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Dave Lee

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Film and pop culture enthusiast, reviewer and commentator from Australia. With a deep love for film from all walks of life, from modern Blockbusters to Classic Hollywood, Dave runs Dave Lee Down Under, where he delivers the latest movie coverage, while championing the classics of yesteryear. Dave is also devoted to continuing the stories of past animated classics - with a particular knowledge in the history of American animation.

Publications:

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) 66% 3.5 EDIT “A visual spectacle and a masterclass display of the latest VFX tech. But, it does feel like much of the same. Narratively VERY dense and often tedious. I fear Big Jim’s big franchise has overstayed its welcome for me. Die-hard will likely love it.” – Dave Lee Down Under Dec 17, 2025 Full Review Superman (2025) 83% 4.5/5 EDIT “Superman leans into comic book wackiness and the goofiness of the early screen portrayals. The cast is stellar. The bright, positive, hopeful hero I grew up with is back! Again, I believe a man can fly. A victory for James Gunn and the new DCU!” – Dave Lee Down Under Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Captain America: Brave New World (2025) 46% 3/5 EDIT “Better than I expected… There’s some enjoyable set pieces, but it’s very clunky and very goofy. Plays better as a Hulk sequel than a Cap movie. Mackie is fantastic, but wish he’d been given a meatier vehicle as his first theatrical Cap outing.” – Dave Lee Down Under Feb 16, 2025 Full Review A Complete Unknown (2024) 82% 5/5 EDIT “Terrific! My favourite biopic since the double-whammy of Ray and Walk the Line in the middle-2000s. It’s formulaic... but beautifully crafted and structured by Mangold. Chalamet delivers a phenomenal performance!” – Dave Lee Down Under Jan 18, 2025 Full Review Wolf Man (2025) 48% 3.5/5 EDIT “A terrific take on the tried-and-tested werewolf genre, a refreshingly enjoyable twist on one of Universal’s most enduring monsters. Packed with frights, fantastic body horror, and heartfelt story; it’s a great companion to Whannell’s Invisible Man.” – Dave Lee Down Under Jan 15, 2025 Full Review Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) 56% 3.5/5 EDIT “Getting out from the shadow of the '94 classic, It moves more freely, taking risks that the '19 remake couldn't, while remaining rather derivative. It's probably the soft remake we should've got first go round.” – Dave Lee Down Under Dec 17, 2024 Full Review Moana 2 (2024) 60% 2.5/5 EDIT “Disjointed, messy, low stakes story; underwhelming songs that unsuccessfully imitate the first's masterful tunes; forgettable new characters. Feels like a 2000s direct-to-video sequel... Gorgeous animation is the only saving grace.” – Dave Lee Down Under Nov 27, 2024 Full Review Wicked (2024) 88% 5/5 EDIT “I’m struggling to think of a contemporary musical which so succinctly emulates the MGM spectaculars of the Golden Age. Phenomenal sequences inspired by Busby Berkeley with magical shades of Georges Méliès. Awe-inspiring. Exhilarating” – Dave Lee Down Under Nov 26, 2024 Full Review Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) 31% 3/5 EDIT “Loved a LOT of what the movie tries to do... But I feel the big swings aren't really suited and the musical numbers are rather lacklustre. I lean on the positive side, while fully acknowledging how much of a failed experiment this is.” – Dave Lee Down Under Oct 3, 2024 Full Review The Exorcism (2024) 26% 2.5/5 EDIT “Tackles some deep, harrowing themes in fresh, interesting ways; putting a fascinating new spin on the “exorcism” genre… but an utterly baffling, goofy, theatrical finale undermines the sincerity and hard work put in to avoid over-done genre tropes. ” – Dave Lee Down Under Jun 13, 2024 Full Review The Fall Guy (2024) 82% 4.5/5 EDIT “Delivers an incredibly well crafted action comedy; with huge thrills; huge laughs; and, naturally, huge stunts... Gosling and Blunt light up the frame with electric chemistry... The kind of movie that audiences are begging for right now.” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 22, 2024 Full Review Challengers (2024) 88% 4.5/5 EDIT “A terrifically stylish drama that’s packed with thrills and tension... The three leads are excellent, and their insane sexual tension pulsates throughout the film... but Zendaya delivers THE performance she’ll be remembered for.” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 17, 2024 Full Review Back to Black (2024) 35% 3/5 EDIT “Back to Black is one of the better biopics we’ve had recently... it makes a decent effort; it feels pretty truthful, honest and human — and it pulls fewer punches than most movies of the kind. Though, I feel it never quite punches hard enough. ” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 10, 2024 Full Review Late Night with the Devil (2023) 97% 4/5 EDIT “Haunting, terrifying, and bloody hilarious. A genre-bending, horror-fueled, black comedy that does not hold any punches... Dastmalchian delivers a deliciously vibrant, shockingly tormented, wickedly fun, over-the-top performance that leaves you gripped;.” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 8, 2024 Full Review Civil War (2024) 81% 5/5 EDIT “Filled to the brim with confronting commentary and gut-punch messages; both timely and frighteningly real... It’s a big screen, crowd pleasing spectacle with something to say... One of the finest ever war pictures... by far Alex Garland’s best film yet.” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 4, 2024 Full Review Monkey Man (2024) 89% 4.5/5 EDIT “Monkey Man puts an epic slant on the action genre — with a narrative equal parts pulp, superhero, and crime thriller; served up on a mythic platter, with a handful of cultural spice... could be one of the best actioners ever put to screen.” – Dave Lee Down Under Apr 2, 2024 Full Review Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) 54% 2/5 EDIT “It’s an hour and a half tedious, boring exposition dump for whatever’s next… before our titans even share the screen... The world building will likely be appreciated by die hard fans — but it’s at the expense of our lead titans and their story at hand.” – Dave Lee Down Under Mar 27, 2024 Full Review Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) 42% 3/5 EDIT “An incredibly serviceable instalment, offering up all the hallmarks of the 40-year-old film series... While it’ll hold up as one of the better Legacy Sequels of the era, it does tumble for the usual pitfalls... OG fans will have a great time.” – Dave Lee Down Under Mar 20, 2024 Full Review Road House (2024) 59% 3.5/5 EDIT “It has terrific action; it's goofy, corny, and often hilarious. It perfectly encapsulates the feel of the white-knuckle,bare-fisted action exploitation flicks of the 70s and 80s, sporting two killer over-the-top performances from Gyllenhaal and McGreggor.” – Dave Lee Down Under Mar 20, 2024 Full Review Immaculate (2024) 72% 4/5 EDIT “Gripping, grotesque, terrifying and beautifully melancholic; with effective frights, memorable horrific visuals, and disturbingly divine Religious allegories. Sweeney is rapidly proving herself one of this generation’s brightest and most dazzling talents.” – Dave Lee Down Under Mar 20, 2024 Full Review Dune: Part Two (2024) 92% 5/5 EDIT “ An absolute behemoth of filmmaking. A spectacular that truly serves the best cinema has to offer. It’s gigantic, epic, and sprawling... it engulfs your body and buries you in its immense scope and scale... This generation’s 'Return of the King.'” – Dave Lee Down Under Feb 28, 2024 Full Review Madame Web (2024) 10% 3/5 EDIT “A clunky, goofy, mess. However, there’s an ultimate joy in this ham-fisted adventure. Unintentionally hilarious dialog, corny villain, cringeworthy moments, lazy Easter eggs, a superb ensemble of cheesy performances lead to an ironically enjoyable romp.” – Dave Lee Down Under Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Bob Marley: One Love (2024) 43% 3/5 EDIT “A decent biopic that’s joyful and soulful... Unfortunately, it leaves much to be desired - rushing through or totally skipping many pivotal moments... Even die-hard fans may find it a rushed effort.” – Dave Lee Down Under Feb 8, 2024 Full Review Argylle (2024) 33% 4/5 EDIT “A super fun, slick, stylish, and subversive action flick with a fistful of cheese; 'Argylle' delivers terrific action sequences, and a brilliant cast who all truly understand the assignment... It's the kind of movie audiences are BEGGING FOR right now.” – Dave Lee Down Under Jan 31, 2024 Full Review Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (2024) 66% 4/5 EDIT “Bana delivers a deeply powerful, meditative performance, building on his work in The Dry. The ensemble all pack a powerful punch... A gripping, surprising, edge-of-your-seat detective mystery. It'll go down as another classic of Australian cinema.” – Dave Lee Down Under Jan 21, 2024 Full Review
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