Coming Soon!
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash review
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH:
A BREATHTAKING THIRD TRIP TO PANDORA!
By Nico Beland
Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4
20TH CENTURY STUDIOS
Oona Chaplin as Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron (Terminator 1 and 2, Aliens, Titanic) returns to the world of Pandora for a third round in Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment of his Avatar film series following the 2009 original and its 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. I’m sure I made it clear in my last review that I really enjoyed the previous Avatar films even in this era where people love to rip on them for being uninspired and derivative of other stories like Dances with Wolves, FernGully, and even the Nickelodeon animated series that shares the same name Avatar: The Last Airbender(For the sake of this review, I will not be drawing a bunch of parallels between the two Avatar franchises!), as long as they’re retold well and offer something unique I really don’t care.
The first Avatar released in 2009 came out at just the right time, I was a sophomore in high school, the 3D and IMAX boom was hot and fresh, and it was one of my most anticipated films from that year. I was in awe watching that movie all those years ago and marveling at what was being projected on the giant screen while still being emotionally invested in the characters, plot, and world building.
The second film, The Way of Water I don’t like as much as the first and often felt like a retread of the first just with a location change…at least in terms of story. Like its predecessor, the film was still an incredible theater experience and one of the best IMAX 3D movies I saw and did expand upon the world of Pandora and began to flesh out its characters even if it did feel like a second part of a larger story and wasn’t as self-contained as the first.
Now we have this third film once again released for the holiday season, putting 3D back into the spotlight, and will surely put people’s butt’s in the movie theater seats just in time for Christmas. While I can’t say this a perfect film and it does have its share of flaws, I really enjoyed my time in the theater with Fire and Ash and in some ways prefer it over the last.
The film follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington-Terminator: Salvation, The Debt, Hacksaw Ridge), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña-Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek franchise, Marvel Cinematic Universe), and their family grieving over the death of their son Neteyam after the last confrontation with the RDA. However, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang-Tombstone, Don’t Breathe 1 and 2, Sisu: Road to Revenge) and the RDA ally with a mysterious, revenge-seeking Ash Na’vi tribe led by Varang (Oona Chaplin-Game of Thrones, The Crimson Field, Taboo) and target Jake and the rest of the Na’vi after learning that Quaritch’s human son adopted by the Na’vi Miles “Spider” Socorro (Jack Champion-Scream VI, Freaky Tales) is able to breathe on Pandora without a mask courtesy of his friend and Jake’s daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver-Alien franchise, Ghostbusters franchise, Galaxy Quest).
Because that is the biggest roadblock in the humans’ colonization of Pandora, Jake, his family, and the rest of the Na’vi have to once again face off against them for the sake of their planet.
The film also stars Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) reprising her role as Ronal, Joel David Moore (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Art School Confidential, Savages) reprising his role as Dr. Norm Spellman, CCH Pounder (DC Animated Universe, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, The Naked Gun(2025)) reprising her role as Mo’at, Giovanni Ribisi (Saving Private Ryan, Public Enemies, Ted 1 and 2) reprising his role as Parker Selfridge, Britain Dalton (Thumper, Dark Harvest) reprising his role as Lo’ak, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (The Life of Chuck) reprising her role as Tuk, Edie Falco (Cop Land, Freedomland, Fool’s Paradise) reprising her role as General Frances Ardmore, Brendan Cowell (The Current War, Dune: Prophecy) reprising his role as Captain Mick Scoresby, and Cliff Curtis (Training Day, Sunshine, Doctor Sleep) reprising his role as Tonowari.
Overall, Avatar: Fire and Ash isn’t the strongest narrative wise (In fact, there’s a ton of weird plot points that don’t quite work), but it is still a gorgeous cinematic experience that pushes the envelope for filmmaking and further expands upon Cameron’s world. It’s a James Cameron Avatar movie so of course, the effects and CGI are gonna be damn impressive especially on the IMAX screen with 3D (You’re doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t see it in that format) and in this age of subpar CGI and underpaid animators/artists, what Cameron puts on the screen with these Avatar films should be the new standard for special effects that all other movies would want to be like.
Besides the technical advances, the movie also does very interesting things with its characters particularly with Spider and Stephen Lang’s Quaritch. I thought Quaritch was an entertaining and cartoony villain in the earlier films with Lang chewing the scenery every chance he gets, but this one gives him more layers through interactions he has with Jake and/or Spider and legitimately makes him an interesting and compelling character.
Jack Champion’s Spider didn’t leave that big an impact on me in Way of Water, but he’s given a lot more to do as essentially the film’s MacGuffin after gaining the ability to breathe on Pandora via Eywa and found his dynamic between the Na’vi and his dad Quaritch very fascinating throughout.
Sam Worthington is still great as Jake and Zoe Saldaña acts her ass off as Neytiri with some of the best acting I’ve ever seen from her…and we’re talking about a blue alien woman created through motion capture. She owns every emotion heavy scene and even though she’s portraying a computer animated character, everything about her performance feels real.
