Category: Films
MOVIE REVIEWS
- Films
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Film Review: When the View Is Better Than the Ride
Tom Holland does what he can in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ yet the film often feels like a letdown between brief bursts of action.
- Films
‘Häjyt 2’ Movie Review: Not Too Much Talk, Just Enough Action – A Very Zen Blockbuster in Finnish Style
In Häjyt 2, suspense takes over the lack of dialogue and action in the Finnish-style blockbuster.
- Films
‘M3gan’ Film Review: Forget Chucky; M3gan Redefines the Doll of Horror
Here's our review of 'M3gan,' a paragon of horror, that we score 100%.
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‘Ambulance’ Film Review: Michael Bay’s Epic Chase is a Masterclass in Action Filmmaking
Here’s our five-star review.
‘Licorice Pizza’ Film Review: P. T. Anderson on a Nostalgic Joyride Through 70s Los Angeles
Here’s our five-star review.
‘The Batman’ Film Review: The Best Film of the Year So Far
Here’s our five-star review.
‘Death on the Nile’ Film Review: Uninspiring, to Say the Least
Here’s our review.
John Landis at Night Visions Film Festival: ‘It’s a Mistake to Direct When You’re in a Gorilla Suit’
Director John Landis’ masterclass was a delight for any cinema enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker during the Night Visions Film Festival in early December in Helsinki. Landis is, among others, the director of ‘Blues Brothers,’ a film widely heralded as one of the best comedies of our times.
‘House of Gucci’ Review: Overwhelming Characters; Al Pacino is King!
Here’s our review.
‘True Story’ Review: Dare to Stop Watching?
Better schedule the evening off when preparing to watch this thriller of a series.
‘King Richard’ Review: Inspiring, Will Smith’s Best Performance
Here’s our review.
‘Red Notice’ Film Review: The Slapstick Funny Action Will Leave Your Troubles Behind
‘Red Notice’ premieres on Netflix on November 12. Here’s our review.
James Bond Welcomes Viewers to Helsinki’s Korjaamo Kino
We spoke with one of the owners of Korjaamo Kino, Finnish actor Antti Luusuaniemi, about the new concept for the venue, its place in Helsinki cinema culture, and, of course, about James Bond.
‘Tove’ Grabs the Prize for Best Film, and Wins in Six Other Categories Too at Jussi Film Awards
‘Tove’ grabs prizes in most categories at the Finnish film awards.
‘Jungle Cruise’ Film Review: Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Take You on the Funniest Ride of the Summer
‘Jungle Cruise’ is a thrilling trip filled with twists and turns. Here’s our review.
Director Spike Lee is Visiting Finland; Shares Laughs with the Finnish President
American director Spike Lee is visiting Finland. So far, he has met with President Sauli Niinistö and Antti Kurvinen, the minister of science and culture.
‘Cruella’ Film Review: Disney’s Live-Action is Carried by Two Emmas
Cruella’ premieres in cinemas on May 28.
‘News of the World’ Film Review: Hanks Is in Charge Again, and We Can Be Thankful for It
Tom Hanks takes us on a journey through late 19th-century America.
Film Review: ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Is About Pointless Banter
The story about “the mother of blues” is taken over by a bunch of players who do more arguing than playing.
‘The Midnight Sky’ Film Review: The ‘Unfortunately Timely Film’ Is a Pleasure for the Viewer
George Clooney acts and directs in this recommended post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama.
‘Mank’ Film Review: A Witty Talkie From Behind the Scenes of the ‘Greatest Movie of All-Time’
Here's our review of 'Mank,' which premieres on Netflix December 4.
‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Film Review: A Complex Tale With Powerful Leading Women
Ron Howard gives us another movie to be remembered for a lifetime.
‘Enola Holmes’ Film Review: Sherlock Holmes’ Sister Shows Knack in Solving Mysteries
Netflix's 'Enola Holmes' is a mystery-adventure to watch.
