Heads Of State

2025 Amazon Prime Studios

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 53min

Action ~ Comedy

Starring: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, and Carla Gugino.

Two Leaders. One Mission. No Diplomacy.

Heads of State, an action comedy about two world leaders who must put aside their differences when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary, is streaming now exclusively on Prime Video. Despite their not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship,” UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only people they can trust: each other. Allied with brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

The movie starts with The World’s Greatest Food Fight in Bruñol, Spain. The site of the annual overripe tomato festival which erupts into everyone throwing tomatoes at everyone, it is a big red mess. MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), is undercover as a news broadcaster covering the event along with her crew in the undercover News van. They are on the lookout for Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov and when they think they have spotted him, they quickly realize that it is a trap set up to eliminate the undercover team. The entire team is eliminated with the exception of MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). She holds her own in the gun battle but is shot in the chest in the end. Luckily she had on her bulletproof vest.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) are meeting in London before they head to the NATO summit in Italy. President Derringer suggests that Prime Minister Clarke should join him on Air Force One so they could arrive together in Italy for the summit. He does and after they are airborne things take a turn for the worst. The Airplane staff has been infiltrated by assassins and another plane shows up and starts firing armed drones at Air Force One. The President and The Prime Minister manage to make it to the back of the plane and get the last two good parachutes with the help of a Secret Service Agent.

They jump out of the plane, deploy their parachutes and land in the Belarus countryside. The agent had instructed them to make their way to Warsaw, Poland where they have a CIA safe house. Now Prime Minister Clarke and President Derringer must make their way safely through the countryside to the safehouse and figure out what is going on and who is responsible for trying to kill them. They make it to the safehouse in Warsaw only to find out that the safehouse’s cover has been blown and whoever is responsible is storming the house trying to kill them. The CIA agent at the safehouse informs them that the bad guys are using tech to turn all the NATO countries against each other and that all hell is about to break loose.

There are tons of Puns, pun intended. It is hilarious comedy, non-stop action and political intrigue as they try to outwit the bad guys and stop them from tearing down the world order. Priyanka Chopra Jonas does an awesome job as Agent Bisset coming to their rescue and helping them thwart the evil plans. The witty banter between John Cena and Idris Alba is infectious, it is simply good clean fun. The Tomato fight scene at the beginning was a sight to see, as was the gun battle during it. The Air Force One scene was pretty intense and worth a watch just to see. Well done CGI. I liked it, a lot. Made me laugh, I really enjoyed and I think you will too. Give it a go and let me know what you think.

Ice Road: Vengeance

2025 Vertical

Rated: Unrated

Length: 1 hr 52min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Thriller

Directed by: Jonathan Hensleigh

Starring: Liam Neeson, Fan Bingbing, Bernard Curry, Marcus Thomas, Salim Fayad and Geoff Morrell.

A fight for justice on the most dangerous road in the world.

Mike McCann (Liam Neesoon), an experienced ice-road trucker haunted by the loss of his brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas), embarks on a journey to Nepal to fulfill Gurty’s last wish: to have his ashes scattered atop Mount Everest. Partnering with Dhani (Fan Bingbing), a skilled local guide, Mike boards a tour bus alongside a cast of international travelers, including an American professor and his daughter, only for their plans to spiral into chaos when ruthless mercenaries hijack the bus. The mercenaries are in pursuit of Vijay, the son of a local opposition leader who stands in the way of a corrupt industrialist’s plan to build a hydroelectric dam and displace the village.

Trapped in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse along the perilous mountain roads, Mike and Dhani must use their wits and courage to protect the innocent passengers and the village itself. As they race against time, evading mercenaries, crooked officials, and sabotaged escape routes, Mike is forced to confront not only the threats around him but also his own guilt and grief. The climactic journey pushes Mike beyond his breaking point, ultimately allowing him to find closure and honor his brother’s memory in the shadow of the Himalayas.

So the only thing I can say about this is they should have called it Ice Road: Exploited. It is like they took the first movie and exploited it to make another movie completely different from the first. There is no Ice Road in this movie, it is completely based in Nepal although it wasn’t filmed there. It was filmed primarily in Walhalla, Victoria, Australia, where the filmmakers built a detailed Nepalese village set to stand in for scenes set in Nepal. Additional key filming locations included Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Nepal, where several street-level and authentic city scenes were shot to enhance the film’s realism. Studio and indoor scenes, including those needing special effects to replicate Himalayan settings, were filmed at NantStudios (Docklands Studios) in Melbourne, Australia. Which explains the Australian Bus Driver in Nepal, I guess.

The only common ground in this was Mike taking Gurty’s ashes to Mt. Everest. There were flashbacks to Mike and Gurty before Gurty’s time in Afghanistan where he suffered a head injury, that might have been good to see in the first movie Ice Road. Beyond that it was Liam Neeson being the Taken action star on a tourist bus in Nepal. Then he was playing McGyver pulling bus parts off the side of a mountain like it was an everyday occurrence. That aspect of the movie felt like a cheap B-movie, a poor imitation of some of Liam’s other action flicks. And I have a hard time seeing the Mike McCann Ice Road Trucker being a rock climber, just don’t see it. And then at the end, there is a hint of a romance between Liam and Fan. I definitely wasn’t feeling that at all, they should have steered clear of that little plot twist.

