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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Moviegoers approaching the film as an indie character drama that happens to take place long after a zombie rage virus crippled the continent may be more forgiving (or even very pleased).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Ultimately, with the saturation of zombie movies and TV shows that have come and gone since the originals, The Bone Temple provides plenty of surprises but could be disappointing to viewers who are looking for excitement over contemplation in their zombie viewing.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

The movie explores unique ideas in both how humanity evolves in light of societal collapse as well as how the zombies themselves evolved over the years. It’s contemplative and interesting but not nearly as exciting/ as 28 Days and Weeks.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

28 Years Later and now The Bone Temple tell very intimate stories about a few very weird people in the aftermath of the rage apocalypse - where zombies are rare but still dangerous.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Jack O’Connell’s storyline isn’t any more compelling than a pretty typical Walking Dead-like villain (a twisted opportunist with a quirky gimmick).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Yes, the climactic scene with Ralph Fiennes is memorable and incredibly fun (Fiennes’ scenes, in general, carry the movie) but viewers who enjoyed the 28 series for its scares and tense zombie set pieces may be less enthused.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

In some ways, it's better than previous ones - the action is amazing and there is some very fun character stuff. All those bits are actually better than what they recycle from the Way of Water - but that good stuff is pulled down by already seeing much of it in the Part 2.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

The Ash clan's Varang starts out strong and then gets sidelined in an equally strange pivot for Quaritch. I'd absolutely recommend fans see it (and see it in the best theater near them) but where Way of Water really surprised and reinvested me, Fire and Ash did the opposite.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Saw #AvatarFireAndAsh last night - and am pretty underwhelmed this round. The visuals are, as always, absolutely incredible - and I'm still invested in the Sully family story. But a LOT of Fire and Ash feels like a rehash of The Way of Water (including a weirdly identical Act 3).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Before going to grad school and joining Screen Rant. I worked for a friend who started his own funeral home. I was doing his marketing but soon was asked to handle the removal of deceased people from their homes (in a hearse). Things got much worse after I left. youtu.be/EInwI9lSskg?...

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Colorado Funeral Home Regulation

YouTube video by CaliforniaDarin

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Also: the complaints about Superman being “woke” or having a pro-immigrant agenda are very weird. This was never subtext, it was overt that Superman was the story of an immigrant who came to America illegally, helped his country as well as neighbors, and even fought the KKK. bit.ly/3IzSLO7

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Fandom Presents: Superman vs. the KKK

Podcast · Fandom Inc · Nearly eight decades ago, The Adventures of Superman radio show pitted the Man of Steel against the forces of hate and white supremacy while exposing the inner workings of the K...

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

It’s impossible to avoid comparisons with the Snyderverse - especially for those of us who loved the boldness of that vision. Gunn’s take is much more traditional but, in the end, I found it won me over and provides a great (re)entry point for new and returning fans.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

It’s a relatively straightforward story without much development for any of the main characters; still, what it lacks in emotional punch, it makes up for by establishing this version of the hero as a likable and relatable guy viewers will want to cheer on.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Superman might be the most (certainly one of the most) comic book-ish movies ever created - down to the way character drama leads in to super-powered conflicts.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

That’s not necessarily a bad thing but viewers who have poured over every marketing frame won’t find too many surprises in the 3-4 main action sequences.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Still, it’s choppier and carries less weight than Man of Steel’s explosive (albeit controversial) set pieces - and a lot of Superman’s most exciting and memorable moments were shown in the trailer.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

The action is good - in the same way Guardians action was good. It’s lively and colorful with some clever choreography.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Similarly, Hoult is the best Luthor since Michael Rosenbaum and it’ll be fun to watch him evolve the supervillain in future chapters.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Ultimately, they all won me over - and I’m excited to see their arcs within the larger DCU. Corenswet still has work to do in order to top my list of favorite Superman actors but he brings a sincerity and warmth to the hero that wasn’t as apparent in more recent adaptations.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

In-context of a 2-hour film, a lot of the tonal shifts are less jarring and the final movie uses the side-characters sparingly (the ratio of them to Superman in the trailer vs the full movie is much lower).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

My trepidation stemmed from the over-saturation of Krypto and the Justice Gang in the movie’s marketing as well as a more light-hearted (and somewhat uneven looking) tone.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

There are a lot of aspects of the Snyderverse that I still prefer but there’s no question Superman is packed with fun, laughs, and a relatable message about making the world a better place - even if we’re not perfect.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

#Superman’s trailers did not grab me - and I was very concerned that WB might have over corrected after criticism of Snyder’s “darker” take on the DC Universe. Thankfully, Gunn stuck the landing: delivering the most entertaining Superman movie in 40+ years.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It’s a tense, thrilling, and downright scary rollercoaster ride through a Dino-packed “park” - which is what the series does best.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It was an ambitious evolution but got too big, too convoluted, and by extension took those films too far away from what made the original films so memorable. Rebirth simultaneously brings the series back to its roots without rehashing them (like Jurassic World).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

I don’t believe that’s what most fans would prioritize in a Jurassic Park film. The Jurassic World trilogy went off the rails with the globe-trotting story of dinosaurs invading our world.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

This one does not match the scope of the Jurassic World trilogy, nor does it spend much time fleshing out its heroes (and villain) beyond stereotypes. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

There is the potential for some fans to be disappointed - especially those who want sophisticated characters or loved the big scale dino stampede set against an erupting volcano in Fallen Kingdom.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It’s also one of the best movies in the franchise as a whole - in my top 3 (or possibly 4). I wouldn’t argue with anyone who had sound reasoning for disagreeing.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It’s arguably the best-looking film of the series: both in visuals and Dino-fidelity - and the filmmaker utilizes both to do some new things (and avoid some tired series staples).

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The story is straightforward, the characters get about as much development as the original (read: not much), and while there are some familiar beats, Gareth Edwards twists any homages enough to provide fun surprises and fresh set pieces.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It’s a self-contained adventure punctuated by tense encounters set inside the JW sandbox.

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Genuinely surprised that #jurassicworldrebirth is as divisive as it seems to be among fellow critics. I thought it was a much-needed return to form for the series - while setting a new template for how to explore the franchise in future installments.

media.tenor.com

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Ben Kendrick @benkendrick.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

FYI: The Ballerina might be the best John Wick movie since the first film. Ana de Armas kicks ass (and nuts), #BallerinaMovie is full of franchise fan-service, and frankly it's refreshing to explore the world of John Wick through a new character with similar but unique skills.

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Reposted by Ben Kendrick

Denver Film Critics Society @denverfilmcritics.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Head on over to Spotify (or your podcaster of choice) and check out our newest episode of Rocky Mountain Rewind where our members talk… Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning. @geeklygoods.bsky.social @benkendrick.bsky.social @thekennymiles.bsky.social @da7e.bsky.social

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Denver Film Critics Roundtable: Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning

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Reposted by Ben Kendrick

DiscussingFilm @discussingfilm.net · 31/05/2025

Mike Flanagan says his ‘CLAYFACE’ script is inspired by the “Feat of Clay” episodes of ‘BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ “That 2-parter knocked me out. The short answer is that is absolutely that is what inspired my script” (Source: comicbook.com/movies/news/...)

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Reposted by Ben Kendrick

DiscussingFilm @discussingfilm.net · 31/05/2025

Mark Hamill says he won’t be returning as Luke Skywalker again. “I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters” (Source: comicbook.com/movies/news/...)

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