The Cynical Cinephiles

Director: Jon Favreau Cast: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, John Oliver, Beyonce, James Earl Jones Disney have taken many stabs at adapting their animated classics (with Dumbo and Aladdin making their live action debuts this year) but the studio face their biggest challenge yet with, arguably, everyone's favourite - The Lion King . Young lion cub Simba idolises his father Mufasa and looks forward to the day when he can assume the mantle of King of the Pride Lands and continue his dad's legacy. However, his uncle Scar also has his eyes set on the throne and deceits and manipulates in order to seize what he thinks is rightfully his. Acutely aware of the ardent fanbase that the original has, there are very few deviations to the story that we all know and love. Aside from a few additional scenes and a new song to utilise Beyonce's star power, everything else remains untouched, which begs the question - why was a remake required...

Director: Josh Cooley Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves The final scene in Toy Story 3 of Andy giving his childhood toys to young Bonnie and departing for college suggested the conclusion of the franchise with a neat trilogy that promised a life of fulfilment ahead of Woody, Buzz, Jessie and co. But the creative (and no doubt business) minds at Disney have eyed an opportunity to continue their story and reintroduce some old favourites and create new ones along the way. Now belonging to Bonnie, Woody (Hanks) struggles to adjust to his new life where he is no longer the favourite toy. During a road trip that sees Woody doing all he can to keep new arrival Forky (Hale) safe, the cowboy unexpectedly reunites with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (Potts). Their time together forces Woody to consider the life he truly wants as a toy and whether he can find that with Bonnie, Buzz (Allen) and the gang. Tim...

Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon A union of two of British cinema's most distinct and beloved voices (Boyle and Curtis) partnered with a wholly unique and high-concept fantasy romance appears to be the perfect antidote to a summer movie season packed with tent-pole pictures and live-action reimaginings. Does the attractive package deliver on its promise to satisfy cinema goers craving originality? After years of gigging and failing to make any progress, Jack (Patel) decides to give up his dream of becoming a musician and return to teaching. However, after a worldwide power cut, Jack discovers that he is the only person in the world who has any memory of The Beatles and tentatively seizes the opportunity to claim their music as his own. Jack quickly becomes the world's most successful recording artists and must wrestle with his heavy conscious and a complicated will-they/won't-they romance with his best friend Ellie (James...