Movies to Look Forward to - December 2018

The end of the year is in sight and just one more motnh left for new movies to be released. Here are the movies to look forward to in the month of December.

December 6th – Kursk
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Colin Firth, Léa Seydoux, Michael Nyqvist, Matthias Schoenaarts, Max von Sydow
Description: The film follows the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster and the governmental negligence that followed. As the sailors fight for survival, their families desperately battle political obstacles and impossible odds to save them.

December 6th – Mortal Engines
Director: Christian Rivers
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Robert Sheehan, Hera Hilmar
Description: A mysterious young woman named Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar) joins forces with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head, and Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an outcast from London, to lead a rebellion against a giant predator city on wheels.

December 12th – Ralph Breaks the Internet
Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack Brayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill
Description: Six years after the events of "Wreck-It Ralph", Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

December 13th – Aquaman
Director: James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Willem Dafoe, Leigh Wannell, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Beach
Description: Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.

November 19th – Mary Poppins Returns
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emiy Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury, Emily Mortimer, Ben Wishaw, Meryl Streep
Description: Decades after her original visit, the magical nanny returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.

November 20th – Bumblebee
Director: Travis Knight
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Justin Theroux
Description: On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.

November 20th – Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, Rodney Rothman
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld, Live Schreiber, Mahershala Ali, Jake Johnson, John Mulaney, Lily Tomlin, Shameik Moore, Bryan Tyree henry
Description: Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.

10s Movie Review - Free Fire

Director: Ben Wheatley
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Coperly, Jack Reynor

Description: Set in Boston in 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shootout and a game of survival.

Review: The cultural influence of director Quentin Tarantino is clearly present in Ben Wheatley’s “Free Fire”. It’s filled with action and morbide humor and is basically set in one location. But Wheatley doesn’t manage to succeed completely.
In an abandoned warehouse in Boston, a group of criminals come together to close a weapons deal. The group with the money: IRA-member Chris, Justine, old Frank and hitmen Stevo and Bernie. The group with the weapons: South African Vernon, ‘failed’ Black Panther member Martin and Gordon and Harry. Chaperon is the bearded Ord.
It’s clear from the start that they don’t want to have anything to do with each other. It doesn’t help that Harry and Stevo had an argument the day before. Tensions get high and it soon escalates. Bullets flying all over the place, people hiding and getting hurt and not knowing who is on which side.
“Free Fire” has two basic elements: humor and action. The shootings are filmed in all kinds of ways, to keep it interesting, but even with almost 90 minutes runtime the film drags a bit sometimes. It’s all a bit too chaotic to stay interesting constantly. You’re actually waiting for something to happen.
The humor takes some time, but eventually it’s strong and it has a macabre touch. This is the strong point of the film. “Free Fire” is an entertaining film, but doesn’t stay interesting the entire runtime. It’s saved by the good humor.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - This is the End

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Danny McBride, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Rihanna, David Krumholtz, Emma Watson

Description: While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.

Review: Relaxing with his friend Seth Rogen, smoke some weed, play video games and eat junk food. That’s the weekend Jay Baruchel had in mind in “This is the End”. Sadly for him, that chill weekend ends up in the apocalypse.
Against his will Jay joins Seth for a house warming party at James Franco’s house. The new mansion is filled with Hollywood’s finest. When Jay and Seth quickly go to a store, they witness a weird happening where people are sucked into the sky. It’s followed by a giant sink hole in front of Franco’s house.
“This is the End” is a comedy that can go two ways: you either love it or you hate it. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have proved themselves before, with the comedy “Superbad”. And again they manage to make us laugh. It’s the end of days, packed with simple, tasteless jokes and pretty enjoyable (sorry to say) death scenes of famous movie stars. By mocking themselves and Hollywood, “This is the End” never has a dull moment.
“This is the End” is a film that is self-aware and not to be taken too seriously. The actors exaggerate their own character, and that’s why it’s a fun movie that I love. A guarantee for laughs.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Director: Stefano Sollima
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Donovan

Description: The drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro).

