Category: New Releases

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Against a $291 million budget, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One grossed over $571 million worldwide. Although considered a financial disappointment, the film still earned critical acclaim and was the 10th-highest-grossing film of 2023. Initially, this movie and its sequel were going to be shot back-to-back, but Paramount announced this wouldn’t be the case. Principal photography began in March 2022 in the UK, Malta, South Africa, and Norway, before moving to Apulia. Unfortunately, filming came to a stop due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, though it resumed in early 2024. Following another delay due to a submarine malfunction, filming wrapped in November 2024 with a final budget of $400 million. Although initially given the subtitle “Dead Reckoning Part Two,” the studio dropped this in late 2023. After numerous setbacks, the film landed in theaters in May 2025 as Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

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Synopsis

Having retrieved the key to the Sevastopol, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) gets a message from President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett). The Entity, a malicious AI whose source code is onboard the Sevastopol, has taken control of various nuclear systems. Even worse, Ethan learns that The Entity plans to incite an apocalypse unless he takes it to a secure bunker. With only four days until armageddon strikes, Ethan convinces Sloane to allow him and his team to locate the Sevastopol. Unfortunately, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) sacrifices himself to save Ethan, but not before developing a special malware device. Ethan recruits Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Benji (Simon Pegg), alongside assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Agent Theo (Greg Tarzan Davis). Unfortunately, Gabriel (Elias Morales) is in pursuit, and The Entity has a following of doomsday cultists trying to stop him. Will Ethan save the world, or will The Entity succeed in destroying humanity?

Review

In my review of the last installment, I mentioned how the series continues to improve with each new entry. That being said, while I wouldn’t call it terrible, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a slight dip in quality. Plot-wise, this film might have one of the most convoluted, densely packed, and unnecessarily complicated storylines I’ve ever seen. Sure, the other movies had intricate plots with tons of twists and turns, but they were easier to follow. They also include some nods to the earlier films, which is great for longtime fans, but newcomers will be lost. One welcome nod is the return of Rolf Saxon as CIA agent William Donloe from the original. Rather than being a cheap cameo for nostalgia’s sake, they further develop his character in a meaningful way. The filmmakers took care to honor what came before, even if the callbacks sometimes bog down the movie.

Say what you will about him, but Tom Cruise once again shows why he’s been a leading man for years. He adds a layer of humanity to the character, and he deserves credit for his willingness to perform dangerous stunts. Despite the noticeable age gap, Hayley Atwell works as Cruise’s love interest, and she again delivers a strong performance. Ving Rhames shines in his final moments, and Simon Pegg gets more screentime as he becomes a de facto leader. The other supporting actors work just as well, and Rolf Saxon gets to shine as we see where he’s been. Unfortunately, Elias Morales remains the weakest link, playing a bland villain who isn’t fully fleshed out. By contrast, Pom Klementieff still shines as the assassin of few words, now working with the heroes. Also, while his performance is far from terrible, it’s still weird seeing Nick Offerman without a mustache.

Of course, a Mission: Impossible movie wouldn’t be complete without big action sequences, and this one delivers. Whether it’s narrowly escaping a downed submarine or hanging off a bi-plane, this film keeps the tension going throughout. Plus, every Mission: Impossible movie must include the required Tom Cruise running sequences, and this one is no exception. Still, for a film that’s supposed to be the series finale, I can’t help but feel somewhat underwhelmed by it. To reiterate, this isn’t a bad movie, but by the end, it feels like they’re setting up for another one. It also doesn’t help that, at two hours and 50 minutes, this is the longest one, and you feel it. That said, despite falling short of the last few entries, this is still a solid action movie worth watching. Overall, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is an exciting, if underwhelming, action spectacle.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in theaters.

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 1997’s The Incredible Hulk #449, a new team of superheroes known as The Thunderbolts emerged to replace The Avengers. Created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley, the series went through numerous writers and artists who changed the fundamental group. Fast-forward to 2014, when James Gunn wanted to adapt Thunderbolts into a movie after Guardians of the Galaxy. While that never happened, talks of a Thunderbolts team surfaced over the years until Marvel teased it in 2021. In 2022, Jake Schreier came on board to direct a screenplay from Eric Pearson, with additional rewrites from Joanna Calo. The cast included actors from previous MCU projects, including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Due to the writers’ and SAG strikes, filming didn’t start until February 2024, running until that June, mainly in Atlanta. After numerous delays, Thunderbolts* finally hit theaters in May 2025.

