Reviews

After the smash hit success of the first Guardians of the Galaxy feature, Starlord and his merry band of misfits have reunited for volume 2 of this cosmic superhero story – and dare we say it? It was just as good, if not better, than the first! With true directorial vision from James Gunn and a cinematic and storytelling style that makes it stand out a mile from the rest of the Marvelmovies, **Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is an absolute romper of a film, filled with a rainbow of colour, an incredibly detailed myriad of alien worlds and species, and enough action and comedy to leave you wanting more. ...

**Nerve is a film examining the impact of technology on our lives, and comes from the minds behind the original documentary **Catfish – unfortunately, it’s a lacklustre attempt at creating a dark underworld of techy teenagers and what dangers the internet hides. It follows Vee (Emma Roberts), a shy high school senior who decides to get involved with ‘Nerve’, the latest online craze which is essentially an online version of truth or dare where you receive cash rewards if you succeed. Vee is a shy and socially awkward teenager, who would never do anything out of her comfort zone or to upset her mother, and who has lived in the shadow or her outgoing and popular best friend Sydney her whole life. After being embarrassed by Sydney, Vee decides to sign up as a player of Nerve to prove she has guts to do, well, anything. She is soon sucked into performing questionable and illegal acts with fellow player Ian, (Dave Franco) and the only way to get out safely is to win the game. ...

**Captain Fantastic is one of the most original and underrated gems of the last year. Following similar styles as films such as **Little Miss Sunshine, it is a funny look at some of the more overlooked issues in modern life. It is funny, intelligent and heart-warming whilst also being heart-wrenching. The film follows Ben (Viggo Mortensen), a man who has raised his 6 children in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Living a life of extreme physical training together with a particularly high end approach to home schooling, his children have blossomed into highly intelligent people of the wilderness. Upon learning of his ill wife’s suicide, Ben must take the plunge, moving his children out of the forest and into the real world so they can attend her funeral and fulfill their mother’s dying wish. ...

As one of the many Wolverine spin-offs from the long-lasting X-Men franchise, **Logan, on paper, was expected to be an average film at best. However, Marvel have managed to flip the Wolverine story on its back and bring us a surprise superhero masterpiece. Set in 2029, the mutant population is almost extinct and Logan’s healing powers are beginning to dwindle. He is an alcoholic and works as a chauffeur so he can care for Professor Charles Xavier, who now suffers from a neurodegenerative disease which causes his powers to become unpredictable and dangerous. Logan is approached by a woman asking him to take her daughter to a mysterious place called Eden to keep her safe from a secret corporation who want her mutant DNA. With his responsibilities now compromised, Logan must decide whether to use his powers for good or continue his downward spiral. ...

**American Honeyis a beautiful, sun-drenched whirlwhind of a youthful road movie, directed by Andrea Arnolds. It stars newcomer Sasha Lane – who Arnolds spotted in Florida on her spring break – as Star, a Texan girl with responsibility weighing on her shoulders who is lured into the lifestyle of travelling sales by Jake, played by Shia LaBeouf. There’s a tangible chemistry between Lane and LaBeouf from the outset, and we follow them through the roads of America as they try to earn themselves some money. There’s so much going on in this film – it’s a classic road movie tinged with epic romance, as well as something to say about poverty and class and the American dream. Plot twists aren’t what* American Honey* is going for; it’s more a study of a group of people travelling together, how they bond, fight, love and betray, and how one lost girl finds a way to fit in with them. ...

There was always going to be some form of controversy surrounding the remake of such a beloved eighties movie, but I don’t think anyone quite expected the backlash that this gender-swapped version of **Ghostbusters received. Unfortunately, for die-hard fans, a female fronted remake was an insult to the original, and whilst this isn’t the best film to ever come out of Hollywood by any means, it definitely does not deserve the criticism it received. ...

Based upon the best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins, *The Girl on the Train*was one of the most anticipated films of 2016. Being one of the biggest phenomenon’s in recent literature, audiences wouldn’t have to wait too long for the film adaptation. With a story that should translate so well to the screen and a stellar cast, we thought it was going to be fail-safe. Unfortunately, we were left feeling disappointed. ...

With one of the most talked about film openings of the year so far, **Get Out has proved to be a surprise horror hit. By maintaining a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes for almost the entirety of its release and garnering a lot of attention around its racial themes, it has been one of the most talked about films in recent memory. Get Out follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his white girlfriend Rose (Alison Williams, and her being white is important) as the couple go to visit Rose’s family for the weekend. With Chris yet to meet the parents, he is anxious to know whether they are aware he is black. Upon meeting the seemingly lovely family, cracks soon begin to show with the introduction of two black servants working for them who are eerily robotic and obedient, leading to a tense increase in Chris’s discomfort. We soon learn that Rose’s mother (played by Catherine Keener) is a keen hypnotist, and it doesn’t take long for her to practice this talent on Chris to disturbing results. What ensues from there is a playful but often horrific exploration into the depths of racism in America. ...

**The Edge of Seventeen is a brutally honest tale of teenage angst and the laughter that comes along with it. Starring Hailee Steinfeld, never in recent years have we seen such an accurate portrayal of the struggles of teenage life without the glamour of Hollywood to add a rose-tinted hue. Like a crossover between **Sixteen Candles and **Perks of Being a Wallflower, Edge of Seventeen is an incredibly funny take on the all-encompassing high school years, warts and all. ...

After the unexpected success of **The Lego Movie, audiences worldwide couldn’t wait for the next instalment, and when it was revealed that the next movie would be a spin-off starring Batman, fans jumped for joy. With his absolute arrogance and audacity, Batman was arguably the best character in The Lego Movie and provided many of the best jokes, so **The Lego Batman Movie was the obvious next step in this franchise with so much potential. ...