) also in tow.

No-one goes into these films expecting Oscar-worthy scripts, but the dialogue this time around is especially wooden and has no natural flow to it whatsoever. We know these people can act because we’ve seen it before, but ‘The Expendables 4’ seems to have been mapped out with no consideration for what’s come before, a complete lack of character development and a basic misunderstanding of what a classic 80s action film was all about.

The cast do what they can with the poor material laid out in front of them. Sylvester Stallone is in it more than I expected, but it’s still woefully underusing him and his talents. Jason Statham must be exhausted because he’s carrying this entire film on his back, but even he can’t work miracles in these trying circumstances. Megan Fox is a decent actress when she has the right material (‘Jennifer’s Body’ is an absolute classic and she is brilliant in that), and I’ve been a fan of her work in the past. She is obviously a siren, and dutifully portrays this in the film. But her character is so thinly put-together it’s absurd. She will no doubt get stick for this film, but a better writing team can easily make her character useful, and not just the seemingly obligatory eye-candy.

Dolph Lundgren’s character has historically been wasted in this franchise as an inside-joke that no one asked for. His comic relief is awful, and that’s no fault of his own. It’s completely down to the awful writing he has had to endure. Lundgren is a good actor – give him better material for the love of God. An absolute waste of a talent. Andy Garcia chews up the scenery, 50 Cent offers nothing of real substance and Levy Tran is completely wasted as Lash. However there are some positives. Randy Couture is still solid and Tony Jaa steals the film as Decha, a former ally of Barney who helps Lee out mid-film. Iko Uwais is always a joy to watch onscreen, and Jacob Scipio does a fantastic job playing Galan (who is meant to be Antonio Banderas’ character’s son). Banderas was meant to reprise his role of Galgo in this movie, but scheduling conflicts prevented it. So, (in the only good move the writers made with this entire film), they repurposed the character to be his son. Scipio does a remarkable job channelling Banderas trademark charisma.

How it took four writers to come up with this story is beyond me, but we have Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, Max Adams and Spenser Cohen to thank for this mess. Not forgetting Scott Waugh’s poor direction which frequently opts for close-up action when a wider shot would have been far more satisfying to see the impressive set-pieces play out in. The fight between Jason Statham and Iko Uwais was great, as was any scene featuring Tony Jaa, but its impact was always affected by the way the sequences were put together, from its cinematography right down to its editing. Thankfully this isn’t ‘Taken 2’ levels of bad epilepsy-inducing action, but it also doesn’t hit its (very easy attainable) marks. Do the basics right and you win half the battle.

‘The Expendables 4’ is a massive missed opportunity and a complete waste of a chapter. Especially when we’ve had 3 very enjoyable movies already. And with the cast aging out soon, it seems like this is even more wasted time to deliver action fans a good, all-star ensemble. It was a long gap of almost 10 years between ‘The Expendables 3’ and this ‘Expend4bles’ mess, so we are running out of time. So please hire better writers and a proper action director if we are to get one more round with these characters. There is a market for this if anyone is willing to actually invest the proper time and attention this franchise needs. The fans deserve a much better finale than this.

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Megan Fox, Randy Couture, 50 Cent, Dolph Lundgren, Andy Garcia, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio Director: Scott Waugh Writer: Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, Max Adams, Spenser Cohen Certificate: 15 Duration: 103 mins Released by: Lionsgate Release date: 22^nd September 2023

The post ‘Expend4bles’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) has announced his retirement and is living the life of a recluse in the mysterious city of Venice, Italy. Spending his days avoiding constant calls for help from an adoring public that still clamour for the investigative skills of the infamous Belgian, Poirot is content with spending his days reading and eating fine Italian patisseries. That is, until an old friend and famed author Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) mysteriously appears at his door asking for his help to debunk a medium who claims to be able to contact the dead.

Adapted from Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’, and transposed from rural England to picturesque Italy has given this story a fresh new breath of life. Marking the first time that this story has been adapted onto the big screen, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is a wonderfully atmospheric and engrossing thriller that is perfectly suited to the broad canvas of cinema. It has a truly wonderful visual style that offers up an intellectual horror that, in many respects, is the perfect antidote to the lacklustre fodder that the genre has been plagued with for many a year. A solid, well-made film with beautiful cinematography throughout and filled to the brim with outstanding acting talent, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is exactly what mainstream cinema has been missing out on… a thematic franchise for adults.  

I have always loved Kenneth Branagh’s work, and ‘A Haunting in Venice’ showcases why he is such a beloved talent. He is magnetic onscreen as Hercule Poirot, and this time around he is given an opportunity to showcase some more of the humour and quirks of the character. This is thanks to his keen direction, and the work of screenwriter Michael Greene who has done an exceptional job in relocating this ghostly tale to a setting that literally drips of gothic terror and beauty in every frame. Branagh has shot the film exceptionally well too, really giving it a tangible sense of mystery and purpose, populating every scene with a ghostly melancholy that suits the narrative perfectly.

The ensemble for ‘A Haunting in Venice’ seems much better assembled than in previous films. It’s star-studded in its own right, but this time around it feels far more tailored to serve the story at hand, compared with ‘Death on the Nile’. Tina Fey is excellent as brash author Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh steals her scenes as medium Mrs. Reynolds. Jamie Dornan adds some nice texture to the role of Dr. Leslie Ferrier, who is suffering from PTSD after the war. Riccardo Scamarcio smoulders as Poirot’s personal security guard Vitale Portfoglio, young Jude Hill steals his scenes as Leopold, Dr Ferrier’s wise-beyond-his-years son, and Kelly Reilly convinces as grieving mother Rowena Drake, whose cursed house plays host to the night’s frightful events.

With the success of ‘Knives Out’ and ‘Glass Onion’, it’s clear that a mature audience craves more than just superhero movies for their long-form cinematic entertainment needs. After thinking that this franchise was dead in the Nile, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ comes along and reinvigorates the series, delivering the best chapter in this trilogy so far, and reanimating our love for Branagh’s Poirot and his curious investigations. And as a fan of atmospheric horror, this film also delivers bountifully to give audiences a great option to explore for Halloween. ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is a brilliant thriller, a very exciting whodunit and a suitably creepy movie that has learnt lessons from past missteps to conjure up a tonally spot-on film, and one that will hopefully usher in more Poirot adventures with Branagh at the helm.

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Riccardo Scamarcio, Kelly Reilly, Jude Hill, Camille Cottin, Emma Laird, Ali Khan, Rowan Robinson, Fernando Piloni Director: Kenneth Branagh Writer: Michael Green, Agatha Christie Certificate: 12A Duration: 103 mins Released by: Disney Release date: 15th September 2023

The post ‘A Haunting in Venice’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

‘The Flash’ ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue and Michael Keaton. ‘The Flash’ is produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco. The screenplay is by Christina Hodson, with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold, based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.

Check out our review of ‘The Flash’.

Worlds collide in ‘The Flash’ when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

To celebrate the release we’ve got 2 copies of the Blu-ray to give away. Enter below for a chance to win…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This competition closes at 23:59 BST on Monday 25th September 2023.

Terms & Conditions

1. The competition is open to all UK residents over the age of 15.
2. Winners will be selected at random.
3. By entering into the competition all entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions.
4. Entertainment Focus does not allow collective or proxy entries.
5. Entertainment Focus reserves the right to change or withdraw this competition without notice.
6. Entertainment Focus will not pass your details to any third parties and they will be used solely for communication regarding this competition.
7. Winners will be notified via email or social media and prizes must be claimed within 5 working days.
8. The supplier may change the prize offered without warning.
9. There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
10. Entertainment Focus’ decision is final – no correspondence will be entered into.

The post Win ‘The Flash’ on Blu-ray appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Some things have changed in the life of Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos). Her father and the head of the family Gus (Michael Constantine) has sadly passed away. Her mother Maria (Lainie Kazan) has developed dementia so Toula feels an especially strong calling to travel to Greece to honour her father’s memory and to give some of his childhood friends her father’s journal, which is full of stories and photos of the old country.

