REVIEW: Final Destination Bloodlines (2025 Film) - Starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana

Final Destination: Bloodlines breathes new life into the long-running horror series by tying its familiar death-defying premise to a personal, family-driven mystery. College student Stefani Reyes inherits terrifying visions from her grandmother, uncovering a decades-old premonition that disrupted Death's design. The result is a film that starts strong and keeps the tension tight, blending emotional depth with the franchise's signature dread.

The kills are creative, the pacing relentless, and the stakes feel more real thanks to a cast that actually makes you care. What sets this one apart is how it manages to both respect the existing lore and push it into new territory without losing the fun. It's bold, gory, sometimes silly, but always entertaining. Easily one of the best entries in the series, Bloodlines proves the franchise still has plenty of life left.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-final-destination-bloodlines.html

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Review: Smarter, Sharper, and Surprisingly Stylish

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 strikes an impressive balance between functionality and style. Its bright 1.72-inch AMOLED display, long-lasting battery, and sleek design make it feel more premium than the price suggests. With over 150 workout modes, reliable auto-tracking, and enhanced swim features, it handles day-to-day fitness with ease. The expanded sleep monitoring and expert-backed 21-day improvement programme add genuine value for those looking to improve their wellbeing, while 24/7 tracking for heart rate, SpO₂, and stress keeps it useful beyond workouts.

What really sets it apart is how effortlessly it fits into daily life. It connects quickly to smartphones, offers customisable notifications, and includes thoughtful design touches like a ceramic edition and multiple wearing styles. Charging is fast, comfort is high, and smart integration feels smooth rather than overcomplicated. For a smart band priced under £55, it's surprisingly complete and stands out as a strong all-rounder in a crowded market.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-xiaomi-smart-band-10-2025.html

REVIEW: Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition (2025 Backworms Compatible Update)

Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is a faithful re-release of the iconic 1999 turn-based strategy game, now available on Nintendo Switch. Packed with over 55 outrageous weapons, a full campaign, and classic multiplayer features, it delivers the same blend of tactical chaos and comedy that made the original a hit. This version also includes an interactive museum and a documentary, giving fans a look at the game's history and legacy.

On top of the main game, the Anniversary Edition features playable emulated versions of Worms for SNES and Mega Drive, Worms World Party for Game Boy Advance, and the Game Boy Color version of Worms Armageddon. With support for modern displays and a retro-styled update called Backworms, this release caters to both new players and long-time fans. It's a nostalgic return to the series' peak that still holds up decades later.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-worms-armageddon-anniversary.html

REVIEW: Hidden Pictures: Agent Q – A Whimsical VR Puzzle Quest with Real-World Charm

Hidden Pictures: Agent Q is a colourful and imaginative VR puzzle game built for Meta Quest, where players take on the role of a B.A.R.D. agent racing to recover shattered Galaxy Orbs before a gang of space pirates known as the Tumai can steal them. Spread across more than sixty miniaturised worlds, each themed and intricately detailed, the game blends hidden object challenges, logic puzzles and light-hearted interaction with quirky local characters called Muddles. Whether you're exploring a tiny haunted village or a neon-lit megacity, each diorama is packed with secrets, surprises and satisfying tasks.

The game's clever use of mixed reality allows you to explore these vibrant scenes within your own space, adjusting height and perspective to play comfortably whether sitting or standing. With multiple modes including Adventure, Puzzle and Boss battles, and a growing collection of pirates and allies to track down, Agent Q offers a generous helping of gameplay that's both accessible and rewarding. It's playful, well-paced, and designed to keep players of all ages curious and engaged throughout.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-hidden-pictures-agent-q-2025.html

REVIEW: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025 Film) - Starring Tom Cruise

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning brings Ethan Hunt's journey to an explosive, emotional close without losing sight of what made the series work so well. With the Entity threatening global catastrophe, the film pushes forward at a relentless pace, offering tight action, practical stunts and a sense of finality that never feels forced.

Tom Cruise anchors the story with physical intensity and quiet depth, while the returning cast delivers some of their strongest work yet. Director Christopher McQuarrie keeps the focus sharp and the scale massive, guiding the franchise to a thrilling and surprisingly grounded send-off that's both satisfying and worth the long wait.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-mission-impossible-final.html

REVIEW: Train Valley Origins (2025 Video Game) - Released on PC Steam

Train Valley Origins takes the beloved formula back to basics, offering a focused and highly replayable puzzle experience. With its top-down view, clean track-building mechanics, and steadily increasing complexity, the game captures the charm and strategy of early entries while smoothing out some of the rougher edges introduced in Train Valley 2. Players will find themselves juggling multiple trains, avoiding crashes, hitting bonus objectives, and aiming for the elusive perfect score, all within tightly designed, visually charming levels.

Though it doesn't reinvent the series, Origins keeps things fresh with four distinct historical settings, a range of unlockable trains, and varied level challenges. The upcoming level editor hints at a much longer shelf life, promising player-made content and community sharing. While the price may feel a touch steep for what resembles a mobile-style experience, the game's addictiveness and smart design offer more than enough to justify it for puzzle fans and railway enthusiasts alike.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-train-valley-origins-2025-video.html

REVIEW: Karate Kid: Legends (2025 Film) - Starring Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio

Karate Kid: Legends doesn't try to shake things up too much, and that's exactly why it works. It follows the tried and tested formula of the underdog story, brought to life this time by Ben Wang as Li Fong. With sharp pacing, solid action, and just the right amount of heart, the film hits the right nostalgic beats without feeling like a retread. Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio share the screen for the first time, and their scenes carry weight without overplaying the legacy hand.

While the story is simple, it's given emotional depth through Li's backstory and the relationships around him. Chan brings his usual mix of wisdom and humour, and Macchio makes the most of his later arrival. The film never drags, thanks to its lean 90-minute runtime, but maybe a bit more time with Johnny Lawrence or extra training scenes would have added more flavour. Still, it's a satisfying return to a familiar world, and proof the franchise isn't running on fumes just yet.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-karate-kid-legends-2025-film.html

REVIEW: The Accountant 2 (2025 Film) - Starring Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and J. K. Simmons

The Accountant 2 picks up years after the original, with Ben Affleck's Christian Wolff pulled back into a murky web of trafficking and family secrets. Jon Bernthal's Braxton returns as both muscle and comic foil, giving the sequel a more playful edge that works surprisingly well. Though the plot leans into thriller territory, it finds room for warmth and some unexpectedly tender moments.

At over two hours, it does sag in places, with stretches that could've been trimmed. But it's saved by the charm and chemistry of its leads, a more confident tone, and enough action to satisfy returning fans. You don't need to have seen the first film to follow this one, but it helps. Not perfect, but solid and memorable.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-accountant-2-2025-film-starring.html

REVIEW: Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025 Video Game)

Assassin's Creed Shadows takes players to 16th-century Japan during the brutal final years of the Sengoku period, offering a detailed world rich in historical architecture, seasonal changes, and dynamic lighting. Players control two characters with contrasting styles: Naoe, a nimble shinobi with classic stealth mechanics, and Yasuke, a fictionalised African character based on a novel, built for heavy combat. Naoe brings the familiar thrill of classic Assassin's Creed gameplay, while Yasuke's missions feel sluggish and disconnected from the franchise's roots.

While the story touches on real historical events and figures like Oda Nobunaga, the game struggles with pacing, bugs, and a world that often feels empty. Missions are non-linear and the stealth mechanics have moments of brilliance, but poor character balance and frustrating design choices undercut the experience. Shadows is not a complete failure, but it's a clear step down from what long-time fans have come to expect. There's a decent game buried in here, but it never quite breaks through.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-assassins-creed-shadows-2025.html

REVIEW: The Amateur (2025 film) - Starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne

The Amateur follows Charlie Heller, a reclusive CIA cryptographer whose life is upended when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack. What begins as a quiet story of personal grief spirals into a slow-burning spy thriller, as Charlie unearths a conspiracy within his own agency and sets out on a global pursuit of revenge. With Rami Malek at the centre, the film explores what happens when a man built for silence steps into chaos. The first act grips tightly, showing how Charlie's intelligence becomes his weapon as he navigates the world of killers and cover-ups.

But while the setup and early tension promise a standout revenge tale, the film struggles with its pacing. At two hours, it loses momentum, and the quiet introspection that once felt compelling starts to drain the energy. The ending pulls back from real catharsis, favouring resolution over impact. Despite strong performances and clever sequences, The Amateur falls short of its potential. It's a decent thriller with smart ideas, but it never quite hits the emotional or action highs it seems to reach for.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-amateur-2025-film-starring-rami.html

REVIEW: Redmi Watch 5 (2025 Release)

The Redmi Watch 5 is Xiaomi's most advanced smartwatch yet, combining a sharp 2.07-inch AMOLED display, robust fitness tracking, and a reliable 24-day battery life in a sleek, lightweight package. With a premium aluminium alloy frame, improved haptic feedback, and built-in GNSS for accurate outdoor tracking, it offers a genuinely solid experience straight from the wrist. Its dual-mic Bluetooth calling and on-board voice recorder add useful functionality without feeling gimmicky, and the comfort-focused design holds up all day.

What really stands out is how well it all works without drawing attention to itself. Everything from heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring to answering calls and logging voice notes feels natural and easy. The only hiccup is Xiaomi's confusing naming scheme across the Watch 5, 5 Lite, and 5 Active, but once you've got the right one, it's an impressively complete smartwatch for the price.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-redmi-watch-5-2025-release.html

REVIEW: Blades of Fire (2025 Video Game) - A Game of Hot Steel and Cold Frustration

Blades of Fire offers a visually striking and original action-adventure experience, centred around a cursed world, weapon forging, and tactical combat. The premise is compelling, with a warrior named Aran de Lira journeying to overthrow a steel-twisting queen, guided by a loyal scholar who helps unravel the game's secrets. There's a deep weapon crafting system, varied enemy types, and a layered world filled with alternate paths and hidden areas.

However, the game's potential is held back by some frustrating design choices. The forging system, despite being its central feature, feels awkward and unrewarding, and clunky controls limit the sense of freedom. Combat shows promise but can lack fluidity, and the level design sometimes leads to confusing backtracking. While the world and story are engaging, the execution doesn't always support the ambition behind it.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-blades-of-fire-2025-video-game.html

REVIEW: Locked (2025 Film) - Starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins

Locked is a claustrophobic thriller that traps its audience inside a luxury SUV alongside a desperate man who made one bad choice too many. When Eddie, played by Bill Skarsgård, breaks into what he thinks is an empty car, he finds himself caught in a high-tech trap orchestrated by William, a wealthy doctor with a vendetta and a terminal diagnosis. What follows is a tense and disturbing cat-and-mouse game where justice, punishment and survival blur together in uncomfortable ways. With Anthony Hopkins voicing the dispassionate tormentor, the film becomes a slow-burn battle of wills played out in real time.

Anchored almost entirely by Skarsgård's intense performance, Locked builds its tension on physical confinement and psychological breakdown. The script plays with shifting power dynamics as Eddie tries to stay alive, appeal to reason and eventually fight back against his captor. While the premise is stretched to its limits, the film manages to hold together thanks to the strength of its two leads and its unsettling atmosphere. It's a compact, morally murky thriller that makes the most of its limited setting and cast.

Full Review

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-locked-2025-film-starring-bill.html

REVIEW: Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro (2025 Release)

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro deliver an impressive mix of comfort, audio quality and smart features in a lightweight design. They're ideal for everything from mobile gaming to travel, with noise cancellation that genuinely cuts through background hum and lets you focus on your audio. Sound performance is well-balanced, with rich bass and clean mids and highs, enhanced by custom EQ profiles. The dual-device connectivity and long battery life add to the convenience, and the ability to get over four hours of playback from a quick 10-minute charge is a real bonus.

One of the standout features is the audio recording function, which lets you capture sounds or conversations by simply tapping the case. It's surprisingly useful and feels like a thoughtful addition. If there's a downside, it's that the buds are so comfortable and discreet that you might not notice if one ever falls out. Still, that's a small concern in an otherwise excellent product. Stylish, affordable and full of advanced features, the Buds 5 Pro are a strong choice.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2025/06/review-xiaomi-buds-5-pro-2025-release.html

REVIEW: Fountain of Youth (2025 Film) - Starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, and Domhnall Gleeson

Fountain of Youth is a lively heist action adventure directed by Guy Ritchie that follows disgraced archaeologist Luke Purdue and his sister Charlotte on a global treasure hunt. The film combines fast-paced action, clever puzzles, and a touch of humour, anchored by strong performances from John Krasinski and Natalie Portman. While the story revisits familiar themes of secret societies and ancient mysteries, the engaging characters and well-executed set pieces make it an enjoyable watch.

Visually impressive and well shot, the film takes viewers from London to Cairo, delivering a mix of chase scenes and tense confrontations. Though the plot can feel predictable at times, the chemistry among the cast and the blend of mythology with family dynamics keep the story compelling. Fountain of Youth offers a fun, old-fashioned adventure that, despite its lack of originality, is entertaining from start to finish.

Full review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2025/06/review-fountain-of-youth-2025-film.html