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 - The Drama

Director: Kristoffer Borgli
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Gates, Sydney Lemmon, Hannah Gross
 
Description: A happily-engaged couple (Robert Pattinsong, Zendaya) is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
 
Review: “The Drama” is a film that will continue to haunt your mind long after the credits roll, though whether you’ll find that a pleasant experience is another matter.

Charlie and Emma are happily engaged, preparing for their wedding. But when Emma shares something about her past, the week before their wedding becomes a big challenge.

The film strikes a perfect balance on the fine line between a cinematic masterpiece and a pure test of the viewer’s endurance. The film is best described as a pitch-black comedy laced with extremely disturbing situations. The humor is so sharp and painful that laughter repeatedly gets stuck in your throat. The director and cast succeed in constantly confronting the audience with complex moral dilemmas, in which there is no clear moral winner to be identified. As a viewer, you’re forced to question your own ethical compass, which makes the themes incredibly powerful. At the same time, this is a very uncomfortable film to watch. The vicarious embarrassment, the underlying tension, and the moral decay creep so deeply under your skin that it feels suffocating at times.

There is especially one scene, that feels like an actual dumpster fire. And the longer it burns, the worst it gets. And you can’t watch it, but also can’t look away. If you have seen the movie, you know which scene I mean.

It’s an impressive piece of cinema, but the emotional toll is high. Precisely because of the intense, uncomfortable atmosphere, I’ll probably never watch this film again. It’s powerful experience that you absolutely must see, but one you’ll be glad to leave behind afterward.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Challngers

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor
 
Description: Tashi (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach, transformed her husband (Mike Faist) into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he’ll need to face off against his former best friend, and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend (Josh O’Connor).

Review: Luca Guadagnino has directed one of my favorite films of all-time: “Call Me by Your Name”. It’s one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen in my life, it’s simply perfect. I was excited to see Guadagnino’s newest film, especially since it’s been getting great reviews. “Challengers” is a really good, unpredictable film. While many say it tops “Call Me by Your Name”, I disagree, but I did enjoy “Challengers”. Though I might never rewatch it.

From the beginning it’s clear that there are three main characters: Tashi, Patrick and Art. Their interaction will define the drama. But the script does not the the story chronologically. The film has a fractured structure.

“Challengers” promises to be a sports film about rival tennis players. The film kicks off with the salutations of the ultimate match between Patrick and Art. But how that match evolves, we are given wordy details. Between beginning and end, the viewer is tossed back and forth between past and present, sometimes only for a brief scene.

Pretty soon, Guadagnino reveals that they are moving into a different direction from the classic boy-gets-girl sports drama after all. Art and Patrick used to be bosom bodies, when they were novices, who fell madly in love with then tennis star Tashi. But through the first sequence, which is a glimpse into the future, we know Tashi quit tennis, married Art and decided to coach him. What happened? Why was Patrick left out. Why did Tashi quit?

The mischievous Tashi, formidably portrayed by Zendaya, clearly finds that relationship tantalizing. The question, however, is what or who she really wants. I found Tashi highly unlikeable, as for Patrick. Art was somehow the only one I could somewhat root for, but I never really liked him either. Just three very nasty people, manipulative, seductive, egotistical.

Because of that, I might never want to rewatch this film again. Even though it’s very well put together. The way the story is constructed is so clever and it has some unpredictable twists here and there. But I kind of hated the three main characters, and then I find it somehow really difficult to get behind it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Dune: Part Two

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Genre: Science Fiction/ Drama/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 166 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Léa Seydoux
 
Description: Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.

Review: It’s finally here: Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited second part of his epic film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel. “Dune: Part Two” offers an engaging, lucid and spectacular continuation of the story and tells interesting things about myths, colonialism, ecology, religion and fate. But it impresses above all with its great visuals.

It is a sequel, because it’s the second film, but they are not two separate films. They form a whole and one can not be viewed without the other. Part two picks up when Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica have been taken in by the Fremen, the indigenous people of sand planet Arrakis. What follows is the evolution of Duke’s chils Paul into Maud-Dib, or Lisan al-Gaib. An evolution with extreme consequences.

Villeneuve has focused on the development of Paul, who brings together moderates and fanatics and struggles with his identity. The film has a geopolitical and (post-) colonial layer, with Arrakis as the oil-rich Middle Each, House Atreides as the more progressive Europe, House Harkonnen as representatives of the nihilistic dictatorships pursuing unscrupulous colonial policies and the emperor as the puppeteer.
I was very impressed by Austin Butler, who is a new character and the villain Feyd-Rautha of this second part. Timothée Chalamet manages again to proof that he can easily lead a big film. And Rebecca Ferguson, as Lady Jessica, really showed a nice transformation of her character.

