How does the Star Wars production team keep pushing out amazing new movies without taking anything away from the original storyline? I believe it comes down to having new directors for each episode, each bringing their own ideas and perspective to the overall storylines. The second is to take a risk on new and unknown talent while surrounding them with acting experience. Solo: A Star Wars Story does just that. Allowing experienced director, Ron Howard, use his skill to tell an origin story on a character that we all know and love allowed the story to stay fresh even though we think we know it all. Selecting Alden Ehrenreich as Solo and Donald Glover as Lando was the turning point of this movie's success as it did not take long to accept that the characters they played were the immature and inexperienced versions of the future Solo and Lando. Alden's Solo showed off his streetwise self-confidence, mixed with his desire to be included with the 'grown ups'. His interaction in meeting Chewbacca and Lando for the first time showed how their friendships were established and could continue throughout the Star Wars timeline. The feature of a successful Star Wars anthology story appears to be the inclusion of a feisty android. Rogue 1 had K-2SO and Solo has the feisty L3-37. This character was central to a lot of the funnier moments in the film and has a great chemistry with Lando. Other memorable roles are played by Woody Harrelson as Solo's on again, off again ally, Paul Bethany as the over the top bad guy, Dryden Vos and of course Amelia Clarke as Qi'ra who is Solo's romantic crush but possibly his downfall. I have been surprised by the negative comments posted by other reviewers and it reinforces why I chose to become a reviewer. The quality of a movie is the joy it brings to those who watch it and in this case my love of everything Star Wars was only enhanced by watching Solo. I look forward to the subsequent Solo movies and see how the characters develop leading up to their portrayal in A New Hope and beyond. A family movie for anyone who loves adventure, good guys vs bad guys and a storyline that rocks. 8.5 out of 1

If you grew up in the 80's then the release of a Steven Spielberg movie was always the highlight of the year. ET, Goonies, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and the list just went on. You knew that there would be an adventure, special effects and characters that you would become iconic. While still producing and directing amazing movies, the adolescent magic went missing. That is until Ready Player One. There appears to be a lot of push back from those who have read Ernest Cline's novel of the same name. I am not one of those fans so I watched this movie with no pre-conceived ideas of what to expect. I have to say that I left the theatre with nostalgia having experienced the joy that comes from being fully entertained, having been taken to a world where I don't live but would love to visit. The story is set 30 years in the future where the world has experienced some major setbacks and people are relegated to experiencing happiness and self-worth in a virtual universe, known as the Oasis. Here you can be who you want and forget the hardships of life. The main character is Wade (Tye Sheridan) who takes on the persona of Parzival as he takes on the challenge to find the three hidden keys that will unlock the ownership of the Oasis and virtually the world. Opposing him is Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) who is the corporate tyrant who hates the Oasis but wants the control that it will give him. Parzival has a number of friends and allies in the Oasis who have their own persona but have never met Parzival's Wade in the real world. As Parzival uncovers the clues and is awarded the 'keys' to the kingdom, he is caught up in the politics of who will come to own the Oasis and how will impact the world. The film itself is breathtaking in the graphics that are used to portray the Oasis. I felt that I was strapped into the best gaming machine in the world. The car race scene is spectacular and will appeal to any gameboy or gamegirl. But if you are not the owner of a Play Station, Nintendo or Xbox don't worry as there is plenty of storylines to follow without being nerded out. The movie has a soundtrack stolen from the 80's, plenty of pop culture and an amazing reference to 'The Shining' movie. As our characters enter a simulation of the Overlook Hotel and a yellow tennis ball rolls along the hall, stopping at their feet, you could feel the anticipation of the audience. Would they meet the twins or enter Room 247? While we meet most of the characters initially in the Oasis, the personalities that you have become familiar with are visible in the real-life characters when they are…

