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Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Life of Chuck' review: Soulful Stephen King movie is 2025's best so far
'The Life of Chuck' doesn't have any demonic clowns, killer pets or telekinetic kids. It's also, in its own way, the most amazing story Stephen King ever told, a brilliant novella that begins at the end of the world and winds up in a haunted attic. Fortunately, 'Chuck' (★★★★ out of four; rated R; in select theaters June 6, nationwide June 13) is made by a filmmaker who gets King like none other. Writer/director Mike Flanagan ('Doctor Sleep,' 'Gerald's Game') captures the uplifting and bittersweet qualities of King's prose and brings his own gift for character depth to the story of Charles Krantz, played by four talented thespians (including Tom Hiddleston). Flanagan, also to his credit, goes all in on the legendary author's unconventional storytelling, a lifetime that unfurls in three acts and in reverse. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox The first centers not on Chuck but schoolteacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He's making his way through pointless parent-teacher conferences even as the end times have arrived – the internet's down, the world's falling apart, etc. – and people are dealing in whatever ways they can. Some walk around like zombies waiting for the sky to fall (literally or figuratively), and people go to jobs though there's nothing for them to do. What really weirds Marty out, though, is the strange billboards emblazoned '39 great years! Thanks Chuck!' and the image of Chuck at his desk with a cup of coffee. Marty reaches out to his nurse ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan), who's also at a loss about what the deal is with this Chuck guy, and they reconnect as everything grows dark around them. We finally meet the mysterious Chuck in the rousing second act, with a sequence straight out of 'La La Land.' Our man is an accountant skipping out on a day of work who winds up in a busy square and, inexplicably, begins to dance to the beat of a drumming busker. Chuck enlists the help of a young woman named Janice (Annalise Basso) and they enjoy a crowd cheering to the exhilaration of their samba- and swing-fueled moves. But the Capraesque third act is where the movie finally reveals itself, as Cody Flanagan, Benjamin Pajak and Jacob Tremblay play Chuck in various stages as a kid navigating joy, tragedy and a child-like understanding of a bigger picture. This part of the story also employs some smooth moves – including Michael Jackson's moonwalk – as well as some deeper thoughts courtesy of Chuck's lovably crusty grandpa Albie, played by Mark Hamill. Sure, he's forever Luke Skywalker, but Albie is just as much a role he was born to play. Narrated in folksy style by Nick Offerman, the movie features a deep bench of supporting actors, many from the regular troupe Flanagan has employed for movies and Netflix horror shows such as 'Midnight Mass.' Kate Siegel has a pivotal role as Chuck's English teacher, while Matthew Lillard and Carl Lumbly shine in small but poignant parts amid an impending apocalypse. All the Chucks are spot on as well: Hiddleston is a magnetic Everyman, even in limited screen time as the lead of the movie, and young Pajak notches a star-making turn opposite Hamill. Every member of the cast contributes in a small way to the collective beauty of the soulful film's themes, its exploration of humanity and grand existential questions. Who do you want by your side when it all ends? What happens if you choose practicality over creativity? Do you make the most of every moment of your life? It's a thought-provoking, big-hearted effort where you can see Chuck as one ordinary guy or a reflection of the multitudes contained within us all. Flanagan juggles a variety of moods and emotions throughout, so even if they seem disparate alone, they all make sense in context. There's impending doom, buoyant revelry, intimate drama, coming-of-age wonder and, yes, even some unnerving terror. (We are dealing with the author of "It" and "The Shining," so it can't all be puppies and rainbows.) If you want to go for the really scary stuff, there are plenty of other King movies for that. 'Chuck' instead is something truly special, a moving fantasy of a life well lived and no dance step left untaken. Based on the Stephen King novella, "The Life of Chuck" is in select theaters June 6 and nationwide June 13. The film is rated R by the Motion Picture Association "for language." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Life of Chuck' review: Stephen King ponders meaning of life