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Synopsis

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) feels unfulfilled, working as a lapdog for CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Wanting out, Yelena agrees to one last job from Valentina: go to an abandoned research station and stop a heist. Upon arrival, she runs into Ava Starr, aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). It turns out they’re also working for Valentina, and she set them up to burn with everything inside the station. Along with a seemingly random civilian named Bob (Lewis Pullman), they escape, only for Valentina to recapture Bob. Thankfully, Yelena’s father, Alexei Shostakov aka Red Guardian (David Harbour), rescues her, Ghost, and Walker before Valentina eliminates them. They’re inadvertently saved by Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who reluctantly agrees to help them take out Valentina. As our team of misfits finds themselves working together, Bob soon discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Review

While it suffers the same flaws as other MCU movies, Thunderbolts* is a step in the right direction. The conflicting tone and out-of-place quips are still sprinkled in, but it’s more dialed back and less prevalent. In a way, this is one of the most dour and sad entries in the franchise, which is strangely refreshing. You get the typical big action set pieces and whatnot, but there’s more emotional depth than expected. Without going into too many spoilers, the film explores themes of depression, loneliness, self-doubt, redemption, and acceptance. Most action sequences are more grounded and small-scale, akin to the hand-to-hand scenes in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Granted, this movie isn’t as good as the second Captain America film, but it’s a close call. If Captain America: Brave New World was more middle-of-the-road, this one makes an effort and mostly nails it.

Despite being marketed as an ensemble film, this is essentially a Florence Pugh vehicle, which isn’t bad. She gives arguably the best performance of her career here since Midsommar, playing a very down-to-earth, broken anti-hero. While she does have the occasional snide comment, she mostly plays it dead serious and shows a more vulnerable side. Hannah John-Kamen and Wyatt Russell also work as supporting characters alongside Pugh, though their characters aren’t as fleshed out. David Harbour steals every scene he’s in, and his scenes with Sebastian Stan are hilarious. I could see them working as a buddy duo similar to movies like Lethal Weapon or The Last Boy Scout. Lewis Pullman has an undeniable charm that makes him likable, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is better here than in Black Widow. Sadly, despite what the marketing might say, Olga Kurylenko once again gets the shaft as Taskmaster.

Going back to The Winter Soldier, this movie has some of the same themes of political intrigue as that one. There aren’t as many twists, and the politics are dialed down, but they’re trying to recapture the magic. The film doesn’t succeed since it has the same issues as other MCU movies: out-of-place humor and an inconsistent tone. Some jokes work in a dry, sardonic way, but some snarky one-liners don’t land, though Harbour always gets a laugh. You get the sense that the filmmakers wanted something more serious and grounded, but the studio insisted on adding humor. Regardless of my issues, more of this film works than doesn’t, and it’s a step up in quality. There are some pacing issues at slightly over two hours, but it never feels like it’s dragging to the end. Overall, much like the titular team, Thunderbolts* is flawed but still works.

Buy Thunderbolts* from Amazon: https://amzn.to/40Om4TA.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 1997, Ray Mendoza joined the US Navy, rising through the ranks to join SEAL Team 5. After serving 16 years, he worked as a military consultant on various movies, beginning with 2012’s Act of Valor. Mendoza also worked on Lone Survivor, Jurassic World, and The Terminal List, learning the tricks of the trade. He met filmmaker Alex Garland while working on 2024’s Civil War, where the two became fast friends. Mendoza told Garland about a failed surveillance mission in 2006 that almost killed one of his squadmates. Seeing the potential, Garland worked with Mendoza to adapt the story, consulting the NAVY seals from the mission. With the script written and the cast assembled, filming occurred around London in May 2024 with a $20 million budget. Less than a year later, Mendoza and Garland’s efforts hit theaters in April 2025 as Warfare.

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Synopsis

In the Iraqi city of Ramadi, NAVY Seal Team Alpha One takes control of a multi-story house for surveillance. Ray Mendoza (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) monitors their position while Elliot Miller (Cosmo Jarvis) trains his sniper rifle on a nearby market. Things quickly go wrong when a grenade gets thrown into the room Miller’s in, which injures him. The team calls in an evac to get Elliot some medical attention, but an IED blows up the transport. While only one soldier gets killed, Miller and the team’s medic, Sam (Joseph Quinn), are both gravely wounded. The team’s leader, Erik (Will Poulter), tries forming a plan of action but is understandably shaken by what’s happened. With a team of soldiers scrambling for answers and two men nearly dying, Erik calls in Alpha Two for assistance. Will the other Seals make it in time, or will this be Alpha One’s final mission?