My interest in this movie was aroused when I first saw the trailer and was preparing to see it at the theatre only to find it pop up on Netflix. Apparently, it flopped so badly in the US that they didn't bother to release it commercially here in Australia. So with this in mind, I had no expectations of what to expect. It is made by Alex Garland who is responsible for Ex -Machina. The plot revolves around an event that is of an alien nature that impacts a small area of unpopulated coastal America. A curtain rises around the area, known as the Shimmer, that allows people to enter but not return. Kane, played by Oscar Issac, is a member of a military special ops team that leaves for a mission but never returns to his wife Lena, Natalie Portman. After a year of believing that he is missing in action, Kane returns to the home but is not well. Lena rushes him to the hospital but on route, they are intercepted by members of an agency and taken to a facility near the Shimmer where Kane's condition is getting worse. Lena is told of the Shimmer and that they are planning to send another team to discover its secrets. However rather than a military team, they are sending in a group of women with scientific and medical backgrounds, including characters played by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Gina Rodriguez. Lena is recognised not only as a former army officer but also as a biologist and wants to find out what happened to her husband she agrees to join the project team. As they enter they lose radio contact with the outside, their compasses don't work and it doesn't appear that they are able to keep track of time. As they travel closer to the genesis of the Shimmer they come across stranger anomalies and personal threats. With about 1/2 hour to go, it turns all 'Twilight Zone' with very surreal imagery that I feel I have seen before but I can't remember if it was pictures of modern art or another movie. The presence of the alien, what it wants to do and whether it achieves it are the questions asked but I still am not sure of what the answers were. So why am I reviewing a movie that was so badly panned it skipped directly to Netflix. I am not sure exactly, but I know that while I was watching the story unfold I found something in the story telling that captured me even if the story may not have been that good. Am I starting to sound like one of those pretentious movie reviewers I have rebelled against? If you have time to kill and access to Netflix, give it a try and let me know what you think. I'm not…

I believe that your acceptance of the new Tomb Raider franchise will be determined by whether you can accept Alicia Vikander as the athletic, intelligent and very English action hero. Unfortunately for me, Alicia does not fit my image of the famous Tomb Raider. Now before you pin a #metoo badge on my lapel, I am not talking about the Angeline Jolie curves. This movie is a prequel to the original meeting and so this version of Lara Croft is supposed to be around 21 years old and yet to take on the villains of the world. Alicia Vikander is close to 30 and while looking young she does not have the swagger or mental toughness that you identify with a Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games or Shailene Woodley in Divergent. With so many talented young females around I have to question why Alicia Vikander. Having not accepted this version of Lara Croft I then found that the rest of the production seemed very lazy. The jungle sets looked as if they had been stolen from an old King Kong movie and the special effects from a MacGyver episode. Lara survives a shipwreck, falls down a rock face, thrown down a raging river, escapes the crumbling ruins of an old aeroplane and then parachutes through the thick canopy of the rainforest and comes out the other end with a small graze on her cheek. Not only does our star escape any major blemishes but her shorts and singlet also survive without tears or holes. The plot is set to explain how Lara Croft became the tomb raider that she is famous for. We see her close relationship with her father even though he is always away and sends her off to boarding school for most of her life. We are asked to believe that she has all the skills of a tomb raider by watching her get beaten in a martial arts bout with another woman, shoot an arrow at an apple that is stationary and ride a bike really fast before crashing into a car. After thinking her father is dead she finds his secret work room and discovers that he is a modern-day Indiana Jones. So ignoring her father's instructions to destroy all his work she decides to try and find him although he has been missing for over six years. Her early adventures lead her to an uninhabited island off the coast of Japan where a famous queen that has 'the touch of death' is buried but being sought by an unknown evil villain. Without giving away the plot she takes on the bad guys and this leads to more lazy story writing. She arrives on an island that is populated by multiple males that have been stranded there for years but not one of them even gives her a second look…

