Mac's Movies

UK Release Date:  20 June 2023 Certification:  12A Director:  Wes Anderson Cast:  Bob Balaban, Adrien Brody, Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Willem Dafoe, Hope Davis, Grace Edwards, Rupert Friend, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Hanks, Maya Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Edward Norton, Stephen Park, Tony Revolori, Margot Robbie, Jake Ryan, Liev Schreiber, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright Rating:   75 % Review: Wes' most visually striking film to date. He has became renowned for his eccentric, quirky style that has taken over the internet in recent months. At the height of his popularity, Wes released perhaps his least accessible film to date - it's not got to win anyone over but fans of his work will thoroughly enjoy Asteroid City . Exceptionally lit monotone shots detailing the production of the play combined with the glorified vibrancy of the play itself. The sets are designed with perfection in mind. Costume designs fit the aesthetic.  Neon greens, vast blu...

UK Release Date: 10 November 2006 Certification: 12A Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Christian Bale, David Bowie, Michael Caine, Rebecca Hall, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis Rating: 83% "Are you watching closely?" Review: On paper  The Prestige  is the perfect film. It has a terrific twist that comes out from absolutely no where, Nolan produces technical brilliance and there's an immense cast. However, the fact that no character comes across as likeable during the runtime makes it difficult for me to latch on to anyone and prevents me from loving  The Prestige .  Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play competing magicians (Alfred Bordon and Robert Angier respectively). Alongside, Leonardo DiCaprio these are two of the greatest actors of this generation. They both play the role exactly as described - they're both unlikeable and selfish men that destroy each other and the people around them in an insane obsession to suceed. And that's...

UK Release Date: 30 March 2017 Certification: 12A Director: Rupert Sanders Cast:  Pilou Asbæk, Juliette Binoche, Chin Han, Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt Rating: 32% I wish I had watched Ex Machina instead.  Review: I haven't read the manga from which this movie is based on or watched the original Ghost in the Shell but this movie feels like another failed and disrespectful attempt to adapt a beloved manga series by Hollywood. The acting in Ghost in the Shell is just bad. Scarlett Johansson is a terrific actress but she's emotionless - and I understand her character is a 'robot' - but that's simply uninspiring storytelling. Because her character had zero personality, I didn't care at all for what happened to her during the film.  Also she does a weird walk throughout that kind of looked like she was constipated.  Pilou Asbæk is the stereotypical side kick with no charisma and no character development. And I have no idea why he ha...

UK Release Date: 25 June 2014 Certification: 15 Director: Jon Favreau Cast: Emjay Anthony, Bobby Cannavale, Jon Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara Rating: 73% "I may not do everything great in my life, but I'm good at this." Review: The ensemble cast assembled for  Chef is excellent. Jon Favreau shines as struggling chef, Carl Casper, trying to restore his passion. His relationship with his estranged son, Percy - played by Emjay Anthony - is the beating heart of the movie. The bond the two form is both engrossing and sweet. John Leguizamo is entertaining as Carl's sous-chef, Martin. He adds a distinctive, spice to the movie that's fresh to see on screen.  However, I didn't enjoy Scarlett Johansson or Robert Downey Jr. in this movie. I'm not slating their performances in fact RDJ's quick cameo was my favourite aspect of the movie but that's all it was.  If they were given a bigger role, ...

UK Release Date:   29 April 2016 Certification:   12A Director:  Anthony and Joe Russo Cast:  Paul Bettany, Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Brühl, Don Cheadle, Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan Rating: 86 % United we stand. Divided we fall. Review: Based on one of the greatest comic book's of all time, Captain America: Civil War is the finale to my favourite trilogy. The Russo's do a great job at merging characters from solo ventures.  Of course the parallels are there between the DCEU's  Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (which I enjoy a lot more than most)  and  Captain America: Civil War  but the latter did a great job at creating a story that would shape their universe for years to come.  A lot of reviews at the time of the movie's release stated the movie was pretentious and simply an unofficial 'Avengers 2.5.' Howe...

