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Reviews
Arachnophobia (1990)
Brilliant Creature Feature
A highly underrated movie, Arachnophobia plays with the fear that so many of us have in creepy, fun and at times quite visceral ways (in fact, this film actually helped my own adolescent arachnophobia).
Arachnophobia Dr Jennings, played by Jeff Daniels, moves from San Francisco to the rural town of Canaima to take over the local doctor's surgery, but the Jennings family aren't the only new faces in Canaima; as they arrive so does a large, aggressive, hitchhiking spider from Venezuela which soon finds a mate and spawns a whole new hybrid species with a spider venom more powerful than any previously seen.
The script is fast moving and tight as the action ramps up to the final confrontation, which is where the real arachnophobes might well be hiding behind a cushion, but stick with it; the finale is fantastic.
Of particular note is the incredible score by Trevor Jones; from the very first moments his music lends a majesty to the Venezuelan rainforests, then swiftly slides down into the creepy depths and plays with our emotions, positive and negative all the way through. In my opinion, a masterpiece of musical scoring.
Arachnophobia certainly stands as one of my favourite movies, there's jus5 so much to love about it. If you've never seen it and you enjoy creature features or just good, fun, movies, please give it a go!
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Everything this die hard DnD fan wanted it to be.
I went into this movie really trying not to assume I'd enjoy it. I've fallen into that trap before with movies that have been over-hyped. Full disclosure: I'm a hardcore DnD player, so I caught the many Easter eggs that were put in for us, but catching those is absolutely in no way essential to enjoy this movie. In fact, while it is PACKED with DnD references, there's nothing to detract or alienate non-players; if anything, the density of the world is more likely to draw people in (and hopefully bring them to the gaming table!)
The characters are all charming and likeable (Justice Smith's Simon was, for me, particularly wonderful) and the story is engaging, exciting and at moments very poignant.
Of course, it's an action movie and there's plenty of well choreographed and exciting smackdowns; Michelle Rodriguez's Holga is just brilliant as the team's barbarian (Barbarian Rage is also handled really well; there's nothing there to confuse non-players but if you know, you know.)
Families, fantasy fans, DnD players, go and see this movie!
The Lost City (2022)
Great fun if you remember how to just enjoy a movie
I wasn't really up for watching this to be honest; I knew nothing about it and though I really like Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, I wasn't really in the mood.
It took about 30 seconds to turn me around. This is the kind of old-fashioned movie silliness that you so rarely find anymore; it's unrealistic and completely over the top and all the better for it. The aforementioned leads are both fantastic in their roles; funny, charming and both bring some great physical comedy that alone had me in stitches. The story itself is pretty basic, but that feels like it's by design. It's a comedy adventure romp and in that it definitely succeeds.
If you remember how to sit back and enjoy a silly, funny popcorn flick you'll probably enjoy it. I did!
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021)
A NEW vision for He-Man!
Comparing this new series to any MOTU that's come before is nonsense. This is a new vision, geared towards today's kids. If you don't fall into that demographic, it hasn't been made primarily with you in mind. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't enjoy it; I've been a MOTU fan and collector since before the original show came out, when for a brief moment there were just the toys and mini comics. So I've seen everything MOTU come and go.
This show is the freshest take since 1982 (which isn't saying a great deal, as everything prior really only built on that original premise, as much as I love most of it).
The animation is modern and dynamic, which some choose to criticise as "Fortnite"-esque. Styles come and go, this is one of today's styles, simple as that. The story is engaging and includes a ton of nods to previous iterations of the brand if you know what you're looking for. There are some genuinely funny moments, usually provided by Skeletor, who is far more threatening and scary here than he's ever been. The title song won't be to everyone's taste; kids seem to like it, so it was the right choice. The score, however is fantastic, providing the epic sound MOTU needs.
Try to ignore the naysayers who just want a rehash of the wonderful 80's show, and go in with an open mind and a child's sense of wonder (we all still have that, no matter how deep it may be buried) and you'll see it's great fun.
This is a new generation, and this IS He-Man.
Star Wars Resistance (2018)
Good fun; exactly what Star Wars should be!
Resistance is nothing like Clone Wars or Rebels, but deserves it's place in Star Wars canon just as much as those shows.
In case we forget, this is a Saturday morning TV show; if, as an adult, you enjoy it, great! If you don't, well, you're not actually the intended audience, so nothing lost.
The characters are fun and engaging, there's genuinely funny humour and if you go in with an open mind, unsullied by preconceptions and nostalgia, there's actually a great feeling of foreboding with The First Order lurking on the edges of the story. That threat creeps in closer and closer as the season continues, and the whole thing adds depth and context to the sequel trilogy.
It's a fun, entertaining series and I really hope we get a few seasons.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Great Star Wars movie!
I was born in '75, so I've been around for Star Wars right from the start. I've loved it for most of my life and have as much at stake as anyone when it comes to the enjoyment of these films.
Solo is as fun, exciting, and relevant as any other instalment in this saga. The galaxy feels familiar, while doing what Star Wars does by revealing new locations, aliens and characters and providing callbacks to everything from the three trilogies AND Rogue One. The humour is just right and some scenes are so exciting, I don't realise I'm holding my breath until the characters are out of danger.
I see a lot of people here and elsewhere saying this film isn't "necessary", though I can't seem to get to the bottom of the criteria by which they deem a movie to BE necessary or not.
Whatever, throw away any prejudices about the fact we're getting plenty of Star Wars (because that's a bad thing, apparently?) and just enjoy it for what it is; a space western adventure movie that deserves it's place with the rest of the saga.