REVIEW: THE SUICIDE SQUAD.

4/5

Squad Goals.

132 Mins. Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Daniela Melchior, David Dastmalchian, Alice Braga, Jai Courtney, Pete Davidson, Sean Gunn, Jennifer Holland, Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion, Taika Waititi, Peter Capaldi, Sylvester Stallone & Viola Davis. Director: James Gunn. 

The Gunn cut. Cocked and aimed for Bloodsport. He's a natural Deadshot. Even without Will there's still Idris' way. This is 'The Suicide Squad' reloaded by 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' legendary director James Gunn. So let's arm up and meet this team of recruits standing in front of the stars and stripes like Rick Flag. All with a hand over their dirty hearts for Viola Davis' mad boss. Getting away with murder again and swinging for the fences and making sure no one with a chip in their pretty haired head leaves the perimeter like a velociraptor. Not a creature stirring...not even a weasel. We all know 'Altered Carbon' star Joel Kinnaman's Rick Flag. One of the surviving members from the last movie. I mean it is called the 'Suicide Squad'...it's kind of their thing. Kinnaman kills it here. Stepping it up for the last go round. But is he in charge? It seems like the Godmother Viola pulling the strings as always like a violin wants to make a leader out of Idris Elba's Bloodsport. Using this sharpshooter's daughter as collateral. Sound familiar? An inspired Idris is not steeping in for the stetson of Will Smith's absent and missed Deadshot. He's making how whole new character and name under that helmet as 'The Gunslinger' of 'The Dark Tower' returns with another Wild West following this fall in the Strong Black Lead of Netflix's 'The Harder They Fall'. Mounted up like regulators and featuring everyone from 'Watchmen' Regina King to He Who Remains, the conquering Kang of Disney's 'Loki' series Jonathan Majors. WOO! Some say this is an epic Elba's best role. Steady on, this guy played Mandela. But the Great British Lutheran who has over the years been linked to everything from Bond to Doctor Who is certainly at his most entertaining. Shaking and stirring everything up. He doesn't need a license to kill. He's got carte blanche on everybody. But is the villain of the 'Hobbs and Shaw' Rock starring spin-off really in charge? Or does that honour go to the latest wrestler to hit the ropes as a 'Fast and Furious' villain in John Cena? It's certainly his Summer with this and the latest part of 'The Fast Saga' and now his Peacemaker character has been given his own spin-off series on HBO Max, I guess that toilet seat on his head really is a beacon of freedom. And how about the comic timing you never saw coming from a man who would kill every man, woman and child and eat a whole island of d###s, just for peace? 

Devil in a red dress, The Joker of Jared Leto may no longer be on this film (hell of a cut 'Justice League' cameo though), but how about the new iconic jester and the amazing Aussie that has made this role her own like Heath Ledger's Clown Prince Of Crime? Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is back with another iconic look for Daddy's Little Monster after her fantabulous emancipation in the R-rated siren mash-up with a mallet of the 'Birds Of Prey' movie. One of the best actresses in the Academy has redefined this cult character. And if you like how she swung her way through a precinct with a Louisville slugger and the stock of a blunderbuss, just wait until she goes down under with an Australia's javelin in this Olympic Summer of Tokyo, 2020. Speaking of Aussie's the "I know that guy" of Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang comes back around like his signature stick as he lowers the boom on some classic kills and one-line put downs ("everyone's name is letters mate"). Saturday Night Live star and 'The King Of Staten Island' Pete Davidson is here in your face too. Whilst Gunn favourites like the whistling Yondu of the 'Galaxy' Michael Rooker (also playing with cars with Cena in pole position for a big payday with 'F9' this Summer) and 'Fifefly' cult captain Nathan Fillion help round out a legendary team as our dynamite director gets in the sandbox and literally plays with all the posable toys at his disposal. Even giving his 'Guardians' brother Sean Gunn and wife Jennifer Holland roles that they truly earn, no favours. Just new favourites like the animal that is The Weasel with those crazy eyes you can't take yours off. All so what's left of 'I Am Legend' star Alice Braga's team can overthrow an oppressive government and a face-hugging starfish that thankfully at least has nothing to do with buttholes. Take note, Cena. 

