Reacher’s Alan Ritchson takes on alien robots in an action thriller that benefits from some better-than-usual streaming special effects

You’d be forgiven for skipping past Netflix’s gory, militaristic action thriller War Machine at this particular moment. There is, after all, an actual war raging on (is there ever a good time, one could argue?) but those behind the film would likely use its sci-fi bent as a differentiation defense. The war being raged here is not between the US and a foreign earthly entity but rather one from somewhere above, our umpteenth soldiers v aliens matchup. It’s a clear “if you like” column filler for fans of Predator, Edge of Tomorrow or, if they exist, Battle: Los Angeles, yet unlike the many films it’s clearly inspired by, the extraterrestrials here are designed to resemble machines that could have originated from another country rather than another planet, robotic whirring over tentacle slithering.

It gives the film a slightly generic sheen, like a cheaper Transformers spin-off, but it’s also thankfully devoid of the dreaded Netflix murk, that flattening filter that reduces most colours to grey, the film an acquisition from Lionsgate. Set in Colorado but shot in Australia from native writer-director Patrick Hughes, and granted a theatrical release there last month, it makes for a slicker-than-usual streaming premiere, an easy, drink-your-way-through-it Friday night option for those who wish to remain entirely unchallenged.

Reacher’s Alan Ritchson takes on alien robots in an action thriller that benefits from some better-than-usual streaming special effects

You’d be forgiven for skipping past Netflix’s gory, militaristic action thriller War Machine at this particular moment. There is, after all, an actual war raging on (is there ever a good time, one could argue?) but those behind the film would likely use its sci-fi bent as a differentiation defense. The war being raged here is not between the US and a foreign earthly entity but rather one from somewhere above, our umpteenth soldiers v aliens matchup. It’s a clear “if you like” column filler for fans of Predator, Edge of Tomorrow or, if they exist, Battle: Los Angeles, yet unlike the many films it’s clearly inspired by, the extraterrestrials here are designed to resemble machines that could have originated from another country rather than another planet, robotic whirring over tentacle slithering.

It gives the film a slightly generic sheen, like a cheaper Transformers spin-off, but it’s also thankfully devoid of the dreaded Netflix murk, that flattening filter that reduces most colours to grey, the film an acquisition from Lionsgate. Set in Colorado but shot in Australia from native writer-director Patrick Hughes, and granted a theatrical release there last month, it makes for a slicker-than-usual streaming premiere, an easy, drink-your-way-through-it Friday night option for those who wish to remain entirely unchallenged.

Reacher’s Alan Ritchson takes on alien robots in an action thriller that benefits from some better-than-usual streaming special effects

You’d be forgiven for skipping past Netflix’s gory, militaristic action thriller War Machine at this particular moment. There is, after all, an actual war raging on (is there ever a good time, one could argue?) but those behind the film would likely use its sci-fi bent as a differentiation defense. The war being raged here is not between the US and a foreign earthly entity but rather one from somewhere above, our umpteenth soldiers v aliens matchup. It’s a clear “if you like” column filler for fans of Predator, Edge of Tomorrow or, if they exist, Battle: Los Angeles, yet unlike the many films it’s clearly inspired by, the extraterrestrials here are designed to resemble machines that could have originated from another country rather than another planet, robotic whirring over tentacle slithering.

It gives the film a slightly generic sheen, like a cheaper Transformers spin-off, but it’s also thankfully devoid of the dreaded Netflix murk, that flattening filter that reduces most colours to grey, the film an acquisition from Lionsgate. Set in Colorado but shot in Australia from native writer-director Patrick Hughes, and granted a theatrical release there last month, it makes for a slicker-than-usual streaming premiere, an easy, drink-your-way-through-it Friday night option for those who wish to remain entirely unchallenged.

Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Elina Svitolina (12) 6-2, 6-3
Swiatek backs Gauff over privacy concerns | Mail Daniel

Sabalenka to serve, ready … play.

You can’t argue with Svitolina’s run to the last four. She’s beaten Shnaider, Andreeva and Gauff – who, admittedly, had her absolute worst day – without losing a set, won in Auckland before that, and won’t ever have felt better about her game. I’m excited to see what her plan is, because we can be sure she’ll have one.

Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Elina Svitolina (12) 6-2, 6-3
Swiatek backs Gauff over privacy concerns | Mail Daniel

Sabalenka to serve, ready … play.

You can’t argue with Svitolina’s run to the last four. She’s beaten Shnaider, Andreeva and Gauff – who, admittedly, had her absolute worst day – without losing a set, won in Auckland before that, and won’t ever have felt better about her game. I’m excited to see what her plan is, because we can be sure she’ll have one.

Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Elina Svitolina (12) 6-2, 6-3
Swiatek backs Gauff over privacy concerns | Mail Daniel

Sabalenka to serve, ready … play.

You can’t argue with Svitolina’s run to the last four. She’s beaten Shnaider, Andreeva and Gauff – who, admittedly, had her absolute worst day – without losing a set, won in Auckland before that, and won’t ever have felt better about her game. I’m excited to see what her plan is, because we can be sure she’ll have one.

Kaja Kallas also played down the idea of ‘a European army’ saying that it remained to be a domain for national authorities

Meanwhile over in Berlin, German chancellor Friedrich Merz warned about “rough winds blowing in the world” as the international rules-based world order is under strain, as he urged Europe to reassert itself as a global superpower, but without undermining its longstanding partnership and alliances, including with the US.

Merz said that with the rise of imperialism and autocracy, the EU has become a more attractive partner for new global alliances.

Kaja Kallas also played down the idea of ‘a European army’ saying that it remained to be a domain for national authorities

Meanwhile over in Berlin, German chancellor Friedrich Merz warned about “rough winds blowing in the world” as the international rules-based world order is under strain, as he urged Europe to reassert itself as a global superpower, but without undermining its longstanding partnership and alliances, including with the US.

Merz said that with the rise of imperialism and autocracy, the EU has become a more attractive partner for new global alliances.

Kaja Kallas also played down the idea of ‘a European army’ saying that it remained to be a domain for national authorities

Meanwhile over in Berlin, German chancellor Friedrich Merz warned about “rough winds blowing in the world” as the international rules-based world order is under strain, as he urged Europe to reassert itself as a global superpower, but without undermining its longstanding partnership and alliances, including with the US.

Merz said that with the rise of imperialism and autocracy, the EU has become a more attractive partner for new global alliances.