No, that’s not the title of just one film, but four. Can you imagine if all four of them were in one movie? I can’t. It would we too weird. Anyway, I watched those movies in the cinema for the months of February and March, and here are my reviews.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

Synopsis
Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), whose late father secretly worked for a spy organization, lives in a South London housing estate and seems headed for a life behind bars. However, dapper agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) recognizes potential in the youth and recruits him to be a trainee in the secret service. Meanwhile, villainous Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a diabolical plan to solve the problem of climate change via a worldwide killing spree.

Verdict
Kingsman is one of my favourite movies this year. It’s like James Bond and Kill Bill mashed up into a comedy. It’s a very hilarious British spy movie with awesome action sequences and a lot of bloodshed. Even though I normally hate gore, I didn’t mind it so much here, probably because it was choreographed well; it was like watching a martial arts ballet. I know, what the heck am I talking about??

My favourite character was played by the dashing Colin Firth, whose very appearance embodied his character’s motto: “Manners maketh man.”

Taron was not bad, too. His face shape reminds me of Peeta Mellark from Hunger Games.

Just don’t take anything in this movie seriously, and you’ll be in for a fun ride.

Ratings: IMDB – 8.2 | Rotten Tomatoes – 74%

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CHAPPIE

Synopsis
In the near future, a mechanized police force patrols the streets and deals with lawbreakers — but now, the people are fighting back. When one police droid is stolen and given new programming, he acquires the ability to feel and think for himself. While the robot, dubbed “Chappie (Sharlto Copley),” puzzles out human behavior, the authorities begin to see him as a danger to mankind and order; they will stop at nothing to ensure that Chappie is the last of his kind.

Verdict
I must admit, I first chose to watch this movie because it was top-billed by Hugh Jackman, not knowing that he’s actually a villain here and hardly has any screen time.

The movie is quite funny, but to be honest, there were moments when I got slightly bored and got worried that my friends would hate me for dragging them to see it. They liked it, though, so I was worried for nothing.

I found myself comparing Chappie to us, humans, his maker to God, and his gangster parents to our own parents. I am not a very religious person, but I made this connection somehow.

When his maker created him he had other plans for Chappie, but when he fell into the gansgters’ hands, they wanted him to do other things. Chappie wanted to follow the promise he made to his maker, but in the end, he got swayed by his environment.

At one point, he got mad at his maker and confronted him, saying: “Why did you make me so I could die?”

“I didn’t make you to die,” his maker responded.

“I want to live!” Chappie cried. “I want to stay here with Mommy!”

“How was I supposed to know that you would become… you?” said his maker.

Okay so maybe that’s when the God comparison ends because perhaps religious people believe that God did not set out to create us without knowing what we would end up becoming.

Or did He?

Anyway. Chappie is light and fun and might even make you think and philosophize. Watch it without expecting too many Hugh Jackman scenes, and you might enjoy it wholeheartedly.

Ratings: IMDB – 7.3 | Rotten Tomatoes – 30%

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CINDERELLA

Synopsis
After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things.

Verdict
Cinderella is a fairy tale that’s so familiar and has been retold so many times that you might be tempted to skip this movie. That would be a mistake.

For the most part, it sticks to the classic story – the dead parents, the evil stepfamily, the fairy godmother, the ball, the glass slipper, the prince… but how they played out these elements was so wonderfully done, that a couple of scenes made me shed a tear or two even though I was already supposed to know the story beforehand.

And that ball gown… wow! It was so gorgeous, especially the way it twirled and bounced as they danced, that I told myself that if I ever got married someday, I want my wedding gown to look like that (only in white, of course).

They also added a few new elements to make the tale more believable and lovable (not as realistic as Ever After, but still) which only endeared the story to me.

It’s great for kids, too, as there are no scenes that would require you to cover their eyes, and it has a great moral lesson – no, not that a girl needs to be rescued by a prince, but Cinderella’s motto: “Have courage, and be kind.”

Kids and adults alike can learn a lot from Cinderella’s attitude, that no matter how harsh life can be, you can always choose your reaction to it.

Ratings: IMDB – 7.3 | Rotten Tomatoes – 83%

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INSURGENT (Divergent Series Part 2)

Synopsis
Now on the run from Jeanine (Kate Winslet) and the rest of the power-hungry Erudites, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) search for allies and answers in the ruins of Chicago. They must find out what Tris’ family sacrificed their lives to protect and why the Erudites will do anything to stop them. Side by side, Tris and Four face one seemingly insurmountable challenge after another, as they unravel the secrets of the past and — ultimately — the future of their world.

Verdict
I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch this because I hated the book, but I’m glad I did, because this was entertaining! I’m definitely adding this to my list of movies better than their book versions. I guess what worked in this case is that the audience was not privy to Tris’s annoying whiny thoughts, which was what really put me off in the book.

They also diverged (ha!) from the book and added a different storyline that had to do with a cube which could only be opened by a divergent if she passed the simulations of all factions. The sims provided some of the most interesting scenes in the film.

I thought it was funny, though, that in one scene, Tris was with three guys (the characters Four, Peter, and Caleb) who were all her leading men in 3 different movies (Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Spectacular Now).

Ratings: IMDB – 7 | Rotten Tomatoes – 32%

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Have you seen any of these films? What did you think of them?