Gal Gadot stars as Rachel Stone, a secret agent whose cover within the MI6 is blown after a trusted ally betrays her and leaves her crew members dead.
Left with her wits and will, Stone goes after a mysterious hacker named Keya whose skills have her working for a vengeful individual out to use a powerful weapon to change the world.
Over the years, we have been inundated with countless spy movies, some of which end up repeating what has come before. Netflix's Heart of Stone is no different from most of them but it keeps your attention thanks to a charismatic lead and some eye-popping visuals.
The title is a pun which references the last name of the eponymous character and the object of the film's conflict, the latter being basically 'Godseye', the powerful machine we first saw in Fast 7.
It's good to see Wonder Woman star Gadot take on more action roles. Here, her character's strong moral code makes her question some of the things other spies don't.
As Rachel Stone, Gadot steers the narrative where it needs to go and her charisma is more than enough to keep some focused on what she is doing.
The issue with Heart of Stone is that as a spy action movie, it doesn't break new ground. While that is not a bad thing, one would expect that it would bring more to the table to stand out from other films in the genre.
On the positive side, the use of tech gadgets and the frenetic action sequences make for a worthy distraction from a totally predictable plot and a clueless antagonist.
Heart of Stone would not have the appeal it does if not for Gadot and Okonedo; their pairing works well, with actress Alia Bhatt also adding something substantial with the mystery surrounding her character.
This film is good, maybe very good but it doesn't compare with Bond movies. Nonetheless, I would recommend it for action lovers.
Three individuals find themselves at the centre of a nefarious government conspiracy as a series of eerie events lead them on a most unusual trail.
For what it's worth, director Juel Taylor gets the whole mystery thing right here, using a delectable trio of talented actors to immerse you in a tale of intrigue, conspiracy, and cover-ups. The bad thing, however, is that They Cloned Tyrone doesn't finish off strong despite starting stupendously.
John Boyega is Fontaine, a brooding young man who is more of a fighter and less of a talker. After 'surviving' a shooting following a confrontation with a notorious gangster, he teams up with a pimp (Jamie Foxx) and a prostitute (Teyonah Parris) to find out why and how he could still be alive and what the powers that be want with him.
Bloody, humourous, ambitious, intriguing, and downright crazy, this film is definitely a crowd-pleaser until it slowly becomes a victim of its own ingenuity.
The pacing is good, the actors spectacular, and the dialogue witty. I guess what went wrong is the writing because midway, the story wavers and climaxes into an all-out brawl that culminates in a boring monologue with an annoying antagonist.
I enjoyed They Cloned Tyrone so much until it became predictable. Boyega is compelling as the anti-hero who rushes first and asks questions later.
Foxx is charming and entertaining, playing Slick so well that I couldn't imagine anyone else getting the part. As for Parris, she gives the men (and the viewer) something to hold on to so that you never forget her even when she is offscreen.
This is a film that I thought would give Netflix something really good to boast about this year (the last memorable thing to release on the streamer was Nimona) but alas, that doesn't prove to be the case.
Aside from the tumble into mediocrity, They Cloned Tyrone is a charming flick that will crack the ribs of fun seekers who don't mind the film's imperfections.
For me, this is good enough to not be forgettable in a hurry but not remarkable enough to want me seeing it again.
Fast-rising American singer Halle Bailey plays Ariel, a mermaid princess who defies her father by falling in love with a human prince.
Bent on following her heart's desires, Ariel makes a deal with the diabolical sea witch Ursula, who also hatches her devious scheme aimed at destroying everything the little mermaid holds dear.
Visually speaking, Rob Marshall's retelling of the classic animation is replete with awe and wonder.
Like James Cameron's Avatar, the aquatic life is brimming with numerous sea creatures and boasts colourful characters that leave you mesmerised.
When it comes to the story and the director's interpretation, The Little Mermaid doesn't do anything beyond the expected.
As the headstrong and naive protagonist, Halle Bailey is able to depict a character literally out of her element and the adventures she must undergo to win the love of her life.
While the lead star's efforts are commendable (especially her vocal ability), her acting doesn't quite show the range I envisioned. In this, she is not to blame as she worked with the script she was given.
