Reviews, views and occasionally other things…
Ah, film – my first and greatest love!
Hoot hoot! What a bounty I've sunk my claws into this week. I've had a successful hunt and brought back trailers aplenty to feed you, my little Hootenanny fledgelings! Let's dig in! Mission: Impossible - Fallout (UK Release Date: 26 July 2018) The moustache that defeated the Justice League. That's a little unfair, as the moustache … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Hootenanny #12
The three Baudelaire children (Malina, Louis and baby Sunny) become orphaned when their parents perish in a mysterious fire. Too young to take care of themselves, the bank that manages their fortune puts them into the care of distant relative Count Olaf; an eccentric failed actor who is penniless. What becomes apparent to the children … Continue reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Review
Recently, the littlest Craggling has been tentatively spreading her cinematic wings beyond the admittedly lush and verdant shores of Disney, Pixar, Illumination and exploring other options. We’ve watched Wes Anderson’s “The Fantastic Mr Fox” and, recently, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” so when we saw a trailer for “Mary And The Witch's Flower”, she was smitten. One … Continue reading Mary And The Witch’s Flower (2018) Review
T'wit-t'who's ready for some more trailers? I know I am, so unruffle your feathers, sharpen those talons and lets see what we can hunt down! The Hollow Child (UK Release Date: TBC) I'm still a bit jittery from the "Hereditary" trailer, but creeping out of the woods is this Canadian horror flick which should be arriving in … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Trailer Hootenanny #11
Following in the footsteps of the Man Of Steel and Captain America, Gnomeo and Juliet become the latest characters to have their sequel hijacked by a bunch of different characters as the franchise tries to position itself as a vehicle to reimagine classic British literature, a sort of anthology of garden toy stories. When garden … Continue reading Sherlock Gnomes (2018) Review
Sam Loudermilk is a recovering alcoholic and acerbically witted counsellor who provides emotional support to his congregation of miscreants and layabouts whenever they encounter trials and tribulations. When he becomes the guardian of Claire, a recovering substance abuser, he realises that there is more to life than just his job and rediscovers love in the … Continue reading Loudermilk Season One Review
Hoot hoot! I'm back, undusted, after "Avengers: Infinity War" and ready to celebrate my own 10th milestone. Take to the wing with me now as I cast my owlish gaze over the most recent tasty morsels to scurry through the Youtube underbrush. Ant-Man And The Wasp (UK Release Date: 3 August 2018 😡) So we'll be getting … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Trailer Hootenanny #10
The Netflix production line of comprehensive documentaries on fascinating stories continues with this six-part study of Rajneeshpuram and its expansion from an obscure Indian following to a world-wide “cult”. What the Duplass Brothers (“Togetherness”, “Animals”, “Safety Not Guaranteed”) have produced is an encyclopaedic study of the ‘religion’ and its origins, its polarising leader Bhagwan Shree … Continue reading Wild Wild Country (2018) Series Review
Staggering its way into cinemas, “Blockers” strikes a clumsy blow for equality by showing that dumb, crass, tasteless teenage sex comedies aren’t just for boys anymore. Yay, equality? Three friends make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night but when one of their parents accidentally intercepts a text conversation, their parents band together … Continue reading Blockers (2018) Review
There’s an almost gleeful stupidity at the heart of “Truth Or Dare” that you almost don’t want to look away just to see what audaciously moronic twist its going to try next. Almost. Persuaded to go on one last Spring Break vacation, Olivia (Lucy Hale) meets a guy on the last night of the trip … Continue reading Truth Or Dare (2018) Review
25 years ago, on 3rd January 1993, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” made its TV debut in America. It wouldn’t reach UK TV screens until 22nd August later that year. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary, What The Craggus Saw is taking the time between those two premiere dates to revisit and review each season of … Continue reading Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 25th Anniversary Retrospective: Season 4
Adapted from the novel by David Levithan, “Any Day” may, at first glance, look like your run of the mill young adult schmaltzy romance but lurking behind that façade is a sweet and surprisingly affecting sci-fi romance built around the charismatic performance of lead Angourie Rice. It also marks the resurrection of Orion Pictures, the … Continue reading Every Day (2018) Review
If you’re not one for the intergalactic cataclysms of “Avengers: Infinity War”, then you might find your local multiplex a fairly unwelcoming place this coming week. But, amidst the plethora of showings of, admittedly, one of the best films of the year so far, if you look carefully you might just uncover this cunningly counter-programmed … Continue reading The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) Review