"HAND!" We have something more to say as this comic-book fodder team still isn't complete like our need to watch furious 'Fury' director David Ayer's full movie in this year of justice like 'The Snyder Cut'. Fans have called it. Despite all the big names here, there are two star players who steal the show. One being the Portuguese Spider-Gwen of the amazing animated 'Into The Spider-Verse', new rising star Daniela Melchior. Carrying the torch as Ratcatcher 2 with an actual live rat winning our hearts (even if we fear them like Elba's Bloodsport) and a beautiful backstory with Korg himself Taika Waititi (much more lovable than his abhorrent villain in this week's 'Free Guy' with Deadpool Ryan Reynolds). The heart and soul of this movie. The other being 'The Dark Knight' villain David Dastmalchian who lived long enough in comic-book lore (the Marvel 'Ant-Man' franchise, 'The Flash', 'Gotham' and 'Batman' animated movies) to see himself shout, "I'm a superhero" and become a cult hero to this world expanding genre. With more comic characters than his character has polka dots. You see, this Polka Dot Man throws these very spots at his enemies...just so long as he can picture them as his overbearing mother to hilarious effect. Now if you want an even sweeter story Google the one about the Polka Dot Cat. I smell another spin-off and sidekick that could even steal the thunder from the Tesseract furball coughing up 'Captain Marvel' feline. But dun-dun, dun-dun, nom-nom, when it comes to show stealing we smell blood in the water with the jaws of 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' himself, action legend Sylvester Stallone. After starring in 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 2' and starting his whole new volume of team-up characters, he steals some s### as King Shark in surfer shorts. Getting his Vin Diesel Groot on to a fellow man of few words ensuing hilarity. A team like this can certainly put up a real fight to a real Doctor Who in the bald from of Peter Capaldi, who with so many tricks sticking out of his Megamind head almost looks like the coronavirus. Wanting to infect the world with a sucking type of mask that does anything but keep you safe (wear yours though...especially when seeing this on the big-screen, people). Thanks to Viola Davis and James Gunn assembling a crack team though, this 'Suicide Squad' lives to fight another day after David Ayer's much-maligned and studio mangled movie. But in this world of toxix Twitter takes, good and bad, the original 'Suicide Squad' is not a terrible movie like people make out (and it inspired a lot of cult following, not just "all I got was this lousy 'Daddy's Little Monster' t-shirt"), just like this one is far from perfect. People social media memories like their forgiveness is short. Loving this movie does not mean you have to take a Peacemaker helmet crap on the first one. Both can coexist like Gunn directing for DC and Marvel. Another galaxy is coming like we're sure another squad team-up. DC sometimes feels like a multi-verse mess, but hey if the M.C.U. can play with the timelines then so can they like alternative graphic novels. Gunn may just be given the keys to this darker comic kingdom, and just imagine if the man who wanted Superman as a villain here originally-but in the end got a starfish-gets to step on the red cape one day. Anything is possible for the man who can turn comic character from the margins into cult movie heroes. Career Russian roulette for Gunn and his squad has never seemed like 'Suicide'. The whole comic-book galaxy is now under his changing guard. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Suicide Squad (2016)', 'Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn)', 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2'.

