Monte Casino was the venue where I got the chance to check out the latest blockbuster on the circuit currently. I was pumped to check this one out, this has been the case since the first time I saw the trailer back in August. Trailers do a great job in making a movie seem more than it actually is, I’ve eluded to this fact on numerous occasions before. So, was this the case in this instance also?

Cast – Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, Shiva Negar & Taylor Kitsch

Director – Michael Cuesta

Genre – Thriller/Action

Running Time – 1h 51m

The Plot

Distributed by Times Media Films, on behalf of Lionsgate, the movie follows the rise of Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien) a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). The pair is then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy (Sanaa Lathan) to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets. Together the three discover a pattern in the violence leading them to a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent (Shiva Negar) to stop a mysterious operative (Taylor Kitsch) intent on starting a World War in the Middle East.

The Good

The movie includes an impressive cast with a plotline that’s also equally intriguing. To put it in simple terms, American Assassin is a full-blown action movie complete with explosive film stunts – from hand-to-hand combat to gun fights, helicopter and car chases. It will satisfy the apatite of any movie lover, especially the action junkies.

The Not So Great

Despite what it offers, American Assassin has its flaws. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I was constantly finding myself comparing it to similar titles such as The Accountant and Jason Bourne, probably not fair of me to do that but it’s hard not to. When compared to such titles, American Assassin doesn’t even come close. It’s not as polished, tight and together as the aforementioned movies.

Outside the comparisons though and purely from an outright movie watching point of view, American Assassin gives one the impression of being loosely knit and not having enough to fully impress. This is disappointing especially when you consider what it initially presents through the trailer and plot. It had the makings of being a great movie but sadly the execution in many instances just wasn’t great.

So, is it a bad movie?

No, not at all. Despite its faults (and maybe not watching from a critic’s point of view), American Assassin still makes for a good watch. This is all thanks to its impressive fight scenes and standout performances from Michael Keaton and Taylor Kitsch.

Officially in cinemas tomorrow, American Assassin is not a great movie nor is it a bad one. When faced with little options for your viewing pleasure, it might just do the job. Even with a running time of just under 2 hours, it does meander a bit and feels much longer, but if you can put up with some of its faults, – my guess is most individuals can – then it should make for a decent watch. Again, it’s not perfect but does a job, American Assassin manages to get a 3 out of 5 rating from me.

When you look at it from the onset you immediately understand why this role is perfect for Holland – his childish looks, squeaky voice, excitable demeanor and overall frame/appearance scream out Spiderman. This was made more apparent when we were officially introduced to him (the new Spiderman) in the epic Captain America: Civil War movie. Judging by the feedback and overall views from people who have already seen the movie, Spiderman: Homecoming sounds like a proper and overall good superhero movie. Adding my name to that list now, do I agree?

Cast – Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau Zendaya, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei & Robert Downey Jr.

Director – Jon Watts

Genre – Fantasy/Science fiction

Running Time – 2h13m

Before we get into it, let’s take a general look at the overall plot:

The Plot

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine — distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Now that’s out of the way, I can now answer the question posed.  Do I agree that this Spiderman is an overall good movie? Well, I’ve put both my hands up and I second what everyone is saying. I declare that I really liked the movie, a lot. It’s what a classic Spiderman movie should be and more. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy the previous ones, but this one is different. Spiderman: Homecoming is an overall feel good movie packed with lots for everyone to enjoy, from cool action sequences, to silly and funny moments sprinkled across perfectly. There’s a certain charm and innocence to it that will no doubt endear it to many.

The cast is also perfectly assembled with Tom Holland playing a key role in making the movie what it is, another case for the perfect person cast in a role. Veterans, Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jnr, also do what they do best and that is to deliver. The Marvel Universe is fantastic and filled with many possibilities, Spiderman: Homecoming adds to that perfectly and offers something different and lighthearted to its whole set up.

Marvel have pulled off another peach of a movie here, one can only wonder how they do it. The consistency is mind-blowing and unrivaled. Spiderman: Homecoming is a great movie, one that I can safely declare as being the best superhero movie this year so far. Perfect for the whole family and die hard superhero movie junkies, Spiderman: Homecoming gets a well-deserved 4.3 out of 5 rating from me.

Special thanks to MNet Movies (in conjunction with Ster-Kinekor) for a great evening and an even better screening!