Movie Review - The Odyssey

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 173 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Lupita Nyong’o
 
Description: After the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens and Calypso (Charlize Theron) along the way
 
Review: With the latest adaptation of “The Odyssey”, director Christopher Nolan proves that classical Greek mythology can still be relevant, and , above all, spectacular. The film has become a visual and narrative masterpiece that relentlessly draws the viewer into an emotional battle of attrition for almost 3 hours. The end result is a grand cinematic experience that balances human drama with mythological action.

“The Odyssey” follows the heroic yet disastrous journey of the Greek king Odysseus, who, after the fall of Troy, tries to find his way back home. While his faithful wife Penelope fights off intrusive suitors at home, Odysseus braves deadly monsters, divine curses, and psychological trials on the raging seas to save his kingdom.

The film excels in its cinematography and set design. The wild, unpredictable seas and the terrifying encounters with mythical creatures are brought to life with a perfect balance of practical effect and CGI. Nolan modernizes Homer’s source material without losing the epic’s authentic, tragic atmosphere.
The prominent American accents of the main cast feels quite out of place in a historical Greet setting at the beginning. The dialect distracted me and felt weird. Fortunately, this was short-lived, after a while it didn’t bother me as much. The performances are so intense and believable that the accent quickly fades into the background.

With this star-studded cast, there is a lot to look for. The performances are very strong and Matt Damon has the difficult task to lead them in this epic adventure film. But he succeeds. But it is Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton in particular who elevate this film by carrying the emotional core. While the visual spectacle dominates the action, these two actresses provide the much-needed psychological depth and humanity. Anne Hathaway shines thanks to her phenomenal transformation. She commands all the attention with her intense gaze and emotional range. She strikes the perfect balance between royal dignity and the raw, fragile despair of a character tormented by fate. Samantha Morton steals the show with her rock-solid, understated presence. Without resorting to melodrama, she brings a layered gravitas to the screen, in only a single scene. This all shows that “The Odyssey is not just another blockbuster, but also a memorable character-driven drama.

The second part of the film was the strongest. Is focusses more on the character’s internal struggles and the bitter reality of returning home. The cinematography becomes grimmer, the soundtrack gains depth, and the film builds at a perfect pace toward a breathtaking and emotional climax. “The Odyssey” is thus not only a visual spectacle but also a profoundly human epic that leaves an indelible impression.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Uncharted

Director: Ruben Fleisher
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE
WEEK 29: A MOVIE ABOUT TRAVELING
 
Description: Street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the house of Moncada.

Review: In “Uncharted”, based on a popular videogame, we see that brothers Nathan and Sam have been interested in the Magellan expedition since they were children in the orphanage. They want to steal the first world map. But they get caught doing so and Sam is sent away, because it’s not his first attempt. He manages to flee, leaving Nathan behind. Years later, Nathan works in a bar and he meets Sully, who wants to work with him. Sully is also a treasure hunter and knows Sam. Nathan’s brother stole the diary of Juan Sebastian Elcano for him. Since then there has been no trace of him, although Nathan has received postcards from Sam. On them are clues as to where he can find the gold treasure contained in two merchant ships.

I didn’t really care about this movie. It was somewhat entertaining and it looks good. But overall, it’s a pretty standard adventure film, with one-dimensional characters and a very predictable plot. Didn’t expect much, didn’t get much.

Rating: 2/ 5

20s Movie Review - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 148 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Angourie Rice, Thomas Haden Church, Rhys Ifans, J.K. Simmons

Description: With Spider-Man’s identity revealed, Peter (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.  

Review: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” begins where the previous installment ended. The identity of the New York hero is out in the streets and his reputation is blackened by videos from The Daily Bugle. This has such a negative impact on the lives of Peter and his friends that he decides to visit his friend Dr. Strange, who morosely agrees to use magic to make everyone forget that he is Spider-Man.

*** WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

This, of course, goes disastrously wrong, and the result is that a whole group of villains from other universes (the other Spider-Man movie series) enter the scene. From the Green Goblin to Otto Octavius.
Marvel and Sony flawlessly tap into the nostalgia of a generation that grew up with the Spider-Man films from the early 2000s. And it’s a delight to see some of the villains return. Dr. Otto Octavius is one of them, but seeing him wasn’t that big of a surprise, since he was in the trailer. Electro, who was in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, is a lot more interesting here then he was in the other film. And Jamie Foxx seems to be having more fun too. We also see Lizard and Sandman, who don’t have major roles but are pleasant additions to the group of villains. The real stunner though is Willem Dafoe, who surprisingly returns as Norman Osborne aka The Green Goblin. His maniacal face expressions and laugh really make him the great villain that he portrays in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.
The thing I most liked about the film was the return of Tobey Maguire and especially Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man from other universes. It would have been amazing if it was a complete surprise, but social media really ruined that for me with all its spoilers. But it was still a great moment when both of them entered this universe. And can we take a moment to talk about Andrew Garfield. Because, even though he is only in the movie for a short time, he was the highlight for me. I’ve always said he was the best Spider-Man of the three, even with his movies not being the best of the bunch. Garfield has the best comedic timing, he uses his intelligence to defeat his enemies and is the most confident and charismatic of the three. I like Maguire and Holland as well, don’t get me wrong, but I clearly have a favorite. And Garfield’s Spider-Man has a beautiful redeeming moment, where he managed to save MJ, reminding us of the fact that he wasn’t able to save his girlfriend Gwen.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” comes off as surprisingly dark and mature and that makes an impact. But there is still room for some comedy.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” is the best film in this series, with Tom Holland as Spider-Man, who again does a very good job. The film has a character-driven plot, which I loved, and I enjoyed the returning characters. This movie put a smile on my face.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Onward

Director: Dan Scanlon
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Fantasy/ Adventure
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheimer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Tracey Ullman, Wilmer Valderrama, John Ratzenberger

Description: Two elven brothers (Chris Pratt, Tom Holland) embarks on a quest to bring their father back one day.

Review: Modern means of communication and technology have not only alienated us from each other, but also drive away magic. Where you used to be able to save yourself from dire situations with a spell or simply turn on a light, the modern generations no longer have any use for this. Why learn difficult spells by heart when you can simple switch on the light with a button? The Lightfoot brothers are very different. The youngest, Ian, goes along with his time, but the older tough Barley longs for old times with wizards, dragons and an ancient struggle for life and death.
It's been a while, since “Coco”, since Pixar released an original animated film that wasn’t a sequel. The world of “Onward” is a mishmash of folklore, legends and mythical creatures, but brought back to the suburban life we all know. The Lightfoots live with mother Laurel in a giant mushroom house, but the once gracious unicorns are the scum of the earth looting the trash cans. As it turns out, the once mysterious lion-like warrior Manticore doesn’t run a dangerous ominous pub at all, but is part of a commercial chain and has proclaimed herself as a brand.
“Onward” comes from the makers of “Monsters Inc.” (my favorite Pixar film) and its sequel. The comparisons between bizarre looking monsters and fabled creatures such as unicorns, elves, centaurs, trolls, dragons, cyclops and wizards are therefore obvious. Unlike series like “Shrek” that go all out to get as much as possible out of the extreme looks and characteristics of the characters, director Dan Scanlon keeps it remarkably modest. His screenplay relies much more on subtleties, such as the policeman with whom mother Lauren is dating and who smashes half the furniture with his big centaur but. It emphasizes the humanity of the characters and reduces the freak content.
Therefore, as with many Pixar productions, the world in which “Onward” is set is not its main asset, but merely a backdrop within which the story unfolds. Central to the story are the family ties. Ian and Barley lost their father at a young age and Ian in particular wants to know where he came from. When they accidentally discover a magic wand that can bring their father back, it is the earthly Ian who has the gift of making spells work. Bit of a shame that the magic stone needed for this fails and the brothers have to make do with only their father’s legs.
What follows is not only a quest for the only identical stone to get their father back, but also a quest for their true selves. Stripped of all the frills of magic and weird creatures, “Onward” is essentially a matter of finding identity. Ian is trying to connect with the popular boys and girls of the school and Barley is the rough-and-tumble type. The mission that follows isn’t just about defeating dragons and shaking off enemies, but is primarily about self-exploration. The fact that the magic is still in all of us is a nice additional thought.
Scanlon shows us a magical world, in which the ordinary is the most extraordinary. And vice versa: an ordinary world, in which the magic is the special. This approach works wonders. As is almost always the case with Pixar, each plot element has a clear function and nothing is forgotten or left out. Octavia Spencer in particular excels as the aforementioned Manticore who in turn has also forgotten what she stood for and has become a victim of consymer society.  
“Onward” is not up there with the best of the best, but it’s a movie Pixar can be proud of and I really enjoyed.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Spider-Man: Far From Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angouri Rice, Remi Hii, Martin Starr, Cobie Smulders, J.B. Smoove

