Reviews

Copshop

Copshop does what all good stories do. It takes its own sweet time to tell.

Starring the always likeable Gerard Butler and the massively underrated Frank Grillo. It is perhaps Alexsis Louder as Rookie cop Valerie and Toby Huss as the psychopathic hitman Anthony Lamb who really steal the show. In fact the character Lamb is hilarious getting all the best lines.

Copshop doesn't break the mould but is utterly satisfying with some colourful and charismatic dialogue, Intense and graphic violence with action scenes that remain grounded. (Grounded for the most part, there's the odd moment here and there where characters survive the unsurvivable).

On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station-but when the hitman turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.

Copshop was a pleasant surprise managing to keep me entertained for its entire 1hr 47min runtime. It's a good looking movie too. One that should look sublime in 4K. I watched in 1080p and was rather impressed. There's no film grain. A slick presentation that reveals wrinkles, pores and the finest of detail.

For the Home Theatre connoisseur, sound is decent too with plenty of bang for your buck when the action ignites.

Good low budget action movies such as this are becoming harder to find. Director Joe Carnahan is usually pretty reliable when it comes to this sort of thing and this is another highlight in his movie career.

The Matrix Resurrections is a movie too late to the party. Probably the reason why it has bombed at the box office. I think Warner Brothers have miscalculated the real interest in this franchise.

However I believe myself to be a fan but even I was sceptical especially considering how dire the sequels were. Resurrections is no better and whilst it starts out promising it soon becomes apparent that this whole concept is a tired one that has run its course, relying heavily on nostalgia. Even Keanu Reeves as Neo couldn't be bothered to get a shave and a hair cut for his character showing the lack of enthusiasm that this movie generates.

Resurrections is a bunch of old ideas repackaged to look like it is cutting edge.

Whilst Lana Wachowski may have had a few inspired ideas here and there they never come to any fruition and this movie will be forgotten by the time credits roll.

It's sad really, especially for fans of the original movie like myself.

If you haven't had the chance to see the remastered 4K Blu-ray of the original Matrix then I suggest you save your cash on a movie ticket for Resurrections and go out and buy the original on 4K.

It was nice to see Keanu and Carrie back in their famous roles but the absence of Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving in their respective roles certainly didn't go unnoticed. In fact I believe that this was just another nail in the coffin as to why this film fails. Nostalgia is all well and good and the creators rely heavily. Sad that they neglected to bring back two of the movies major players replacing them with two sub par forgettable performances by actors I haven't really heard of.

I apologise for my negativity. I really wanted to love this but there's nothing here to get a fans juices flowing. Even the action scenes are stale.

Neo constantly repeats his ability to stop bullets to the extent where Keanu spends most of the movie with his arms out in front of him like he's startled by headlights or trying to push an imaginary gate open. Even the Kung Fu scenes offer little joy. Choreography is sparse as if Reeves is saving his energy for the forthcoming John Wick 4 movie.

To sum up The Matrix Resurrections is a pointless retread down memory lane. Sadly someone has gone and built a sewage plant down there resulting in one big pile of crap!

Alone

Movie 7.5/10

Whilst the title may lack in creativity 'Alone' is a solid kidnap movie elevated by the two lead performances and some thoughtful direction by John Hyams.

Hyams is a master at B movie fodder but this latest offering is somewhat of a step up in quality. Hyams has crafted a tense taught thriller that takes its own sweet time to tell the story.

There's the odd common trope of the genre scattered throughout but for the most part this movie delivers what it intends to do.

Our main character is the victim, Jessica played believably by Jules Willcox. Her performance is never over sold. Instead Willcox plays her character as vulnerable and frightened but with tremendous resolve.

Marc Menchaca is the villain. A creepy unnerving individual. Menchaca's turn here reminiscent of Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill in 'Silence Of The Lambs'. I'll say no more as this is high praise indeed.'Alone' once getting into its stride is a good addition to the genre. It doesn't break any new ground but remains believable even in the final act where most movies of this type tend to fall down. It's a movie worthy of your time and available on Sky Cinema at time of writing this review.

Picture quality 8/10

Here's a turn up for the books! An actual Sky Cinema 1080p presentation that isn't marred by compression issues. There's no sign of banding and dark scenes manage to come across effectively.

'Alone' looks sublime even in HD. Detail is razor sharp considering the platform usually falters unless viewing in UHD. Motion is handled well with Bird's eye views of the forest below looking very clean. Colours of surrounding vegetation is impressively rendered making for a pleasant viewing experience.

Sound quality 7/10

The vanilla 5.1 mix on offer here gets the job done but it's not one to showcase your new home theatre system. Most of the sound stage is steered front and centre with the rear channels left to convey atmospheric sound.

I up-mixed the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix using DTS Neural X. This helped push some effects up above. The sounds of chirping birds and creaking trees could then be heard overhead. This elevated the sound mix (pardon the pun) to dramatic effect.

LFE on the other hand is a mixed bag.

The bass drop which accompanies each chapter of the movie as it is displayed onscreen has real impact, as does the dramatical music score. It is dynamic effects that lack a little. Gunshots are deprived of weight but this is nitpicking. Overall the mix is adequate and mirrors the tight budget constraints of the movie.

Final Thoughts

'Alone is a good looking movie with some fantastic performances from the two lead performers. The film burns slowly at first before igniting into something of a real surprise.

Beckett

Movie 6.5/10

Whilst holidaying in rural Greece with his Girlfriend, Beckett played by the ever likeable John David Washington is involved in a tragic accident. His life is turned upside down when he awakes and is mysteriously pursued by crooked cops and officials all out to put an end to his existence.

