Warner Bros. Pictures has been gearing up for the release of “Mortal Kombat II”, the second film in director Simon McQuoid’s big screen reboot of the popular video game series originally created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. As fans know well, the story revolves around a multi-realm fighting tournament with a special penchant for wild characters and a heaping helping of blood-soaked violence.
Karl Urban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Adeline Rudolph, Josh Lawson, Jessica McNamee, Ludi Lin, Tati Gabrielle, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Chin Han, Damon Herriman, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Martyn Ford are some of the sequel’s cast members. The first trailer was released a few weeks back and it was followed by twelve killer character posters highlighting the movie’s long list of fighters, all who have roots in the video game series. Check the posters out below.
“Mortal Kombat II” hits theaters on October 24, 2025.
Cryptic teasers and creepy trailers paved the way for “Together”, A24’s latest twisted foray into the world of body horror. “Together” is the directorial debut for writer-director Michael Shanks and has grabbed a lot of attention since premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It stars real-life husband and wife Dave Franco and Alison Brie and tells a tale built upon a fairly obvious allegory. At the same time it lacks the psychological edge that could have made it considerably better.
Franco and Brie play codependent couple Tim and Millie. He’s a struggling musician and she is an elementary teacher who was just hired by a small rural school. As a result, the longtime partners buy a house in the country. But before leaving the city, Millie shocks Tim with a marriage proposal while at a going-away party with friends. His hesitation not only embarrasses her, but it’s the first of several hints that reveal the complications in their relationship.
Image Courtesy of NEON
Once settled in their new home and in desperate need of some quality time together, Tim and Millie take a hike in a nearby forest. Both end up falling into a deep hole where they discover the ruins of an old church – broken pews, broken stain glass windows, and an ominous bell embedded in the rock. But more mysterious is the pool of water than Tim decides to get a drink from. The pair eventually escape, but over time Tim begins to change. The formerly aloof Tim suddenly can’t stay away from Millie. And Millie can’t resist the attention. That’s when their story takes a gnarly Brothers Grimm-esque turn.
Shanks hasn’t been secretive about his film’s big twist. The couple’s connection takes a new form. Their new desires to be ‘together’ are more compulsory as if from a force outside of themselves. Again, the metaphor is pretty clear and the dangers of it are visualized through grotesque sequences of their bodies painfully fusing together whenever they make physical contact. Shanks doubles down on these scenes, leaning into the twisted body horror but finding room for some pitch-black humor as well.
To the film’s credit, it smartly presents us with a fairly likeable couple and a central relationship that is rooted enough in truth to earn our empathy. It does a good job exploring their genuine affections but also the buried resentment that has grown over time. Brie and Franco’s real-life chemistry pays dividends as the two are key in developing an organic on-screen partnership that is easy to believe in.
At the same time, you can’t help feeling that “Together” could have taken everything a little bit further – their attraction, their contentions, their anxieties, their grisly consequences, etc. Even more, the movie never comes across as either a fully realized horror feature or relationship drama. Still, Shanks does a good job conveying the weight of codependency even as his blaring metaphor gets more obvious through each gory mutation. “Together” is in theaters now.
It seemed like all the right ingredients were in place. You have a film trilogy that I loved. You have a style of absurd comedy that I’ve always been drawn to. And you have a lead actor in Liam Neeson who I’ve always enjoyed watching regardless of what film he’s in. But here’s the thing – you don’t just recreate something as hilariously absurd as 1988’s “The Naked Gun”. And you don’t just step into the Oxfords of a comedy legend like Leslie Nielsen.
Yet that’s the attempt we get in “The Naked Gun”, a 2025 legacy sequel that follows that goofy trend of using the exact same title as a previous series installment. Perhaps it’s my unwavering love for the original three movies. Perhaps it’s my concern from seeing Seth MacFarlane attached. But from its very first trailer, I was resistant to the idea of a sequel, reboot, or remake. The earlier films were built upon such a distinct brand of humor that since has all but disappeared. And the late, great Nielsen had a flawless knack for it.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
To director Akiva Schaffer’s credit, his sequel certainly makes an effort to honor the original films, at least early on. It’s sets itself up well through some really good gags that feels fairly in-tune with David Zucker’s gems. But “The Naked Gun” 2025 runs out of steam around the midway mark. The laughs become noticeably more scarce. And as much as I like Neeson, he just doesn’t have the imbecilic innocence and irresistible charm that Leslie Nielsen effortlessly brought to the role.
Amid its slew of movie-defining early jokes, the story is initially set up as a classic film noir, complete with a hard-boiled detective, cynical voiceover, moody music, and even a femme fatale. But either intentionally or not (it’s hard to tell), Schaffer tosses it aside for a more conventional structure. Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, who has chosen to follow in his father’s footsteps and join LA’s Police Squad.
