bane

Extinction (2018) Michael Pena, Lizzy Caplan, Amelia Crouch, Erica Tremblay, Lex Shrapnel, Mike Colter, Israel Broussard Directed by: Ben Young Platform: Netflix - A Netflix Original Movie IMDB: 5.8/10, RT: 39% Rotten Runtime: 95 Minutes (Watched all of it) Synopsis: A father has a recurring dream of losing his family. His nightmare turns into reality when the planet is invaded by a force bent on destruction. Fighting for their lives, he comes to realize an unknown strength to keep them safe from harm. Verdict: It was good to see Pena in a straight lead role for a change instead of his usual fast talking comedic roles, I enjoyed the film for the most part, it does feel too much like Skyline until they throw a twist at the end which I didn't expect. The movie is better than its RT rating and worth a watch.

Everly (2014) Salma Hayek, Hiroyuko Watanabe, Laura Capeda, Togo Igawa, Akie Kotabe Directed by: Joe Lynch Platform: From TV IMDB: 5.1/10, RT: 30% Rotten Runtime: 92 Minutes (Watched 30) Synopsis: An action/thriller centered on a kidnapped woman who faces down hitmen sent by a mob boss/her captor while trying to protect her family from his wrath. Verdict: I only watched 30 minutes of this daft actioner because of Salma Hayek

Expo (2019) Derek Davenport, Amelia Haberman, Shepsut Wilson Written & Directed by: Joseph Mbah (Krampus Origins) Platform: Netflix IMDB: 2.5/10 Runtime: 80 Minutes (I watched 15) Synopsis: With only three days to prove his innocence, a struggling ex-soldier (Derek Davenport) is forced to take one last job and save his client's kidnapped daughter (Amelia Haberman) or face time for a crime he did not commit. Verdict: Awful, just awful. Badly acted, badly edited scenes, just bad.

Evolution (2001) David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore, Sean William Scott, Ted Levine, Ty Burrell, Dan Ackroyd, Sarah Silverman Directed by: Ivan Reitman Platform: NowTV IMDB: 6.1/10, RT: 43% Rotten Runtime: 102 Minutes (Watched 35mins) Synopsis: When a meteorite falls to Earth two college professors, Dr. Ira Kane and Prof. Harry Phineas Block, are assigned the job of checking the site out. At the site, they discover organisms not of this planet. Soon the site is taken over by the government, forcing Ira and Harry to the side. As the new life-forms begin to evolve and start to get more and more dangerous, it's up to the two professors to save the planet. Verdict: It feels like Reitman was trying to recreate the magic of Ghostbusters but with alien life, this movie is daft with none of the jokes landing, it has none of the wit of GB and Duchovny feels so miscast in a comedic role, the movie is a complete miss for me and looking at Reitmans resume I forgot he directed Junior

Eurotrip (2003) Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Michelle Trachtenberg, Travis Wester, Kristin Kreuk, Matt Damon, Jessica Boehrs, Vinnie Jones, Fred Armisen, Lucy Lawless, Diedrich Bader & Joanna Lumley Directed by: Jeff Schaffer (directorial debut) Platform: NowTV IMDB: 6.6/10, RT: 47% Rotten Runtime: 89 Minutes (Watched mostly all) Synopsis: Dumped by his girlfriend, a high school grad decides to embark on an overseas adventure in Europe with his friends. Verdict: They don't make movies like this anymore! Gratuitous nudity, stereotypes, teen comedy.... ahh the early 2000s! Worth watching just for Vinnie Jones.

Escape Room (2019) Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Deborah Ann Woll, Nik Dodani, Yorick van Wageningen Directed by: Adam Robitel (Insidious: The Last Key) Platform: NowTV IMDB: 6.3/10, RT: 50% Rotten Runtime: 100 Minutes (Watched All) Synopsis: Six strangers are given mysterious black boxes with tickets to an immersive escape room for a chance to win tons of money. Being locked in several rooms with extreme conditions, they discover the secrets behind the escape room and must fight to survive and to find a way out. Verdict: Its very much a reimagining of "Cube" from the late 90s, well acted I found it to be very entertaining and enjoyed it more than I expected until the end when the whole thing became tiresome. While Cube didn't give answers Escape Room not only does but the whole thing is setup for a sequel, yes its trying to be another horror franchise like Saw was. A sequel is set to come out this year, a shame, if this was one and done it would be very much like Cabin in the Woods, but everyone is looking for the next franchise. Urgh.

