Watch Loki – the imperious God of Mischief – who, after absconding with the Tesseract, is a fish-out-of-water when he lands in a world of trouble with the bureaucratic TVA (Time Variance Authority) in the brand-new trailer for Marvel Studios’ “Loki.” The all-new, original series debuts exclusively on Disney+ on June 11, 2021.
Marvel Studios’ “Loki” features the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” Tom Hiddleston returns as the title character, joined by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant. Kate Herron directs “Loki,” and Michael Waldron is head writer.
British independent distributor Saints & Savages have confirmed that their latest title, Righteous Villains, will be available in the UK on DVD and Digital Download from 19th April.
The film is the third title from Saints & Savages to be directed by Savvas D. Michael, following the news that the crime thriller Original Gangster will be released on 5th April and Red Rage on 12th April. Righteous Villains stars Gary Dourdan (CSI), Lois Brabin-Platt (OriginalGangster), Adam Deacon (Anuvahood) and the iconic British actor, Steven Berkoff (Octopussy).
A young conman with nothing left to lose, and desperate for his next money-making scheme, receives a mysterious invite to join the New World Order, a secret society of powerful individuals that supposedly control every aspect of the world. The further he becomes entangled, he realizes the sinister motivations of the society are born from sorcery and black magic, but when you’re in so deep, it’s not always easy to find a way out.Saints and Savages CEO, John Pavlakos was thrilled with the news.
He stated, “We’ve been delighted with the response to our first title Original Gangster, and we’re equally excited to reveal our upcoming title, Righteous Villains. Dourdan, Brabin-Platt and Deacon are hugely talented and the work of the iconic Steven Berkoff speaks for itself. Angels and Demons, Heaven and Hell, Clandestine Cults, what’s not to love?”
Righteous Villains will be available on DVD & Digital Download from 19th April
Summary: Seven rogue soldiers launch a preemptive strike against a newly discovered alien civilization in the hopes of ending an interstellar war before it starts.
Year: 2021
Cinema Release Dates: 11th March 2021 (Australia)
VOD Release Dates: 1st March 2021 (UK), 12th March 2021 (USA)
Country: USA
Director: Edward Drake
Screenwriter: Edward Drake, Corey Large
Cast: Trevor Brotherton (Sam Nolan), Francis Cronin (Holo Sam), Eva De Deominici (Juda Saule), Trevor Gretzky (Felix Zand), Frank Grillo (General Ryle), Adelaide Kane (Fiona Ardene), Robert Laenen (Lt. West), Corey Large (Dash), Everly Large (Victoria), Brandon Thomas Lee (Braxton Ryle), Costas Mandylor (Marcus Bleck), Johnny Messner (Coco), Lochlyn Munro (Alex Locke), CJ Perry (Sol Cantos), Perrey Reeves (Dr. Lea Goss), Sarah May Sommers (Vezza/Lt. Hoyt), Bruce Willis (James Ford), Tabitha Woodman (Nicole (voice))
Summary: A dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each other’s thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise.
Year: 2021
Cinema Release Dates: 4th March 2021 (Australia), 11th March 2021 (Thailand), 5th March 2021 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: 2nd April 2021 (UK)
Country: USA, Canada, Hong Kong
Director: Doug Liman
Screenwriter: Christopher Ford, Patrick Ness
Cast: Olunike Adeliyi (Piper), Tyrone Benskin (Hammer), Claudia Besso (Gwen), Demian Bichir (Ben), Tomar Boyd (Farbranch), Bryce Buckbauer (Young Davy), Blane Crockarell (Young Todd), Mylene Dinh-Robic (Julie), Jazzy Ellis (Lilly), Cynthia Erivo (Hildy), Frank Fontaine (Mr Phelps), Patrick Garrow (Ivan), Francois Gauthier (Charlie), Isabelle Giroux (Jenny Hewitt), Bobby Hernandez (Captain Alvarez), Tom Holland (Todd), Oscar Jaenada (Wilf), Nick Jonas (Davy Prentiss Jnr.), Don Jordan (Tam), Vincent Leclerc (Daws), Bethany Anne Lind (Karyssa Hewitt), Ray McKinnon (Matthew), Mads Mikkelsen (Mayor Prentiss), Tara Nicodemo (Tara), Yadi Nieves (Jackie), David Oyelowo (Aaron), Petra Post (Sweet Julie), Julian Richings (Gault), Daisy Ridley (Viola), Peter Seaborn (Caleb), Kurt Sutter (Cillian)
Running Time: 109 mins
Classification: M (Australia), 15 (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG-13 (USA)
OUR CHAOS WALKING REVIEWS
David Griffiths’ Chaos Walking Review:
Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley! When it comes to pop culture film stars you couldn’t get two bigger. She is the face and main star of the latest batch of Star Wars adventures and he… well he is Spider-Man. The fact that the pair of them have joined forced in a film that very few people know about despite the fact it is in cinemas now is deeply astounding.
