Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Cast: Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden

Director: Jeff Fowler

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails come together to face a formidable new foe: Shadow, a mysterious villain with unparalleled powers. Outmatched, Team Sonic must form an unexpected alliance to stand a chance.

Reviews: 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is not going to win any fans purely on the basis of its overall plotting, its overall build-up toward one of those extended finales that goes on way too long and puts the fate of the entire earth in the balance. But by the third movie in any series, it should be more about the characters than what they do, and it turns out this series does have a number of characters we’ve grown to want to watch. And with another tease of future expansion as a mid-credits sequence, we can only hope that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 continues the positive gains of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

reelgood.com.au

In this film you get two Carreys for the price of one. He also plays Ivo’s long-lost grandfather Gerald, formerly the director of Project Shadow, and the two make up for lost time in an amusing montage. This is a double opportunity for Carrey to ham it up wildly and he jumps into both roles with gusto: he’s the best thing in the movie.

The Senior

Nosferatu

Cast: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe

Director: Robert Eggers

Rating: R

Synopsis: A gothic story of obsession unfolds between a tormented young woman and a fearsome vampire captivated by her, leaving a trail of unimaginable horror.

Reviews: 

Eggers’ films have long been a tug of war between his staid technical excellence (replete with painstaking historical detail), and his lust for the carnal pleasures of genre cinema. Though his films inspire more admiration than any real emotion, this full-tilt gothic fantasy gives way to some of his most ravishing work yet, endowed with mellifluous camera work, a thunderous score and crepuscular lighting attuned to the story’s spectral wavelength.

ABC

The interplay of shadow and light creates an atmosphere so rich it feels alive. This isn’t just a movie; it’s a visual feast that balances gothic beauty with moments of visceral terror. Whether it’s the hypnotic silhouettes or the jarring subliminal flashes of horror, the film demands to be experienced on the largest screen possible.

Pario Magazine

We Live in Time

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney, Lee Braithwaite, Aoife Hinds

Director: John Crowley

Rating: R

Synopsis: Following an unexpected meeting, a skilled chef and a newly divorced woman fall in love and create the home and family they’ve always wished for—until a difficult truth challenges their relationship.

Reviews: 

We Live in Time is a tender look at the complexities and normalities of modern love, bolstered by stellar leads that relish in pulling at our heartstrings but will hold your hand affectionately while it does. Watching the relationship between Almut and Tobias develop from first meetings to career changes, illness and parenthood, We Live in Time achieves a remarkable feat of being hopeful in spite of its pain.

Lilithia Reviews

This beautifully crafted drama-dy takes you on an emotional journey through the early stages of a relationship, exploring the joy, tenderness, and sometimes painful realities of life and love. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from the rawness of human connection, all while delivering moments of humour, warmth, and charm. 

Perth Happenings

Wolf Man

Cast: Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott, Leigh Whannell, Sam Jaeger, Matilda Firth, Benedict Hardie

Director: Leigh Whannell

Rating: R

Synopsis: A family living on an isolated farmhouse is terrorized by an invisible creature, but as the night progresses, the father starts to change into something unimaginable.

Reviews: 

At a beautifully tight 103 minutes, Whannell trims all the fat and gets right to the meat and bones of the action, balancing cat-and-mouse tension with emotionality as we slowly bear witness to Blake’s transformation, with Abbott committing wholly to the cause of a man going feral against the fibres of his soul.  

The AU Review

Distilling the werewolf mythos into a visceral it-all-happens-in-one-night movie, Wolf Man is efficient in its pacing and scares. However, the film lacks the emotional gravitas of a romantically strained family trying to reconnect during extreme circumstances. So, because Wolf Man clocks in at under two hours, is pleasantly ultra-predictable, and contains quality thrills, it’s a great choice for a frivolous movie night.

Spinning Platters

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Cast: Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito

Director: Christian Gudegast

Rating: R

Synopsis: Butler reprises his role as Big Nick, now pursuing Donnie (Jackson Jr.) across Europe. Donnie finds himself tangled in the perilous world of diamond thieves and the notorious Panther mafia, who are planning an audacious heist at the world’s largest diamond exchange.

Reviews: 

Largely, that’s what Pantera aims to be: thoroughly entertaining. There’s no doubt this is far from perfect. It’s undeniably silly and messy with its characters and plot contrivances outside of Donnie and Nick, and Alison Bechdel would be horrified at how deeply this fails her test.

The Rolling Tape

In addition to having stronger character relationships, Pantera deserves some love for its action sequences. Ultimately, moviegoers are showing up to a Den of Thieves sequel for a good heist, and this film delivers. While it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, Pantera will take its audience along for an enjoyable ride.

The Hashtag Show

Conclave

Cast: Stanley Tucci, Ralph Fiennes, John Litgow, Lucian Msamati

Director: Edward Berger

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Cardinal Lawrence is entrusted with overseeing one of the world’s most secretive and ancient traditions—the selection of a new Pope—only to uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destabilize the very core of the Catholic Church.

Reviews: 

As a whole, Conclave passes its message loud and clear—that progress prevails against the stubbornness of men set in their old ways. The ending crushes with a revelation so shocking that our audience audibly gasped. In retrospect, it’s the perfect conclusion for this film—a final challenge for the institution that cannot be reversed. 

Law Society of NSW Journal

Conclave, at its barest, is a collection of men standing, sitting, and talking in rooms. Yet, due to the power of the performances, script, and cinematography, the audience is never bored by what could be described as a largely repetitious plot as the cardinals vote multiple times until there is a majority winner.

Catholic Weekly

A Complete Unknown

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Joe Tippett, Edward Norton, Eriko Hatsune

Director: James Mangold

Rating: R 

Synopsis: In 1961, a 19-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) arrives in New York City as an unknown artist. With his guitar in hand, he forms connections with music legends and ascends rapidly, leading to a landmark performance that resonates across the globe.

Reviews:

What really makes the film special is the music. Dylan’s personal life is interspersed with live performances that Mangold lets unfold naturally and unhurried. Chalamet’s singing feels unpolished in the best way, and whenever he’s on screen crooning Dylan’s lyrics with a guitar and harmonica you’re immediately drawn in. 

Rolling Stone Australia

At several moments, especially the scene where he plays a song for Baez early in the morning, Chalamet’s Dylan appears like Velázquez’s Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, festivity, and tragedy, which for the Greeks was not only dramatic but also musical. 

Word on Fire

Better Man

Cast: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany

Director: Michael Gracey

Rating: R

Synopsis: The movie follows the rapid rise, sudden downfall, and incredible comeback of British pop icon Robbie Williams.

Reviews: 

Better Man never shies away from the darker experiences of Robbie’s life, but it never sensationalizes those moments, instead it feels raw, honest, and intimate. I was blown away by how deeply affecting the film is, while some of the musical numbers made my heart soar.

The Queer Review

If you’re a fan of Robbie Williams, there’s a lot to love about this film, and even if you’re not, it’s still an entertaining ride with a ton of catchy tunes and emotional impact that will have you sobbing between scenes.

mamamia.com.au

Magic Beach

Cast: Spencer Ellis Anderson, Rylee Chuck, Bigsy, Elliott Hayes, Summer Jeon

Director: Robert Connolly

Rating: G

Synopsis: Magic Beach, inspired by Alison Lester’s book, follows nine children and a dog as they bring their vivid imaginations to life.

Reviews: 

This film adaptation is perfect for its summer school holidays under-10 target audience. It is charming, entertaining, visually beautiful and not much longer than an hour.

The Australian

Magic Beach doesn’t preach or screech, it merely provides a broad, sandy expanse in which young children can find their own play. Interestingly, that play barely includes Lester’s own illustrations, which only feature as a few static images book-ending the film.

AFR

Dragonkeeper

Cast: Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffiths, Anthony Howell, Bill Bailey, Andrew Leung, Tony Jayawardena

Directors: Jianping Li, Salvador Simó

Rating: PG

Synopsis: 

The future of ancient China depends on a young girl who must locate the last dragon egg and embrace her destiny.

Reviews: 

The animated depictions of the Chinese countryside are splendidly picturesque. The music complements the emotional beats of the story, enhancing everything from the serene moments between Ping and Danzi to the high-stakes action sequences. The traditional instruments add authenticity, grounding the fantasy within the cultural context of ancient China.

Dawn

This heartwarming and thrilling adventure to safeguard the last of the mythical dragons will captivate audiences of all ages. Moreover, it will leave you yearning for more. Parents might find themselves puzzled by the unusual combination of Chinese-themed animation and a predominantly English voice cast. 

The Future of the Force