Latest news with #RottenTomatoes
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Fans have just days to watch 'masterpiece' war film with 'greatest ever actor'
The Bridge on the River Kwai is set to leave Amazon Prime Video imminently and fans of the 1957 war film are being urged to watch it now before it's too late Released in 1957, this war film remains a timeless classic, with critics continuing to regard it as one of the greatest of all time, but it's set to be removed from streaming platforms. The Bridge on the River Kwai, an award-winning film set during World War II, is hailed as a "masterpiece" by contemporary viewers. The movie boasts an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a plethora of five-star reviews. Written by Pierre Boulle, who also penned Planet of the Apes, and directed by renowned British director David Lean CBE, the film's success can be attributed to the exceptional collaboration between the creatives and its outstanding cast. One viewer praised the film on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: "There will never be another movie that approaches this one in ambition and grand scope. The screenplay, acting, location, and setting - it's as if designed by providence. Just brilliant." Another reviewer agreed, stating: "Not much to say other than that the bridge on the river Kwai is an absolute masterpiece in every aspect.", reports the Express. A fellow viewer echoed this sentiment, writing: "The best war movie I've ever watched. A true masterpiece!" In the year 1943, a contingent of British prisoners of war, led by the formidable Colonel Nicholson, arrives at a Japanese internment camp in Thailand. However, they're met with brutal living conditions. Under duress, their Japanese captors instruct them to construct a crucial bridge to support the Burma-Siam railway. But what their captors are not aware of is that the prisoners concoct a clandestine plan to undermine this ambitious construction project. Colonel Nicholson, in a determined effort to boost morale and fortify his comrades' spirits within the camp, convinces them that diligent work is the path forward. As a testament to his unwavering principles, he endures inhumane torment at the hands of the ruthless camp guards. In a separate turn of events, Allied forces orchestrate a perilous commando operation that seeks to annihilate the bridge. Alec Guinness shines as Colonel Nicholson, delivering what is being hailed as a masterful performance. The late actor, who had earned numerous prestigious awards, had earned his reputation as one of Hollywood's finest. Ultimately knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his remarkable contribution to the arts, Guinness continues to be revered for his roles in several iconic, highly acclaimed films. A glowing review reads: "Hayakawa, Holden and Hawkins are all superb, but it's the towering performance of Guinness which elevates this movie to classic status and guarantees its place in movie immortality. Once watched, it's a film you will never forget." The film boasts an all-star cast, with Alec Guinness sharing the screen alongside William Holden, a major box office draw in the 1950s. The presence of these Hollywood heavyweights lends depth and authenticity to the wartime narrative, cementing The Bridge on the River Kwai's status as a landmark film. Critics have lavished praise on the movie, with one reviewer hailing it as having "One of the greatest and most satisfying endings in all film history". Another critic has described the 1957 epic as "One of the great, action-packed epics of the late 50s". As the film is set to depart Amazon Prime on July 1, now is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the cinematic masterpiece that is The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I binge watched Netflix's new crime drama and here's why you should too
I binge watched Netflix's new crime drama and here's why you should too Netflix's new crime drama, Dept. Q, is a thrilling watch, and it looks like mystery fans agree with me Matthew Goode plays the sarcastic male lead Carl Morck. (Image: Netflix ) With an excellent 86% rating on fan and critic review site Rotten Tomatoes, it is clear that a large proportion of people agree with me, when I say that Netflix's new crime drama Dept. Q is a thrilling watch. Set in Edinburgh, sarcastic Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck played by Matthew Goode, has been assigned to a newly formed cold case unit, which is essentially a big PR stunt to make the police force look better. Following a traumatic incident that left him shot in the neck, his policing partner paralysed and a young PC dead, Carl must navigate his new life with trauma. He joins forces with a team of underdogs, mysterious Akram (Alexej Manvelov) who slowly reveals more about his life in Syria and DC Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne) who is battling with an alphabet of conditions including PTSD, OCD and ADHD. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . They decided that the first cold case they would tackle in the new department would be the disappearance of a prominent civil servant who vanished several years previously. Article continues below Despite not knowing what truly happened in the lead up to the event, or if she was even still alive four years after being abducted, they put all their energy into the investigation. Described by The Guardian as a "g rimy, gothic treat" the grey background of a rainy Scotland is the perfect accompaniment for some tragic crimes. Not only that, but the dryness of the Scottish sense of humour makes for a funny watch which contrasts the darkness of the show's plot. This is done in part by the script and by it's cast. Chloe Pirrie plays solicitor, Merritt Lingard (Image: Netflix ) Matthew and Alexej's characters are a perfect balance of chaos and calm, as we see their unconventional partnership develop through the course of the series. The DCI has past trauma and guilt from his previous partner's accident and as a result struggles to let people in. Matthew plays the character extremely well as we can see how he becomes more comfortable allowing his team to assist in the case. Chloe Pirrie plays Merritt Lingard, a hard solicitor who we slowly learn more about, including why she has such a tough exterior. The detectives delve into her tragic upbringing