What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st July 2025.

The 14th BlackStar Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 31st July through until Sunday 3rd August in the US city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BlackStar creates the spaces and resources needed to uplift the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists working outside of the confines of genre. The festival does this by producing year-round programmes including film screenings, exhibitions, an annual film festival, a filmmaker seminar, a film production lab, and a journal of visual culture. These programmes provide artists opportunities for viable strategies for collaborations with other artists, audiences, funders, and distributors. The festival prioritises visionary work that is experimental in its aesthetics, content, and form and builds on the work of elders and ancestors to imagine a new world. BlackStar elevates artists who are overlooked, invisibilised or misunderstood and celebrate the wide spectrum of aesthetics, storytelling and experiences that they bring to new audiences, as well as place it in dialog with other past and contemporary work, so reads the official website.

This year there are 90+ films being showcased from around the world, including twenty World Premiere screenings and thirteen North American Premieres. Those films being screened in the Feature Narrative section are as given below :-

* 'Don't Cry, Butterfly' - from Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, and is Directed by Du'o'ng Dieu Linh. Tam, a hardworking staff member at a wedding venue, finds out about her husband’s affair on live TV. Instead of confronting him, she seeks to win back his love with the help of a powerful spell master.

* 'Sugar Island' - from Spain and the Dominican Republic, and Directed by Johanne Gomez Terrero. Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labour that defines her world.

* 'Hanami' - from Switzerland, Portugal and Cape Verde and Directed by Denise Fernandes. On a remote volcanic island that everybody wants to leave, little Nana learns how to stay.

* 'Next Life' - from the USA and Mexico and Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Edited by Tenzin Phuntsog. A Tibetan family seeks moments of 'temporary happiness' while living in exile in suburban America. As their father suffers from a mysterious inner pain rooted in childhood trauma, they turn to Buddhist teachings on death and rebirth. North American premiere.

* 'Compensation' - from the USA and is Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Zeinabu Irene Davis. A portrait of the struggles of Deaf African Americans and the complexities of loving relationships at the bookends of the 20th century.

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Directed by Cherien Dabis. After a Palestinian teen gets swept up into a West Bank protest, his mother recounts their family’s story of hope, courage and relentless struggle that led them to this fateful moment.

* 'White House' - from Brazil and Directed by Luciano Vidigal. De is a Black teenager from Chatuba, a Rio de Janeiro favela. He receives the news that his grandmother, Almerinda, is in the terminal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. He and his two best friends, Adrianin and Martins, decide to make the most of the last days of life with her.

* 'Viet and Nam' - from Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and the US, and Directed by Minh Quy Truong. In the underground coal mines, Nam and Viet, young miners, face danger and darkness. One prepares to leave for a new life, but they must find Nam’s father’s remains, a soldier lost in a faraway forest, retracing the past through memories.

* 'Carissa' - from South Africa and Co-Produced and Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar and Edited by Devon Delmar. A young woman who dreams of leaving small village life to live in the city breaks away from her grandmother’s home only to be drawn into the care of her grandfather’s mountain rooibos plantation.

* 'Sabbatical' - from South Africa and Directed by Karabo Lediga. A banker returns unannounced to her childhood home and her overbearing mother, whom she hardly visits. Unbeknownst to her mother, a life-changing secret brought her back, threatening to upend their relationship forever. North American premiere.

* 'Love, Brooklyn' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder. Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss and friendship against the rapidly shifting landscape of their beloved city.

* 'Killer of Sheep' - from the USA and Directed, photographed and Edited by Charles Burnett. A mosaic of Black life in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles, where Stan, a father worn down by his job in a slaughterhouse, and his wife seek moments of tenderness in the face of myriad disappointments. Released in 1977 this is a Retrospective premiere.

