I'm usually neither fond of superhero movies in general nor of the Marvel franchise in particular but Snake Eyes: G. I. Joe Origins is a very positive exception for me and a movie that is much better than its lukewarm reception might indicate.

First and foremost, this film is a feast of martial arts fans. Back in the seventies, there were four new martial arts films at the cinema every week but these days they are hard to come by. In this film, we see ferocious fist fights but also the use of daggers, pistols and swords and even some elements of magic. The choreography is stunning and the pace is at times breathtaking.

Up next, the locations for this movie have been chosen with care. The film starts with a series of different locations from a cabin in the woods over a shady underground fighting circuit to a port infiltrated with criminals. Most of the movie however takes place in a Japanese ninja dojo that looks absolutely stunning. This starts with the traditional buildings and continues with the surrounding forests, gardens, temples and shrines. The settings are very detailed and ooze with atmosphere.

The acting performances are also very decent. It was a great pleasure to see Iko Uwais on the big screen again but he doesn't play a ferocious martial artist but rather a wise teacher in this film which suits him surprisingly well. The same could be said about Peter Mensah as a blind master whose words are filled with philosophy and wisdom. My personal highlight is however Abe Haruka who appears as an analytical security boss at first but turns out to be an empathic, foresightful and intelligent woman.

The story is also very interesting as it offers many twists and turns and makes viewers ask themselves how they would react under similar circumstances. If I were on a quest to avenge my family but were invited as a friend to a ninja dojo controlled by such a charismatic security boss, I would probably not pursue the path of betrayal.

At the end of the day, Snake Eyes: G. I. Joe Origins is much better than its reputation and turns out to be a charismatic martial arts action film that should appeal to a much larger audience than those who are only interested in superhero movies.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is yet another movie inspired by the Marvel universe that has constantly been inspiring the cinematic world for more than a decade now. While the movie follows the usual stereotypes, it manages to stand out with its stunning special effects and locations.

The movie revolves around Shaun, a Chinese immigrant living in the United States of America who is working as a valet with his quirky friend and soulmate Katy. One day, they get attacked by a group of assassins on a bus and only just manage to survive. Shaun immediately understands that the attack must be related to his influential estranged father. Along with Katy, he decides to team up with his tough estranged sister Xialing to find out what's going on.

This film convinces on multiple levels. First of all, the acting performances are quite quirky and convincing. Especially the ladies steal the show. Awkwafina delivers the goods as curious, dynamic and funny woman that anyone would like to have as a friend. Zhang Meng'er on the other side represents a much darker character shaped by dramatic events from the past who is much more difficult to approach with her tough, relentless and independent personality.

The expensive special effects certainly deliver the goods as well. The scenes in a fantasy world, in Ancient China and in contemporary San Francisco are all equally stunning to watch. The fantastic creatures such as dragons look impressive on the big screen.

The story might be predictable but is nevertheless entertaining from start to finish thanks to steady pace and inspired execution. You will truly care about the fates of the different characters as you are watching this film.

However, this film isn't without its occasional flaws. First of all, lead actor Simu Liu simply doesn't have the charisma of the other actresses and actors involved. Casting him was a bold choice but it didn't fully pay off in my opinion.

Up next, the movie desperately tries to connect to other characters in the Marvel Universe. The appearance of Trevor Slattery played by Ben Kingsley is completely random as it only seems to be a pretext to offer some misplaced comic relief. The mid-credit scene starts in an amusing fashion but suddenly involving Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers only seems like a weak attempt to develop a hype for potential sequels. The same goes for yet another scene after the credits that evokes more questions rather than concluding the film appropriately.

At the end of the day, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an entertaining fantasy action film of the Marvel Universe that should appeal to faithful and occasional fans alike. It's one of the better films in the franchise but perhaps Marvel should focus on quality over quantity instead of becoming a monstrous capitalistic machine that is scarier than any gigantic dragon shown in the film.

Gretel & Hansel is loosely based upon the German folk tale Hänsel & Grethel by the Brothers Grimm. It tells the story of an independent sister and her childish brother who leave their hometown behind to join a group of woodcutters to get some work and earn some money in order to get some food and find a place to live. They are wandering through a forest and almost starving to death when they smell food coming from an isolated house. They are invited by the mysterious owner to share a meal with her and spend the night. The two siblings soon start to suspect that strange things are going on in that house and that the strange lady might not be as friendly as it had initially seemed.

