James Cameron has returned to take us on a third trip to Pandora. Avatar: Fire and Ash is now out in cinemas worldwide and I finally, FINALLY had the chance to see the film yesterday after a long week of packing and traveling. This has easily been one of my most anticipated films of the year and pretty easily so because back in September 2022, I fell in love with this franchise. Finally having the chance to see the first Avatar in cinemas during its theatrical release-release was a game-changing cinematic experience for me and completely changed my perspective on a film that I felt very lukewarm to before that point. And then in December, Avatar: The Way of Water became a smash box office hit and, as far as I’m concerned, surpassed the first film by almost every single measure of quality. So, is the magic and awe of Pandora still alive? Is Avatar: Fire and Ash the best film in the trilogy? Find out all the answers in this review!

Avatar: Fire and Ash:

Directed by: James Cameron

Screenplay by: James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

Story by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno

Based on charaacters created by: James Cameron

Produced by: Jon Landau, James Cameron

Exeucutive Producers: Richard Baneham, Rae Sanchini, Peter M. Tobyansen, David Valdes

Music by: Simon Franglen

Director of Photgraphy: Russell Carpenter

Edited by: David Brenner, James Cameron, Nicholas De Toth, Jason Glaudio, John Refoua, Stephen E. Rivkin

Casting by: Margery Simkin

Production Design by: Dylan Cole, Ben Procter

Costume Design by: Deborah L. Scott

Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., Kate Winslet

Synopsis: In the wake of the devastating war against the RDA and the loss of their eldest son, Jake Sully and Neytiri face a new threat on Pandora: the Ash People, a violent and power-hungry Na’vi tribe led by the ruthless Varang. Jake’s family must fight for their survival and the future of Pandora in a conflict that pushes them to their emotional and physical limits.

The first teaser trailer for DC Studios’ Supergirl has now dropped online. Starting Milly Alcock, Supergirl marks the sophomore effort in James Gunn & Peter Safran’s new DCU following Superman’s critical and commercial success. After years and years of anticipation and defending James Gunn’s DCU years before it even began, it was so satisfying to see people fall in love with Superman again back in July and to see people genuinely excited about DC on the big screen again. These characters and the universe as a whole has mean the world to me ever since I was a kid, and to see them finally getting adapted onto the big screen in (mostly) the way I’d always hoped is so damn exciting. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of my favorite DC comics of all-time, so to say I was excited when Gunn announced the story being adapted to a movie would be an understatement. I’ve long BEGGED for more comic book movies to do more straightforward adaptations of comic book stories. At the end of the day, you’re never going to do better than the best work from the people who understand these characters best: the comic book writers who grew up being nerds like us about these universes. Tom King is also one of my favorite working comic book writers so to just see a spotlight put on one of his stories like this is just great. My excitement for the film multiplied when the crew, as well as director Craig Gillespie, came on board for the film. Well, the teaser trailer is finally here. Is this everything I hoped for? Find out by clicking play!

Walt Disney Animation Studios has had a rough couple years (to be nice), so it should be a surprise to absolutely no one that I had very little anticipation for Zootopia 2, yet another nearly 10-year late sequel from one of the House of Mouse's big animation studios. I felt this way despite being a kid at the prime age when Zootopia came out, just like I was with Moana and Pixar's Inside Out. But, when I opened social media a few days ago... I was shocked to see this movie getting rave reviews and my curiosity was piqued.So, is Zootopia 2 a worthy sequel to one of the biggest original animated films of all-time? Find out in this review!

Zootopia 2:

Directed by: Jared Bush, Byron Howard

Written by: Jared Bush

Produced by: Yvett Merino

Executive Producers: Jared Bush, Jennifer Lee

Music by: Michael Giacchino

Casting by: Grace C. Kim

Production Design by: Corey Loftis

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Shakira, Idris Elba, Quinta Brunson, Patrick Warburton, Andy Samberg, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Nate Torrence, Jenny Slate, Alan Tudyk, Maurice LaMarche, Leah Latham, Macaulay Culkin, Josh Dallas, Tommy Chong, Raymond Persi, Phil "CM Punk" Brooks, John Leguizamo, David Fane, Josh Gad, Wilmer Valderrama, Stephanie Beatriz, Dwayne Johnson, Auli’i Cravalho, Tig Notaro, Amanda Gorman

Synopsis: After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De’Snake arrives and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.

