2018 in Film

I've been very quiet on the film front lately, which has been largely to do with other commitments and of course the time of year. But here are my best, worst, most overrated and most underrated films of 2018 in no particular order. And if you'd like to read the full review for a particular film, just click on the title:

'Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald' Spoiler Review

I love Harry Potter. From the moment I watched the first film I fell deeply in love with the insanely-rich, ingeniously-crafted world and the incredible characters that occupy it. If you’re familiar with my blog, you’ll know that I’m a huge Ghostbusters fan, but given the choice between a proton pack and a wand, well, just call me a traitor already. Hell, Jurassic Park is my favourite film of all time, but I’d swap my ticket to Isla Nublar for an enrolment letter to Hogwarts in a heartbeat. Have I made my point clear? I. Love. Harry. Potter. So please bear that in mind as this review of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald unfolds…

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' Book Review

The Wizard of Oz has delighted hearts and minds aplenty since its theatrical release in 1939. It was the first to adopt technicolor, too, allowing for the film’s transition into the Land of Oz to be both seamless and staggering at once. In the best part of a century later, there have to date been a number of sequels of sorts, television shows and many other interpretations – no surprise given that creator L. Frank Baum penned a total of fourteen Oz books.

Michael Myers Finally Comes Home in ‘Halloween (2018)’

Directed by horror master John Carpenter, the original Halloween pits suburban teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) against Michael Myers – an embodiment of pure evil who, as a young boy, killed his older sister on the night of Halloween for reasons unknown, before spending the next fifteen years in Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. With a big kitchen knife and a plain-white William Shatner mask, Myers hacked his way through Haddonfield, Illinois, and has done so for decades since.

'The Incredibles 2', 'Mission: Impossible: Fallout', 'King of Thieves', 'The Nun' & 'A Simple Favor' Film Reviews

A little slow on the film reviews again, so here's a handful to keep you satisfied until I review Venom and Halloween next week...

‘Jurassic Park’ Review

 

There was a time when dinosaurs were perceived as nothing more than large scaly lizards, on both the silver screen and in the real world. It wasn’t until Steven Spielberg’s earth-shattering Jurassic Park that this perception began to alter drastically. That’s not to suggest the film changed the landscape of science, of course, but rather the viewpoint of the average person and cinemagoer alike. In fact, in the decades since, the film has been scrutinised by palaeontologists for some its scientific inaccuracies. In its defence, though, some were deliberate (who actually wants to see a feathered T-Rex?), while other representations were simply drawn from the research that existed at the time.

'The Predator' Review (Spoiler-Free)

The Predator is the third sequel to 1987’s Predator, which pitted Arnold Schwarzenegger and his fellow commandos against the now-iconic marauding alien in a Central American jungle. With incredible practical special effects, claw-biting tension, superb acting and some of the best one-liners in film, Predator remains one of the best and most original sci-fi thrillers to this day. Along with Terminator 2: Judgement Day, it’s also one of Arnie’s two greatest films. Its own 1990 LA-based sequel, Predator 2, however, fell somewhat short, but at least managed to make for some great expansion of the mythology in its final ten or so minutes. Fortunately, the far superior and criminally-underrated Predators in 2010 went back to basics with its jungle planet setting.

Christopher Robin and The Happytime Murders Film Reviews

Here are two mini reviews for films that feature fluff-filled characters...

8 Top Tips For Your Trip To Tokyo Disneyland

It might surprise you to learn that there's a Tokyo Disneyland in existence. Up until a couple of years ago, my wife and I had no idea, yet by that point we'd already been to Disneyland Paris, Disneyland California and Disney World Florida a good bunch of times. In fact, since our first trip in 2012, Disneyland Paris has been our favourite. I personally find the cooler weather there and its ample size – along with its quintessential European charm - incomparable. 

The Meg Review

Shark movies have come in many shapes and sizes over the years, but more so since 1999’s Deep Blue Sea than 1975’s Jaws (she was the first). Two species now plague the screens: there are the deliberately-shlocky straight-to-SyFy stinkers like Sharknado, and there are those that are worthy of the silver screen like 2010’s The Reef and 2016’s The Shallows. Luckily, Jon Turtletaub’s The Meg falls into the latter.