‘The Devil All the Time’ Film Review: Disturbing But Displays Another Side of Tom Holland
Netflix's 'The Devil All the Time' premieres in Finland on September 16.
‘Richard Jewell’ Film Review: Clint Eastwood Continues His Exploration of Real-Life Heroism
Not all heroes wear capes, nor always get the credit they deserve.
‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ Film Review: A Feel-good Odyssey Through the American South
Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen are a heart-warming duo on the run.
Australian Talent Margot Robbie Takes the Cinemas by Storm on Friday
Margot Robbie stars in 'Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' and 'Bombshell' - both premiering in cinemas on Friday.
DocPoint Film Festival Breaks Crowd Record: 32,000
My own selection of films included some renowned names of documentary cinema.
‘Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear’ Film Review: So Strange and Unpolished, It’s Amusing
The titular surfer, played by Douglas’ son Sage Burke, is a teenage boy who wiped out on a huge wave some time ago and has since been afraid to get back in the water.
‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ Film Review: Bigger Scale, Lesser Effort
Unfortunately, the creators bet everything on banter and the occasional zombie-killing spree, though even that seemed in short supply until the final showdown.
‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ Film Review: Superb Fairy Tale in Every Way
Angelina Jolie returns with a larger-than-life screen presence.
‘Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love’ Film Review: A Portrait of an Artist and His Muse
The story is told through archive footage, photographs, audio recordings and video interviews of those who saw Marianne's and Leonard's love story unfold firsthand.
‘Joker’ Film Review: Decent, but Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
Todd Phillips' take on the Joker falls short of high expectations, despite an amazing Joaquin Phoenix.
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Here’s A List of Some of the Best Films We Watched at the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy
Here’s a list of some of the top movies that screened at HIFF Love and Anarchy.
We Talked About Trainhopping, Cockfighting and Music With Filmmaker Arno Bitschy and Composer Warren Ellis
In his latest project, French filmmaker Arno Bitschy collaborated with Warren Ellis, a composer and a member of alt-rock group Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
Blanchett, Pitt and Stallone in Cinemas Today – What a Weekend for the Moviegoer!
On Friday, three films enter the cinemas across the country: ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette,’ ‘Ad Astra’ and ‘Rambo: Last Blood.’
‘It Chapter Two’ Film Review: The Clown is Creepy; The Film is Boring
‘It Chapter Two’ is long and boring.
‘Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood’ Film Review: An Exuberant Love Letter to a Bygone Era
The ninth film by Quentin Tarantino is an ode to moviemaking.
‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Film Review: A Deep Action Mayhem
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is here to save the world with Jason Statham and we like it.
‘Child’s Play’ Film Review: Chucky is Back With the Knife, Luke Skywalker’s Voice and a Finnish Connection
Chucky is back more advanced than ever. Here’s our review.
‘The Lion King’ Film Review: The Furriness Distracts Away From the Greatness of the Original
Simba is back furrier than before. The original is still better.
‘Midsommar’ Film Review: Pagan Midsummer Festival in Sweden Turns Into a Psychedelic Horror Trip
We are dealing with the strange world of pagan ritual here. But is it good? Read our review.
‘Tolkien’ Review: Finnish Director Dome Karukoski Breathes Life Into the Story of One of the Literature Giants of Our Time
Finnish director Dome Karukoski breaks into Hollywood with extraordinary passion.
‘Vedenneito’ Is an Awe-Inspiring Adventure in the Finnish Nature
In ‘Vedenneito,’ the viewer gets to experience the beauty of Lake Saimaa in summer and winter through a teenager’s eyes.
‘Dumbo’ Film Review: Tim Burton’s Tale of the Flying Elephant is as Much Magical as It is Tear-Jerker
In Dumbo, Burton’s attention to detail is out of this world. So is the film.
‘Captain Marvel’ Film Review: Aggressive Estrogen Flick With Snappy Humor
The two-hour epic starts slowly and confusingly but just when you begin feeling sleepy, it picks up on speed.
‘Moominvalley’ Shines Light on the Smallest Details
We watched the first three episodes of ‘Moominvalley’ (2019) to find out if the new adaptation is worth the watch.
‘Aquaman’ Film Review: Bush Was Wrong – Men and Fish Can’t Coexist Peacefully
Jason Momoa is a superhero. He’s half man, half fish.
‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Film Review: The World’s Greatest Nanny Returns in a Not-So-Great Sequel
The practically perfect nanny is back. But why make a dated sequel?
‘Creed II’ Film Review: A Real Rocky Film Right Here
Do you like boxing or Rocky? If so, you’re in for a treat.
‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Film Review: Harry Potter Author Creates a Stunning Script
It’s a captivating example of Rowling’s screenwriting talent.
‘Valmentaja’ aka ‘Trainer’ Film Review: The Most Inspiring Finnish Film of the Year
Tuukka Temonen is one of the most powerful Finnish directors of period pieces.
‘Mile 22’ Film Review: A Gem In Its Own Genre
Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg collaborate in their fourth film, resulting in a fast-paced action gem.
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‘The Equalizer 2’ Film Review: Better Than the First One
Denzel Washington immerses deep into the role of Robert McCall, giving the viewer cold chills from scene to scene.
‘The Darkest Minds’ Film Review: Compact Summer Blockbuster for Teens
‘The Darkest Minds’ gives a lot to the young audience.
‘BlacKkKlansman’ Film Review: Legendary Director Spike Lee Recruits Finnish Talent For the Year’s Most Compelling Film So Far
Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen goes crazy in Lee’s flick about racial tensions in the ’70s.
‘Skyscraper’ Film Review: Dwayne Johnson’s Best Performance to Date
‘Skyscraper’ is original, funny and compact. What’s not to like?
‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Delivers Nothing New in the Tired Franchise
How many more do we need?
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Film Review: Favorite Superheroes Try to Save the Universe from Extinction While Cracking Jokes
Your favorite superheroes assemble to fight a common enemy that could wipe them out of existence.
‘Black Panther’ Film Review: This Time the Black Guy Gets to Be the Hero
A black guy in a cat suit takes down potential threats while protecting his nation as the king.
‘All the Money in the World’ Film Review: Plummer’s Cold Performance Makes the Viewer Sweat
It’s a great thriller.
‘Molly’s Game’ Film Review: Jessica Chastain Gives an Oscar-Worthy Performance
‘Molly’s Game’ is so far the best picture of the year.
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Film Review: The Greybeards Tag Along to Guarantee the Star Wars Spirit
The film stays true to its roots and features a Finnish actor as well. What’s not to like?
‘The Foreigner’ Film Review: One of The Greatest Performances of Jackie Chan’s Career
We haven’t seen Jackie Chan with 151 movies in his résumé turning in a drama performance like this.
‘Daddy’s Home 2’ Film Review: Wahlberg and Ferrell Deliver the Laughs – Gibson and Lithgow Overact
Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell are the pillars of the film.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Film Review: Cate Blanchett’s Performance as Goddess of Death is an Instant Classic
Blanchett’s performance is a knockout in the third installation of the Thor saga.
‘Loving Vincent’ Film Review: A Real Feast For the Eye and Mind
‘Loving Vincent’ brings Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings alive in a hand-painted pleasure of a film.
‘Tuntematon sotilas’ aka ‘The Unknown Soldier’ Film Review: A Far Cry From the Masterful Novel
Aku Louhimies’ version doesn’t do justice to the original masterpiece.
‘Blade Runner 2049’ Film Review: A Visual Masterpiece That Will Make You Laugh, Cry and Sweat
Denis Villeneuve’s work is outstanding.
‘It’ Film Review: You’ll Be Scared of the Clown Too
Andy Muschietti’s ‘It’ is violent, gory, horrifying – multi layered; everything you would want from a modern horror movie.