Rian Johnson & Daniel Craig have returned to deliver us their third Knives Out Mystery. Wake Up Dead Man has now dropped in select theaters worldwide, and will drop on Netflix on December 12. I'm very lucky to be ten minutes away from a local cinema that plays all of Netflix's releases before they drop on the platform, so you bet I rushed out to see the new whodunnit on the first day of release. The first Knives Out is easily my favorite murder-mystery of all-time, and Glass Onion was definitely a really solid follow-up even if it was a little uneven. More importantly though, I think Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, has to be on the Mount Rushmore of most iconic new movie characters of the past decade; in fact, I think Craig is so good in the role that Blanc is now dangerously close to overtaking Bond as his most iconic character. I know, I know... sue me. Rian Johnson is also one of my favorite filmmakers and he never misses! So, is Wake Up Dead Man the most engrossing mystery the team have delivered yet? Find out in this review!

Wake Up Dead Man:

Written and Directed by: Rian Johnson

Produced by: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson

Executive Producer: Tom Karnowski

Music by: Nathan Johnson

Director of Photography: Steve Yedlin

Edited by: Bob Ducsay

Casting by: Bret Howe, Mary Vernieu

Production Design by: Rick Heinrichs

Costume Design by: Jenny Eagan

Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church

Synopsis: When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.

Wicked is back to defy gravity once again and rock the moviegoing population worldiwde. After the gigantic critical, financial and awards hit that was the first Wicked , Wicked: For Good aims to close out the adaptation of the stage musical. But, as most people online now, the second half of the Wicked musical is infamous for being much weaker than the first. I was shocked last year when I stepped into that screening and came out actually liking Wicked; I was not looking forward to seeing a nearly three-hour musical that was only going to tell half the story, but the performances, musical numbers and world building really won me over. I didn't think it was quite great, and scoffed a little at all the awards aclaim that followed its release... but there's no denying how much that movie struck a chord. So, with Wicked: For Good, is Jon M. Chu able to capture lightning in a bottle for a second time and deliver on what the stage musical could not? Find out in this review!

Wicked: For Good:

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by: Stephen Schwartz

Based on the book by: Winnie Holzman; and From the novel by: Gregory Maguire

Screenplay by: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox

Produced by: David Stone, Marc Platt

Executive Producers: Dana Fox, Winnie Holzman, Jared LeBoff, David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz

Music by: John Powell, Stephen Schwartz

Director of Photography: Alice Brooks

Edited by: Myron Kerstein, Tatiana S. Riegel

Casting by: Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey

Production Design by: Nathan Crowley

Costume Design by: Paul Tazewell

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Colman Domingo

Synopsis: As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.

I'm still here, ya sh*t-eaters! Edgar Wright's adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man runs into cinemas in a few days but I had the lucky opportunity to see it early at a mystery screening! I am a huge Edgar Wright fan; I love so many of his movies but I'll admit, I was maybe a little down on him after the very disappointing Last Night in Soho. That was a film I was highly anticipating but was pretty let down by the diretion the narrative took in the backhalf, even if I loved the cast and a lot of aesthetics of the film. The Running Man, though, looked like a return to the fun I love in most of my favorite Edgar Wright movies - and the early reviews definitely indicated that I was correct about that gut reaction. Were they right? Find out in this review!

The Running Man:

Directed by: Edgar Wright

Based on the novel by: Stephen King

Screenplay by: Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright

Produced by: Simon Kinberg, Nira Park, Edgar Wright

Executive Producers: James Biddle, Pete Chiappetta, Audrey Chon, Andrew Lary, Geroge Linder, Rachael Prior, Anthony Tittanegro

Music by: Steven Price

Director of Photography: Chiung-hoon Chung

Edited by: Paul Machliss

Casting by: Kharmel Cochrane, Francine Maisler

Production Design by: Marcus Rowland

Costume Design by: Julian Day

Cast: Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, William H. Macy, Emilia Jones

Synopsis: Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man’s charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite - and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, an adaptation of a novella of the same name, has finally hit select cinemas around the globe. I had the chance to see this beautiful movie about a month ago at the BFI London Film Festival and I’ve been dying to talk about it but I wanted you guys to at least have the opportunity to seek the film out immediately after hearing me rave about it and… I wanted to see it again! Stick around to find out why I think this is one of 2025’s best movies!

Train Dreams:

Directed by: Clint Bentley

Screenplay by: Clint Bentley, Greg Kweder

Based on the novella by: Denis Johnson

Produced by: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman

Executive Producers: Joel Edgerton, John Friedberg, Scott Hinckley, Greg Kweder

Music by: Bryce Dessner

Director of Photography: Adolpho Veloso

Edited by: Parker Laramie

Casting by: Nike Imoru, Avy Kaufman

Production Design by: Alexandra Schaller

Costume Design by: Dakota Keller, Malgosia Turzanska

Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Joens, Kerry Condon, Paul Schneider, Clifton Collins Jr., Will Patton, William H. Macy

Synopsis: A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.

