Clad in a grey mo-cap suit, and standing in a volume, Serkis goes full Gollum to announce the start of production, before the camera then fades out to a location shoot in New Zealand’s mountainous ranges, and audiences can be in no doubt that this retunr to Middle Earth will once again be an epic return to the big screen.

In relation to the casting for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, it couldn’t get more epic with the likes of Andy Serkis as Gollum and Sméagol, Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey; the wandering wizard Kate Winslet as Marigol, Jamie Dornan as Strider, Leo Woodall as Halvard; A Dúnedain ranger who travels with Strider, Lee Pace as Thranduil; The Elven king of the Woodland Realm, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins; q young Hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo Baggins, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren; A Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm who is trusted by Thranduil.

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Set in the time before The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, leading up to the Company of the Ring entering the Mines of Moria, The Hunt for Gollum finds the Wizard Gandalf sending the ranger Strider to hunt for the creature Gollum, with the film framed from Gollum’s perspective.

While production is being kept under wrap and key, Serkis has mentioned that he is looking forward to explore a deeper into the twisted psychology of Gollum and Sméagol, and has framed Todd Phillips’ Joker as a reference point for production.

Production has onyl just kicked off so we’ll be waiting a bit before we get a solid look into the film, but the promise and excitement of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is fully present and this will be a blockbuster event when it arrives in cinemas on December 17, 2027.

Image: Warner Brothers Pictures

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Based on the true life of Robin Cavendish (Garfield), a man who is struck down by polio in the prime of his life and is given only months to live. But thanks to the devotion, care and ingenuity of his beloved wife Diana (Foy), Robin survives via the help of a mobile ventilator and goes on to live a marvellous life, while becoming a hope for the disabled.

I must warn you that Breathe is a film that requires tissues, and plenty of them because the tears certainly do flow. While true-life stories are normally films that evoke very strong feelings from their audiences, Breathe does this even more so in a cruel twist of fate that is suffered by Garfield’s fun-loving adventurer Robin. But while everyone gives up on him, including himself, it’s the will and belief of his wife Diana, played here in tremendous form by Claire Foy, that will not let him fall into a life of despair.

While at one point in his career Garfield was being pushed towards the Hollywood limelight, he has steadfastly held to his position as a capable actor, rather than that of another Hollywood pretty boy. As a performer, he has always held a great maturity and commanding performance, and this is readily seen here in Breathe. The circumstances visited upon Robin Cavendish require an actor who can completely disappear into a role, and this can certainly be seen in Garfield, who relies upon nothing more than his limited facial expressions to bring to life this phenomenal man’s life.

But while Garfield might be the centre of the film, in my opinion, it’s Foy who is really the scene stealer. Her emotions and physical movements are not bound like Garfield and she makes the most of all of her vast range of motion and the feelings that result from tragedy. But while she does disappear for a moment, Foy’s Diana is ultimately a take charge kind of a lass, and will not stand meekly by and leave her husband to be combined to a hospital bed for the rest of his life. Foy’s performance is one of endearing love and her eyes never wander from her beloved Robin. Via each other, the couple manages to live an extraordinary life together and become a symbol of hope for Britain’s disabled population.

But while Breathe is ultimately the story of love, hope and survival, it’s subject matter does carry some rather terrifying moments. These come in the medical accidents and crises that Robin is frequently plagued by in his life, and acclaimed actor turned director Andy Serkis does not shy away from the hardships that the Cavendish’s battled. As an audience member, I was in no-doubt that Serkis was in complete charge of his film, and was helped in part by the presence of Jonathan Cavendish, the son of Robin and Diana, who was onboard as a producer and who was instrumental in bringing this story to the big screen. Both Serkis and Cavendish have long been working partners, and their respective talents behind-the-camera make for a very moving story.

If you’re looking to experience the power of love and devotion then you’ll find it with Breathe….and remember to bring tissues, because you’re bound to shed a tear or two.

Image: Transmission Films

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In reviewing War for the Planet of the Apes one can simply not overlook the phenomenal performance from lead actor Andy Serkis. Whether portraying Caesar as a young orphan in Rise or as a world-wearied leader in War, Serkis has been able to express a broad spectrum of emotions and behaviours that have made Caesar one of the most compelling characters in modern science fiction.

Without going into spoiler territory, Caesar faces some tough challenges between doing what is right as a leader versus what he feels he needs to accomplish on a personal level. At all times this interior battle plagues him and directs his decisions which makes for some great moments on the big screen.

While it’s difficult to upstage a performer like Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson comes pretty damn close.

His portrayal of the nameless military Colonel is filled with brutal efficiency, and his words and actions carry with them a chilling sense of belief that they are ordained by a higher power. The Colonel is an absolute zealot who fears for the end of days, and Harrelson’s trademark crazed wild-eyed stare certainly helped to convey this.

I would, however, caution fans to be prepared for the unexpected and the way that Reeves uses the Colonel narratively in the third act really took me by surprise. With all my time spent watching films I’m pretty adept at picking where a movie is going, but here I was definitely caught off guard.

While War for the Planet of the Apes packed plenty of big action set pieces, what made it appealing for me as a viewer was the importance that Reeves placed on his narrative. As a director, he was never overzealous to just use action for the sake of it, or to get a reaction from his audience. Instead, every pulse-pounding set piece leads further into the film’s dramatic narrative, which placed great attention to themes of family, belonging and home.

To see such attention given to ideas over action in a blockbuster of this size is certainly refreshing, and one hopes that we’ll see more of it in the future.

Another thing that informed War was Reeves well-known position as a pop-culture fanatic. To put it bluntly, his knowledge of this cinematic franchise really shows with plenty of easter eggs that long time fans will pick up on.

From the terrifying ‘scarecrows’ to the introduction of characters including Nova and Cornelius, who were a part of the original 1968 classic, these little details make War that much more special.

Packed with breathtaking CGI, a gripping narrative and asking some important questions, War for the Planet of the Apes was a thrill-ride that went beyond my own expectations. If you want to know who the real dominant species is on this planet, then I highly recommend you buy a ticket for this movie pronto.

Image: 20th Century Fox

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Check it out below:

Here’s the synopsis:

Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species, and the future of the planet.

Director Matt Reeves has drawn his battle lines between Andy Serkis’ Caesar and Woody Harrelson’s vindictive Colonel, and it promises to be one hell of a showdown.

The final trailer also highlights some particularly intense action set pieces, and the masterminds at Weta Digital have done a fabulous job imagining this savage future Earth.

War for the Planet of the Apes will be released on July 12 in New Zealand and Australia and on July 17 in the US and UK.

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Here’s the synopsis:

Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

The new trailer presents a host of gripping action and dramatic moments. Star Andy Serkis’ performance as Caesar is once again nothing short of incredible, and he’s facing some hard decisions that will determine the survival of his species.

Matched with Serkis is Woody Harrelson as the vindictive Colonel, a survivalist nutter who will do whatever is necessary to eliminate the ape population. Director Matt Reeves appears to be drawing the tension out of these two adversaries which will make for some gripping cinema.

War for the Planet of the Apes will be released on 13 July in New Zealand and Australia and on July 17 in the US and UK.

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