Why You Need to Experience Jurassic Park: The Ride Before it’s Extinct

If you’ve ever been to Universal Studios Hollywood, you’ve probably already enjoyed sinking your teeth into the nail-biting log flume experience Jurassic Park: The Ride  that celebrates the original Jurassic Park, which director Steven Spielberg himself couldn’t even finish at the opening in 1996 (although there was no “running and screaming” reported).

Film Reviews: Skyscraper, Tag, The First Purge & Hereditary

Here are some mini movie reviews. Yes, they're a little late, but to quote one of my all-time favourites Ghostbusters, "better late than never"!

Solo: A Star Wars Story Review

Just when you were starting to think that Star Wars should bugger off to a galaxy far, far away for a long time, along comes Solo: A Star Wars Story. With the underwhelming The Force Awakens (which fans considered to be “too safe”) and the hugely-divisive The Last Jedi (which fans considered to be “too risky”), the latest non-episodic entry is a welcome break from lightsabers. In fact, let’s jump straight into hyperspace – it’s the best Star Wars movie since fan-favourite The Empire Strikes Back. While, in all honesty, that isn't saying much considering what's come since then, it's a statement that’s bound to trigger some upset among those very-hard-to-please fans nonetheless. But hey, it isn’t Star Wars without a little controversy, right?

Clever Girl: The Truth Behind 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's' Indoraptor

SPOILER WARNING!

Now that you’ve seen Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom you’ll know it’s the first film in the franchise to end with a pretty major cliffhanger. In fact, it’s the first Jurassic to do a lot of things, like have a secret ending, a human clone, and… probably a dinosaur-human hybrid. Confused? Okay, such a thing is never talked about in the film, but it’s all about the devil in the detail – or in this case, the Indoraptor. When it comes to that awful script about dino-human hybrids from way, way back, “something has survived”. So let’s look at all the clues that suggest Fallen Kingdom’s socially-inept hybrid may not only be part-human, but part-Maisie….

The Gateway to Snowdonia

It’s no mystery that Betws-Y-Coed is dubbed "the gateway into Snowdonia". Upon arriving you’re welcomed by forest-clad mountains of such grandeur that it’s not unreasonable to draw parallels with the Canadian Rockies. After all, the forests here are composed largely of the mighty Douglas Firs - native throughout British Columbia but only introduced to this neck of the woods some decades ago.

Manhattan Haunts: A Ghostbusters Fan’s Guide to New York City

This year marks the 34th anniversary of supernatural comedy classic Ghostbusters (1984) and the phenomenal franchise it spawned. To celebrate, embark on a self-made movie tour in New York City by visiting seven locations that served iconic scenes in the film and its 1989 sequel, as well as the 2016 reboot-inspired attraction in Times Square.

'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Review: The Latest 'Jurassic' Sequel Brings Down The Franchise’s Fences Once And For All

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Isabella Sermon, B.D. Wong, Rafe Spall, Toby Jones, Daniella Pineda, Jeff Goldblum, Justice Smith, James Cromwell, Ted Levine

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead!

There was a time when audiences thought they’d never see a Jurassic film grace the silver screen ever again. The franchise’s 14-year hiatus followed 2001’s dismal Jurassic Park III, and the first few years of that absence saw fans scouring the internet for any indication of a fourth film. Of course, there was that script – yes, the one involving dinosaur-human hybrids – that, thankfully, fossilised before it ever saw the light of a filmmaker’s laboratory. However, 2015’s monstrously-successful, nostalgia-powered juggernaut Jurassic World proved to be worth the long wait.

Flash Reviews: Avengers Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Rampage and Ghost Stories

I've been a little busy lately obsessing over all things Marvel and Josh Brolin, as well as a trip to Tokyo (blog post on its way) and other serious commitments, such as moving home and watching 13 Reasons Why. But while I'm keeping my promise of bringing short and sweet reviews, you can expect a piece of prehistoric proportions when I watch Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom later this week. Stay tuned and stay curious.

