Beast

'Beast' is unfortunately a bit bland. Idris Elba's performance is fine, I'm a big fan of his so naturally expected a bit more from him here if I'm honest - his American accent is a tad distracting, but that's probably just because I'm used to his usual dulcet tones. Sharlto Copley is solid, while young actors Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries are OK; though their characters are written to act in an irritating way. The film could've done with a few more curveballs, most if not all that we see is pretty predictable - and even then it's all filmed and shot in a fairly 'normal' way. In short, this 2022 release didn't quite do it for me - it isn't bad, but I personally don't think it's anything good either. I'd say the beast special effect is decent, even if it was giving me more wolf vibes than lion. The middle/end improves upon the start, though all in all it's a quintessential 6/10 flick for me.

_Beast_ had its moments where I was left gripping the arms of my chair at the edge of my seat, but the majority of film had me verbally laughing at the poor character writing. This movie does a lot right, don't get me wrong. The buildup to the encounter was done really well. You get a great introduction to all the characters and the individual struggles they go through due to the loss of Dr. Nate Daniels wife; it gives a baseline for the viewer to be able to relate and sympathize with the character. The action is pretty decent, and I was really impressed with the CGI work done on the lion. But, once the climax ensues the writing goes downhill, mainly in terms of character decision making. I found that the writers did not really know how to create unique situations to put the characters in with the lion, resulting in baffling decision to prolong the duration of the film. At every turn, a solution is so easily in view, but they do something that is such a right turn that it is unbelievable. The performance of Idris Alba really pulls the score up though. He does a fantastic job and portrays the loving and protecting nature of a father so well. I enjoyed his cool calm collected nature during high pressure scenes, it gave a sense of reality to him being a doctor. Overall, this film is not great, but it was entertaining, and I had a good time. **Score:** _65%_ | **Verdict:** _Decent_

**o.m.g - one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Please don't pay to see this film!** Idris Elba is generally mediocre anyway, but he can put on an acceptable performance with a decent script and concept. Sadly, neither was available to him in this bumbling, tragic, and failed effort to create dramatic cinema. I'm amazed that anyone could create a movie based on such a predictable and often used concept and do it so badly. One poorly contrived scene after another, belief is not just suspended, but abandoned entirely to piece together a cartoonish presentation of sappy ideas and bad cgi. The script is equally dreary, simplistic, and filled with mostly predictable chatter, until it suddenly leaps off the cliff of reality and into the void of astoundingly stupid. Sadly, that happens far too often. Don't bother going to the cinema to see this. Wait a few weeks for it to get relegated to Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, or Freevee. Honestly, it won't take long.