Venom: Toxic to Brain Cells

Venom could have been a good movie if the filmmakers were daring enough to build on the character’s dreadful urges, but it is not to be. Christian Tesfaye awards 4 out of 10 stars.

Mister Rogers was the American version of Abbaba Tesfaye. Won’t You be My Neighbour? traces the undeniable charm and sincerity that Fred Rogers expressed on TV as he taught children about the more complicated sides of life. Christian Tesfaye awards 8 out of 10 stars.

Johnny English Strikes Again is the third installment of its franchise. Considering what has come before in the Johnny English series, this is actually not that bad. Christian Tesfaye awards 5 out of 10 stars, mostly for its pitiable character and funny scenes.

The Predator reintroduces a villain any film audience should be acquainted with. This installment of the Predator franchise offers much of the same except an attempt at humour, which does not pay off. Christian Tesfaye Awards 4 out of 10 stars.

Alpha is a buddy movie, between a wolf and a man. It explores one of the earliest relationships humankind formed with a species that would later become dogs. Christian Tesfaye liked the movie’s exploration of humankind’s early bouts of innovation, awarding 6 out of 10 stars.

Slender Man, the internet horror phenomenon, has come to the screen. The creature’s characterisation is precise but the environment that the filmmakers create does not fit. Christian Tesfaye awards 5 out of 10 stars.

It is not always that Mark Wahlberg is upstaged, but Iko Uwais succeeds in doing so in Mile 22. Unfortunately, poor writing, direction and choreography make the film unwatchable. Christian Tesfaye awards 3 out of 10 stars.

The Equaliser, the 2014 Denzel Washington vehicle, has received a sequel. Christian Tesfaye hoped it had not, finding the protagonist morally skewed and the narration and plot derivative. He awards 4 out of 10 stars.  

The Meg features a fearsome villain, the playful Jason Statham and Hollywood resources to make a memorable horror movie. Christian Tesfaye thought the film was unable to live up to the size of its villain, awarding 4 out of 10 stars. 

Paul Rudd is putting on a serious persona to play a Jewish man on a mission to assassinate a German scientist during the Second World War. Christian Tesfaye found its theme confused, awarding 4 out of 10 stars.

With every single installment, Mission: Impossible is proving itself one of the most sound franchises. Fallout is yet the most exciting and impressive sequel that comes the audience’s way. Christian Tesfaye appreciated its bold theme and fantastic actions sequences, awarding it 8 out of 10 stars.

John Gotti makes for an interesting screen character. But that is where the genius of Gotti stops. Terrible technical details and bad storytelling are what define this movie. Christian Tesfaye awards 4 out of 10 stars.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s new movie, Skyscraper, is one of his worst. It is yet another film that serves commercial purposes without any thought for how serious moviegoers will feel. Christian Tesfaye awards 4 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is the 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is one along a long line movies whose purpose is to supplement the Avengers franchise with largely insignificant plot points. Christian Tesfaye awards 5 out of 10 stars.

The 2015 Sicario has a sequel, and it could have been a letdown. But Sicario: Day of the Soldado follows in the footsteps of the original, delivering a Movie that is as relentlessly suspenseful as it is graphic. Christian Tesfaye awards 8 out of 10 stars.

Hollywood has never starved us of heist movies, but one where an all-female cast pulls of a job has been rare. And that is as unique as Ocean’s Eight gets. It is better than Ocean’s 12, but that is not saying much. Christian Tesfaye awards 5 out of 10 stars.