Oona Chaplin is also a standout as Varang, the leader of the Ash clan with her performance being very different from the other Na’vi. She’s a much more brutal and aggressive Na’vi as part of a tribe that lost faith in Eywa, she honestly overshadows all the humans and has the potential to become an interesting antagonist in future movies.
However, the movie does hit a lot of familiar beats from the earlier films and if you weren’t initiated from the start, I don’t know what this movie will do for you. I assumed the Volcano island from the trailer would have played a bigger part in the story, but it’s only onscreen for a little bit with most of the film taking place in the same environments as the previous and repeating the whole “Nature good, humans bad” message that Cameron is just rolling with at this point, could have used more variety in the storytelling.
Despite its narrative shortcomings, Avatar: Fire and Ash is a dazzling and game-changing theater experience with Cameron in his zone once again. I See You…in Part 4.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Hamnet review
HAMNET:
CHLOE ZHAO CRAFTS A BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTBREAKING ORIGIN OF ONE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MOST FAMOUS PLAYS!
By Nico Beland
Movie Review: **** out of 4
FOCUS FEATURES
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in Hamnet
William Shakespeare comes to the screen like never before in Hamnet, the new film from writer-director Chloé Zhao (The Rider, Nomadland, Eternals) and produced by Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Lincoln, The Post) and Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall/Spectre, 1917). The film is based on the novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Zhao and is a fictionalized dramatization of the inspiration behind William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Aside from seeing the trailer a few times in theaters, I came into this movie somewhat cold as I had never read the book and my knowledge of it came from what was shown in the trailer. I thought it looked good though it wasn’t something I wasn’t super excited to go see or anything like that, I was going to see this regardless given the talents involved.
Well, I have to say Hamnet exceeded my expectations, this is a really damn good movie with Zhao back in her zone after her polarizing Marvel venture with 2021’s Eternals (I thought that film was okay FYI). Like I said, haven’t read the book so I’m not sure how faithful this film version is, but as a movie I was very impressed by it on both a technical and emotional level.
The film follows Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley-Wild Rose, Wicked Little Letters, The Bride!) and her husband and playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal-All of Us Strangers, Gladiator II, The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event) whose relationship is greatly impacted following the tragic death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe-Peter Pan & Wendy). However, what emerges from this tragedy is the creation of Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet.
The film also stars Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love, Corpse Bride, The Theory of Everything) as Mary Shakespeare, Joe Alwyn (The Favourite, Boy Erased, The Brutalist) as Bartholomew Hathaway, David Wilmot (Anna Karenina, Calvary, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) as John Shakespeare, and Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place 1 and 2, Ford v. Ferrari, No Sudden Move) as Hamlet.
Overall, Hamnet is a poignant and powerful movie that will surely be a strong contender during awards season and rightfully so. One thing I thought was very interesting about the film is that it actually focuses more on Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes rather than Shakespeare himself which after seeing it was the right call.
The best aspect of this film is easily the performances particularly from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, especially the former. I haven’t seen much of Jessie Buckley aside from movies like The Courier, but I thought she was magnificent as Agnes who carries the entire film’s emotional weight on her back.
She really sells this woman who’s going through grief because of the death of her son and her husband is out in London unable to support her and begins to lose grasp on what she loves. Buckley brings the waterworks and my eyes were glued to the screen in just about every scene she’s in.
Paul Mescal is also great as William Shakespeare and is a strong contender for a Best Supporting Actornomination with his portrayal of an ambitious Shakespeare who also feels the guilt of not always being there for his family. It’s a more human and relatable look at Shakespeare as a person rather than an artist and showing layers to him that aren’t often depicted, Mescal is beyond pitch perfect as a tortured artist, the fact that it’s William Shakespeare he’s playing is just an added bonus.
The movie is also beautifully shot with outstanding cinematography and production design whether it’s the old town villages of England or the calm and atmospheric forests. Sure, it isn’t a grand epic or anything like that, but it looks great on the big screen.
It’s a solid film throughout, but the last 15 minutes is cinematic perfection and ends on this poignant albeit hopeful note that is hard not to get teary-eyed at. I do not want to give anything away about it, but it’s easily the emotional highlight of the entire film and is best to just watch the movie and see it for yourself.
Hamnet is a wonderful return to form for Chloé Zhao with some of the best performances I’ve seen all year, beautiful and heartbreaking storytelling, and easily the best ending to any 2025 film. Whether you’re a Shakespeare expert or casual admirer (Like me), this is one not to be missed.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2:
FREDDY FAZBEAR’S SECOND ATTEMPT AT BIG SCREEN TERROR IS A LAUGH RIOT FOR BAD MOVIE LOVERS!
By Nico Beland
Movie Review: * out of 4
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, and Chica in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Freddy Fazbear and his friends are back to cause more…terror? in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, the follow-up to the 2023 film adaptation of the popular Five Nights at Freddy’s video game series. I did not enjoy the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie very much and even called it one of the worst films from 2023, I should also mention that I had never played any of the games.
