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-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 10th July 2025

The 37th Galway Film Fleadh this year takes place from Tuesday 8th July through until Sunday 13th July, and is a week-long international film festival that takes place every July on the western edge of Europe in Galway, Ireland. Founded in 1989 as a platform for Irish filmmakers to exhibit their work to their peers, the central goal of the Galway Film Fleadh remains unchanged - to be a platform for the boldest new films, and to bring audiences & filmmakers from around the world together, to celebrate our shared passion for film. The festival welcomes a diversity of filmmaking from all around the world, crossing all generations and cultural backgrounds, bringing luminaries of the craft and everyday cinephiles together to share in the wonder of cinema - so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is 'Re-Creation' Written and Directed by David Merriman and Jim Sheridan and starring Vicky Krieps, Jim Sheridan, Aiden Gillen, Colm Meaney and John Connors. This docudrama tells the true story of the 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier at her vacation home in West Cork, and remains one of Ireland’s most shocking unsolved crimes. Ian Bailey was investigated by Irish authorities but never tried in Ireland, despite being convicted in absentia in France. 

The World Cinema Competition features films from Colombia, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Lebanon, South Korea, the UK, and Finland, and comprises eight films that have screened and won awards at Tribeca, Berlin, TIFF and other notable festivals. Those eight films are :-

* 'Khartoum' - from Sudan, UK, Germany and Qatar and Directed by Phil Cox, Anas Saeed, Snoopy Ahmed, Timeea Ahmed and Rawia AlHag. In 2022, four Sudanese filmmakers, along with a British Writer-Director began filming the lives and dreams of five very different citizens in Khartoum.

* 'Eel' - from Taiwan and Written and Directed by Chun-Teng Chu. On the outskirts of Taipei lies an isolated island, a place where time and memory dissolve into mist. Here, a mysterious young woman appears. When a young man later arrives, their lives intertwine, unravelling mysteries of longing, belonging, and transformation.

* 'The Blue Trail' - from Brazil, Mexico, Chile and the Netherlands and Directed by Gabriel Mascaro. Tereza, 77, has lived her whole life in a small industrialised town in the Amazon, until one day she receives an official government order to relocate to a senior housing colony. The colony is an isolated area where the elderly are brought to 'enjoy' their final years. Instead, she embarks on a transformative journey through the rivers and tributaries of the Amazon - a decision that will change her destiny forever.

* 'The Cowboy' - from Colombia and Australia, and Written and Directed by Emma Rozanski. Bernicia works in the ticket kiosk of a national park, doing odd jobs and loyally contributing to her family. One day, she finds a lost horse, and her life becomes profoundly connected to the animal. She experiences a great transformation – slowly channelling the persona of a cowboy.

* 'The Jacket' - from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Lebanon and Directed by Mathijs Poppe. What begins as an intimate portrait of Jamal Hindawi - a Palestinian artist doing political theatre in Beirut’s Shatila refugee camp - transforms into a captivating journey. We discover a Lebanon rarely seen, one where hope persists despite hardship, and where community transcends crisis.           * 'Welded Together' - from France, the Netherlands and Belgium and Written and Directed by Anastasiya Miroshnichenko. Katya is a young woman who works as a welder. Abandoned as a little girl, she embarks on a personal journey to reunite with her lost family - to weld it back together, just like she welds metal at work.

* 'Mother of Snow Cranes' - from Finland and Written and Directed by Iiris Harma. Over 90 years old, Ellen Vuosalo has lived many lives. First as a Finnish immigrant in Canada, then as an American citizen and student of zoology at UCLA, and finally as a Mother of Cranes in Iran.

* 'Winter in Sokcho' - from France and South Korea and Co-Written and Directed by Koya Kamura. In Sokcho, a small seaside village in South Korea, Soo-Ha 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 questions within her about her own identity, and that of her French father, of whom she knows almost nothing.