Escape Room (2017) Skeet Ulrich, Sean Young, Christine Donlon, Randy Wayne Written & Directed by: Peter Dukes Platform: From TV IMDB: 4.3/10 Runtime: 86 minutes (I only watched 20 minutes of it) Synopsis: Four friends who partake in a popular Los Angeles escape room, owned by Brice (Ulrich), find themselves stuck with a demonically possessed killer. Sean Young plays the keeper of a box containing an evil demon. The friends have less than an hour to solve the puzzles needed to escape the room alive. Verdict: Same damn concept as the other one, instead of someone who wants to play a game we have a demon in a box. Best part of the movie is over hearing Sean Youngs character on the phone saying... "don't get them wet or feed them after midnight"... nice nod to Gremlins!

Escape Room (2017) Evan Williams, Annabelle Stephenson, Elisabeth Hower, Dan J. Johnson, Kelly Delson Written & Directed by: Will Wernick Platform: Netflix IMDB: 4.2/10 Runtime: 81 Minutes (I watched 25) Synopsis: Six friends test their intelligence when an escape room they participate in takes a dark and twisted turn. Verdict: The director must have watched the first Saw and thought "hey, escape rooms are all the rage right now, lets combine the two and fill it with underdeveloped vapid characters", 25 minutes later I escaped. Yawn.

Escape Plan 3 (2019) Also Known as "Escape Plan: The Extractors" Sylvester Stallone, Dave Bautista, 50 Cent, Jaime King, Jin Zhang, Harry Shum Jr, Devon Sawa Directed by: John Herzfeld Platform: NowTV IMDB: 4.4/10, RT: 27% Rotten Runtime: 88 Minutes (Watched 30) Synopsis: After security expert Ray Breslin is hired to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a Hong Kong tech mogul from a formidable Latvian prison, Breslin's girlfriend is also captured. Verdict: So much better than the awful last one but thats not saying a whole lot, It starts off ok for a direct to video actioner but just gets boring real quick.

Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018) Sylvester Stallone, Dave Bautista, Xiaoming Huang, Jesse Metcalfe, 50 Cent, Wes Chatham Directed by: Steven C. Miller Platform: Netflix IMDB: 3.8/10, RT: 8% Rotten Runtime: 94 minutes (I watched 20) Synopsis: Years after he fought his way out of an inescapable prison, Ray Breslin has organized a new top-notch security force. But when one of his team members goes missing, Breslin must return to the hell he once escaped from to save his friend from the prison's brutal human battleground known as Hades. Verdict: I enjoyed the first one if only to see Arnie & Sly on screen together again but this sequel was abysmal, I didn't realise Stallone was so hard up he'd star in this direct to video rubbish and thats only after watching 20 minutes! I didn't even see Bautista show up. Avoid!

Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017) Documentary Eric Clapton Directed by: Lili Fini Zanuck Platform: From TV A look at the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton, told by those who have known him best, including BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison. Verdict: An indepth warts and all biopic into the life of Clapton, I learned alot about him during this 2hr 15min doc, from drug addiction, alcoholism, personal tragedy, I didn't know he had lived such a life! All done via archive footage and interviews with a current voice over by Clapton himself. Highly recommended!

Enough (2002) Jennifer Lopez, Billy Campbell, Juliette Lewis, Dan Futterman, Noah Wyle Directed by: Michael Apted (Gorillas in the Mist, The World is Not Enough) Platform: Netflix IMDB: 5.8/10, RT: 22% Rotten Runtime: 111 minutes (I watched 35) Synopsis: An abused woman discovers that the dream man she married isn't who she thought he was. She and her daughter try to escape (aided by her previous boyfriend), but he pursues her relentlessly. Fearing also for the safety of her daughter, she decides that there's only one way out of the marriage: kill him. Verdict: For the subject material it required a better --script and a better actress, I could only take so much J'Lo whiney overacting.