I think they should have gone in a different direction. Maybe Mike and Tantoo should have teamed up to be an Ace Ice Road trucking company and had some adventures that would have made Gurty proud. That would have been a better story and movie. This one is a dog, it never should have happened, easily forgotten on it’s own and has nothing to do with the first one’s “Ice Road”. If you haven’t seen Ice Road, watch that movie and skip this one Ice Road: Vengeance. If you have seen Ice Road watch it again if you liked it, but skip this one Ice Road: Vengeance.

Ice Road (The Ice Road)

Dangerous Animals

2025 Shudder

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 38min

Horror ~ Survival ~ Thriller

Directed by: Sean Byrne

Starring: Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke and Jai Courtney.

You’re Safer In The Water

Jai Courtney stars as Bruce Tucker, a boat captain on the Gold Coast of Australia who runs Tucker’s Experience. a shark cage attraction. As he is returning to his boat with supplies he finds Tourists Greg and Heather waiting to be taken out and experience the shark cage experience. After talking to them and realizing that know one knows where they are, Tucker is more than happy to take them out to sea for the shark cage experience. After taking them out and throwing out chum to attract the sharks, Tucker lowers Greg and Heather into the ocean in the shark cage. After bringing them back up, Tucker promptly stabs Greg repeatedly with a knife and kicks him overboard for the sharks to feast on. Heather screams and Tucker smiles wickedly at Heather and says, “Welcome Aboard!”

Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) is a free spirited American surfer living out of her van and travelling the Gold Coast of Australia. She is running from her past and searching for solace in the sun and the waves. She meets Moses (Josh Heuston) one day as he is looking for someone to help him start his car. Reluctant at first, Zephyr agrees to help him after she realizes that he is also a surfing enthusiast. They get his car started and then form a bond which leads to a one night affair. Zephyr, afraid of any kind of commitment and being a solitary creature, sneaks out as Moses is sleeping. She heads to the beach to do some early morning surfing but realizes she has lost her fin key for her surf board. She notices Tucker’s truck parked behind her and thinking he was probably an early morning surfer like her, rummages through the back of his truck looking for a key. Tucker shows up and she explains that she wasn’t breaking into his truck, only looking for a fin key. He has one and gives it to her. and when she turns her back to go to her van, Tucker ambushes her and knocks her unconscious.

When Zephyr comes to she is laying on a bed handcuffed to a metal railing. Frantic she tries to break free and realizes there is another girl laying in the same situation as her. It is Heather the Tourist who calmly tells her they are on Tucker’s boat and that there is no chance of escape. Tucker eventually shows up and gives the girls bread and water. Zephyr quickly realizes that Tucker has drugged the water and passes out. When she comes to, Tucker has Heather attached to the shark cage crane in a harness. She is drugged and Tucker has thrown chum into the water. As he starts to lift Heather up it becomes clear that he is about to feed the sharks with Heather that she is about to witness “The Greatest Show On Earth!” Tucker lowers Heather into the water and videotapes the whole episode for his perverse viewing later. When Zephyr comes to again she is back handcuffed to the bed in the boat. She frantically tries to escape knowing that she will be the shark’s next meal.

And what follows is a frantic thrilling and desperate journey to survive the psychotic serial killer Tucker and his perverse fascination with feeding people to the sharks. Moses is so taken with Zephyr, he tries to find her and eventually figures out that she is on Tucker’s boat and that Tucker is a “Dangerous Animal”. Like the solitary creature the shark, Tucker looks for his victims and attacks them when they least expect it with no mercy. Moses and Zephyr have grown very fond of each other and both realizing the other is in danger, they team up to escape from Tucker’s madness. Dangerous Animals is like Jaws, Hannibal and American Psycho all rolled into one. It is more terrifying than Jaws, more evil than Hannibal and more devious than American Psycho. If you love the Horror genre or Thrillers in general, this is a must watch! Jai Courtney and Hassie Harrison are fantastic in this, I absolutely loved it and would definitely watch it again!

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Scream,

I mean Stream This Movie

on Amazon Prime and Shudder

Last Breath

2025 Focus Features

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 33min

Drama ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Alex Parkinson

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis.

Make Every Breath Count

Last Breath is based on the True Story of a terrifying accident that happened in 2012 deep beneath the North Sea. The film follows three saturation divers working on an oil rig manifold about 300 feet underwater. Their team includes Duncan Allcock (Woody Harrelson), the experienced diver who stays in the diving bell overseeing the operation; David Yuasa (Simu Liu), and Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), who enter the water to replace a pipe on the structure. Their job seems routine until a violent storm disrupts everything.

The large support ship above them uses a computer-controlled system called dynamic positioning to hold its place above the rig despite the rough seas. But when the storm causes the system to fail, the ship drifts dangerously away, pulling on the divers’ lifelines, the essential umbilicals that supply them with breathing gas, heat, and communication. Chris Lemons becomes trapped when his umbilical catches on the structure and then snaps, leaving him stranded on the seafloor without his lifeline.

Without gas from his suit supply, Lemons has to rely on small bailout tanks that only last about ten minutes, making his survival time critical. As Lemons drifts and struggles for air, Yuasa fights to reach him, pulling himself hand-over-hand along the umbilical back toward the rig as the ship continues drifting. Meanwhile, on the ship, the crew races to get the dynamic positioning system back online amid huge waves and high winds. They send out a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) to find Lemons and finally locate him weak and motionless on the seafloor, nearly 30 minutes after losing breathable gas.

Despite the odds, Yuasa manages to drag Lemons back to the diving bell, where Allcock pulls off a dramatic rescue, administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and helping Lemons regain consciousness. The amazing thing is Lemons not only survived over half an hour without oxygen but suffered no lasting brain damage, something even scientists cannot fully explain. Remarkably, Lemons returned to work just three weeks later to finish the job.

Captain Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) and the vessel crew face a heartbreaking moral choice during the chaos, risking an environmental disaster by staying to rescue Lemons or abandoning the mission to save their own ship. Their decision to keep trying shows the incredible teamwork and human spirit behind this real-life ordeal. Last Breath captures this high-stakes, emotional story with intense realism and respect for the courage of these divers and crew.

In the end, Last Breath is a gripping and inspiring True Story that shows the incredible risks deep-sea divers face and the power of human teamwork and determination. The film’s realistic approach, strong performances, and intense underwater sequences make it both an exciting thriller and a tribute to bravery. While the true story lessens some suspense, the emotional impact and respect for these real heroes more than make up for it. For anyone who loves survival dramas based on real events, Last Breath is definitely worth a watch. It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest stories come from incredible acts of courage in the face of disaster.

This film is a gripping survival story that’s about more than just a thrilling rescue, it’s about trust, determination, and hope against all odds. It’s highly recommended for anyone interested in real-life drama and amazing true stories.

“Last Breath” (2025) is currently available to rent or purchase digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Google Play Movies. It is also streaming with ads on Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, the film is now streaming exclusively on Peacock for subscribers.

Black Bag

2025 Focus Features

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 33min

Drama ~ Mystery ~ Romance ~ Spy ~ Thriller

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan.

It Takes A Spy To Hunt A Spy

George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), a hard-nosed British intelligence officer, has been handed a stressful assignment by Arthur Stieglitz (Pierce Brosnan), the head of the National Cyber Security Centre: track down the mole responsible for leaking a powerful piece of cyber-weapon software called Severus. The stakes go from professional to deeply personal once George learns that his own wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), herself an elite agent, has landed on the shortlist of suspects alongside several of their close colleagues. Under intense pressure, George invites all the suspects, including Kathryn, to an unusually tense dinner party, where he employs unconventional, even sneaky, interrogation methods to push for confessions without tipping his hand.

As the investigation spirals, George is forced to confront cracks in both his marriage and his faith in the people closest to him. Suspicion mounts when mysterious clues appear: a hidden movie ticket in the wastebasket, a sudden trip to Switzerland by his wife without telling him, and signs that millions may have been transferred to an overseas bank account in her name. Kathryn finds herself under fire at work and at home, but her relationship with George, built on both trust and professional rivalry, becomes the movie’s driving force as the pair try to outwit a blackmailer playing them against each other.

With suspicion and paranoia swirling, the movie stays laser-focused on psychological tension rather than car chases or shootouts. Every dialogue and sideways glance carries extra weight, especially as dinner party secrets unravel and loyalties are put to the test. Amidst layers of secrets, lies, and suspicion, George and Kathryn face the biggest challenge: their loyalty to each other is tested by the possibility that one of them could be the traitor. Despite the mistrust and high-stakes espionage around them, their relationship proves strong and unbreakable. In the end, George and Kathryn reaffirm that their love and faith in one another are what truly matter, insisting that betrayal is not an option between them. Their partnership stands as a core, human element amid the chaos of spy games and political intrigue.

Black Bag is not your typical action spy movie because it focuses more on psychological tension, character dynamics, and subtle espionage rather than car chases, big explosions, or nonstop action scenes. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it’s a smart and sleek thriller that unfolds primarily through conversations, suspicion, and quiet moments of betrayal. Instead of flashy set pieces, the film builds suspense around trust issues, particularly within the main couple and their coworkers, and the careful maneuvering in their closed, claustrophobic environments like dinner parties and office spaces. It is a whodunit that is devoid of a lot of action and does move a little slow. You do have to pay attention to the details as George does, to figure things out. It was a different role for Michael Fassbender but enjoyable nonetheless. It does come off as a little cold and sterile where there is not much action and again moves a little slow. But it is more about the relationship of George and Kathryn and how they handle this test of their marriage.

Sure, it’s worth a watch but go in knowing that it is a bit different than your average spy action movie.