The camerawork is mesmerizing, the way these amazing action scenes were shot.

I already loved the first film, but “Dune: Part Two” is even slightly better. It’s a true epic sci-fi saga, with a complex world with equally complex characters. I just can’t wait for this saga to continue.  

Rating: 5/ 5

TV-Show Review - Euphoria (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2022
Starring: Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alanna Ubach, Austin Abrams   

Description: A look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues of drugs, sex and violence.

Review: Cinematically stunning and thematically heartbreaking. Season one of “Euphoria” became one of the most celebrated Gen Z drama series on HBO, effectively getting under the skin of its audience with its raw, taboo-breaking nature. Whether the second season can get you just as high two and a half years later?
The 25-minute opening scene makes clear that this season is going to be a rollercoaster of drugs, mistaken encounters, high-stakes emotions and personal tragedies. Zendaya, who with her portrayal of the destructive Rue is the youngest actress to win an Emmy for “Best Lead Role in a Drama Series”, had previously revealed that this season would be a unch in the gut. And she didn’t lie, as the characters find themselves in even more intense situations and downwards spirals in this second season, which only makes theme more disillusioned with life. It is sometimes anything but easy to watch.
Hope, romance and happy endings are for another round. Although, thankfully, a touch of lightheartedness or an absurdly humorous moment is never far away. interludes that somehow always seem to be accompanied by the showing of a penis. Knowing that the creators of “Euphoria” have created with the series a world, which does not so much want to reflect on reality, but rather the emotional world of teenagers. I am especially relieved that this sequel managed to maintain all the best, ugly, confrontational and progressive of the series and at the same time lift the whole story to unexpected, unprecedented and compelling heights. And that it again managed to keep the clichés that teen dramas usually attract at bay for the most part.

My favorite part of this second season is that Lexi is given a much bigger role. She is the character that I like and relate to the most and I think Maude Apatow did a fantastic job this season. And Zendaya, yet again, is the scene stealer. Especially in episode 5, that one scene is magnificent and I wouldn't be surprised of she takes home yet another Emmy. 
I loved this season of “Euphoria”, just as much as the first. It’s a shocking series, not for the tender-hearted. I somehow always enjoy other people’s misery, in film and TV-show form that is. Not in real life.

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

Movie Review - Dune

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ Action
Runtime: 156 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling

Description: Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is the son of a noble family who is entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.

Review: It’s not often that a book retains the status of being unfilmable after it’s been filmed. Author Frank Herbert’s “Dune” did not exactly get the film adaptation this extremely popular and influential work deserved in 1984. In 2000 another attempt was made with a mini-series, which, with its longer running time, did more justice to the complex source material. It would probably have stopped there, were it not for the fact that in tha last two decades Hollywood has tackled many books that were considered unfilmable. Just look at “The Lord of the Rings”-trilogy. And it this complex story can be adapted into one of the most beloved and acclaimed film trilogies of all time, why shouldn’t  “Dune” work? And with the right filmmaker, lots is possible.
Enter Denis Villeneuve, who has been on an impressive winning streak for a good decade now. Villeneuve does not shy away from collaborating with big stars, but has always managed to avoid to easy Hollywood projects. Instead, he devotes himself to films that can easily categorize as ‘quality cinema’: suitable for a large audience but not pedantic and more confrontational than comfortable. “Blade Runner 2049” could be called his first blockbuster.
“Dune” is similar in scale and budget to Villeneuve’s previous film, but a lot more complex in terms of narrative. After all, Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel is full of characters and hard-to-explain science fiction concepts, which could potentially keep the average moviegoer away. in this, fortunately, Villeneuve’s aptitude for the subject matter is apparent, once again managing to strike a good balance between grand visual spectacle and concrete personal drama. As with “Blade Runner 2049”, he stays pretty faithful to the source material, but manages to bend it visually well to his will. By his own admission, he was only ready for this project after the experience of films like “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049”, and that doesn’t seem to be a meaningless statement, as “Dune” looks and feels like a logical continuation of Villeneuve’s previous films, but mostly one that benefits from the experience as a filmmaker.
Unlike the 1984 film, Villeneuve’s “Dune” does not open with a confusing dump of info, but simply begins with a clear narrative in which plot details pass by in fairly organic fashion. Of course it helps when you gradually learn about the feudal system of the distant future, the tension between various noble families, the importance of the raw material that can only be found on the desert planet Arrakis or the possible messianic status of the youthful main character Paul Atreides, but the central plot is still easy to follow when all these details get a bit too much for you. Thankfully, “Dune” never presents its plot information as homework, doesn’t blind itself to the details, and is smart enough to leave some characters in the wings until a future installment.
“Dune” is more than its plot. Villeneuve has a keen eye for the world in which the extensice story is set. And so, for example, there is a meaningful close-up when the young hero Paul takes his first steps on the desert sands of Arrakis. Whereas previous film adaptations showed this desert planet as a rather dark place, similar to how Mars is usually portrayed, Villeneuve makes full use of the Middle Eastern metaphor by showing this planet in bright light with harsh shadows. This makes the inhospitality of this world completely palpable even before the huge sandworms appear. It helps, of course, that it was really filmed in the desert, and with the beautiful rock formations, it's not hard to be visually impressive. Villeneuve also shows a good eye for scale with his wide panoramas in which there is always something going on in the background.
“Dune” opens with the indication that this is ‘part one’, but the arrival of a second is not guaranteed. This will leave you possibly somewhat unfulfilled, not knowing of this story will ever be concluded appropriately. It is to be hoped that there is enough enthusiasm for a continuation, because Villeneuve absolutely deserves it.

