Kiki’s Delivery Service (PG)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

IN some horrible parallel universe, Studio Ghibli is churning out soulless live-action versions of its beloved back catalogue. Imagine Kiki’s Delivery Service, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s gentlest classics, remade into an uncanny-valley CGI hellscape as seen this summer with Disney’s Moana.

Instead, the redoubtable Miyazaki is still with us, his studio’s legacy remains untarnished, and we get to enjoy rereleases of hand-crafted animated originals like Kiki on the big screen, here remastered in 4K for IMAX theatres.

Set in a fictionalised northern European country, a kind of Potemkin Sweden, Kiki and her cat Jiji are imperishable, joyous characters, a young witch and her familiar on an adventure to find purpose, meaning and community.

The legendary Japanese auteur’s lifelong obsession with flight reaches its zenith here — some of the broomstick sequences remain breathtaking; Kiki’s struggles with her birthright, her loneliness, and her attempts to fit in, remain strangely moving despite the lightness of the plot.

As with a lot of Miyazaki’s young heroines, Kiki is resourceful, independent, and powerful. As a coming-of-age story, beautifully animated and told, with gorgeous messages around friendship, kindness and togetherness, this is a film that will never age.

Unless accompanied by the very young, do seek out screenings in the original Japanese with subtitles, as the English dub dilutes the magic somewhat, due to some overenthusiastic celebrity casting (I’m looking at you, Kirsten Dunst).
JW
In IMAX cinemas August 21; in cinemas August 28.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (15)
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
⭑⭑⭑⭑☆

WRITER-DIRECTOR Jane Schoenbrun brings a refreshing new take on the slasher horror film as she delivers a masterclass in the genre.

Her most personal film yet, it follows young queer director Kris (Hannah Einbinder) who has been hired to reboot the 1980s Camp Miasma franchise. She soon becomes obsessed with casting the original film’s “final girl” Billy (Gillian Anderson) who has become a recluse, living in the isolated site of the summer camp where the films were shot.  

The opening credits depict the rise and fall of the Camp Miasma saga starring the infamous serial killer Little Death (Jack Haven) in a series of compelling visual montages devoid of dialogue.

It is a surreal film-within-a-film in which the lines between fantasy and reality become blurred. It explores the tropes and transphobia of 1980s slasher films together with Hollywood politics. It is driven by a powerhouse performance from Anderson as a Norma Desmond-like figure. The onscreen chemistry between Anderson and Einbinder is palpable. The pair are electrifying to watch as their characters are rocked by desire, fear and delirium. 

Gory and bloody, there is a lot to unpack here. 
MD
In cinemas August 21.

Mutiny (15)
Directed by Jean-Francois Richet
⭑⭑⭑☆☆

JASON STATHAM is truly in a category all of his own, and Mutiny is classic Statham. 

Set in Bangkok, he plays Cole Reed, a bodyguard who, after his billionaire industrialist boss is murdered before his eyes, is then framed for the crime.

Going on the run, he hunts his employer’s killer, ending up on a cargo ship at sea and uncovering an international conspiracy in human trafficking. What follows is a riveting non-stop action thriller in which Statham, whose character cannot be corrupted or bought, turns into a one-man killing machine as he wreaks vengeance and a high body count. 

The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed, and Statham delivers on all fronts. He teams up with Annabelle Wallis, as the ship’s third mate, as they battle their way to safety. Meanwhile Adrian Lester, who is wasted as the captain of a US navy patrol vessel, delivers the funniest lines in the film, albeit unintentionally. 

Ridiculous yet entertaining, Statham knows his brand and his audience. 

If you are a Jason Statham fan this is a must-see. 
MD
In cinemas August 21.

Stop! That! Train! (15)
Directed by Adam Shankman
⭑⭑☆☆☆

I WAS on board for a hilarious and entertaining ride in this drag race version of Airplane! set on a bullet train. I should have heeded the three exclamation marks in the title.  

The film, produced by RuPaul who also stars as the US president, follows two best friends and train stewardesses (Ginger Minj and Jujubee, both captivating) as they upgrade from Stank Rail to the glitzy Glamazonian Express where they face disdain, verbal abuse and snobbery from the first-class attendants. When the train heads into a dangerous storm (“stormaganza”) they are called on to save the day. 

I was expecting to be crying with laughter throughout but I didn’t laugh once, despite the brilliant drag queen cast pulling out all the stops. Frankly they deserved better because the jokes and running gags felt old and obvious and fell flat. Also the film leaned into the campness instead of playing it deadpan as in The Naked Gun films.  

A waste of a fabulous cast. 
MD
In cinemas August 21.