The plot for this film would suggest a need to visit a lot of beautiful locations. They are present, but used so fleetingly that it all feels like a massive, missed opportunity. The story involving her father’s journal and the quest to find his long-lost school friends should have galvanised the film, but instead it’s left to hastily cut, dialogue free montages to do most of the heavy lifting. All of the great locations are only onscreen for seconds, with the narrative constantly missing the open goals that lay right in front of them.

The original ensemble are all good, with Aunt Voula (‘Only Murders in the Building’ star Andrea Martin) stealing every one of her scenes once again. Nia Vardalos and John Corbett have undeniable chemistry and are always worth your time. Louis Mandylor is funny as Toula’s brother Nick who is still constantly grooming himself at any given moment. Gia Carides and Joey Fatone are on-hand to add a little pep to the film when it stalls midway.

Of the new cast additions, Alexis Georgoulis is good as a mysterious stranger who might have some connection to the Portokalos family, and Stephanie Nur is pleasant enough as Qamar, a local immigrant girl who is having a secret affair. Melina Kotselou plays Victory, the young mayor of the village, but the character is so badly written that they never come off as anything other than an annoying cliché.

The film still has some nice life lessons at the forefront of its story – the importance of strong family ties, the work ethic of immigrant families and how the older generation worked their fingers to the bone to provide for their children. There’s a nice voiceover from Vardalos at one point which illustrates how her father’s generation loved their homeland, but their constant working meant that they could never really go back home. The film has poignant moments like this throughout, but they are brushed over far too quickly and never properly explored.

‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ was never going to re-invent the wheel but it really should have taken a lot more chances. The story lends itself to some great situations, but these are glossed over for generic studio gags that only occasionally land, and a story that is never properly explored. If you liked the first two movies, then revisiting these characters today does bring with it some nice nostalgia and some gentle laughs. But at a point where this franchise could have delivered a really satisfying 20+ year reunion, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ settles on everything to make for a mildly amusing, but ultimately underwhelming third chapter that doesn’t try hard enough.  

Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Andrea Martin, Louis Mandylor, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone Alexis Georgoulis, Stephanie Nur, Melina Kotselou, Maria Vacratsis, Elias Kacavas, Elena Kampouris Director: Nia Vardalos Writer: Nia Vardalos Certificate: 12A Duration: 91 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 8^th September 2023

The post ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Joan Rubinsky (The Mandalorian’s Amy Sedaris) has been running her theatre summer camp for kids for many years. Along with her friend Rita Cohen (Caroline Aaron) they have scoured the school districts to find the most promising young talent to hone their craft during the summer season. When Joan is taken ill and falls into a coma, it’s left to her well-meaning, but completely out-of-his-depth son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) to save the day and take over running the camp – the show must go on after all! With creditors on his back and the future of the camp in jeopardy, Troy must hope that his faculty of teachers can rally the kids to produce a showstopper to close the summer season with. Enter best-friends Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon) and Amos (Ben Platt), theatre camp’s two leading tutors who have some big ideas for the finale.

It’s safe to say Molly Gordon is definitely going to be the next breakout star of Hollywood. She elevates everything she’s in and has an incredible screen presence that showcases star quality in abundance. Gordon co-wrote and directed this with Nick Lieberman (with Noah Galvin also doubling up as co-scripter and supporting star). Gordon has a great eye for comedic timing and is an absolute joy to watch.

The ensemble is where ‘Theater Camp’ gets its biggest applause. I’ve mentioned how Molly Gordon is sensational in this, Noah Galvin is very entertaining as the long-suffering Glenn Winthrop who may just hold the magic to keep the show going. Ben Platt as Amos Klobuchar is the perfect partner for Molly Gordon’s character Rebecca-Diane to bounce off – their relationship born from her unrequited crush on him before he came out, and their dysfunctional friendship now which seems to be showing some signs of stress. Jimmy Tatro does a wonderful job here as the kind natured broski Troy Rubinsky, who is clueless about the world he’s inherited but is still optimistically determined to make it work.