Review: “Sicario” was a great success, but it’s not the type of movie you expect a sequel for. The story didn’t leave a lot left to even suggest a sequel.
But like most sequels, “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” can’t live up to the first film. The sequel has to work without genius directo Denis Villeneuve, cinematographer Roger Deakins and leading lady Emily Blunt. Those were three elements that made the first film so strong. That Blunt wasn’t asked back is actually logical, due to the storyline. Hers was done at the end of “Sicario”. But she is missed as the moral compass of the film and the person you can identity with.
Main character in “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” are Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro, this time in a leading role). Both characters are antiheroes and do things you would probably not agree with. In a moral sense that is. There is no nuance and they don’t blink while abducting a young girl.
The screenplay is really good and the dialogues too. It is never repetitive and different from the first film. It’s a really pleasant film and a solid sequel. But I think they needed Villeneuve to get it to the same level as his film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Bohemian Rhapsody

Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aiden Gillen, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers, Allen Leech

Description: A chronicle of the years leading up to Queen's legendary appearance at the Live Aid (1985) concert.

Review: ‘Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?’ The two first lines from Queen’s most famous hit “Bohemian Rhapsody”. And those two lines describe the life of charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury, who was constantly struggling between his life as showstopper on stage and his doubting social life.
When “Bohemian Rhapsody” was released in 1975, critics were divided. Was it a masterpiece or experimental crap? Whatever you think, nowadays it’s a timeless classic and radio station still often play it. According to the record company Queen presented it to in the days, the radio stations were never going to play a six minute song. But Freddy and his guys decided to release it anyway and turn their back to the record company.
Mercury was born in Zanzibar, as Farrokh Bulsara, and grew up in an Indian family in London. He was always extraordinary and had a distinctive look due to his teeth. When three band members of the band Smile tell him he can never be a lead singer because of his teeth, Mercury has his answer ready: he was born with four extra teeth, which eventually give him a wider range. Hired, and Queen was born.
Mercury becomes their front man and he is the one that calls the shots. He is extravagant, a showstopper and gets his band in unknown creative territory. No one has ever heard anything like Queen or saw anyone like Mercury.
Most hits were born due to creative differences, arguments and the experimental nature of Mercury. This is the focus in the first half of the film. The second half is more focused on Mercury and his inner struggles.
All the actors look like the bandmembers, but it’s Rami Malek that steals the show. From beginning to end, you got the feeling that you’re not watching an actor but you’re actually seeing Freddy Mercury. He looks, walks and talks like Mercury and his performance is unforgettable.
The biopic ends with the memorable performance Queen delivered at Live Aid in 1985. It wasn’t only a highlight for the concert, but also a comeback for Queen. This part of the film is the biggest highlight and the film ends with a bang. Every detail in this sequence is right and Rami Malek is hypnotizing as Mercury. Really mind blowing!!!
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is the biopic both Freddy Mercury and Queen deserved. Definitely one of the best films of 2018.

Rating: 5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Evanna Lynch, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Timothy Spall, Clémence Poésy, Warwick Davis, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters, Toby Jones, Imelda Staunton, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Matthew Lewis, Chris Rankin, Mark Williams

Description: As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Review: The last book in the Harry Potter series was split into two films. Although the film is very long, there is more room for development. This is in fact only half a film. It’s foremost a buildup to the second part and the climax.
The length is something that you feel here. Although it’s only half the book, it takes two and a half hour. And many scenes are repetitive, where Harry, Hermione and Ron are searching for the Horcuxes.
The three main actors have become better over the years, but only Emma Watson can easily keep up with the once that have more experience, like Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith. It’s visible that Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint still have a lot to learn.
I don’t think it was the best decision to split the final book in two films, because this is probably my least favorite of all the films. However, together with the second half of this film, it is better.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Reviews - Incredibles 2

Director: Brad Bird
Genre: Animation/ Action
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Bob Odenkirk, Sophia Bush, Brad Bird, Isabella Rossellini, Samuel L. Jackson, John Ratzenberg, Barry Bostwick

Description: Bob Parr aka Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is left to care for the kids while Helen aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is out saving the world.

