Movie Review - Enola Holmes 3

Director: Philip Barantini
Genre: Adventure/ Comedy/ Action
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, Louis Partridge, Sharon Duncan-Brewster
 
Description: Detective Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) heads to Malta, where her aspirations merge in her most complex and dangerous case yet.
 
Review: This third installment has lost some of its charm. While the first two films were fresh, energetic, and full of surprises, “Enola Holmes 3” unfortunately feels like a rehash. It lacks the spark and sharpness that made the earlier adventures so entertaining.

This time, the story shifts to sunny Malta, where Enola is about to marry her true love, Lord Tewkesbury. However, her doubt about the marriage are abruptly interrupted when it turns out that her brother Sherlock has vanished without a trace. What follows is a chaotic quest filled with kidnappings and hidden treasures, in which Enola must once again unravel a complex mystery to save her brother.

The biggest problem is the script. This murder-and-kidnapping mystery is far less compelling and more predictable than before. Whereas the fantastic second installment (my favorite in the series) excelled in a clever plot, political intrigue, and a great pace, this adventure in Malta just kind of plods along. Moreover, the dynamic between Enola and Sherlock lacks the spark that made the previous installments so strong. Millie Bobby Brown, however, remains a joy to watch. Her acting is still full of energy, and the moments when she breaks the fourth wall to address the audience remain entertaining. But the material she has to work with this time around is simply lacking.

“Enola Holmes 3” is still entertaining and it’s not a bad movie, but it’s a clear step back compared to its predecessors. And it definitely never comes close to the second movie.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Damsel

Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Genre: Fantasy/ Action
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, Nick Robinson
 
Description: A dutiful damsel (Millie Bobby Brown) agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt.

Review: Elodie marries a handsome Prince, so her family can have a more fortunate life. However, she discovers that the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to pay off an old debt and is thrown into a cave. She will then have to rely on her wits and willpower to survive.

The term ‘damsel’ is often used in fairytale-like stories, as the damsel in distress. A woman in need of help. The damsel in this story, could need some help, but doesn’t have anyone to lean on. And she perfectly manages on her own. Elodie is portrayed as a self-reliant young woman.

We don’t get much backstory. We are introduced to Elodie and her family and dive into the story right away. We don’t learn much about the other girls that had to endure the same fate as Elodie. The film does flow smoothly and “Damsel” is a very easy watch.

The acting is fine, Millie Bobby Brown does a good job as Elodie. The rest of the actors don’t get much to do. Her character only has a short amount of time to really develop, but I did like following her journey of survival.

The special effects look really good. The dragon is imposing and really stands out.
“Damsel” is a fine fantasy film, I really enjoyed it and it’s entertaining.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Enola Holmes 2

Director: Harry Bradbeer
Genre: Adventure/ Mystery/ Action/ Crime
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham-Carter, David Thewlis, Louise Partridge, Himesh Patel
 
Description: Now a detective-for-hire, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) takes on her first official case to find a missing girl as the sparks of a dangerous conspiracy ignite a mystery that requires the help of friends, and Sherlock (Henry Cavill) himself, to unravel.

Review: After the success of her first solved murder case, Enola Holmes starts her own detective agency. Unfortunately, most potential clients are put off by her young age and her gender, not to mention the fact that they prefer to talk to her more famous brother Sherlock. It seems Enola’s career is over before it even begins, until she is visited by a young girl whose older sister has gone missing after being accused of stealing from her workplace.

Enola takes the case and infiltrates the factory where the young lady was employed. Before lone, Enola is on the trail of a vast conspiracy, but once the local police become involved in the case, led by the extraordinary Inspector Grail, even our capable heroine discovers she needs a little help from her brother Sherlock and her elusive mother Eudoria.

Millie Bobby Brown excels in her role as Enola. She brings Sherlock’s little sister to life in a convincing and energetic manner and is genuinely funny in her comments and facial expressions. Henry Cavill portrays a wonderful messy and laid-back Sherlock, and his increased presence in this sequel could hint at a Sherlock Holmes movie of his own. Which I’m totally in for by the way.

The interplay between Cavill and Brown is very enjoyable. The two have a good click and come across as if they are brother and sister in real life. The dialogues between both Holmes siblings are sharp and smooth, with Sherlock often baffled by his sister’s skills and Enola in turn realizing that her brother is a bit of a mess.

Although the plot may appear wuite complicated to younger viewers, it is less impressive than the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Fortunately, the unraveling of the mysteries still uses the power of deductive reasoning so characteristic of original author Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories.

