Star Wars: the Last Jedi (2017)
Genre: Sci-fi
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Domnhall Gleeson, Carrie Fisher, Billie Lourd, Andy Serkis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Laura Dern, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Benicio del Toro, Adam Driver
Duration: 142 minutes
Class: 12A
KRS Releasing Ltd

Daisy Ridley persuades Mark Hamill to join her cause in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Walt Disney Co.’s The Last Jedi follows 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and picks up with the Resistance fighting off Supreme Leader Snoke’s First Order which is trying to take control of the galaxy.

Rey (Daisy Ridley), meanwhile, tries to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to join the Resistance fight and bring a spark of hope to the rebels against Snoke’s tyrannical rule.

The film, directed by Rian Johnson  (The Brothers Bloom, Looper) explores themes of the battle to find a balance in the Force, the supernatural energy that runs through the fictional Star Wars galaxy.  It ends with a dedication to Carrie Fisher, who plays Princess Leia. The actress died at age 60 last December after completing her work on the film. Her character, now known as General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance, plays a key role.

The film has been screening for press and critics in both the UK and the US, where it will go on general release tomorrow and Friday respectively.

Early viewers have hailed The Last Jedi as the best Star Wars film ever, while critics and fans have praised Adam Driver’s star-making performance as Kylo Ren.

Joshua Yehl, editor of IGN Comics, praised the film, saying: “I am stunned by #StarWars #TheLastJedi. I gasped, I laughed, I screamed, I cried and I had the time of my life. Rian Johnson pulled it off, making what might be the best Star Wars movie ever.”

The Independent’s culture editor, Christopher Hooton, wrote: “I’ll keep it short. #TheLastJedi makes The Force Awakens look like child’s play.”

The film will premiere at the Eden cinemas in Malta tonight just after midnight to then show in all local cinemas as from tomorrow.

Ratings
IMDB: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
Empire: N/A

Stronger (2017)
Genre: Biopic
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson, Clancy Brown
Duration: 119 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd

Tatiana Maslany gives Jake Gyllenhaal the strength to carry on in Stronger.

Based on the memoir of the same name by Jeff Buaman, the film follows Bauman, who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays the lead role. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Bauman is able to help law enforcement identify one of the suspects, but his own battle is just beginning.

With unwavering support from his family and girlfriend, he embarks on a long and heroic journey to physical and emotional rehabilitation.

The film received very good reviews, with critics praising its mature take on the story and Gyllenhall’s performance.

David Sims of The Atlantic described it as “a profound, sensitively made gem”.

John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal wrote: “There’s barely a maudlin moment, which is remarkable given the subject matter and the things that make Mr Bauman’s story more than a soap opera with a side of current events come through loud and clear.”

And John Nugent of Empire magazine commented: “A deeply human and often brutally honest depiction of trauma and recovery, anchored by three superb performances – though it often falls victim to formula.”

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Stronger rises on the power of its well-chosen ensemble to offer an emotionally resonant fact-based story that transcends inspirational drama clichés.”

The $30 million budget film has however not done that well at the box office as  it grossed just over $4 million in the US since its release in September.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Empire: 3 stars

Il-Misteru ta’ l-Għoġol tad-Deheb (2017)
Genre: Family, adventure
Director: Alenka Falzon
Starring: Neve Mansueto, Aiken Buhagiar, Henry Zammit Cordina, Christabelle Scerri, Deandra Agius, Mandy Micallef Grimaud
Duration: 85 minutes
Class: U
Eden Leisure Group

Neve Mansueto and Aiken Buhagiar embark on a fantastical adventure in Il-Misteru ta’ l-Għoġol tad-Deheb.

The Maltese family adventure film is inspired by an article published in The National Geographic about the mysterious disappearance of schoolchildren in underground tunnels in Malta in the 1940s.

The film, penned by Ruth Frendo and directed by Alenka Falzon, follows the story of Pia (Neve Mansueto), a lonely orphan who feels unwanted and unlovable. After hearing that the Golden Calf mentioned in the Bible is hidden in Malta and after finding an ancient treasure map, she embarks on a fantastical adventure with her cousin Sandro (Aiken Buhagiar).

They uncover a number of clues and end up lost in an underground labyrinth where they face a number of dangers. Their adventure also leads to unearthing important family secrets.

Il-Misteru tal-Għoġol tad-Deheb boasts talented young actors and combines a local and international crew.

The production team is currently in talks with international distributors to dub the film in English and distribute internationally.

The film was a beneficiary of the development funds of The Malta Film Fund.

Il-Misteru tal-Għoġol tad-Deheb opens at the Eden Cinemas on Friday.