across the water, and her relationship with her family. With twists and turns around every corner, you feel truly immersed in the drama and the mystery of the show. You almost find yourself trying to solve the crimes and figure out what's happened as all of the new evidence comes in. Dept. Q has you gripped from the very first episode, which is good for those who are looking for a new crime drama, although it's not too good for those of us who don't want to interfere with our sleeping patterns. The series is set across nine episodes, each of which is roughly an hour long, which means if you start binging it late in the day you stay up way past your bedtime. So keep that in mind, and binge-watch sensibly. The crime fighting duo, Carl and Akram, are a great balance of sarcasm and calm (Image: Netflix ) Dept. Q is based on a series of books by Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen, so hopefully that means that the platform will adapt further books and continue the series. Knowing it was a book series makes a lot of sense really, as you're watching you can picture it being written and the Scandi Noir elements drawn in from its Danish writer. Despite not yet being renewed for a second season, Netflix is rumoured to have submitted Dept. Q for Best Drama Series at the Emmy Television Awards. Forbes has highly suggested, "that if Netflix is submitting this series for Emmy consideration, it thinks the show is high-quality, and that is a clear indication of a second season renewal." For now, if they want to get their Scottish crime drama fix, fans of the show will have to re-watch the series. For those of you who are yet to watch Dept. Q, what are you waiting for? Grab a can of IrnBru and get Netflix on the telly, you've got nine hours of intense Scottish detective work to watch. Article continues below
Graziadaily
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
The Verdict Is In On 28 Years Later - Here's What Film Critics Say
With heatwaves continuing around the country all week, it's not exactly horror film weather, yet the highly anticipated sequel, 28 Years Later, lands in cinemas on 20 June. The follow up to Danny Boyle's last post-apocalyptic films, 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, the third instalment promises to be every bit as terrifying. The stellar cast features Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Edvin Ryding, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack O'Connell. The film will be closely followed by 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is out in January, and was shot back to back with the film out this month. The latter also stars Hollywood stalwart Cillian Murphy, famed for dedicating himself to his roles, who was rather unfortunately mistaken for the zombie on the film's poster. There's certainly a lot of hype around the movie – and an assumption that, despite the blazing sun, fans of the first two will flock to a cold, dark cinema to watch it in their droves. Is that something you should consider doing this weekend? And how do the critics think it fares against Boyle's first two horrors? Read below to find out. According to the synopsis, the third instalment picks up three decades since the rage virus escaped from a biological weapons laboratory. Still living in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amid the infected. One such group lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When one of them decides to venture into the dark heart of the mainland, he soon discovers a mutation that has spread to not only the infected, but other survivors as well. The review embargoes lifted 24 hours before the film hit cinemas and locked in an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics seem to agree that 28 Years Later is well worth the wait and the story has benefitted from the lengthy gap between instalments. It has also received 7.4/10 on iMDb. One top critic summarised, 'A deeply earnest film, a picture whose sincerity is initially off putting until it's endearing.' Another wrote, ' 28 Years Later is a disorienting barrage of visuals and ideas that works more than it doesn't.' A third put, 'This one feels like a true and proper sequel that, like the original, goes in directions completely unexpected for the genre.' Robbie Collin at The Telegraph has awarded the film five stars and described it as 'transfixingly nasty' and 'a terrifying vision of Britain turning in on itself'. NME also gave the film five stars, with Jordan Bassett calling the film 'brilliantly bizarre' and says it 'turns the franchise on its (decapitated) head'. The Guardian 's chief film critic Peter Bradshaw was less gushing, however. 'This tonally uncertain revival mixes folk horror and little-England satire as an island lad seeks help for his sick mum on the undead-infested mainland,' he wrote. The same goes for Clarisse Loughrey at The Independent who also gave it three stars. Her headline captures her response: ' 28 Years Later feels like being repeatedly bonked on the head by the metaphor hammer.' Meanwhile, Ben Travis at Empire offered four stars. ' 28 Years Later brims with thematic resonances, a canvas on which to illustrate a national identity-crisis,' he writes. 'There is a clear Brexit analogy in a country experiencing isolationism — the rage-ravaged Britain secluded from the world; its people secluded from their own land.' Caryn James at the BBC described the film as a 'monster mash up' which is 'never dull', awarding four stars. 'Separated from the original in every way except its source story, for a long stretch the film lands as a more visually stunning, less emotionally rich variation on The Last of Us ,' the review reads. And it's five stars from the Evening Standard , describing the film as a 'freakshow slaughter fest' and a 'monstrous delight'. Nick Howells writes, 'They've stuffed this film full to the brim. There are even themes of toxic masculinity and assisted dying for those looking for zeitgeisty triggers.' With relatively mixed but overall positive reviews, an incredible cast and a lot of hype, it definitely sounds like 28 Years Later is worth your time. If you still need convincing, watch the trailer below. Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dumb and Dumber fans in stitches after noticing 'subtle joke' after 31 years