Enlighten Us (2016) Documentary James Arthur Ray Directed by: Jenny Carchman ENLIGHTEN US: THE RISE AND FALL OF JAMES ARTHUR RAY is the story of the motivational rock star's meteoric rise, fall and return to the $11 billion self-help industry after his negligent homicide conviction in the death of three clients at a sweat lodge at one of his events. As this story unfolds, we learn from Ray, his followers and his accusers, about how their methods of self-improvement ultimately caused so much suffering. ENLIGHTEN US asks the important questions, "What are we looking for" and "Who has the answers" and even the simple question "Why?" Interesting look at one of the stars of the billion dollar self help industry at his highest point and then it all collapses when the death of 3 people in a sweat lodge at one of his events occurs.

The Endless (2017) Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Callie Hernandez, Tate Ellington Written & Directed by: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead Platform: Netflix IMDB: 6.5/10, RT: 93% Fresh Synopsis: As kids, they escaped a UFO death cult. Now, two adult brothers seek answers after an old videotape surfaces and brings them back to where they began. Verdict: A very intriguing slow burn sci-fi movie, it keeps you guessing and wondering where its headed. Worth a watch.

Defence of the Realm (1985) Gabriel Byrne, Denholm Elliott, Greta Scacchi, Robbie Coltrane Directed by: David Drury Platform: From TV IMDB: 6.5/10, RT: 100% Fresh Runtime: 96 Minutes (watched all of it) Synopsis: After a newspaper reporter helps expose a Member of Parliament as a possible spy, he finds that there's much more to the story than that. Verdict: A decent conspiracy thriller with good performances but an awful 80s synth soundtrack which is often jarring.

Domino (2019) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Soren Malling, Paprika Steen, Eriq Ebouaney & Carice Van Houten Directed by: Brian De Palma Platform: NowTV IMDB: 4.4/10, RT: 32% Rotten Runtime: 88 Minutes (Watched 30) Synopsis: A Copenhagen police officer seeks justice for his partner's murder by a mysterious man. Verdict: I can't believe how far De Palma has fallen as a director, this doesn't seem like the same guy that directed Scarface, Blowout, Untouchables and others. This film is a paint by numbers police procedural with some good actors with little to work with but whats worse is the god awful film score!

Death Do Us Part (2019) Known as "Zoo" in North America Zoe Tapper, Ed Speleers, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Jan Bijvoet Written & Directed By: Antonio Tublen Platform: NowTV IMDB: 5.4/10 Runtime: 94 Minutes (Watched 20) Synopsis: A couple try to save their marriage during a zombie apocalypse. Verdict: Essentially a stage play with a Zombie apocalypse going on in the background, I'm just tired of Zombie films regardless of what genre they slip into.

Cutterhead (2018) Christine Sonderris, Kresimir Mikic, Samson Samere, Adrian Heili Written & Directed By: Rasmus Kloster Bro Platform: NowTV IMDB: 6.1/10 Runtime: 84 Minutes (Watched All) Synopsis: Rie visits a tunnel-boring machine being used to construct the Copenhagen Metro. When an accident occurs, she must survive the claustrophobic conditions of an airlock with Ivo and Bharan whilst reconsidering their lives. Verdict: Not for claustrophobics! Enjoyable realistic survival movie, although I question the actions of its lead sometimes but all the characters morals seem to degrade quite quickly, I can understand panic induced actions but some of these seemed extreme in the time presented. But its well filmed, uncomfortable and with great sound design that make you feel everything the characters are going through. Worth a watch.

Crypto (2019) Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, Jill Hennessy, Alexis Bledel & Kurt Russell Directed by: John Stalberg Jr. Platform: NowTV IMDB: 5.6/10, RT: 17% Rotten Runtime: 105 Minutes (Watched 20) Synopsis: Demoted back to his hometown, a young Wall Street banker is drawn into investigating a tangled web of corruption and fraud in Upstate New York, affecting both his personal life and business career. Verdict: Boring.