* 'Dragonfly' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Paul Andrew Williams. The story of two neighbours who strike up an unlikely friendship, not always to the approval of others around them. Seeing the lack of care that her elderly neighbour Elsie is receiving from so-called professionals, Coleen takes it upon herself to care for her, finally finding meaning and purpose in life. When her motivations are brought into question, a tragic sequence of events leads to a shocking, and devastating end. Starring Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough.

For the full details of the other film strands being showcased at this years Galway Film Festival, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/

Looking ahead then to this weeks five hot new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with the much anticipated first film in the DCU's Chapter One that sees this Superhero reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with that of his adoptive human family in rural Kansas. Then we have an American true crime action thriller about a father and son who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, who find themselves in a standoff with a Chief of Police that sets off a manhunt. Next up is a horror story about two boys who have spent their lives under the strict and overprotective rule of their father, unaware of his dark past, they struggle to understand his paranoia and increasingly erratic behaviour. This is followed by a RomCom that sees cultures collide when an introverted doctor brings his white boyfriend home to meet his traditional East Indian family; before closing out the week with a famous Japanese chef who decides to open a restaurant in Paris, seeking a third Michelin star, only to face challenges as outsider, including the sourcing of ingredients.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five 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.

'SUPERMAN' (Rated M) - this much hyped eagerly awaited 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 and is released internationally from this week. 

Superman (David Corenswet) must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing in Smallville, Kansas as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned. Also starring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White and Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell as Jonathan and Martha Kent respectively. 

'SOVEREIGN' (Rated CTC) - is an American crime action thriller that is Written and Directed by Christian Swegal in his feature film making debut. Based off the events surrounding the West Memphis Police shootings in 2010 during which two Police Officers were shot multiple times and killed during a random traffic stop, the film follows a father  Jerry Kane (Nick Offernan) and his son Joe Kane (Jacob Tremblay) who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, as they venture across the country and find themselves in a standoff with a Chief of Police John Bouchart (Dennis Quaid) that sets off an intense manhunt with tragic consequences. Also starring Nancy Travis, Martha Plimpton and Thomas Mann. This film is released Stateside this week too.

'ABRAHAM'S BOYS : A DRACULA STORY' (Rated CTC) - this UK and US Co-Produced horror film is Co-Written and Directed by Natasha Kermani whose prior feature film credits are 'Shattered' in 2017, 'Imitation Girl' also in 2017 and 'Lucky' in 2020. This film follows the story of Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver), and his family years after the fathers terrifying legacy with Dracula. In their new North American home, Abraham and his now wife, Mina (Jocelin Donahue), raise their two sons, Max (Brady Hepner) and Rudy (Judah Mackey). The family seems typical of the time, patriarchal, religious, tight-knit, but also emotionally cold and distant. When their haunting past creeps back into their lives, the Van Helsings’ secrets rise to the surface, forcing the boys to confront the terrifying legacy they were never meant to inherit.

'A NICE INDIAN BOY' (Rated M) - is an American RomCom Directed by Roshan Sethi in his third feature film offering following his debut in 2021 with '7 Days' and then 'World's Best' in 2023. The film follows Naveen (Karan Soni), an Indian-American doctor, who brings his fiance, Jay (Jonathan Groff), a white man and professional photographer adopted by Indian immigrant parents who have subsequently died, to meet his traditional family who must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend and helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams. The film saw its World Premiere screening at SXSW in mid-March 2024, was released in the US in early April this year, has so far grossed US$903K and has garnered universal critical acclaim. 