The Review Geek
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Will there be The Old Guard 3? Here's what we know about a sequel:
Summary The Old Guard 2 is the latest instalment in this Netflix Original movie franchise. This action film has everything from superheroes and missions to betrayals and found family. Netflix determines whether to renew a movie based on various factors such as completion rate, viewership numbers, production costs, and more. As of now, there's no news regarding the renewal of The Old Guard, but we look at the possibility of a Part 3. It may have taken 5 years to get The Old Guard sequel but here it finally is! And The Old Guard 2 cast includes old and new faces such as Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthias Schoenaerts, KiKi Layne, Henry Golding, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngô and Uma Thurman. With shocking revelations and plot twists, the ending had viewers on the edge of their seats. If you've watched the movie and want to know if there will be a third, this article has all the details you're looking for. Here's everything we know: What is The Old Guard 2 about? As a quick refresher, the first movie follows a bunch of immortals, led by Andy, who go around saving the world and humanity from man-made dangers. In the first movie, they face an existential crisis, an innovative villain and centuries-old regret. The Old Guard 2 picks up where it left off with a now-human Andy, Nile, Joe, Nicky and Copley teaming up to get rid of powerful criminals. But trouble is afoot as Nile dreams of a strange woman wreaking havoc. Traps are set but the team races to her willingly as this new danger is none other than Quỳnh, the immortal Andy failed to save 500 years ago. Seeking revenge against the immortals and humanity for abandoning her, Quỳnh ropes in the team's exiled member, Booker and a mysterious woman, Discord, who may be more powerful than all of the immortals combined. We have extensive coverage of The Old Guard 2 on the site, including a movie review. You can find those HERE! Will there be The Old Guard 3? At the time of writing, Netflix hasn't renewed The Old Guard 3. The Old Guard 2 has been co-produced by Skydance Productions which is responsible for several franchise sequels such as Mission: Impossible, Star Trek and Terminator. However, with Netflix distributing The Old Guard 2, we will have to keep an eye out on the reception. Netflix usually announces sequels depending on the popularity, views and drop-off rates. Some movies are instantly renewed like Enola Holmes and Rebel Moon while others take years such as Extraction, Murder Mystery and The Old Guard itself. So, while The Old Guard 2 does have a steady fanbase which guarantees some modicum of success, there is still no news on a sequel. However, the original author and the cast are excited to turn it into a multi-series franchise which means there is hope. What do we know about The Old Guard 3? Not much is known about The Old Guard 3 at the moment, given that it has not been greenlit. However, Part 2 ends on a massive cliffhanger which means there is ample material for the next movie should it happen. On top of that, the movies are based on Greg Rucka's graphic novels of the same name, so there is definitely a framework ready to be followed. However, nothing is confirmed. We'll be sure to update this page as soon as any new information comes in. Would you like to see The Old Guard return with a Part 3? Or do you think the story has run its course? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Geek Girl Authority
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Movie Review: THE OLD GUARD 2
It's been five long years, but The Old Guard 2 is finally here. I don't know about the rest of the movie-watching world, but I've been longing to see these immortal warriors back in action. Now, with a new director at the helm, does this comic book adaptation live up to expectations? The Old Guard 2 The Old Guard 2 (L-R) Luca Marinelli as Nicky, Marwan Kenzari as Joe, Charlize Theron as Andy, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Copley and KiKi Layne as Nile in The Old Guard 2. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025 The Old Guard , adapted from the Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández comic book series, arrived on Netflix during the pandemic. It quietly became a favorite for many, including me. Most of us couldn't wait for the sequel, but the possibility of The Old Guard 2 seemed elusive as more and more years ticked by. With Netflix's propensity for cancellations, many viewers expected the streaming service to cancel the trilogy. Thankfully, we were wrong. RELATED: Movie Review: The Phoenician Scheme The Old Guard 2 takes place around six months after the events of the first film. Andromache, or Andy (Charlize Theron), supposedly the world's oldest immortal, seems at peace with her newfound mortality. She's still leading her team of immortal mercenaries, which includes couple Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and the newest immortal, Nile Freeman (Kiki Layne). RELATED: Movie Review: Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Added to the team is Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a mortal who uncovered the team's immortality. Now, he's along for the ride to stop bad guys and protect the world. Joining the fray in The Old Guard 2 is Andy's secret associate, an immortal named Tuah (Henry Golding), who has dedicated his life to researching the histories of the immortals. Things Get Personal The Old Guard 2. Veronica Ngô as Quynh in The Old Guard 2. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025 The story of The Old Guard 2 is much more personal than the first. If there was one major criticism to be levied on the original film, it's that the villain was unmemorable and shlocky. This time around, the villain… well, she's got a point. RELATED: Movie Review: Materialists We'd learned about Andy's long-lost love, Quynh (Veronica Ngo), in the first film—she'd been imprisoned in an iron maiden and supposedly lost to the seas. Or, at the very least, Andy couldn't find her. But now Quynh is out, and she's joined forces with the boss villain to hunt down Andy. Why? Quynh learned that while she was trapped underwater for 500 years, her girlfriend's been roaming the world collecting buddies. Can you blame the woman for being a little angry? RELATED: Sinners Spoiler Review This is the crux of The Old Guard 2 . Andy's guilt and Quynh's anger position them on opposing sides. The story is very focused on these two, unfortunately to the detriment of the other characters. While the rest of the cast, including new villain Discord (Uma Thurman), have their moments, the film doesn't give them the chance to develop much. But there's a reason why. The Old Guard 2 Is Half a Story The Old Guard 2 (L-R) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Copley and Charlize Theron as Andy in The Old Guard 2. Cr. Eli Joshua Ade/Netflix © 2025 The Old Guard 2 is very obviously only half the tale. I wonder if director Victoria Mahoney and writers Greg Rucka and Sarah L. Walker were trying the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trick of leaving us with a cliffhanger, so a trilogy would be guaranteed. RELATED: 28 Years Later Spoiler Review That's not a bad tactic, especially given how streaming services constantly cancel properties for no good reason. I'm all for it. But we still need to get a complete product, irrespective of the cliffhanger. That's the biggest criticism for The Old Guard 2 . A lot of lore feels rushed and thrust at the viewer just in time to be useful to the story. All this new information, which becomes vital to the plot, as well as some of the character arcs, needs time to breathe. RELATED: Movie Review: Jurassic World Rebirth Nile feels particularly relegated to the background, instead of advancing the story like she had in the first film. Joe and Nicky, who stole our hearts with their romance in the original, get one sweet moment, but absolutely no romance. At least Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) gets an arc. And yet, it's hard to complain when you have the complicated emotions of Andy and Quynh at play. We don't get much romance between them, aside from sad pining, so we could have done with half an hour more of these two being in love. We'd Better Get a Part 3 The Old Guard 2 (L-R) Luca Marinelli as Nicky and Marwan Kenzari as Joe in The Old Guard 2. Cr. Eli Joshua Ade/Netflix © 2025 If it's not obvious by now, The Old Guard 2 has issues. But there are plenty of bright sparks as well. The action scenes are much more energetic and better-paced in this film. And director Victoria Mahoney makes a few directorial choices that are breathtaking to watch. RELATED: Movie Review: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina The sets and locations are outstanding. From a ridiculously quirky art-infested home to a gorgeous underground library to a sterile but ominous nuclear facility, The Old Guard 2 boggles the mind with its set choices. The