For the full schedule of the other film strands being showcased, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website, at : https://www.blackstarfest.org/festival/

This week we have six new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, starting off with an Aussie horror film in which after moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple's love, their lives, and their flesh. Next up we have an American action comedy that has a group of gun totting mercenary types take a lavish wedding hostage, but, they have no idea what they are in for as the Maid of Honour is actually a secret agent. Then we turn to a French comedy drama offering about a retiree living in Burgundy who expects her grandson for the holidays but a mistake ruins her plans, and she falls into a depression until her best-friend's son is released from prison. This is followed by an American comedy drama film that tells a story of love, friendship, grief and healing, about a New York based writer who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend and mentor. Then, we have another French comedy drama film about how a specialist in modern art, receives a letter according to which a painting by Egon Schiele had been discovered in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of France. And closing out the week we have an Aussie doco about a remarkable Christian hymn, written in ancient Greek musical notation during the time of the Roman Empire, and how it has been resurrected for the modern era.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'TOGETHER' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian and US horror Sci-Fi romance film from Writer and Director Michael Shanks in his feature film making debut. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year, goes on general release in Canada, the UK, the US, here in Australia and a handful of other territories from this week and for the rest of the world throughout August, September and October. 

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (real life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who also both Co-Produce here) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force in a remote cave threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh as that strange mystery substance creates a disturbingly powerful magnetic attraction between them. Also starring Damon Herriman. The film has generated positive critical reviews.

'BRIDE HARD' (Rated M) - this American action comedy offering is Directed by Simon West whose previous feature film making credits include his Directing debut in 1997 with 'Con Air' which he would follow up with the likes of 'The General's Daughter' in 1999, 'Lara Croft : Tomb Raider' in 2001, 'The Mechanic' in 2011, 'The Expendables 2' in 2012 and 'Wild Card' in 2015. Here, Sam (Rebel Wilson) is a world-class secret agent but a terrible maid of honour. After blowing off bridal duties for an international spy mission, she's demoted to bridesmaid at her childhood best friend's wedding. What should've been a weekend of reconnecting and celebration turns into a five-star death trap when armed mercenaries crash the big day. Sam's the only one who can save the bride, and hopefully earn back the trust she lost along the way. Dodging bullets and trying not to ruin the floral arrangements, Sam takes on the ultimate wedding crasher, realising that sometimes the toughest mission isn't taking down the bad guys, but showing up for the people who matter the most. Also starring Anna Camp, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Stephen Dorff. The film was released in the US on 20th July and has garnered generally negative press. 

'WHEN FALL IS COMING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Francois Ozon whose prior feature film credits most recently are 'Summer of 85' in 2020, 'Everything Went Fine' in 2021, 'Peter von Kant' in 2022 and 'The Crime is Mine' in 2023 with 'L'Etranger' currently in production for a 2026 release. Here then, Michelle (Helene Vincent) is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a Burgundy village, close to her longtime friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko). When her Parisian daughter Valerie (Ludivine Sagnier) drops off her son Lucas (Garian Erios) to spend school vacation with his grandma, Michelle, stressed out by her daughter, serves her toxic mushrooms for lunch. Valerie quickly recovers, but forbids her mother from seeing her grandson anymore. Feeling lonely and guilty, Michelle falls into a depression, until Marie-Claude's son gets out of prison. The film was released in its native France in early September last year, on limited release in the UK from mid-March and the US early April and only now is released in Australia having so far grossed US$6.7M at the Box Office and generating largely positive critical reviews.

'THE FRIEND' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama offering is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the pairing of which have given rise to other features including their 1993 debut with 'Suture' followed by 'The Deep End' in 2001, 'Bee Season' in 2005, 'Uncertainty' in 2008, 'What Maisie Knew' in 2012, and 'Montana Story' in 2021. This film is based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez. Writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 70kg weighing Great Dane. The regal yet almost uncontrollable beast, named Apollo (Bing), immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life. Also starring Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Owen Teague. The film has so far grossed US$4.2M since its release in the US and Canada in early April this year, and has garnered generally positive press.

'THE STOLEN PAINTING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Pascal Bonitzer who made her feature film Directorial debut with 'Encore' in 1996 and would follow this up with other titles including 'Nothing About Robert' in 1999, 'The Great Alibi' in 2008, 'Looking for Hortense' in 2012, 'Right Here Right Now' in 2016 and 'Spellbound' in 2019. Set in present day Paris, brash forty-something year old Andre Masson (Alex Lutz), a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. Though highly sceptical, Andre travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina (Lea Drucker) who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi's during WWII. For Andre, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte), will prove both unexpected and transformative. The film was released in in France in early May 2024, has worked the US film festival circuit in the meantime and only now does it get a release date here in Australia, having so far grossed US$2.8M.

