Movies

London Calling: My Thoughts After Watching the Trailer

Published

7 months ago

21 July 2025

The trailer for London Calling shows a glimpse of what is expected to be one of the best movies of the year. You will find yourself in a world filled with banter, gunfire, and bonding. This movie blends action with romance like never before. With top actors like Josh Duhamel, Rick Hoffman, Aidan Gillen, and Jeremy Ray Taylor, this trailer offers entertainment that will keep you glued to your screen. The movie is expected to be released on September 19, 2025, and should be on your bucket list this year. After watching the trailer, here are some of my thoughts.

Plot

The plot was expertly drafted, as it started with Tommy Ward, a professional hitman whose recent mission in the UK went sideways. He mistakenly killed a person and needs to run for his life. To make up for his mistake and be protected, his new boss, Benson, asks Tommy to mentor his son. His duties are beyond just teaching him about the crime world but also about how to become a “real man.” There are some awkward mentor-mentee abides and a real bond between the duo.

Characterization

From the trailer, I noticed that the characters knew their job and played it perfectly. Tommy Ward is a tough guy with unique skills. In the trailer, his combat skills were top-notch, and he has a sense of humor. Meanwhile, Julian has an awkward but sharp personality. He is a mixture of teenage confusion with that talent. Julian and Duhamel formed good chemistry. Furthermore, Benson, who is the crime boss in the movie, looks stern, demanding, and very calm. He comes off as someone who shouldn’t be joked with.

Theme

The film is about an unlikely mentorship that could blossom. Tommy’s duties aren’t just teaching Julian how to maim and kill but also how to survive in this gruesome world. The theme is more about identity (for Tommy) as he searches for purpose in life. The movie is about the continuous struggle between professionalism and human bonding.

Visuals

This trailer is like a modern comic book that has come to reality. You will see smoky black alleys, sunlight, rooftops, and bright interiors. The camera shapes and moves between fast-paced scenes and quick gunfire. The editing was sleek and was done smartly. The visuals look polished and highly cinematic.

Release Information

Quiver distribution is expected to handle US coverage. Due to its limited rollout, this trailer may hit digital platforms like VOD after the release. Signature Entertainment will handle distribution for UK and Ireland audiences.

Final Verdict

With the characters seen in this trailer, it is worth watching out for. The director, Allan Ungar, should be praised for his captivating storytelling prowess and sharp pacing. This trailer is packed with humor, action, and real-life lessons. If the full movie is anything like the trailer, it will be a massive hit.

Movies

5 Movies to Watch in 2026

Published

2 months ago

1 January 2026

Fadire Olusola

Big screens will be busy in 2026 as the year is lining up movies that will engage audiences. From superhero epics to animated stories, these films stand out for their scale and genre range.

Avengers Secret Wars

Avengers Secret Wars : Instagram

Avengers Secret Wars is a science fiction movie that is positioned as Marvel’s phase-defining release. The film brings together characters from different timelines and realities. Like classical South African movies, this movie is worth adding to your list this year.

The Batman Part II

Batman 2: IMDB

Batman Part II falls under the category of crime thriller and is a movie worth watching in 2026. The film revolves around mystery, character psychology, and the weight of responsibility. It paints Gotham as a city in moral collapse. The villains are written to feel disturbingly real, reflecting deeper social decay.

Toy Story 5

Toy Story: Instagram

Toy Story 5 is an animated family adventure movie set for release in 2026. The themes of this movie are relevance, growth, and finding purpose in difficult circumstances. The writer balances humor with emotional weight. Adults who grew up with the franchise and children experiencing it for the first time are drawn to it. This movie continues to show that animation can tell deep human stories.

Blade

Blade: Instagram

Blade brings a darker edge to modern comic book films. The action horror movie dives into vampire mythology and underground worlds. This is similar to the original Blade film featuring Wesley Snipes but is grimmer in tone. It introduces a side of the superhero universe that feels raw. Its appeal lies away from usual context and embraces a more technical style of storytelling.

Dune Messiah

Dune : Rotten Tomatoes

Dune Messiah is a science fiction sequel novel and continues to tell the story of Paul Atreides’ journey. The film the cost of victory and the problems that come from being in leadership positions. The movie challenges traditional hero narratives. The film appeals to viewers because it offers a cinematic experience that appeals to movie enthusiasts.

For movie lovers, these films offer notable releases going into 2026. They tell stories that are rich in cultural values, and have great cinematic features

Movies

Mzansi Magic Introduces New Comedy Series, Bhelas

Published

2 months ago

27 December 2025

Fadire Olusola

Mzansi Magic has expanded its comedy slate with Bhelas, a locally produced series that leans into humor based on everyday South African life. The show indicates how the channel’s aim is to keep viewers glued to their screen.

Actors: Instagram

Bhelas centres on the culture of hustling which is prevalent in African countries. The series draws from lived experiences through satire. The cast includes South Africa actors like Rainy Nthangeni, Mamodibe Ramodibe, Sello Ramolahloane, Tshepo Matlala, Khaya Mthembu, and Gago Pathoe.

Mzansi Magic is developing content that speaks to its audience. The series reflects experiences of survival, ambition, and taking shortcuts. By placing these themes in a comedic setting, the show uses humour to address issues while still recognising familiar realities.

Actors on Set: Imbd

Bhelas is unique due to its grounded tone. The humour is situational and character driven, relying on dialogue and interactions rather than spectacle. This makes the series accessible to a wide audience. The writing avoids over-explanation, without excessive exposition.

The introduction of Bhelas highlights Mzansi Magic’s focus on local talent and original ideas. Comedy remains a strong genre on South African television, but it requires careful balance to avoid repetition. With this series, the channel explores familiar themes, focusing on everyday people.

Casts: YouTube

Bhelas strengthens Mzansi Magic’s status by offering viewers a comedic option. It offers a space for light viewing while still engaging with social themes. This balance is important in keeping audiences entertained without disconnecting from real life experiences.

As South African viewers continue to seek good content, Bhela’s arrival is timely. The series focuses on familiar situations that promote local stories making them appeal to broad audiences.

Movies

“Masinga: The Calling” Trailer Review

Published

3 months ago

4 December 2025

Fadire Olusola

The trailer for Masinga: The Calling is out and it is a story driven by emotion, mystery and action. It draws viewers in quietly, letting the tension build until the intensity settles in. The scenes aren’t exaggerated. They are carefully arranged to tell a story plainly. The full movie is set to premiere on Showmax on 5 December 2025.

Plot

Hakeem kae kazim : Instagram

The film is about Masinga, an Interpol detective who has spent many years living in London. He was living far from his past, until the body of a South African girl was found in a London river. This changed everything as he had to return to KwaZulu Natal to investigate the case. This forced him to face a past he had avoided. His younger brother, a person with Albinism, was murdered in a ritual killing, pain he still carries.

His journey home naturally brings back buried emotion. The trailer shows a man who is investigating a new case, and also confronting a dark past that refuses to fade. The case expands beyond initial expectations. There are hints of a criminal network tied to trafficking, ritual practices and hidden operations that stretch beyond what he first imagined.

The story deepens when Masinga begins having visions and spiritual encounters that connect him to the past he escaped. These moments are not treated as spectacle. They remind him that the journey is both physical and spiritual. While trying to solve a murder case, he is also searching for the courage to face his inner demons.

Characters

Some Casts : Showmax Stories

Hakeem Kae Kazim plays the lead role of Masinga. Even in a short trailer, his performance feels grounded and mature, the work of someone carrying years of buried pain beneath a controlled exterior.

Shamilla Miller appears as his partner. She is highly perceptive, observant and a steady figure. She is dependable and always has his back.

Abdul Khoza, Fana Mokoena, Warren Masemola, Brandon Auret, Sean Cameron Michael and Mbuso Khoza are supporting cast members in the trailer, adding tension and realism to the story.

Theme

The film explores cultural identity, crime, grief and the difficulties of returning to one’s roots. Masinga’s journey shows the high cost of leaving a painful past without closure. The trailer also touches on some social issues like ritual crime, exploitation and the vulnerability of marginalized groups. These themes highlight real-life situations within South African society.

Visuals

Cast : Rotten Tomatoes

The visuals and “the videos”are notable. Like many top South African movies, there are dimly lit interiors, quiet night scenes and clear contrasts between London and KwaZulu Natal. These choices show the character’s emotional state. Masinga’s life is in turmoil, as it is filled with several unresolved realities. The trailer shows glimpses of subtle spiritual elements l and mystery to the film.

What to Expect

Movie enthusiasts can expect a crime story which carries deep emotional weight. The film appears to blend investigative work with some spiritual insights. The tone is serious and rooted in lived experiences. This movie is about justice, but it also explores identity and personal reckoning.