The animal sidekicks aren't the scene stealers I thought they would be; Awkafina manages to trump the others every now and then but it felt like I'd already heard the jokes somewhere else.
As the sea King Triton, Javier Bardem looks imposing and has the required charisma but isn't given enough time to shine. The backstory with his late wife was barely mentioned and could have been shown on screen.
Jonah Hauer-King plays Prince Eric the way he is meant to. He doesn't do anything spectacular with the role and neither does he stumble in the portrayal.
Perhaps the most interesting character in the film is Melissa McCarthy's Ursula. I knew she would be fun to watch and I totally enjoyed how she ate up all her scenes.
The Little Mermaid doesn't break new ground among Disney's live-action retelling projects and it certainly is not the best of them despite what may be circulating online (to me, that title goes to The Jungle Book).
Conclusively, Halle Bailey's musical performances are worthy distractions from the fact that this is a good movie that many excited fans are calling great.
The Mouse House has done a good job but it has to do a whole lot more to justify the essence of live-action remakes.
Cole is a man who falls in love with an enigmatic woman named Sadie. He gets the shock of his life when he discovers that she is a secret agent.
The two of them are swept away on an international adventure to save the world before they can decide on a second date.
Despite the star power of the two A-listers headlining this spy movie, Ghosted ends up being something that looks like what was written by amateurs or teenagers.
From an overlong premise to Chris Evans looking like he was miscast, Dexter Fletcher's film seems plagued with unending pitfalls.
While Anna de Armas is no doubt eye candy material, I was shocked that she had zero chemistry with Evans and that her character is in no way memorable.
Right from when the duo gets thrown into the spy game, it becomes clear that there were almost no stakes involved (I literally found it hard to believe that they were in any form of danger).
In my opinion, Apple wasted a considerable sum on this mediocre project.
While cameo appearances are always welcome, they always have to add something to the story. In this case, all the unexpected stars who appear are just there to show the level of idiocy they can descend to.
Oh, and the villain of the film (who is a two-dimensional character with nothing to do but make half-assed threats) is played by an incredible actor whose talents are completely wasted here.
The action is totally subpar and while the movie had one or two moments where it looked like it would go somewhere, it finally fizzled out into nothingness.
Those expecting something very good should skip this. Film lovers who are cool with predictably cheesy stuff with boring dialogue can see it.
Jake and Neytiri flee with their family when invading humans arrive on Pandora on a mission of retribution.
Taking refuge with one of the water tribes, they must adapt to the new way of life as their relentless enemies close in on their trail.
Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron set the bar high when he crafted the visual wonder called Avatar in 2009. It was hard to think of ways to beat that.
Now, 13 years after the original, Avatar: The Way of Water is here and while it doesn't thump its predecessor, the world-building and focus on family dynamics make it stand out in its own unique way.
Unlike the first part where Jake and Neytiri were quick to rush into danger, here they have evolved as they have their children to think about.
The couple makes the painful but wise choice to flee their home to start a new life with one of the water tribes after vengeful marines come for them.
It doesn't take long before they realise that they can't keep running and the inevitable showdown leads to a heartbreaking third act.
Performance-wise, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana carry this film like the professionals that they are, with all the supporting characters doing some spectacular acting as well.
The CGI here is impeccable and the focus on the waters of Pandora shows Cameron's love of the sea.
While the cinematography is out of this world (pun intended), the time it takes on showing the world of the alien seas gives the impression that this is a documentary and not a movie.
The action here is better than the first and the stakes are way higher, with the fear that anyone could be a casualty at any moment.
So, is this sequel better than its predecessor? The answer to that is both yes and no.
Yes because Cameron's penchant for taking your breath away comes into play again and this time, it is taken up a notch. Plus, there is more drama here, with the acting going far beyond what was seen in the first part.
No, because when everything is weighed collectively, you realise that the sense of wonder that fans got from the first film can never be recreated.
In all, I would call this one of the year's best. After all these years of waiting, Cameron's passion for filmmaking shines through yet again.
After the untimely death of King T'Challa, Queen Ramonda, Princess Shuri, and the rest of Wakanda must defend their country from a new threat and a powerful new foe.
Before I saw this, I told myself that it would be an emotional moment for me due to the painful reminder that Chadwick Boseman isn't coming back.
