SNAPSHOTScott Calvin is on the brink of his 65th birthday and realizing that he can’t be Santa forever. He’s starting to lose a step in his Santa duties, and more importantly, he’s got a family who could benefit from a life in the normal world, especially two sons, one that Continue Reading
Book review: The Shattered Skies (The Cruel Stars trilogy 2) by John Birmingham
If our current day and age has taught us anything, beyond of course cementing the realisation that the world is an inherently selfish place, it is that fascists and those who inhabit the murderously bleak extremes of the human experience never really go away. Oh, but if they had only Continue Reading
Movie review: The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin)
No one should ever mistake quietness for lack of presence or emotional power. Case in manifestly resonant point is the 1981-set The Quiet Girl, written and directed by Colm Bairéad, which is matches the titular mood in just about every possible way – slow, thoughtful exchanges between characters, none of Continue Reading
Wrapping things up: Thoughts on Only Murders in the Building (S2, E7-10)
With the word “murders” in the title, it’s fair to expect that Only Murders in the Building will spend a reasonable amount of its narrative getting its Agatha Christie in the 21st century on. And it does, in ways that enthrall and delight and in ways which have more than Continue Reading
New Star Wars trailers there are: The Mandalorian (S3) and final Andor trailer
I’m fairly certain there will never not be a time when a new Star Wars trailer, whether it’s for a movie or a TV/streaming show, doesn’t fill me with all kinds of anticipatory thrill. Ever since I saw A Hew Hope, then just good old Star Wars in a small Continue Reading
Book review: Ginger and Me by Elissa Soave
Book blurbs are interesting things. They are there clearly to sell the book by hooking us with an idea of who the protagonist is or where the book may lead us or how its themes may make us think or feel, and they are, by and large, reasonably good at Continue Reading
The next big thing arrives: Thoughts on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (S1, E 1-4)
Superheroes are, by and large, fairly serious individuals. Fair enough – duty and service, saving the world on a regular basis and a complete dearth of work/life balance would make if difficult for anyone to be too jocular or giddily upbeat, and as for kidding or joking round, especially in Continue Reading
A mass of movie trailers Glass Onion – A Knives Out Mystery, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, My Policeman, Blueback, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, What’s Love Got To Do With It + Armageddon Time
Get your popcorn ready! It’s doesn’t matter what your tastes run to – upcoming cinemas releases have all kinds of films in the offing and you’ll be happily relaxing into your cinema chair or firing up your favourite streaming platforms over and over again as we head into the end Continue Reading
Book review: Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher
Not all romantic comedies are created equal. Sure, they all have roughly the same parts – a meet-cute, whether recent or long-established, instant attraction, snappy dialogue, fun moments, a falling out or misunderstanding, and a desperate rush to (usually) the airport to declare undying love – but not all of Continue Reading
Songs, songs and more songs #73: Poppy Ajudha, Crooked Colours, L D R U, Whats So Not, Lamalo + Eurovision update!
Listening to music is a joy. It may not always engender feelings of joy because let’s face it life is never that universally good, and so neither are the songs that given expression to it, but the actual immersion into music is one of life’s great pleasures. It’s even when Continue Reading