Jaden's Movie Reviews

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...

The long-awaited installment in the Tron series is finally here, and it's a good one. After 15 years of fans itching every single body part for a sequel, Joachim Rønning takes up the mantle of delivering the good news. I went in with extremely low expectations after seeing the negative reviews and the box office failures, but this might be the most fun I've had with a Disney movie in a LONG time. The story follows two rival tech companies: ENCOM, led by Eve Kim, and Dillinger Systems, led by Julian Dillinger—Ed Dillinger’s grandson. Julian manages to create a super-intelligent AI program: ARES, that serves as a military soldier and can be deployed during battle. He's biblically strong, lightning fast, supremely intelligent—and if he is struck down on the battlefield, a duplicate system is instantly deployed. The pulsating, heart-pounding, techno-esque soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails, paired with the gorgeous visuals, creates an extremely immersive viewing experience. I ...

Roofman is the latest release from acclaimed director: Derek Cianfrance, famously known for making raw and emotional movies such as Blue Valentine. I was fortunate to see Roofman at the UAE premiere, thanks to Reel Cinemas, ItaliaFilm ME and ItzyReviews. I personally went in with my expectations low after seeing how the film was marketed and the lack of hype surrounding it, but man oh man, my socks were BLOWN off. Based off a true story inspired by terrible decisions, the story follows a divorced ex-army officer with 3 children and crazy observational skills. Using these skills for the noble intent of providing his children with a better life, he turns to a world of crime, which sets off a bizarre chain of events. Every single character is fleshed out perfectly in this film, the pacing is balanced and the score (albeit soft at times) sets the tone for this quirky, offbeat, character-driven drama. Channing Tatum is an absolute gem. This is easily his best role and he brings such emotion...