REVIEW: FREE GUY

 

4/5

Ready Player Guy

115 Mins. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery & Taika Waititi. Director: Shawn Levy. 

CTRL-ALT-Repeat. A guy walks into a bank...because that's his job. I know, I know. Where is the punchline you ask? Well, this guy's life sort of is the joke. Like a 'I got you babe', Bill Murray 'Groundhog Day', he wakes up in the same way every day. Looking at his fishbowl as we stare through ours at him like this was 'The Truman Show'. It kind of is. But more like a McConaughey 'EDtv' copy off the VCR. Walking the same way to work every day through a fake Hollywood studio lot with a good...no great catchphrase building up like 'The LEGO Movie's' brick-by-brick deceleration to everything being awesome. This guys life is so blue shirt mundane that's actually his name. What? 'Mundane'? No! 'Blue Shirt'? Erm...kind of. 'Guy'?! Theeere you go! At least let this guy be handsome right? Like I don't know a Ryan Reynolds type?! That's a bingo (Christoph Waltz voice)! Now we're getting somewhere. You see Ryan Reynolds is Guy. An NPC-that literally sounds like the boring ass company he works for, but to you noobs (rookies) that's a 'Non Playable Character'-in a video game world who wants to be a 'Free Guy' in this Free City like Life Itself. Don't we all Guy...don't we all. But this is the 'Night At The Museum' trilogy director Shawn Levy's world and just like his wonderful waxworks brought from still life to Ben Stiller's life, this is an epic exhibit. Think of this as a digital age Carrey 'Truman' playing 'It's A Wonderful Life' with Spielberg's video game by the cheat code 'Ready Player One', "with a smattering of drive-bys" like 'Grand Theft Auto' (feel guilty about beating up old CPU people yet?) in this multi-inspired, meta look at the world of a different kind of big-screen for your console. This even has real streamers Twitchin' in response. Video games make more money than movies these days, so why not 1up and combine the two? And after being stuck at home in quarantine last year with all these properties pushed back like a Jenga...I'm sorry Tetris block you shouldn't have removed, it seems like the 'New Legacy' of cinema this blockbuster summer is being dominated by the building blocks of code like 'The Matrix', or the new King James crowning 'Space Jam' too. 

Free as his iconic 'Deadpool' character, going fourth and breaking all sorts of walls and balls, Ryan Reynolds is as slick as his trademark one-liners (have you ever seen him interview himself? "Why such a c##t?") once he puts on a set of shades that changes his whole virtual reality. Changing him into a cool playable character like the classic Hollywood heartthrob who makes a cameo appearance amongst many marvellous classic ones and dances up all sorts of magic like a flossing 'Fortnite'. Off comes the name tag and tie and on comes...erm...another blue shirt as he enters this debauched world of gameplaying hedonism and actually becomes the good guy. Stopping more heists and robberies like the star-less opposite of GTA is how you are really supposed to play this game (maybe it is). This and Reynolds realms of charm is the heart here in this age of anti-heroes like 'The Suicide Squad' that makes this slow to boot-up role play actually first person when it comes to shooting for blockbuster success this Summer. Going from epic looking to exhilarating in every emotion as this thing levels up from Pac Man popping corn nostalgia-there's even some fun calls to Disney properties we won't spoil like a 'Space Jam' Warner Bros. now a sequel has been ordered like large fries for Guy's new legacy-to 'Truman' and 'Groundhog' identity like inspiration. Big-screen iconic moments you've missed that will have you pretending you've been staring at the screen too long, wondering why you're actually crying over a blockbuster movie about jacking cars and shoot-outs, straight out of a make believe world (is Vin Diesel talking about family again?). But Reynolds' teller is not alone in this universe. This existential open world that not only looks at our identity and our place in it, but how we view and treat others. Our place at home. How we live our lives. What we see as reality. And where we go to escape. All in the name of feeling free. Which locked at home, a slave to the screen is what all us avatars need right now to stop playing and change the game. 