Somethins that is also done in a fun way, is the breaking of the fourth wall. This storytelling technique by no means works in every film, but in “Enola Holmes 2” it results in funny comments in between and benefits the story, as it takes the viewer inside the mind of Enola.

Less successful are the scenes with Enola’s potential boyfriend from her first adventure, Lord Tewkesbury, which repeatedly brings the film to a halt. He is such a dull and monotonous character, that it is hard to imagine anyone as bubbly as Enola having a crush on him.

Nevertheless, “Enola Holmes 2” is highly entertaining, just like the first installment (liked it even a bit more than the first). And a perfect film to watch in the autumn season. A cozy mystery, love it. Hopefully more to come.  

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Stranger Things (Season 4)

Season: 4

Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Fantasy/ Horror

Number of episodes: 8

Year: 2019

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Priah Ferguson, Joseph Quinn, Eduardo Franco

Description: It’s eight months after the events in the Starcourt Mall. Max is having a tough time dealing, distancing herself from Lucas who has found a place in the basketball team. Dustin befriended Eddie, the leader of the Hellfire Club: a D&D group. Mike visits Eleven, Will and Jonathan and Joyce still believes Hopper is alive. When people start dying in Hawkins and Eddie is the main suspect, the young gang decides to help him and find who is behind these deaths, while Eleven goes back to doctor Brenner to regain her powers and Joycesets to find Hopper.

Review: After nearly three years, “Stranger Things” fans (ME!) can finally see how things continue for their heroes from Hawkins, Indiana. Will that long wait be rewarded?

WARNING! THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Netflix decided not to drop the entire season at once. The first seven episode dropped and later the final two we available as well. And the season had a very long runtime, especially the last two episodes. And I didn’t mind that at all.

The previous season came to a climax battle, where Eleven and her friends defeated the monster from the Upside Down at the Starcourt mall, while Joyce and Hopper went deep underground to thwart the Russians’ plan. The victory came at a high price: Billy was killed, El lost her powers and Hopper disappeared. The rushing army quickly laid the entire Starcour to ashes, and in cover-up, all traces of Russians, monsters, and gateways to other dimensions were carefully hidden away. Joyce moved to California with her sons Will and Jonathan and their friend El.

The big question at the beginning of season 4 is whether the whole gang will ever get back together. El writes letters to Mike from California in which she pretends that she is doing very well, but in reality she is deeply unhappy without her friends and she is being bullied. Home in Hawkins is no paradise either. Since the horrific death of her brother Billy, Max has been seeing the school psychologist regularly, but other students are also suffering from trauma. In the Upside Down, a new monstrous creature sees in this a way to manifest itself again in Hawkins.

Of course, with each new season of “Stranger Things”, fans are especially looking forward to seeing their familiar heroes again, but the creators are always introducing new characters as well. This season is no different. A big addition is Eddie Munson, a high school student with a love for heavy metal, drugs and Dungeons & Dragons. And Eddie wins all of our hearts from the first scene we meet him. Which makes the final episode extra difficult to watch.

Season 3 had a small bonus scene, where there was a hint Hopper had survived the explosion. And of course it turns out that he has. Joyce’s attempt to reunite with Hopper take up a good portion of the episodes, and with that the new season deviates considerably from all the previous ones. For the story no longer plays out only in Hawkins, but also in California, Alaska and Siberia.

The tone of the series is also markedly different this season. Previously, “Stranger Things” breathed the atmosphere of the Spielberg films and Stephen King movies of the 1980s, but now the emphasis is firmly on horror. Characters are killed off in some pretty shocking ways, which may make this season’s 16-and-over predicate justifiable. Again many references to popculture, like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” ( with a cameo from Robert Englund), “Halloween” and “Carrie”.

Max has a bigger role in this season, which I really loved, since she is one of my favorites. And she is, together with newbie Eddie, one of the highlights of season 4. Can they please give Sadie Sink an award for her performance, because it was incredible. And with that the characters of Max and Eddie both had an epic scene, which eventually became the most memorable moments of season 4 (Max escaping Vecna for the first time and Eddie’s guitar solo in the Upside Down).

All the familiar and new characters, references to previous season and well-known genre films, music from the eighties and he now familiar formula of the Duffer Brothers ensure that you step into a warm bath with season 4. Is more always better? In the case of “Stranger Things”: absolutely! Now we wait for season 5, which will be the final season. Time to rewatch season 1 to 4 now.

Movie Review - Godzilla Vs. Kong

Director: Adam Wingard
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Bryan Tyree Henry, Julian Denison, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir, Lance Reddick

Description: The two most powerful titans are opposite of each other: the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong.

Review: When the giant ape Kong is deployed to find a mysterious energy source, his presence attracts the attention of Godzilla. It’s only a matter of time before these two titans go into battle with each other.
“Godzilla Vs Kong” is a movie I’ve been looking forward to ever since I heard it was in the making. And what a treat it is to see it in theaters, after them being closed for so long.
After “Godzilla” (2014), “Kong: Skull Island” (2017) and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019), we have now arrived at “Godzilla Vs Kong. It is not the first time the two iconic monsters meet but today the level is higher. And the result is breathtaking. As in the previous Monsterverse films, the makers have a good eye for detail, scale and action, keeping the way these gigantic creatures move not only believable, but spectacular.
Like its predecessors, this film has little time for the human characters. They aren’t provided with a lot of depth. But the majority of them do serve a purpose in the movie. Especially the little deaf girl Jia, who has a special bond with Kong. This is the heart of the story and the scenes between them are heartwarming. And they are in the film just the right amount, because when you go to see “Godzilla Vs King” you want to see some monster action, epic fights and spectacular battles. And that’s exactly what you get. Depth of characters isn’t needed at all, because you hardly care about the people in the film. But, as I stated before, they have a purpose in the story.  
I wouldn’t have mind if the film was a bit longer. But “Godzilla Vs Kong” did end perfectly in my eyes. Without spoiling anything, they gave both monsters a good ending of this story with it being believable if they were real.
I was so glad that I got the chance to see it on the big screen, because this is a movie you should see in theaters. The movie didn’t disappoint and it was pure entertainment with fantastic visuals.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Reviews - Enola Holmes

Director: Harry Bradbeer

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Adventure

Runtime: 123 minutes

Year: 2020

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge

Description: When Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown), Sherlock’s (Henry Cavill) teen sister, discovers her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young lord (Louis Partridge)

Review: Forget Sherlock Holmes and meet Enola, the teenage sister of the world’s most famous detective. Equally resourceful and quirky, but spicier and more rebellious then her big brother. In “Enola Holmes”, the young detective takes matters into her own hands to track down her missing mother. For this she travels through Victorian England, a time when many people didn’t care much for types like Enola who went against traditional customs. Because, change is so difficult. Fortunately, director Harry Bradbeer and “Enola Holmes” provide the ultimate proof that a new interpretation o the familiar can a welcome relief.

In this revisionist twist on the classic detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock and Mycroft are pushed to the sidelines and take the lead in tracking down their mother after she is nowhere to be found. But before Enola can start her search, she has to get rid of her brothers. They want to send her to a boarding school to become a real lady, but Enola doesn’t feel like it.

“Enola Holmes” is set in Victorian England, where a battle for great reforms was going in, but women were still hoisted into tight corsets against their will. But Enola decides to chose her own path, instead of others doing it for her.

Enola leaves for London, the height of civilization. Her mother left some clues. On the train, her path crosses with that of Lord Tewksbury, a young marquis who is the target of a murder conspiracy. The two soon develop a bond.

Millie Bobby Brown manages to bring the young heroine from Nancy Springer’s books to life in an energetic and charming way. Enola frequently breaks the fourth wall for a chat with the audience and this was a fun touch. Brown’s witty and comical comments provide the film with a fine playful atmosphere that distinguishes it from the stories about her stoic brother.

The detective work of Sherlock’s female counterpart is less strong and intriguing and not typical Holmes-like as that of her big brother. Enola is more busy deciphering her mothers encrypted messages than solving larger puzzles. As a result, the mysteries to be unraveled never really become very exciting or compelling. Fortunately, the great action scenes make up for this and the great casting of Milly Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes is also a plus. I just can’t get over the fact how handsome Cavill is in this film and somehow also kind of perfect for the role of Sherlock Holmes.  

“Enola Holmes” is a fun contemporary interpretation of a genre previously dominated by men. It’s a highly enjoyable film and definitely a fun adventure. Hopefully more will follow.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

 

 

TV Show Reviews - Stranger Things (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Fantasy/ Horror
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2019
Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Dink, Dacre Montgomery, Priah Ferguson

Description: In the summer of 1985 in Hawkins, the new Starcourt Mall has become the focal point of the town, driving other stores out of business. Sherriff Jim Hopper is conflicted over Eleven and Mike’s budding relationship, while Joyce considers moving out of Hawkins for better prospects, leaving the state of the children’s friendships and her own relationship with Hopper in the air. However, strange power fluctuations trigger Will’s awareness of something otherworldly, and Eleven and Max sense something is off about the town’s residents. And despite having closed the portal to the Upside Down, fears that they are all in danger from it still.

