Borderlands (2024)

Borderlands is a video game adaptation of the game of the same name set in the stylized futuristic world of Pandora.

Eli Roth is a director who looks like the ideal director for the film. The problem was he wasn't given full reigns to take this sort of movie to the heights it could have been. Casting was an issue and it being restricted to PG-13 was another. Roth is a visionary and the film shows it. The CG could have been left in the oven a tad longer but the glaring issue was the screenplay by the unknown and pen-named Joe Crombie.

The whole cast feels misplaced. Cate Blanchett looks tired, Kevin Hart looks like he's just ready for it to be over, Jack Black as Claptrap is written as annoying, Jamie Lee Curtis didn't even need to be in the film, and Edgar Ramirez tries to play a villain but his accent is just hard to understand. The only exception was seventeen-year-old Ariana Greenblatt who does an annoying but decent job as Tiny Tina. You might remember her from Barbie. Something is wrong when Cate Blanchett gets upstaged by a teenager.

It was okay, and I could see why audiences skipped the film. Result: C+

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Superman (2025)

S uperman (2025) brings the Man of Steel back to the big screen in a bold, colorful new start for the DC Universe. Directed by James Gunn , known for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad , this might be his second-best film. It finds the right balance between hope, humor, and action without falling into the over-jokey MCU-esque trap. Gunn’s love for the character shines through, and the world feels lived-in and full of potential. David Corenswet , previously seen in Pearl and Hollywood , steps into the cape and owns it. He’s sincere, powerful, and manages to give Superman the warmth that has been missing in recent versions. It’s a classic take that still feels fresh. Nicholas Hoult , known for The Menu and Mad Max: Fury Road , is the best Lex Luthor we’ve had. He plays the character with intelligence and menace, but never turns him into a cartoon. He’s unpredictable in the right way and commands every scene he’s in. Skyler Gisondo , best known for The Righteous Gemsto...

Bring Her Back (2025)

Bring Her Back is a slow-burning elevated horror that leans into grief, gore, and occult horror more than traditional jump scares. Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou , the duo behind Talk to Me , the film feels more confident this time around. The pacing is tight, the tone never wavers, and there isn’t a single wasted scene. It’s got that A24 signature of letting dread simmer just under the surface while slowly turning up the volume. Brutal when it needs to be, but never flashy for the sake of it. Billy Barratt takes the lead and does a solid job balancing emotion and shock. He plays it straight and raw, and while a few moments feel a bit much, it fits the role. He sells the trauma and anchors the early part of the story well. Sally Hawkins brings a quiet intensity as the grieving mother. She’s best known for The Shape of Water , and here she uses that same subtle expression work to say more than any dialogue could. Her screen time is limited, but she leaves a lasting mark. ...

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025)

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina follows a trained assassin seeking revenge in the familiar but slightly off-center world of Wick's underground. Directed by Len Wiseman , best known for Underworld and Live Free or Die Hard , the film has his usual stylized flair. It feels just different enough from the mainline Wick entries to stand on its own. There’s still that slick gun-fu and neon-drenched worldbuilding, but with a touch more grace and a little less grit. Wiseman’s touch gives it personality without straying too far from the formula. Ana de Armas , coming off action-heavy roles in No Time to Die and The Gray Man , does a great job handling the physicality. The choreography doesn’t pretend she’s stronger than her frame allows. Instead, she’s thrown around like Peter Parker, flipping, dodging, and surviving through skill and speed. It’s refreshing to see an action film acknowledge size and weight realistically. She’s believable, stylish, and focused. Keanu Reeves a...

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