END SEAT

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 154 minutes  Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore Directed by: James Mangold The story: Indiana Jones is all set to retire quietly, when he is pulled back into a race against time to retrieve a legendary artefact that could alter the very course of history. The verdict: The Indiana Jones films definitely rank up there as amongst one of my favourite franchises of all time. The original trilogy were some of the films that ignited my passion for film in the first place, so suffice to say I had a vested interest in this final instalment. The opening sequence throws the audience straight into the action. This definitely sets the tone for the entire film as The Dial of Destiny is jam packed with action, which mostly consists of a myriad of different chases. From a car to a plane, from a tuk tuk to a horse - there is nary a form of transport that Indy won’t utilise.  The film...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 179 minutes  Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Parker Posey, Nathan Lane, Stephen McKinley Henderson Directed by: Ari Aster The story: A paranoid man tries desperately to get home to his mother, but events keep conspiring against him. The verdict: We all know that Ari Aster can do reasonably straightforward messed up (Hereditary, Midsommar) and now here he is proving that he can also do surrealist messed up. Anyway, deep breath and here we go… The first act of Beau is Afraid is probably one of the most scarily apt depictions of what it is like to live with anxiety that I have ever seen on film. At this point the film is a bit surreal and a bit weird but in a clever and intriguing way and I had high hopes. However as the film carries on, that measure of hope got smaller and smaller until it was all but gone. Now at this point I should probably point out three things. Firstly, I am an Ari Aster fan. I thought Hereditary and Mid...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 127 minutes  Starring: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Dean Scott Vazquez, Peter Cullen, Ron Pearlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh Directed by: Steven Caple Jr. The story: A long lost and well protected artefact may hold the key to allowing the stranded Autobots to finally return home, but they’re not the only ones seeking it… The verdict: Rise of the Beasts marks the seventh instalment in the Transformers’ franchise and so it would be fair to say that at this point - you’re either a Transformers fan or you’re not. Whilst this instalment is definitely better than some of the previous films, if giant robot aliens aren’t your thing then they’re just not your thing. However if, like me, giant robot aliens are very much your thing then strap in because Rise of the Beasts is great!  As with Bumblebee (which coincidentally was also great) this film sees a different director take the reins from Michael Bay. Whilst Bay is still producing...

  Certificate: PG Running time: 140 minutes  Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Oscar Issac, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson The story: Miles Morales returns for another adventure across the multiverse as a dangerous new villain emerges. The verdict: You would think that the better a film is then the more there would be to say about it, but the complete opposite can be true. Sometimes a film is so stunningly great that trying to put into words exactly what it is that made it so amazing is almost impossible. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is that film. This is a sequel that not only matches the original but tops it and does so with zest. As both animated and comic book films go, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse must surely be one of the greatest of all time. Firstly, the animation is incredible. The artistry of this film is absolutely top notch and it’s bright, bold and highl...