Movie reviews of Craig McKenzie

Captain America: Brave New World is another symptom of the MCU’s identity crisis—scattered, unfocused, and frustratingly safe. Anthony Mackie shines, but the film itself is a forgettable stopgap rather than a meaningful step forward. Review

A bland and generic sci-fi action movie that fails to deliver creative set pieces or engaging characterisation. This one should remain classified. Review

A breezy and unchallenging 90 minutes with strong acting from talented performers, compelling ideas and an interesting premise that doesn’t quite ascend to the heights it could reach. Review

An engaging and thoughtful commentary on romantic ideals and desires giving way to reality is often overwhelmed by an unfocused script that struggles to define what the film wants to be. Review

An impressive visual feast with a strong central character dynamic that earns the genesis of one of pop culture’s most iconic rivalries. Review

A well-acted and compelling take on a vampire story that is dragged down by a lack of focus and failing to make proper use of its strengths. Review

A sharply written complex story about the complexities of grief with a unique central premise, an engaging leading character and an abundance of charm. Review

A solid conclusion to an ambitious trilogy that excels in the set pieces, contains strong emotional character beats and a hopeful ending coming together to prove itself more than worthy of the time spent watching it. Review

A sharp, slick and stylish superhero romp with excellent leading performances, an impressive meta-narrative and a strong sense of fun that acts as a loving tribute to the Fox era of Marvel movies. Review

A good second chapter that adds scope to the overall narrative while providing meaningful individual stories. Review

A thoughtful and complex exploration of an illicit relationship between flawed and damaged characters that makes excellent use of an unconventional structure and sharp script to create an experience that feels fresh and doesn’t shy away from the messiness of relationships. Review

An unmitigated disaster with no convincing performances, terrible storytelling, negligible characterisation, baffling dialogue that in no way resembles human speech, headache-inducing action and laughable attempts at fan service. The collection of terrible decisions that resulted in this film should be studied. Review

A stylish and engaging heist movie with strong performances and snappy dialogue that defies expectations. Review

A strong example of single-location filmmaking with an excellent leading performance, expertly crafted mood and atmosphere and a uniquely presented mystery that creatively builds over the running time. Review

An entertaining watch effortlessly carried by Camila Mendes endlessly charming and charismatic performance that could make better use of its ingredients. Review

An excellent opening to the trilogy that tells a powerful character-driven story that grounds the Crisis event with relatable emotional stakes. Review

A creative and fun crossover that moves at a brisk pace, offers plenty of exciting action and vibrant visuals that doesn’t alienate either side of the fanbase. Review

A light, fun and unchallenging viewing experience with a delightful central dynamic, impressive action and strong comedic beats. It’s far from a masterpiece but also far from a waste of time. Review

An entertaining riff on the slasher genre with a strong cast that doesn’t quite manage to be more than the sum of its parts. Review

A positive and hopeful film about the power of love and the influence it can have on someone’s life that boasts positivity shining like a beacon through the darkness of an unpleasant community. Review

Site 13 is a straightforward yet engrossing spin on a subgenre rarely achieved well on film, fusing the past and the present into a single tale of damnation and madness. A found footage mystery, a cosmic horror, a 2000s chiller, a 2020s psychological exploration and a contemporising of immensely popular yet uncomfortably dated stories, the film is many things at the same time and manages to do justice to them all. Review

A fun and visually creative experience with a strong leading performance that makes great use of the potential that a hero with super speed brings. Review

An entertaining blockbuster with likeable characters and an uncomplicated plot that contains some impressive set pieces making good use of its premise. Review

An expertly crafted, visually stunning triumph of animation that has more than enough substance to back up the abundance of style. Review