We the audience are every bit as confused as Beckett as to why these people are trying to kill him. This helps ramp up the tension and excitement allowing the audience to go along for the ride. For the most part 'Beckett' is a slickly paced thriller. The first ten minutes or so are sickly sweet as Beckett and girlfriend April played by Alicia Vikander constantly tell each other how madly in love they are. I believe this was DirectorFerdinando Cito Filomarino's attempt to make the consequences of the horrific car accident all the more poignant. Instead it becomes vomit inducing and painful to watch.

"I love you!" "No I love you more!!"

Oh just get lost will the pair of you!!!

Vikander's support is short and an actress of her calibre wasn't really needed for the role. Another familiar face is that of Boyd Holbrook who can play the sleazy bad guy in his sleep. It's no spoiler as you can see through his characters persona from a mile away.

As far as thrillers go 'Beckett' isn't a bad offering and the action is mostly grounded. However there's a couple of jarring set pieces that belong in say a 'Mission Impossible or 'James Bond' movie. A certain scene involving Beckett jumping from a ledge in a parking lot wasn't fitting with the films more down to earth approach. Another scene where he leaps off a cliff into a tree was reminiscent of Rambo in 'First Blood'. These scenes momentarily took me out of the movie and spoiled what would have been a believable thriller.

Picture quality 9/10

Available on Netflix'Beckett' looks sublime. Presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, this is a gorgeous natural looking movie. Very cinematic with a fine layer of film grain. Detail is razor sharp with facial closeups revealing every pore and wrinkle. Clothing fibre is rendered superbly with the fibres of material being very visible.

Buildings have a rundown appearance with crumbling brick and rock expressing deep textures. This isn't a flashy looking picture rather one that will show off the capabilities of a good TV or projector. Panning shots of the sumptuous Greek landscapes are majestic. Cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is breathtaking. The Dolby Vision presentation elevates colours giving scenery a more natural and rustic appearance.

Sound quality 7/10

Unfortunately'Beckett' gets a standard Dolby Digital Plus mix. I'm puzzled as to why. We are gifted with a glorious Dolby Vision image only to be short changed in the audio department.

The 5.1 mix offered isn't a bad one but the fantastic musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto would have benefited from the use of height speakers. An Atmos sound mix totally makes more sense. However the mix on offer does a decent job. LFE is handled sparingly but effectively. The car crash scene offers realistic impact. Gunshots have a nice bassy pop but 'Beckett' is subdued in terms of dynamic sound.

It's all about the nuances and fine detail. Crowd scenes and the expanse of wilderness offer great atmosphere. All the more reason why a Dolby Atmos sound mix would have been the icing on the cake.

Final thoughts

I enjoyed'Beckett'. By no means a masterpiece of the genre but it is entertaining and showcases the fine talent of John David Washington. Like his father it doesn't really matter what he's starring in. They both elevate the production just with their presence.

Boss Level Movie 8/10

How did this one slip under the radar and become an Amazon Original? This film has been available for quite some time. Originally released on Hulu in the States, here in the UK the movie has only just surfaced.

Starring the massively underrated Frank Grillo, Boss Level is an absolute blast of a movie. Comedically and unapologetically violent with some outrageously entertaining set pieces.

A retired Special Forces officer is trapped in a never-ending time loop on the day of his death. He wakes up every morning with a horde of assassins hellbent on taking him out. Each time he awakes he becomes that little bit more proficient at surviving through the day.

This premise has been done before.'Edge Of Tomorrow' with Tom Cruise immediately springing to mind.

'Boss Level' carves out its own identity by being very funny, relying on a witty script and excellent delivery by Frank Grillo and the legendary Mel Gibson. Support from Naomi Watts is welcome with a cast that altogether gel. For fans of action this is an absolute must. Reminiscent of movies like 'Deadpool' due to the blend of wit and explosions.

Picture Quality 7/10

Available on Amazon presented in 1080p, sadly there's no 4K HDR option available. That said image quality is sharp with very little cinematic grain. Colours pop and detail is vibrant . The wrinkles on Grillo's face are apparent and the definition in his ripped abs is almost 3D!

'Boss Level' despite lacking a UHD presentation is a good looking movie.

Sound Quality 8/10

'Boss Level' gets a Dolby Digital Plus sound mix which is an absolute belter. Sadly no Atmos but the 5.1 mix on offer is strong. Surround sound effects are very immersive but it is LFE where this movie shines. Explosions are cartoonishly loud. Bass gets so low that if you don't have adequate subwoofers you may pop them due to how deep the bass gets in this movie. Low frequency effects are over exaggerated to compliment the onscreen mayhem.'Boss Level' is a treat for Home Theatre enthusiasts with the witty dialogue delivered crisp and clear.

Final thoughts

'Boss Level' is an absolute surprise and a clear demonstration of Frank Grillo's potential star power. He can front a movie all by himself. Mel Gibson's support is an added bonus but this is Grillo's show and he shines.

Run Hide Fight

Movie 7/10

We've had many a variation of the'Die Hard' formula over the years. Die hard on a boat with Steven Seagal, Die Hard on a train with Seagal again. Die Hard in a football Stadium with Dave Bautista,Die Hard on a Plane with Wesley Snipes, Die Hard in the White House with Gerard Butler. Who can forget the classic Die Hard with a prosthetic leg with Dwayne Johnson in 'Skyscraper'? You get the picture it's a winning formula to say the least. Truthfully it's rarely done well with the odd exception. This latest attempt is somewhat of a fresh idea. Die Hard in a school with our hero or should I say our heroine being a teenage girl.