Review: “Incredibles 2” takes off where the first film ended in 2004. The ‘Underminer’ attacks the city with a giant machine. Frozone manages to make sure it doesn’t crash a monorail and the Incredibles protect a safe in a bank, rescue a helpless granny and try to catch the Underminer. But they also have to look after Jack-Jack. “Incredibles 2” is a great joy to watch and very entertaining, but it’s never as good as the first.
Even before the golden age of superhero films, director Brad Bird showed us that the ‘Fantastic Four’ kind of film works. “The Incredibles” embraced strange super powers and payed an ode to the spy film. With bombastic music, retro futuristic cities, transforming vehicles, heroes running over water and super robots.
“Incredibles 2” brings us the same kind of spectacle. This time, Elastigirl gets all the big action scenes. Highlights are the vehicle Elasticycle, a chace with a flating train and a fight with Screenlaver. Pixar did it again with amazing animation techniques.
While Elastigirl is being a hero and hunting the mysterious Screenslaver, Mr. Incredible stays at home to take care of the kids. It’s cliché, the way Bob underestimates being a stay-at-home dad, while Helen is enjoying her new freedom. Both storylines are saved by the many action sequences. And the confrontation between Jack-Jack and a stubborn raccoon is something to mention. No word is said, but the creativity put into to this sequence is fantastic.
The villain Screenslaver isn’t as interesting as Syndrome from the original. Screenslaver is a bit more predictable and the motivation is a bit superficial.
The focus is mostly on Elastigirl and Jack-Jack, the rest is overshadowed a bit.
When it comes to action, great music and excellent animation, this film is perfect. The entertainment level is very high. But the story doesn’t add much more.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Reviews - A Star is Born

Director: Bradley Cooper
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Greg Grunberg

Description: Musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) helps young singer Ally (Lady Gaga) find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.

Review: Originality is hard to find in Hollywood these days. With “A Star is Born” director and actor Bradley Cooper does the third remake of the film from 1937. And surprisingly enough he gives it his own twist. His directorial debut is beautiful, well-balanced and modern. And many of that is thanks to Lady Gaga, who really shines in her first leading role.
“A Star is Born” follows two musicians: Jackson Maine and Ally. Jackson, Jack for short, is a successful country singer struggling with an alcohol and drug addiction. After each show, all he wants is a bottle of booze. When one night he makes a stop at a bar, he sees Ally perform. Jack is impressed by her immediately and wants to meet her. Jack sees more in her and after a night together, he invites her to one of his shows. Ally says no at first, because she is working as a waitress, but eventually goes. And Jack takes advantage of the opportunity and invites her onto his stage to sing with him. With success, because Jack wants Ally to tour with him. The start of a career and a sweet romance.
Cooper and Gaga have great chemistry, that is present the entire film and it feel authentic and real. The intense bond between the two is believable from the start. And the fact that Ally supports Jack no matter what, can only be credible if the two really connect. And they do. It’s also visible when the two sing together.
Cooper has the difficult task to play a convincing drunk and it’s a role that can easily get comical or cartoonish. Cooper does a fantastic job, one of his best performances to date.
“A Star is Born” basically tells the story of the rise and fall of musicians. When Ally is rising and gets her big break as a pop star, Jack is getting worse and his career suffers. The question is if Jack really awards Ally’s success and that’s what makes this film more than just a story about a musician experiencing success. And even halfway through the film, when you think the message should be clear and your questioning the length of the film, the story hasn’t completely been told.
The music is really good and the moments between Jack and Ally are the best. Even though it’s a remake, the film stands out because of the strong performances, relevant story and great music.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Hotel Artemis

Director: Drew Pearce
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, Dave Bautista, Jenny Slate, Brian Tyree Henry

Description: Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, 'Hotel Artemis' follows the Nurse (Jodie Foster), who runs a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals.

Review: In future Los Angeles, a civil war is happening. Water is a luxury and when the watersupplies are shut off, riots start. People fighting in the streets, helicopters crashing into buildings and police shooting everything that seems suspicious. For The Nurse, owner of Hotel Artemis, it’s the most normal thing in the world. It’s a place for wounded criminals and according to her the world is in constant war. A place you will never be safe. For her, Hotel Artemis is the only place.
Jodie Foster plays The Nurse, a grumpy and stubborn woman that works with strict rules. Clients get codenames, weapons are forbidden and the most important rule: don’t kill other patients. Off course, all kinds of characters enter her hotel: hitmen, asshole criminals, wounded robbers and frantic sons of mob bosses. Charlie Day plays a fun role and Dave Baustista adds some humor to the film. Foster really does a good job as the charismatic and bossy nurse.
All the flamboyant characters make sure that the well organized life of The Nurse fall apart, bit by bit. And she gets closer to the outside world. The film has a good storyline and manages to add some depth too.
“Hotel Artemis” has a strong cast and it’s a pretty good film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Lost Highway

Director: David Lynch
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Robert Blake, Richard Pryor, Henry Rollins, Giovanni Ribisi, Gary Busey, Robert Loggia

Description: After a bizarre encounter at a party, a jazz saxophonist (Bill Pullman) is framed for the murder of his wife (Patricia Arquette) and sent to prison, where he inexplicably morphs into a young mechanic and begins leading a new life.

