The Beekeeper

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Beekeeper!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th May 2026

Some of my workmates suggested I should watch this. So here we go. 

So what we have here is a burly action hero taking action against some computer nerds that are out to scam the livelihood out of some unsuspecting saps. Certainly it makes for an experience that many can relate to - especially considering that the perpetuators of such schemes get away with a lot and the victims are left with next to nothing- except a desire of justice that will never be realised. 
Indeed, I can imagine the elevator pitch for this: 'Jason Statham punches out Mark Zuckerberg'

Jokes aside, this was a solid action flick with some great actions scenes and some delicious catharsis of seeing some internet scam artists getting their come-uppance. 

Oh a sequel is being made? Well I'm for it. 

The Wild Robot

    And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Wild Robot!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th April 2026

I was burned by Kung Fu Panda 4. Can I trust DreamWorks again?

Apparently so.

It can't be denied that DreamWorks has proven itself to be a major rival to the Disney monolith. But personally I always felt that the identity that DreamWorks forged for itself was one that was defiantly anti-Disney. And it's an approach that proved successful (Shrek anyone?).
That being said, you wouldn't think that that DreamWorks would try and tackle something both sincere and heartfelt. 

But that's exactly what's happened here: Get past the jokes and anti-establishment ethos in the first portion, and you'll find something of wonder. It's not just the stunning visuals, the creativity on display and the imagination peppered throughout. Oh no, there are some substantial musings on parenthood, the notion of abandoning primal instincts for civilisation, and, particularly in my eyes, the implication of an autistic person coming in and ultimately uniting a disparate community. 

Personally? DreamWorks have produced some stellar works and this stands proudly among them. 

Anora

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Anora!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th November 2025

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 97 (2024) 
(clearly old habits die hard)

Funny thing: If this had never won Best Picture at the Oscars I wouldn't have given this the time of day - call it a case of it slipping under my radar. But I think I am, by now, well-versed enough in Best Picture Oscar winners to give this a look. Maybe, like numerous times before, I will be surprised?

Turns out, I was: Firstly, I will give the Academy credit as this has to be one of the times they show a spine and give the top prize to the most unconventional of candidates. I call this unconventional due to the subject matter and large amounts of swearing.
Secondly, it seems the reign of the 'small-scale-low-budget' trend of winners (that commenced with The Hurt Locker) shows no sign of stopping - Not that I'm complaining. 
Thirdly, this is both funny and sad in equal measure. In fact, I do agree with the observation that this movie owes more to the screwball films of the 1930s than would first appear. Certainly it comes with a coating of over nine decades of change but it's there. And, with said coating, fascinating to see.
Finally, Mikey Madison is indeed a force to be reckoned with.

So yeah, a well deserved winner of Best Picture on all accounts. 

Kneecap

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kneecap!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th May 2025

 Behold: A movie I wouldn't have heard about had it not been for a friend who told me about it.

So what we have here is a bio on Northern Irish hiphop act Kneecap. It has the band members playing themselves and shows their rise to fame along with the trials and tribulations they go through. Standard music bio pic right?

Wrong! Yes this genre can very easily fall into formula but this movie wisely avoids it. Part of what makes it unique is that it frames to band's story alongside that of Northern Irish identity: defying the British and preserving both the language and the culture. 
It also helps that this movie takes the approach of being grimy, anarchic, playful, creative and funny. 
So props to this movie for not only breaking step from formula and running in the opposite direction.

Also, does anyone think that Detective Ellis may join the ranks of cinema's most memorable villains?

Kung Fu Panda 4

  And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kung Fu Panda 4!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st February 2025

I didn't have plans on watching this, but this turned out to be one of the situations where Kiera chose the movie. Still, I am willing to be surprised. And I have had some glowing things about the other three Kung Fu Panda movies so can that winning streak continue?

Well allow me to resort to bullet points:

• The first three had their fair share of solemn moments but this does not. This was a mistake.
• The Furious Five are also absent. This is also a mistake. 
• Viola Davis was great as the antagonist. 
• Seems to be some hostility towards Zhen. Is it the character? Or Awkwafina's voice? If that is the case of the latter, I have to wonder this hostility came from as she was great in Crazy Rich Asians 
• I did enjoy the dynamic Po and Zhen as clearly the latter was written in a way reminiscent of the former in the first movie. 
• The idea of Po being a state of wisdom is a compelling one given the journey he had taken to get here. 
• The action is still as solid as ever
• The end credits theme is hilarious
• Ultimately there is some enjoyable moments but the end result is indeed removed from what the first Kung Fu Panda movies so great.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st January 2025

As an IP, Wallace and Gromit's output is small: One feature film and a handful of shorts. Granted the quality of animation demands a lot of time and effort, but what there is, is never dull. And when a new entrant emerges, it is difficult to avoid.

No idea why you'd want to: The humour is near non-stop, the visuals are inventive and there are some surprising use of mood that would be suited to a horror movie. Also pleasing is the jabs at the increasing influencing devices and tech have in our lives. Okay sure there are more than a few allusions to The Wrong Trousers (perhaps to the point of reliance?) and Wallace makes for an exasperating character but this was a lot of fun. 