I determined that I was not going to get teary-eyed but that proved to be almost impossible because director Ryan Coogler's sequel kept tugging at my heartstrings.
Story-wise, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trumps its prequel. The themes of love, loss, grief, sacrifice, revenge and redemption steer the plot to places that make the movie one heck of a roller coaster of emotions.
The character development here is amazing and the acting is arguably the best ever seen in the MCU.
I tip my hat to Angela Basset as Queen Ramonda and Letitia Wright as Princess Shuri. For their out-of-this-world performances, they both deserve awards.
Visually, the film is dope. The special effects are what you would expect from a Marvel film and the action, though not as spectacular as I hoped, is an improvement from that of the first film.
The antagonist here (I choose not to call him a villain because he is not) is someone who many will relate to.
He is motivated by the need to protect his people and all that he holds dear and his actions, as terrible as they might be, show that he walks the grey area between good and bad.
Coogler's decision to focus on storytelling and drama makes this movie a triumph and I have a feeling that the late Boseman would be proud.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever lives up to the hype and brought up a whirlwind of emotions in me at some point.
A job well done by Coogler and the rest of the team.
Dwayne Johnson is Teth Adam/Black Adam, a man with god-like powers who is awoken thousands of years after everything he loved was taken from him.
Thrust into a world he barely recognises, the anti-hero unleashes his fury and vengeance on those who cross his path, drawing the attention of the Justice Society of America.
Sooner or later, Black Adam must decide to either be the one who ends up destroying the world or the one who saves it.
Right from when this project was officially greenlit, I couldn't wait to see Dwayne Johnson (one of my favourite Hollywood stars) play the unforgiving anti-hero.
But I was also sceptical about how the film was going to be helmed; superhero films (especially from DC) have been messed up and I didn't want the former wrestler to be involved in anything that would be mediocre.
Fortunately, my fears were totally laid to rest within the first ten minutes of sitting through 'Black Adam'.
One thing critics should remember is that this is first and foremost a superhero movie. That means it most likely would get mixed reviews.
If you can watch a flick that has someone flying around then you can suspend your disbelief and not rate the film like you would a normal drama.
This film grabbed my attention early enough and I had to try to keep up with its rather fast pace in the beginning but when things settled, it became a glorious spectacle.
Dwayne Johnson was truly born to play this role and it shows right from when he begins doing his thing.
The story is not remarkable (how many superhero films are?) and some of the main characters aren't fully fleshed out but 'Black Adam' excels in every way a movie of the genre should.
The action is literally pulse-pounding, the visual effects mind-blowing, and the main character is just awe-inspiring.
Director Jaume Collet-Serra proves how good he is when it comes to delivering jaw-dropping spectacle and I can't wait for the next chapter.
Besides Black Adam himself, Hawkman and Dr Fate are amazing (the other two in the Justice Society of America are cool too but can't be compared to the others).
That mid-credits scene was something I knew would happen and when it finally did, I still couldn't stop the big grin on my face.
'Black Adam' is dope and while critics won't find it good enough, they should know that this movie was made for the audience that really matters; the fans.
Set in the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 1820s, this film follows the Agojie, an all-female group of warriors who must protect their land from both foreign and close threats.
Perhaps this is going to be one of the first reviews that aren't overwhelmingly positive but as a critic who must speak my mind, I don't hesitate to say The Woman King doesn't live up to the hype.
I looked forward to this film while being careful not to expect too much. I also avoided early reviews and got to see it at an advanced screening. Coming out of the cinema, I was left thinking, 'Is that what they could come up with?'
The above is not say that film is bad. It's not just that it is not good as the trailer makes it out to be.
The plot is quite engaging and the actors don't do badly (I will single out Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega as the obvious standouts).
Viola Davis is a great actress no doubt but her role here doesn't leave any lasting impression on me.
We are led to believe from the film's title that she is the protagonist (maybe I'm wrong in that assumption) but the movie actually belongs to Mbedu's character Nawi.
As Nawi, the young actress flourishes and astounds, leaving little else to be desired. She showed range and I couldn't get enough of her.
Lashana Lynch is equally amazing as the fierce but loving warrior Izogie, whose bond with Nawi helps make the plot more interesting.