Dude there's his in-game alter-ego for one which is just hilarious, but this world has so many people in it like this video game one now that is so much more than just a walk-through. In game footage for this sweet fantasy like Mariah has Jodie Comer's Molotov cocktail of an assassin killing it like Eve and accenting a multi-talented performance, human and avatar in a role behind the shades that really sees you. She's the fuse that ignites both the set-pieces and the high stakes of this game that you want to continue before it's over like 9...8...7. She and 'Stranger Things' star Joe Keery and that perfect hair just want their world that they created back. And reuniting with the best series on Netflix director Levy, Keery has his hand on all the right keys as he goes to keyboard warrior war with best friend rapper and 'Pitch Perfect' star Utkarsh Ambudkar's pink rabbit (also on key) and big bad boss Taika Waititi (making a killing this week with this and his 'Suicide Squad' Ratcatcher). Acting like one of the douched up gamers playing dress and acting up in real life. What GMA's Peter Travers said in his review was perfect, he "played Hitler with more restraint in 'JoJo Rabbit'". Taika is so good here you take him seriously as someone who really shouldn't do that to himself. So much so you actually hate the character of someone so likable in real life. Who would have thought that the man who played a fun Adolf actually had the makings of a great villain? And how about Deadpool's trailer reaction with Korg himself, mates? Reynolds clearly has a lot to deal with in this multiplayer. Pick your poison and choose your character. But Ryan's Guy has his own best friend in Hollywood's best, best friend, 'Get Out', 'Uncle Drew' and also 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' cameo star in this digital age, Lil Rel Howery. It may not be TSA, but it's N. P. Motherf#####g C all day. With Levy pulling the levers, Reynolds-with this and the 'Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard'-is really making hits this Summer for the perfect score. The concept and combo of this one pushes all sorts of buttons that put it up top the leaderboard. Now servers you can take that source code like Jake Gyllenhaal for free. All the way to the fake bank for this Hollywood heist. Now how about round 2, my guy? TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Ready Player One', 'The Truman Show', 'Space Jam-A New Legacy'. 

REVIEW: JUNGLE CRUISE

 

3/5

The Jungle Book.

127 Mins. Starring: Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons & Paul Giamatti. Director: Jaum Collet-Serra. 

Seasick. If you play a drinking game each time Dwayne Johnson's riverboat captain calls Emily Blunt's character "Pants" in this new Disney movie, then you're going to throw up after the first five minute on this rocky boat. Ahoy! Just like groaning at all his perfect pun Dad jokes about being "canned" from an orange juice factory...concentrate. This is actually pretty a-peel-ing (ugh...you know me. I'm a sucker for squeezing all I can out of stuff like this). And Emily to be Blunt (here we go) gets her licks in though. Calling this skipper, "Skippy" like The Rock was a Bush kangaroo. Making sure that any misogyny over a woman wearing trousers being "wrong" (no, this ain't 'Wallace and Gromit' or 90's primary school) is met with the equal footing comeback of this time and tide that has these two Cary Grant and Grace Kelly acting up like an old Hollywoodland couple. All the way down to the perfect poster, promotional pitch, 'Tarzan' swinging through this jungle of Disney property like a Warner Bros 'Space Jam' legacy roll call, riding with the King. Many hoped that the 'Hobbs and Shaw' star Johnson would be getting in the cars and getting back together with the beef of Vin Diesel for the 'F9' Universal Studios ride. But still furious at a pit stop, The Rock rides shotgun with 'A Quiet Place II' star Emily Blunt, taking us for a ride on this 'Jungle Cruise'. Another Disney movie like 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' adapted from one of their magic kingdom theme park rides (hey, it worked for Johnny Depp...until they canned him (justice for Jack)). In a time were Disney are making live action everything (we'll say it again we want Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's 'Saturday Night Live' Bambi remake with all his fast pals from four wheels on four legs), anything is bank. They could probably make a Disney dollar movie before Oliver Stone's in creative hiatus jail 'Monopoly' money finally comes out...I think last time it was linked with Johnson's 'Jumanji' and 'Central Intelligence' pal Kevin Hart. This 'Welcome To The Jungle' from the 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' takes cues from so many Disney movies like the Disneyworld ride itself. From the 'Caribbean' all the way to throwing the book at the jungle. This is anything but the bare necessities. 