UK Release Date: 26 March 2014 Certification: 12A Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast: Chris Evans, Frank Grillo, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan Rating: 97% "On your left" Review: The  perfect action movie. The Russo's introduction to the MCU is their finest and also the series' best. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the perfect example of how to do a sequel right - It has so many iconic action scenes and lines whilst applying it's trade in the spy genre and introduces many fan favourites for the first time.  Captain America's last appearance in Avengers Assemble was heavily criticised by fans because they felt he was too goofy compared to his comic counterpart. However, the Russo Brothers do a great job at making Steve Rogers grounded, grittier and sufficiently more serious superhero that is fit to lead till the very end. This is also partly down to Chris Evans who incredibly makes...

UK Release Date: 25 April 2019 Certification: 12A Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast: Josh Brolin, Don Cheadle, Bradley Cooper, Chris Evans, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Brie Larson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Mark Ruffalo Rating: 90% "Whatever It Takes" Re view: [Spoiler] I have seen Avengers: Endgame twice now and I'm sorry, there is absolutely no way I can review the movie without spoiling it.  Avengers: Endgame is a defining cinematic moment. It is my generation's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi , The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 . All I was thinking about for months was the conclusion of The Infinity Saga. I watched all of the trailers and theory videos online, but was careful that I wasn't exposed to any plot spoilers. And I have to say that Avengers: Endgame has become my favourite movie of all time. Avengers: Endgame has b...

UK Release Date: 26 April 2019 Certification: 12A Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast: Josh Brolin, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Pratt, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana Rating: 96% "Zip it, Thanos." Review: [Spoiler] My review of Avengers: Infinity War contains several spoilers. For me, the best part of Avengers: Infinity War is the development of Thor's character. He has lost everything - a broken God - but despite this remains entertaining throughout most of the movie. I loved the hilarious exchanges with the Guardians of the Galaxy which beautifully sets up the 'Asgardians of the Galaxy.' I hope Thor features prominently in the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie.  Thanos is my second favourite villain in the MCU, behind Loki. Thanos is the main protagonist of Avengers: Infinity War . If the Russo brothers didn't cleverly afford Thanos the most screen...

UK Release Date: 23 April 2015 Certification: 12A Director: Joss Whedon Cast: Paul Bettany, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Robert Downey Jr, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, James Spader Rating: 69 % "Is that the best you can do?" Review: At the time of release I believed Avengers: Age of Ultron was another Iron Man 2 . What I mean by this, is that the sequels are more convoluted than the originals ( Avengers Assemble and Iron Man respectively). The sequels give you more of what you loved about the original movies but both have way too many subplots. Iron Man 2 attempts to set up Avengers Assemble and Avengers: Age of Ultron attempts to set up Captain America: Civil War , Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War . However, in my opinion, the biggest disappointment of Avengers: Age of Ultron , is Ultron himself. After seeing the trailers for this movie I thought Ultron would be deadly serious, a form...

UK Release Date: 26 April 2012 Certification: 12A Director: Joss Whedon Cast: Chris Evans, Clark Gregg, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Cobie Smulders Rating: 87 % If we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it! Review: In 2012 Avengers Assemble [Original title, The Avengers ] was the biggest thing to come out of the comic book movie genre.  The storyline is basic but t he main reason this movie works is because of what came before. The movie is enjoyable in it’s own right but watching the earlier solo character movies definitely make Avengers Assemble so much better. Avengers Assemble was the first team-up movie and the culmination of five different movies released over four years (four solo movies and a sequel). And no one would have expected that seven years later we would be in the Avengers: Endgame . The six original Avengers are brilliant...

UK Release Date: 30 March 2018 Certification: PG Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Bob Balaban, Bryan Cranston, Greta Gerwig, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson, Harvey Keitel, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Koyu Rankin, Liev Schreiber, Tilda Swinton Rating: 65% Toby Dogge enjoyed Isle of Dogs too. Review: For an animated movie Isle of Dogs boasts an incredible cast, with acting legends like Jeff Goldblum and Bill Murray, to up and coming stars like Koyu Rankin and Greta Gerwig.  In Isle of Dogs , Wes Anderson relies upon a stop-motion animation technique that he first used in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) to create a story that is both sombre and heart-warming at the same time. The movie is about a Japanese boy called Atari, who’s parents pass away in an accident. He goes to live with his uncle who is the mayor of the fictional city, Megasaki. The mayor banishes all dogs to Trash Island and the remainder of the movie tells of Atari's daring rescue mission to save his dog,...