‘The Bear’ star Ayo Edebiri steals her scenes as Janet Walch, a chancer who blags her way into the Theater Camp claiming to be able to do numerous teaching jobs. Nathan Lee Graham is hilarious with the students as Clive DeWitt, in his dogged pursuit of fabulous perfection onstage through dance, and the legendary Amy Sedaris is gold as Joan Rubinsky. It’s a small role, but Sedaris proves that she absolutely captivates every scene she’s in with her unmistakable comedy stylings.

In the best way, ‘Theater Camp’ channels all of those familiar mockumentaries we love from the past and delivers a very entertaining romp that’s full of good characters and some ridiculously silly circumstance. This won’t change the world, but for its slender 92mins, ‘Theater Camp’ guarantees its willing audience lots of laughs and eccentric characters to fully get behind. In a summer filled with loud blockbuster movies, it’s refreshing to get a small indie comedy that revels in its own quirkiness. ‘Theater Camp’ acts as a worthy flag-bearer for the lovers of musical theatre and the natural comedic drama surrounding life whilst treading the boards.

Cast: Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Amy Sedaris, Ayo Edebiri, Nathan Lee Graham, Caroline Aaron, Owen Thiele, Patti Harrison Director: Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman Writer: Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, Noah Galvin Certificate: 12A Duration: 92 mins Released by: Disney/Searchlight Release date: 25th August 2023

The post ‘Theater Camp’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

One day, Doug drives him for hours out of town in a final bid to lose Reggie forever. Hours pass and Reggie is alone in the city, lost and with no way home. Soon he meets up with a friendly pack of strays – Bug (the voice of Jamie Foxx), Maggie (the voice of Isla Fisher), and Hunter (the voice of Randall Park). They manage to get through to the naïve pup and tell Reggie straight that Doug has abandoned him. So now with revenge in his mind and a new set of friends in tow, Reggie is determined to make his way back home one more time – to exact revenge on Doug once and for all.

If you’ve seen the trailers, then you’ve seen most of the best gags that ‘Strays’ has to offer – something of a curse that most R-rated comedies suffer from. But even though the plot is predictable, and the gags are sometimes obvious, the cast elevates the material and gives ‘Strays’ a lot of heart. Its best attribute is a surprisingly fresh and relevant take on abusive relationships – it even has some genuinely good insight and outlooks on these subjects. I was surprised that amongst the anarchy and chaos, ‘Strays’ still manages to make its emotional story the centrepiece of the film.

The cast are all excellent with Will Ferrell channelling his beloved wide-eyed wonder to good effect here. Think ‘Elf’ and ‘Spirited’ and you’ll get what Reggie is like as a character. Jamie Foxx is superb as Bug and has most of the film’s best lines. Isla Fisher and Randall Park are sweet as a couple of good-natured dogs who are attracted to one another. Will Forte can play a douche like no other, and there’s nice live-action cameos from Brett Gelman and (bizarrely) Dennis Quaid. Voice cameos come in the form of Rob Riggle, Josh Gad, Sofía Vergara and Harvey Guillén.

For a 93min film, I did clock-watch a few times, and that’s a shame because I think the set-up and the premise was decent enough to last the duration. The middle act drags on at times, with an over-reliance on gross laughs to do all of the heavy lifting. I’m not saying I didn’t laugh, but the lingering shots of a dog pound cell full of canines going to the toilet was perhaps a camera angle that the Academy didn’t require for their consideration.

‘Strays’ is a bawdy comedy that’s instantly forgettable, but it does have some good gags in it and some solid vocal performances that elevates the material at times. It’s pretty much what you expect it to be, but with much more toilet humour than you’d think, or indeed want. One scene towards the end of the movie has a fantastic use of the Miley Cyrus track ‘Wrecking Ball’ that needs to be seen to be believed though. It does just about enough to guarantee a fun night out at the movies, but you’ll struggle to revisit this in years to come – not like superior, classic R-rated comedies such as ‘Ted’, ‘Sex Drive’ or ‘Step Brothers’ which are just endlessly rewatchable. So the wait for the next truly great R-rated comedy continues.