There was an idea: to bring together a group of remarkable franchises, to see if they could become something bigger. So when we wanted more, they could bring us the battles we never could’ve believed we’d ever see on the big screen. The Mad Titan is finally making his move and first to feel the … Continue reading Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Review
Rereleased to celebrate its 40th anniversary, “Grease” takes us to a nostalgia-fuelled retro-dystopia where middle-aged adults are forced to attend high school and endure the trials and tribulations of adolescent life, no doubt the forfeit of some Faustian pact or “Lost”-style purgatorial atonement. After being drowned by a freak wave during a weekend getaway to … Continue reading Grease (1978) 40th Anniversary Review
As he prepares to ascend to the throne of Wakanda, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) wrestles with his nation’s history of isolation and what that means in the modern world. But T’Challa’s troubles are compounded by the sins of his father whose actions decades previously have set in motion events which will culminate in a battle for … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Black Panther (2018)
Driven by recurring dreams of the destruction of Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) allows himself to be captured by fire demon Surtur in order to pre-empt and prevent Ragnarok. Returning to Asgard, Thor forces Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to reveal himself and confess to where Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is being held. But Odin’s absence has and Loki’s … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Previously on “Sneaky Pete”: Conman Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi) befriends Pete Murphy (Ethan Embry) when they become cellmates. When Marius is released, he decides to assume the identity of his still incarcerated friend to evade the wrath of a local gangster. But to successfully assume his identity, he’s going to have to convince Pete’s estranged … Continue reading Sneaky Pete Season 2 Review
Following his adventure with the Avengers in Germany, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) finds himself back in Queens, New York, balancing his school days with nights spent patrolling the neighbourhood as Spider-Man. Mentored by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), Peter’s reluctant to return to the small-scale crime fighting he’s confronted with in his own neck of … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
After a spot of mischievous larceny by Rocket angers their most recent client, Ayesha, High Priestess of The Sovereign People, the Guardians find themselves fleeing from the Sovereign fleet and crash-land on a nearby planet thanks to Star-Lord and Rocket's squabbling. But their argument is interrupted by the arrival of another ship, piloted by Ego … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2017)
Arrogant and gifted neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is sailing through life, aloof from the world around him until he suffers a catastrophic car accident which permanently damages the nerves in his hands. Seeking a cure of last resort, Strange travels to Tibet where he encounters The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who opens his mind … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Doctor Strange (2016)
Hoot hoot! What a week for trailers, it fairly made my head spin! I guess studios are rushing out trailers to get some buzz ahead of "Avengers: Infinity War" drowning out all other PR and publicity noise like a Hans Zimmer trailer blart turned up to 11. So, what tasty morsels did I get my … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Trailer Hootenanny #9
In the wake of the destruction in Sokovia and a pitched battle against Crossbones in Nigeria, the governments of the world come together in an attempt to curtail and control the Avengers’ activities under a UN council. As the prospect of political control splits the Avengers down the middle, the sudden re-emergence of The Winter … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) has spent his life keeping his creation out of the hands of SHIELD and any other world power but when his former protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) manages to recreate some of his work, he is forced to recruit talented thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to help him and his … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Ant-Man (2015)
The Avengers have been chasing down the remnants of Hydra and trying to locate and retrieve Loki’s staff. The mission is a success despite the intervention of two ‘enhanced’ individuals and the sceptre is returned to Avengers Tower where Bruce Banner and Tony Stark work to unlock its secrets in the hope of bringing their … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
Suitably Autumnal, with Halloween overtones, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” sets out to create and then subvert the Norman Rockwell archetypal small American town. The story cuts right to the heart of the fragility of the American dream and the constant paranoia that somehow, their self-evident utopian land of the free and home of the … Continue reading Dark Disney: Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) Review