‘Atomic Blonde’ Film Review: One of the Best Martial Arts Films in a Decade
The days of leaving the fighting film genre in the hands of lifelong martial arts practitioners who rarely could act a scene are, indeed, history.
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Film Review: The Funniest Reboot of the Web-Head to Date
It makes you chuckle in your seat.
‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ Film Review: Bots And Banter In an Entertaining Package
The latest installment of the Transformers franchise will keep you entertained.
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‘The Mummy’ Film Review: Whatever the Film Lacks, Tom Cruise Compensates
‘The Mummy’ is a Tom Cruise vehicle and a decent watch.
‘Wonder Woman’ Film Review: A Superheroine in a Super Film, Who Doesn’t Spare Evil Men
Wonder Woman kicks male ass in an entertaining feature-length film.
‘Alien: Covenant’ Film Review: Weird Sci-fi Mess That Is For True Fans Only
The latest installment of the Alien series gets boring pretty fast.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ Film Review: The Group of Space Misfits Deliver the Fun
The group of space misfits are back to bring the fun on the silver screen.
‘Fast & Furious 8’ Film Review: A Four-Star Film, If You Accept That Vin Diesel Can’t Act
With the aid of a simple premise, you don’t have to worry about not seeing the previous ones.
Linnea Skog, 13, Grabs the Prize for Best Actress at the Finnish Film Awards
Here are the highlights of Jussi Awards.
‘Moonlight’ Film Review: A Social Document of Sexual Identity and Masculinity
The film takes an intimate close-up perspective on a young man’s search for identity, sexual identity and masculinity, leaving the viewer touched, horrified, sad and hear-aching at the same time.
‘Tom of Finland’ Film Review: Art or Hardcore Gay Sex Imagery? – It’s about life
Dome Karukoski’s film about Touko Laaksonen, the Finnish homoerotic artist who became popular around the world, is a gem.
‘La La Land’ Film Review: Hollywood Clichés in Colorful Musical
Clichéd? Sure. But Emma Stone sings a wonderful ode to every creative person who has been struggling to be accepted.
‘Passengers’ Film Review: Platitudes in Space
In Passengers, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt share banalities in the cosmos.
‘Assassin’s Creed’ Film Review: Bad, Bad, Bad
The fight and action scenes are below average and the plot is less than intriguing.
‘Collateral Beauty’ Film Review: One of the Best Feel-Good Films in Decades
It’s also one of Will Smith’s best performances, one that should be nominated for an Oscar.
‘Inferno’ Film Review: A Fun Ride Through Western Europe’s Heritage Sites
Apart from some of the eye-rolling points and a few more, the film was entertaining and was fast-paced and well-cast.
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ Film Review: Stellar Cast and Interesting Visuals
The fantastical Tim Burton is back. In a good way.
‘Blair Witch’ Film Review: A Scaremonger With a Capital ‘S’
When the darkness falls, the trip into the Black Hill forest turns into one of the year’s biggest scaremongers.
‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’: Film Review
Renee Zellweger was as charming as ever, but for some reason, the soft lines around her eyes made her so much more relatable.
‘Teit meistä kauniin’ Film Review: One Of the Best Finnish Films To Come Out This Year and Beyond
While the story of the teenaged punk/rock group pushing off from a small town of Heinola in Päijänne region itself is intriguing, the subplot of the depression in the early ’90s is a real kicker.
‘Bodom’ Film Review: A Lackluster Gore-Fest, Where The Actors Are Too Good For the Film
‘Bodom’ fails to walk in the footsteps of the most famous Finnish unsolved triple murder case.
‘Lights Out’ Film Review: Think Twice Before Turning Off the Lights
‘Lights Out’ is the best horror film to have come out this year.
‘Star Trek Beyond’: Film Review
‘Star Trek Beyond’ delivers stunning effects and a compassionate story. What’s not to like?