Movie Reviews

Movies for you to watch during these unprecedented times.

Life of Pi

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.5/5 Age Recommendation: 9+

This wonderful film is an adventure drama based on Pi Patel’s story. Pi, a poor Indian boy finds a way to survive on a small lifeboat after a ship with his family collapses in a storm, he is alone- unless you count the ferocious Bengal Tiger and mischievous Hyena and more living on this small boat with him in the middle of nowhere. He struggles to survive out at sea, and begins to write. It’s a sad, well-produced, inspiring story and teaches you about perseverance, hope and resilience no matter what happens. It’s very realistic and has won many awards.

The Greatest Showman (2017)

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 9+

Starring Zendaya, Zac Efron and Hugh Jackman, the Greatest Showman is an award winning, worldwide sensation film. The film has a biographical perspective of show business and is filled with imagination. Every performance is spectacular and the songs are catchy and vivid. The musical number is set in 19th century New York, and incorporates wealth, class, love, family and racism in the storyline. The soundtrack was extremely popular too, with songs like “Rewrite the stars,” “This is me,” “Never enough,” “A million dreams” and “Come alive” along with many other popular songs.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 7+

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone is the first movie of the Harry Potter series, having the box office revenue of around $1.02 billion. Harry Potter, an orphan, who has a lightning scar on his forehead, lives with his uncle, aunt and cousin, the Dursleys, who doesn't treat him nicely. It wasn’t until his birthday, when a half-giant Hagrid comes and tells Harry that he is just not an ordinary boy, but a wizard. Since then, his life changes, and he enrols at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There he meets his best friends, Ron and Hermione, and together they face various challenges and decide to go on several adventures, that involves discovering the true reason of Harry’s parents’ death, and the lightning scar on Harry’s forehead.

Charlie’s Angels (2019)

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.5/5 Age Recommendation: 11+

The action/comedy film is about a group of female private agents, working in a secret group of non-governmental agents are tasked by their anonymous boss to take down some of the world’s criminals in different areas of the world. They have to take a device back that could potentially be sold on the black market and could become a weapon. The movie inspires female empowerment, it’s fun and exciting. Starring Naomi Scott, Kristen Stewart and Ella Balinskina.

Mulan- 2020

Age recommendation: 8+ Rating: ⅘

We’ve all watched the animation version of Mulan by Disney, but now there’s Mulan in a realistic film! ‘Mulan’ is about a girl (named Mulan) who lives in a small village in China. She disguises herself as a boy to fight on the battlefield to keep the empire safe. The fearless young woman encounters dangers and tension along the way and is exposed as a girl midway. Mulan then has to convince the rest of the army she will lead them to victory after she hears about a plan to kill the Emperor. Mulan emerges victorious, a girl who has led the Empire to safety and is honoured. The movie inspires female empowerment, risk-taking and resilience. The cinematography was wonderful and a must-watch especially if you enjoyed the animation version.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.5/5 Age Recommendation: 8+

This comedy/fantasy movie is set in New York. Female paranormal enthusiasts are stuck on the idea that ghosts exist, they go around New York fighting the ghosts and trapping them, everyone thinks they are crazy. The plot is that they realise someone is summoning ghosts from every corner in the city to form an apocalypse. The movie calls for unforced humor, it also shows some femininity.

Titanic

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 12+

Almost everyone has watched this movie, it’s based on the sinking of the Titanic and how the experience was. It is extremely well acted and sad, it is a romance and drama movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. You will always want to watch it again, the story is deep and meaningful. The movie also shows the differences between poor and rich, with their privileges and how the different classes were treated. The classic film also shines light on how a woman was considered property or just used for marriage in society. However, the movie is inappropriate for younger audiences.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Rating out of 5 stars: 4.5/5 Age Recommendation: 11+

To All The Boys I've Loved Before is a rom-com that revolves around a Korean-American girl, Lara Jean. Lara Jean is a quiet and shy teenager, who deeply loves books about love, fantasising about it. She writes secret love letters to all the crushes she's had before, 5 in total, but never openly admits it. One day those letters are sent out, and her love life is in chaos. This movie is very sweet and funny, portraying the chaotic life of a 16-year-old teenager.

A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 12+

A Silent Voice is a Japanese anime movie, both subbed and dubbed on Netflix. This movie portrays the friendship of two high-school students, Shoyo Ishida, a quiet and introverted teenage boy and Shoko Nishimiya, a hearing-impaired girl, who cannot speak properly because of her hearing. These two knew each other when they were in elementary school, Shoyo, used to bully Nishimiya for her deafness. He tries to change and learns sign language. This movie depicts the subject of school bullying and suicide. It is a heartwarming and lovely movie, and you will definitely cry when you watch this movie.

Shazam!

Rating out of 5 stars: 4/5 Age Recommendation: 13+

The main character Billy is a troublemaking, coldhearted orphan, who goes into a foster home, sharing a room with Freddy, a sarcastic DC and superhero lover. He gets into a fight with bullies who bullied Freddy, then gets on a train to escape them. Where he reaches is somewhere extremely mysterious, somewhere he has never been. It was the rock of Eternity, and the lair of Shazam, the wizard. Over here, the wizard transfers his powers to Billy, and the cold hearted, Billy, becomes a superhero. By saying the name “Shazam!”, 14 year old Billy, turns into a superhero, who has the superpowers of Solomon’s wisdom, Hercules’s strength, Atlas’s endurance, Zeus’s power, Achilles' courage and Mercury’s speed. (if you take all of the first letters of the superheroes, it spells out Shazam). Along with Freddy’s assistance, Billy 9as Shazam) fights the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, and the seven deadly sins in order to save the world. This comedic action and superhero movie is something that will definitely make you laugh.

Around the World in 80 days

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 11+

The 2004 classic is a must watch for 11+, it is inspiring, comical, diverse and actually based on a true story! In the 19th Century, Nellie Bly travelled the world in 72 days! This heartwarming movie shows different cultures from different areas in the world and has some important events from history included- like the Industrial Revolution and when the British colonised India. It has Jackie Chan and all the actors were brilliant. The adventures went through, the sudden comedic action and violence, and the plot were very good and we highly recommend it. In the story, British inventor Phileas Fogg, with the help of his Chinese assistant Passepartout (pretending to be a French Assistant since he is wanted by the police) aim circumnavigate the world in 80 days to prove the other British inventors wrong, and to earn costly wager set by the men at the Reform Club. It is thrilling, mischievous, suspenseful, adventurous and exciting. However, it does contain scenes of vulgar comedy which may not be appropriate for young children.

My Octopus Teacher

Rating out of 5 stars: 5/5 Age Recommendation: 6+

The award winning, Netflix documentary is about a diver who befriends an octopus when free-diving in the West of Cape, South Africa. It’s inspiring and all about the human connection with nature, it’s very calming and gentle too. The colours, pictures and under water are so colourful and beautiful. The film took around 10 years to make, It won the 9th Global Sustainability Film award. It’s perfectly suitable for all ages

The Social Dilemma

Rating out of 5 stars: 4/5 Age Recommendation: 13+

Directed by Jeff Orlowski, The Social Dilemma is a documentary film that teaches us the truth about social media; how it impacts out privacy, how we are being manipulated by it and how it can drastically bring changes, both negative and positive in our world, and to every individual. We all live in a highly technologically advanced society, and we are all absorbed on our phones and on social media. In this documentary, a range of technology experts such as Tim Kendall, former president of Pinterest, Tristan Harris who is co-founder and CEO of Apture and previously worked as a design ethicist at Google, Jaron Lanier and many more talk about their experiences and thoughts on social media. This documentary makes us aware of how there is a strong link with social media and our mental health. It is definitely something you should watch if you think you are on social media too much, as it will help you in many ways.