'THE FIRST HYMN' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mark Hadley in his screen debut. This is the story of an ancient scrap of papyrus uncovered in the deserts of Egypt that contains the remnants of the oldest known Christian hymn. In its lyrics Professor John Dickson discovers evidence of beliefs some say Christians never held this early in history. However, uncovering this ancient treasure is only the first step. With the help of world-renowned Christian composers, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding, Professor Dickson sets out on an epic journey to record the First Hymn as a modern worship song for the new millennium.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

FRIENDSHIP : Tuesday 22nd July 2025

I saw the M Rated 'FRIENDSHIP' earlier this week, and this American black comedy film is Written and Directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature film making debut, although he has a whole stack of Directorial credits for short films and multiple episodes of TV series including '555', 'Dave', 'Shrill', 'PEN15', 'Our Flag Means Death' and 'The Decameron'. This film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year as part of the festival's Midnight Madness section, and was released in the US in late May. It has received positive reviews from critics, and has so far grossed US$17M.

Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) is a socially awkward marketing executive working in the fictional city of Clovis, and he and his wife Tami (Kate Mara) are preparing to sell their family home. Having recovered from cancer about a year ago now, Tami is becoming increasingly frustrated with Craig’s emotional disconnection and his lack of interest in her growing flower business, so much so that she has rekindled a relationship with her ex-boyfriend Devon (John Segarra). 

A new neighbour - Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd) has just moved in down the street. He is a weatherman on the evening news, and he drops off a gift to Tami to introduce himself. Austin invites Craig over for a beer that evening and Tami accepts on his behalf. Craig agrees, albeit reluctantly.

The pair quickly strike up an unlikely friendship, bonding over '70's and '80's music, work frustrations, and a shared sense of being unfulfilled. During their first hangout, Craig introduces Austin to his personal mantra 'just ask' which worked for him in a work situation recently. This philosophy inspires Austin to pursue his longtime dream of becoming the town’s daytime weatherman - a gig he would much prefer to working nights. Later that evening Austin takes Craig on an adventure through a hidden tunnel system beneath Clovis City Hall, and they explore it together, having a beer and a cigarette atop the City Hall building overlooking all of Clovis. 

The next day, Austin calls Craig at work and convinces him to take the rest of the day off to go mushroom hunting in a nearby bog. Craig sinks knee deep into the boggy marsh and loses his mobile phone in the process. On their way back, they pass a yellow sports car at a dealership and Austin says that if he ever buys one, Craig will be the first to ride in it. As their bond goes from strength to strength, Craig becomes increasingly enamored with Austin, and even more so after Craig and Tami attend one of Austin's punk rock shows in which he is lead guitarist and singer. Energised by the connection, Craig becomes a more mindful husband, father, and coworker.

Cracks in their relationship however, begin to appear after Austin invites Craig to a hangout with a group of his friends. Initially cordial and relaxed, the evening takes a rapid and unexpected u-turn when Craig,  escalates a friendly boxing match with Austin by landing a cheap shot which sees Austin knocked to the ground. The group recoils at this, and Craig reacts by stuffing a bar of soap in his mouth as a bizarre act of self-punishment, while attempting to apologise and make light of the situation. 

Following this incident, Austin distances himself. Craig, desperate to reconnect, visits the TV station unannounced and causes Austin to fumble his words during his first daytime weather broadcast, for which he is admonished by the news anchor. Austin formally cuts ties with Craig, who later breaks into Austin’s home while he is out and his wife Bianca (Meredith Garretson) naps, and inadvertently steals a handgun from Austin's home office.

In a vain attempt to recreate the connection he had with Austin, Craig takes Tami, reluctantly, on a manic date through the underground tunnels beneath City Hall. Tami becomes disoriented and goes missing. The Police get involved in the search, resulting in both Craig and Austin being arrested for trespassing in the tunnels previously. In jail, it is revealed Austin wears a hairpiece, a secret he begs Craig to keep. Tami is eventually found about 24 hours later, shaken but safe. 

At her welcome-back party, Craig is shunned by Tami's friends and family and upstaged by Devon in a welcome home speech. Craig invites everyone to join him in a parade for Tami, but he end up standing alone outside his house very dejected. Tami later moves into Devon’s pool house. Craig’s downward spiral goes from bad to worse - he loses a very important client pitch and suffers a public meltdown at work, resulting in his immediate termination from the marketing firm.

Some time later, Craig attempts to rebuild his life. He reconnects with his son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer) and buys Tami a brand new customised van to support her flower business. The family is seemingly on the mend, until Craig drives past Austin’s house and sees him hosting another guys’ night and with the yellow sports car parked outside his house. Overcome with jealousy, Craig storms the gathering, holds the group at gunpoint with the gun he stole from Austin previously, and forcibly attempts to recreate the first night they all met. When Austin attempts to wrangle the gun out of Craig’s hands, it goes off, causing everyone to panic and duck for cover. In the struggle, Austin’s hairpiece again comes off. Craig, desperate to retain this shared secret, threatens his friends to stay on the ground while Austin puts his hairpiece back on. The Police arrive unexpectedly and Craig knocks himself unconscious while attempting to flee the scene by walking headlong through a plate glass door. In the back of the patrol car, Craig imagines an alternate version of events in which nothing went awry during that initial group hangout, and everything turned out like sunshine and rainbows. Craig watches from the back of the patrol car as Austin turns and gives him a wink, and Craig lets out a beaming smile.

A comedy no matter how intentionally black or bleak it's meant to be, needs to be pretty special for me to buy into it, and as such 'Friendship' really missed that boat! Whilst Tim Robinson may have the comedic chops to carry off his TV shows 'Detroiters' and 'I Think You Should Leave' this cringe worthy, anxiety inducing, and uncomfortably absurd film feels more like an over extended version of his TV series that has long since worn out its welcome. Paul Rudd, Kate Mara and Jack Dylan Grazer largely play it straight leaving Robinson to do the heavy comedy lifting which after the first twenty or so minutes I was largely over already. The critics conversely are waxing lyrical about this film, but I just left the cinema feeling ho-hum about the whole experience. 

'Friendship' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th July 2025

This years 8th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) runs from Sunday 19th through until Sunday 27th July in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Founded with a vision to cultivate a dynamic environment for emerging talents within the film industry, MIFFest is committed to amplifying diverse voices and promoting creativity. Since its establishment in 2016, it has offered a range of opportunities and platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with industry professionals. Set against Malaysia’s vibrant backdrop, MIFFest aims to be the premier cinematic hub in Southeast Asia. The one-week festival provides a platform for creatives to showcase their work, nurture emerging talent, and feature exceptional films from around the world. MIFFest opens a window to the world, offering audiences the chance to embark on a cinematic journey through films from diverse countries and cultures. In 2024, the festival proudly showcased fifty films from thirty countries in thirty-five different languages, emphasising the commitment to celebrating cinematic diversity. MIFFest believes in the power of film to inspire, connect, and transform, so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night film presentation is 'Ninavau', a family drama film from Malaysia and is Co-Written and Directed by Bebbra Mailin in her Directorial debut. Ninavau, a Kadazan based in West Malaysia, returns home to East Malaysia, Sabah for her sister’s wedding. Her family, deeply rooted in tradition and community values, sees her as a source of pride and a symbol of continuity. However, Ninavau carries with her a personal transformation that she has yet to share. The Closing Night film is 'Transamazonia' a drama offering from Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan, Brazil and France and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Pia Marais. Rebecca, the daughter of missionary Lawrence Byrne, was declared a 'miracle' after she survived a plane crash as a child, deep in the Amazon forest. Years later, Rebecca has become a miracle healer, sustaining their mission thanks to her growing fame. But when illegal loggers invade the land belonging to the indigenous people they’re evangelising, Rebecca’s father manoeuvres them into the epicentre of this escalating conflict. 

This year there are nine films in Official Competition, and those are :-

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and this historical drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and starring Cherien Dabis. A Palestinian couple finds hope and courage in the midst of relentless struggle as they face an extraordinary life decision that will change their family’s destiny.

* 'DJ Ahmet' - from North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Croatia, and this comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski. Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, finds refuge in music while navigating his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and his first experience with love — a girl already promised to someone else.

* 'My Friend An Delie' - from China and this drama offering is Co-Written, Directed and starring Dong Zijian. Upon hearing about his father’s death, Li rushes back to his hometown in the Northeast of China. He runs into his childhood friend, An Delie, on the flight. The two have not seen each other since middle school. Even though they are heading to the same funeral, An Delie insists that he does not know Li. As Li tries to revive An Delie’s memory, a weighty past starts to emerge.

* 'Paternal Leave' - from Germany and Italy and this coming of age drama film is Written and Directed by Alissa Jung. Alone and looking for answers, a teenager travels to the North Italian coast to meet her biological father. Their first encounter is tense – fraught with questions, longing and unresolved anger. Can they work towards finding acceptance, love and honesty?

* 'Red Path' - from Tunisia, Belgium, France, Poland, Qatar and Saudi Arabia this human rights drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lotfi Achour. Mghila Mountain, Tunisia, November 2015. When a jihadist group attacks two very young shepherds, 14-year-old Ashraf is forced to take a macabre message back to his family. Traumatised and trying not to lose his mind, Ashraf finds himself confronted with the powerlessness of his elders and abandoned by the authorities.

* 'Soft Leaves' - from Belgium and this coming of age drama film is Written and Directed by Miwako van Weyenberg. Yuna’s parents separated when she was young. Her mother returned to Japan to remarry and start a new family, leaving her in Belgium with her father. Years later, a sudden accident leaves him in a coma, prompting her mothers return, this time with a half-sister Yuna barely knows. It’s more than Yuna can handle at first, but as her father shows signs of recovery, she is forced to confront her own feelings and navigate the complexities of her fractured family.

* 'To a Land Unknown' - from the UK, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, Denmark, Netherlands, France and Germany and this crime thriller is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mahdi Fleifel. Chatila and Reda are saving to pay for fake passports to get out of Athens. But when Reda loses their hard-earned cash to his dangerous drug addiction, Chatila hatches an extreme plan, which involves them posing as smugglers and taking hostages in an effort to get him and his best friend out of their hopeless environment before it is too late.

* 'Universal Language' - from Canada and this fantasy offering is Co-Written and Directed by Matthew Rankin. In a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways. Grade schoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it. Meanwhile, Massoud leads a group of increasingly befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg. Matthew quits his meaningless job in a Quebec government office and sets out upon an enigmatic journey to visit his mother.

* 'Winter in Sokcho' - from France and South Korea and this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Koya Kamura. In Sokcho, a small seaside village in South Korea, Soo-Ha, 25, lives in a bit of a rut, rhythmed by visits to her mother, a fishmonger, and her relationship with her boyfriend, Jun-Ho. When a French man named Yan Kerrand arrives in the boarding house where Soo-Ha works, it awakens within her questions about her own identity, and that of her French father, of whom she knows almost nothing. As winter settles over the town, Soo-Ha and Kerrand will observe and gauge each other, trying to communicate any way they can.

For the full summary of other film strands being showcased, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.miffest.com.my/

Turning to this weeks six hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick start with the 37th film offering in the MCU that sees Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer. Next up we have a drama offering about young lovers who embark on their own individual journeys of heartache and misplaced love, before fate contrives to pull the threads of their lives together. Then we turn to a French comedy drama where suddenly having to care for his little sister, a young man must focus on the best chance he's got to provide for them, by entering a local cheese-making competition. And closing out the week we have a trio of horror films beginning with a British offering where after a mother and son are involved in a car wreck, they soon become hunted by a mutated grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage seeking revenge for the death of its mother. The second horror movie sees a trio of paranormal investigators setting out to film their next case that sees them encountering a malevolent, ancient spirit that resides in an abandoned house deep in the woods; before closing out the week with the third such offering that sees a man who begins working at a retirement home where his job reveals unexpected dangers, as he discovers that both residents and staff are concealing dark secrets. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE FANTASTIC FOUR : FIRST STEPS' (Rated PG) - is an American action adventure Superhero film based on the Marvel Comics Superhero team The Fantastic Four, is the 37th film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and is the first film in Phase Six of the MCU. This is the second reboot of the 'Fantastic Four' franchise, with the first two films coming in 2005 with 'Fantastic Four' and its sequel in 2007 'Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer' both Directed by Tim Story, with the first reboot coming in 2015 with 'Fantastic Four' this time Directed by Josh Trank. Those first three films in the series grossed a total of US$803M at the global Box Office from combined production budgets of about US$350M, although the 2015 offering tanked both commercially and critically, resulting in a planned 2017 sequel being removed from the production schedule. This film is Directed by Matt Shakman in only his second feature film offering following 'Cut Bank' in 2014, although he has Directed numerous episodes of TV series since 2002 right up until 2023. The film is released in the US this week too, and a sequel is already in the works.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960's inspired, retro-futuristic world, the film introduces Marvel's First Family, Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space God Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus' plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren't bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. Also starring John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Paul Walter Hauser.Content expanded.

'FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE' (Rated M) - this UK and Irish Co-Produced drama film is Directed by Polly Steele whose previous feature film output includes her debut in 2008 with 'Lena : The Bride of Ice' and 'Let Me Go' in 2017 with a number of documentary films in between time. This film is based on Niall Williams 1997 novel of the same name, and tells the story of Nicholas Coughlan (Fionn O'Shea) and Isabel Gore (Ann Skelly) who are made for each other, but fate does not always choose the easiest path to true love. As destiny pulls them together, so do family, passion, and faith drive them apart. Nicholas' father, William (Pierce Brosnan), comes home one day to shatter his family's quiet, modest life. He tells them that in a moment of divine intervention, God has instructed him to dedicate his life to painting. He quits his job and sets off for the coast, leaving his shell-shocked wife Bette (Imelda May) and son to fend for themselves. Meanwhile Isabel and her family live a charmed existence on a nearby small neighbouring island, their house full of music and poetry. When tragedy strikes and her brother Sean (Donal Finn) suffers a terrible accident, the music stops, and Isabel's parents Margaret and Muiris Gore (Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne respectively) decide in their grief to send Isabel to a convent school on the mainland. The young lovers embark on their own individual journeys of heartache and misplaced love, before fate contrives to pull the threads of their lives together. The film was released in the US in late April, and in the UK and Ireland last week.

'HOLY COW' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Louise Courvoisier in her feature film Directorial debut. Following the tragic death of his father in a car accident, eighteen year old Totone (Clement Faveau) is thrust into the unexpected and very adult role of looking after his younger sister Claire (Luna Garret) and their failing family farm in the Jura section of France. He assumes even more responsibility when he enters a cash competition for the best Comte cheese made in this western part of the French Alps. The film saw its World Premiere screening in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2024, was released in its native France in mid-December last year, has so far grossed US$7M and has garnered positive critical reviews. 

'BAMBI : THE RECKONING' (Rated MA15+) - is a British independent horror film Directed by Dan Allen who made his feature film debut with 'Unhinged' in 2017 (no, not the 2020 film of the same name starring Russell Crowe), then 'The Mummy Reborn' in 2019 and 'It Came from Below' in 2021. This is the fourth film in the 'Twisted Childhood Universe' after 'Winnie-the-Pooh : Blood and Honey' in 2023, 'Winnie-the-Pooh : Blood and Honey 2' in 2024 and 'Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare' earlier this year. Those first three films in this ever evolving franchise grossed US$16.5M against combined production budgets of about US$900K. So, here then, a woman named Xana (Roxanne McKee) and her son Benji (Tom Mulheron) are involved in a car accident and must fight to survive when they find themselves as prey to a mutated, grieving, killing machine of a deer on a deadly rampage, seeking revenge for the death of his mother. The film is also released this week in the US.

'HOUSE ON EDEN' (Rated CTC) - this American found footage horror film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Kris Collins in her feature film making debut. Setting out to film their next paranormal investigation, Kris (Kris Collins), Celina (Celina Myers) and videographer Jay (Jason-Christopher Mayer) expect nothing more than their usual jump scares this time around. However, when they arrive at an abandoned house deep in the woods they encounter a malevolent, ancient spirit the like of which they have never come across before. As the night spirals out of control they soon come to realise that an evil hostile presence is tracking their every move. This film is released Stateside this week too. 

