Reviews from the Omniplex Cinema Arklow, Sky Store, Gaming and Book Releases

THE BATMAN (15A)

Release Date: March 4th

Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.

THE PHANTOM OF

THE OPEN (12A)

Release Date: March 18th

Academy and BAFTA Award winner Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies, Dunkirk, The BFG) stars as Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, who managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process.

AMBULANCE (15A)

Release Date: March 25th

Needing money to cover his wife’s medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that’s carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive. the balance. MORBIUS (15A)

Release Date: April 1st

One of the most compelling and conflicted characters in Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters comes to the big screen as Oscar® winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil -- or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (PG)

Release Date: April 1st

After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of a mystical emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE

SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (TBC)

Release Date: April 8th

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. THE LOST CITY (TBC)

Release Date: April 15th

Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (TBC)

Release Date: April 29th

From award-winning creator Julian Fellowes comes the motion picture event DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA. The much-anticipated cinematic return of the global phenomenon reunites the beloved cast as they go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’ newly inherited villa.

KING OF FIGHTERS XV - €64.99

Since its debut in 1994, the KOF fighting game series has been driving the world to new heights of excitement with its appealing characters and unique game system. Six years have passed since the last title in the series, and now KOF XV surpasses all of its predecessors in terms of graphics, systems, and online experience! A total of 39 playable fighters at launch! Classic popular characters, heroes and villains revived from the dead, new challengers, and more! The most epic dream match in KOF history is about to begin!

ELDEN RING - €69.99

The Golden Order has been broken. In the Lands Between ruled by Queen Marika the Eternal, the Elden Ring, the source of the Erdtree, has been shattered. Marika’s offspring, demigods all, claimed the shards of the Elden Ring known as the Great Runes, and the mad taint of their newfound strength triggered a war. A war that meant abandonment by the Greater Will. Ye dead who yet live, your grace long lost, follow the path to the Lands Between beyond the foggy sea to stand before the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord.

Arklow Store: 0402 32866 Bray Store: 01 202 2604 www.gamestop.ie

GRID LEGENDS - €69.99

A high-stakes driving experience that combines thrilling unpredictable motorsport, incredible race variety, and an immersive driving story that puts you at the heart of the action. Take the spotlight in an engrossing racing story, brought to life by a world-class cast including Ncuti Gatwa, in a ground-breaking extended reality production. Face fierce personalities, paddock politics, on-track drama, and the infamous Ravenwest Motorsport, as a fly-on-the-wall documentary captures every moment.

HALO INFINITE - €54.99

When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet and a ground breaking free-to-play multiplayer experience. Halo Infinite provides an amazing experience across the Xbox One and newer family of consoles, as well as PC, with stunning 4K graphics and world-class cross-platform play.

BATTLEFIELD 2042 - €79.99

Battlefield™ 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. In a near-future world transformed by disorder, adapt and overcome dynamically-changing battlegrounds with the help of your squad and a cutting-edge arsenal. With support for 128 players*, Battlefield™ 2042 brings unprecedented scale on vast environments across the globe. Players will take on several massive experiences, from updated multiplayer modes like Conquest and Breakthrough to the all-new Hazard Zone.

JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION 2 - €59.99

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Frontier’s highly successful Jurassic World Evolution, building upon the ground breaking and immersive 2018 management simulation. Immerse yourself in a compelling and original Jurassic World narrative set after the Earthshattering events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Lead efforts to control, conserve and contain dinosaurs as you work alongside iconic characters from the films, including Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard).

DUBRAY BOOKS BRAY

10 MAIN STREET, BRAY, CO WICKLOW.

AGAIN, RACHEL MARIAN KEYES

ROMANCE/FICTION - €14.99 In her twenties, Rachel Walsh was a mess. Since her spell in rehab, though, she’s come a long way on the road to recovery - and now, she’s ready to go back to where it all began. But this time, the student has become the teacher. She used to hate the staff in charge of treating her addiction. Now, she’s one of them. Rachel’s finally got herself on track - but life never stops being messy. And when an old flame resurfaces, will she go back to who she once was? Or at fifty, can she find herself all over again?

THE MAID NITA PROSE

MURDER MYSTERY - €12.99 Hotel maid Molly has difficulty reading people and likes her own routine. Her co-workers laugh at her behind her back and call her old-fashioned but she wholeheartedly loves her job cleaning rooms all day. When one of the hotel’s most important guests is found dead, Molly is caught up in the ensuing frenzy and finds herself in a mess she can’t sweep under the rug. You can’t help but root for this charming character in this warm, humourous murder mystery.

BREAKING POINT EDEL COFFEY

MYSTERY/CRIME - €13.99 One mistake could cost her everything. Susannah has two beautiful daughters, a high-flying medical career, a successful husband and an enviable life. Her hair is glossy, her clothes are expensive; she truly has it all. But when - on the hottest day of the year - her strict morning routine is disrupted, Susannah finds herself running on autopilot. It is hours before she realises she has made a devastating mistake. Her baby, Louise, is still in the backseat of the car and it is too late to save her. As the press close in around her, Susannah is put on trial for negligence. It is plain to see that this is not a trial, it’s a witch hunt. But what will the court say?

TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY LINWOOD BARCLAY

CRIME - €17.99 One weekend, while Andrew Mason was on a fishing trip, his wife, Brie, vanished without a trace. Most people assumed Andy had got away with murder, but the police couldn’t build a strong case against him. Now, six years later, Andy has put his life back together. He’s sold the house he shared with Brie and moved away for a fresh start. He’s settled with a new partner, Jayne, and life is good. But Andy’s peaceful world is about to shatter. One day, a woman shows up at his old address, screaming, ‘Where’s my house? And then, just as suddenly as she appeared, the woman - who bears a striking resemblance to Brie - is gone.

IT ENDS WITH US COLLEEN HOOVER

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE - €12.30 Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, a little arrogant and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind.

THE LETTER HOME RACHAEL ENGLISH

FICTION - €16.99 She had left behind everything she loved to forge a future for the one she treasured most… 2019 Dublin. When Jessie Daly loses her job, her flat and her relationship, she travels home to Ireland’s west coast and helps an old friend researching what happened in the area during the 1840s Famine. On the other side of the Atlantic, Kaitlin Wilson is researching her family tree. She knows her ancestors left Ireland for Boston in the 19th century. Everything else is a mystery. Kaitlin unearths a fascinating story, but her research forces her to confront uncomfortable truths Belfast 1hr 35mins, Cert 12 Drama / History

Belfast, 15 August 1969. Surrounded by sporadic violence and growing danger, nine-year-old Buddy finds himself confronted with the ugly reality of sectarian conflict. And, as the suffocating stranglehold of increasing turmoil tightens around his once-peaceful working-class neighbourhood, Buddy tries his best to understand The Troubles-after all, someone must be responsible for forcing people to flee their homes. Now, Buddy’s family must come face to face with a nearly impossible, life-altering decision: stay or start packing?

Ghostbusters:

Afterlife 1hr 58mins, Cert 12 Action / Comedy

From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman comes the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. The film is written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman.

Last Night In Soho

1hr 52mins, Cert 18 Horror

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

No Time To Die

2hr 36mins, Cert 12 Action

In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. King Richard 2hr 18mins, Cert 12 Drama

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on Compton, California’s neglected tennis courts - the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s balanced perspective. Based on the true story, “King Richard” follows the uplifting journey of a family whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately delivers two of the world’s greatest sports legends.

Venom: Let There

Be Carnage 1hr 33mins, Cert 15 Action

Eddie Brock struggles to adjust to his new life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, which grants him super-human abilities in order to be a lethal vigilante. Brock attempts to reignite his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady, who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution.