If you caught last week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025, then you’ll know the summer blockbuster season has arrived. It got underway last week with the Marvel movie, Thunderbolts*, which received a pat on the back as well as a four-star review in these parts, and it is currently going down rather well with worldwide audiences.
With the arrival of Thunderbolts*, some will claim that Marvel is finally back, following a bumpy period. Others will remind you Marvel never really went away.
After all, last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine made Marvel over $1.338 billion at the worldwide box-office. It was also the second highest grossing movie of 2024, making it pretty popular stuff indeed.
Anyway, should you be enjoying the current buzz surrounding Thunderbolts* and want more Marvel team-up action, you can have it! To celebrate the 25th anniversary of 2000’s X-Men, Marvel’s mightiest mutants are heading back into UK cinemas.
You can read all about the re-release of this former summer blockbuster below, along with a review for animated comedy, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. The film can finally be seen in the UK – although it does require a little bit of effort on your part (again, details to follow).
In addition to all this, this week’s jam-packed edition of Movie Reviews 2025 includes reviews for Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Night School, and Nonnas. Plus, the summer blockbuster season continues with horror sequel, Final Destination: Bloodlines!
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On disc…
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)
First up this week, in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are having problems with their accommodation. They suddenly have a giant hole in their roof which has coincided with a house inspection, and unless they fix it asap, they will lose their home.
Desperate for cash, the pair take on a series of jobs including a gig at a bubblegum factory. However, a short while into day one, Daffy uncovers a sinister plot involving the gum, mind control, and the fate of everyone on the planet!
Now, a few weeks back you may recall I explained how The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie had been released in the US (as well as other countries around the world), but had not made it over here to the UK. This was presumably down to a distribution issue, with no clear resolution in sight.
Well, I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is that The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is still not playing in UK cinemas, nor is it on digital or disc over here. However, the good news is, the film is available on Blu-ray in the US from May 27th, and as Warner Bros. Blu-rays are region free, this title can be imported and watched in the UK.
This should be welcome news to all UK-based Looney Tunes fans because The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a lot of fun. Directed by Peter Browngardt, and featuring the vocal talents of Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, and Peter MacNicol, the movie is a likeable animated romp, with plenty of gags, as well as a completely daft plot which is utter nonsense but in the looniest way possible.
At the centre of the film are Porky and Daffy. Both characters are brought to life with a great deal of affection by Browngardt and his team, and their relationship is the beating heart of this film.
In the picture, the pair were raised together and are essentially brothers. They share a bond, bounce off each magnificently, and prove to be the perfect combination for this story.
And with Porky and Daffy locked in place, everything around them is fair game. Nothing is taken too seriously, everything is played for laughs, and the main objective is to bring merriment and mirth to the screen.
Those who grew up watching the Looney Tunes shorts of yesteryear will find The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie enjoyable stuff. It doesn’t play like the old shorts, but it certainly captures the spirit of the cartoons rather well, with character designs to match.
The animation tends to hover around the style of legendary Looney Tunes animator, Bob Clampett and if this is something which appeals, you will be most pleased with what’s on display. As for everyone else, it looks good, it’ll make you laugh, and younger audiences will find it most amusing.
Warner Bros. fumbled the release on this film, but that’s on the studio, and not the picture itself. Anyway, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is available on disc for home viewing, so pre-order and import if you’re after some silly cartoon capers.
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On disc…
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
New to Blu-ray this week, via Warner Archive, is horror sequel, Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. Originally released in 1990, the film is the third entry in the Texas Chain Saw Massacre movie series and focuses on a young couple who cross paths with the cannibalistic Sawyer family.
In the film, Michelle and Ryan are travelling across Texas on a road trip to Florida. After stopping off at a gas station and getting into an altercation with the crazed station owner, the pair deviate from their route.
This turns out to be a huge mistake, as it places them firmly in the path of Leatherface. The chainsaw-wielding nut-job is up to his old tricks again, and if Michelle and Ryan aren’t careful, they will end up as the main course at his next family meal.
Directed by Jeff Burr, and starring Kate Hodge, William Butler, Ken Foree, and Viggo Mortensen, Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III is a fairly generic horror movie, but one that certainly has its charm. And by charm I mean enough blood, guts, and screaming to keep things going.
The plot could have been written on the back of a postcard (it possibly was), but when it comes to Texas Chain Saw movies, do you really need a plot? Surely a bit of gore, some inbred weirdos, and a chainsaw is all you need, right?
Well, yep, and you get all this in this movie. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III will never win any awards for originality, but it’s suitably nasty, is perfectly fine as some late night horror, and can be yours for £14.99 on Blu-ray.
The disc includes a HD copy of the film, along with an audio commentary, a ‘making of’ featurette, a documentary, an alternate ending, and a trailer. A chainsaw is not included.
