Emmy says:
As somebody who’s enjoyment of a film is directly related to my emotional involvement, I wasn’t as receptive to this style of story. It is possible the trailer made me expect more than was delivered, especially with my soft-spot for fashion given the event featured. A plot with too many mechanisms operating behind the curtain. 5/10.

Jeff says:
The Oceans films are fun hi-jinks – that’s really it. It’s about the characters and the riffing between them – the heist itself is almost secondary. This follows the same formula, just with a new cast. The cast are fun and likeable, the caper was realistic in terms of the current technological state of the world. It might, however, be telling when you can spot a continuity error easily. Entertaining popcorn film, but not much depth. 7/10.

(Guest Reaction) Bruce says:
Entertaining, finished strongly. 5/10.

IMDb

Emmy says:
How to review this one without spoilers? I was blindsided a few times with this, I enjoyed the tension carried throughout, and the ending left me wanting more. 7/10.

Jeff says:
What the hell did I just watch? There was a palpable, unsettling, tension throughout most of the film, using many excellent techniques to ratchet up the suspense without resorting to cheap jump scares. Sound is used amazingly well. Scenes focusing on close-ups on the characters’ face leaves you wondering what’s coming. Generally the cinematography was excellent. Unfortunately, I feel that the ending let the film down for me. I can’t say more without spoiling the film and you should see this without any advance information. I can say that I’m pleased the trailer didn’t give anything away – I was not prepared for what happened. Given this was from a first-time writer-director, it is an impressive effort. 7/10.

(Guest Reaction) Marion says:
The effects were quite good, but it seemed to take a while to get going. 7/10.

(Guest Reaction) Bruce says:
Slow to start, it improved and was an interesting ending. 6/10.

IMDb

Emmy says:
I watch movies expecting to be taken on a ride, Solo lived up to its name by not letting me get on. There was a handful of laughs the script got out of me, but nothing to be invested in. How do you do high stakes with a character that cocky? They never think anything will happen to themselves and therefore never convey a sense of urgency or peril to the audience. The lighting during the first two scenes is hazy and smoky and I may have missed something there. 5/10.

Jeff says:
Lots of fan service in this one … whether that helped or harmed is debatable. The problem with prequels is knowing in advance how it all turns out. This dramatically reduces the tension and emotional investment in any particular moment. It doesn’t help when the people we’re following also act like there’s no real consequences to anything, because they’re all cocky space pirates. It would be like watching Oceans 11 if you’ve already seen Oceans 13. The set pieces were good, the things I wanted to see going in were all there, but the moments where they tried to directly tie it into the larger story just confused me (I had to work it out later). Fun, but not greater than the sum of it’s parts. 7/10.

IMDb

Emmy says:
I love that cardigan. And that jumper. That cape! I can’t stop staring at the metallic branches on the fabric, the gold outlined in brown on a taupe background … just stunning. The sounds of the water and the birds are so soothing. It’s like a holiday. Oh there’s a plot here too, one that doesn’t ruin itself by becoming a love story. The awkwardness of an introvert with determination is marvellously done. The halting conversation over a ineptly organised tea was perfect. The eyes not meeting the person being talked to. Did I mention that cape? I think I may have found a movie I will love watching over and over. If only the ending didn’t feel so abrupt compared to the rural life of the story beforehand. 9/10.

Jeff says:
A gorgeously shot film with excellent performances from all involved. Emily Mortimer carries the film well, with a quiet and understated performance of a woman who doesn’t quite understand why the rest of the world is being so rubbish. Bill Nighy is his usual self, but turned up to 11, in a perfect portrayal of a man who would rather not have to talk to people in person. The rest of the cast is just as good. The problem I had with the film was that it seems to stop so abruptly – and at the end of the second act. I feel like there’s a finale missing – but perhaps that was the source material, and ‘real life’ isn’t like that. Things do just ‘stop’. Still, it soured the film a little for me. 6/10.

IMDb

Emmy says:
Breaking the fourth wall at its finest. Well paced story with constant references to other movies and real world people. Lots of violence and explosions with large amounts of vehicle carnage. Highly enjoyable film. 9/10.

Jeff says:
Everything was perfectly Deadpool. Cable’s introduction was respectful, if not faithful, to the source material. The new characters were all worth the time, and I would love to see them again. A small number of the jokes went a beat too long or fell a little flat, but that’s still perfectly Deadpool. I had deliberately avoided learning too much about the story, and I’m glad – the surprises were brilliant. 9/10.

IMDb

Emmy says:
A nice leisurely stroll through nostalgia. Enjoyed the mix of retro and futuristic game play. Avatars were varied and interesting to look at. Some great references that made me squeal just a bit. Pretty movie with a lighthearted feel. 7/10.

Jeff says:
This movie is well-executed and demands repeat viewings to catch all the references. Either that, or someone like Good Bad Flicks doing an “Every reference in Ready Player One” like he did for Cabin in the Woods. The story was the basic hero’s journey (“the one”), which might have been deliberate (as another game reference), but meant there wasn’t much emotional connection (unless I’m just jaded). An enjoyable movie that owes more to nostalgia and good CGI than story. 8/10.

IMDb