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A MARVEL MOVIE

Description: Following the events in “Avengers: Endgame”, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

Review: The number of superhero movies has become so large that it is becoming increasingly difficult to oversee everything. The various reboots that have been presented to the audience in a short time don’t make it any clearer. You have to invest heavily to stay updated and today it’s also a must to see every movie in the MCU, because they interweave and events in one movie will affect another. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the second part of the second Spider-Man reboot. This movie completes phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” cleverly builds on previous events. Peter Parker, a teenager, is still broken about the death of Tony Stark. The man that made him an Avenger. But Peter needs a break, which comes in the form of a school trip to Europe. He is too busy planning a way to win over MJ’s heart, that he even doesn’t pack his costume. Don’t worry, Aunt May packs it for him. But when they are in Venice, it’s soon clear that Spider-Man has no time for a break. And he meets the local hero Mysterio.
Marvel took a risk by resetting the adventures of Spider-Man for a second time, but also by making Peter Parker a teenager. Tom Holland with his youthful appearance and ditto spirit is cut for the role. He is my favorite Peter Parker. As a young Peter Parker he not only has to play the superhero, but he is also in the middle of puberty and dealing with lots of teen problems. But this is not my favorite series, that’s still the original with Toby Maguire. It feels more authentic and the new series changed way too much, I prefer the old-school Spider-Man.
Which doesn’t mean I don’t like this film. I liked “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and I really enjoyed “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. Mostly because Tom Holland is such a breath of fresh air to watch and he does such a great job as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man.
I liked the villain, although the reveal was a bit predictable. I think everyone knew who it was. The execution of it is really clever and inventive though. And Spider-Man has a serious opponent in him.
Overall, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is a highly entertaining film, with an excellent Tom Holland.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Devil All the Time

Director: Antonio Campos

Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime

Runtime: 138 minutes

Year: 2020

Starring: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Jason Clarke, Haley Bennett, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Sebastian Stan, Mia Wasikowska, Eliza Scanlon

Description: Sinister characters converge around a young man (Tom Holland) devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality.

Review: “Do not condemn anyone, for we are all sinners”. In “The Devil All the Time”, evil lurks everywhere and in everyone. For most people, plagued by their human powerlessness, there is no escape. Nevertheless, their faith and trust in the Lord often remains as strong as ever, if only to be able to cleanse themselves of the necessary sins. Director Antonio Campos explores the good, the evil and everything in between.

Campos takes us to the remote countryside of Ohio and West Virginia, where people live in strictly Christian hamlets, or rather snake pits full of sinners, weaklings and religious extremists. In these dark surroundings Arvin Russell grows up as a man of good will, but poverty and violence also create some dark sides. His story is woven in and apart from that of his father, a tormented war veteran who only at an older age throws himself full of devotion to the Lord, a wandering serial killing couple that targets male hitchhikers, corrupt sheriff Lee Bodecker and a new pastor.

Campos knows how to tell a lot with only a few images. Effective to move the story forward, but it sometimes lacks tension. Still, this doesn’t do much harm to the film overall. The film adaptation of the literary novel by Donald Ray Pollock (who narrates the story) is very successful. Campos’ most important blessings are the beautifully shot images and atmospheric mish. And although not every character has been worked out in the same way, the strong ensemble cast effortlessly lifts the film to a higher level.

Tom Holland impresses as the skeptical young Arvin, who does everything he can to protect his loved ones and doesn’t hold back. We have not seen him in such a role before. Robert Pattinson, who plays the pastor Preston Teagardin, especially makes an impact. In recent years he has established himself as a character actor, and always manages to catch our eye. One of the strongest scenes of the film features both Holland and Pattinson. Other performances by Haley Bennett, Jason Clarke and Bill Skarsgård are also worth mentioning.

“The Devil All the Time” is gruesome, gloomy, not very hopeful, sometimes somewhat uncomfortable, but above all intriguing. This film is probably not for everyone, yet it would be a shame to not give it a chance. A true Netflix gem.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - In the Heart of the Sea

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Drama
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland, Ben Wishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Michelle Fairley

Description: A recounting of a New England whaling ship's sinking by a giant whale in 1820, an experience that later inspired the great novel Moby-Dick.