With America’s cinemas still out of commission it feels like some films are being released into cinemas without much fanfare and sadly Chaos Walking is one of those. Not just sadly because it means pop culture fans are likely to miss out on two of their favourite stars on the big screen but also sadly because this is one teenage post-apocalyptic movie that is going to appeal to people of all ages.
Set on a planet called New World Chaos Walking finds Todd (Tom Holland – Spider-Man: Far From Home) living in a woman-less society. Raised by Ben (Demian Bichir – The Hateful Eight) and Cillian (Kurt Sutter – Sons Of Anarchy) Todd has been raised to believe that all woman on the planet were killed by an invading army of aliens. Now he spends the days working on the farm, trying to control his Noise (thoughts that can be heard by others) and trying to avoid a mad priest (David Oyelowo – Selma).
Todd’s fathers become worried though when he starts to find favour with the town’s fearless Mayor (Mads Mikkelsen – Another Round) but even that relationship is put to the test when Todd is the person that finds the crashed space-craft of a young woman named Viola (Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens).
Directed by Doug Liman, the amazing filmmaker who has brought us films like The Bourne Identity and Edge Of Tomorrow, Chaos Walking goes far beyond your average teenage dystopian film and places itself in that elite side of the category that includes films like The Maze Runner and Divergent. Despite knowing the audience that this film is based at there is something edgy about the film. Todd doesn’t mind dropping the odd profanity and when the heroes do find themselves under the threat you know there is a good chance they may not get out of it alive.
The alternative nature of the film also seems to be embraced by the actors. Mads Mikkelsen brings his A-Game as he portrays a menacing Mayor with a world of secrets while the film also exposes a side of the acting of Ridley and Holland that few would have seen before. Many people have wondered whether or not Ridley has what it takes to make a career for herself outside of Star Wars and this is the film that suggests she certainly can.
The same can also be said for Holland. Unlike Ridley though Tom Holland had runs on the board before the franchise that made him a household name. Anyone who watched The Impossible, a film about the tragic Boxing Day tsunami, knew that Holland was going to become a star. Here in Chaos Walking he does what he did last year with The Current War and shows that he is going to be one of Hollywood’s best actors with or without the label of a superhero behind him.
Much of what there is to like about Chaos Walking also comes to the brilliant work of Doug Liman. Just like he did with The Bourne Identity Liman has audiences on the edge of their seat for a majority of the film and this is a film that he had to work hard to make. There were frequent re-writes and re-shoots throughout the film which of course caused major concerns with the busy schedules of the film’s stars so it really is a miracle that this film has ever made it cinemas. Those that love quality films though will be very thankful that it did.
Chaos Walking is one of the surprise hits of 2021. A step above most teenage sci-fi films this is the kind of film that will be embraced by people of all ages and once you have seen it you will be eagerly waiting to see if they decide to make more films in the franchise.
Dave’s rating Out Of 5
DF-18958.ARW
Alex First, Greg King and Peter Krausz’s Chaos Walking Review
Summary: The epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against one another – the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong – with humanity caught in the balance.
Year: 2021
Cinema Release Dates: 25th March 2021 (Australia), 25th March 2021 (Thailand), 31st March 2021 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: 1st April 2021 (UK), 31st March 2021 (USA)
Country: USA, Australia, Canada, India
Director: Adam Wingard
Screenwriter: Eric Pearson, Max Borenstein
Cast: Demian Bichir (Walter Simmons), Millie Bobby Brown (Madison Russell), Chris Chalk (Ben), Kyle Chandler (Mark Russell), Ronnie Chieng (Jay Wayne), Julian Dennison (Josh Valentine), Eia Gonzalez (Maya Simmons), Rebecca Hall (Ilene Andrews), Brian Tyree Henry (Bernie Hayes), Kaylee Hottle (Jia), Hakeen Kae-Kazim (Admiral Wilcox), Daniel Nielson (Hayworth), Shaun Oguri (Ren Serizawa), John Pirruccello (Horace), Lance Reddick (Guillerman), Alexsander Skargard (Nathan Lind)
Running Time: 113 mins
Classification: M (Australia), G (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG-13 (USA)
OUR GODZILA VS KONG REVIEWS
David Griffiths’ Godzilla vs Kong Review:
There is perhaps no bigger way to announce that blockbusters are back in post-COVID cinemas then to let two titans like Godzilla and King Kong go head-to-head. The Godzilla/Kong franchise has bubbled along nicely for Warner Bros over the past seven years and now it roars back to life as the two titans come to some pretty impressive blows in Godzilla vs Kong.
