Movie Review - Warfare

Director: Alex Garland, Ray Mendoza
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Cosmo Jarvis, D’Pharaoh Woon A-Tai, Aaron Mackenzie, Alex Brockdorff, Finn Bennett, Evan Holtzman, Michael Gandolfini,, Joe Macauley, Aaron Deakins, Noah Centenio, Kit Connor, Charles Melton
 
Description: A platoon of Navy Seals embark on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
 
Review: “Warfare” is a film so realistic that it leaves all other dramatized war films behind. And uncompromising confrontation with the harsh reality of war.
 
On November 19^th 2006, Navy Seal team Alpha One storms a building in Ramadi, a city in central Iraq. The families living there are led to a bedroom and ordered to remain silent. Meanwhile, officer Ray Mendoza maintains contact with air support, while sniper Elliot Miller keeps the house across the street in his sights. Nothing seems to happen at first, until a grenade flies in and all hell breaks loose. Al Qaeda fighters attack from all sides.
 
“Warfare” is a historically accurate reconstruction of the violent siege of the Alpha One unit during the Iraq War, based on the testimonies of Mendoza and his teammates. The events are presented in real time. Everything looks completely incredible, because the film exudes hyperrealism and consistently maintains that line. There is no room for sentimental exchange, which most war movies use a lot of to make it more dramatic. But “Warfare” doesn’t need that, it’s raw and pure. And that’s the power of this film. One of the best films of 2025.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Wild Robot

Director: Chris Sanders
Genre: Animation/ Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Lupita Nyongo’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Mark Hamill, Ving Rhames, Catherine O’Hara
 
Description: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz (Lupita Nyongo’o) is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A FILM THAT’S A 2024 FAVORITE FOR MANY PEOPLE
 
Review: At the center of “The Wild Robot” there is Roz, a robot that seems far too complicated to serve as a household helper. But would probably be given that function in most cases. Were it not for the fact that this particular one is stranded on a desert island. As far as people go, that is. This island is inhabited by animals and most of them see her as an enemy. Until she finds a goose egg.

When the egg hatches, the little goose latches on to Roz. She needs to teach him how to swim and fly and eventually get ready for migration. Roz makes it her task, with the help of Fink, an seemingly unreliable fox that feels just as an outsider as Roz does.  

Robots are supposed to be emotionless, trying to solve problems with logic, using algorithm. But when Roz’ algorithmic thought processes fail, she must learn to rely on her intuition and feelings. On the contrary, the animals of the island do nothing but act from gut instinct. They must learn to turn off their instincts in order to survive together. And it turns out that programming and instinct are not so different after all.

The sympathy you feel for Roz, from the start, is partly due to Lupita Nyongo’o’s excellent vocal performance. With only her voice, she manages to convey so much feeling and nuance. As Roz develops, we see her create her own consciousness. Her character growth is accompanied by universal themes of parenthood, friendship, belonging and (self-) acceptance, with the story emphasizing that the relationships we form are enough to lead fulfilling lives.

The breathtaking animation, vulnerable emotions and moving story are perfectly brought together. This results in countless enchanting scenes that really make something happen to you. I felt every emotion while watching “The Wild Robot”. Director Chris Sanders has outdone himself once again with this wonderful Dreamworks animation and it is indeed my favorite film of 2024.

Rating: 5/ 5