'THE HOME' (Rated CTC) - is an American psychological horror film Co-Written and Directed by James DeMonaco whose prior feature film credits take in his debut with 2009's 'Staten Island' and which he would follow up with 'The Purge' in 2013, 'The Purge : Anarchy' in 2014 and 'The Purge : Election Year' in 2016, and 'This Is the Night' in 2021. Here, Max (Pete Davidson), a troubled man and rebellious twentysomething is sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home. He soon comes to realise that its residents and caretakers harbour sinister secrets. As he investigates the building and its forbidden fourth floor which is strictly off-limits, reportedly for those residents requiring 'special care', his suspicions grow and he digs deeper. What he uncovers reveals a chilling secret that puts both the residents' lives and his own in grave danger, as he starts to piece together connections to his own past and upbringing as a foster child. The film is released this week also in the US.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

SUPERMAN : Tuesday 15th July 2025.

I saw the long awaited, eagerly anticipated and much hyped M Rated 'SUPERMAN' earlier this week, and this American Superhero film is based on the much loved DC Comics character of Superman/Clark Kent, and is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by James Gunn, who in October 2022 became the new Co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran. This is the second reboot of the 'Superman' film series following on from the DC Extended Universe which kicked off with 'Man of Steel' in 2013, then 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' in 2016 and 'Justice League' in 2017 with Henry Cavill playing the titular role in all three outings. This film is set to be the first film of the DCU's Chapter One : Gods and Monsters, cost US$225M to produce, was released internationally from last week, has so far grossed US$262M at the global Box Office and has generated positive critical reviews. 

The film opens telling us that three thousand years ago the first metahumans arrived on Earth. Then thirty years ago, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van sent their infant son Kal-El to Earth to escape the destruction of their home planet, Krypton. Raised as Clark Kent by adoptive human parents Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell) in Smallville, Kansas, the Kryptonian gains incredible powers from the Earth's yellow Sun. Inspired to heroism by Jor-El and Lara's farewell message, the latter half of which was badly damaged on the journey, Clark introduced himself as Superman (David Corenswet), the most powerful metahuman on Earth, to the world three years ago. Clark maintains his secret identity and a job as a reporter for the Daily Planet newspaper in Metropolis, where he works with Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) who is in a relationship with Clark and aware of his secret identity, and Perry White (Wendell Pierce) the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet.

Three weeks earlier, Superman had prevented an invasion by Boravia, an ally of the USA, of its neighbouring country, Jarhanpur. Billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) assures General Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) and others in the US government, who begin to wonder if Superman might in fact be a threat, that he can kill Superman if necessary, but the government officials stave off that threat . . . for now. Then, three minutes ago Superman loses his first fight against the mysterious 'Hammer of Boravia', who states Superman's involvement in the war as the reason for his attack. However, unbeknownst to the world, the Hammer is actually Ultraman, who is controlled by Luthor using a series of drones. 

Krypto, a superpowered dog being looked after by Superman, takes the badly injured Superman who landed with a thud badly beaten, bruised, and with a few broken bones and ruptured internal organs in the frozen depth of Antarctica. Krypto drags Superman back to his Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica, where he is healed almost back to full strength by his trusted team of robots with concentrated solar radiation. Luthor later secretly invades the fortress alongside Ultraman and the Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria), steals the farewell message from Jor-El and Lara and decodes it in its entirety, before abducting Krypto.

As Superman and the 'Justice Gang' - a team of metahuman heroes consisting Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), take on a giant fire breathing kaiju trampling through Metropolis that was created by Luthor as a diversion. At the same time Luthor broadcasts the entire decoded Kryptonian message to the world. 

To Superman's horror, in the second half of the message, his parents urge him to conquer Earth, take as many wives as needed to restore the Kryptonian race, and to stamp out those who stand in his way. Needless to say, public opinion very quickly turns on Superman. Lois Lane even begins having doubts, and so he voluntarily surrenders to the government for questioning, and because of Superman's power, Flag gives custody of the hero to Luthor. 