Umbrellas up, Emily Blunt has already redefined Disney legend like those want her to do with Marvel's 'Fantastic Four' alongside husband John Krasinski. Her 'Mary Poppins' really went down a treat without the need of a spoonful of sugar. Medicine to my at the time depressed mind, it even reduced me to  tears of joy. Calling traditional London home like this one in the Big Smoke were the great Brit walks ladders around stuffy archaeology types like 'Black Widow' star Rachel Weisz in 'The Mummy'. This one unravels like that fun franchise too, Johnson playing Brendan Fraser like he did after the 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth,'. The love boat banter between this perfect pair keeps this ship from sinking and will certainly have more all aboard the next time park visitors look for something to do in between taking photos with Mickey and flying the Millennium Falcon. There's fond fun to be had in all this amazing adventure. An arrowhead points to more than this expedition chasing waterfalls like TLC downriver. A group of manacled, undead seamen who look like they can't escape the roots of this jungle ('Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl'). Some cannibals that look like they can smell that The Rock is cooking ('Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'). Yet the only thing that is cheating here is Johnson's CGI fight with a Leopard (no we don't expect him to do it for real...just keep watching). But for all the big things this small riverboat sees on the way to the Tree of Life like Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain, the main attraction is the Blunt/Rock combination that will make this splash fun for all the family. A combustible chemistry that compels between the scientist and the captain that would probably tell a fine girl like Brandy that his love is the sea like Kurt Russell's Ego. Dip a toe.

Woody and Buzz may be toys, but 'Toy Story' stars Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were originally meant to take their chemistry to the live action choppy waters of a film that's been in development hell since 'The Curse Of The Black Pearl' in 2004 showed you could do the loop-da-loop with a fairground amusement to the big screen. But it's taken this many years to ride. And if its given us the real perfect partnership-despite that dynamic duo from the toy chest-than we're happy we waited this long to make the trip for Disney's bucket list of movies. Because everyone's after the Holy Grail of this one, petal to churning metal. Much like the 'Indiana Jones' movies this family fun frolic suitably and subtlety reminds us of. 'House Of Wax' and 'Orphan' director Jaume Collet-Serra gets everyone involved and drops the horror and Liam Neeson ('Unknown', 'Non-Stop', 'Run All Night' and 'The Commuter') temporarily to show us stranger tides than he did so successfully with Blake Lively in the jaws of a shark 'Shallows'. The 'Bad Education' of great British comedian Jack Whitehall as Blunt's brother offers some quotable levity to this proceeding and a subtle but beautiful coming out for a Mickey Mouse franchise that's finally coming of age and won't hide this beauty behind a beast, fluid like Loki. Whilst the new millennium Gary Sinise that's in everything of Jesse Plemons kills it playing up as a big bad German villain. We can't get over this like we still can't get over whatever the hell 'I'm Thinking Of Ending Things' Last year was all about. Reuniting with his 'Girl On The Train' co-star Emily, an underused, but as undeniable as the snake coming out his face Édgar Ramírez looks the Depp in 'Pirates' meets Depp in 'Scissorhands' part. Despite the 'Versace' actor still looking like he's one grand design away from his big leading man break like Oscar Isaac. Its the always dependable 'Billions' dollar character actor Paul Giamatti however that takes this cast from All-star to A-list with his gangster harbormaster who should be told to "apply his own bloody suntan lotion." It's a jungle out there, but all in all this is the best cruise Blunt has been on since 'Live.Die.Repeat'. Or whatever that movie ended up being called. With a sequel on the edge of tomorrow's horizon too it looks like 'Black Adam' has more franchises than McDonald's as Disney looks to serve their product to billions. You may think this hunk of metal they call a ship is junk, but wait until this journey finds real treasure. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Mary Poppins', 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island', 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'. 

REVIEW: F9

 

3.5/5

Han's Back On The Wheel. 

143 Mins. Starring: Vin Diesel, John Cena, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel, Lucas Black, Jason Tobin, Bow Wow, Don Omar, Cardi B, Vinnie Bennett, Finn Cole, Shea Whigham, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell & Charlize Theron. Director: Justin Lin. 

"Life's simple. You make choices and you don't look back". Standing above the city in Shibuya Sky, I feel like Han in 'Fast and Furious 3'. It's thanks in part to Sung Kang's compelling characters mesmerizing monologue that I made that 'Tokyo Drift' and now I live under the rising sun in the land of Japan. Lost in translation back west I found hope with those words from the guy who says few as he puts more snacks in his mouth than Pitt in 'Moneyball' instead. But swinging for the fence with this homer he really hit with his brief gift of gab. Like the 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood' Oscar winner Brad says in 'Oceans Eleven' to Matt Damon, "don't use seven words when four will do." And in one movie this man had done what no one aside from the big-three of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson in ten for this fuelled up franchise. It's what led Kang's Han to be in three more movies (the DVD order confusing 'Fast and Furious', 'Fast Five' and 'Fast and Furious 6'), prequels and their sequels that messed with more timelines than 'The Terminator' and each time he hinted at going to Tokyo our heart dropped, just like it was broken when we found it in a classic cameo and post-credits tease that Jason Statham's villain actually killed him...or did he?! You just have to love that in these 'Fast' films they can pull and drive a vault 'round the city, jump cars from skyscraper to skyscraper, lasso one across mountains, skydive in them, literally drive to space and have nine sequels, but fans are still like, "how is Han still alive?!" Who cares? It's good that he's back and let's hope his mop returns soon like my hairline. Justice for Han served. "Hallelujah. Hallelujah." Kang the conqueror. This is a cult character good enough to date Wonder Woman. So who knows even Gal Gadot could come back too (they'd need to have more money under the hood) as Letty brings Han to the clubhouse and makes you believe in ghost stories again like the Eva Mendes cameo we also wish turned into another reunion. After all this is the franchise about family that brings another sibling to the Diesel vs wrestler race wars for these brothers in cars.

'Hobbs and Shaw' spinning off into its own lane with the likes of Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds, you may not be able to see or smell what The Rock's cooking, but John Cena is here for this vehicular 'Suicide Squad', gunning it like James. You know it's on now as this franchise furiously heads towards its last lap in its 20th go round (20 years! TWO DECADES?!), just when you thought they couldn't inject any more nitrous. No more quarter mile at a time. Every other four wheel franchise that thought it's 'Need For Speed' stood a chance ended up 'Gone In 60 Seconds'. The magnetism of this maddening franchise has become literal as Vin is like gravity as Jordan Brewster said it best in the original, meat and potatoes, bare bones, grounded in realism tread classic that was like 'Point Break' on wheels with Walker doing his best Keanu. "Everything just gets pulled to him." There's even a moment where Dom's Dodge looks like it's literally giving birth to him. What else could you expect for a guy named Diesel? '2 Fast, 2 Furious' kept up without him however as Paul teamed up with best friend Tyrese Gibson as the late, great John Singleton's 'Baby Boy' became as big a movie star as a 'Sweet Lady' music one. And from Watts to space here, Gibson is a motormouth, moving monologue delivering, action hero star, shooting straight with pedal to metal. Then after the franchise drifted to Tokyo (here in the home of tyres, Yokohama, Japan they call 'Fast and Furious 9', 'Jet Break' my top guns) the new model and original parts went fourth and then lead to the halfway mark and the fifth and best yet franchise stuck between The Rock and a hard safe to crack place. Add London burning rubber on your six, the movingly beautiful tribute to the dearly departed Paul Walker finished by his family in the seventh seal before we see him again and the Cypher of Charlize Theron's wonder of an atomic dreaded blonde villain (back low-key pulling lamb silent strings being glass like Loki) in the eighth and we don't even see the checkered flag. The new 'Rocky' with The Rock's own 'Creed'. Firing on all cylinders, Vin Diesel wants to hear about a 'Fast and Furious' musical for his beautiful baritone, but you'd need a subwoofer in the cinema (now you mention it, Scottie Pippen, you owe me some new laptop speakers after 'The Last Dance'). Tyrese would love to see it re-Bourne for the ultimate Universal universe crossover and new identity with Matt Damon. Anything is possible like Kevin Garnett if this team can make one giant leap for family coming from the baby small steps of jacking trucks for DVD players that are now worth pennies. Houston we DON'T have a problem! Wheels up indeed.