Dan Trachtenberg’s next Predator adventure - Predator: Badlands - is now out in theaters! This is already his THIRD entry into the franchise - one more and he’ll match the amount of standalone Predator movies there were before he arrived. I wouldn’t call myself a fan of this franchise, but I love the idea of the Yautja as these intergalactic hunters in a clan where they’re either the Predator or the Prey. It’s just unfortunate that all these movies, including the few I like, are basically the same. I’ve liked both Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers but I wouldn’t say I’ve been as crazy about them as others; I think it’s fair to say I’m pretty burnt out on the formula of this franchise. I can’t even say I’m IN LOVE with the original or anything like that. But now, we finally have a movie where one of the Yautja is actually the protagonist with Badlands. Does it deliver on the premise and live up to the very positive reviews? Find out in this review!

Predator: Badlands

Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg

Screenplay by: Patrick Aison

Based on characters created by: Jim Thomas & John Thomas

Story by: Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg

Produced by: John Davis, Brent O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt, Marc Toberoff

Executive Producers: Lawrence Gordon, Stefan Grube

Music by: Sarah Schachner, Benjamin Wallfisch

Director of Photogaphy: Jeff Cutter

Edited by: Stefan Grube, David Trachtenberg

Casting by: Jessica Sherman

Production Design by: Ra Vincent

Costume Design by: Ngila Dickson

Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi

Synopsis: Cast out from his clan, a young Predator finds an unlikely ally in a damaged android and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Noah Baumbach’s latest Netflix venture - Jay Kelly - hits limited release in cinemas in just a few weeks. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the BFI London Film Festival a few weeks back and have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to talk about it in a full-length review. The reactions to this movie have been pretty mixed since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Why anyone at Netflix thought a European premiere made sense for a movie about an aging Hollywood movie star is beyond me… but here we are. Since that premiere, the reviews for this movie have grown to be much more kind. I’ve been really long forward to Jay Kelly because Noah Baumbach’s films tend to work for me and the premise, as well as as the opportunity for Adam Sandler to be on a serious movie again, had me very excited. So, am I one of the people really high on Jay Kelly, or was the initial mixed reception warranted? Find out in this review! Jay Kelly hits Netflix on December 5th.

Jay Kelly:

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Written by: Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer

Produced by: Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, Amy Pascal

Executive Producer: Donald Sabourin

Music by: Nicholas Britell

Director of Photography: Linus Sandgren

Edited by: Valerio Bonelli, Rachel Durance

Casting by: Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold

Production Design by: Mark Tildesley

Cast: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach

Synopsis: Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron.

Well, here we are. Chloe Zhao's Hamnet - one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year - premiered at the BFI London Film Festival two weeks ago. Since it's premiere at Telluride back in late August, this movie has been billed as a locked-in OSCAR contender and potentially one of the biggest threats to WIN Best Picture. Reviews like that always get on my nerves because it's classic film festival overhype. You watch a movie surrounded by all the cast & crew and thousands of like-minded movie fans and, inevitably, the hype is going to be through the roof. All that being said, I watched this movie at a film festival as well... so I'll be telling you all today whether the hype was real. I've been a little nervous going into Hamnet because, while the trailers have excited me and the reviews were certainly promising, I am neither a Chloe Zhao guy or a Shakespeare guy. Zhao's movies have always felt cold to me and I truly believe that Nomadland is probably one of the worst Best Picture winners.... of all-time! But, I'm happy to report that Hamnet is the first time that I've truly been able to connect with one of her movies. Find out why in this review!

Hmanet:

Directed by: Chloé Zhao

Screenplay by: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell

Based on the novel "Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell

Produced by: Liza Marshall, p.g.a., Pippa Harris, p.g.a, Nicolas Gonda, p.g.a., Steven Spielberg, p.g.a., Sam Mendes, p.g.a.

Executive Producers: Laurie Borg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Chloé Zhao

Music by: Max Richter

Director of Photography: Lukasz Zal

Edited by: Alfonso Gonçalves, Chloé Zhao

Casting by: Nina Gold

Production Design by: Fiona Crombie

Costume Design by: Malgosia Turzanska

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, David Wilmot, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes, Freya Hannan-Mills, Noah Jupe

Synopsis: The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.