Bumblebee (2018) Hailee Steinfeld, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Cena, Jason Ducker, Pamela Adlon, Stephen Schneider Directed by: Travis Knight Platform: NowTV IMDB: 6.8/10, RT: 92% Fresh Runtime: 119 Minutes (Watched All) There is a mid-credits scene so stick around. Synopsis: On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. On the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, Charlie Watson discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. Verdict: I guess this serves as a prequel to those god awful Michael Bay movies but its nothing like them, the nostalgia factor is ramped up and the Transformers look just like the cartoons I watched as a kid, finally they did them right with the cybertron opening bringing back so many memories I had a huge smile on my face. The film is more humorous than those awful Bay films, John Cena does a decent turn not taking himself seriously but Steinfeld is the star of the show. If you loved Transformers as a kid like I did, you will enjoy it!

Book of Monsters (2018) Lyndsey Craine, Michaela Longden, Lizzie Aaryn-Stanton, Daniel Thrace, Rose Muirhead Directed by: Stewart Sparke Platform: NowTV IMDB: 4.8/10, RT: 75% Fresh Runtime: 84 Minutes (Watched 15) Synopsis: Sophie's 18th birthday becomes a bloodbath when monsters descend upon her house and start to devour the party guests. Sophie and her friends must rally together to send their party crashers back to hell. Verdict: Bunch of British actors in their mid to late 20s playing teenagers.. poorly, in a low budget horror movie, the effects are decent but the acting is horrible.

Billionaire Boys Club (2018) Based upon the true story of Joseph Henry Hunt who in 1983 organised a investment social group called BBC which was a giant ponzi scheme. Hunt was later arrested for the murder of Ron Levin, the main investor who himself was a con artist. Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Taron Egerton, Emma Roberts, Ryan Rottman, Jeremy Irvine, Thomas Cocquerel & Bokeem Woodbine Written & Directed by: James Cox Platform: NowTV IMDB: 5.7/10, RT: 7% Rotten Runtime: 100 Minutes (Watched All) Synopsis: A group of wealthy boys in Los Angeles during the early 1980s establish a 'get-rich-quick' scam that turns deadly. Verdict: A lot of the RT reviewers either seem to be hung up on this being a poor mans "Wolf of Wall Street" even though this is based on a different true story or that Kevin Spacey is in it after allegations against him came to light, the latter reflected in the films opening weekend taking only $125. My take... this is a story I'm not familiar with at all, there was a TV series in 1987 based on the events which people say is a lot more in-depth. This movie however I enjoyed, the acting is very good especially Ansel Elgort, it kept me interested throughout and to me it seemed professional reviewers didn't want to give it any chance simply because of Spacey's involvement. I thought it was worth a watch.

Being Frank (2019) Also known as "You Can Choose Your Family" Jim Gaffigan, Samantha Mathis, Anna Gunn, Logan Miller, Isabelle Phillips, Gage Banister Directed by: Miranda Bailey Platform: NowTV IMDB: 5.7/10, RT: 32% Rotten Runtime: 110 Minutes (Watched 40) Synopsis: A normal father's family life is turned upside down when his son discovers his dad has another family. Verdict: A comedy about a bigamist thats not funny and is more like a drama, i watched as long as I did to see if the comedy turned up.... which it didn't.

Barb Wire (1996) Based upon the comic book series "Barb Wire" by Chris Warner Pamela Anderson, Xander Berkeley, Tony Bill, Clint Howard, Udo Kier, Temuera Morrison, Victoria Rowell Directed by: David Hogan Platform: NowTV IMDB: 3.3/10, RT: 28% Rotten Runtime: 90 Minutes (Watched 20) Synopsis: During the Second American Civil War in 2017, Barb Wire owns a nightclub called the Hammerhead. Things become complicated when her ex-lover Axel Hood, who is married to the fugitive Corrina Devonshire, re-enters her life. Verdict: