A Monster Calls
What’s it about?
A troubled young boy (Lewis MacDougall) is visited by a storytelling monster (Liam Neeson). Emotional growth ensues.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At first glance, this tale featuring an enchanted tree, a stern grandmother and fantastical revenge on a schoolyard bully seems a Dahl-esque children’s story. However, in an interesting twist on the genre, A Monster Calls takes place in the real world of divorce, chemotherapy and lawsuits, where good and evil aren’t clear-cut and endings are often imperfect. It’s not a subtle film, but the performances are decent, the animation in the storytelling sequences is gorgeous and the ending will make you cry.
War for the Planet of the Apes
What’s it about?
An escalating war between Caesar’s (Andy Serkis) apes and a renegade army colonel (Woody Harrelson) forces Caesar to choose between his desire for revenge and his quest for a better world for ape-kind.
What did we think?
Lisa Clifford says: For the first time in the new series, apes are unapologetically placed front-and-centre as protagonists, and Serkis is utterly brilliant in his third turn as the messianic ape leader. A stark and arresting study of morality in war and how it influences our actions, War for the Planet of the Apes is visually stunning with great action sequences, and a satisfying conclusion to Caesar’s story – forming an interesting bridge between the modern reboot and the original films.
Dunkirk
What’s it about?
An intense depiction of WW2’s Battle of Dunkirk.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Two hours of pure tension. Dunkirk does away with preamble – there are no names, backstories or wistful talk of sweethearts back home. We barely even see the enemy. Instead, we’re plunged straight into urgent, up-close chaos. The strong performances (yes, even from that ‘one’ guy), minimal dialogue, and spectacular soundtrack moved my stoic companion to a masculine tear. See it.
Atomic Blonde
What’s it about?
Charlize Theron goes bananas as an MI6 agent who investigates the death of a fellow agent in Berlin.
What did we think?
Nick says: Putting aside the possible John Wick comparisons, Atomic Blonde is driven by some truly kinetic action that won’t induce seizures, and a great performance from Charlize Theron who asserts herself as a total-badass action-movie star.
Spiderman Homecoming
What’s it about?
Peter Parker juggles life as a teenager and wannabe Avenger. What could go wrong?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: With great reboot comes great responsibility. So it’s quite a relief that this Marvel-Sony hybrid has successfully returned Spiderman to the MCU in a romp typical of that universe. Thankfully they left out the almost obligatory origin story (no offence Uncle Ben but we’ve seen you enough) and chose to utilise the traditional theme song (taking note Snyder/Nolan?). Sprinkle with well-written characters and a truly impressive performance from Michael Keaton and this reboot truly hits all the marks. Tom Holland captures teenage life well without becoming angsty, RDJ is simply RDJ and the action is just great fun. The only minor grumble is the AI that makes the spider suit more like Iron Man but amidst more than two hours of genuinely funny action, that’s a bit of a nitpick.
The Beguiled
What’s it about?
A group of sheltered young ladies at a boarding school take in an injured enemy solider. Then there’s a whole lot of sexual tension, which apparently is pretty dangerous when lots of ladies and just one gent are all cooped up.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: All hail Sofia Coppola, mistress of the visceral slow burn for this tense, claustrophobic drama. The burning desires of the ladies simmer brilliantly beneath their genteel exterior, a testament to the performances of Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning. It’s like watching a masterful game of cat and mouse, with each party advancing their gameplay while trying to maintain the airs of a proper Southern lady. Politeness has never been so chilling.
What’s Popular
The Predator
What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.
What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.
Teen Titans Go To The Movies
What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.
The Nun
What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.
What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.
Christopher Robin
What’s it about?
Christopher Robin has grown up and forgotten his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now his job is consuming him, making him neglect his family. He needs to be reminded of what is important in life by a Bear of Very Little Brain.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Disney is making a name for itself in wringing life out of existing franchises, creating sequels to much-loved classics no-one knows they need.
By clashing harsh reality with nostalgic fantasy without fully committing to a target audience, Christopher Robin tells a story that goes somewhere but nowhere at the same time – it’s a cute diversion that is missing something: a concept looking for a genre.
As Pooh himself observes, “When you are a Bear of Very Little brain, and you Think Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
“Bother.”
Editor's Choice
The Predator
What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.
What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.
Teen Titans Go To The Movies
What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.
The Nun
What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.
What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.
Christopher Robin
What’s it about?
Christopher Robin has grown up and forgotten his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now his job is consuming him, making him neglect his family. He needs to be reminded of what is important in life by a Bear of Very Little Brain.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Disney is making a name for itself in wringing life out of existing franchises, creating sequels to much-loved classics no-one knows they need.
By clashing harsh reality with nostalgic fantasy without fully committing to a target audience, Christopher Robin tells a story that goes somewhere but nowhere at the same time – it’s a cute diversion that is missing something: a concept looking for a genre.
As Pooh himself observes, “When you are a Bear of Very Little brain, and you Think Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
“Bother.”