Far out in space, Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) – abducted from Earth when he was a young boy – steals a mysterious orb and immediately finds himself the centre of a galactic manhunt. Pursued by the evil and merciless Ronan The Accuser, he is captured by the Nova Corps and forced into an uneasy alliance … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Previously on “The Santa Clarita Diet”: Joel (Timothy Oliphant) and Sheila (Drew Barrymore) Hammond are real estate agents in a sleepy Santa Clarita suburb when Sheila suddenly transforms from mousey middle-class soccer mom of Millennial teen Abby (Liv Hewson) to an undead zombie that must regularly feast on the living to remain ‘alive’. The Hammonds … Continue reading The Santa Clarita Diet Season 2 Review
During an anti-terrorist SHIELD mission, Captain America becomes suspicious of the activities of his colleagues and learns that SHIELD is planning an ambitious Project Insight. When Nick Fury is assassinated by The Winter Soldier, Cap quickly finds himself on the run from the authorities and under threat from the very same assassin, a man with … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2013)
Flint, Michigan is one of the most dangerous cities in America, if not the world and has been consistently in America's top ten for over three decades. After the abandonment of the motor industry, the town has spiralled into poverty, substance abuse, violence and crime. This is further compounded by crippling budget cuts to the running … Continue reading Flint Town Season Review
Having restored peace to the Nine Realms, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard in triumph. Meanwhile on Earth, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) stumbles across a dimensional rift where the Aether has long been hidden. Her disappearance is noted by Heimdall, prompting Thor to return to Earth but her discovery of the Aether has also awakened … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Thor: The Dark World (2013)
With the USA under siege by a terrorist known as The Mandarin, things get personal for Tony Stark when ‘Happy’ Hogan is injured in one of his bombings. Challenging the terrorists to come and get him, Tony is caught out when they do just that. Cut off and alone with a malfunctioning, prototype suit, Stark … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Iron Man 3 (2013)
Opening with a better version of the movie “Life” than “Life” itself managed to provide, “Rampage” sees perennial box-office bester Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson take on his most difficult opponent yet: a video game adaptation. When illegal space-based genetic experimentation crashes back down to Earth, it has an immediate and unfortunate effect on the wildlife. … Continue reading Rampage (2018) Review
Back I swoop after taking the Easter weekend off. I just can't concentrate on movie trailer with all those delicious little bunnies hopping around! Anyway, now I've gorged myself (on chocolate eggs, relax), it's back to hootenannying and there ain't no hootenanny like a Superb Owl hootenanny 'cos a Superb Owl hootenanny don't stop [except for … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Trailer Hootenanny #8
When Loki appears in a SHIELD facility and steals the Tesseract, Nick Fury decides its time to mobilise the Avengers. But bringing together a group of heroes is quite different from creating a team and with an alien invasion imminent, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and The Hulk will need to find … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: The Avengers/ Avengers Assemble (2012)
Sky Movies make their second foray into the burgeoning original movie market with “The Hurricane Heist”, an action thriller that has more producers and executive producers than it does cast members, always a sure sign of quality. Following the death of their father during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Will (Toby Kebbell) and Breeze (Ryan Kwanten) … Continue reading The Hurricane Heist (2018) Review
Rejected multiple times for military service during World War II, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top-secret programme aimed at creating the ultimate soldier. When his qualities put him at the head of the pack, he undergoes an experimental procedure which gives him superhuman strength and endurance, but the experiment is interrupted by agents of HYDRA. … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
After an disastrous assault on Jotunheim, the home of the Frost Giants, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is banished by Odin (Anthony Hopkins) for his recklessness. Exiled to Earth while his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) stages a coup, Thor’s only chance of returning to Asgard is to prove himself worthy to wield the enchanted hammer Mjölnir which … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Thor (2011)