Cast: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Will Forte, Brett Gelman, Dennis Quaid, Rob Riggle, Josh Gad, Sofía Vergara, Harvey Guillén Director: Josh Greenbaum Writer: Dan Perrault Certificate: 15 Duration: 93 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 18th August 2023

The post ‘Strays’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The plot finds Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returning home from college to find that his family have been struggling to make ends meet. With the family business lost and mounting debts, he gets offered a job offer working for tech billionaire Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine). Jenny hurriedly asks Jaime to hide a mysterious object for her when he turns up for his job interview. With people seemingly chasing her for this, Jaime takes it home. The object is a mysterious alien scarab that chooses Jaime as its symbiotic host, latching onto his back and turning him into an armour-shielded superhero named ‘Blue Beetle’. With Jenny Kord’s nefarious aunt Victoria (Susan Sarandon) frantically hunting for this stolen tech, Jaime and Jenny are on the run to protect it from falling into the wrong hands.

To be the first Latino superhero in a major DC film is a big deal, and Xolo Maridueña absolutely embodies this hero perfectly. The ‘Cobra Kai’ star has really commanded every project he’s been in, and his selection as the head of this new superhero blockbuster franchise should be commended. Xolo Maridueña has an unmistakable, relatable charm that makes him box office gold. He was the perfect lead to launch ‘Cobra Kai’ and now ‘Blue Beetle’ utilises his natural charisma to good effect on the big screen as Jaime Reyes.

The rest of the supporting cast are decent, with a few exceptions. George Lopez is as excellent as you’d imagine and steals every one of his scenes as the hilarious Uncle Rudy. Damián Alcázar, Adriana Barraza, Belissa Escobedo and Elpidia Carrillo are all brilliant as Jaime’s father, grandmother, sister and mother respectively. The family dynamic of ‘Blue Beetle’ is its saving grace. It absolutely works on every level at the start, and more importantly, it portrays a Latino community that isn’t full of cliches. ‘Blue Beetle’ is fused with Latino culture in all the best ways, and it was great to see this onscreen.

Sadly, Susan Sarandon was an awful, pantomime villain here with zero nuance or depth. She chews up her scenes as Victoria Kord and will sadly be remembered as one of the worst DC characters of all time. She, and the movie, deserved much better material to work with. Harvey Guillén has proven with his work on ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ that he is a great talent, but he’s utterly wasted here. Raoul Max Trujillo does really well as Carapax, despite the film frequently missing key moments to really promote the character and his interesting backstory. Bruna Marquezine was quite forgettable as Jenny Kord.

The film starts off so well, with Xolo Maridueña leading the line with an assured, but light touch that fits the dynamic of the opening narrative set-up perfectly. The family life of Jaime Reyes is also perfectly laid out for fans to fully get behind the characters and give the film a genuine sense of heart and soul. Then after he first turns into ‘Blue Beetle’ for the first time, the film seems to rely far too much on CGI set-pieces and frantically shot action scenes that are devoid of real purpose, and at times just look like Power Rangers outtakes. It’s such a shame, because the film has all of the elements needed to have made a very strong story, but I didn’t like certain choices in the movie. I can’t go into more detail because they are spoiler-filled, but it’s frustrating to see ‘Blue Beetle’ rely a bit too heavily on soulless CGI action when there was a far stronger emotional connection to be harnessed here.

For all of its faults, ‘Blue Beetle’ is still an enjoyable ride, and a sequel may fare better if they make some necessary adjustments. It might be coming at the wrong time though, as the new head of the DC Universe James Gunn looks to be rebooting the whole movie slate. It remains to be seen how ‘Blue Beetle’ sits in his new vision for the future of the brand, but there are enough avenues left open at the end of this film that could potentially place the character in this new movie universe. For now, ‘Blue Beetle’ comes in as an enjoyable but familiar summer blockbuster, but one that doesn’t aim very high.