After stopping a downtown bank robbery, Frank finds himself in hot water with his chief (CCH Pounder) over his use of excessive force. As punishment, he and his partner Ed Hocken, Jr. (a woefully underused Paul Walter Hauser) are moved off the bank case and assigned to investigate a suspicious car accident. Killed in the wreck is a man named Simon Davenport. After interviewing the deceased’s sultry sister Beth (Pamela Anderson), Frank makes a surprising discovery.
It turns out the car wreck and the bank heist are connected. And that connection is Edentech, a big tech corporation ran by the shady Richard Cane (Danny Huston). In truth, the story is pretty preposterous to the point of being mostly inconsequential. Things like coherence, a compelling narrative, character development, etc. are nowhere to be found. There’s nothing about the story to latch onto or to even bother caring about.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
But frankly, that’s okay in a joke-a-minute movie where the main focus is on quickly shuttling us from one gag to the next. The problems come when the jokes stop landing, and sadly that happens too much in the second half. It takes some late swings that are simply too ridiculous. A few other swings come off as just lazy. Meanwhile some of the running jokes run out of gas yet Schaffer keeps going back to them.
While I’ve made a point to praise Nielsen for his tremendous comic work in the original films, I don’t want to shortchange Neeson’s efforts here. He and Schaffer attempt to recreate Nielsen’s Frank Drebin but the results are noticeably different. But it has more to do with the material than Neeson. The 73-year-old screen veteran fully commits to the cornball humor and is a key reason why the film works as well as it does. Throw in some good callbacks and a keen self-awareness, and you have just enough to keep this wobbly legacy sequel on its feet.
Suspending disbelief is both a requirement and a challenge in the action comedy “Heads of State”. Premiering worldwide on Prime Video, “Heads of State” is a big-budget summer popcorn movie in every sense of the term. Rather than taking it to theaters, Amazon MGM Studios elected to make it one of their big summer streaming releases. It’s an utterly preposterous concoction. But there is just enough scenic globetrotting, crazy action, and wild set pieces to keep your attention.
The movie stars Idris Elba and John Cena and it wastes no time challenging its audience. Elba plays U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke, a bit grumpy and cynical but believable as England’s head of government. Much harder to buy is Cena playing United States President Will Derringer, a former underwear model, turned action movie star, turned America’s Commander in Chief. Both actors put in the work. But while Elba’s sophistication and charm clicks, Cena is less convincing – endlessly oscillating between inspiring world leader and all-out goofball.
Image Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
A petty (and at times almost juvenile) rivalry has formed between the two heads of state. Clarke is a six-year incumbent with sagging approval ratings who doesn’t like Derringer’s image-first celebrity politician status. Derringer still holds a grudge for Clarke endorsing his opponent via a highly publicized fish and chip dinner. It comes to a head during a press conference as the two prepare to depart London for an important NATO meeting.
Seeing the need for some good press, their chiefs of staff (played well by Sarah Niles for the Yanks and Richard Coyle for the Brits) concoct a relatively simple PR scheme. They reluctantly agree to fly together on Air Force One in an effort to show solidarity. But while in Belarusian air space, their plane is attacks by terrorists loyal to Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov (Paddy Considine). Clarke and Derringer manage to parachute out as the plane crashes. And while the rest of the world believes them to be dead, the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together if they want to get to safety.
“Heads of State” comes from director Ilya Naishuller who is perhaps known for the considerably better “Nobody” starring Bob Odenkirk. In his defense, this is a much different movie with a much different aim. The screenwriting trio of Josh Applebaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query lean heavily on comedy which both helps and hurts their movie. It unquestionable shows the film doesn’t take itself seriously (as it shouldn’t). At the same time, the constant petty arguing, the slew of overly corny jokes, the goofy needle drops – it starts to wear thin pretty quick.
Image Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
Yet the cast works hard to make the movie more entertaining than it has any right to be. It gets a boost from Priyanka Chopra who plays MI6 agent Noel Bissett. She’s a former love interest of Clarke thought to have been killed after a botched operation in Buñol, Spain. Chopra adds some unexpected punch to the action. Equally fun is Jack Quaid who gets a small part playing a goofy yet endearing CIA operator in charge of a Warsaw safehouse.
Even with what seems like stretches of self-awareness, the absurdity of “Heads of State” can be tough to look past. It’s not helped by Cena’s casting, jokes that frequently miss their marks, or the dopey occasions where the movie tries to say something serious. But it’s somewhat saved by Idris’ charisma, Chopra’s grit, and a handful of impressive high-dollar set pieces that energize the movie when it needs it most. Is that enough to justify the potential sequel that is teased at the end? For some, perhaps. For me, probably not.