Directed by Adam Wingard (Blair Witch) the film sees the giant creatures go to war after Kong expert Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall – The Town) and her adopted daughter Jia (newcomer Kaylee Hottle) are persuaded by scientist Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgard – The Legend Of Tarzan) to bring Kong out of his protected environment in a bid to help with a scientific discovery that could save humanity.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world the determined Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things) and her friend Josh Valentine (Julian Dennison – Deadpool 2) have joined forces with conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry – Widows) to try and clear Godzilla’s name after it appears that he attacked a city for no apparent reason.
However, once Godzilla realises that Kong is out and in the open he proceeds to attack the giant beast in a bid to become the ‘alpha’ placing the lives of all on Earth at risk.
The plotline of Godzilla vs Kong is pretty thin but of course nobody is going into this film expecting an Oscar-worthy script – no this is a film that is designed to be a visual spectacular and that is certainly the case from start to finish. If you want action then you’ve come to the right place because Godzilla vs Kong delivers it in spades.
The one thing you do very quickly realise with this film is that it is very much a Kong film. The film is largely told through the eyes of those who surround Kong ie. Ilene Andrews, Nathan Lind and Jia, and for the most part Kong is the hero of the tale and Godzilla the villain. That also results in strong storylines developing around those characters and Kong while the interest in the team trying to ‘clear’ Godzilla at times wanes as it is mainly one dimensional.
What saves the film though is the brilliant action sequences that see the two kings of the Monsterverse go head-to-head. To the credit of the filmmakers they don’t hold back on those scenes and the two epic battles are more than enough to fulfil those who criticised Godzilla: King Of Monsters for its lack of action. And yes the rumours are true – both battles easily last longer than 10 minutes on screen each. With some amazing special effects and the brilliant eye of Wingard and cinematographer Ben Seresin (World War Z) these battle sequences come to life in a way that fans of the franchise could only dream they could. They also have the sense not to be cutting away to minor characters during the battles and instead just let the beasts host their own version of Smackdown.
When it comes to the acting side of things you get both good and bad with Godzilla vs Kong. The talented Kyle Chandler (Super 8) feels wasted with his limited screen-time but both Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle shine as the carry most of the ‘human’ side of the film. You expect that someone with the experience of Hall could do that fairly easily but huge credit must be paid for Hottle for doing so. This is the first acting performance for the young hearing-impaired actress and her performance brings back memories of Drew Barrymore in E.T. or Kirsten Dunst in Interview With A Vampire. Like them she never seems to be over-awed by the scale of the film or by the experience of the actors around her and instead she makes her own mark as a star.
Godzilla vs Kong is the kind of film where you are willing to overlook some pretty obvious continuity errors and weak storyline simply because of the amazing special effects and action sequences. While the film is not likely to be an award winner it will certainly win over fans of this franchise with ease.
A new trailer for Marvel Studios’ long-awaited “Black Widow” is available now, showcasing Natasha Romanoff’s struggle to face her past and deal with unfinished business. The action-packed spy thriller will launch in cinemas July 9. Or Order It On Disney+ With Premier Access* July 9, 2021.
Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. “Black Widow” – the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.
Summary: A bystander who intervenes to help a woman being harassed by a group of men becomes the target of a vengeful drug lord.
Year: 2021
Cinema Release Dates: 1st April 2021 (Australia), 12th April 2021 (Thailand), 11th June 2021 (UK), 26th March 2021 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Screenwriter: Derek Kolstad
Cast: Paisley Cadorath (Abby Mansell), Darya Charusha (Beta), Neil Davison (Albert), Paul Essiembre (Jim the Neighbour), Humberley Gonzalez (Lupita Martin), Michael Ironside (Eddie Williams), Christopher Lloyd (David Mansell), Billy MacLellan (Charlie Williams), J.P. Manoux (Pentagon Darren), Adrian McLean (Joey), Araya Mengesha (Pavel), Edson Morales (Luis Martin), Gage Munroe (Blake Mansell), Ilya Naishuller (Hitman Anatoly), Connie Nielsen (Becca Mansell), Bob Odenkirk (Hutch Mansell), Aleksandr Pal (Teddy Kuzenetsov), Joanne Rodriguez (Bus Driver Donna), RZA (Harry Mansell), Colin Salmon (The Barber), Aleksy Serebryakov (Yulian Kuznetsov), Sergei Shnurov (Hitman Valentin), Thomas Soares (Alan Breiseth)
Running Time: 92 mins
Classification: MA15 (Australia), TBC (Thailand), R (USA), TBC (UK)
Bob Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell in Nobody, directed by Ilya Naishuller.