I recall watching Wallace and Gromit when I was in High School. And I'm glad to report this IP is still delightful three decades later.

Nosferatu (2024)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Nosferatu (2024)!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th January 2025

I saw this in the cinema where some goth girls were in the row behind me. And when the line came "He's coming! He's coming!" I heard some giggling....

It's a bold move to remake one of the foundation stones/benchmarks of horror cinema: what can one do with the source material? Okay sure the original is over a century old and may look creaky today, but there are some genuinely freaky moments that put more modern horror movies to shame. So what does this one bring to the table?

Well the atmosphere is stunning with some great use of creeping dread. The visuals are gorgeous and there plenty of nods to the source material. But at the same time, I can't help but think that this is a soulless exercise. It is horny to the point of absurdity, the accents are silly and I was left with the thought of what the whole point of it was.

Wicked (part 1)

 Last night I went and saw Wicked.

Original image located here. Accessed 24th November 2024

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that a movie adaptation of the Wicked musical would be made. After all, said musical was a mammoth success and started this trend of 'retelling the narrative of villains' (it's doubtful Frozen would've existed without Wicked). Furthermore, the existence of the movie is helpful in that this narrative can reach those who can't afford the triple digit figure for the stage show.

There's not a lot can I fault with this movie: Sure it's the first half of a duology but what's there is impressive: The visuals are astonishing, the humour & the script is great and the cast all fit their roles well. Indeed, I am convinced that playing Glinda was Ariana Grande's life ambition. 

So yeah I was won over, in a manner akin to the many who went and saw the stage show.
So! When's the next one coming?

Alien: Romulus

This evening I went and saw Alien: Romulus.

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

So we have a new entrant to this franchise. A sceptic would think that this franchise has no purpose being a franchise, with a reasoning of longevity, the lessening of impact of the original, the dilution of the horror and lack of something new to say. So what can we take away from this latest instalment?

Yes it may be a rehash of the first one but that can be hardly surprising given the sizable impact the first one made. Yes there are reminders sprinkled throughout of other (and, cynically, better) Alien movies. 
But I can't hate this movie. It recognises the strengths of the franchise and works with them: The suspense, the world-building, the claustrophobia and knowing that it's what you don't see is terrifying. Get past the dull first half hour and the movie works a treat.

It does however raise the question of what is going to happen next with this franchise...

Deadpool and Wolverine

 Recently I went and saw Deadpool and Wolverine.

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

With Disney purchasing Fox, it's a no-brainer that Deadpool will be integrated into the MCU. It is equally a no-brainer that this means that the makers of the Deadpool movies will have access to some bigger toys to play with.

As for the movie itself, it's the same joke told yet again but strangely enough it has yet to grow stale. Part of the appeal for this movie is that this is pretty much an endpoint for the Fox-era of the MCU. As such, there are numerous nods to it and they work a treat.
But the real ace in the hole is of course Wolverine. Hugh Jackman slips back into the role like he never left and both Wolverine and Deadpool are fun to watch with these two personalities bouncing off one another. 

Once again, much like it's predecessors, there is a real love and real care put into this movie. That said movie is about a complete jerk is the icing on the cake.

Inside Out 2

Recently I saw Inside Out 2.

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

In a way I'm not surprised that Inside Out would get the sequel treatment: the original idea is strong enough that there is plenty of room to expand. Are the five emotions the only ones? Are there more? And if so, are they there for all time? And what happens to Headquarters when one reaches the end of their life?

It would be easy to dismiss this movie as being nothing more than a cash grab and has no hope of replicating, let alone surpassing, the magic of the original. 
And yet, that may be case but I'm not willing to write this movie completely. There is certainly a lot of expansion on the original idea as we see Riley movie into her teens and gain a whole bunch of new emotions. True a lot of them don't do much - and I can't help but notice that Joy is still the only positive emotion present - but Anxiety makes for a compelling addition. Indeed, it may hit a little too close to home for some people to see Anxiety at work - in particular the representation of a panic attack is genuinely frightening. 

All in all, a solid sequel and I'm keen to see where this series goes to next.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Recently I saw Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

Well Afterlife was a hit and proved there may be some life in the franchise yet so it should come to no surprise that a sequel would emerge. 

Thing with Ghostbusters though, is that the original movie was a satire of 1980s action heroes - a truth that would no doubt have gone over the heads of it's dedicated fanbase. So the further this franchise advances from the Reagan era, what else can it say?
The impression I got from this movie is that it appears to be at odds with itself.
On one hand the OG Ghostbusters are there to pass the torch to the new guys. But on the other, they seem to play a more active role in the action.
On one hand Melody gives the idea that ghosts are friendly. But on the other, she has her own agenda.
On one hand the film is trying to say something of it's own. But on the other, there are plenty of call-backs to the first movie.
On one hand Phoebe is set up to be the main character. But on the other, there's a large cast here with everyone clamouring for a time to shine.
On one hand it's great to see some familiar faces return. But on the other, they are still competing with the already large cast for something to do.
On one hand the threat has a load of potential. But on the other, it is overcome quite anti-climatically. 

The list goes on.

Where do we go from here indeed....