As the proud monarch of the Dahomey kingdom, John Boyega is one heck of a scene stealer. I never knew he had such charisma, bringing humour to a rather serious role with such professionalism.
Apart from the aforementioned positives, almost every other thing in The Woman King is mediocre.
First off, the cinematography is a major letdown. I mean, I have seen better camera work in some Nollywood films. Brutal and harsh, but that's my honest take.
The dialogue is nothing out of the ordinary and the pacing is also a bit inconsistent.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this film is the action. The action sequences were plain dull and it was easy to see that most of the blows and kicks didn't land despite the impressive choreography.
The film would have us believe that the Agojie are an army but I never saw anything beyond a handful of soldiers numbering about 40 at most.
Before I forget, the antagonist (played by Jimmy Odukoya) is a major presence and came off as one fit for the film but sadly doesn't get adequate screen time and his backstory isn't even explored.
In all, The Woman King is far less than it should be, never rising beyond a mediocre interpretation despite committed performances from its talented cast.
Jamie Foxx stars as a vampire hunter in California who must score big in his quest to take down the fanged creatures or lose his family in a matter of days.
This movie starts on a high note and gets it right until it doesn't halfway through, held back by its weak plot, cliche dialogue, and stupidly predictable ending.
Netflix seems to be the home of every kind of film these days; the good, the bad and the cringy. Day Shift manages to make its way in between the first and second categories.
Those who have seen the trailer should know that it never gets better than that.
Jamie Foxx is dangerously lethal, charismatic, and ruthless as the lead but can't help the film become more than crowd-pleasing mediocrity when it's all said and done.
The plot is pretty ambitious; vampires living comfortably in LA, finding ways to move about during the day, with hunters from the police force hunting them down in day and night shifts.
How on earth could these bloodsuckers live in the city for that long without residents (e.g. the family of the protagonist) knowing about them?
Another thing that didn't sit well with me is the way the vampires' abilities are portrayed here. I kept wondering if they were contortionists or stuntmen instead of the dreaded creatures of old.
Jamie Foxx as Bud is one heck of a killer but the way he always seems to overcome the vampires reduced the threat level to an almost laughable degree.
The dialogue is full of cliches (some of which don't even evoke the expected response) and at times the dark humour seems forced.
The villain of the movie is shown as an extremely powerful vampire whose revenge mission puts her on the trail of the hero. But even her powers are underutilised and become pretty inconsequential because the good guy always has to win.
Despite the above issues, Day Shift does have a few good things going for it; the sound, action, and visual effects are on par and will please most fans who like to see Foxx kick ass.
In all, this film isn't as good as it pretends to be and not even Snoop Dogg's legendary swagger and smooth drawl can save it from its many shortcomings.
Day Shift is an average action film and nothing more.
Hollywood legend Brad Pitt stars as a retired assassin who is pulled back into the violent life when he is hired to deliver a briefcase from a bullet train travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto.
David Leitch, Brad Pitt, and the rest of the stars who make up the ensemble cast in this movie make it one of the most memorable action flicks of 2022.
The first trailer of Bullet Train did not pique my interest and I only decided to see it because of Brad Pitt (the dude has a way of making most movies he appears in awesome).
A few minutes into it and I was already regretting being in the cinema as the exposition on some of the characters almost muddled things up.
A few minutes after the above, things became clearer, kicked up a notch, accelerated and went full throttle, sending me into an ecstasy of non-stop entertainment.
The plot is brilliantly written and every character brings a new unique input to the overall progression of events as they unfold.
Director David Leitch (known for the first John Wick film) fuses style with an engrossing storyline, spectacular action and a mind-blowing finale to get you so involved in this fantastic feature that nothing else matters.
Brad Pitt is amazing as usual and all the other supporting actors bring flair and wonderful acting chops to what becomes a dream come true for action lovers.
The antagonist was really made to be as scary as possible and the myth was only reduced when he was finally unveiled.
As for the action scenes, I found them quite enjoyable even though some of the punches and kicks obviously don't land in a few sequences.
The sound is perfect and the special effects are out of this world.
All in all, I say Bullet Train blew me completely away, taking me to places that I never expected it to. It's a genuine crowd pleaser for sure.