Tag Archives: New Release

Horror

Halloween Ends

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: October 16, 2022
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2022

Review

If you’ve read any of my previous three reviews of the Halloween series, you’ll know that I am a big fan of the spooky season and that this film series is one of my favourites for this time of the year.

I had put off watching the last two films once I found out the new series were to be part of a trilogy and watched them all within a 24-hour period.

While I wasn’t totally satisfied with Halloween Kills, the ending did feel like it was going to set up for an epic conclusion. Coupled with all the interviews and media coverage building up to Jamie Lee Curtis’ last screen portrayal of her iconic breakout role of Laurie Strode in an epic battle with Michael Myers.

I’m sorry to say fellow cinephiles, this film has not lived up to the hype.

I can sum this film up in a few words to give any Halloween fan an idea of what to expect: Michael Myers does not appear in the film until 40 minutes and has a kill count lower than the original 1978 film.

That may be all the information you need to know but let’s dig a little bit deeper.

Halloween Ends begins by taking us back to the night of Halloween 2018 (where this new timeline started) and introduces us to a new character, a babysitter named Corey. After a prank goes wrong, Corey accidently kills the boy he is looking after, just as the boy’s parents arrive home.

Flashforward to four years later, the town of Haddonfield is still recovering from the events of Halloween Kills and it is reported that Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since he was almost killed by the vigilante mob that he overpowered to escape from.

Allyson is now living with Laurie, who is writing a memoir and embracing life compared to where we found her in 2018. However, as the time has passed, facts again become muddled to those not directly involved. There is a fair amount of victim blaming with people lashing out at Laurie for Michael’s actions. It comes from a place of fear and without having justice served, the people look to who is left to process their emotions.

Corey is also marginalised by the community for his actions with people drawing their own conclusions of what happened, again without knowing the facts of the case. The way both Laurie and Corey are treated creates a kinship between the two. Eventually resulting in a developing relationship between Allyson and Corey.

The first interaction Michael Myers has is with Corey and that’s where things get a little weird. Corey is being bullied by some teenagers, who end up throwing him off a bridge. He somehow manages to survive, to only find himself in a sewer where Michael has been hiding. Michael is in a weakened state and ends up sparing Corey’s life after they see something by looking into each other’s eyes. It appears to be a transfer of evil occurring for Corey to take on Michael’s legacy.

The opening sequence with the jack o’ lanterns does give hint to this as they morph to reveal another pumpkin within, like a Russian nesting doll. Then again, perhaps I might be reading too much into things!

Much of Halloween Ends is about Corey’s story and while the film definitely puts an end to the series, I’ll be honest with you. I was left confused. Not really sure if I liked it or what the film was trying to say. Again, I didn’t have any fear, suspense, or jumpy moments. Just gory death scenes that I was looking away at when I didn’t want to see what was happening.

I went in hoping for an epic conclusion between Michael Myers and Laurie and for me the whole Corey storyline was a big letdown. This film seems to have divided the fans and at the end of the day, I don’t really have a desire to watch it again.

If you haven’t seen any of the films in this trilogy, I would recommend giving it a miss, especially if you are not too fussed about the franchise. If you are a Halloween fan, you are probably going to watch these films at some point and to you I would say, lower your expectations.

Rating:  Disappointment

Comedy, Crime, Drama

Amsterdam

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: October 9, 2022
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2022

Review

There seems to be an increasing trend of filmmaking these days which blur the lines between truth and fiction. While some might say this has always been the case, I think many of us accepted that a fundamental part of the narrative was true with some embellishments added to enhance the drama. After all, it has often been said to never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

However, I have noticed that more and more it is a granule of truth to which a narrative is based that is surrounded by fiction, yet I don’t think our previous acceptances have caught up. Given that it has been found that viewers will believe fiction when it is presented as fact, is it up to the film makers to point out the fact from fiction? Should it be made clearer that what the audience is about to consume is a work of fiction or should we just know that going in?

Amsterdam uses a true event which is known as the “Business Plot” to base a comedy murder mystery around it. The film opens with the line “A lot of this actually happened” and while it does give light to a remarkable political conspiracy alleged to have occurred to a wider audience who would largely be unaware of it, the film itself has little to do with the truth of those events.