'GRAND MAISON PARIS' (Rated PG) - this Japanese film is Directed by Ayuko Tsukahara is a sequel to the television series 'La Grande Maison Tokyo' and its special episode 'La Grande Maison Tokyo Special'. Years after La Grande Maison Tokyo was awarded three Michelin stars, Natsuki Obana (Takuya Kimura) and Rinko Hayami (Kyoka Suzuki) open a new restaurant named Grande Maison Paris in Paris, the home of French cuisine. Obana's longtime dream was to win three Michelin stars in Paris. However, it is difficult to obtain satisfactory ingredients in a foreign country. After a failure at a prestigious gala dinner, Obana makes a promise to his former mentor that if he does not win the three Michelin stars, he will quit the restaurant and leave France. The cuisine is supervised by Kei Kobayashi, chef of Restaurant KEI, which actually won three Michelin stars in Paris. The film was released at the end of December last year, has generated largely favourable reviews and has so far grossed US$27M as at early March at the end of its theatrical run in Japan.

With five 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-

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3 : Tuesday 9th May 2023.

I saw the M Rated 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3' at my local Odeon earlier this week. This hotly anticipated American superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, and is the sequel to 2014's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 2017's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and serves as the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second film in Marvel's Phase Five and more than likely the final instalment in this particular series. Written and Directed once again by James Gunn who recently jumped ship and now heads up, with Peter Safran, DC Studios as Co-Chairpersons and joint CEO's. Gunn's next Directorial outing is slated to be 'Superman : Legacy' due in July 2025. The film saw its World Premier screening at Disneyland, Paris on 22nd April and was released in the US, China, here in Australia and other territories last week. It has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$366M off the back of a production budget of US$250M. 

At their new home base on Knowhere, the Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel) are attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), a Sovereign warrior created by their High Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) who seems to answer to the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). After Adam overpowers them and seriously wounds Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), he is stabbed by Nebula (Karen Gillan) and forced to flee the scene. The Guardians are unable to tend to Rocket's wounds due to a kill switch attached to his heart, made by the company Orgocorp. They travel to Orgocorp's headquarters to find the override code, having at best 48 hours before Rocket dies. 

As Rocket lies unconscious, memories of his past life come flooding back. As a baby raccoon, he was experimented on by the High Evolutionary, an alien geneticist who sought to take what he viewed as lower life forms and enhance them into a perfect anthropomorphic species in order to create a Counter-Earth. 

After being modified Rocket befriended the High Evolutionary's other test animals: the otter Lylla, the rabbit Floor and the walrus Teefs. The High Evolutionary perfected the anthropomorphisation process with Rocket's advice but ordered Rocket's brain to be extracted for further research, and his friends incinerated. Rocket was able to free Lylla with an improvised electronic key card, only for the High Evolutionary to kill her, upon walking in and discovering Rocket's ruse. Rocket, enraged, mauled the High Evolutionary face and head and shot his guards, but Teefs and Floor were killed in the exchange of gunfire. Alone, angry and despondent Rocket steals a spaceship and flees. 

Meanwhile, the alternate version of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who has joined the Ravagers led by the high ranking Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone), helps the Guardians infiltrate Orgocorp, which is owned by the High Evolutionary. 

They retrieve Rocket's file, but discover that the code has been removed. The group speculates that Theel (Nico Santos), one of the High Evolutionary's advisors, has it, so they depart for Counter-Earth. They are followed by Ayesha and Adam, who are ordered by their creator, the High Evolutionary, to capture at all costs Rocket for his brain.

Arriving on Counter-Earth the Guardians are helped by a family of local residents in tracing Theel to the High Evolutionary's ship. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) remain with Gamora and Rocket as Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and Nebula (Karen Gillan) travel to the High Evolutionary's ship. Nebula is forced to wait outside by guards as Quill and Groot board. Drax and Mantis chase after Quill's group. 

The High Evolutionary sets off the destruction and planned recreation of Counter-Earth, which ultimately kills all life on the planet, including Ayesha. As his ship enters orbit, Quill and Groot leap off with Theel, landing back on Counter-Earth and retrieving the code from the computer implanted into the side of his head, just as Gamora arrives with their ship. In the meantime, Nebula, Mantis, and Drax board the High Evolutionary's ship in order to rescue Quill and Groot, not knowing that had recently and literally jumped ship. As Quill's group attempts to access the code, Rocket flatlines and has a near-death experience, where he is reunited with Lylla, Teefs, and Floor. Lylla tells him that his time has not yet come and that he still has work to do, as Quill uses the code to disable the kill switch and save Rocket's life. 

