After the return of half the population in Avengers: Endgame ignites “the emergence”, the Eternals—an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7,000 years—reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.

Fresh off her Academy Award-winning work on the dramatic Nomadland, director Chloé Zhao jumps headfirst into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and opens audiences up to a brand new cast of characters with The Eternals, a group of extraterrestrial gods who have a massive connection to the very foundation of the MCU and she gets to stretch her creativity as a filmmaker with this project to a very cosmic level. As a director, Zhao strikes the right balance between the massive scale and intimate emotion that works its way into Eternals and she uses a unique storytelling frame to explore the presence of the Eternals and their place both in the past and present on Earth and how they have shaped human existence from the shadows.

Zhao also leans heavily into the design aesthetic and storytelling of the great Jack Kirby; an artist who was a literal world-builder and who along with his collaborator Stan Lee helped to craft the entire Marvel Universe. The Eternals where his singular creation and Zhao revisits the unique design language that Kirby established when bringing these characters to life and by injecting Kirby’s unique rendering style into the project she truly marks Eternals out as a Marvel film that does not look like any other previous MCU films. Added to the unique look and feel of Eternals is its stunning visual effects and cinematography, and with the presence of its cosmic atmosphere and the arrival of the mighty Celestials, Eternals stands out as a very impressive visual specimen.

Eternals is a complete ensemble piece and Zhao has assembled quite the cast. Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie make up this eclectic cast of characters and each brings their unique sensibilities and personality to this very diverse group of characters. Splitting the Eternals up into the ‘fighters’ who include Madden, Nanjiani, Ridloff, Lee and Jolie and the ‘thinkers’ who include Chan, McHugh, Henry, Keoghan and Hayek keeps the action and storytelling of the film’s narrative interesting, while also adding to the sense of family that the film builds on and the drama that comes with it. This pack of heroes is certainly the most unique mix that we’ve so far seen in the MCU and Zhao leans into each of the actor’s personalities and quirks to distinguish the Eternals from other more established MCU heroes.

Of particular note in Eternals is Richard Madden as the heroically stoic Ikaris. Standing tall and proud and presenting a considerable action man gravitas to his performance, Madden holds the attention of the screen as the high-flying Ikrais and proves that he has the chops to handle the role of the leading man. Madden brings a grand sense of power to his role as Ikaris and it’s a solid performance that marks him out as an actor to watch. He’s juxtaposed as Ikaris with the presence of Gemma Chan’s Sersi who is more reserved in her performance and who offers audiences a path into the world of the Eternals, and she brings a great maturity to her role and position as Sersi.

Breaking things up and bringing a fun sense of levity to the heavy drama of Eternals is Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo and this is Nanjiani as we’ve never seen him before/ Playing Kingo as an egotistical playboy who has embraced the opportunities that eternal life has granted him, Nanjiani has a blast really shifting things up and his outlook in the film has an important part to play in the narrative. Lia McHugh also marks herself out as a true revelation as Sprite, an ‘old soul’ who brings plenty of dramatic tension to the story and who holds her own with the older members of the cast. Angelina Jolie also really shifts things up as the warrior Thena, and she plays with plenty of heavy emotions and her role is marked by key feelings of trauma and loss. Kit Harrington also makes a very interesting cameo appearance as Dane Whitman, a human mortal who is guarding a dangerous lineage and the secrets that come with it, and who makes a keen impression on audiences.

Eternals is a real rush of a ride, and after a year of lockdowns and more smaller-scale forms of entertainment it’s so much fun to finally be back in front of a big screen and the epic reach that only the cinema can present. Zhao showcases an amazing level of dynamic action that will have your blood pumping and Eternals is an exciting time at the cinema for sure. From laser-energy battles with the hellish Deviants to the presence of the all-consuming force of the mighty Celestials, Eternals packs a hell of a lot of energy onto the big screen and the result is a very cool cinematic presentation, unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Marvel Studios on the big screen before.

Eternals is a Marvel film that takes risks and wins big with its narrative, visuals and universe expanding concepts and injects a host of fantastic new energy into the still-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s superhero cinema done big and bold and Marvel fans get one hell of a cool treat with this one.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Pursued by Jack and Patrick Blackwell, two assassins who killed his father, Conner Casserly meets veteran fire warden and wilderness survival expert Hannah Faber (Angelina Jolie), who offers him shelter in her lookout tower. When the assassins set fire to the forest in order to find the pair, Faber and Casserly must both survive a deadly blaze that threatens to consume them, and outwit the killers on their trail.

It’s been some time since we’ve had a proper director who understands the machinations and legacy of the western genre, but in recent years writer/director Taylor Sheridan has proven that he understands the workings of this genre like no one else. Following in the line of great directors such as John Ford, John Sturges, Sam Peckinpah and Clint Eastwood, Sheridan has shown that he knows how to tell a compelling and interesting story in works such as Hell or High Water and Wind River and that he can capture the true wild character of America’s frontier. Now in Those Who Wish Me Dead, he takes audiences into the wild backcountry of Montana and creates a contest of the hunter and the hunted that gives plenty of energy.

Sheridan finds another brilliant collaborator in the form of Angelia Jolie, and this is Jolie unlike we’ve ever seen her before. As veteran hotshot and smoke jumper Hannah Faber, Jolie is an adrenaline junkie wild woman who has somewhat of a death wish and is nursing a painful past mistake while on the job. When trouble finds her though she has to accept the care of a boy who needs her help and it soon becomes a race against time to get him to safety. This part is a change-up for Jolie, and she jumps headfirst into the action which comes fast and quick thanks to Sheridan’s direction and there’s plenty of challenges that come her way in this one.

