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Showing posts from January, 2022

'Eternals' (12A)

Director: Chloé Zhao   Cast:  Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Angelina Jolie Where can I watch?:   Eternals  is in cinemas and available to stream on Disney+ Rating:  2.5/5 Review: When watching a Marvel film, you must suspend some level of disbelief to fully enjoy it. However, Eternals really does push the boat too far. I'm all for a bit of fantasy and a splash of sci-fi, but I found myself drawing the line at big red robot things floating around in space - and I'm not even going to try to explain (or remember!) everything else that was revealed during this strangely boring, yet rather beautiful, superhero experience. Chloé Zhao, fresh from her Best Director win, helms the 26th film (yes, really) in the Marvel franchise, but she fails to make any sort of impact. At times, it feels as though we're veering towards something of a character study, but unfortunately all the characters are painfully shallow and one-dimensional, making the 'intimate' talky s

'The Power of the Dog' (12)

Director: Jane Campion Cast:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee Where can I watch?:   The Power of the Dog  is in cinemas and available to stream on  Netflix Rating:  4/5 Review:  There was a point while watching The Power of the Dog when I realised I had been completely enticed by the story. Initially, I had been somewhat fidgety, wondering if a crash-bang blockbuster would have perhaps been more appropriate viewing for the lull between Christmas and New Year - but then I fell under Jane Campion's spell. Slowly, but surely, the tension and intrigue started to build between the four central protagonists, to the point where you know someone will fire the proverbial gun, but who? And when?  At the heart of the film is Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, an educated ranch man, a bully and a misogynist. Cold and menacing, his slow, deliberate movements inspire both fear and awe in those around him - for a viewer, he is as engaging as he is despicab