Review: Fred Madison is leading a happy life with his wife Renee. One day they find a videotape on their doorstep, with shots of their house on it. A day later, they find another tape, but this time with shots from inside the house and even with Fred and David sleeping. They call the police, but they can’t do anything since there is no proof of a break-in. the tapes keep coming. On the last tape, Fred sees how his wife is being killed and later he is arrested for the murder of his wife. When he is rotting away in his cell, Fred turns into Peter Dayton. Since he isn’t the man who killed Renee, he is released.
“Lost Highway” is a post-modern film noir. And it’s a film with so much imagination, bizarre imagery, it’s vague cinema. And David Lynch is the man for it. It’s a little easier to follow then “Mulholland Dr.”, but I still wonder what goes on inside Lynch’s head.
There a people that call his work pretentious crap, but I do not agree at all. It’s cinematographic art. the atmosphere is dark and absurd and very violent. The acting is strong and the soundtrack is chilling.
“Lost Highway” is one of those films that gets you thinking and it starts conversations, like almost all of David Lynch’s movies. Everyone has a different theory and you never know what is really going on.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Kick-Ass 2

Director: Jeff Wadlow
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Iain Glen, Donald Faison, Morris Chestnut, John Leguizamo, Lindy Booth, Yancy Butler, Daniel Kaluuya

Description: Following Kick-Ass' (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) heroics, other citizens are inspired to become masked crusaders. But Red Mist (Christoph Mintz-Plasse) leads his own group of evil supervillains to get revenge, kill Kick-Ass and destroy everything he stands for

Review: The superhero film has made big developments over the past years. In the early days, it was cool enough to put on a flashy costume and impress the viewers with muscles. But nowadays it has to be more realistic, more emotional and deeper. Marvel and DC still crack out films each year, not all just as successful. So when in 2010 Kick-Ass came to theaters, it was a breath of fresh air. Antiheroes, everyday heroes becoming superheroes. It was such a huge success, that a sequel was something you could expect. It never lives up to its original, but it’s still a good film.
Matthew Vaughn directed the first and I think it’s a good thing that he didn’t make a sequel right after the first film. “Kick-Ass 2” is directed by Jeff Wadlow and the characters had time to grow and find their way. Mindy Macready, alias Hit-Girl and the scene steals of the first film, tries to live a normal life after her superhero dad Big Daddy died. Her guardian Marcus thinks she is leaving a normal teenage life, but secretly she is fighting crime with her partner Kick-Ass, for his friends know as Dave Lizewski. Dave also still manages to stay under the radar and no one knows he is Kick-Ass. In the meantime, rich kid Chris D’Amico wants revenge for his father’s death. And he tries a new alter-ego: The Mother Fucker. This way he wants to teach Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl a lesson.
Kick-Ass and The Mother Fucker each get a group of fellow superhero-wanabees together. Kick-Ass’ team is led by Colonel Stars and Stripes (a fun and unrecognizable role by Jim Carrey).
Where “Kick-Ass” scores the most points: Action and verbal. The action is fantastic, with one scene in (and on) a van as the highlight. And the dialogues are great! Like the firs film, Chloë Grace Moretz steals the show as Hit-Girl. I know everyone loves this character more than the actual title character.
There are some poop and vomit jokes that I didn’t really appreciate here, but thank goodness that’s just a few minutes of the film.
“Kick-Ass” is a bit of the same here and there, but it’s very entertaining and Hit-Girl still has it.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Reviews - Venom

Director: Rubern Fleischer
Genre: Action
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Riz Ahmed, Melora Walters

Description: When Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.

