Film Review: Aquaman

The sixth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and directed by James Wan, Aquaman tells the origin story of Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), the human-born heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, who goes on a quest to prevent a war between the worlds of ocean and land. It’s a journey that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be – a king – replacing his half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world.

Film Review: Murder On The Orient Express

Directed by Kenneth Branagh and based on Agatha Christie‘s train-set 1934 whodunnit, Murder On The Orient Express centres on the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh). When a passenger is murdered in his compartment aboard the Simplon-Istanbul Express, Poirot has to work out who did the dirty deed on the snow drift-stalled train.

You Should Be Reading: The Fault In Our Stars

(Written for Rife)

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

The Fault In Our Stars is the fifth novel by author John Green. Originally published in 2012, the story follows 16-year-old cancer patient Hazel, who, forced by her parents to attend a cancer support group, meets and subsequently falls in love with the witty 17-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee.

Set to be released on 19th June and starring Shailene Woodley as Hazel and Ansel Elgort as Gus, and directed by Josh Boone, the film adaptation is set to be one of 2014’s most bittersweet romances, exploring the highs and lows of being in love, but more importantly the extravagant highs and frequented lows of being in love and having cancer.

Film Review: John Carter

(Published in Issue 8 of my publication In Retrospect)

Rating:

Directed by Andrew Stanton, John Carter (formerly John Carter of Mars) is an epic science fiction action film based on the heroic protagonist of Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ Barsoom series of novels. Based on his fantasy-romance serial written in 1912, A Princess of Mars, the film tells the story of Civil War vet John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who, at the beginning of the film, we are to believe has died. Leaving his private journal to his nephew Edgar (Daryl Sabara), Carter takes us back 13 years to the day, whilst searching for a fabled cave of gold, he was inadvertently teleported to Mars, known to its inhabitants as Barsoom.

Film Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Directed by Wes Anderson and based on Roald Dahl‘s children’s novel, an urban fox (voiced by George Clooney) and his wife (Meryl Streep) who live in an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But Mr. Fox can’t resist returning to his farm-raiding ways and must help his animal community survive when the farmers – Boggis (Robin Hurlstone), Bunce (Hugo Guinness) and Bean (Michael Gambon) – are forced to retaliate.

Film Review: The Life Aquatic

Directed by Wes Anderson, The Life Aquatic follows the internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) and his crew – Team Zissou – set sail on an expedition to hunt down the mysterious, elusive, possibly non-existent Jaguar Shark that killed Zissou’s partner during the documentary filming of their latest adventure. A young airline co-pilot who may or may not be Zissou’s son (Owen Wilson), a beautiful journalist (Cate Blanchett) assigned to write a profile of Zissou, and Zissou’s estranged wife and co-producer, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston), join them on their voyage as they face overwhelming complications including pirates, kidnapping, and bankruptcy.