Providing a good sense of backup in Those Who Wish Me Dead is Jon Bernthal as Sheriff Ethan Sawyer, and this marks his third collaboration with Sheridan. As Ethan, Bernthal is an honest man and noted tracker who finds himself trying to provide back-up to Faber and Conner as they desperately try to escape the Blackwell’s and it’s another solid turn for Bernthal. Sawyer is probably the most white hat character that Bernthal has ever portrayed, as he has crafted a career playing sharp-eyed anti-heroes and I firmly believe that the white hat role fits him perfectly here. His chemistry with Jolie is also impressive and there’s a great underlying sexual tension held between the two with their character being former lovers.

Mixing it up in Those Who Wish Me Dead in the role of the assassins who have been tasked to hunt down and eliminate Connor Casserly as the Blackwell’s are Aiden Gillen and Nicholas Hoult, and they make a lethal pair here. While Gillen is always an adept villain and a real talent for crafting nasty characters, the real change-up comes for Nicholas Hoult who trades in his pretty-boy status for this banged up and ugly character who has a Spec-Ops background and applies plenty of lethal force when necessary. He gives it a good-go as this bad guy character and it’s something different for the actor which is fun to watch.

Sheridan finds his action here in Those Who Wish Me Dead by calling upon the natural landscape of the Montana wilderness and using it to his narrative advantage. Crafting one of the biggest blazes ever seen on the big screen, Sheridan creates a roaring forest fire that acts as the film’s third antagonist and it truly gives Angelina Jolie’s Hannah Faber plenty of trouble. Out of control and amplifying the action, the film’s final act takes place in the midst of this blaze and its unstoppable force and heat lead to some gnarly moments on screen.

Those Who Wish Me Dead offers up plenty of originality within the western genre and presents Angelina Jolie in a whole new light, and those looking for a few thrills should head to it immediately.

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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A gorilla named Ivan tries to piece together his past with the help of an elephant named Stella as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.

Directed by Thea Sharrock, The One and Only Ivan has been adapted from the best-selling book by K. A. Applegate, and which is in turn based on the true-life story of Ivan, a gorilla who stunned the world after it was learnt that he could paint, and who was set free from captivity after 27 years. Sharrock brings a sense of major and wonder to The One and Only Ivan with her high-concept CGI visuals that brings this colourful cast of anthropomorphic characters to life. But it’s her focus on the film’s story of family and the quest for freedom that will pull at the audience’s heartstrings. Sharrock focuses on the conflicting nature that can arise between humans and the animal kingdom, and this film has a solid environmental message that most definitely strikes a chord with young and old audiences alike.

Taking on the lead role of Ivan is Academy Award-winning actor Sam Rockwell, and he brings his usual dry wit and likeable character to this big-bodied, big-hearted gorilla. As a character, Ivan is billed as the star of the show at The Big Top Mall, but in reality, he’s very much an everyman who is searching for meaning in the world, while also trying to help those around him in his extended circus family. Rockwell brings a sincerity to the character of Ivan, who is somewhat of a lost soul until he is given charge of a baby elephant named Ruby (Brooklynn Prince), and becomes determined to see her to freedom. Making this his mission, Ivan and his family around him work to find a way back to nature and it’s here where The One and Only Ivan takes off. After watching this film I couldn’t think of anyone better suited to the role of Ivan than Rockwell, and he does something special with this character.

Joining Rockwell in The One and Only Ivan, and dishing out plenty of comic relief, is the always delightful Danny DeVito. DeVito, a long time Disney veteran, stars as Bob, a stray dog who is Ivan’s best friend and who is content to take each moment as it comes. That is until he sees how much pain Ivan and his family are in due to their lack of freedom and it’s then that he encourages Ivan in his plan to ‘break out’ of the mall. As always DeVito is an absolute hoot in the role and delivers plenty of cracking dialogue and off-beat comedic hi-jinks.

Giving the film it’s gravitas and spirit is Angelina Jolie, who not only produced the film, but who alos voices the sage-like elephant Stella. Stella is the matriarch of this family, and who has sadly spent all of her life in captivity never having seen the freedom of the outside world. She’s a character who speaks with a graceful authority and who desires that her newfound adopted niece Ruby learn about all the beauty of the outside world. Jolie’s performance is incredibly heartfelt and you can feel that she was making this film for her children, and wished to inspire others to look out on the beauty of the world around them through her performance as this wise and noble elephant. Jolie’s performance will have a profound effect on all audiences and the character of Stella certainly stays with you.

Finally bringing The One and Only Ivan together is show-stopping performer Bryan Cranston as Mac, the owner of The Big Top Mall Circus and who is the film’s most complicated and layered character. Cranston’s Mac very much reflects the idea of man as both friend, and foe, to the animals that we share this world with. While he is deeply loving and affectionate to the animals that make-up his circus, he eventually develops a callous business-like authority in order to drive them to perform so he can keep the show, and the mall, going. While fundamentally a good man, it’s this conflict that keeps you off-guard and I found that as an audience member it’s very difficult to reconcile with how you see Mac, which is a testament to how good of a performer Cranston is.

The One and Only Ivan has a style all it’s own, possessing this quintessential American feeling to it, and even though its setting reflects the late 1980s to early 1990s, it feels entirely contemporary at the same time due to its due environmental message. This focus on the interaction between animal and man brings you deeper into this story, and it’s this narrative of interpersonal relationships between our two species where The One and Only Ivan finds its rhythm. It is a film that has that quintessential Disney magic about it, and you can’t be helped but pulled into this beautiful movie.

In these uncertain times that we currently live in a film such as The One and Only Ivan is sure to lift up your spirit and make your heart sing with that quintessential joy that only Disney storytelling can bring. This film is pure magic and enchants in every way possible. You’ll love it.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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