Jaden's Movie Reviews

I truly have been changed for good. Wicked: For Good is the highly anticipated follow-up/2nd act to it's predecessor: Wicked, released back in 2024. Watching the first one on the big screen was an awesome experience and really immersed me into the magical world of Oz, naturally making me anticipate the arrival of it's sequel. I went into this film with extremely high expectations, and MAN did it deliver. As it is set 12 months after the events of the first film, Wicked: For Good dives deep into the political underworkings in Oz, such as Galinda becoming spokesperson to the Wizard and Elphaba being titled the "Wicked Witch of the West". There is quite a significant tonal shift from the first act being happy and bubbly to the gritty and dark tone of the second act, however, the switch is handled in a smooth and immersive way which does not muddle the powerful message it delivers. Talking about the performances, Cynthia Erivo shines as the noble witch who aims to expose ...

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is the latest installment in a long franchise of books, games and films. I didn't really enjoy it's 2023 predecessor, however, I went into this one hopeful that they would deliver ample scares, a fun time for the audience and mend all the mistakes they had made in the last part (lore-wise and script-wise). Sadly, this was not the case.   Starting off with the positives, I really enjoyed the retro vibe and the accuracy with which it was captured. Some shots, especially in the pizzeria, perfectly convey the horror and grit of the animatronics. The tense background score also helps the audience to immerse themselves in each chase scene, feeling the anxiety and nervousness of each character. With that being said, the film suffers from some major issues: a wafer-thin plot paired with plastic acting. The script is quite nonsensical and jumps from scene to scene without having a central conflict or objective. Unfortunately, the editing does not try to hel...

| Very few sequels ever justify their existence. Zootropolis 2 does it in the first 10 minutes. The long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed 2016 cartoon: Zootopia has finally arrived, and MAN did it blow me away.  Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard and picking up right from where the first one ended, Zootropolis 2 follows the fun loving duo: Nick and Judy, as they solve their newest case concerning a reptile that threatens to disturb the peace of their city. I was a huge fan of the first film and had rewatched it multiple times for its comedic value and unique representation of coexistence, and it's safe to say that this sequel is one of (if not) the best animated films of the year. The script written by Jared Bush is extremely deep, weaving in themes of acceptance and harmony, while also sprinkling comedic references to famous movies such as The Godfather and other popular media. The newly introduced characters are fleshed out properly, the highlight being the villain...

THE FOUR HORSEMEN ARE BACK BABY!! I was fortunate enough to catch the lastest entry in the NYSM franchise: Now You See Me Now You Don't, early at the Motiongate X Roxy Cinemas UAE premiere, thanks to Roxy Cinemas and Italia Film ME. I was a huge fan of the previous 2 films, the first one being the highlight of the series for me, and boy did I enjoy this one! First off, this movie is a ton of fun. Packed with stylistic magic sequences, exotic locations (even a portion in Abu Dhabi 😉) and a fresh pack of characters, Now You See Me: Now You Don't kept me on the edge of my seat, anticipating the next crazy magic trick they would do to get out of whatever risky situation they're in. The plot is fairly simple: the 4 Horsemen team up with a bunch of new "illusionists" to steal the world's largest diamond; however, the execution surpassed the simplicity of the plot. The highlight of the film for me was the scene where they each tried to one-up the other using magic,...

Kaantha is the latest period drama from renowned actor Dulquer Salman, pairing up with a not-so-famous director: Selvamani Selvaraj. Going into this film, I kept my expectations quite high after seeing the mysterious and intriguing trailer. Safe to say, I was not disappointed at all. I expected this script to be extremely rigid and cliché: ego clashes, relationship dynamics and an egoistic actor. However, this is one of those silent movies that slowly sneaks up on you and shocks you when you're at your weakest. At its core, Kaantha is a character-driven piece. The film introduces us to TK Mahadevan and Ayya, whose internal lives are rich, tense and full of drama. Their conversations, silences, and even small gestures are rich in subtext. The director does a wonderful job of letting character development take centre stage, gently peeling back layers through both dialogue and visual storytelling. This is DQ's strongest performance yet, blending moments of quiet confrontatio...

The Smashing Machine is the latest sports drama from acclaimed director Benny Safdie. Famous for directing cult classics such as Uncut Gems and Good Time, this is his experimental take on the life of amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr. I was pretty excited going into this film, anticipating how Benny would tackle the life of a fighter that has been lost in the pages of MMA, and safe to say that I was not disappointed at all. The story follows the normal sports drama template: personal life, inner demons and redemption. Even though the screenplay is extremely binary and generic, Benny Safdie adds his magic touch and elevates this film from a vanilla biopic to a thought-provoking film that will have you in pieces by the end. Dwayne Johnson brings his career-best performance to the table, displaying extreme vulnerability and rawness that has never been seen before. Emily Blunt portrays this horrible, selfish woman that emotionally manipulates and blackmails Mark, even to the...