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Film reviews

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review

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This is a film where adventures and the past are revisited. It is contemporary and extraordinary. The story involves two strangers who are trying to deal with loneliness, and they do so by revisiting various fragments of their life. Directed by Kogonda, this movie really is A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. I rate it as one of the most creative, enticing, and artistic films my eyes have seen. The story is filled full of doors on a path from the past to the present which combine into a puzzle of happiness. It explores the ups and downs of life but also delves into the question of why we are human.

The film begins with David (Colin Farell). He is on his way to a wedding when he meets Sarah (Margot Robbie). They hit it off after exchanging some initial flirtatious and loving vibes. Surprisingly, they find themselves on the same type of road trip when the GPS’s in their cars ask them if they would like to both go on, “A big bold beautiful journey!” Together, David and Sarah embark on a unique adventure. Moments in each of their lives are revisited. Their journey includes solitude, but there is also a powerful exhibit of appreciation for the life that they are both living in the present.

The film has lots of open roads and destinations which lead tosurprises. Many of the scenes are memories from ages ago that occurred in the lives of David and Sarah. With the differentfragments of specific life challenges, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey has an innovative pattern of weaving experiences from their past lives with the current journey of David and Sarah together. The chemistry in the performances of Farell and Robbie is outstanding. This fantasy film almost feels like a theatre production utilizing elements of light and illuminating angles to create superb humanistic and artistic value.

What I loved most about the film were the scenes when the characters revisited moments they lived through in prior parts of their lives. There is a moment in which David says, “Sometimes we have to perform to see the truth!” I could relate to that sentiment and many others during A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. The darkness of the past is what causes the film to have an unsettling vibe. There is another quote by David, where he says, “Life is better when you are open!” The lives of David and Sarah are revealed in a very open manner as they open up to each other and relive the errors they’ve made in their lives. It is an intriguing ride while these characters learn more about the inevitable aspects and human benefits of love.

The themes of appreciation, acceptance, and self-discovery are highlighted in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. This is a gem of a movie that fuels lots of emotions and channels deep feelings which result in a grandeur of happiness. I believe this is one of the most thought-provoking films of 2025. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

I Know What You Did Last Summer Review

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This is a continuation where alumni of its cast hold strong, but the momentum falls flat. I Know What You Did Last Summer has the thrills and terror to be a blockbuster and to continue in the vein of its 1997 title almost thirty years later, and with a plot that is the most predictable yet. Overall, though, I found some joy in the fact that many of the once young celebrities were back in a feature based on what made them famous back in the day. My issue though, is how I was able to predict every single outcome. I have to say I knew that going in, but the downside is that it dismisses the fundamentals of misdirection in a feature like this.

The focus of the film is on five friends, and they are Danica Richards (Madelyn Cline), Ava Brucks (Chase Sui Wonders), Milo Grifin (Jonah Hauer-King), Teddy Spencer (Tyriq Withers) and Stevie Ward (Sarah Pidgeon). They are involved in a horrid accident, and an indescribable creeper keeps stalking them making them their prey. The same setup is used as in the 1997 version with the town being back in Southport. The terrorizing event of the past is referred to as “The Southport Massacre of 1997.”  This is a tale with revisited events and alumni returning to help these new younglings in moving forward with the threat of the killer and the risks of the town finding itself in limbo.

The returned characters are Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Grant Spencer (Billy Campbell), Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and a brief glimpse of Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Ray, Grant, and Julie bring more to the table though since they have confronted a treacherous murderer before. The question though, is who can be trusted? The small town of Southport tries to keep the silence in strong forms. With the increased flow of quiet, more kills tend to happen, and with thatmore news spirals around town. It is set up where personalities mingle, and there are secrets that are looking to be uncovered. I Know What You Did Last Summer is fun in its foundational chills, however the downfall is that it leans toward being cheesy. “Cheesy” as in its writing lacks quality. The plus side though, is how it has a majority of its 90s alumni to help maintain some standards.

There is a darkness in the kills with slashing stabs. There are moments of misbelief. The tread of the depths of terror is deep and steady. The puzzle from the previous events keeps the focus at a high level. The outcome though, is mediocre. Even though I accepted the silliness, it felt good to see its cast from back in the day reliving the terrors through and upon others. Especially with Campbell and Prinze Jr, because nowadays their projects go seemingly unheard of. At least this is a fun comeback adventure for them. Overall, though, this film is rushed, funny, and kind of a bore. The gutsy scares of this script did not carry the same quality as its predecessor. I will say that my rating falls at two out of four stars for I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Film reviews

28 Years Later Review

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With many years in the making Danny Boyle still knows how to create even more to be wowed by. That is right! 28 Years Lateris a masterpiece. A lot of thrills, chills, and unimaginable realizations of what is on the outside of a detrimental territory throughout the franchise. Boyle is one that always has an eye for creating an environment at risk, assessing the measures, and selecting characterizations that fuel his many suspensefulmoments. His mind hits on a one-of-a-kind thriller with 28 Years Later. The apocalypse has transitioned, and the outside has more surprises, but survival is where the writing hits full throttle.

This film is the third in the 28 Days Later franchise. This time survivors find themselves on an island. The risk is in going to the mainland. That is where mutated creatures are still rising and society has adapted to quarantine hardcore. The inhabitants have created barriers around the perimeters of the island. There has also been an adaptation to living with little to nothing of creature comforts. All around though, the biggest task is getting into the mainland. The plague though, has been the focus of the entire franchise, and Boyle keeps realism afloat to maintain the filmpersistent in provoking curiosity. IS there a cure? What is the new trend of adapting? What is beyond the walls that may be able to help those who are in need?

Three decades later the new characters of focus are Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Isla (Jodie Comer), and Spike (Alfie Williams). Jamie and Isla are the parents of Spike. Isla is home in bed with an illness and Jamie keeps her in quarantine because she displays concerning signs of erratic behavior. For Spike though, he feels there is hope, and he takes a chance to try to get his mom help. This means he needs to get to the mainland, but with the island swarming with extremely dangerous and mutated creatures, the wrath of the wild and the pandemic meet a new maker.

What is so thrilling and enticing is the fact that Boyle knows how to make his audience think. 28 Years Later loops in a lot of moving parts that correlate to the conflict and premise itself. Overall, the pacing is rapid and wild. The film is written by Alex Garland, and after his project Warfare, I can tell his themes of continuity play into the pandemic mode to come back with a vengeance in 28 Years Later. Rapid and vivid with sensation, there are secrets to be found and new terrors that are unbelievable. Boyle and Garland are film makers intent on providing shock and awe with visually stunning brilliance.

Throughout the forests and in encountering the creatures is a world where Spike must be willing to risk death in order to find the help and resources that may or may not exist on the other side. There is that foundation for safety, because it contains brief moments of training before entering the dangerous lands. I do not want to spoil anything, because clearly there is much to be said.  So much of the film was a surprise delivered in the unexpected amazement which was in front of me. Through the eyes of Danny Boyle revelation in uncharted territory is a concept he has cultivated to successfully blow his audiences minds…even many years down the line. Four out of four stars for 28 Years Later.