Isabel May as Zoe absolutely steals the show here as a student who must fight for her life and those of her classmates when a group of live streaming shooters take over her school.

Isabel May conveys an inner rage that would make Hugh Jackman's Wolverine proud. She gives a spectacular performance.

A movie that at times is uncomfortable to watch giving the subject matter and seeing young innocent people being brutally murdered. Writer/ Director Karl Rankin has crafted a taught well paced thriller that has more in common with Die Hard than some of the aforementioned big budget offerings. It takes the Everyman scenario and turns it on its head. This movie is the formula done right with the limited budget put to good use, each set piece is suspenseful, exciting and believable. There's no jumping across cranes or taking on numerous bad guys without a scratch to show for it. Despite our heroine being a young girl and not some jacked up action hero this film manages to remain grounded.

There's a wonderful supporting cast including the always likeable Tom Jane and Treat Williams. There's a thoughtful subplot involving Radha Mitchell as Zoe's mother. The villain played by Eli Brown is convincing even though his introduction seemed like a pale imitation of Heath Ledger's Joker. Given time he settles into his performance and gives a credible turn as a menacing and troubled young man. A particular scene involving his Spanish teacher was rather creepy and unnerving.

'Run Hide Fight' works because Rankin has created a bunch of characters that we can care for and a bunch of villains that we can despise. Unlike the terrible 'Die Hard' sequels and most wannabe movies after them this entry into the genre like the original'Die Hard' gets the fundamentals right.

Picture quality 6/10

Available on Sky Cinema ''Run Hide Fight' is presented in High Definition. Suffering from all the same deficiencies that burden the platform. There's compression and banding issues and the overall image lacks detail and punch. Whilst colours are rendered adequately the presentation will not impress audio visual enthusiasts.

Sound quality 6/10

Much like the visual quality the audio is below par. A standard Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that does the job but is nothing to write home about. Surround sound effects handle the ambiance but there's nothing dynamic going on behind you. LFE is a mixed bag with explosions having decent weight but gunshots are hit and miss, sometimes having impact other times sounding weak. Objects are steered nicely through the front soundstage but as aforementioned there's nothing exhilarating to get excited about. A 5.1 mix that is reminiscent of one from an early noughties DVD. One area where the mix does shine is with dialogue.

Conversation is always delivered clearly even above the action and musical score. There's no hint of sibilance from prepubescent teenage voices. This saving grace isn't enough to impress Home theatre fans but the average sound mix doesn't detract from the movie experience.

Final thoughts

'Run Hide Fight' is a refreshing take on the genre. Whilst Bruce Willis wastes his time starring in low budget tosh it has taken an unknown Director and a teenage girl to make a proper Die Hard movie.

Isabel May is the new John McClane!

The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Movie 6.5/10

Another sequel that won't be remembered 24 hours after viewing.'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' is enjoyable whilst watching but lacks anything memorable. Except if you count Salma Hayek's performance who clearly is the stand out here. Both Jackson and Reynolds play second fiddle to Hayek's outrageous performance. She's crass, vulgar but undeniably sexy. Hearing her drop F Bombs every other sentence in her strong Mexican accent is hilarious. Other than that this sequel has nothing new to offer.

Ryan Reynolds plays the same character here as he has done all throughout his career. This is by no means a bad thing as he always delivers the laughs. Samuel L Jackson is once again playing a caricature of himself. The chemistry between the three is what sells this film and keeps the movies head above water. Antonio Banderas is the villain. It's obvious like the rest of the cast, he's having a whale of a time. For the most part we the audience are too. There's some recycling of gags from the first movie but hey, recycling is good right?

The plot is too old hat to even bother with so I won't even go there. We're here for the action and Director Patrick Hughes has proven he's more than capable in this department.

Sadly though who ever hired Ryan Reynolds stunt double must have been blind as a bat. It was often jarring and apparent that a double was being used for most of Reynolds action scenes. Hell! I look more like Ryan Reynolds than his stunt double does and I'm a short fat middle aged bloke!

I really enjoyed the first movie and hoped for a sequel. Possibly my expectations were set too high. This follow up like 'A Quiet Place Part 2' is entertaining but not a patch on the original.

Hunter Hunter

Movie 7.5/10

I thought I had settled down to a movie that was essentially Jaws but with a wolf. Surprisingly Writer/Director Shaun Linden's film is not what you expect. The plot is described as being about a family of fur trappers living in the wilderness who are stalked by a ravenous wolf. In actual fact there's something much more sinister in them there woods. A tense atmospheric drama that unfolds into a true horror movie in the final act. Only then is the true apex predator revealed. This is not the B movie that the synopsis suggests.

Linden's film burns slowly but hardly any of the 1hr 33 min run time is wasted. Apart from the two scenes involving a yuppie couple and their trash can incidents. These scenes could have been cut from the movie and they wouldn't have been missed. For the most part this is a truly gripping movie elevated by some fantastic performances. Especially from the two female lead characters. Camille Sullivan and Summer H Howell as mother and daughter are the beating heart of the movie. Support from the often amateurish Devon Sawa as the father is welcome here. Sawa's accent is at first grating and out of place but he soon finds his feet putting in a commendable turn. There's also an appearance from Nick (Terminator 3) Stahl who shines with the little screen time he has. No spoilers here but let's just say he suits this type of role.'Hunter Hunter' is a pleasant surprise.