Despite that ambiguous opening line, I took it in my stride. I’m the type of person who will go and read the trivia about the film after watching it and seek out some fact from fiction in my own time. So I very quickly got onto just enjoying the film.

There have been some mixed reviews of Amsterdam (beyond the fact vs fiction element), but I liked it. I found it to be a light, quirky, and funny film and what I really took away from it was a story of friendship built on trust and respect. The film’s title itself refers a period during the first world war where the three leads meet each other and make a friendship pact which is the catalyst to the murder mystery they find themselves involved in.

The biggest draw card Amsterdam has is its star-studded cast and unsurprisingly Christian Bale shines in an excellent performance. He has this ability to transform into the character he is portraying no matter the film. Which also reminded me of how under-utilized he was in Thor: Love and Thunder. I also really bought into the chemistry between Bale, Robbie, and Washington whom the story follows.

Visually it is a good-looking film that includes picturesque sets and some gorgeous costumes. I also really enjoyed the accompanying soundtrack, which was beautifully scored.

While I enjoyed Amsterdam, it didn’t quite seem to hit the heights that it perhaps could have. It’s not a spectacular or complicated plot. The narrative can be a bit clumsy at times which gives the appearance that it is more complex than it is.

That said the film has plenty of moments that have you laughing and gasping in the right spots and may even warm your heart at times.

Rating:  Good

Comedy, Mystery

See How They Run

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: September 29, 2022
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2022

Review

A friend of mine shared the trailer for this film a couple months ago, and I immediately put it on the to see list. I love a murder mystery and I love comedies, so having the two combine was sure to be a winner.

As my birthday fell on a weekday this year and my celebration plans were over the weekend, I decided to treat myself to a weeknight out at the cinema and it just so happened to be the opening week for See How They Run.

I was already in a good mood after watching some cartoons earlier in the afternoon that had me unexpectedly laughing out loud. This set me up for a somewhat awkward evening.

Let me set the scene.

It was a Thursday night so the session wasn’t crowded but there were still a handful of people in the audience. One of the trailers shown was for another film I have been hanging out to see (Bros) and I was laughing all the way through it, yet no one else seemed to be. If any of my fellow audience members thought something was funny, they certainly forgot to tell their vocal cords about it!

The same thing ended up happening during the film – I found plenty of laugh out loud moments, but my fellow cinema goers did not. It didn’t feel as if the jokes went flat and I didn’t hear any grumbling or bad words as people left, so perhaps they were just quiet laughers. And I’ve just been in one too many live studio audiences and have been conditioned to release the laughter!

What I liked the most about See How They Run is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and they really poke fun at every murder mystery trope.

The film is set during the 1950s where a production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is being performed on stage in the West End. The play is set to be turned into a film and it is within the theatre where the murder occurs.

And just like a classic Agatha Christie, things are hidden in plain sight. Everything that you need to know is presented right in front of you. I’m usually good at spotting the red herring in these things but I completely fell for it here – hook, line, and sinker!

Not only was I having such a good time, but the story itself is well crafted. Despite the film poking fun at the genre, I wouldn’t call it a parody per se. There is a brilliant scene that sets up the end sequence, but I can’t go into much more than that without revelling some spoilers.

See How They Run also has an all-star line-up and the story is told mostly from the point of view of the two detectives on the case, portrayed by Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. The story is also told partly from the point of view of the victim, played by Adrien Brody.

With a multitude of funny lines and a stellar cast with solid performances, See How They Run is sure to have you set for an enjoyable evening.

Rating:  Good

Action, Comedy

Bullet Train

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: August 27, 2022
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2022

Review

Saturday night I went to see the latest action flick from director David Leitch, Bullet Train. I’d seen the trailer a number of times in the months leading up to the release, which really gave nothing away. While the film looked interesting, it wasn’t one that I put on the watch list immediately.

I’m glad I got the opportunity to see the film because it was a lot of fun!

Bullet Train isn’t just your average action film. While it delivers on the expectations of great action sequences, it’s also funny, and well written. There are many layers to the film, which is why I suspect the trailers released don’t give too much away. Each detail in the film is placed there for a purpose. Even down to the runtime, which is the same time a Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto will take.

Luck is the primary theme explored in the film, in how it is perceived, how it is used, and its affect. Each character has a different relationship to luck from using it to an advantage to making your own.