Review

Much like Oliver Stone’s Platoon, Warfare succeeds in depicting its war in a real and visceral way. It also helps that its respective filmmakers served in the military and used their experiences as references. While I think Stone’s Vietnam movie is better, Mendoza’s first-time directing effort is commendable, and I’m excited for what’s next. You feel like you’re there with the soldiers as they try to survive this unknown environment. The slow start might put some off, but it feels natural and gives a false sense of security. The action happens so abruptly that you feel the shock that the characters experience and are similarly discombobulated. This movie isn’t any pro-America propaganda showing how awesome being part of the military is that depicts Middle Easterners offensively. Instead, the filmmakers want you to experience war in its purest form: raw, unfeeling, gritty, nonpolitical, and unbiased.

The cast does an excellent job with the material, even if there’s a lack of characterization. Relative newcomer D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is fantastic as the communications officer trying to stay focused amid the chaos. Will Poulter is also great, using his facial expressions and body language to communicate a feeling of helplessness and confusion. You can tell he’s trying to be an effective leader, but he is way over his head. Cosmo Jarvis and Joseph Quinn also excel as ordinary soldiers enduring some of the worst pain imaginable. While I’d typically dock this movie points for its lack of deep characters, that’s not the point. In war, you don’t have time to get to know people better, especially when anyone can die anytime. You don’t need character insights or deep backstories to feel emotional for these guys fighting to see another day.

For a first-time director, Ray Mendoza shows much promise, as he knows how to capture action effectively. The editing is fast-paced and kinetic, but it’s never so chaotic that you can’t tell what’s happening. David Thompson’s cinematography goes from long, sweeping shots to in-your-face, shaky cam, but in a way that feels natural. The sound design adds to the sense of realism, with the faraway gunshots mixed with deep breathing. The pacing is deliberate, slow before going headfirst without a second’s notice, and still easy to follow. It helps that the film is only 95 minutes long, so it never feels padded or overlong. Please don’t expect a straightforward narrative since this is more about capturing an experience, which it does phenomenally. Overall, Warfare is one of the best war films in recent memory and one of 2025’s best movies so far.

Buy Warfare from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4qHK3y6.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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Where to watch Warfare (2025)

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Growing up, Dan Berk and Robert Olsen were big fans of over-the-top action movies like Commando and Lethal Weapon. While horror movies like Body, Stake Land 2, and Villains got them attention, they dreamed of making an action movie. That opportunity came when Berk and Olsen got a script from Lars Jacobson about a man who can’t feel pain. Specifically, the lead has Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), a rare condition where those affected can’t feel physical pain. Seeing potential, Berk and Olsen knew they had to make this a comedic action movie like the ones they loved. They hired Jack Quaid fresh off his role in The Boys due to his Tom Hanks-like charm and likeability. With a budget of $18 million, principal photography took place in South Africa in mid-2024. After an early premiere at Regal Theaters, Novocaine hit the silver screen in March 2025.

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Synopsis

Mild-mannered Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is an assistant bank manager living with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis, or CIPA. Despite his introverted nature, he develops a romantic interest in coworker Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder) and hesitantly asks her out. The two fall in love, but things go awry when the bank gets robbed, and the thieves take Sherry hostage. Despite his instincts telling him not to, Nathan decides to go after the robbers and rescue Sherry. Meanwhile, officers Mincy Langston (Betty Gabriel) and Coltraine Duffy (Matt Walsh) believe Nathan is working with the robbers. Throughout his journey, Nathan gets stabbed, gets shot at, has his hand deep-fried, and gets knocked out numerous times. With help from his internet pal, Roscoe Dixon (Jacob Batalon), Nathan tracks down the leader, Simon Greenly (Ray Nicholson). But what Nathan soon discovers will change his life forever.

Review

Novocaine is one of the year’s biggest surprises, combining comedy and action with a surprisingly sweet love story. When I first saw the trailer, I was excited but worried it might not live up to its potential. Thankfully, the movie was every bit as entertaining and fast-paced as I hoped it would be. Like many great action movies of the 80s, this one perfectly organically combines action and comedy. The jokes never get in the way of the action, and the action isn’t gratuitous enough to derail the comedy. Given the premise, making the hero an indestructible bullet farm would be easy, but that’s not the case. While he can’t feel pain, that doesn’t mean he can’t get hurt, and we’re shown how vulnerable he is. A modern action movie rarely has a hero who’s beaten and bloody, and it’s greatly appreciated here.

Jack Quaid is perfectly cast as the introverted but good-hearted Nathan Caine, bringing great charm and likability. His snarky wit and dry humor make him a fun lead you instantly root for. Amber Midthunder does a great job as the love interest, Sherry Margrave, and she’s got great chemistry with Quaid. It helps that the first third is spent developing their relationship so that when she’s kidnapped, it’s more impactful. Much like his father, Ray Nicholson makes for a great hateable villain with his broad smile and explosive energy. Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh are fun in their scenes together as they try to make sense of what’s happening. Like in the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, Jacob Batalon works as the comic relief, though he can get tiresome. All in all, the cast does a fine job with the material, which could’ve gone wrong in lesser hands.

As undeniably enjoyable as the film is, that’s not to say it’s without flaws, though they aren’t especially egregious. For one, as inventive as having a pain-resistant lead in an action movie is, it’s not significantly groundbreaking. Plus, as wonderfully gratuitous as the violence is, it lacks the grit or over-the-top vibes of John Wick or Deadpool. I’ve seen people criticize that the hero could still die even if he can’t feel pain, which the movie addresses. Granted, if inconsistencies like that bother you, you already know whether or not you’ll enjoy this. Sure, the movie has problems, but if you can sit back and let the film go, it’s a fun ride. While some of the hour and 50-minute runtime could’ve been trimmed, the pacing is so fast that you won’t notice. Overall, Novocaine is an enjoyable thrill ride thanks to its likable lead, gratuitous violence, and gleeful attitude.

Novocaine is currently in theaters.

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]On a $250 million budget, Captain America: Civil War grossed over $1 billion, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2016. Though Chris Evans returned for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, this was the last standalone Captain America movie. In the latter, Steve Rogers hands his shield to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon, which led to him taking the mantle. This scene led to the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, a limited series on Disney+. While there were discussions of a second season, Marvel intended for the show to lead into a future film. Series writers Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson signed on to write a fourth Captain America movie with Julius Onah directing. Principal photography occurred in Atlanta between March and June 2023, with reshoots the following year. After premiering at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Captain America: Brave New World opened wide in February 2025.
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Synopsis

Having assumed the role of Captain America, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) struggles to live up to expectations. He’s paired with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), who’s become the new Falcon and is excited to work with Wilson. Adding to Wilson’s doubts is his old friend Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), who questions his ties to the government. Meanwhile, newly elected President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) struggles to maintain peace due to his past actions. The discovery of a Celestial emerging from the Earth starts an arms race where numerous nations are vying for control. Adding to the tension is an attack on the White House that leaves foreign powers questioning Ross’ abilities. Deciding to investigate further, Wilson and Ramirez discover an enormous conspiracy that could ignite a new world war. Who is pulling the strings, and will Wilson be able to prove himself as Captain America?

Review

While Deadpool & Wolverine was a step in the right direction, Captain America: Brave New World feels the opposite. Granted, it’s not the worst MCU movie in recent memory, but the fact that it’s more middle-of-the-road is disappointing. The film takes so many elements from earlier MCU entries that it fails to establish a unique identity. Considering this is the first to star Anthony Mackie as Captain America, he deserved better than a middle-of-the-road movie. Still, I hope Julius Onah continues working in Hollywood because I think he has potential as a filmmaker. If you remove all the drab CGI and messy choreography, you can tell Onah is a competent director. His previous outing, 2019’s Luce, received tons of critical acclaim and award nominations, so he has talent. Here’s hoping this movie is successful enough that he can move on to better projects.

Anthony Mackie does a solid job as the new Captain America, bringing plenty of charisma to the role. A prominent theme of the movie is how Sam Wilson doubts his abilities and whether he can measure up. This feeling reflects the audience’s going in, and it’s appreciated that the filmmakers organically explore this. Surprisingly, the best performance comes from Harrison Ford, who cared more here than Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He brings a level of vulnerability and empathy you wouldn’t expect from Ford, and it’s greatly appreciated. It makes his transformation into Red Hulk more impactful, as it’s the culmination of his conflicted feelings made manifest. Unfortunately, despite the marketing playing up Cap’s fight with Red Hulk, it only amounts to 10 minutes of screen time. Sadly, actors like Giancarlo Esposito and Shira Haas feel wasted, though they have their moments.

Like many recent MCU movies, the overused CGI comes off as drab and monotonous rather than exciting. Admittedly, the effects used to render Red Hulk are impressive, and the scenes of him destroying Washington, DC, are thrilling. It’s just unfortunate that the film has numerous scenes with noticeable green screen on par with Black Panther. Those scenes must have been part of the reshoots since they feel incomplete and added at the last minute. Numerous subplots and characters are complicated to keep track of and rely on easter eggs without going into spoilers. Despite my criticisms, you’ll find enough to enjoy if you take it as a simple superhero movie. But Anthony Mackie deserved a better debut for his Captain America than a slightly above-average affair. Overall, Captain America: Brave New World has plenty of fun action and decent performances but falls short of expectations.

Buy Captain America: Brave New World from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pk1Vi9.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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Where to watch Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

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