Taron Egerton has been enjoying quite a leading man run lately. In 2023 he shined in the surprisingly captivating biographical thriller “Tetris”. He followed in up in 2024 with the well-received “Carry-On”, a taut and tense Christmastime action thriller for Netflix. Now this year he’s back with “She Rides Shotgun”, a gritty crime thriller built around an emotional father-daughter story. The three performances couldn’t be more different. And they show off the 35-year-old’s impressive range.
“She Rides Shotgun” is based on Jordan Harper’s 2017 novel of the same name. In it, Egerton plays Nate, an ex-con trying to make a fresh start after his recent release from prison. The film opens with 9-year-old Polly (a superb Ana Sophia Heger) waiting for her mother to pick her up after school. But as time passes, she is surprised when her estranged father Nate arrives instead. He’s jittery and anxious and from all signs he’s driving a stolen car. A startled Polly reluctantly gets in and Nate takes off in a hurry.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
This is Polly’s first time seeing her father since he got out of prison, and his cryptic speech and erratic behavior frightens her. Nate assures her that everything is ok, but their situation only gets stranger after he drives them to airport, ditches the car, and finds a motel for the night. While Nate sleeps, a television news broadcast reveals to Polly what her father has been hiding from her. She learns her mother and step-father were victims of a brutal double homicide and the police have Nate as their prime suspect.
Nate is forced to tell Polly the truth. While in prison he upset the wrong people leading to him and his family being marked for death. While he was unable to save his ex-wife, Nate is determined to protect his daughter at all costs, despite having few resources and no one he can trust. Now he and Polly are on the run from a corrupt sheriff and gang leader (played by a truly chilling John Carroll Lynch) who is willing to use any means to catch and kill them.
The movie has two facets that play out over the course of its rather lengthy two-hour runtime. The first is the thriller element which follows Nate and Polly as they’re on the run. The two stay on the move, from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, dodging crooked cops, contract killers, gang members, and one pesky detective (Rob Yang) who may or may not be their only ally in the entire Southwest. It’s certainly a competent thriller that can be both gripping and harrowing.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
The second is the father-daughter dynamic which evolves over the course of their journey. Rowland along with screenwriters Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski never lose sight of the troubled yet heartfelt central relationship. They don’t gloss over Nate’s weaknesses and shortcomings, yet they capture his love for his daughter which is seen most in his determination to protect her. The story routinely gives Nate and Polly moments to flesh out their circumstances. The rest comes from the rich performances from both Egerton and Heger.
My one big knock on the movie comes with its somewhat baffling ending that I still find myself wrestling with. From early on we get the sense that a violent confrontation is inevitable. The buildup is intense, but it wraps up with a well-intended yet head-scratching finish that I still don’t quite understand. Aside from that, “She Rides Shotgun” is a fittingly gritty and poignant redemption story with a distinct human pulse. And it’s yet another good showcase for Egerton who continues to build for himself an impressive résumé. “She Rides Shotgun” opens in theaters on August 1st.
Lionsgate Entertainment is bringing the action-packed “Ballerina” to home video. “From the World of John Wick”, Ana de Armas stars in this universe-extending action movie that fully embraces what fans love about the franchise while bringing along its own unique flavor. Beloved names like Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Keanu Reeves himself all play roles in this new chapter. But it’s the ferocious de Armas who drives the film with her charisma and physicality. It’s a must-own for fans of John Wick. You can read my full film review [HERE].
The 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD Steelbook editions of “Ballerina” come with as assortment of special features and will be available to purchase on September 9th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information and a list of special features.
About the Film:
Year: 2025
Runtime: 125 Minutes
Director: Len Wiseman
Screenwriter: Shay Hatten
Cast: Ana de Armas, Gabriel Byrne, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, Lance Reddick, Keanu Reeves, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sharon Duncan-Brewster
Rating: R for strong/bloody violence throughout, and language
The next chapter from the World of John Wick follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. Eve seeks revenge for her father’s death and finds herself crossing paths with John Wick himself (Keanu Reeves).
Special Features:
“Ballerina” Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
The Making of Ballerina ― Witness the rise of Eve (Ana de Armas) as the filmmakers discuss the intricate process of creating a new character in the world of John Wick.
Building A Frozen Underworld ― Step into the bold new locations that serve as the latest hunting grounds for these talented filmmakers, eager to face and overcome fresh challenges.
The Art of Action ― A Dance Between Fire and Ice: Discover how the teams behind the stunts, fight choreography, and weapons devised even more ruthless and creative ways to kill in some of the most intense action sequences in the entire John Wick universe.
Keith & the Movies 