Leading the ensemble cast of codenamed guns for hire is Brad Pitt’s Ladybug, who considers himself to have incredible bad luck and has recently started therapy after the disasters from his last few jobs – someone always ends up getting killed when that is not the intension. Some might say unavoidable in his line of work but from the very first moment we meet him we start to get an understanding of how things don’t go to plan for him.

Ladybug is hired for a simple snatch and grab job – find a suitcase with a train sticker on the handle and then exit the train at the next stop. Of course, with his bad luck, things aren’t that simple and it’s not long until it becomes apparent that there are a number of other assassins on the train after the same suitcase.

Brad Pitt gives a stellar performance in the role and while he really makes the film, I also enjoyed the characters of Tangerine and Lemon (aka the twins) played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brain Tyree Henry. They provide a lot of the comedy within the film as well as some touching emotional moments. As actors, they work very well together. The remainder of the cast, including several cameos, are all fantastic, but you’ll need to go see the film to learn more about them!

The film has many great action sequences included, which can be quite violent but at the same time aren’t overly gory. David Leitch also directed Deadpool 2 if that gives you a better idea of the style to expect. No doubt this film carries a high body count.

One of my favourite sequences is towards the beginning of the film with Tangerine and Lemon arguing over the number of people they killed before getting on the train – sixteen or seventeen. We are then presented with a sequence accompanied by music from Engelbert Humperdinck which breaks the fourth wall, each victim being counted as they are taken out, in a number of often hilarious ways.

As well as great action sequences, the film’s soundtrack of pop-rock is enjoyable and goes towards setting the fun tone the film has. It also features a few Japanese covers of classic songs including Stayin’ Alive and Holding Out for a Hero that I really enjoyed.

If action films are your jam, you’ll have a lot of fun seeing Bullet Train. And why you may not need to see it at the cinema, it does look great up on the big screen and a good option for a date night.

Rating:  Great

Drama, Mystery

Where the Crawdads Sing

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: August 13, 2022
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2022

Review

When I saw that Reece Witherspoon’s production company (Hello Sunshine) was behind this film, I knew it was something that I wanted to see. Witherspoon’s name carries great weight to quality storytelling on film and television following the successes of Wild, Gone Girl, and Big Little Lies. She also champions an area that I am very passionate about, female-driven stories.

Set in the late 1950s / early 1960s, Where the Crawdads Sing follows the story of Kya. A young girl from a poor family, who grows up in the marshlands of North Carolina on her own, after being left abandoned by her family. As she grows up, she becomes known as “The Marsh Girl” by the local community.

It’s based on the best-seller novel by Delia Owens, which I hadn’t read prior to seeing the film. The woman sitting next to me in the cinema did tell me that she thought it was a good adaptation.

The film starts off with the discovery of a body in the marsh and uses the technique of flashbacks to delve deeper into how Kya finds herself on trial for murder of the body found. We spend a lot of time looking back before being brought back into the present for short bursts, giving clues to the audience along the way.

It’s through the flashbacks that the film also tackles several confronting themes including domestic abuse, assault, and rape.

While there are some red herrings included (as any murder mystery does) I don’t feel that they were explored far enough to be a legitimate option although it does provide reasonable doubt. If you pay attention, there are clues along the way that hint how the ending will play out. I had the ending worked out around halfway through.

This didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the conclusion, it’s still quite a remarkable and satisfying end. I like trying to work out the riddle and am delighted when I am correct (who isn’t I guess).

However perhaps for this reason, I did feel like the ending dragged out much longer than it needed to. It was almost agony waiting for the reveal. At one point I thought that it wasn’t going to happen, which would have been disappointing as confirmation is a must for this story! The audience deserves it.

Even though most of the story takes place while Kya is on trial, the film leans more into the mystery component than a courtroom drama. This is because a lot of the onscreen time takes place in the flashbacks. I did enjoy the courtroom scenes and would have liked to see a little more of the film in this setting. Kya’s lawyer Tom Milton also gave off some Atticus Finch vibes, down to the white suit.

I found the cinematography very crisp and showed the beauty of the southeast of America. It’s a very clean looking film and it’s that juxtaposition against the topics that are addressed that demonstrates while things may look pretty on the surface, there can be ugliness hidden underneath. Many of the characters are judged based on their appearance but their actions speak volumes as to who they really are.

If I had to take my pick, I’d probably go with Gone Girl over Where the Crawdads Sing. While an unfair comparison as they are based on novels by different authors, that’s just where my personal preference lies.

Where the Crawdads Sing is an enjoyable film that I’d recommend. Probably not one that you need to see at the cinema though.

Rating:  Good

Drama

Sundown

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Date watched: August 7, 2022
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2022

Review

I’ve had ‘Sundown’ on my watchlist ever since I first saw the trailer a couple of months ago and the Sunday morning session I went along to turned out to be the right atmosphere for this type of film.

It is quite a different film to what is out there, which I found refreshing. Just be aware however that this may not be to everyone’s tastes.

Sundown is a difficult film to summarise as the more you talk about it, the more it gives away, which takes away from the experience. From the very first scene your given the first piece of the puzzle without knowing what the picture is.

I’ve decided not to reveal any spoilers here as this review would turn into an analysis of my interpretation of the film. And I’d much rather let you experience the joy of discovery that I had.

For me, watching this film felt like I was curled up on vacation reading a good book. As the film progresses, the layers of the story start peeling away, slowly answering some questions about what is happening.

I think it would be interesting to see a second time, knowing how it plays out, and seeing what one might additionally pick up on or see from a different point of view.

I don’t think the film would have been as successful if it were not for the performance of lead actor Tim Roth. The character he plays (Neil) can at times be difficult to empathise with and his motivations questionable, yet Roth’s performance is captivating, providing insight to the character even when he is not delivering dialog.

It’s a slower paced and at times uncomfortable watch but if you like films that make you think and feel, you’ll enjoy this one.

Rating:  Good

Marvel

Thor: Love and Thunder

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: July 9, 2022
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2022

Review

Saturday afternoon I went along to see the latest Marvel offering, which was the next instalment in the Thor series. Marvel Studios rarely put a foot wrong and while I’m a fan who is pretty much committed to seeing each new film produced, Thor: Love and Thunder seems to miss the target. While it is certainly not the worst of the films in the MCU, it’s far from the best.

In these situations, I go back to the thought of was there a story worth telling here and unfortunately, I don’t think there was. It felt like another film used as a steppingstone to introduce additional characters into the universe which is quite a shame.

My biggest issue with Thor: Love and Thunder is that there was just too much going on and I was left a little confused and uninspired. As not all the stories combined into one narrative, it just felt as if we didn’t get to fully explore any storyline to its full potential.

While I appreciate the change in direction that Taika Waititi brought to Thor: Ragnarok, for me the quirky charismatic fun films that we’ve come to love Waitiki for, is a mismatch for Thor. I think there are other characters in the MCU that could have benefited more from his style.

This is probably going to sound a little silly, but I thought the balance of humour to drama was way off. It really felt like there were too many jokes being crammed in and I’m sorry to say not all were laugh out loud moments. It was a quantity over quality feeling. I have two issues with this.

Firstly, because the balance was off, the more serious moments didn’t land the gut punch of emotion that could have been achieved. There were a few scenes that didn’t hit me as much as I thought they would have and should have.

Secondly, Marvel Studios appears to be going more in this direction across the different films. The issue isn’t so much bringing humour in. I’m a big fan of comedy and I know they are comic book films and should be light-hearted. It’s just that in doing so there runs a risk of each film losing a bit of an edge as to what makes them all different. It almost feels like they are going for the approach of bringing more appeal rather than servicing the niche that the different characters bring. I hope I’m wrong.

On the positive side of things Christian Bale and Natalie Portman both stand out in this film despite their competing storylines. Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie is a great character who unfortunately fell into the background but is still enjoyable. Also keep an eye out for several Australian actors and comedians in the background scenes of New Asgard – the bonuses of filming in Australia! The soundtrack is a banger heavily featuring Gun N’ Roses which fits to the tone of the film that was delivered.

Maybe I’m just a fan suffering from a little Marvel fatigue. Coupled with coming off great successes of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and ‘Moon Knight’ that I really enjoyed, I’m a little flat.

If you enjoyed Thor: Ragnarok I think you’ll like this one too.

Rating:  Alright

Australian, Biopic, Drama

Elvis

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Date watched: July 4, 2022
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2022

Review

Monday night I went along to an exclusive screening of Elvis for AACTA and AFI members. Unfortunately there was no Q&A session after the film this time but I was still surrounded by industry members which is pretty cool. For my guest pass I took my mum along with me, who is a big Elvis fan. As for myself, I’m more neutral. That is I like his music but am not fanatical. As such I didn’t really know much about his life.

If I were to describe the film I would look to a previous Baz Luhrmann film for the words and say it was – Spectacular Spectacular! It’s one of the best biopics I have seen in recent years.

I’m a fan of Baz Luhrmann’s style and Elvis is one of the best looking films of his that I have seen. Right from the very beginning where the Warner Brothers logo is unveiled in the sequins of an Elvis jumpsuit until the closing credits wrapped in beautiful images reminiscent of Moulin Rouge, it’s a visually stunning film fitting for the cinema screen.

The film has all the hallmarks of a Bazmark Films production from the captivating use of transitions between scenes, to the beautiful authentic looking costumes, and the stunningly detailed sets. A lot of work from both Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s teams have gone into making this picture look as special as it does. It sure pays off, as from an audience point of view you are transported to a different place and time.

It’s really exciting for Australian cinema to produce such a blockbuster hit right here. It’s going to further enrich the amazing talent we have right across this country both on and off the screen. Keep an eye out for a number of local talent on camera!

I also liked the way some modern music was incorporated within the soundtrack. There is a scene where we first see Hound Dog being performed by Big Mama Thornton and weaved in is an original track by Doja Cat. I know that this might upset some traditionalists but it does work really well. There are a few instances of rap music being incorporated in the soundtrack and it doesn’t feel out of place. It’s like a progression of black music influences from Elvis’ era to now.

As much as the film is about Elvis, it is also about his relationship with his manager; Colonel Tom Parker and it is through the Colonel’s eyes that the story is narrated. The opening sequence is from Parker’s perspective and there is a build up of anticipation before we finally get to see Elvis. As an audience we are teased with glimpses before the focus shifts onto Elvis, just as his rise to stardom did.

Austin Butler gives a fantastic performance in his portrayal of Elvis. He really captures the spirit of the legend and his voice both in accent and vocals are spot on. The songs early in Elvis’ career are sung by Butler before being blended with Elvis’ real vocals throughout the years. We even had a woman in our audience yell out “yeehaw” during the scene where Elvis gives his first performance in front of an audience, wiggling away!

The moment that really got me was during the sequence of Elvis’ film career. It goes from showing a variety of films that he made to suddenly being transported to a film set and for a split moment Austin Butler appears to walk out of the shot as Elvis Presley from that picture (I think it might have been Via Las Vegas).

Despite his short life, there is a lot to tap into across Elvis’ massive career, personal life, struggles, as well as the nation shaping events of the era. The film does a good job to balance a number of these elements while telling an emotionally connecting story where you don’t need to be an Elvis fan to enjoy. One can’t help but to think where his life might have gone had things played out differently.

Time to dust off the blue suede shoes because it’s time to shake, rattle, and roll into a cinema near you!

Rating:  Great

Australian, Comedy

How to Please a Woman

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Date watched: June 27, 2022
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2022

Review

I’d been wanting to see this film ever since I saw the trailer and even though it took me until the final session – I got there in the end!

The session I went to was sold out and while I saw a few men the majority of the audience were women, and women across a number of generations, which was a really fantastic experience to be a part of.

How to Please a Woman is a relatable comedy that will have you laughing out loud. Renee Webster, who wrote and directed the film, has done a fabulous job of representing all types of different women on screen and delivering a charming story.

Sally Phillips does a wonderful job in the lead role of Gina, a woman of fifty who is stuck in a marriage where the romance has fizzled out and in a job where she is under appreciated and soon made redundant from a day after her birthday. An idea then sparks following a birthday present of a male escort from her friends – a cleaning service provided by shirtless men! It doesn’t take long before sex is also added to the menu.

It was a great feeling to be in a cinema with other women laughing and reacting to the same things. It was equally interesting to see different reactions people had.

The cast is full of Australian talent that most will recognise across the big and small screen, too many to name individually, so I’d encourage you to check out the cast listing provided above. It’s a great ensemble that all work together on screen very well.

As much as the film is about reclaiming one’s sexual pleasures later in life, it’s also a story of empowerment. To go after what makes you happy instead of waiting around for things to happen or change and to not be ashamed of whatever that is.

