Mike Jones

7

Critic

Gladiator II Review

Ridley Scott marks his return to Ancient Rome with Gladiator II – twenty four years after the release of his Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000). With a plot following directly on from the 2000 epic, Scott provides a sequel aiming to captivate a new generation of moviegoers – while hoping to live up to the high standards set by its predecessor. Having rewatched Gladiator in preparation for ...

5

Critic

Joker: Folie à Deux Review

Joker: Folie à Deux is one of the most anticipated films this year, given how excellent the first film was. Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) was a gritty character study that changed how people thought about what a comic book movie could be. With this film introducing Joker’s partner in crime – Harley Quinn, DC fans have very high expectations for this sequel. One of the most talked-a...

5

Critic

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Review

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” marks the long-awaited return to Tim Burton’s twisted, supernatural (under)world. Fans (myself included) of the original 1988 film are hoping this sequel will recapture the magic that made the first such a cult classic. After a sudden family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family find themselves back in their hometown of Winter River. Lydia (Winona Ryd...

8

Critic

Twisters Review

Twisters lands in Australian cinemas this week, nearly 30 years after the previous instalment in the Universal Studios franchise. Here’s hoping that this new film isn’t just a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but instead a worthy successor to its blockbuster predecessor. My experience with the original Twisters is pretty minimal. I saw the film years ago when I was young, but I didn...

5

Critic

The Fall Guy Review

Hoping to capitalise off the global phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are back on our screens to kick off the summer movie season with Universal Pictures’ The Fall Guy. Loosely inspired by the 1980’s stuntman-themed TV show of the same name, The Fall Guy promises an action-packed, romance-filled insight into the underappreciated industry of stunt work.  From the outset...

8

Critic

Monkey Man Review

The much-anticipated Monkey Man hits cinemas this week, seeing actor Dev Patel (The Green Knight) sitting in the Director’s chair for the first time ever. After receiving a standing ovation during its premiere at SXSW Film & TV Festival, this adrenaline-fueled feature is set to elevate the action genre to new heights. Before going into this film, all I really knew about it was the on-set news ...

6

Critic

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Review

This week sees the release of the fifth instalment in the epic Monsterverse franchise – Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. This time around, we see Godzilla and Kong forced to unite against a formidable adversary emerging from Hollow Earth. This new threat not only questions the dominance of these titanic beings, but also jeopardises the fate of humanity. Promising higher stakes than ever befo...

6

Critic

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Review

Columbia Pictures’ Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire emerges as the sequel to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, hoping to propel the iconic franchise to new heights. Directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House), this new entry aims to blend the warm nostalgia of ghostbusting with a cool, new adventure that will please both young and old fans of this revived franchise. In this latest chapter of the Ghostbus...

8

Critic

Dune: Part Two Review

Dune: Part Two is the much anticipated sequel to 2021’s sci-fi epic – Dune. With Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) returning to the director’s chair to complete the story of the first book in the series, fans of Frank Herbert’s novels and film fanatics alike are anticipating this film to be even grander than the original. In this second instalment, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chal...

2

Critic

Silent Night Review

Lionsgate is hoping to capture some thrilling holiday magic with its latest Christmas action flick – Silent Night. Directed by the iconic John Woo (Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2) and starring Joel Kinnaman (Suicide Squad), will this be the best Christmas present ever? Or a lump of coal in our stockings? Amidst a Christmas Eve gang shootout, Brian (Joel Kinnaman) witnesses his son’s t...

9

Critic

Saltburn Review

Universal Pictures and Warner Bros present Saltburn; the latest feature from Writer/Director and Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman). After receiving critical acclaim from film festivals all around the globe, Saltburn is hoping to shock audiences with its gothic thrills and twisted chills. Set against the backdrop of the mid-2000s, Saltburn tells the tale of Oliver (Barry ...

7

Critic

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Films presents their most radical movie this year –  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Spanning multiple generations of turtles-fans, this latest franchise revival of the heroes in a half-shell is hoping to entertain fans both new and old.     Four brothers – Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael all dream of stepping out of the saf...