Tag: film

Dungeons and Dragons – Review

When I was a kid I used to love the cartoon version of Dungeons and Dragons. Dungeon Master with his white hair and red cloak, was filled with mystery. I used to totally immerse myself in the adventures of a random group of people who were transported to a magical world by a roller coaster. My Dungeons and Dragons review is taking a look at the new Hollywood movie, ‘Honour Among Thieves’.

It first caught my attention when I saw the cast being interviewed on daytime TV. It was interesting to see a varied cast, including Rege-Jean Page from Bridgerton and the always funny but slightly arrogant Hugh Grant.

What’s It All About?

A gaggle of characters had been getting paid big bucks to steal things from unassuming rich people. Led by Edgin (Chris Pine), the group were about to do their last challenge when some of them were trapped in a chamber and taken off to jail.

Our story begins with Edgin and Holga (a feisty Michelle Rodriguez) pleading their innocence in some kind of monster court. Without giving too much away, they end up on an adventure together. High Grant’s character is no longer their ally and has, in fact, taken Edgin’s daughter to bring up as his own.

As you can imagine, there is a lot more to this but I don’t want to get into spoiler territory.

Things I liked

– The heart of the story was good. I felt the connection and warmth between the characters. You don’t always get that with an action movie.

– The storyline made sense and was a mix of adventure and comedy. I found lots of parts very funny due to the witty script.

– I actually came out wanting more. That is very rare for me when it comes to fantasy movies like this.

– The stunts were good and there was a good balance between drama and action. Not too much action but just enough.

A Few Considerations

– I felt there could be more dragons involved as they only popped up briefly.

– Where was the Dungeon Master? I was kind of looking forward to his bit.

– Although Rege’s character was important he was very much a guest. I would like to see his role embellished in future.

Final Thoughts

As a throwback to my youth I found myself wanting to try out this cheeky film. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It is fair to say I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

I found the movie funny, entertaining and satisfying in terms of full circle story. My Dungeons and Dragons review covers some of the positives but there are many more. I would recommend having a look at this film if you get the chance.

If you like this kind of fantasy film you may also be interested in my The Last Of Us Review. This was another action drama that had me hooked. Please comment your thoughts and consider following my blog for future book, TV and film reviews.

Allelujah Film: Celebrating The NHS

Some movies come and go. I enjoy them and then forget about them soon afterwards. The new Allelujah film is all about the struggling National Health Service and highlights some important issues. There was no way I could easily forget such a moving piece if cinema.

With a magnificent cast, the trailer was sweet and had a few one liners in, easily hooking me in. More than anything, I knew I was going to see a warts and all movie celebrating the NHS.

What’s It All About?

In October 2021 I went to see a theatre show with Jennifer Saunders in. Richard Eyre directed Blithe Spirit and clearly enjoyed working with Jennifer as he placed her as the lead in this intriguing new film. Gathering together such mighty actors as Judi Dench, Russell Tovey, Dave Bradley and Derek Jacobi, he has constructed a story with a real heart.

Newcomer Bally Gill plays Doctor Valentine who oversees The Bethlehem nursing hospital where Jennifer’s Sister Gilpin runs a tight shift, managing the beds available and keeping spirits high. Her upcoming medal presentation for years of service happens at the same time that a local News TV show decide to film behind the scenes at the Beth.

To add to the mix, one of the current resident’s sons works in the Department of Health as an advisor. He (Russel Tovey) visits his father with a view to closing the place down. Can his father’s affection for the place turn his opinion?

In A Nutshell

I was half expecting it to be a comedy but it genuinely wasn’t. With heart-warming elements and a stellar cast, it told some gritty truths about the state of our failing National Health Service.

Judi Dench played a woman who used to work in a library and was too shy to appear on the documentary. Getting used to filming her thoughts on an iPad she played a significant part in uncovering an injustice. I had better not say any more for fear of spoilers.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion this was a realistic film which was celebrating the NHS but also providing warnings. It is an eye-opener for people who have not had to put an elderly relative in care. Making you think about the workload of doctors who are currently striking, it is able to hold up a mirror. I left with more questions than answers but I think that was its intention.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope that you will go and check out this beautiful film. Please consider following my little blog for more articles about books, TV shows, films and climate change.

Scream VI: Movie Review

In 1996 the Scream movie came out and I remember persuading my friend to drive me to the nearest cinema to watch. We both found it a combination of scary and funny. As it became a franchise, we kept watching the films and they never let us down. This time I thought it would be handy to share my Scream VI movie review on my blog.

Now, the latest instalment is in movie theatres and has again managed to attract big audiences. I went to check it out last week and had a great time.

What’s Going On?

I was delighted to see a new Scream movie last year which was satisfying and thrilling. However, I would never have expected another movie to come along quite so quickly. When the trailer suddenly appeared, I was pleasantly surprised.

There was no Sydney in this one but Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) was a big part of this film. Alongside her, the two sisters from last year were now present as students living in New York. Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) played Tara and Melissa Barerra (In The Heights) played Sam. They both reprised their roles brilliantly alongside a couple of their friends, Mindy and Chad.

The Scream movies are a mix of horror and comedy. It is their tongue-in-cheek scripts that keep bringing me back for more. This one was not predictable and the one liners were distributed evenly throughout the movie.

When I asked my friend Harriet what she thought about Scream VI she said:

‘I like how we saw more detail of the knife actually going into the body.’

In other words, it got more gruesome in the darker moments. The director added extra detail into the violent scenes but the film still retained its humour. With contrasting moments of horror and comedy, I was definitely entertained throughout.

In A Nutshell

It is hard to discuss the Scream VI movie and not give away any spoilers. Without Officer Dewey there was a moment of reflection but Courtney Cox ensured that a legacy character was still available to bring on the drama.

My friend and I were constantly changing who we thought orchestrated the murders but neither of us guessed the final outcome. This instalment was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with laughter, pulse raising bits and scenes where your heart feels as though it is going to burst through your chest.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my movie review. For another of my film reviews, check out my recent Tar Movie review. Please also consider following my blog for similar future content.