The Frank Verdict — Movie & Book Reviews

Recent reviews

Movies

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Spoiler-Free

Directed by Jon Favreau, 2026, runtime 2 hours 12 minutes

The first Star Wars movie in seven years is a fun, Bond-style adventure with The Mandalorian and Grogu — but thin on stakes and character growth.

July 29, 2026

star-warsaction-adventure

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Books

The Poppy War

Spoiler-Free

By R.F. Kuang, 2019, 544 pages

Harry Potter-style magic-school coming-of-age story gives way to Dune-style empires, war, and questions of morality.

July 23, 2026

fantasywarcoming-of-agegrimdark

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Movies

Mortal Kombat II

Contains Spoilers

Directed by Simon McQuoid, 2026, runtime 1 hour 56 minutes

Mortal Kombat II (2026) review: Karl Urban's Johnny Cage is the lone standout in a sequel let down by a clunky script and mostly forgettable action.

June 11, 2026

actionmartial artsvideo game adaptation

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