characters continue to be the biggest draw. Layne has some great snarky moments. Ngo gets more screen time, and she's a striking presence, dressed gorgeously, while subtly sharing a myriad of emotions. RELATED: Thunderbolts* Spoiler Review Kenzari and Marinelli still have so much chemistry, you wish the best for their loved-up characters. And Golding and Ejiofor are always so magnetic on screen, you can't stop watching them. This isn't Theron's best performance, but she brings so much love to Andy that we deserve to see her inhabit this role again. And Thurman, well, she's just getting started with Discord. Her screen presence is undeniable. RELATED: Movie Review: M3GAN 2.0 Even if the story is half-told, The Old Guard 2 feels immersive. The characters are so lovable, they wind their way into your heart. You may not agree with all their decisions, but they definitely make sense. Admittedly, the film isn't quite as epic as its poster makes it out to be. But, irrespective of how good, bad, or rotten the ratings are for The Old Guard 2 , Netflix had better give us the threequel. We need to know what happens next. The Old Guard 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Movie Review: THUNDERBOLTS* Monita has been championing diversity, inclusivity, and representation in entertainment media through her work for over a decade. She is a contributor at Bam Smack Pow, and her bylines have appeared on 3-time Eisner Award-winning publication Women Write About Comics, Geek Girl Authority, HuffPost, (formerly Soundsphere/Screensphere, FanSided's Show Snob, and Vocal. She was also a TV/Movies features writer at Alongside her twin, Monita co-hosts the pop culture podcast Stereo Geeks.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Crush Charlize Theron's ‘Old Guard 2'
Charlize Theron in "The Old Guard 2." Charlize Theron's Netflix sequel The Old Guard 2 is getting no love from Rotten Tomatoes critics. Rated R, the sequel to the 2020 fantasy superhero film debuted on Netflix on Wednesday. The official summary of the film reads, 'Andy (Theron) and her team of immortal warriors are back, with a renewed sense of purpose in their mission to protect the world. With Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) still in exile after his betrayal, and Quynh (Veronica Ngô) out for revenge after escaping her underwater prison, Andy grapples with her newfound mortality as a mysterious threat emerges that could jeopardize everything she's worked towards for thousands of years. Andy, Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) enlist the help of Tuah (Henry Golding), an old friend who may provide the key to unlocking the mystery behind immortal existence.' As of Thursday, critics on Rotten Tomatoes have collectively given The Old Guard 2 a 25% 'rotten' rating based on 48 reviews. RT users, meanwhile, have given the film a 43% 'rotten' Popcornmeter score based on 250-plus verified ratings. What Are Individual Critics Saying About Charlize Theron's 'The Old Guard 2' Benjamin Lee is among the top critics on RT who gives The Old Guard 2 a 'rotten' rating, writing in his review summary, 'While it should, in an era of increasingly bloated runtimes, be a boon to have it all wrapped up in under 97 minutes, The Old Guard 2 is a panicked rush to wrap things up, poorly developed and confusingly plotted, a swift and savage franchise-killer.' Keith Maher of The Times (UK) isn't impressed with The Old Guard 2, either, writing in his RT view, 'The insuperable movie-killing problems here run the gamut from technical — horrible lighting, terrible echoey sound, utterly rubbish fight choreography — to fundamental storytelling flaws.' The Old Guard 2 also received a 'rotten' review from Nick Schager of The Daily Beast, who writes, 'Even the least violent passages of this follow-up are a tedious drag, courtesy of a story that asks nothing of its lead Charlize Theron and her underwhelming co-stars except endless, enervating moping.' Among the top critics on RT who give The Old Guard 2 a 'fresh' review — but with some reservations — is William Bibbiani of The Wrap, who writes, 'These above average, slightly forgettable movies may not live forever, but [Charlize] Theron's badassery might.' Brandon Yu of The New York Times also gives The Old Guard 2 a 'fresh' review on RT, writing, 'The film, directed by Victoria Mahoney, is a sure-footed romp that tightens the screws, most immediately by flexing a bigger cast and broadening the lore of the original comic book series.' Directed by Victoria Mahoney and also starring Uma Thurman, The Old Guard 2 is new on Netflix.
The Review Geek
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Old Guard 2 (2025) Ending Explained – Does Quỳnh forgive Andy?
The Old Guard 2 Plot Summary It may have taken 5 years to get The Old Guard sequel but here it finally is! And The Old Guard 2 cast includes old and new faces such as Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthias Schoenaerts, KiKi Layne, Henry Golding, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngô and Uma Thurman. As a quick refresher, the first movie follows a bunch of immortals, led by Andy, who go around saving the world and humanity from man-made dangers. In the first movie, they face an existential crisis, an innovative villain and centuries-old regret. The Old Guard 2 picks up where it left off with a now-human Andy, Nile, Joe, Nicky and Copley teaming up to get rid of powerful criminals. But trouble is afoot as Nile dreams of a strange woman wreaking havoc. Traps are set but the team races to her willingly as this new danger is none other than Quỳnh, the immortal Andy failed to save 500 years ago. Seeking revenge against the immortals and humanity for abandoning her, Quỳnh ropes in the team's exiled member, Booker and a mysterious woman, Discord, who may be more powerful than all of the immortals combined. What is Discord's true plan? A couple of months after the ending of The Old Guard, Discord, the first immortal, saves Quỳnh and enlists her in her supposed plans for revenge against humanity. Another immortal, Tuah, explains to Andy's team that Discord was disillusioned with humanity after they tortured Quỳnh and Andy. When Nile confronts Discord, the latter claims that Andy's obsession with saving humans is making immortals a target. The team deduces that Discord wants to either kill Andy or stop them from going on their missions. Discord sets up a trap by having Quỳnh plant bombs in an Indonesian nuclear facility which can kill millions of people. Once the team arrives to disarm the bombs, Discord separates everyone and is able to kidnap Nile, Nicky, Joe and Tuah. When Discord and Andy face off, the former's true motives are revealed. Discord has turned mortal and wants to regain her immortality. She plans to force Nile to wound an immortal and give their immortality to her every time she loses it. As for the willing aspect, she believes that she can torture the immortals into willingly giving her their power. What is the lore on the immortals? Discord claims she is the first immortal and Nile is the last since they share the same birthmark in the same place. All immortals can die after a couple of millennia, as seen with Discord and Lykon losing their immortality. A wound from the last immortal can take away immortality. Nile stabbed Andy when they first met, which is why Andy lost her immortality. We again see this when Nile stabs Booker and Quỳnh and they become human. The wounded immortal can also willingly give their immortality to someone else before it is lost. This is proven when Booker is able to give his immortality to Andy. Why does Booker give his immortality away? From the first movie, we see that Booker is tired of his life as an immortal. He believes that he needs to be able to die, for his actions and for his existence to have meaning. However, Andy doesn't feel the same way. She wants time to make things right with Quỳnh and stop Discord. Since she has a purpose, Booker decides to give his immortality to her. He also wants to make up for betraying her to Merrick in the first movie. Does Quỳnh forgive Andy? Along with giving up her rescue attempt, Quỳnh is upset with Andy when she refuses to join her in her revenge against humanity. She teams up with Discord as she wants everyone to suffer which the first immortal promises to help with. However, Quỳnh realises that Discord doesn't care about her during the trap at the facility. Instead of helping a wounded Quỳnh who has lost her immortality, Discord kidnaps Nile. Quỳnh decides to take her revenge into her own hands as she grabs the detonator. But flashbacks show that she was always the moral one between her and Andy. Andy arrives in time and states that Quỳnh will have to live with her choice. Frustrated, Quỳnh abandons her plans to bomb the place as she knows she would be killing innocent people. After Andy's failed attempt to rescue her team, she saves Quỳnh and they hole up in Tuah's library. Andy spends her time nursing Quỳnh and looking into ways to stop Discord. Over the days, Quỳnh's walls break and she enters into a truce with Andy. We see some friendly banter as they head out to save the immortals at the end of the movie. Read More: The Old Guard 2 Movie Review