Review: For a series with nostalgia as its biggest drive, we are looking back with nostalgia to the first season in 2016. When we didn’t know the Duffer brothers and all the young actors of “Stranger Things”. It was such a pleasant surprise. A strong horror show, with 80s galore and pop culture references, fun characters and a great story. A series that could have easily been created by Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter or Stephen King.
The second season, although still very good, never lived up to the first season. But there was enough hope for season 3.
Season 3 premiered on July 4th: Independence Day in America, the start of the summer season. And besides the fact that the young cast grew older and are caught up in teen love, the most stylistic change is the fact that its set in the summer.
The series is set for a large point in and around the new large Starcourt Mall. Which looks amazing. The 80s atmosphere is brought back to life so well. And again a ton of references to films, series and music from that period. Love it! Especially a scene between Max and Eleven, in that Starcourt Mall, with ‘Material Girl’ by Madonna playing, is the 80s summed up perfectly.
Like I stated before, the young kids are now teenagers with teen problems and it starts to have a certain effect on their friendship. Mike and Eleven are in love, Max and Lucas are in love, even Dustin has a girlfriend. Although nobody believes she is real. And Will is looking from the sideline, still wanting to play Dungeons and Dragons in the basement and read comic books. Hopper is really not that happy about Will and Eleven, but he himself is having certain feelings. For Joyce.
At the end of season 2, the gate to the Upside Down was closed. But the darkness isn’t over. In the beginning of season 3, it’s mostly drama, love, relationships and such things. It takes its time to start. And horror is very far away. But each episode it becomes clear that something is still brewing in Hawkins. The gate might have been closed, but something from that underworld has settled down in Hawkins. And it’s looking for back-up.
A monster in Hawkins, it sounds like the same thing. Something mysterious happens, various groups investigate and eventually they will all come together. But does this bother me? Not at all! Because we’ve come to love all the characters so much and we love the tension, it’s still a lot of fun to watch. Each episode a little more of the horror is revealed.
The creators showed more ‘guts’ by making bold choices. Like the role of Erica in this season. She has a very important role in this season and for a young actress like Priah Ferguson, it could’ve easily gone wrong. But it didn’t. And the introduction of Robin, and what her character is all about. Also very bold. Billy also got a more important role, one of the most important ones actually. And I don’t think any people really liked his character, until the end of this season.
With the third season of “Stranger Things”, Netflix hits another bullseye. Even though it takes a little while to really get interesting, each episode is still worth watching. And that last episode made me cry so hard! Let season 4 come!

Movie Reviews - Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Director: Michael Dougherty
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Charles Dance, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, David Strathairn, O’Shea Jackson Jr.

Description: The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.

Review: In 2014 Mark and Emma’s son was killed in the disastrous fight between Godzilla and two MUTO’s. in flashbacks we see how their daughter Madison did survive and how Mark left the family to try and cope with the death of his son. Emma on the other hand, works for the Monarch, a zoological agency that shows high interest in Titans. A groups a creatures that Godzilla is a part of. When she is in the middle of awakening Mothra, eco-terrorist Jonah Allen enters the room.
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is one giant spectacle. There is hardly any room to breathe, because it’s constant action. And it all looks amazing. It’s a visual treat.
Even though this film is mostly about the monsters, there is a moral to the story: restoring the natural balance. And although Emma and Jonah are portrayed to be the ‘bad guys’ of some sort, I really think they have a point. Emma’s drive and motivation for what she is doing makes sense strangely enough.
The audience’s biggest complaint about “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, is the characters. They have no depth and are disposable. Well people, they are not what’s important in this film. The focus is supposed to be on Godzilla and the monsters. Off course the people should be somewhat interesting as well. And I find Emma and Jonah both a very interesting characters. The rest is indeed not that special. But if you’re a Godzilla fan, you don’t care about the characters and you get exactly what you want: Godzilla!!!
The cast is very talented. Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe and Charles Dance. All very solid. Nothing really noteworthy.
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is a good sequel to 2014s “Godzilla”.

Rating: 3,5/ 5