Review: Venom is a fascinating anti-hero and (almost) villain in the superhero universe of Marvel and deserves his own film. Is refreshing to give the stage to a villain.
Eddie Brock is a journalist, with unorthodox methods and he will go far to get his story. While trying to unveil the secrets of a big company, he acquires the powers of a symbiote and an alter-ego comes to life: Venom.
Eddie is fighting his inner demon, he hears Venom’s voice in his head. He tries to fight it, but he can’t and he eventually has to find a way to live with it and use it for his benefits. A bit of Jekyll and Hyde.
When it comes to looks, Venom is perfect. “Spider-Man 3” tried it in 2007, but with no success. Here Venom looks exactly like he was created, like he just walked out of the comics. Tom Hardy is a good choice, he has played the anti-hero before in movies like “Warrior” and “Mad Max: Fury Road”. And the film is at its best when Eddie tries to fight Venom, for the outside world it’s like he is talking to himself.
The villain in this film is played by Riz Ahmed (star of “The Night Of"). He plays an Elon Musk type of opponent, the master brain behind the symbiote tests. I somehow never find him very believable as a villain.
I think “Venom” would have worked better if it got an R-rating, like “Deadpool” or “Logan”. It’s too righteous and colors within the lines too much. Heads are bitten off, but it’s never really seen. It feels more family friendly, when a character like Venom should go all out
The action is a bit messy and edited way too much. Too much digitalization was added.
“Venom” flirts with the dark side, but eventually turns to the safe zone. I was so excited for this film and it disappointed me. This is such a cool character and it deserved a better movie. It wasn’t as bad as “Spider-Man 3”, but I expected more.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure/ Family/ Fantasy/ Drama
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Helene Bonham-Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Imelda Staunton, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, David Thewlis, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Warwick Davis, Bonnie Wright, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Chris Rankin, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch

Description: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Review: The fifth movie in the series is a bit more grim then the previous films. The innocent face of the then 12 year old Daniel Radcliffe is now a full grown teenager.
In the opening scene we see Harry sitting on a swing. After his cousin Dudley is teasing him again, Harry breaks. He gets his wand out and threatens Dudley. It shows that Harry isn’t someone to mess with anymore. Voldemort is after Harry and sends dementors his way. When a dementor wants to attack Dudley, Harry uses a Patronus spell on him. This gets him in trouble.
Harry is traumatized since he saw Cedric die in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. For the first time we feel Harry’s burden. Although Hermione and Ron support him, Harry feels alone. But he has no choice, he has to get ready to face Voldemort.
There are some new characters introduced. Evanna Lynch plays Luna Lovegood. A quirky witch who makes sure there are also some lighter moments in the film. She teaches Harry to cope with the trauma. Then there is Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, who is probably the most annoying character in the entire franchise. She steals the show.
What I liked most about “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is how the students are forming their own alliance and try to get ready for the big battle, without any help of the teachers. Characters like Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasly get a more important role in the story.
It wasn’t one of my favorite books, because it was so long. But director David Yates has done a fantastic job in turning it into a movie. It is one of my favorite Harry Potter movies.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Final Girls

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Genre: Comedy/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Taisa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Alia Shawkat

Description: A young woman (Taisa Farmiga) grieving the loss of her mother (Malin Akerman), a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom's most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film's maniacal killer.

Review: “The Final Girls” is a horror comedy that mocks slasher films, but not in the ridiculous way “Scary Movie” did. And it’s not as predictable as most slashers. The story movie within the movie isn’t original, but the story of this film is. And it’s very entertaining.
The term ‘final girl’ stands fort he girl that makes it to the end of a horror movie and manages to kill the person hunting her. Max is a teenage girl still mourning the dead of her mother Amanda, who was a 1980s actress who got her fame due to a bad slasher flick. Max and her friends go to a showing of Amanda’s most known film “Camp Blood”. When a fire breaks out in the theater, they are somehow sucked into the movie, having to live it themselves.
The killer, Billy, is a bad copy of Jason Voorhees. The premise is a bit like “Last Action Hero” and “Groundhog Day”. And it all somehow works, because it’s a super fun watch. With excellent leads Taisa Farmiga (Vera Farmiga’s younger sister) and Malin Akerman, it does even a bit better in the acting department then a lot of slasher films.
I really enjoyed this slasher, it’s really funny and it mocks the genre in a very original way. Without ever becoming over-the-top.

Rating: 3,5/ 5