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On disc…
Night School (1981)
Also on Blu-ray this week, courtesy of Warner Archive, is ‘80s cult slasher, Night School. Directed by Ken Hughes, and starring Rachel Ward, Leonard Mann, and Drew Snyder, the film focuses on a masked killer who decapitates his victims.
In the movie, the mystery killer dresses from head-to-toe in black, covering their face with a motorbike helmet. The killer then goes around Boston attacking young women, before removing the head of each victim and placing it in water.
Lt. Judd Austin is assigned to the case, but he has very little to go on. Could a nearby college provide some clues to the killer’s identity?
Originally released in 1981, hot on the heels of Halloween (1978), When a Stranger Calls (1979), and Friday the 13th (1980), Night School is a decent little slasher, which arguably deserves more recognition than it gets. Unlike the aforementioned classics, which are regularly discussed as examples of the horror sub-genre, few seem to mention Night School.
OK, so it’s not quite up there with the best of them, but it definitely has its moments. Following the general premise of a slasher film, while taking inspiration from Italian Giallo films, Night School is a good-looking affair and one which (mostly) manages to fill out its 88-minute runtime.
Where Night School excels is in its presentation, as well as in the death scenes. The film is suitably atmospheric, and when the killer is hard at work Night School really hits its stride.
One notable sequence involves an aquarium, a severed head, and a large turtle tank. The conclusion to this sequence is wonderfully macabre, as well as delightfully unsettling, and is a great example of the director giving the audience what they want.
Meanwhile another stand-out sequence involves a diner, a missing head, and a big pot of stew. This scene is simple stuff, yet thanks to a spot of gleeful misdirection (which plays upon audience expectations), it is masterfully executed in a playful way.
Of course it’s not all top-notch stuff, and perhaps the reason Night School isn’t as well known as some of its peers is because the pacing is a bit off, and the character development is lacking. None of the key players leave much of an impression and at times the murder-mystery is fairly generic stuff and easy to solve.
However, as noted above, the film does have a number of things going for it and if you can overlook some flaws, it is enjoyable. Plus at £14.99 on HD disc, for a film that’s not so easy to come by, it’s a good opportunity to add this cult favourite to your collection.
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In cinemas…
X-Men (2000)
With blockbuster season now under way, there will soon be a sizeable amount of big movies to go and watch at the cinema. But before things get a little crazy, and you get lost in a mix of super-spies, dinosaurs, and Kryptonians, why not take the opportunity to revisit a classic Marvel movie?
For A LIMITED TIME ONLY, the 2000 comic book movie, X-Men is heading back into UK cinemas. The movie will play in select cinemas from Friday May 16th to mark X-Men’s 25th anniversary.
For those who can’t remember as far back as 25 years ago, it was a time when Marvel was not a household name and it certainly wasn’t a name attached to good films. Marvel was a successful comic book company (if we can ignore some financial troubles in the ‘90s), but outside of 1998’s Blade, Marvel was not a name anyone would associate with big screen, blockbuster entertainment.
As a general rule, if a studio adapted a Marvel character for film, then said film would be bad. See Howard the Duck (1986), The Punisher (1989), Captain America (1990), and 1994’s unreleased The Fantastic Four as examples.
But Marvel’s fortunes began to change when X-Men arrived. Sure, the aforementioned Blade was a hit, but it was X-Men that captured the attention of audiences, and kick-started a huge franchise filled with sequels, prequels, and spin-offs.
Without X-Men being a box office success, and then later 2002’s Spider-Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe would almost certainly not exist. So, if you’re a big fan of Iron Man (2008), Avengers: Endgame (2019), or Thunderbolts* (2025), you have X-Men to thank.
Directed by Bryan Singer, X-Men stars Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, and a then relatively unknown Australian actor by the name of Hugh Jackman. The movie focuses on an exploration of who the X-Men are and what they do, while also setting out a plot involving a powerful adversary called Magneto.
In the film, some humans are born with special abilities and are known as mutants. However, a growing number of regular humans (aka non-mutants) are suspicious and fearful of their super-powered peers, including US Senator, Robert Kelly.
Kelly is keen to pass a divisive piece of legislation known as the Mutant Registration Act which will require all mutants to be registered with the US Government. Two mutants who are very uneasy about the Act are Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr.
Xavier is the leader of a group of mutants known as the X-Men. He believes the Mutant Registration Act is unnecessary and given the right course of action, mutants and non-mutants can coexist.
Meanwhile, Lehnsherr, aka Magneto is the leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants. He believes mutants are the superior race and the time for pleasantries with non-mutants is over.
Keen to strike before the Act is passed, Magneto kidnaps Senator Kelly and sets in motion a plan to mutate the leaders of the world. But to do this, he is going to require the assistance of a young mutant named Rogue, who is currently under the watchful eye of the X-Men.
With a strong story, some decent special effects, and a great ensemble of players, including three perfect pieces of casting in Stewart, McKellen, and Jackman, X-Men is not only a fun movie, but also a solid franchise starter. The picture sets out key elements of X-Men lore; establishes two opposing teams and their opposing arguments; and balances the action, spectacle, and narrative rather neatly.
Most important of all, X-Men is a comic book movie which is actually about something. Strip back the claw-swiping antics of Wolverine, and X-Men’s story about mutant registration becomes an allegory for race relations, the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, a battle for human rights, and so much more.
Yet at the same time, X-Men doesn’t forget its comic book roots. OK, so the film plays fast and loose with the mythology, Halle Berry’s wig is distracting, and the less said about the X-Men’s black leather outfits the better, but it’s still a comic book movie, complete with powers, codenames, and a stealth jet.
Highlights of X-Men include Wolverine’s introduction scene; a train station showdown involving Magneto, police officers, and a collection of firearms; and an ominous chess match which closes out the picture and sets the scene for what’s to come. There’s also a fun fight sequence at the Statue of Liberty, which sees Wolverine locked in battle with the shapeshifting mutant, Mystique; plus a mesmerising opening scene set in wartime Poland, which is so impactful it was recreated for 2011’s X-Men: First Class.
And then on top of all this there is Hugh Jackman giving a career-launching turn as Wolverine. Jackman wasn’t initially cast in the role of Wolverine, he took over from Dougray Scott who got caught up in a scheduling issue, but 25 years on it seems unimaginable to have anyone but Jackman in the role.
In an era where there are countless films and television shows based on comics, it is easy to forget how important X-Men was to the comic book movie genre. Before this film, there were only a handful of success stories (namely the Batman & Superman films), but after X-Men everything began to change.
Sure, the film is a fairly small scale affair, and some of its sequels are arguably stronger pictures, but X-Men is a marvellous film. It digs down into the core essence of the comics, makes the material accessible for a broad audience, and is entertaining from start to finish.
If you wish to revisit the film on the big screen, make sure to check your local listings. X-Men is back for a very brief stint, so catch it while you can as one of this year’s bonus big screen summer blockbusters.
And if you’re a big fan of X-Men you may also like to know that Vue and Cineworld will be screening additional X-Men movies in May and June. Vue’s ‘Best of X’ season includes big screen re-releases for X-Men 2 (2003), X-Men: First Class (2011), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), while Cineworld’s ‘X-Men Season’ includes all of those films plus X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), and X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019).
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Now streaming…
Nonnas (2025)
Now streaming on Netflix, and inspired by the true story of Jody Scaravella, is the drama-comedy, Nonnas. Directed by Stephen Chbosky, the film stars Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, and Joe Manganiello, and tells the story of a middle-aged man who opens a restaurant staffed by nonnas.
In the movie, when his mother passes away, Italian-American mechanic, Joe Scaravella enters a period of grief. As a way of coping with his loss, Joe begins to prepare some home-cooked meals, revisiting old recipes that his mother and his nonna used to make when he was a child.
One day, while picking up ingredients at a food market on Staten Island, Joe notices a restaurant up for sale. Believing this could be an even better way to funnel his grief, he buys the property and sets up business.
But Joe doesn’t want this to be just any old restaurant, he wants it to be a restaurant built on love and true appreciation for food. As such, he hires a group of Italian nonnas to be his chefs, to ensure each meal comes from the heart.
With a brilliant cast, a sweet premise, and a light dusting of gentle humour, Nonnas is both a lovely film and an absolute treat of a picture. It’s the sort of movie to stick on during a lazy Sunday afternoon, or when you want something wholesome to watch with a generous glass of Merlot and a hearty bowl of pasta.
And speaking of pasta, a word of warning, Nonnas will make you hungry. The film contains various scenes of delicious dishes that will make your mouth water and your belly rumble.
But Nonnas is so much more than a showcase of cannelloni, it’s a touching picture which looks at the pain of grief, as well as the triumph of togetherness. Yes, Joe’s journey begins from a place of overwhelming sadness, but it takes him somewhere filled with love, friendship, and compassion, and demonstrates how tragedy can unite people.
Even during moments in the story where Joe suffers setbacks with his business, he isn’t facing them alone. Nonnas is about the power and strength of the community who circle themselves around him.
The film is also a picture which champions the importance of strong woman. Mother figures loom large over this film, as do woman in general, and Nonnas is keen to give them all a voice.
There is a beautiful scene in the film, where the nonnas bond over shots of limoncello, while each tells their story, including their great loves and losses. It is a truly touching, insightful, and empowering scene, which celebrates life and love, and puts the female perspective at the forefront of the conversation.
I continually bemoan Netflix for offering up dire movies and passing them off as acceptable entertainment, so I’m extremely happy to say this isn’t the case this time around. While Nonnas is somewhat predictable at times, it is also highly enjoyable and absolutely recommended viewing!
Nonnas is a warm hug of a movie, which will surely brighten up a dark day. Gather those closest to you, sit down together for a couple of hours, and enjoy.
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In cinemas…
Final Destination Bloodlines (2025)
And finally, hold onto your butts, your insides, your loose change, and anything else likely to cause a spillage in an accident, because another Final Destination movie has arrived in cinemas. The movie – which hits UK cinemas on May 14th and US cinemas May 16th – is titled Final Destination: Bloodlines and sees a multigenerational family caught up in Death’s grand design.
In the film, college student Stefani is suffering from a recurring nightmare. For the past two months she has seen a vision of her grandmother caught up in a horrific death trap, while visiting a lavish restaurant known as The Skyview.
But this vision depicts granny not as she is now, but when she was much, much younger. And as Stefani is estranged from her grandmother, she can’t fathom why she is seeing this continually disturbing imagery.
Keen to get to the bottom of the situation, Stefani returns home to question her family members. But as she soon discovers, there is a reason no one keeps in touch with grandma.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, and starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Gabrielle Rose, and the late Tony Todd, Final Destination: Bloodlines is an enjoyable FD film which follows the rule of thumb that all the previous entities in the series follow. Put simply: If you like one FD film you like all the FD films, so there is no reason not to like this one.
The death sequences are inventive; the kill count is high; and the laughs keep on coming. Similar to the previous films (certainly from Final Destination 2 onward), there is a great deal of playfulness in the picture and lots of fun to be had from watching characters get bumped off in increasingly intense ways.
Some of the deaths you’ll see coming, others not so much. The joy of watching a Final Destination film is trying to guess what is coming next, while secretly hoping to be caught off guard, and Final Destination: Bloodlines doesn’t disappoint.
This film also manages to find a new angle to pin all these death sequences on. Rather than just keep repeating the formula of a bunch of teens being killed off, this one attempts something slightly different, expanding the scope and mythology in the process.
Highlights of Final Destination: Bloodlines include the opening premonition sequence, which is both grand and ridiculous; an amusing scene at a hospital, which is funny and bloodthirsty; and a marvellous segment involving a garbage truck, which is brilliantly executed. There is also plenty of hilarity to be found at a family barbecue scene, even if this scene has featured rather extensively in the preview trailers.
And then on top of all this there is a heartfelt exit for Tony Todd. The actor has been with the franchise since the original film back in 2000, but his character William Bludworth bows out with this entry.
Todd passed away late last year, shortly after filming this picture, and it would seem his exit from the Final Destination franchise was planned. He is given a send off which suggests he was ready to retire the character and step away on his terms, and the film provides him with the necessary material to say goodbye.
What makes the Final Destination film series work is its ability to entertain its audience. The franchise wouldn’t have come this far (25 years and counting) if it didn’t have its eye on keeping paying customers happy, and this seems to be the mantra for this latest instalment.
Of course, it is utter nonsense of the highest order, but this is not a bad thing and ultimately it is what we horror fans want from a Final Destination movie, isn’t it? So long as you can take the rough with the smooth (a bit of wooden acting, some disposable characters), you’ll find this sixth film most agreeable.
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Movie of the Week
All the reviews are in and accounted for and this week the prestigious title of Movie of the Week goes to Nonnas! This is an absolutely delightful movie, much better than the usual twaddle served up on Netflix, and it is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye.
And you like Nonnas, you might also like:
- Wonder (2017) – Nonnas director Stephen Chbosky helms this coming-of-age drama about a boy living with Treacher Collins syndrome.
- 80 for Brady (2023) – Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field star in this sports comedy about a group of four lifelong friends who take an important road trip to watch the Super Bowl.
- Return to Me (2000) – David Duchovny and Minnie Driver star in this romantic comedy-drama about a widower who finds love in the most unexpected way.
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Forthcoming attractions
Ok, that’s it for yet another week, but coming soon Netflix returns to Shadyside for more horror in Fear Street: Prom Queen; Disney serves up another live-action remake with Lilo & Stitch; and Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan team up for Karate Kid: Legends. Plus, the oft-overlooked Christopher Reeve crime-thriller Above Suspicion celebrates its 30th birthday.
Oh, and before you go, if you want more movie fun and shenanigans, a bonus edition of Movie Reviews Special is also available this month. The subject is Leslie Nielsen.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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