Rating: 4,5 / 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

TV Show Review - Euphoria

Season: 1
Genre: Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2019
Starring: Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney

Description: A look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues of drugs, sex and violence.

Review: “Euphoria” is perhaps the most discussed series of 2019. The controversies surrounding the scene with the many penises, or the many drugs used in the series that seems to be about seventeen-year-olds, stirred the emotions in America. And yes, nothing could be further from the truth. All this is definitely in “Euphoria”. But what an intensely good series this is.
“Euphoria” follows Rue, a problematic teenager who has trouble with drugs, her mental health and life in general. Zendaya, who plays Rue, shines in this role and proves that she is much more than one of the many Disney child stars. “Euphoria” reflects on the world and is not afraid to show it explicitly. It may scare some people off, but I found it enlightening.
I don’t want to delve too much into the actual story, because you really have to experience it for yourself. Each episode is ushered in by a monologue by Rue. These monologues give more depth to the many characters we follow and set the tone for the rest of the episode. And you learn how that person is the way he or she is now.
“Euphoria” is filled with provocative elements. I was constantly thinking about the fact how and why these teenagers are having so much sex and do drugs. They didn’t feel like seventeen-year-olds. But I guess it’s a new generation and a lot of it isn’t that far from the truth now.
Story-wise “Euphoria” is really strong, but also technically. The cinematography is great and the soundtrack gives the series an extra boost.
There are a few plot points that should have been explained a bit more, but maybe this will happen in the second season. “Euphoria” excels in the scenes where the drugs are in play, for example the scene in the first episode where Rue us walking around a hallway. The last scene of the season was cinematographic excellence and really ended it on a high note.
“Euphoria” is enlightening. It looks at the boundaries and consciously steps over it. It makes you think and it confronts. You love it or hate it, you might find it exaggerated. But even then you can’t ignore the fact that the technique and cinematic aspect of “Euphoria” is impressive. I’m indeed curious about a second season.

Movie Reviews - The Greatest Showman

Director: Michael Gracey
Genre: Drama/ Musical
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson

Description: Celebrates the birth of show business, and tells of a visionary (Hugh Jackman) who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Review: Phineas Taylor Bartum works at an office. When he loses his job because the company goes bankrupt, he and his wife Charity don’t really worry. Because their two daughters and their happiness is all that matters. He eventually becomes the creator of show business and a worldwide sensation.
The film has some amazing showstoppers, but somehow the pop sound doesn’t really fit the 19th century setting. And besides Bartum himself, the characters are all a bit flat.
It now looks like I didn’t like “The Greatest Showman”, which isn’t true. I really did enjoy it, musicals are my guilty pleasure and they often give me a warm feeling. And so did “The Greatest Showman”, because I really loved the music. It just felt like they didn’t belong in this film, at least not the time it was set in.
I love Hugh Jackman, but I do prefer him with claws and a beard. Zac Efron did a good job, Michelle Williams didn’t have that much to do and Rebecca Ferguson was okay.
“The Greatest Showman” is ignored by many people, probably because of the genre. It’s a genre that Hollywood tries to bring new life to, but they only succeed ever so often. I think this is not one of their successes, even though I really liked it. Mixed feelings though.

Rating: 3/ 5