Picture quality 6/10

Available on Sky Cinema in the UK this movie is presented in 1080p but is burdened by all the flaws associated with satellite television. Dark scenes Are marred by compression issues causing detail in low light to be sparse. There's a softness to some panning shots too which robs Greg Nicod's cinematography of it's true glory. Static shots fair better but the overall image quality is typical SKY TV. Naff is a good choice of words.

Sound quality 7/10

Audio fairs much better. A standard Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that bursts with atmospheric nuances. It's no dynamic mix. Gunshots lack impact. It's within the subtleties where the audio quality shines. Chirping birds, cracking twigs or the slicing of flesh has a crispness to its delivery.

Kevon Cronin's brooding score lifts the film to new heights conveying a sense of tension and dread. I can't imagine a lot of money was dedicated to the sound department but all involved should be proud of their achievement.

Final thoughts 'Hunter Hunter' is a very good horror movie with an ending that will make your jaw hit the floor. As I said No spoilers here but perhaps it is true,'The female of the species is deadlier than the male!'

Black Widow

Avenger Natasha Romanoff aka 'The Black Widow' gets her very own stand alone movie.

Whilst it took a while for this movie to come to fruition I can't say it was entirely worth the wait. The plot is banal and forgettable relying on the crashy smashy action scenes to hold the audiences attention.

Just like Logan's backstory was teased in the X-Men franchise, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow had a past that was touched upon in the Avengers movies. Her scene with a captured Loki in 'Avengers Assemble' was most intriguing and begged for a spin off film to explore Romanoff's past. Like The Wolverine's solo outing 'Black Widow' doesn't deliver.

No where nearly as bad as the X-Men Origins movie but still a flawed piece of story telling and a missed opportunity.'Black Widow' is entertaining and offers some excellent performances by the cast involved. Except perhaps Ray Winstone who's Russian accent drops in and out more often than a dodgy WI-FI connection. Set pieces are grand as you'd expect in a Marvel movie but the end product lacks venom (and I don't mean the Marvel character played by Tom Hardy).

There's no depth to this movie. Unlike 'Logan' the redeeming Wolverine movie, 'Black Widow' is all polish and garnish. There's some nice character interaction. The family scenes are comical and well played out but I constantly got the sense that all this had been done before in better movies. The car chase scene was lifted straight from 'Mission Impossible'. The prison break reminded me of 'Deadpool 2' and the falling fortress in the sky was done better in the Captain America sequel. Even the fight choreography had whiffs of John Wick and Jason Bourne. That said for all this films flaws I was still immensely entertained. Whilst I won't be rushing to shell out for the 4K Blu-ray I will once again indulge when the movie becomes available for free as part of my subscription on Disney Plus.

A Quiet Place Part 2

Movie 7/10

Not nearly as good as the first instalment. Part 2 treats us to a Day 1 opening scene which allows Writer/Director John Krazinski to make a brief cameo. The movie then proceeds to follow on exactly where the first film finished. This is a blessing in disguise because Part 2 never tries to do the usual sequel thing by trying to top the original. Instead this new instalment is a seamless continuation which can allow the audience to watch both films back to back.

At 1hr 37mins the runtime is lean. I wouldn't say I was disappointed in this film, rather a little underwhelmed. Nothing much is gained by the time credits roll. The story doesn't progress much and the Abbot family seem to be back at square one by the end of the movie. We never really get any answers but then again being kept in the dark was part of the first films appeal.

Krazinski shows once again he's a master of building tension. There's some excellent set pieces and the CGI monsters look better than ever. A truly stunning horror creation, their design is original and inventive.

Cillian Murphy takes time out from being a Peaky Blinder, joining Emily Blunt in the lead and is an excellent choice.

That said it is still the two child actors who steal the show. Once again Millicent Simmonds being the stand out.

I enjoyed this movie but I may have set my expectations a little too high. There's nothing here to match the first films creativity or surprise factor but still manages to be a solid sequel. I'm looking forward to buying the 4K Blu-ray so I can review both audio and picture quality for us Home theatre nerds.

If the sound on the disc is anything like Part 1, which I suspect that it will be. We're all in for a treat.

The Tomorrow War

Movie 7.5/10

Big budget mayhem comes to the small screen courtesy of Amazon Prime. Some may say that this is an 'Edge Of Tomorrow' clone but still this is a mightily enjoyable bit of Friday night movie fun.

Chris Pratt gets sent thirty years into the future to help fight a war we are losing to some rather impressively rendered CGI aliens. This movie screams big budget! With $200 million at hand every action scene oozes with computer generated sparkle.

'The Tomorrow War' is somewhat of a pleasant surprise. There's hardly been any marketing or buzz for this movie. Almost as if Paramount were trying to hide a turkey and then palm it off on to Amazon. Thankfully this is not the case and we are treated to a slightly overlong Sci-Fi epic. I say slightly overlong, I do feel at least twenty minutes could have been shaved off this movies runtime. If this movie had got its own theatrical release it probably would have been made to go on a diet.

There's definitely comparisons to be made to other Sci-Fi Classics here. The aforementioned 'Edge Of Tomorrow', 'The Terminator' and 'Aliens' all spring to mind. Still 'The Tomorrow War' does enough to carve out its own identity. This mainly down to a great supporting cast. The likes of JK Simmons steals the show in his brief cameo and Betty Gilpin is under-utilised but a welcome addition to the cast.

There's a possible franchise on offer here. I would watch the charismatic Chris Pratt and co all go toe to toe again with a bunch of aliens. The beasts themselves are also a refreshing change compared to the generic extraterrestrials we usually get. They look superb and are truly frightening.