Cast: Xolo Maridueña, George Lopez, Damián Alcázar, Adriana Barraza, Belissa Escobedo, Elpidia Carrillo, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén, Raoul Max Trujillo, Bruna Marquezine, Becky G Director: Angel Manuel Soto Writer: Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer Certificate: 12A Duration: 127 mins Released by: Warner Bros Release date: 18th August 2023

The post ‘Blue Beetle’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The ’Gran Turismo’ video game for Sony Playstation has been widely regarded as the greatest racing simulation ever made. It’s more than just a game – it’s a faithful and accurate depiction of how these cars handle – which is why it’s been a best-seller for years. Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) is a young man who spends most of his time playing the game on his console. This obviously doesn’t go down too well with his parents Steve (Djimon Hounsou) and Lesley (Geri ‘Ginger Spice’ Horner), who worry that he is wasting his life away playing ‘Gran Turismo’. A competition is launched, backed by Nissan, that wants to find the greatest ‘Gran Turismo’ players from around the world. The winners get to become an actual race team, learning to drive the real cars that they are so familiar with in the game. A grand winner will also be selected to represent Nissan at a real motor race. Jann enters and wins the competition. Now he stands on the precipice of all of his dreams coming true and becoming a real-life motorsport racer.

As a concept, ‘Gran Turismo’ has exactly the type of unrealistic plot device that I’d expect a Hollywood AI machine to churn out. The fact that this was an actual thing – and that not only did the PlayStation player qualify, but thrive as a legitimate car racer – proves that fact is sometimes stranger than any fiction. ‘Gran Turismo’ tells a fascinating and quite unbelievable true story and does so in a very engaging and edge-of-your-seat way.

The first indication that this video-game inspired film is cut from a different cloth was in the hiring of director Neill Blomkamp. Responsible for such sci-fi classics as ‘District 9’ and ‘Chappie’, Blomkamp was a very interesting choice to bring this story to life on the big screen. And he does so with gusto and a real sense of narrative velocity. This story is undeniably made up of remarkable circumstance, but Blomkamp manages to still make it feel structured and immediate.

The cast are all good here. ‘Stranger Things’ hero David Harbour naturally steals the film as Jack Salter, the man responsible for training the gamers in the harsh realities of real-world motorsport racing. Archie Madekwe does well as Jann, giving him a believable portrayal of a kid who might be able to achieve his widest dreams. Orlando Bloom is entertaining as Danny Moore, the Nissan PR whizz who came up with this wild concept. Djimon Hounsou is his usual dependable self as Jann’s hard-working father Steve, who worries that his son doesn’t live in the real world and might be setting himself up for failure. It was odd to see Ginger Spice herself Geri (Halliwell) Horner as Jann’s mother Lesley. She struggled a bit with the more emotional scenes though. Darren Barnet, Josha Stradowski, Maeve Courtier-Lilley and Thomas Kretschmann round off the principal cast.

‘Gran Turismo’ (Based on a True Story – don’t forget that!), is a very enjoyable movie and one that will have you googling all of the real-life events that the film depicts. How this story wasn’t as well known as it should have been, is frankly beyond me – but perhaps that will ultimately help the film get more traction. It’s a fascinating and quite remarkable tale, even if you aren’t a gamer or a petrolhead. ‘Gran Turismo’ defies the odds to cross the finish line as one of the best summer blockbusters we’ve had this year, and one with a very surprising and engaging plot. And did I mention that it’s based on a true story…?

Cast: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Djimon Hounsou, Geri Horner, Darren Barnet, Josha Stradowski, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Thomas Kretschmann Director: Neill Blomkamp Writer: Zach Baylin, Jason Hall, Alex Tse Certificate: 12A Duration: 135 mins Released by: Sony Release date: 11^th August 2023

The post ‘Gran Turismo’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The plot is an original story based on a single mother named Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her young son Travis (Chase Dillon) who find that spooky things are happening within the walls of their new home. When they can’t escape the hauntings even when the move away, they enlist the help of a local tour guide named Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield). He has developed a camera that can literally take pictures of ghosts, so together with a rag-tag group of individuals including Father Kent (Owen Wilson), Harriet (Tiffany Haddish) and Bruce (Danny DeVito), they attempt to exorcise the creepiness that has taken over the Haunted Mansion.