OUR NOBODY REVIEWS
David Griffiths’ Nobody Review:
Gone are the days when a film can get away with senseless violence without there being some kind of ‘art’ to it. I don’t say that because of cancel culture or anything to do with morals or something like that. I say that because of what audiences expect from films these days. I can remember a time when audiences would happily sit through, and enjoy, films that were pretty much just an action hero blowing away bad guys for 90 minutes – story was optional.
But due to television shows like The Walking Dead and a range of young filmmakers who found a way to mix art with action audiences expect something special from action flicks these days. Of course the franchises that are held in the highest regard are The Raid and John Wick and now those two have another brother-in-arms – Nobody.
Of course for those of us who like creative action films we had a little bit of an inkling that Nobody could be something special. Throw in a producer from John Wick and the director responsible for the incredibly under-rated Hardcore Henry and you had the right kind of cocktail to be creative and explosive.
The ‘nobody’ that the film centres around is Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul). Mansell lives a nothing life, he is pushed around by his father-in-law and brother-in-law at work, he is bored with his job and it is easy to see that his wife (Connie Nielsen – Wonder Woman) and son (Gage Munroe – Brotherhood) have no respect for him at all. In their eyes he is simply a ‘loser.’
In fact the only person that seems to look up to him is his daughter (newcomer Paisley Cadorath) and even her respect level seems to drop after the family endures a violent home invasion and Hutch does nothing to protect them.
That seems to tip him over the edge though and as a secret side of Hutch is once again woken up he finds himself going after those that disrespected his family but in doing so sparks the anger of Russian mobster Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebryakov – Leviathan) who wants bloody revenge of his own, and nothing will stand his way.
Just like with Hardcore Henry what makes director Ilya Naishuller’s work stand out here is just how creative he is when it comes to action and violence. Just like Gareth Evans did with the sensational The Raid Naishuller turns every action sequence and fight scene here like it is a piece of clay that needs to be moulded into a work of art. Like Evans’ bathroom stall scene Naishuller’s bus fight sequence here is something special – something that will be savoured by action fans right around the world and talked about for years to come.
Having said that though there are times though when it feels like screenwriter Derek Kolstad (John Wick) was trying to parody the franchise that he helped create rather than emulate it. Some of the lines here are just a little too cheesy to be accidental, especially the ‘give me the damn kitty cat bracelet’ scene and even the sequences around David (Christopher Lloyd – Back To The Future), while cool, feels like it was written tongue-in-cheek.
Having said that though Lloyd is fantastic here and seems to embrace the opportunity to handle big guns while shooting bad guys to smithereens – a role we have rarely seen him play during his career. Likewise the tough guy character is very different to what we have seen Odenkirk play in the past but he does it delightfully well and announces himself as a modern day unexpected action hero alongside the likes of Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jnr.
Nobody is a world of fun to watch and the impressive fight scenes are more than enough to over-shadow the weak storyline. Just be warned though if you did get squeamish during John Wick then you might want to give this one a miss but Nobody cranks up the blood and gore to a whole new level. Yes, this is a film for those that like their action with blood splatter.
Saints & Savages has revealed that Red Rage, the explosive British thriller will be released in the UK on 12th April on DVD & Digital Download platforms. Red Rage recently won Best Feature at the Europe Film Festival 2021.
The film stars a host of British talent including Adam Deacon (Anuvahood), Vas Blackwood (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Ian Reddinton (Highlander) and Steven Berkoff (Octopussy).
This will be the second Saints & Savages title with Savvas D. Michael behind the camera, with Original Gangster and Righteous Villains also confirmed for UK release on 5th and 19th April respectively. The film also reunites a number of the cast with Savvas D. Michael, with Berkoff also starring in Righteous Villains, Blackwood and Reddington in Original Gangster and Deacon in both.
The gritty thriller will also introduce Fernanda Diniz in her first lead role alongside Jack Turner.
A murderous vigilante couple tear through the city, serving vengeance to dealers of a new designer drug called Red Devil in this nightmarish dystopia where everyone seems high on something.
Commenting on the release, Saints and Savages’ CEO, John Pavlakos was delighted with the announcement. He said “It’s fantastic that we’re able to release Red Rage in the UK. Diniz and Turner are great in the lead roles and there is fantastic British talent supporting them in the likes of Adam Deacon, Vas Blackwood, Ian Reddington and the iconic Steven Berkoff. This one’s a wild trip!“
Red Rage will be available on DVD & Digital Download from 12th April and can be pre-ordered here
Well blockbusters are certainly back in the cinemas. For the last week it has felt that there are no other films in the cinema as the two titans Godzilla and Kong have dominated cinema box office takings as they face off in Godzilla vs Kong.
Of course those two giants need some human support throughout the film and one of those ‘supporters’ is actress Rebecca Hall who plays Kong’s carer, Dr Ilene Andrews, in the film. There are some who maybe asking why an actress known for doing arthouse films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Shakespearian theatre productions would want to be involved with an action blockbuster like Godzilla vs Kong but Hall says there were no hesitations for her to work on the project.
“There were a couple of things that really pulled me towards it,” says Hall reflecting on her decision to join the cast. “I found it really interesting that in a lot of the King Kong films there is kind of this dynamic where he falls in love with a beautiful lady and he wants to save her, and then that is the general thrust of the film. Often it is a blonde beautiful lady but I found with this one it was really interesting because the person that Kong has the most intimate relationship with is a child.”
The other element that really intrigued Hall was the fact that Kong’s closest confidant was in fact deaf. “When I found out that they had someone who was legally deaf (actress Kaylee Hottle) playing the part I thought that was really interesting… and valid. Then I realised that the character that they wanted me to play was the Jane Goodell kind of character for King Kong and I thought that was pretty interesting. This was the kind of alliteration of this film where there was something different… and I liked that about it.”
Of course the question on everybody’s lips is what causes Kong and Godzilla to come to blows and Hall laughs when she is asked that question. “Well it comes to a head when on they are on the way to Hollow Earth,” says Hall laughing even more at how absurd her sentence sounds when spoken.
“Godzilla is on the loose and there is a sort of theory held by myself, Ilene Andrews, that the titans will found each out and there is a long-held, ancient rivalry between these two figures,” she said as she composes herself. “And she believes that if you put them in the same vicinity that they will probably find each other and it will probably go a little bit pear-shaped… and she is right.”
Of course one thing that many people seem to have forgotten about this film is that it is very much part of the Universal Monster universe that the studio is hoping will continue to entertain audiences for years to come, but that is something that Hall is very aware of.
“These are two of the classic monsters that have popped up on our screen for years and years,” he explains with excitement clear in her voice. “They go head-to-head. The film is about them, I am not the focus. There is excitement around what will happen between them, there is an excitement to see that. But on top of all that and what is special about this one is that there is a really good story. There are some really fun interesting characters… this is not your standard archetypal heroes and villains. It is all very unexpected and fun and there is quite a bit of humor in it.”
Godzilla vs Kong is currently screening in Phuket. It is classified ‘G’.
Louise Linton’s comedy thriller, Me You Madness, starring Gossip Girl heart throb Ed Westwick, will be released on Digital Download in the UK & Ireland on 19th April by ILY Films.
Me You Madness is Linton’s first experience of writing and directing. She also stars, playing Catherine Black; a ruthlessly ambitious, intelligent and successful business woman who happens to also be gorgeous. She lives a life of luxury: architectural dream house in Malibu, exclusive designer fashions, fast cars and exquisite jewelry. She has no need for a man except to satisfy her natural serial killer instinct.
When Tyler (Ed Westwick), a petty thief, responds to her online roommate ad, he thinks he’s struck a goldmine. He has no idea after a night of partying and passion that he is really just on the menu as her next victim. Things go according to plan, until Tyler falls for Catherine (Louise Linton). For the first time in her life, she also starts to fall for him. Catherine’s life may change until Tyler discovers the freezer filled with the severed heads and limbs of her previous dates. She must decide whether to kill Tyler to protect her secret, or start a new life worth living with a man.
Louise Linton says, “This film is a very self-aware, playful and colorful homage to the 80’s and to the films that inspired me such as ‘Flash Dance’, ‘Footloose’, and ‘Dirty Dancing’. It is glamorous and consummately willful in its decadent style and neon aesthetic. It is heavily driven with dance-along 80’s hits, choreography, fight sequences, and beautiful locations. My hope for this film is that it makes people laugh at a time when we could all use some more laughter in our lives.”
Prepare for some serious serious fun this spring. Me You Madness will be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Sky Store, Sony, TalkTalk in the UK and Ireland on 19th April.
