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Showing posts from May, 2021

Judas and the Black Messiah | Average Guy Movie Review

In the 1960's a young car thief called William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) was recruited by the FBI to infiltrate the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther party. His job was to report on the organisation's activities and to get close to their leader; Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). America's troubles with racism have been well documented over the years. It's something that continues to shock the world today. Having grown up in Britain I was aware of the Black Panthers and their struggle, but I hadn't heard of Fred Hampton. The same goes for William O'Neal and the work he did for the FBI. Director Shaka King has brought this frightful bit of history to life in gritty detail. Authenticity is definitely a word that springs to mind when watching  Judas and the Black Messiah , everything from the look of 1960's Chicago, to the animosity towards the Civil Rights movement and the African American community. But King also manages to keep things balanced, avoiding

Marvel Studios’ Eternals | Moustache Teaser Reaction

The first trailer for Marvel Studios' The Eternals  has landed, and while it doesn't give all that much away, it does promise something a little different to what has gone before it. If you haven't seen the trailer or just want to watch it again, you can check it out below. This trailer leaves me more curious than excited, which in a way feels the wrong way round. Normally I'm just excited to see where the latest Marvel adventure is taking us. It is nice, however, to see an upcoming instalment of the MCU on the horizon that I know next to nothing about.  There really isn't much here to work with. The trailer establishes that these long-living, superpowered beings exist. They have been living on Earth for quite a while - having arrived on a ship that looks like a giant, flying slab of granite - and have influenced but not interfered with humanity in order to see us develop. Oh, and they're not so hidden as to be unaware of what's going on in the world/galaxy.

They're Back! | My Return To The Cinema... Again

Normally when I watch a movie (either on the big or small screen) I write a review, share my thoughts on that movie with whoever wants to read it. But given the turmoil of the last year and a half, something which forced cinemas around the world to close their doors, permanently in some cases, it seemed more appropriate to write something about the experience. After seven months of no cinema, the place never looked so good! The first thing that hit me - apart from the excitement of finally going back to the big screen - was the smell. As I walked in the door of my local Cineworld it was there; the delicious smell of warm popcorn. Even through the mask it was delightfully strong. It was something I hadn't realised I missed, but it felt like a warm welcome. The feeling of being back in one of those seats, popcorn in hand, was fantastic. For once the adverts seemed to fly by, giving way to the trailers. I was so pleased to be back that even the new Conjuring movie looked good (I am no

Jupiter's Legacy | Average Guy TV Review

In the 1930's a group of individuals were led to a mysterious island, where they were granted incredible powers. Since then they have used those powers to protect the people from any threat. Now it is time for their children to take on the struggle. But times have changed, and the younger generation are finding it hard to live up to the code - not to mention the incredibly high standards - established by the original six. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the show takes on a two timeline narrative; the first shows the present day and the different ways in which the two generations of superheroes want to go about keeping the world safe. The second, set in the 1930's, follows the original six on their mysterious journey to becoming superheroes. Despite taking a rather meandering path, the latter quickly establishes itself as the more interesting of the two plotlines. In fact, the simple question of how two brothers go from trying to save their family's steel mill a

The Mitchells vs The Machines | Average Guy Movie Review

Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) is off to college, and she can't wait to be free from her quirky family. But her dad Rick (Danny McBride), mum Linda (Maya Rudolph), and brother Aaron (Mike Rianda) aren't quite so keen to see her go. So when an accident the night before her departure causes tension, Rick decides to cancel Katie's flight so the family can drive her across country in a last ditch effort to save the family bond. Unfortunately for the Mitchells, a tech mogul accidentally starts the robot apocalypse, and this dysfunctional family becomes humanity's last hope for salvation. Have you ever wondered what your smartphone truly thinks of you? Or your tablet, smart TV, computer, or even your Roomba for that matter. Either way, this could be the movie for you. The Mitchells vs The Machines - besides being a very long title - is a hilarious, action-packed, and oddly relatable sci-fi adventure movie. Think of it as like Judgement Day, just a little sleeker, and with ki

Without Remorse | Average Guy Movie Review

When his wife and several members of his Seal team are killed, Senior Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordon) takes it upon himself to find the killers. But when he discovers that the killings are part of a larger conspiracy - one with global ramifications - he is forced to work with the government in order to catch the real culprit. Amazon expands on the Tom Clancy universe they established with the John Krasinski led Jack Ryan , by introducing one of his well-known allies; John Kelly (A.K.A. John Clark). However, Ryan is more analyst than action man (certainly at first, anyway), whereas Kelly is an 'operator', and his entrance into this world is slightly more explosive. Despite being more of a blunt instrument, Kelly is intuitive and resourceful, something Jordan carries well. A scene involving Kelly posing as a drunk is a perfect example of this (even if the costume department didn't dirty him up enough). The actor also brings an intensity and determination to the role, mak

The Mauritanian | Average Guy Movie Review

The story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim), a man who was believed to have been involved in the planning of 9/11. He was held at Guantanamo Bay for years without trial. Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) were the lawyers who took his case, and Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch) was the military lawyer assigned to prosecute. What they discovered was a a case built on flimsy, circumstantial evidence and forced confessions. Based on Slahi's book 'Guantanamo Diary' (which he wrote while still incarcerated) this is a shocking look at US counter-terrorism activities after 9/11, and how that event was used to justify "questionable" actions. In that way it would make an eye-opening double feature with The Report  starring Adam Driver - both movies are available on Amazon Prime Video. Much like The Report , this is a story that should be told. And not just for Mohamedou, but for all those who were locked up at Guantanamo for years witho