Much as we might love our parents and siblings and crazy Aunt Phyllis and her 20 cats, it’s often the families we create throughout our lives of close, trusted friends that come to define our adult lives most profoundly. That’s certainly the case in Jonathan Levine’s The Night Before, Continue Reading
I sense a disturbance in the LEGO, Luke: Final Star Wars trailer gets bricked up
There is nothing in this world that can’t be made better, or at least wonderfully and entertainingly different, by the addition of a LEGO version of its trailer. And this definitely applies to the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens which receives a LEGO-ised version of one of its Continue Reading
On 7th day of Christmas … I re-watched classic Vicar of Dibley ep “The Christmas Lunch Incident”
When you’re in the service of others, as is Vicar Geraldine Granger (Dawn French), the “babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom”, saying “No” even extremely nicely, can be a difficult undertaking. After all, your parishioners seeing you as their vicar, regardless of how many of them there Continue Reading
They’re back! Independence Day: Resurgence proves you can’t keep a bad alien race down
SNAPSHOT We always knew they were coming back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can Continue Reading
On the 6th day of Christmas … I listened to a Kylie Christmas by Kylie Minogue
Recording a Christmas album is not for the fainthearted. On paper it must seem like one of the easiest things to do in the world – gather together your favourite “golden oldies” Christmas carols and songs, write one or two new songs that will hopefully become classics in time Continue Reading
Book review: The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan
Retirement is supposed to be a golden age. A chance to read your newspaper, watch some cricket (if you’re so inclined), ponder life, and engage in long fattening lunches and idle conversation. And of course, tend to your newly-delivered baby elephant Ganesha left to you by your quirky uncle Bansi. Continue Reading
On 5th day of Christmas … I read The Peanuts Guide to Christmas
When I think of all the people (and one dog) I would like to spend Christmas with, Charles M. Schulz’s endearingly insightful band of characters from Peanuts comes fairly close to the top of the list. (Dear family and close friends, please rest assured you are at the top Continue Reading
Weekend pop art: Inspired geeky Christmas sweater designs
Let’s hear it for Christmas sweaters! They go together like eggnog and a roaring fire, chestnuts and am open fire, and “Falalalalalala” and decking the halls! If you’re the sort of person who needs their sweaters, known in Australia as jumpers and most definitely not being worn at the Continue Reading
On 4th day of Christmas … I got ready to watch Robot Chicken’s Christmas special
There’s no arguing that Santa sits pretty atop the pop culture recognition tree? He may only get to strut his toy-giving festive stuff once a year but man does he make the most of it, and even when your thoughts may not necessarily turn to reindeers, tinsel and presents Continue Reading
Movie review: The Peanuts Movie
Peanuts has always been more than just a comic strip. Not that being a comic strip per se is a bad thing; rather that the creation of Charles M. Schulz has always transcended the ephemeral, transitory nature of the medium and the small black and white panels that define it to Continue Reading