Gladiator II is an ambitious film in desperate need of a shorter run time, but elements of creativity shine through.

While Venom: The Last Dance can’t quite save Sony’s universe, it is still leaps and bounds ahead of some of its other entries.

From my formerly substantial experience with the Transformers fandom I can say that this will please them, and whether you choose to interpret that as an indictment on them is up to you!

The best part of the screening was the little black cupcakes that were handed out outside the cinema afterwards, almost like a little treat for slugging through the disappointment that was this movie. 

There is no doubt that Deadpool & Wolverine has a lot going for it. Walking in there expecting to be stunned, excited, and especially dying of laughter, will see such expectations fulfilled without fail. However, between the lines lies a canvas that remains untouched, lacking the creativity and depth some would call critical to a good story.

Much like its predecessor, Twisters is an exhilarating Spielbergian spectacle which showcases the sheer vehemence of nature’s fury.

The Convert wasn’t perfect but its visuals and depiction of the way of life for people in Aotearoa at the time will continue to leave its mark on me.

Despicable Me 4 is a statement to the world of cinema. It doesn’t matter how mediocre your film is, if it has Minions… the children will come.

If you like the Violence! Blood! and Guts! of a John Wick clone then your desires will be met in spades here.

At the end of the day this is a reasonably satisfying and serviceable entry in the series, a Jerry Bruckheimer production through and through, and possibly my second favourite behind Bad Boys II.

Rewatching The Phantom Menace sent me far beyond the realms of good or bad; I left with an admiration for a deeply strange film, and a slight cynicism that we may never quite see the likes of it again.

Not so much applying brakes to the franchise as it is shifting gears, Furiosa is a triumphantly Aussie blockbuster.

Just a month after the release of Dev Patel’s Monkey Man we get yet another thrilling directorial debut entering into the action subgenre - putting emphasis on crazy fight choreography - in Moritz Mohr’s brand new sci-fi bonanza Boy Kills World.

There is a glimmer of hope with the upcoming Australian release of its sequel in June, The Three Musketeers: Milady, which may shed some light on the lacklustre narrative decisions in Part One, but as it stands D’Artagnan’s best is too fleeting, and settles itself far into the saturated market of generic blockbusters.

Long-time fans of the franchise will be happy to know that Kingdom serves as a serviceable yet clunky inaugural instalment for a new trilogy – teasing a slew of new concepts which will undoubtedly enrich the mythos of this long standing series in the future.

While Metal Skin may be uncomfortable or even unenjoyable viewing, it is a compelling, edge of your seat story of Australia’s male-dominated, rev-head culture, where burnt rubber and women who love fast cars are drivers of the male fantasy.

The Fall Guy is the rare blockbuster studio film that feels simultaneously old school and fresh in execution. It is incredibly funny, fast-paced and deeply romantic. At its core, however, the film is a love letter to the stunt community and the incredible work they do to entertain audiences.

Making sure to cater to both returning fans and new fans alike Code: White is by no means a perfect movie, but for what it is, it remains exemplary of good old fashion family fun.

Monkey Man tells the story of a nameless young man, referred to in the credits as “Kid” and using the self-applied alias “Bobby”, a fighter at an underground boxing ring in Yatana, as he attempts to infiltrate the ranks of the powerful upper class to enact violent revenge for the massacre of his village - a story that mirrors the Hindu epic of Hanuman, the white monkey. 

Behind the flashing neon lights, Mars Express’ messy and complicated core is a delight to unpack and crucially, is without the comfort of easy answers. While it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, its entangled approach to familiar concepts positions it uniquely, and is well worth the price of admission.