The film is noticeably different in its scope and ambition, and that’s to be applauded here. Whilst the 2003 effort was more faithful to the ride’s original backstory, this version takes those same elements but expands it out and adds a nice sub-story. As mentioned before, this ensemble is very good and with talent like this you are always going to get engaging performances. LaKeith Stanfield is excellent here, and really leads the film well. Rosario Dawson is her usual, brilliant self. Young Chase Dillon hands in a very impressive performance. Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Tiffany Haddish are on-hand for all the comedy requirements, with Wilson stealing all of his scenes in his unmistakable style. Jared Leto brings a nice spookiness to The Hatbox Ghost whilst Jamie Lee Curtis is sadly let down with poor CGI as Madame Leota.

So it’s not the cast or the general scope of the story that’s the problem here. It’s the execution, which varies wildly in tone and visual excellence. The film is perhaps a bit too scary for little kids, but after the 2003 effort came out as too tame, I don’t have a problem with that. ‘Haunted Mansion’ should be a bit creepy in its approach. But tonally, some elements of the script feel too timid and not in line with the potential of this new story. Visually, the house looks great and does the concept justice, but some of the more effects-heavy set pieces feel unfinished. The special effects really are a mixed bag in ‘Haunted Mansion’. The ghosts themselves look good, and especially Jared Leto as the infamous Hatbox Ghost. They conjure up the necessary spookiness to sell the concept and pay rightful homage to their theme park ride counterparts. But Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota looks like mid-90s CGI. It’s truly awful and really detracts from her performance, which is a shame.

They still haven’t got it quite right with ‘Haunted Mansion’ but its making progress. Maybe in another 20 years we’ll have the definitive version. But let’s hope we aren’t waiting that long, because this is a franchise that deserves a big audience. In the meantime, this version of ‘Haunted Mansion’ is fine and has some memorable moments. The cast really makes this entertaining and for an early Halloween mood-setter, the film does its job. It’s just a shame it couldn’t really commit to being the film us ‘Haunted Mansion’ fans have waited so long for.

Cast: LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Chase Dillon, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jared Leto, Jamie Lee Curtis Director: Justin Simien Writer: Katie Dippold Certificate: 12A Duration: 123 mins Released by: Disney Release date: 11^th August 2023

The post ‘Haunted Mansion’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Mia (Virginie Efira) has been with her partner for many years and is settled in her professional life working as a translator for a radio station. After her partner (a doctor at the local hospital) is called away from their dinner date, Mia decides to head home. A rainstorm forces her to take shelter at a local Parisian bistro, and whilst there a terrorist attack takes place. She survives the attack, but the trauma of the mass killings affects her memory of that night. In the weeks that follow, she traces her steps in an attempt to piece together the puzzle of that fateful event, whilst her own story takes her on a surprising journey of discovery.

‘Paris Memories’, or ‘Revoir Paris’ as its known worldwide, is a detailed and heartfelt examination of how we react to life-changing events, the effects these have on us, and how being faced with death forces us to reprioritise our choices in life. The film is lead superbly by the always sensational Virginie Efira as Mia. Alice Winocour always manages to find powerful leading turns from her leading women. Eva Green in Proxima’ is one of the most underrated performances of the last decade, and now Efira leads yet another one of Winocour’s projects with a quiet but hugely moving performance of grief and hope.

A film with a subject matter like this could have very easily relied on the terrorist attack itself to define the narrative, but ‘Paris Memories’ shows remarkably little in that respect, to its credit. This is a story about the effects of such an unthinkable crime, and with Efira on such mesmerising form, it’s one of the most involving and moving studies I’ve ever seen about trauma and grief. When Efira’s character Mia is challenged in a survivor’s group for doing something cowardly, it gives the film a puzzle that we as an audience have to solve along with Mia, and the journey that takes her on is a fascinating one that drip-feeds us through an intelligent and realistic story.