Revelling in his new-found fame, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is hiding a secret: the very thing which saved his life and powers his suit is killing him. Seeking to secure his legacy in the face of ambitious rivals and a suspicious Government, Stark's behaviour grows ever more erratic and unpredictable as his penchant for … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Iron Man 2 (2010)
When his cover is blown thanks to an accident in a bottling plant, Doctor Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) returns to the United States to seek the help of a mysterious ‘Mr Blue’ who may hold the key to undoing his Gamma poisoning. But General Ross (William Hurt) is hot on his trail, along with Emile … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
A John Hughes movie for the 21st Century, Greg Berlanti’s adaptation of the novel “Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda” emerges as a romantic comedy-drama so utterly charming, it’s nigh-on impossible not to “Love, Simon”. High School senior Simon Spiers seems to have it all, but he’s hiding a big secret: he’s gay. When another student … Continue reading Love, Simon (2018) Review
When billionaire playboy industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is kidnapped and mortally wounded during a terrorist ambush in Afghanistan, he must use every ounce of his ingenuity to survive and escape. Returning home a changed man, Stark decides to start righting the wrongs of his past and takes his first step into a larger … Continue reading Craggus’ Countdown To Infinity: Iron Man (2008)
Back I swoop after taking the Easter weekend off. I just can't concentrate on movie trailer with all those delicious little bunnies hopping around! Anyway, now I've gorged myself (on chocolate eggs, relax), it's back to hootenannying and there ain't no hootenanny like a Superb Owl hootenanny 'cos a Superb Owl hootenanny don't stop [except for … Continue reading Superb Owl’s Trailer Hootenanny #7
So cupcakes, I’ve finally returned, summoned back to the land of the living by Odeon’s Scream Unseen, thinking a fiver’s got to be worth the gamble. If you haven’t heard of the scheme, basically you don’t know what you’re watching until it starts, although at least with Scream Unseen you know it’s going to be … Continue reading Ghost Stories (2018) Review
As part of In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood’s Third Annual Bette Davis Blogathon, I’m taking a look at the 1981 family horror movie “The Watcher In The Woods” and kicking off my own mini-series looking at a strange period of movie history when Disney went dark. Towards the end of the 1970s, … Continue reading Dark Disney: The Watcher In The Woods (1981) Review
Silence has never been so loud as it is in John Krasinski’s nerve-shredding horror debut, “A Quiet Place”. In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous predators who hunt by sound, Lee and Evelyn Abbott (real life husband and wife John Krasinski and Emily Blunt) eke out a silent existence with their three children, every moment … Continue reading A Quiet Place (2018) Review
Lauded Hollywood screenwriter Scott Frank (“Out Of Sight”, “Minority Report”, “Logan”) brings a refreshing tale of a plucky band of women’s struggle with life in the Wild West to the small screen in his first foray into the medium as a Director. What’s he’s ended up with is not only one of the best Western … Continue reading Godless Season One Review
Hamish Calvert of HC Movie Reviews goes the distance with Paddy Considine Boxing Drama “Journeyman”:
(spoiler free)
Following up from his 2011 debut ‘Tyrannosaur’, ‘Journeyman’ is the second directorial effort from British talent Paddy Considine. The film follows a middleweight boxing champion as he attempts to defend his title and the subsequent struggles he encounters after sustaining a serious injury in the ring. Considine acts, writes and directs here starring alongside new ‘Doctor Who’ Jodie Whittaker, who plays his on screen wife.
Whilst ‘Journeyman’ follows the same standard boxing movie formula it’s specific content is unlike the majority of what has come before it. Focusing less on the sport itself and more on the impact it has on the athlete and their family. Furthermore the focus on life threatening injury is a refreshing change of pace and it’s good to see an entire film devoted to this aspect which is often neglected in other similar stories. The narrative is streamlined and almost entirely contained…
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In “Captain America: Civil War”, when discussing the Sokovia Accords, Vision concedes that ‘Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict breeds catastrophe.’ If the MCU's strength is undeniable, “Guardians” is the catastrophe. During the Cold War, a secret Soviet Army division called Patriot conducted genetic experiments on citizens, creating mutations with dangerous … Continue reading Guardians (2017) Review
A good voice cast and beautifully animated backdrops of the stunning geography of China are enough to lift this undemanding animated animal fable above the flock. When reckless goose Peng (Jim Gaffigan) passes up the chance to migrate with the rest of the flock, he’s left to fend for himself when an injured wing means … Continue reading Duck Duck Goose (2018) Review