Picture quality 8.5/10

Available on Amazon Prime in stunning 4K HDR this movie is a treat for AV enthusiasts. Colours pop with muzzle flash and explosions being squintingly bright. Sunsets and horizons are very cinematic making your TV look like the silver screen down at your local multiplex. Detail and CGI are expertly rendered. Some of the best creature effects I've seen in a while come to life.

Skin texture and clothing are razor sharp with a grain free digital image. A feast for the eyes as long as your Internet connection can keep up.

Sound quality 8.5/10

Like the image quality, audio is also very impressive.

Thank you Amazon!

Finally offering a Dolby Atmos sound mix to accompany the onscreen action. And what an Atmos mix it is! Low frequency effects are ballistic. Machine gun fire will rattle your fillings loose. Explosions have that subterranean punch rumbling your floorboards and upsetting the neighbours in the process. Atmos effects are constant and easily identifiable. A particular scene where a chopper flys overhead was great.

That said there's many standout audible delights. Surround effects hug and squeeze you. Centre channel information is always clear. Dialogue is never lost under musical score or action effects. This is one fantastic Home Theatre experience.

Final thoughts

'The Tomorrow War' is a surprisingly good movie. I would have paid to see it at the cinema.

Amazon have given us a real treat allowing us to see it free at home as part of our subscription.

The Ice Road

Movie 4/10

The Ice Road comes to Amazon Prime free as part of your subscription. Which is just as well because you would be pretty annoyed if you had paid extra for this below average movie experience.

Jonathan Hensleigh writes and directs this tedious bore which is basically Ice Road Truckers the movie. Starring Liam Neeson in yet another dial it in performance there's not much I can say to big this movie up.

A bunch of truckers need to get some parts over the icy wilderness (which is melting) to a collapsed mine in order to save another bunch of people. Labelled as an action thriller there's certainly nothing thrilling here. The action scenes are mediocre at best with some good stunt work involving large trucks sliding around on ice. The climatic fight scene with Neeson and the generic villain looks like two pensioners squabbling over arthritis medication. Sadly the whole movie is hard to sit through with some cheesy dialogue, minute by minute exposition ( treating the audience as if they are stupid) and lots of implausibility. It's not Fast & Furious levels of silliness but many a scene are hard to swallow. Particularly the one where our two heroes plunge into sub zero waters and emerge bone dry without a single shiver! Neeson may be charismatic but even he fails to light up this dimly lit picture.

Picture quality 6/10

As aforementioned the image quality is dark. Many scenes are crushed with shadow detail being nonexistent. Presented in 4K with High Dynamic Range this is the first time I have encountered a movie to look worse because of HDR implementation. The scenes inside the collapsed mine are mostly unfathomable. Even day time scenes fail to reveal any detail on the likes of clothing etc. There's the odd cinematic landscape shot that looks crisp but overall the image quality is disappointing.

Sound quality 7.5/10

Thankfully audio fairs much better. Prime Video are still behind their rivals. There's no object based audio here. A Dolby Atmos sound mix would have elevated the experience but for some reason Amazon are hesitant to offer the format. Still the 5.1 mix on offer gets the job done with some tremendous low frequency effects. The avalanche scene will shake you off your couch providing your subwoofers are up for the challenge. Surround sound effects are steered wonderfully creating an immersive experience. My only gripe is that Max Aruj's musical score can become overpowering and sometimes drown out the cheesy dialogue. Actually wait no that's probably not a bad thing!

Final Thoughts

Ice Road is one of those throw away movies. Sadly Neeson seems to be in too many of them these days. A fantastic actor who is wasting his time and effort in this sort of garbage.

Ice Road is a movie that makes you pray for global warming. That way they won't be able to make a sequel!

Army Of The Dead

Movie 6/10

Zach Snyder is having somewhat of a bumper year. What with redeeming the terribly average 'Justice League' with his very own cut of the movie and now this.

'Army Of The Dead' comes to Netflix in glorious Dolby Vision. Sadly it's more style over substance. An overly long zombie flick that could possibly play as a sequel to Snyder's 2004 'Dawn Of The Dead'. Not nearly as good as that movie, this latest offering does offer some fun but it takes too long to get there and outstays its welcome in the process. This movie is an amalgamation of better films such as Aliens, Escape From New York and any other Zombie movie made in the last thirty years or so. What is rather clever is mixing the Heist genre with the Zombie genre but the film lacks any tension.

Dave Bautista is the movies saving grace proving that he can carry a big budget blockbuster all by himself. The supporting cast is good too but it is the distinctly average script and execution that lets the whole production down.

The plot involves a Safe containing lots and lots of cash in the middle of apocalyptic Las Vegas. Overrun with Zombies a team are tasked to go in and retrieve the cash. Why on Earth the owner of the money (Hiroyuki Sanada) who hires the team doesn't just give them the code for the Safe is a little puzzling.

'Army Of The Dead' is a huge disappointment of a movie. The trailer looked fantastic. The thought of Zach Snyder returning to the Zombie genre is exciting. The final product is a forgettable experience.

Picture quality 8/10

As aforementioned Netflix present 'Army Of The Dead' in fabulous Dolby Vision where available.

The movie was shot in 8K with a 4K Digital Intermediate and certain scenes do look spectacular. If you have the Netflix UHD package and a fast enough internet connection then you will be able to take advantage of the 4K grain free image. Close up shots offer razor sharp detail and the super resolution does show up some poor make up and prosthetic effects.

Snyder opted to use a camera with a ridiculously shallow focus. Anything in the mid to background is a complete blur. I imagine that this was down to artistic intent but it was completely jarring and often took me out of the movie. Dolby Vision offers some wonderful specular highlights. A sunset at the end of the movie was rather impressive. Picture quality is inconsistent but some scenes can be considered as demo worthy. Especially considering that this is streaming content.

Sound Quality 8/10

Sound quality follows suit with a decent enough Dolby Atmos sound mix. Sadly there's nothing much going on in the height channels. They offer ambiance and musical score but hardly any discreet effects. LFE or bass to non Home theatre nerds is ok. Gunshots and explosions are served adequately enough but the mix is hardly dynamic. Rear Surround sound effects do enough to immerse and the centre channel gives clear sibilance free dialogue. I was expecting a thunderous sound mix. Compare the sound quality of this movie to Angelina Jolie's war movie 'Unbroken' which is also available on Netflix and there's no comparison. Taking into account that 'Unbroken' is only available in standard 5.1, the Atmos mix of 'Army Of The Dead' suddenly seems slightly disappointing.

Final thoughts

'Army Of The Dead' is nothing more than average Netflix fodder tarted up with a big budget. This could have been great. Snyder made giant leaps forward with his cut of 'The Justice League' only to take a step back with this average movie. I wanted to love this. It's the kind of movie that's usually right up my street.

Without Remorse

Movie 5/10

Without Remorse is an Amazon Original production that is not very original. Based on the novel by Tom Clancy. The plot may have been fresh when the publication was released but now it can be considered as being old hat. If this movie had landed in cinemas back in the 80's it would have faired much better. Sadly it's all been done before and much better.

Starring Michael B Jordan it is obvious that this film needs him more than he needs the film. This is a production that would normally star the likes of Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Damme or perhaps Dolph Lundgren. A movie to line the bottom of a DVD bargain bin. The plot is so generic it could have been written by Sly Stallone in his sleep whilst suffering a fever.

Navy Seal John Kelly (Jordan) goes on a path of vengeance after his wife and unborn child are brutally murdered. By doing so he uncovers a web of conspiracies. I can almost hear the cheesy trailer voiceover guy delivering the synopsis.

"In a world........" He usually starts with "In a world!" or "One man!" or "This summer get ready!"

My point being that this is such a product of the 80's/90's that all the characters ought to be wearing bandanas and leg warmers.

Jordan is good as the action hero. Guy Pearce is the obvious choice to play his role. I'll not get into spoilers, just watch. He dials it in. Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) has all grown up now but isn't believable in this company as some CIA,FBI,DIY generic slimy type dude.

The film itself is boring for an action movie. Only the plane crash scene evokes any excitement. There's no connection to the characters or what they are going through. In 'John Wick' we rooted for Keanu Reeves because they killed his dog. In 'Without Remorse' the lead character loses his wife and child and I couldn't care less. There's no emotional build up or journey of pain to develop John Kelly as a character we could care for. This movie is all painting by numbers devoid of any heart and soul.

Picture quality 7/10

Available on Amazon Prime in UHD with High Dynamic Range this is the best way to see the movie. For the most part the image is 4K slick. Some scenes show cinematic film grain but mainly the image is crisp. The use of HDR10+ elevates explosions and vibrant city lights but shadow detail seemed a little muddled in some very dark scenes.

Sound quality 6/10

Once again Amazon Prime fail to meet the competition when it comes to Object based audio. Netflix, Apple TV, Disney Plus and even Sky Cinema offer their Original titles with Dolby Atmos sound.'Without Remorse' gets a vanilla 5.1 mix in the form of Dolby Digital Plus. It's a lacklustre mix too. Surround sound effects are mostly vacant even in the action scenes. The plane crash sounded rather dynamic but there's not much going on for a modern day produced action flick. Gun shots and explosions all have the expected heft but just like the film itself there's a sense of excitement missing here too. Vocals are always audible but nothing impresses the senses. Why can't Prime video step up and offer Dolby Atmos? Even the titles you have to pay for don't have the superior audio codec.'Without Remorse' needed a dynamic mix to lift the film out of the mire. It's not only boring to look at it's boring to listen to too.

Final Thoughts

Go watch something with Chuck, Sly or Arnie in it instead!

Nomadland

Movie 7/10

Nomadland is a slow burn movie with a documentary type feel. The camera follows Fern played by the sublime Frances McDormand as she flits from state to state across the massive expanse which is America. Her character has lost everything due to the Great Recession. Fern dwells in a tiny van taking work where she can to keep her head above water.

This film never excites but the epic cinematography and fine performance by the lead actress is enough to hold the audiences attention. This movie may not be for everyone but considering the stellar reviews Chloé Zhao's film must be doing something right. This is not my usual go to genre but I have to say that I was captivated for the movies entirety.

Can I recommend this movie to you? Well I think you will have made up your own mind from the trailer if this is your type of entertainment.

Picture quality 8/10

As aforementioned this movie looks gorgeous with sumptuous landscapes of America's Wild West. Sometimes a gloomy looking film intentionally so to convey the mood. Available on Disney Plus in 4K HDR. The High Dynamic Range elevates the cinematography and I believe this movie should be seen on a large screen or high end TV.

Sound quality 7/10

There's no surround sound effects here. After all this is not 'Godzilla Vs Kong. Instead we are given a very atmospheric sound mix. Available in standard 5.1 the mix delivers vocals with precision and there's one scene that will wake up your subwoofer. A scene involving crashing ocean waves was very realistic.

Nomadland has done well At the Oscars and I can understand why.

This is a very mature film that showcases fine acting , great cinematography and direction with a tightly written script.

Promising Young Woman

Movie 9/10

An absolute scintillating performance by Carey Mulligan makes Emerald Fennell's twist on the revenge thriller all the more thrilling. This is Mulligan at her best delivering a performance that sometimes makes it hard for the audience to root for her character. The supporting cast are all excellent too delivering the superbly written dialogue with aplomb. Fennell's script oozes wit and sophistication. Only a few immature characters at the end of the movie seemed a little jarring. Almost as if they had been lifted straight from an 'American Pie' sequel. That said this minor discrepancy does nothing to harm the movies flow. This movie deserves all the accolades that are being bestowed upon it. It really is a treat for fans of good cinema and is a refreshing take on the genre.

A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path. Taken straight from IMDB this synopsis sounds like a movie made countless times before. Fennell's film is anything but run of the mill. The premise maybe familiar but the execution is fresh, inventive and immensely gripping. The controversial ending totally worked for me and was the icing on a rather dark cake despite a few irritating characters that help deliver the movies climax. This indeed is a dark movie and our lead character is anything but a heroic. Her methods of revenge can cut a little close to the bone.

Picture quality 7/10

This film is dark in tone but not on the eye. The colour palette pops with vibrancy. Almost like the cameras have a candy coated filter. Available on Sky Cinema in the UK. Presented in 4K where available the picture quality is soft and cinematic. Not a 4K crisp image but one that does reveal a surprising amount of detail. Facial close ups look good and I think the eventual Blu-ray release will look even better. There's a fine layer of grain to the picture that gives it that big cinema screen feel.

Sound quality 8/10

The Dolby Atmos sound mix accompanying the movie is somewhat of a big surprise. This is not an action movie filled with effects but the sound mix is massive. Low frequency effects are really impressive. Bass gets deep. When Mulligan's character is leaving the nightclub at the beginning of the movie the bass will rumble your floorboards. The plot is delivered in chapters displayed by Roman numerals onscreen. Every time this happens there's a bass drop which is thunderous. Anthony Willis's score is also elevated by the use of Object based audio. The Atmos sound brings the score to the forefront. The choice of music is superb. From floor filling dance music to pop classics, music sounds great. Female Vocals on the other hand sometimes sound a little bright. Sibilance in vocals was sometimes an issue.

This is a minor niggle. The excellently written Dialogue is always audible but sometimes unpleasant on the ear. Surround sound effects are unobtrusive. A more ambient mix than one to grab your attention. There's no precise effects moving from speaker to speaker.

So to sum up 'Promising Young Woman' is an excellent movie and for AV enthusiasts this is a good looking movie with a surprisingly good Surround sound mix to accompany the drama.

A film well worthy of your attention.

It takes 'The Marksman' a good forty minutes to establish its own identity. For the most part this latest Liam Neeson vehicle seems like an inferior 'Logan' clone, less the metal claws. The plot does share some similarities and certain scenes feel like they were directed by James Mangold himself.

Once Robert Lorenz's film gets into its own stride we are gifted with a solid drama that allows Neeson to flex those acting muscles.

I don't get the negative reviews for this movie. Sure it's no masterpiece but it does entertain for the entire runtime.

Neeson is getting a little long in the tooth for the action genre but here his character and performance are believable. Please no more 'Taken' sequels.

The bond formed over the course of the movie between Neeson's character and Miguel. A young Mexican boy who is trying to get across country to his family is the heart of the movie.

Action scenes play second fiddle but are well staged. There's nothing too over the top. This is a grounded action movie.

I hope Neeson continues to work in this genre.

He still cuts it as an action star. I'd take him over Steven Seagal any day.

Nobody

Ok so let's not avoid the elephant in the room. This movie bares a striking resemblance to 'John Wick'. Even the poster looks uncannily similar to the JW2 poster art. It could almost be a 'John Wick' movie from an alternate dimension. However this is by no means a bad thing. If you're going to make an action movie you might as well try to be like one of the best in recent memory.

'Nobody' is an excellent movie in its own right. Penned by 'John Wick writer Derek Kolstad, now the similarities make sense.

Bob Odenkirk is absolutely fantastic as the unlikely hero. Odenkirk plays Hutch Mansell. A man with a particular set of skills that resurface when his family home is broken into one night.

Action set pieces are masterfully staged. Director Ilya Naishuller let's his camera pull back allowing the audience to see all. There's no quick cut editing. Odenkirk in particular shines and upstages some serious martial arts stars in this movie. Both Alain Moussi and Daniel Bernhardt feature in the Bus fight scene. Bernhardt being credited as fight choreographer for the production. He does a sterling job too. Odenkirk is by no means an Action star but here he looks every bit believable. His character sheds off the rust throughout the course of the movie as the old skills re-emerge.

It's laughable that the latest 'Mortal Kombat' movie is released around the same time as 'Nobody' featuring some credible Martial arts stars. It is Naishuller's film that serves up the more brutal and enjoyable fights featuring a comedic actor dishing out the arse kickings!

With good Direction, editing and script it seems we no longer need a jacked up beef cake or Black belt 7th Dan to make a believable action movie. The likes of Seagal and co may find themselves in the Dole queue if quality Action flicks like this continue to surface.'Nobody' works because most of the characters are engaging and we are given enough time to see them develop. Sure the movie has it's faults. The lean runtime could have been extended to flesh out the villain but I'm nitpicking here.

This movie doesn't have an 'Avengers' sized budget but it delivers big when it comes down to the action. Unlike the cheesy throwaway action movies that constantly make their way to the Bargain bin,this movie is one for the Connoisseurs out there.

Mortal Kombat

The trailer promised a movie that punched above its weight and from the opening ten minutes it did look like we were going to get that movie.

The beginning of the movie sets up two intriguing characters and their rivalry. It's well made too.

The fight choreography blends superbly with the gore. Then it all goes to pot!

Mortal Kombat quickly descends into utter unfathomable nonsense.

This certainly is a movie made for the fans.

If you are unaware and uneducated in the Mortal Kombat law then you will struggle with the movie's absurdity.

For the none hardcore fans a decent martial arts movie would suffice.

Sadly we don't even get that. After the excellent opening the fight scenes then become poorly edited. By no means 'Resident Evil bad' but the quick cut style editing is fatiguing on the eye. What happened, did they get a different person to direct the rest of the movie?

Excellent talent such as Hiroyuki Sanada and Joe Taslim are unable to shine because of the plummeting quality.

Still they are both the movies standouts despite the choppy editing and lacklustre fight choreography.

None of the blows have any real impact except the final fatal strike.

Tame is a word that's a little too harsh but the movie poorly imitates the video game.

Lead character Cole Young played by Lewis Tan has all the charisma of a wet dishcloth and isn't even needed. The Cole character was especially dreamt up for this movie.

Why?

There's already a bunch of interesting characters from the game that could have been better utilised. Instead some core characters are pushed to the back to make way for Cole Young.

It's not all bad. Josh Lawson as Kano is hilarious and Jennifer McNamee is always watchable.

That's about it guys!

I'm really struggling to find anything memorable about this movie. Sure it's better than the original versions from the 90's but that's hardly saying much.

If you're a hardcore Mortal Kombat fan then I'm sure you will find enjoyment in this latest effort to reboot the franchise.

As for the rest of us?

The opening ten minutes are available on YouTube.

Just watch that instead.

Godzilla vs Kong

Hollow Earth nonsense aside, Godzilla vs Kong is still mightily impressive.

We appreciate that our disbelief must be suspended but the whole subplot of a world within our own planet is a bit of a stretch.

This is a movie that you must not question.

If you start to analyse then you're missing the point.

Maybe you should go watch 'The English Patient' or something else a little more grounded.

After all this movie is about a giant ape and a gargantuan lizard beating the snot out of each other.

Thankfully on many levels Adam Wingard's film delivers all that is promised on the poster, becoming the best film in the Monsterverse.

This movie does the fans proud.

As mentioned in every review online, the humans are still the weakest link.

The paying audience didn't come to see deep and meaningful characters.

Whilst there's a few faces carried over from previous instalments. The human cast are again entirely forgettable.

We want monster mayhem with carnage on a massive scale!

We don't want to sit through forty minutes of poorly written dialogue and exposition in order to get to the smack downs.

Wingard appreciates this and serves the fans promptly. This is a tightly paced movie.

The plot...Nah, you're not interested in that! As long as our two titular titans cross paths and exchange blows. That's what the audience really cares about. And boy oh boy, they do!

The fight scenes are expertly staged with some extraordinary camerawork.

Almost as if the camera was mounted to the Titans limbs as they swing and swipe at one another.

The monsters look and feel gigantic. 'Pacific Rim : Uprising' need take notes here.

Every punch is felt with concussive impact.

With total disregard for surrounding properties, entire cities are trashed as the two apex creatures go toe to toe.

If you thought the destruction in 'Man Of Steel' was excessive, then you haven't seen nothing yet!

There has to be a definitive winner.

No spoilers here, there is one Titan who does come out on top but not before several rounds of punishment.

After all the poster does read "One Will Fall!" I'll admit I was team Godzilla going in but Kong is depicted as the underdog and we all love an underdog.

Kong is like Rocky Balboa but with more body hair.

The first battle at sea is genuinely epic. CGI is absolutely astonishing.

We have clearly reached a point in terms of filmmaking. If your imagination and budget is big enough, anything is possible.

Technically 'Godzilla Vs Kong' is very well made.

It's not going to get any nods at the Oscars for best actor or screenplay but visual effects and sound design are worthy of such an accolade.

Cinematography is stunning. Again the battle at sea looking sublime.

The climatic battle in the city is an HDR showcase with neon lights bursting with colour.

The scenes depicting Hollow Earth are a visual feast. Skylines are gorgeously rendered.

I for one will be buying the 4K Blu-ray on release day just for the audio and visual splendour alone. This brings me to the audio.

Anyone who has read my review will know that I regard the sound mix on 'King Of Monsters' to be demo worthy.

If you have a dedicated Home Cinema system or even a decent soundbar, then you are in for a treat. Low frequency effects are foundation shaking. This movie probably doesn't punch as hard as its predecessor. Certainly not on a streaming platform anyway.

We shall have to wait for the physical release to hear if the disc has an equally thunderous sound mix.

Still for a digital stream the Dolby Atmos sound mix is very impressive.

As you'd expect bass is served in giant sized dollops as the two Titans go toe to claw.

Surround sound placement is excellent making for a truly immersive experience. A movie that shouldn't be played through weedy TV speakers!

'Godzilla Vs Kong' is all we hoped it could be.

After the excellent trailer and marketing build up. This movie pays off for the fans.

It's true that the movie is littered with flaws and plot holes. For instance. How as human technology jumped forward a hundred years since the events in the first 'Godzilla' (2014)?

I chuckled to myself as the futuristic crafts known as HEAVS that the humans fly around in resembled flying pot bellied pigs.

Pigs may indeed fly because anything is possible in this movie!

Forget logic or reason.

Just go with it. You're in for a good time at the movies.

I loved every second...