On the High Evolutionary's ship, Nebula, Mantis, and Drax come across hundreds of imprisoned humanoid children, before being captured. Quill's group sets out to rescue the three, who are placed in a chamber with monstrous Abilisks. Mantis connects with the Abilisks saying they only eat batteries, and so allowing the group to escape and reunite with Quill's group, together overcoming the High Evolutionary's army. Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Cosmo the Spacedog (voiced by Maria Bakalova) arrive back on Knowhere, and Cosmo creates a telekinetic bridge connecting Knowhere to the High Evolutionary's ship to free the captured children. Rocket discovers imprisoned animals on the ship before being attacked by the High Evolutionary, but the rest of the Guardians help subdue him, remove his mask revealing the seriously disfigured face of the man and leaving him to die on his ship. The Guardians rescue the animals and lead them aboard Knowhere. Quill nearly dies by freezing in deep space trying to cross over but is saved by Adam, who had a change of heart after being saved by Groot. 

Once the dust has settled, Quill announces that he intends to leave the Guardians, bestowing the captaincy to Rocket before leaving for Earth to reunite with his grandfather Jason. Mantis embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the Abilisks, Gamora reunites with the Ravagers and is welcomed back by Stakar Ogord, and Nebula and Drax remain on Knowhere to raise the saved children. 

There is no doubt that Director James Gunn has wrapped up his final instalment of the 'Guardians' trilogy with a lot of heart, a good dose of emotion, action set pieces aplenty, some witty dialogue, a thumping soundtrack, all the colour and grandeur of the galaxy that you could ever imagine, plus a whole zoo load of animals that would make any self respecting PETA advocate squirm in horror. And for the rag tag bunch of space heroes Gunn sees them all go off in their own directions to seek out new challenges and adventures, and as for some of them if you remain in your seat for a mid-credits sequence and right until the end credits have rolled you'll catch a glimpse of what the future (possibly) holds. My only criticism of this film, and it seems that thirty-two films in now, of the MCU at large, is that the CGI action spectacles are often so beautifully rendered that their screen busyness leaves the viewer wondering where to focus the attention for fear of missing out on something happening on another part of the screen. 

'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th May 2023.

The 54th Visions du Reel International Film Festival took place between Friday 21st April and Sunday 30th April in the Swiss town on Nyon on the edge of Lake Geneva, about 25kms north east of Geneva's city centre. Held over the course of ten days, the Festival turns Nyon into a focal point at which several generations of filmmakers and artists from all over the world find a loyal audience on a voyage of discovery. Recognised globally as one of the major festivals dedicated to non-fiction filmmaking, it presents a majority of films as World or International Premieres, and constitutes an essential platform for creation for the thousands of film professionals who meet there every year, according to the synopsis on the official website.

The International Feature Film Competition celebrates contemporary non-fiction filmmaking. The films are presented in World, International or European Premieres. Those fourteen films are :-

* 'While the Green Grass Grows' - from Switzerland and Canada and Co-Produced, Co-Edited, photographed and Directed by Peter Mettler, this film won the Grand Prix Award and saw its World Premier showcasing.

* 'Defectors' - from South Korea and the USA and Co-Produced, Edited, photographed and Directed by Hyun kyung Kim. World Premier screening.

* 'The Bilbaos' - from Argentina and Co-Written, Co-Produced, photographed and Directed by Pedro Speroni. World Premier.

* 'Hours of Ours' - from Thailand and Co-Produced, photographed and Directed by Komtouch Napattaloong. World Premier.

* 'Al Djanat - The Original Paradise' - from France, Burkina Faso, Benin and Germany and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Chloe Aicha Boro. International Premier.

* 'In Ukraine' - from Poland and Germany and Written, photographed, Edited and Directed by Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski. International Premier screening.