Review: “In the Heart of the Sea” tells the true story of the Essex, a ship under attack of a giant sperm whale. The story inspired the literary classic “Moby Dick”. In this film, author Herman Melville is still looking for inspiration for his novel. He finds one of the survivors in a small village and asks for his story.
The film convinces at the start, with a very realistic setting and the 19th century pioneers who want to sail to the end of the world to collect whale oil. The adventure at sea looks amazing.
The story starts with George Pollard and Owen Chase. The two have to form a team while at sea. Chase is the most capable man to be captain, but Pollard gets it due to his family name. When they set sails, it is clear that Pollard isn’t a good leader.
The scenes with the whale are the best, but sadly there aren’t a lot of those. The whale isn’t present that much anyway. In the end, “In the Heart of the Sea” is more of a survival movie.
The film has a really strong start, but eventually misses depth and didn’t give me what I expected.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 135: The Lost City of Z

Director: James Gray
Genre: Adventure/ Action/ Drama
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland

Description: A true-life drama, centering on British explorer Col. Percival Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who disappeared while searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s.

Review: It’s never without danger, but this expedition can clear his name, which was brought to him by his alcoholic father. Colonel Percy Fawcett is send to the heart of the Amazone, t show the Bolivians and Brazilians where the borders are. He isn’t there to explore, but when Percy arrives that’s exactly what he’s going to do. And there starts his search for a mysterious city.
During this expedition, which starts in 1906, Percy discovers unique archeological proof of an ancient civilization. Although his fellow British men see themselves superior of any other folk, Percy is determined to find the lost city of Z.
Director James Gray based “The Lost City of Z” on the book by journalist David Grann, who did research about one of the most well know English explorers. It’s an interesting story, with a lot of potential.
The film excels when we tag along with Percy on his magical quest. And Charlie Hunnam manages to portray a very charismatic Percy Fawcett. And Robert Pattinson is an interesting side kick.
The moments that he isn’t in the Amazone, are not as interesting and tend to drag a bit. Sienna Miller is an excellent actress, but she really doesn’t have a lot to do, as Percy’s wife. This makes the emotional moments a little bland as well.
“The Lost City of Z” is an overlooked film, I never hear anyone about this movie.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 122: Spider-Man: Homecoming

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Tony Revolori, Jennifer Connelly, Angourie Rice, Logan Marshall-Green, Martin Starr, Gwyneth Paltrow

Description: Peter Parker (Tom Holland) balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.

Review: Spider-Man has always been one of the most popular superheroes. Iron Man got more popular because of the movies and Robert Downey Jr. The two work together in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”.
Spider-Man has had his ups and downs. “Spider-Man 3” couldn’t keep up with the two previous movies. The reboot films did okay, but weren’t as amazing as the title let us believe. Sony and Marvel had to come up with something new to give the popular webslinger the movie he deserves. The result: Spider-Man is part of the shared universe of Marvel. In “Spider-Man: Homecoming” there are many moments were they show us that. Teen Peter Parker is constantly reminded of his adult colleagues. It’s all sounds like a big marketing trick, but it’s all relevant. Peter struggles with the inner conflict of being the little fish in a small pond.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was shortly seen in “Captain America: Civil War”. And that guest appearance is the starting point for “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. In a world where superheroes are common, Peter Parker thinks it’s an honor to work with the team of Avengers. But after an experience like that, it’s hard for Peter to pick up his old life. Especially when Tony Starks tells him that he might receive a call, but Peter never does. Spider-Man is in the Marvel universe, but he is not yet an Avenger.
This is the sixth Spider-Man film in fifteen years, so it isn’t good enough to let the superhero just do his tricks and fight a random villain. Marvel is clever enough and uses a lot of variation. The origin story, of how Peter Parker became Spider-Man, is left behind. And it’s not Spidey just swinging from huge buildings, he goes further than that.
What keeps it all together? Tom Holland! Where predecessors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were about 10 years to old for the role, the young British actor is perfect to play Peter Parker. His enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air. And his great comedic timing make you almost forget that he is also very capable of performing in more dramatic scenes. Even opposite of veterans like Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Keaton.
Peter Parker still has to prove himself as an Avenger, but this version of Spider-Man promises a very bright future.

Rating: 4,5/ 5