Rowdy and ridiculous, the 'Fast and Furious' films should have boosted straight to DVD sales like the property they used to jack, but making a steal AND a killing this franchise has become the biggest box office draw like dragging all the money in the world 'round the city. Word to 'Four Brother' Mark Wahlberg, whose nice 'Italian Job' remake only blew the bloody doors off. But going 'Beyond' with 'Star Trek' and 'True Detective' season 2 director Justin Lin ('Furious 6', 'Tokyo Drift') back like Han (not to mention Lucas Black, Jason Tobin and Bow Wow's team of mad scientists) behind the wheel is a master move that takes left turn after left turn for this franchise formula of family that STILL isn't running on fumes even though only Marvel have more movies. But this franchise does have a CGI animated Netflix 'Fast and Furious: Spy Racers' show for the kids. And as this assembled team of Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Tyrese, Ludacris and co race off together through a forest like 'Age Of Ultron' these guys literally debate whether they are superheroes. Their cars their capes. Admit it. You're still invested in this invincible franchise that blows your mind like Ty mouthing mind blows which with ours the same we can't believe they cut. At least you can blame the exhaust for what's leaving you choked up amongst all this exhaustive action and a formidable force of a fantastic first act. Following a flashback to the NASCAR dirt track that took lives and gave the young Toretto the tyre iron fire behind his eyes and silver cross to bear. New Zealand's Vinnie (Vin) Bennett plays a young Dom to the mannerism and 'Peaky Blinders' Finn Cole fills in for the hulking Cena. Whilst 'Guardians Of The Galaxy's' Yondu, Michael Rooker makes an engine grease soulful performance in the same week here in 'Jet Break' Japan that he and Cena with some interesting headwear arm up for James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' engine. Diesel and Cena's brothers wrestling with some real drama under the hood more than make up for what is sadly now the Hobbs of 'Hobbs and Shaw' The Rock's indefinite absence (however you can catch him on the shore of Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' ride with 'A Quiet Place' star Emily Blunt too. Think that's good? Universal Studios have their own 'Fast and Furious' ride too). As two flutes in the nostrils in celebration let's hear it for John Cena getting his Bautista on. You can see him in everything this Summer...even with a toilet seat covering his head. Add cameos from the recog-nose-able franchise face Shea Whigham and 'Hustlers' rapper Cardi B and this film has everything. Even more character for cameoing legends Kurt Russell in backstory that really tinkers and ties up all the loose wire ends under the hood and Helen Mirren running the boys in blue down the road that leads to the Buckingham Palace the Dame once had a Hollywood throne in as 'The Queen' with the crown before all those Netflix stars. And we love a refill of her fabulous flirting with Diesel. It's got us thinking of a transatlantic romcom spin-off starring the pair. You could even call it 'Wheels Up'. This thing writes itself. Let's not forget the original bromance though and the real respect for the legacy of Paul Walker leaving a seat at the table. But there's always room for more family like Don Omar finally back behind the grill...but what of his brother? Even the bottles of Dom's favourite Corona still get a pop, despite...well, you know. Just make sure you don't leave the post-credits tease in your rear view that shows out interest for this long and winding plot is still a sure thing. This franchise vehicle may be going round in circles like the NASAR fuel injection that birthed it in brimstone, but it's lapping everyone in blockbuster, box office pole position. On your marks. Get set. Go around the block two more times before the finish line. Because we want more than one last ride. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Furious Filming: 'Fast Five', 'Furious 6', 'The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift'. 