Dumb and Dumber is one of the most iconic movies of the 90s, and fans have been left in hysterics after realising there was a clever joke that never made it to the final cut The hit 1994 comedy film Dumb and Dumber had a lasting impact on a generation, thanks in large part to the brilliant comedic performances of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The film's massive success saw it open at number one at the box office, raking in almost $250 million worldwide on a modest budget of $17 million, resulting in significant profits. However, a clever detail from the film has resurfaced on Reddit, leaving many in stitches, reminiscing about their childhoods. In the 'Movie Details' thread, a user highlighted a subtle joke that went largely unnoticed in the original cut. Although a deleted scene had initially revealed the joke, it remained a mystery to all but the most astute viewers in the final version. The Redditor pointed out: "In 'Dumb and Dumber,' Lloyd Christmas was in love with Mary Swanson. Had they gotten married and she'd taken his last name, she'd be named Mary Christmas. It's never mentioned in the movie". YardBarker further explained that this was not simply a coincidence, as evidenced by a deleted scene where Harry pieces together the connection, but ultimately, the filmmakers chose not to draw attention to the joke. When the deleted scene was shared on the Reddit thread, it received some criticism from users who failed to find it amusing. One commenter wrote: "Wow...I've seen a few deleted scenes and am glad they were deleted". Another user echoed this sentiment, stating: "I've seen an uncut version on TV a long time ago, and was like what the f*** is this? Over the top crude humour. It totally killed the innocent stupidity of the characters". One user joked, "So basically the sequel?" while another Reddit user poked fun, saying they act "like that doesn't exist". A fellow user chimed in, "Wise man. I still refuse to see it as well. In some alternate reality, there was a sequel that was true to the original and hilarious. That's what I tell myself anyway,". It appears they're not alone in their disappointment with the movie's comedic elements, as it holds a modest 67% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes. However, others shared fond memories of the film, saying they were "obsessed" with it as a kid and had watched it so many times it was "burned into their brain," finding it "hilarious". In the same Reddit thread, someone shared a curious anecdote about encountering someone with a similarly unusual name in real life. They wrote: "My high school had the graduating class photos from the 1930s on up to current, around the school. "If I remember correctly in the 70s, there was a girl named Mary Christmas Tree. Her brother had an equally interesting name, but I can't remember it now". A witty remark followed, "All we need to find is the Tree family tree and we will find his name".
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
One of the most controversial films ever is free to stream on BBC iPlayer
The film quickly become one of the most talked about of the past decade, with viewers unable to decide if they loved it or hated it One of the most controversial films of the past decade, featuring an A-list cast, is about to become available to stream for free. Social media has transformed how audiences discover and engage with films. Once overlooked releases can now become viral hits overnight, thanks to the power of platforms like TikTok. The buzz around films used to come from trailers and critical reviews, now with social media, a well-timed edit or meme can launch a film back into the spotlight. For example, Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King had a slow start at the box office last year, but soared to a $722.6 million gross global after multiple TikTok memes gave it a second wind, Manchester Evening News reports. One film that demonstrates this better than any other is Emerald Fennell's Saltburn - and it's now coming to BBC iPlayer to stream for free this weekend. Released in November 2023, Saltburn follows the story of Barry Keoghan's character Oliver Quick, an awkward student at Oxford University who becomes obsessed with the much more popular and rich Felix Catton, portrayed by Jacob Elordi. Felix take's Oliver under his wing, initially feeling sorry for the seemingly shy lower class student. Eventually the pair hit it off, and Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer at his massive family estate, forgetting to tell him about his eccentric family whose way of life is far from normal, and completely intoxicating. Oliver quickly becomes obsessed with the world of wealth, eccentricity and hedonism, and things take a turn for the worse. The film shifts from a seemingly budding friendship, into a thriller full of twists and turns. There's a stacked cast including Oscar winning actress Rosemund Pike, Richard E Grant, known for his iconic turn in Withnail and I, Conversations With Friends' actress Alison Oliver, Gran Turismo's Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan. However, when the film premiered in cinemas it did not do as well as producers hoped. Saltburn grossed just $21.1 million in spite of its strong cast and gripping plot. After its release the film's critical consensus read: "Emerald Fennell's candy-coated and incisive Saltburn is a debauched jolt to the senses that will be invigorating for most." Saltburn's reputation then changed almost instantly when it was released on Amazon Prime Video, just weeks after it left cinemas. The film went on to become one of Prime's most-streamed films, receiving a 71 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also dominated social media for months, as viewers recreated scenes, provided theories and begged for a sequel. One review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: "Such an amazing performance from the entire cast, great cinematography and interesting storyline. This movie is entertaining and always makes me think." Another states: "Brilliantly artistic and woefully disturbing," as a third went on to say: "Interesting story with good character development. Keeps the viewers interested and curious throughout the film." A fourth fan claimed they'd think about this film forever, writing: "Still processing. Gonna think about it all the time. Very interesting movie and the cinematography is great."