* 'The Forgotten of the Beautiful Star' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Clemence Davigo. World Premier.

* 'Grasshopper Republic' - from the USA and Co-Produced, Co-photographed and Directed by Daniel McCabe. World Premier.

* 'Fauna' - from Spain and Co-Written and Directed by Pau Faus. World Premier.

* 'Mashtat' - from Lebanon, Tunisia, France and Qatar and Directed by Sonia Ben Slama. World Premier showcasing.

* 'Antier noche' - from Switzerland and Spain and Written, Edited and Directed by Alberto Martin Menacho. World Premier.

* 'My Father's Prison' - from Venezuela and photographed and Directed by Ivan Andres Simonovis Pertinez. World Premier.

* 'O auto das animas' - from Spain and photographed and Directed by Pablo Lago Dantas. World Premier.

* 'Pure Unknown' - from Italy, Switzerland and Sweden and Directed by Mattia Colombo and Valentina Cicogna and Edited by Velentina Cicogna. World Premier screening.

The Burning Lights Competition is an international competition of medium length and feature films dedicated to new, free, adventurous and contemporary perspectives in cinema. 'Knit's Island' won the Grand Prix Award within this section, which also comprised the following titles : 'Filming', 'Natalia', 'Caiti Blues', 'Dreamers', 'Still Film', 'An Inhabited Volcano', 'This Woman', 'Mother Saigon', 'Astrakan 79', 'Apocryphal County', 'Taxibol', 'Landshaft', 'An Owl, a Garden & the Writer' and 'Gulan'. 

The National Competition is dedicated to feature and medium length films (Co)Produced in Switzerland. 'Sorrow Valley' won the Grand Prix Award within this section, which comprised of the following titles also : 'The Hunters Son', 'Full Tank', 'Hawar, Our Banished Children', 'Floating Islands', 'Hello France', 'The Wonder Way', 'On Remembering', 'The House', 'Female Dog of Red', 'Follow the Water' and 'Ruach - A Journey Into Yenish Europe'.  

For the full synopsis of these aforementioned films, plus the full line-up of films showcased at this years Visions du Reel, you can go to the official website at : https://www.visionsdureel.ch/en/

Turning back to this weeks slate of new released movies, of which there are six, we kick off with the third instalment and the 32nd offering in the MCU that sees the leader of this band of beloved intergalactic misfits rallying his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. Then we turn to an Arabic language film telling the story of a young man who is offered a place at a prestigious Cairo University which is also the centre of power of Sunni Islam, but he soon becomes a pawn in the battle between Egypt's religious and political forces. This is followed by an American drama telling the true story of a young, gay Black man with few options for his future decides to join the Marines, willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself to his estranged mother and triumph in a system that would otherwise cast him aside. Next up is an Aussie film that is an allegory for racism, as it follows BlackWoman, who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert - her escape leads to a city, recapture and tragedy. Following on, we have a Swiss sports drama film about a talented young Ukrainian gymnast living in exile in Switzerland who has to stand by and watch as the Euromaidan protests unfold in her native Kyiv in late 2013, all the while training for the European Gymnastics Championships. And closing out the week we have a French comedy crime drama film about a young gigolo and an attractive con artist plot a devilish scheme on the French Riviera. 

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.

'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3' (Rated M) - this hotly anticipated American superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, and is the sequel to 2014's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 2017's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and serves as the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the second film in Marvel's Phase Five. Written and Directed once again by James Gunn who recently jumped ship and now heads up, with Peter Safran, DC Studios as Co-Chairpersons and joint CEO's. Gunn's next Directorial outing is slated to be 'Superman : Legacy' due in July 2025. 

The Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn and Maria Bakalova) are adjusting to life on Knowhere when parts of Rocket's (Bradley Copper) past resurface. In order to protect him, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) must lead the Guardians on a dangerous universe defending mission that could lead to the team dissolving if they fail. Also starring Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone and Will Poulter. The film saw its World Premier screening at Disneyland, Paris on 22nd April and is released in the US, China, here in Australia and other territories this week.