Luthor imprisons Superman in his artificial pocket universe where he incarcerates his enemies, including Krypto and the metahuman Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan, as a man made of four elements who could change himself, or part of himself, into any chemical compound in the universe). Using Metamorpho's baby son Joey as a hostage, Luthor forces him to create Kryptonite to render Superman powerless, which he does. Luthor's brainless blonde bimbo girlfriend Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), who is also infatuated with Jimmy, reveals that Luthor secretly backs Boravia in return for half of Jarhanpur's territory, providing photographic evidence of the plot before being imprisoned herself, also within the pocket universe.

Luthor interrogates Superman at his lowest ebb using Malik Ali (Dinesh Thyagarajan), a felafel cart vendor and one of Superman's supporters, as a hostage and playing Russian Roulette with him, before shooting his brains out on the second spin of his revolver.  This prompts a horrified Metamorpho to help Superman escape, and the two free Joey and Krypto. 

Lois convinces Mister Terrific to help find Superman, and they enter the pocket universe, ultimately rescuing the heroes and taking Superman to the Kent farm in rural Kansas to recover. Furious at Superman's escape, Luthor has his team increase the pocket universe reactor's power to coax Superman out, creating a rift that begins to tear across the city, destroying everything in its path and dividing the city in two.

Meanwhile Green Lantern, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl arrive at the Boravian and Jarhanpur border and prevent a second invasion from happening by taking out a seemingly far superior and heavily armed Boravian army. Superman and Mister Terrific battle the Engineer and Ultraman as the growing rift rapidly approaches Metropolis. Hawkgirl fatally drops Vasil Ghurkos (Zlatko Buric), the President of Boravia who is in cahoots with Luthor, from a great height, killing him outright. After defeating the Engineer, Superman unmasks Ultraman (David Corenswet), revealing him to be a clone of himself. Luthor is so intent on defeating Superman that he refuses to close the rift, which further splits the city in half. Superman and Ultraman engage in a long standoff within the depths of the rift, with Superman overcoming Ultraman (aided by Krypto who takes out all of the drones that allows Luthor to control him) by trapping him inside a bus being pulled into a black hole below the rift. Superman and Mister Terrific go to the LuthorCorp headquarters to shut down the reactor, so closing the rift. The Justice Gang is celebrated as heroes alongside their newest member Metamorpho. In the meantime Lois and Jimmy type up an exclusive editorial piece with White's blessing, revealing Luthor's real intentions to the global media, so clearing Superman's name.

Luthor and his cohorts are all arrested, but not before Krypto has had a very long overdue go at Luthor leaving him bashed, bruised and with a few scrapes, and everyone trapped in his pocket universe are freed, including Eve, who runs and jumps into Jimmy's arms. Later, as Superman recovers from his injuries at the Fortress of Solitude, his cousin Kara Zor-El aka 'Supergirl' (Milly Alcock) drunkenly returns to pick up Krypto. To relax during the healing process, he watches footage of his childhood memories in Smallville growing up with Jonathan and Martha as his parents on their farm in Kansas. 

Remain in your seat for the very unconvincing mid-credits sequence single shot of Superman and Krypto sat side by side on the Moon looking back at Earth, which looks as though they are sat on a soccer ball (such that you can see the complete curvature of the Moon), with the Earth only about 5,000 miles away! And there's also an end credits scene, which the die hard fans may want to hold out for. 

Since James Gunn took the helm of the DC Studios with Co-CEO Peter Safran, expectations have been very high for this first instalment in the new DC Universe, and it must be said that Writer and Director Gunn does not disappoint. Here he has crafted a very engaging and entertaining film that at once has something to say about the political climate of today, has an emotional heartbeat at its core, is a welcome nod back to the comic books upon which this character is based, does not take itself too seriously, has some real moments of levity and humour, and is greater than the sum of its parts. The action set pieces which come thick and fast are well rendered, albeit do tend to drag on just a tad too long. The performances from David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult are top notch, with the former harking back to the days when Christopher Reeve first burst onto our screens way back in 1978, and the latter portraying the megalomaniacal domineering and relentless scientific genius who has designs on ruling over a country taken by force for his own political gain (sound familiar in 2025 anyone?), with such conviction to make him relatable and believable. If 'Superman' as the first film in the new DCU sets the standard by which all future DCU films follow, then the folks at the MCU had better think seriously about lifting their game.

'Superman' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-