All Articles

Ready Player One arrives as an action film directed by Steven Spielberg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke give Ready Player One a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ready Player One comes into focus without a long explanation: When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will gi

Ocean's Eight arrives as a comedy directed by Gary Ross, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett give Ocean's Eight a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ocean's Eight comes into focus without a long explanation: Debbie Ocean gathers an all female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's annual Met Gala. Across its 1h 50m running time, Gary Ross keeps Ocean's Eigh

The Meg arrives as a horror film directed by Jon Turteltaub, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jason Statham and Bingbing Li give The Meg a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Meg comes into focus without a long explanation: A rescue mission to the bottom of the ocean is terrorized by a massive prehistoric shark. Across its 1h 53m running time, Jon Turteltaub keeps The Meg uncertain about tone and dra

Halloween arrives as a horror film directed by David Gordon Green, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer give Halloween a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Halloween comes into focus without a long explanation: Laurie Strode confronts her long time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four de

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald arrives as a fantasy directed by David Yates, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston give Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald comes into focus without a long explanation: Gellert Grindelwald plans to raise an army of wizards to rule over no

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation arrives as an animated adventure directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg give Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation comes into focus without a long explanation: Count Dracula and company participate in a cruise for sea loving monsters, un

Mary Poppins Returns arrives as a comedy directed by Rob Marshall, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda give Mary Poppins Returns a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mary Poppins Returns comes into focus without a long explanation: A few decades after her original visit, Mary Poppins, the magical nanny, returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a d

Crazy Rich Asians arrives as a comedy directed by Jon M. Chu, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Constance Wu and Henry Golding give Crazy Rich Asians a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Crazy Rich Asians comes into focus without a long explanation: This contemporary romantic comedy based on a global bestseller follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. Across its 2

A Quiet Place arrives as a horror film directed by John Krasinski, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski give A Quiet Place a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in A Quiet Place comes into focus without a long explanation: A family struggles for survival in a world invaded by blind alien creatures with ultra sensitive hearing. Across its 1h 30m running time, John Krasinski keeps A

Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse arrives as an animated adventure directed by Bob Persichetti, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson give Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse comes into focus without a long explanation: Teen Miles Morales becomes the Spider Man of his universe and must join with five spider po

Ralph Breaks the Internet arrives as an animated adventure directed by Phil Johnston, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman give Ralph Breaks the Internet a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ralph Breaks the Internet comes into focus without a long explanation: On a quest to save the video game 'Sugar Rush' and to find a replacement, Ralph and his best friend Vanellope tra

Venom arrives as an action film directed by Ruben Fleischer, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams give Venom a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Venom comes into focus without a long explanation: A failed reporter is bonded to an alien entity, one of many symbiotes who have invaded Earth. Across its 1h 52m running time, Ruben Fleischer keeps Venom uncertain about tone and dr