'CAIRO CONSPIRACY' (Rated M) - aka 'Boy from Heaven' is an Arabic language French, Swedish and Finish Co-Produced political thriller film Written and Directed by the Swedish film maker Tarik Saleh, whose previous feature film credits are his debut in 2009 with 'Metropia', then 'Tommy' in 2014, 'The 'Nile Hilton Incident' in 2017 and 'The Contractor' in 2022 being his first English language film. Adam (Tawfeek Barhom), the son of a fisherman, accepts an offer to study at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Shortly after his arrival, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar suddenly dies and Adam becomes a pawn in the power struggle between the country's political and religious elites, to replace him. The film saw its World Premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. At Cannes, Saleh was awarded Best Screenplay and the film received the Francois Chalais Prize. The film was also selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at this years Academy Awards, and made the December shortlist. It has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far grossed US$4M at the Box Office.

'THE INSPECTION' (Rated MA15+) - this American drama film is Written and Directed by Elegance Bratton in his feature film making debut. This film saw its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year and was released in the US in mid-November, having garnered generally favourable reviews and so far recouping just US$407K from its modest US$3M production budget. Here then, Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) a young gay black man with few options in life, enlists in the US Marine Corps and is sent to boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina. Initially he meets the physical requirements, but is not as successful in disguising his sexual orientation, making him the target of a near-lethal hazing from training instructor Leland Laws (Bokeem Woodbine) and a fellow recruit, Laurence Harvey (McCaul Lombardi). Also starring Raul Castillo and Gabrielle Union. It has picked up twelve award wins and a further twenty-nine nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

'THE SURVIVAL OF KINDNESS' (Rated M) - is an Australian drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rolf de Heer, whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his feature film making debut back in 1984 with 'Tale of a Tiger', then 'Bad Boy Bubby' in 1993, 'The Tracker' in 2002, 'Ten Canoes' in 2006, 'Twelve Canoes' in 2009 and 'Charlie's Country' in 2013. Seen as a metaphor for racism, the film follows BlackWoman (Mwajemi Hussein), who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert. Once she escapes the cage, she walks from desert to mountain to city, to find more captivity and tragedy. It saw its World Premiere at the October 2022 Adelaide Film Festival and had its International Premiere in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February where it competed for the Golden Bear and won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film. 

'OLGA' (Rated M) - this Swiss sports drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Elie Grappe in his feature film making debut that saw its World Premier showcasing at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July 2021 and was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Academy Awards. The film tells the story of a fifteen year old Ukrainian gymnast, Olga (Anastasiia Budiashkina), living in exile in Switzerland and who is working toward securing a place at the country's National Sports Centre and who is also preparing for the European Gymnastics Championships. When Euromaidan protests begin in Kyiv in late November 2013, anxieties come to the fore as her family gets involved. The film has generated eleven wins and another nine nominations from around the awards and festival circuit and has taken just US$97K at the Box Office. 

'MASQUERADE' (Rated MA15+) - is a French comedy crime drama offering Written and Directed by Nicolas Bedos whose prior film making credits take in his feature debut in 2017 with 'Mr. & Mme Adelman', then 'La Belle Epoque' in 2019 and then 'OSS 117 : Alerte Rouge en Afrique Noire' in 2021. This film was screened out of competition at last years Cannes Film Festival in May. Here, Adrien Saillard (Pierre Niney), an attractive dancer whose career was shattered by a motorcycle accident, squanders his youth in idleness. His life changes when he meets Margot Hansen (Marine Vacth), who lives off scams and amorous manipulations, as they set about plotting a devilish scheme on the French Riviera. Also starring Francois Cluzet, Emmanuelle Devos and Isabelle Adjani. The film has so far recovered US$7M off the back of a production budget of US$15M. 

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-