The ensemble is very good too. Benoît Magimel is charming as Thomas, a fellow survivor of the night who has been badly injured. His friendship with Mia through difficult circumstances is well explored here, giving both characters a lot of issues to try and overcome. Making sense of such a heinous act is impossible, yet they need to process this to move on from the trauma and not let it take over their lives. The story of Mia and her partner is mostly played perfectly too. ‘Paris Memories’ isn’t shy to detail the struggles that a couple could go through after one is affected in such a life-changing way. The film manages to convey the helplessness of this lose-lose situation with a maturity and believability that’s admirable. However, one slight element to their story towards the end felt tagged on, and I feel wasn’t needed.

Despite its bleak and emotionally-demanding subject matter. ‘Paris Memories’ is ultimately a film about hope. As Mia pieces together her memories, we are given a few wonderful stories of human endeavour and strength, and how sometimes a complete stranger can have a profound and meaningful impact on one’s life. With a tremendous leading turn from Virginie Efira and Alice Winocour’s portrayal of a Paris that is stark and realistic, but also retains its undeniable magic, ‘Paris Memories’ is a must-see drama that demands your time and attention.  

Cast: Virginie Efira, Benoît Magimel, Grégoire Colin, Maya Sansa, Amadou Mbow, Nastya Golubeva Carax, Anne-Lise Heimburger, Sofia Lesaffre, Clarisse Makundul Director: Alice Winocour Writer: Alice Winocour, Jean-Stéphane Bron, Marcia Romano Certificate: 15 Duration: 105 mins Released by: Picturehouse Release date: 4^th August 2023

The post ‘Paris Memories’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Somewhat of a revised origin story, we are introduced to scientist Baxter Stockman (Giancarlo Esposito) as he creates a mutant named Superfly (Ice Cube). When his lab is ransacked some Mutant Ooze is spilt, trickling its way down to the sewers of New York City. There, a group of young turtles and a rat are exposed to it, mutating them into our heroes. Raising the turtles as his own children, Master Splinter (Jackie Chan) trains them in the ways of the Ninja, warning them that humans are dangerous and that they must always be on their guard.

Years pass, and as the turtles grow into teenagers, Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Donatello (Micah Abbey) long to live life on the surface. One night when they come to the aid of a young high school reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) who has her bike stolen, they may have found a way to become accepted by humankind – become heroes. So secretly they stay out late and help bust crime on the streets of NYC. However, a new threat is coming – Superfly wants to take over the city and he wants the Turtles to join his gang of mutant misfits looking to take revenge on all of the world.

Taking a few new narrative angles has given ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ a brand-new lease of life, cultivating a very accessible and fun family adventure, and giving established Turtles fans a fresh new take. It’s also one that could yield very positive narrative avenues for the future (the details of which I can’t reveal because they are spoiler-filled). But rest assured, the Turtles franchise is in good hands, with directors Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears delivering a sumptuous looking film, with a razor-sharp script from Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit and Brendan O’Brien.

The casting of Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, Brady Noon as Raphael, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo and Micah Abbey as Donatello was a masterstroke. All being teenagers gives the film an authenticity that really comes across in their interactions onscreen. I’ve felt every iteration of the Turtles over the years has nailed their respective chemistry dynamics and delivered us good takes on the brothers. ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ continues on with this trend.

The filmmakers have got the vocal casting spot-on throughout the film. Ayo Edebiri, Ice Cube, Jackie Chan, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone and Hannibal Buress are a dream ensemble who all deliver memorable turns in the film. There’s a lot of humour throughout too which all lands where it should, and the music is utterly fantastic and really helps promote the visual style and vibe of the movie.

It’s safe to say that Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman’s beloved creations are thriving once again, and the legacy of the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ looks as strong as ever. With lots of potential for sequels and a great teaser scene mid-credits that promises the return of a very popular character, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ is one of the finest animated films of 2023. It’s a very funny and entertaining ride that keeps the core values of the characters alive, whilst updating it for a new generation to enjoy. I can’t for a sequel to this.  

Cast: Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Shamon Brown Jr., Micah Abbey, Ayo Edebiri, Ice Cube, Jackie Chan, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Hannibal Buress Director: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears Writer: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Brendan O’Brien Certificate: PG Duration: 99 mins Released by: Paramount Release date: 31st July 2023

The post ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.