Despite surprisingly harsh critics, this reinvention of this German fairy tale is actually one of the best of its numerous adaptations. This movie convinces with excellent visual effects that contrast gloomy and monotonous surroundings with bright and surreal colours. The calm and slow camera work blends in perfectly and adds to the movie's creepy atmosphere. The characters are quite intriguing from the mentally unstable mother over the helpful hunter to the creepy lady. The acting performances are excellent. Sophia Lillis convinces as boyish teenage girl who needs to take care of her younger brother and discover her hidden magical talents. Sam Leakey incarnates the quirky, naive and annoying little brother very well. Alice Krige shines as mysterious old woman with much knowledge and numerous skeletons in her closet. The film convinces with fluid pace and perfect length as it entertains through eighty-seven gripping minutes.

There are few things to complain about. Some of the dialogues between Gretel and the mysterious woman could have been cut short. The ending could have been a little bit more detailed to tell us about the fates of the two siblings.

In the end, Gretel & Hansel offers a gloomy mixture of fantasy, horror and mystery elements. The visual effects are as stunning as the acting performances. The story isn't particularly surprising but well-executed. If you like ancient tales with sinister vibes, then you should enjoy watching this movie on a cold dark night.

Based upon a novel by Roald Dahl and a movie by Nicolas Roeg, The Witches has been harshly criticized in comparison upon release. The movie tells the story of a young boy and his grandmother who confront a congregation of witches at a fancy hotel.

Personally, I have been entertained very well by this movie that mixes comedy with a few hints of adventure and horror. The characters are charismatic, diversified and intriguing. The plot has epic proportions but is nevertheless easy to follow from start to finish. The locations have been chosen with great care and are truly inspiring. The special effects are absolutely outstanding and well-integrated into the movie. The sountrack is quite diversified and underlines the different atmospheres throughout the movie skillfully. The acting performances by an eccentric Anne Hathaway and a quirky Octavia Spencer are second to none. Codie-Lei Eastick and Jahzir Bruno convince as charismatic child actors with lots of potential. The movie has a perfect running time and didn't have any noticeable lengths. Since I have enjoyed this movie as an adult, I could imagine that it might be even more exciting for a younger audience as this truly is a film for the whole family.

I won't compare this movie to the novel or the original film and I can understand that the expectations of some nostalgic fans couldn't be met. However, The Witches is a dynamic, entertaining and imaginative comedy film for the whole family in my humble opinion. Ignore the harsh reviews and spend some quality time at the cinema with your loved ones in difficult times.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets isn't only the best novel of the franchise but also the best movie along with the first entry Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone. The story revolves around a mysterious dangerous presence at Hogwarts that paralyzes innocent witnesses and attempts to open a legendary room that hides a terrifying secret.

This sequel convinces on all levels. The story is even gloomier than the first one and grabs the viewers' attention from start to finish. The special effects are particularly outstanding and have aged very well. Especially the epic finale in the chamber of secrets is particularly memorable. The young actresses and actors are once again doing excellent jobs and especially the friendship between Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley becomes more credible, emotional and strong. The movie also introduces a few new characters that are very fascinating such as a young Ginny Weasley who is having a particularly traumatizing first year at Hogwarts and Gilderoy Lockhart who can be seen as a parody of contemporary starts and starlets with his self-centered arrogance based upon exaggerations and lies. Another important element is that the movie is very close to the novel and introduces the viewers once again to different classes and teachers at Hogwarts. This movie truly shows why so many kids and teenagers wish their schools were a little bit like Hogwarts.

Despite a seemingly challenging length of two hours and forty-one minutes, every single scene is relevant, imaginative and entertaining. Kids as well as teenagers and adults should feel particularly fascinated by this creative movie for the whole family with a few gloomy, mature and profound twists. This movie has aged particularly well and it has to be stated once again that the first two movies in the franchise are also by far the best thanks to excellent scriptwriters, gifted designers and a veteran director who knows how to create magical movies that stand the test of time.