I think the backdrop of Gina being part of an open-water swimming group is a great metaphor to this – sometimes you need to push through some pain and the struggles to feel truly free.

This is a film that both women and men will find enjoyment in and perhaps learn a little something about themselves from.

My only regret is not seeing this sooner so that I could encourage you all to see it at the cinema! So keep an eye out for the DVD release this month and make the time to bring a little pleasure into your life.

Rating:  Great

Action, Sci-Fi

Jurassic World Dominion

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Date watched: June 13, 2022
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2022

Review

It was the conclusion of Jurassic Park week and I took advantage of a public holiday to see the epic final conclusion to Jurassic World in glorious Dolby Atmos.

The Jurassic World trilogy, unlike the previous trilogy, sets out to tell a single story across the three films. When Fallen Kingdom finished, all the building blocks had been laid of a world where human and dinosaur would be co-existing amongst each other and fighting for dominance. No going back. The trailer for Dominion looked to be heading in the direction of extinction but unfortunately the film failed to live up to its own expectations.

Admittingly Dominion was unlikely to go in the direction I was hoping it would – human extinction, with a possible glimmer of hope for survival. Blockbusters tend to avoid such morbid endings but at the very least there could have been some impossible solution to save the day.

Typically in every other Jurassic Park film something happens within the film that by the end, things are no longer the same and effectively changed for good. For the first time in the series Dominion feels to end where it starts off. Leaving everything that happened in the middle mostly irrelevant, which is probably the most disappointing thing about it.

What I enjoyed about the first two Jurassic World films was the idea of building the hybrid dinosaurs and then being used either to be weaponized or for research. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a bad idea that I don’t support but makes for good entertainment with lots of juicy themes to read into. All of this seems to have been left behind in Dominion in favour of a genetically modified locust storyline. It’s an interesting idea exploring the evil of corporations but it was just the wrong idea to close out the series. If the storyline with the hybrids had been fully explored, why make this film? Fallen Kingdom had a great ending and it would have been a nice place to stop.

One of the things I was looking forward to seeing was the progression of Dr. Henry Wu. Last time we saw him, he had almost this supervillain vibe and was involved in a black market sale of the dinosaurs. Admittingly that didn’t end very well but where would he find himself and what would he be willing to do? Yet again we find Dr. Wu behind another new character who is the “bad guy”; Lewis Dodgson. And when we see Dr. Wu he has a more dishevelled look from the last time we saw him. It seems that his actions have finally caught up to him. It would have been nice to see a bit more fleshed out with this character in the final instalment.

Dominion also has the longest runtime in the series and while most of the film paces ok, I felt it took far too long to get into the dinosaur action.

Ok, let’s leave the disappointing stuff there because it’s not all bad and I want to talk about some things that I liked.

I think what most fans are excited for here is the return of the original cast. It’s what made us all fall in love with Jurassic Park in the first place and to have Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum back was a big highlight. I really liked the way the film was structured so that we got to spend time with the Jurassic World and original casts separately, before then combining them all in together. We got to catch up with where they are all at before throwing them into the action as one. I also really liked the pairing off combination between original and newbie.

There are also plenty of fan favourite moments to keep your eye out for. One being the image of a tyrannosaurs walking past a fountain which creates the look of the famous logo of the franchise we all know and love. Very similar to how in the last James Bond film (No Time to Die) has a scene where Bond shoots someone from the famous angle down the camera lens, directly at the audience. Also keep your eyes peeled for the Barbasol can that was used in the first film to smuggle out the embryos. The scene in question really takes it back to the original Jurassic Park film. And while these things don’t serve a purpose to the narrative of Dominion, it’s a nice way of getting to say goodbye after 30 years.

Visually the film looks great up on the big screen, there are some captivating action sequences to enjoy and the performances of the cast are good. The dinosaurs included also looked great, although our favourite velociraptor Blue didn’t have a big on screen role this time around. The bond that she has with Owen however was captured. So this is something from the previous films that has carried across.

If you’re a Jurassic Park fan and have seen the previous Jurassic World films, you’ll find some enjoyment here. There is also a benefit to seeing it on the big screen if you like the cinema experience. Otherwise I’d recommend seeing something else and catching up when it hits a streaming service or is on free-to-air.

Rating:  Disappointment