Film Review: Avengers – Endgame

The 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth Avengers film, following on from last year’s Infinity War and once again directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Endgame picks up with the surviving members of the Avengers and their allies – including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) – as they must work together to reverse the damage caused by Thanos (Josh Brolin). and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

Film Review: Avengers – Infinity War

The third Avengers ensemble film and the nineteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Infinity War sees The Avengers – Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Vision (Paul Bettany), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) – and The Guardians of the Galaxy – Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) – come together for the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, these new superhero allies have to sacrifice everything in an attempt to prevent the powerful Thanos (Josh Brolin) from amassing the all-powerful Infinity Stones before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Film Review: Thor – Ragnarok

Directed by Taika Waititi, the third instalment in Marvel’s Thor films, Thor: Ragnarok, sees the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) return after being banished by his long-lost goth sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett). Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, which is ruled over by camp tyrant Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), Thor is pitted against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a gladiatorial contest. But, with the help of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and a defender of Asgard, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), his priority is to return home to save it from of the prophesised catastrophe of Ragnarok.

Film Review: In The Heart of The Sea

Directed by Ron Howard, In The Heart Of The Sea is based on Nathaniel Philbrick‘s 2000 novel of the same name, which tells the true of the sinking of the Essex, an 1820s New England whaling ship, which inspired the classic novel, Moby-Dick. The story of the crew – Captain George Pollard (Benjamin Walker), First Mate Owen (Chris Hemsworth), Second Mate Matthew (Cillian Murphy), and cabin boy Thomas (Tom Holland) – their whaling voyage and the disaster that followed, is well-known. But that’s only half the story.

Beginning in 1850, the film opens with novelist Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw) visiting an innkeeper, an older Thomas (Brendan Gleeson), seeking the true story of the Essex and the mythical monster that took it down. Telling the story for the first time, Thomas reveals his encounter of a mammoth-sized monster with a human sense of vengeance, and the harrowing aftermath that followed as the crew is pushed to their limits braving storms, starvation, and despair.

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Film Review: Avengers – Age of Ultron

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Sequel to 2012’s Avengers Assemble and the eleventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Age of Ultron, directed by Joss Whedon, picks up with our favourite superhero team. When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) jumpstarts a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry, calling for the need of The Avengers once again, bringing back together Iron Man, Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). To save the planet from destruction at the hands of the villainous Ultron (voiced by James Spader), The Avengers are put to the ultimate test.

Film Review: Blackhat

(Written for Filmoria)

If it hasn’t been nominated for an award, films released in during the early months of January and February can often get over-looked. Without some kind of nomination slapped on to the poster we’re unlikely to even give it a second thought. This is probably the reason why many films are given this release date in the first place; get it out of the way early, and maybe critics won’t catch on to what a flop it was.

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Film Review: Rush

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Directed by Ron Howard, Rush is a biographical action film that tells the exhilarating true story of the merciless rivalry between two Formula One drivers – the charming and charismatic Englishman James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the Austrian statistics-obsessed Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). Centred around the 1976 season, Rush follows these drivers on and off the track, taking us into their personal lives and along the track they road which ultimately reached the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory or margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die.

Film Review: Snow White And The Huntsman

(Published in Issue 11 of my publication In Retrospect)

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Directed by Rupert Sanders, Snow White And The Huntsman is the latest in a series of childhood fairytale re-imaginings. Based on the classic Brothers Grimm tale Snow White and The Seven Dwarves, the film follows the story of a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) who is ordered to find and kill the princess of the realm, Snow White (Kristen Stewart), who has run into the haunted woods after escaping being locked up by the Evil Queen (Charlize Theron), a sorceress whose dark magic has immersed the kingdom into complete despair. The Huntsman, however, finds himself becoming Snow White’s protector, as they meet seven dwarves on their quest through the forest and begin to conspire a plan to defeat the Evil Queen for good.

Idris Elba Confirms Heimdall’s Return in ‘Thor 2’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Idris Elba, next to be seen as the captain of the spaceship in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sci-fi Prometheus, is to reprise his role as Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, in Marvel’s Thor 2, Collider have reported this week.

