STACK #179 Sept 2019

FILM

REVIEWS

Every hero has a dark side. X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

One king to rule them all. GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS

Release Date: 25/09/19

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Release Date: 11/09/19

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One of the most powerful mutants among the X-Men, Jean Grey went full Phoenix at the climax of X-Men: The Last Stand . Dark Phoenix is an origin story of sorts featuring her younger self (played by GoT ’s Sophie Turner), whose nascent powers are amplified by a cosmic energy wave, turning her into a destructive force that not even the combined might of the X-Men are able to stop. Professor X has a Luke Skywalker moment, recognising there’s good inside Jean, but can his powers of persuasion bring her

The modern Godzilla movie fans have always wanted to see, this direct sequel to the 2014 reboot features the highly anticipated return of three of the big lizard’s iconic adversaries. Held accountable for the destruction wreaked in San Francisco, secret agency Monarch responds by awakening another monster, the benevolent Mothra. And when the dragon-like King Ghidorah is revived from its Antarctic slumber by an eco-terrorist, and Rodan flies out of a volcano in Mexico, it’s time to call in Godzilla to restore the

back from the dark side? A grand finale for the franchise (for now), Dark Phoenix feels like a smaller film than its predecessors, although there’s no shortage of spectacle. It’s better than Last Stand and Apocalypse , even if it’s not quite the endgame that the X-Men truly deserved. SH

balance. After decades of watching guys in rubber suits stomping on miniature sets in the Toho films, we finally get to see these three classic monsters given glorious CGI makeovers. And when the royal rumble finally gets underway, it doesn’t disappoint. Let them fight! SH

Playtime is over. CHILD’S PLAY

The world’s not going to save itself. MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL

Release Date: 18/09/19

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Release Date: 25/09/19

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Chucky gets a high-tech upgrade and is now capable of turning interconnected devices into deadly weapons. When a defective doll (with disabled safety software) finds its way into the hands of 13-year-old Andy, he’s a little freaked by his creepy new friend’s interactive – and overprotective – nature. Andy’s concerns are soon justified when his mother’s obnoxious boyfriend meets a bloody end, and the bodycount continues to rise... A digital cover version of the analogue original, the new Child’s Play does

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson bring a bit of Thor: Ragnarok chemistry to this franchise reboot that goes back to basics. Rookie MIB Agent M (Thompson) learns the ropes from her cocky and seasoned partner, H (Hemsworth), to protect the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this case said scum is a menace known as The Hive, who are intent on getting hold of a super weapon. H has a history with The Hive, having previously banished them with the help

enough differently to make the revisit worthwhile, and it’s a lot more fun than cynical horror fans could have expected. The FX are largely practical and Mark Hamill provides more than mere novelty value as the voice of Chucky, investing the doll with plenty of personality. SH

of fellow agent High T (Liam Neeson). And when alien royalty is murdered on H and M’s watch, the crime points to a mole in the MIB ranks, leading to a lot of globetrotting (that justifies the title) and Hemsworth showing he’s got what it takes to be James Bond. AC

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