I felt that for a movie about killer Chuck E Cheese-like animatronics, it was neither scary nor campy enough to properly deliver what it promised and found most of the film surprisingly dull. The animatronics looked good and I guess the production design did capture what a FNAF movie should look like (From what I had seen from the games) plus Matthew Lillard was an absolute treasure in it.
Despite it being lambasted by critics, the first FNAF movie was a huge hit becoming Blumhouse’s highest-grossing film and seemed to have been better received by fans of the source material. Because of that success, we now have a sequel with Emma Tammi (The Wind) returning to direct and Josh Hutcherson (Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia, The Hunger Games franchise) and Elizabeth Lail (You, Ordinary Joe, Mack & Rita) reprising their roles as Mike Schmidt and Vanessa Shelly.
Despite my feelings towards the first movie, I was somewhat open to a sequel and hopeful that it would either be a massive improvement over its predecessor or at the very least help me understand where the fans are coming from. There had been times before where crappy horror movies received surprisingly decent follow-ups like with 2016’s Ouija: Origin of Evil and the 2017 Conjuring Universe movie, Annabelle: Creation so maybe Five Nights at Freddy’s 2would be that franchise’s version of those films.
Well, I have to admit Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 surprised me quite a bit…oh, not because it’s good or anything like that, but because it is so bad and so incredibly stupid that it’s hilarious. Technically, I found Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 to be a lot more fun and entertaining than the first, but not in the ways the filmmakers probably intended.
The film is set a year after the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and follows former security guard, Mike Schmidt (Hutcherson) and police officer, Vanessa Shelly (Lail) keeping the truth from Mike’s 11-year-old sister, Abby (Piper Rubio reprising her role from the first movie) concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. But when Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, it sets into motion a series of terrifying events, revealing dark secrets about the true origins of Freddy’s, and awakening a horror that’s been hidden away for decades.
The film also stars Freddy Carter (Shadow and Bone, Free Rein, American Carnage) as Michael, Theodus Crane (The Walking Dead, Underground, Black as Night) reprising his role as Jeremiah, Wayne Knight (Seinfeld, Jurassic Park, 3rd Rock from the Sun) as Mr. Berg, Teo Briones (Pretty Little Liars, Chucky, Final Destination: Bloodlines) as Alex, Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters franchise, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Scream 7) as Lisa, Skeet Ulrich (The Craft, Scream, Riverdale) as Henry Emily, and Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby-Doo 1 and 2, The Life of Chuck) reprising his role as serial killer William Afton; and features the voices of Kellen Goff (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, My Hero Academia, Shin Ultraman) as Toy Freddy, Megan Fox (Transformers franchise, Jennifer’s Body, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014-2016)) as Toy Chica, and YouTuber Matthew “MatPat” Patrick as Toy Bonnie.
Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 may satisfy fans of the games (I can’t speak for them), but fans of movies that are so bad they’re good will surely have a great time with this film. This movie is bad in all the best ways from the terrible dialogue to bizarre choices made that left me laughing and puzzled in a way that reminded me of the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
I shit you not, there is a sequence where a Freddy animatronic is walking towards Josh Hutcherson and he simply covers his face with a Freddy face plate in order to make it think he’s an animatronic…and it works. I laughed hard during this scene because it takes effort to put something this stupid in a movie, there is no scene that idiotic in the first movie.
There’s another scene in the beginning of the film where this little girl sees a boy being taken into a back room of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and she’s trying to warn the parents that he needs help, not only are they not paying attention to her, but they’re saying shit like “Quiet kid, the adults are talking!”. Unless there’s some kind of Pennywise from It-like curse put on the adults, no adult especially a parent would ever talk like this.
The movie actually does fix my biggest issue with the first, not enough crazy sequences involving the animatronics because this shit goes bonkers. There’s a scene where a bunch of animatronics are chasing Elizabeth Lail in a car, Toy Chica squeezing Newman from Seinfeld’s head open is great (The film is PG-13 though), and a climax where the original animatronics fight the Toy animatronics, the rare times where I was unironically having fun with the film.
The script is terrible and filled with laughably cheesy dialogue, but I will give credit that Josh Hutcherson still does a fine enough job as the lead despite the lousy material, he’s not phoning his performance in and it seems like he is trying to be a likable protagonist for these films. Elizabeth Lail as Vanessa is better here and is given more to do in the story, had the films themselves been better, I can see her and Hutcherson having great onscreen chemistry.
Where the first Five Nights at Freddy’s was simply bad and bland, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is the reverse Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (A video game movie sequel that improved upon the first) where it’s even worse and ends up being more entertaining and fun because of it. With the exception of the Marionette (Which is legitimately creepy), the animatronics are about as scary as the giant Grinch head that scared the Who teens off the mountain in the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the script is hilariously awful, and the film is filled with so many awkward and bizarre scenes that I just had a blast with FNAF 2.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but filmmakers…don’t listen to any criticisms people had with this movie, give us more entertaining and hilariously bad garbage for Five Nights at Freddy’s 3. This is a beautifully awful film and you should go see it now!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)