He also commented that he wanted to get to know his character a bit more. “Who is Heimdall? He guards the gate. Okay. Is there anything else? I don’t know what is in the script because I haven’t read it yet. But, the audience has responded to Asgard and wants to know more about who lives there and what it’s about. I’m sure, if they do that, Heimdall will be featured more.”

Snow White And Even More Posters

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Yes, that’s right. We have even more new posters for Rupert Sander’s upcoming fairy tale re-telling, Snow White And The Huntsman.

Featuring the three characters depicted in the new posters as the film’s lead, Snow White And The Huntsman follows a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) who is ordered to take Snow White (Kristen Stewart) into the woods to kill her, but who winds up becoming her protector in a quest to defeat the Evil Queen (Charlize Theron).

Film Review: Avengers Assemble

(Published in Issue 9 of my publication In Retrospect)

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Written and directed by Joss Whedon, Avengers Assemble centres around the Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)’s, need for a superhero team. Uniting Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), The Avengers are brought together to face Thor’s Godly brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his Chitauri alien army as they declare war on Earth.

Film Review: The Cabin In The Woods

(Published in Issue 9 of my publication In Retrospect)

Premiered at the South by Southwest film festival last month, The Cabin In The Woods is an American horror directed and co-written by Drew Goddard with co-writer Joss Whedon. Following five friends – Dana (Kristen Connolly), Curt (Chris Hemsworth), Jules (Anna Hutchison), Marty (Fran Kranz), and Holden (Jesse Williams) – who go for a break to a remote cabin in the woods, where they soon realise that not everything isn’t quite right and together must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods. Whilst my review will sound pretty similar to the many others you have probably already read, I will be criticising why these techniques do not work rather than shouting its praises – please don’t hate me.

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27 New Images for ‘Avengers Assemble’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

A whopping 27 new images of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble have been released online this week, which include a look at How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, the Hulk at his angriest, a lot of lasers, and the odd-looking antagonist Loki played by Tom Hiddleston.

Snow White And The International Poster

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

A new international poster for Rupert Sanders’ Snow White And The Huntsman has been released this week.

Adding itself to the top of the already highly piled-up collection of promotional releases, it’s likely that you’ve already been impressed from the number of trailers and new images for this film recently, so you’ve probably made up your mind on this epic and dark twist on the classic fairytale. The new poster, however, is pretty decent and will only further flourish your expectations.

Snow White And The Brand New Trailer

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

A brilliant new trailer has been released for Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman this week. Showing the darkest side to the film yet, the new trailer shows off a lot of new footage, contrasting scenes of war, monstrous creatures and the magical depths of the forest.

New German Trailer and Stills For ‘The Avengers’

(Written for Lost In The Multiplex)

Marvel Studios have released a new German trailer and two universal stills for Joss Whedon’s The Avengers this week, showing some new footage for the superhero comic book adaptation.

When an unexpected enemy threatens global safety, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team.

It’s Been a ‘Super’ Week for Marvel and DC

This week sees the trailers of two of the most anticipated and upcoming superhero films, the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan‘s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, and Marc Webb‘s first in a series of rebooted Spider-Man films, The Amazing Spider-Man. Captain America is out in cinemas next week and a (good quality) trailer is due for The Avengers shortly. With the Comic-Con this week, as well, everyone has gone Marvel and DC mad.

First up there’s Captain America which is released in UK cinemas next week on 29th July. Only a short time to wait until the year for the following three films. However, Captain America is the last of The Avengers team that we need to meet so it’s about time. Captain America is the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) who is deemed unfit for military service and volunteers for a top-secret research project, thus turning him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

Film Review: Thor

The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor follows the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is banished to Earth by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the ruler of Asgard, and stripped of his powers and his hammer after reigniting a dormant war. As his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to take the Asgardian throne, Thor must prove himself worthy. But when the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero as he must protect his new human allies (Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgård).