This enjoyable and boisterous sequel to one of Pixar’s high watermarks pits its protagonist against the onset of puberty as the appearance of more emotions creates havoc and a crisis of sense of self.
Eschewing narrative economy for an epic five-act saga, this prequel to Fury Road is a different beast of a film, focusing first on drama and then action, effectively deepening the mythos of the Wasteland.
Occasionally too plotty and maximalist in style for its own good, but it is no doubt a stunning sequel with loads of sci-fi spectacle and intrigue.
A tad more exciting and invigorating than the first instalment, and one that poses existential questions about the heroic quests of the titular figure(s), this is a continuously inventive and surprising work of blockbuster animation.
Tom Cruise, the consummate entertainer, once again shows us why he’s Hollywood’s last action hero in this penultimate M:I outing that is somewhat bogged down by plotting that is way too reliant on its airy-fairy MacGuffin.
No doubt ahead of its predecessor both visually and technically, with compelling stretches of action and world immersion, but its storytelling depth and character development are unexpectedly shallow.
It does make some attempt in drawing out a poignant story about grief and loss, with Letitia Wright particularly impressive, but this sequel doesn’t quite scale the heights of the first movie’s creative spirit, or share its tautness.
It goes through its storytelling beats without fuss but also without invention, though all that becomes insignificant when you are in the cockpit of a fighter jet in what could be the most immersive blockbuster to be shot aerially since Dunkirk.
The movie that launched the popular action franchise is rather uninspired despite having De Palma at the helm—action is few and far between and the conversational scenes feel lacklustre.
One of Marvel’s most visually fascinating movies to date, but certainly not one (or two) of their finest hours.
Eternality Tan 