TV REVIEW: PACIFIC RIM - THE BLACK (Season 1)

 

3.5/5

The Uprising.

7 Episodes. Directors: Hiroyuki Hayashi & Jae-hong Kim. 

Here in my sophomore year new and second home of Yokohama in the Far East of Japan in this Tokyo 2020 year of the Olympics that has also seen the main event of 'Godzilla vs Kong' fight for the podium, there's even more mech than that movies third act. A giant robot looms over the city with his finger to the sky...RUN FOR YOUR MOTHERF#####G LIVES!! Even bigger than the tyre famous cities Landmark Tower or the 'Attack on Titan' promotional campaign in the town that recently surrounded it. But never fear, it's Gundam that's here. Looking over the city. Keeping watch. Holding guard. He comes in peace, not to lay waste like those who put general trash in plastic PET bottle bins. Bigger than Shaq this giant goliath of machinery is a sight to behold, even if your only exposure to robot wars is rock 'em, sock' em. This hits everybody and the 'Gundam Factory' in Yokohama will have you visiting the unicorn one in Tokyo's Odaiba between the Olympic climbing arena and the Marine Park rings set out to sea with skateboarders surfing the hardwood nearby. In typical sweet Japanese fashion, there's even a written apology, sincerely sorry for the fact that it moves but doesn't walk (it's too top heavy. It would topple over). Trust us Japan, you've done enough. The only bow that is needed is one for our appreciation. It's safe to say that the steam coming out of this hotter than the hell of this humid summer installation has us more interested in the nuts and bolts of robots than 'Transformers' director Michael Bay has in explosions by sunset. 

'Uprising' was undeniable fun with 'Star Wars' star John Boyega. But Hiroyuki Hayashi and Jae-hong Kim's Japanese/American anime 'Pacific Rim: The Black' is the sequel the cancelled apocalypse of Idris Elba's movie deserved. A meeting of the minds that gives a neural handshake to iconic director Guillermo del Toro's classic creation that's now canon for comics, toys, games and everything kids can get their hands or their Christmas money on. How about this one for a franchise in development? Because there's enough tinkering going on here under the 'bots hood to be fresh and original...all whilst staying true to the original. And that's why after seven seals of epic episodes a second season is in the works for Legendary Pictures television. The Pacific Rim takes everyone in and this time the kaiju who will never be the king of the monsters next to Japan's real God are saying "g'day mate" to Australia where they're wreaking more havoc than a Mad Max 'Fury Road' playing AC/DC. STREWTH! Now we follow anime looking teen siblings Taylor and Hayley Travis who piloting the Jaeger (which still can't stop me from thinking about a British designer clothing store my Mum used to work at) are coming of age and to terms with all they've lost and all the can do. Are their parents gone? Are they somewhere in Sydney? Can they do this alone, together? Who is this Mei? And just what is up with that boy that doesn't speak in anime cliché? 

Netflix have plenty of amazing anime to ba-bum stream during this socially distant home quarantine which can makes us relate to this Travis post-apocalypse plight down under in the desert. 'Godzilla: Singual Point' was much more than just the one, big main attraction. Whilst the metal and vegetation garden of 'Eden' was endearingly compelling, classic science fiction reflecting today's fact storytelling. Hey, there's even a 'Transformers' series from the smartphone service of television for your next train trip to work when it comes to these traditional twentysomething minute episodes meeting modern minds. The animation is amazing. From the digital display at console control inside the metal skeleton operated by humans, all the way to the big as skyscraper budget worthy cinematic fights between these awe-inspiring androids that don't count electric sheep, more a lot of dark memories of minds trying to come together like Lennon and McCartney. Vivid visuals take this anime art form even further, just wait for the mesmerizing manga. Add actual serious storytelling to this expansion pack of world building that now takes on a whole other continent in the Pacific and this does anything but rim out. This is the real uprising...and it's not about to fade to black. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Pacific Rim', 'Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045', 'Godzilla: Singular Point'.