Action Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Action

Two men wearing casual clothing, one with a polka dot shirt, standing in front of palm leaves against a pink background.
Review

Road House review – our house is a very, very, very bland house

by Hannah Strong

Doug Liman directs Jake Gyl­len­haal in this mirth­less unnec­es­sary reimag­in­ing of the 1989 Swayze classic.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Woman with long dark hair in a white tank top surrounded by green foliage.
Review

Madame Web review – did anyone involved in this film actually want to be there?

by Hannah Strong

Dako­ta John­son deliv­ers a remark­ably dis­in­ter­est­ed per­for­mance as a clair­voy­ant super­hero in this shod­dy Spi­der-Man spin-off.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman in a gold dress and a man in a green suit, embrace on a dance floor with a dark, dramatic background.
Review

Argylle review – I’ve had more fun at dental appointments

by Hannah Strong

Bryce Dal­las Howard and Sam Rock­well attempt to add some charm to an utter­ly charm­less script in Matthew Vaugh­n’s deriv­a­tive spy comedy.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Animated ducks playing in a pond surrounded by autumn foliage.
Review

Migration review – A sorely underpowered duck tale

by David Jenkins

A ripe set-up in which a fam­i­ly of ducks migrate in the wrong direc­tion is squan­dered in this hap­haz­ard and emp­ty fam­i­ly animation.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A bearded man wearing a grey jacket and carrying a bag on a rural gravel path surrounded by lush greenery.
Review

The Beekeeper review – not enough bees

by Hannah Strong

David Ayer’s lat­est action thriller is an under­whelm­ing sto­ry about a retired secret agent who swears revenge against a tech bro scam company.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Ornate gold trident against dark blue background, with close-up of a person's eyes peering through the trident.
Review

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom review – a superhero sequel that sinks

by David Jenkins

Aggres­sive­ly unmem­o­rable return to a gar­ish CGI Atlantis in which Jason Momoa’s sub-aqua regent wards off anoth­er poten­tial apocalypse.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Gigantic sea monster with sharp teeth emerges from foaming waves, as a small ship is tossed in the turbulent waters.
Review

Godzilla Minus One review – Precision-tooled fun

by David Jenkins

Our atom­ic friend returns for a runout on the bat­tered land­scape of post-1945 Tokyo in Takashi Yamazaki’s stripped back action epic.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Woman in floral dress, armed soldier in background.
Review

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – lopsided prequel

by David Jenkins

Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth head up this ser­vice­able fran­chise pre­quel that dive­bombs into ignominy and obscu­ri­ty dur­ing its pro­tract­ed final act.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Middle-aged man with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
Review

The Killer review – throwback to the golden age of pulp fiction

by Hannah Strong

Michael Fass­ben­der plays a con­tract killer suf­fer­ing some pro­fes­sion­al set­backs in David Fincher’s lean, mean new thriller.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Shadowy figure illuminated by orange and blue lights, creating a moody, dramatic atmosphere.
Review

The Creator review – welcome, benevolent A.I. overlords!

by Leila Latif

Gareth Edwards serves up a visu­al­ly ambi­tious sto­ry of war between humans and A.I. beings in this heart­felt sci-fi spectacle.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect