I haven’t seen many movies this month, but have enjoyed most of them. Here are the contenders:
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – The latest instalment in the MCU introduces characters I had never heard of. A solid entry into the franchise with a cast of likeable and diverse cast. Like a lot of the MCU, the storytelling is a little saggy in the middle, and the ending is just the usual CGIfest.
Copshop – More bonkers fun from Joe Carnahan in a film that owes a lot to Assault on Precinct 13 and Rio Bravo. Frank Grillo and Gerard Butler are on great form but the real MVP is Alexis Louder.
Prisoners of Ghostown – a bonkers Nicolas Cage movie made was recently my Movie of the Month, this movie won’t get the same accolade, it’s just a mess!
Candyman -Sequel and soft reboot to the excellent 90’s horror. Beautifully shot with a great socio-political subtext, but it lacks the great horror of the original.
Dune – No, I haven’t seen a preview of Denis Villeneuve’s new movie, this is David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation. I first saw the movie when I was about ten (around five years before I read the book) and loved it. The film looks amazing and is perfectly cast. The only issue is the pacing, he really needed over three house to tell the story.
The Green Knight – David Lowery’s movie adapted from the 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Not afraid to embrace its origin, the narrative is poetic and ambiguous. The photography is stunning, and Dev Patel is fantastic. Finally an Arthurian movie to rival Monty Python and John Boorman. Sadly it didn’t get a much of a release, but believe me its worth the effort to see it on the big screen.
No Time to Die – Daniel Craig’s final outing as Bond has really divided opinion. While it has all the themes and tropes of a Bond movie, the pacing and storytelling is very different from a Bond movie. The performances are great, and Craig is the funniest he has been as Bond. The are a few plot/story choices that are very bold, that I’m not convinced work. On the whole, I liked it but with resonations.
A couple of Bond movies have been movie of the month, but not this time, my movie of the month has to be:
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 
Interesting! I have not seen The Green Knight yet, but I do prefer Lowery’s smaller and nicher productions, and loved his Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and A Ghost Story. Just on the basis of these two films clearly he is a very talented director. The curious thing is that he is now working on a live-action remake of animation Peter Pan. I dislike these live actions remakes of classic animations, but if it will be from Lowery, I’m definitely in!
Interesting mix of films, Andy. Are you going regularly to the cinema again now?
I’m a bit MCU-ed out at the moment so won’t catch Shang-Chi on the big screen. I’ll no doubt see it at some point though.
I’d like to see The Green Knight. During my English degree I studied a module called ‘Arthurian Adaptations’ but must admit I don’t remember The Green Knight much… it was more about the French lays and the Mabinogion.
I had planned to rewatch all the Bonds (which I did years ago before Skyfall) before watching No Time To Die but I’ve run out of time.