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Cinema – 25 Years of Jurassic Park

As the dinosaur blockbuster celebrates its 25^th birthday, we look back at the impression it made on its release in 1993, and the impossible benchmark it raised for future filmmaking.

Unsane Film Review & A Quiet Place Film Review

A great horror has become as rare as my movie reviews. Nevertheless, I'm here to kill two birds with one stone with my reviews for Unsane and A Quiet Place. Before you read, though, what do you think of introducing sound-sensitive alien monsters into cinemas worldwide to deal with the sub-humans of society who don't know how to shut up during a film? Could this be a lucrative idea? I'm curious to hear your thoughts so comment below!

Ready Player One Movie Review

From the creator of masterpieces Jaws and Jurassic Park (for starters) comes Ready Player One. But just like those two classics, this movie is based on a bestselling novel. So what happens when the ingenious geeky minds of Spielberg and Ernest Cline collide?

Tomb Raider 2018 Movie Review

Alicia Vikander is Lara Croft in the gun-toting explorer’s latest big-screen outing. But you’ll find no connection to Angelina Jolie’s (underrated) 2001 and 2003 movies here. Just like with a video game console, the reset button has been hit.

Flash Film Reviews: Three Billboards, Black Panther, Game Night, Annihilation, Love Simon & The Shape of Water

When it comes to film reviews, no one wants to read a novel. But if you do want to hear my thoughts on these flicks in greater depth, check out my podcast reviews via the links at the bottom of each review.

Flash Film Reviews: Maze Runner 3, Cloverfield 3, Insidious 4, Darkest Hour

Another delay with getting film reviews to you, but what with buggering off to Toronto for my wedding anniversary (blog post coming up), being snowed in during the Great British Blizzard (no blog posts but plenty of chit-chat about bread and milk, for reasons unknown), and, well, watching said-films, I don't feel like apologising much. But then I am British, so I'm very, very sorry. Anyway, here are four flash film reviews with another three (at the moment, at least) coming right up. Sorry again.

As Old As Time: There’s Something There That Wasn’t There Before

If you aren’t overly familiar with Disney’s “tale as old as time” Beauty and the Beast, then you will at least recognise the timeless 1991 animated film as one of Disney’s classics. 2017 also saw new life breathed into the beloved fairy tale in the form of a live-action adaptation that introduced it to a new audience but not without appeasing fans of the original.

A Christmas Carol Review

If you’ve not read Charles Dickens’ 'A Christmas Carol', the chances are that you will, in some shape or form at least, be vaguely familiar with the premise, and at the very least its existence. Ebeneezer Scrooge, a disgruntled, frugal and merry-less man who grimaces at the mere mention of all things Christmas, is visited upon by three ghosts on Christmas Eve: the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.

Flash Reviews: Downsizing, Coco, The Commuter & The Post

Here are some more flash film reviews that may or may not save you some cash. And seeing as it's Oscar season, that means there are lots of opinions floating around in the ether, so why not share some of your own views and comment below.

Flash Reviews: The Disaster Artist, Molly's Game, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle & The Greatest Showman

I’ve been a little behind with posting some of my film reviews lately, but you can blame Christmas and Disneyland Paris for that. Speaking of which, I’ll be posting on that magical experience in the next few days too. For now, check out some flash reviews from December, which takes us right up until the last film I saw in 2017, The Greatest Showman. And don’t forget to check out my podcasts too, where I’ve already reviewed all of the following.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Review

In hindsight, it makes more sense than not that Abrams' The Force Awakens was a play-it-safe carbon copy of A New Hope, especially given that it was the first entry since 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, the last of the despised prequel trilogy. But there’s no denying that, despite its many strengths, it was a film weighed down by the past. Even in its controversial disposal of Harrison Ford's much-loved nerf herder, it was something of a Han Solo-centric film, though its decision to cast him into the ether in the first place spoke volumes about Disney's plans to start wiping the slate clean.