Everyone has one of those friends who is extremely competitive at indoor games. The type that brings out the rules book and keeps a Scrabble dictionary on the coffee table. Game Night centres around one such couple, Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, who love to host game nights for their friends. This group consists of another couple who have been together since school, a brain dead guy who brings a different blonde as his date to each session and the strange policeman that lives next door, but has recently split from his wife, and to his disappointment and is no longer invited. The regular format is changed when Bateman's older brother comes to visit. A rich successful businessman who has a much more exciting life than his brother offers to host the next games night and promises something special. The added bonus is the winner of this activity will take home his sports car. It is explained that Bateman resents that his brother has a glamorous life but being competitive can't resist the challenge. They all turn up, the dumb guy brings a much smarter date this time, to be told that the brother has organised a fake abduction and the couples have to follow the clues to solve the puzzle. From this point on the game goes out the window as the brother is abducted for real and the game night crew have to solve a real mystery if they are to save him. During this rescue mission, each of the couples also has to work on saving their relationships as they are confronted with different scenarios. Some of the scenes were funny and the film has a real twist that I didn't see coming but the prolific swearing and schoolboy humour spoiled what could have been a good plot. The scene stealer is Jesse Plemons who plays the disturbing neighbour and policeman If you are a fan of The Hangover, Couples Retreat and the like this may appeal to you but if not don't bother and host a Game Night with your friends instead.

Realising that this movie was about a teenage girl dealing with girlie issues while developing into womanhood I decided that as a reviewer this was the sacrifice that I would have to make. I entered the theatre with another 40 women and thought that maybe I had mistakenly stepped into the Fifty Shades screening but rest assured I saw the correct film and thanks to some amazing acting I really enjoyed it. The lead role of Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson is played by an extraordinary young actress, Saoirse Ronan. At 24 she has just received her third Oscar nomination for this role and many will know her from The Atonement, The Lovely Bones and Hanna. She is very believable as the gawky 17year old in her last year of high school struggling with friendships, boys and the prospect of college in a family without financial stability. Laurie Metcalf is her hardworking mother who wants the best for her daughter but is unable to express this desire in a supportive and caring manner. Her father, played by Tracey Letts, reminds me of my own dad and his relationship with my sister. So although I never had daughters I realised that having a sister made Lady Bird's life and struggles familiar to me. The story is not new as we watch Lady Bird deal with being an outsider wanting to be part of the in-crowd. Leaving old loyal friends for new 'cooler' friends who don't provide the happiness she was looking for. My favourite quote comes when Lady Bird is shopping with her mum and when they are sharing the thoughts he mother says what all parents say 'We just want you to be the very best you can be" In response the young girl questions 'What if this is the best I can be' As the movie progresses we see where Lady Bird's talents lie and as they awaken she becomes more aware that the things she sees as holding her back are really what she loves the most. I was a little disappointed in the last couple of minutes which seemed to be thrown together to tie up the film but apart from that I really enjoyed it. This is a movie for daughters and mothers and grandmothers and aunties to see together as it will bring back memories and show that each generation has experienced similar experiences leading to where they are today. 8 Friends out of 10.

When I first met the Black Panther in Avengers - Civil War, I have to admit I was not a fan. He was fixed on revenge and took the wrong side in the battle. He seemed too shallow to be able to carry a story of his own. I will now eat my words and declare that Black Panther is the best single character movie in the Marvel Universe. Let me first review the film for its entertainment value. The back story is fascinating as we understand the politics of Wakanda and the complexities of T'Challa's (Black Panther) family relationships. We also see the strength of Wakanda, its resources and technological advances and learn that it has chosen to be isolationist and protective of what it has. Without revealing any spoilers the story unfolds with a very even mix of action, humour and narrative and one more important aspect missing from many of the Marvel movies, it has real substance. The story is relevant and what I was really impressed with was that the villain of the piece had a believable motivation for his actions. The cast was very impressive with Chadwick Boseman and Michael B Jordan in the lead roles, Jordan will be a star in his own right very soon. Strong female characters in Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o and Letitia Wright also impress. I was worried that the Martin Freeman character would serve as a token white character but his role was effective and provided opportunities to strengthen the commentary. Andy Serkis, who played the madman Ulysses Klaue, is the same actor who played the Gollum, Caeser the Ape and Snoke. I hope that one day the Academy recognises him for the life he brought to these amazing characters. The movie soundtrack was subtle but its rhythm was felt throughout the length of the movie and I noticed a number of shoulder rolls when leaving the cinema. I spoke earlier of the added substance to the story that strengthened the plot and its relevance to today. Without preaching it raised the issues of countries that isolate themselves and fail to share its riches with others. At the same time, it recognised that those in a position of power do not have the right to impose their own standards and beliefs on others. The film did not pretend that it had the answers to any of these questions but was able to raise these issues with a subtlety that may encourage some viewers to consider these issues. In relation to race relations, I interpreted the message "Acknowledge the wrongs of the past but live for the present" as a standard that should be adopted here. I really enjoyed the movie and look forward to Black Panther and his loyal subjects in Avengers - Infinity War I give it 9 friends out of 10 P.S.…

Clint Eastwood has directed some wonderful movies, Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven and Gran Torino, but unfortunately the 87-year-old doesn't deliver with the telling of this true story. It is based on a real event that occurred on the abovementioned train from Amsterdam to Paris in August 2015 which resulted primarily in three backpacking friends disarming a man carrying close to 300 rounds of ammunition. Clint Eastwood made the unusual decision to allow the three main characters to play themselves in the movie, and Mark the guy who got shot. even though none of them had any acting experience. The film focuses on the backstory of the three young men, how they met, how they got into trouble together, how none of them ever achieved their dreams!!! Two of them join the armed forces but not with the units that they wanted and I don't think we ever find out what the third guy does but it can't of been great as he complained of having no money. Together they decide to share a backpacking holiday around Europe. The next 30 minutes feel like you are watching an episode of Getaway dedicated to an Under 30 Kon Tiki tour. Lovely scenery but adds no strength to the plot except how everyone tells them not to go to France. But the main character can feel his destiny drawing him towards Paris and since they had already bought the tickets why not go anyway. The final scenes revolve around the actual event where possible the worst terrorist in history makes his move. Having smuggled two guns, a Stanley knife and a petrol can on board he holds up in the toilet until he makes his grand entrance. He is confronted by elderly passengers who wrestle his rifle from him, he recovers and shoots one so that he can recover his main weapon. The rifle then jams as the main hero grabs him and they beat him unconscious, although I have to say his friends were a little slow on coming to the rescue. Real newsreel then shows the three and some other guy (not sure what he did) getting medals from the French President. I understand where Eastwood was trying to take this and show that it takes courage to do something in the face of evil. Unfortunately, the three young men didn't have the personalities to carry the movie and it showed the importance of using actors when it comes to acting. The story had merit but was more suited to a 20-minute documentary rather than a feature film I'm giving it 4 friends out of 10

For those of you who are Guillermo Del Toro fans please go and see this film as I am sure you will enjoy it. It carries all the trademark style of a Pans Labyrinth with weird creatures, maze-like caverns and a strong female character fighting against an evil male representing the military. You will be caught up in the romance of good overcoming evil and unlikely concepts of love. However, if you are looking for a movie to be entertained then let me share with you why this is not for you. Warning there will be spoilers. The story is set in the 1960's revolves around Elisa, a mute female janitor played by Sally Hawkins, who works at a water research facility. She is shown as a lonely woman with an older male neighbour, Giles, with whom she shares an affection for older movies, TV shows and music. At work, she cleans the facility with her friend Zelda, Octavia Spencer, who does enough talking for the two of them and while Elisa is mute she does not appear to have any problems communicating with others. One day while they are cleaning one of the research rooms, which could have been transferred directly from Frankenstein's castle, a water tank is brought in that is housing a large human-like creature. At the same time, we meet the evil security man, Strickland, who we learn is the real monster of the movie Even though the monster rips two of Strickland's fingers off, Elisa feels a strong bond with the creature as they are both lonely and neither can speak. Even though the creature is military secret Elisa is able to sneak into the room where it is held and decides to share an egg with it. She then sneaks in an old style portable stereo with which she plays music to the creature with no one finding out. After teaching it sign language to say egg and music the emotional connection is complete and they are BFF's. Strickland decides that the creature is not of much value and decides to kill it and cut it up to see how it works. In true James Bond fashion, they set its termination for two days time instead of straight away. Elisa finds out and makes a plan to help the creature escape. She recruits her gay neighbour, who is also lonely, to her mission and they arrange to break the creature out of a high-security military facility by placing it in a laundry basket and driving it out. Along the way, she is aided by a Russian spy/Professor who believes the creature should be saved even if it means Moscow misses out. Fellow janitor, Zelda, also becomes involved and they are able to rescue the creature and take it back to her small apartment where she keeps it in the…