December 16, 2022 – SparklyPrettyBriiiight

In the world of Hollywood, emotively-rich dramas sit on one side of the storytelling equation and big, brassy, visually resplendent blockbusters sit on the other, and never, usually, the twain shall meet. But just occasionally, in a happy marriage of lushly visual FX, gripping narrative and compelling characters, a blockbuster Continue Reading

A trio of tasty TV (streaming) trailers: Earth Abides, A Man on the Inside + The Sticky

(via Shutterstock) The year may be drawing to a close but is the pace of streaming releases slowing down as we grow ever more tired? No! And while, yes, a part of us would like things to wind down a tad so we can catch our breath after watching a Continue Reading

Feel good fabulousness with new trailer and poster for Paddington in Peru (Paddington 3)

(courtesy Bleeding Cool / © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.) SNAPSHOTPaddington in Peru brings Paddington’s story to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery Continue Reading

Post Halloween movie retro movie review: Shaun of the Dead (20th anniversary)

(courtesy IMP Awards) Got relationship troubles? Is your life feeling directionless and uninspired? Failing to realise your true potential? We’ve all been there in one way or another, and while the solution to your relational and existential woes may seem elusive, have you perhaps considered the zombie apocalypse as the Continue Reading

Post Halloween book review: Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning

If you have ever watched a slasher flick – think the Scream series or the Halloween franchise starring Jamie Lee Curtis to name just two of many – you will be well acquainted with the prevailing tropes and cliches of the genre. Eminently disposable characters suddenly find themselves stalked and Continue Reading

Halloween graphic novel review: The Stuff of Legend – Book 2: The Jungle by Mike Raight and Brian Smith with illustrations by Charles Paul Wilson III

Being afraid of the dark is one of those thing childish things we re supposed to put aside as we grow older. After all, the idea that evil and terrible things lurk in the places where there is no light, where our view is limited or outright obscured, is surely Continue Reading

Velma: This halloween needs to be more special! … and thoughts on seasons 1 and 2

(courtesy IMP Awards) VELMA 2024 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL SNAPSHOTWith just 24 hours to bring Velma back, the friends search for a dark spellbook while trying to avoid the wrath of a vengeful spirit. But as the annual Sexy Halloween party nears, Velma and the gang must face their biggest fears… if Continue Reading

Deep TBR Halloween book review: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

(courtesy Argyll Productions) If you have ever seen a medieval battle scene where an army of armour and arrows and trebuchets (great big wooden slingy things) is laying siege to a walled city or castle, you will be well acquainted with how these conflicts generally go. There are lots of Continue Reading

Scary haha! Triple animated Halloween specials review – Family Guy, Sing and Bad Guys

(via Shutterstock) Get ready to be scared! Or amused! Or both? Being animated specials aimed mostly, but not exclusively – see special #1 for example – at kids, the scares, such as they are, are lighthearted and funny, the perfect way to celebrate Halloween if, like this reviewer, you are Continue Reading

Deep TBR book review: All the Galaxies by Philip Miller

(courtesy Allen & Unwin Book Publishers) After watching far too many books sit trapped in my To Be Read (TBR) pile for years and years, I decided it was high time a month was devoted to rescuing them from the reading void and diving into their promising stories. So, for Continue Reading

Christmas romance movie preview: The Merry Gentlemen + Hot Frosty

(via Shutterstock) It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s beginning to look a lot like, you know, and yes, every single very Christmassy phrase is being engaged right now because the festive season is so close we can taste it (I mean, literally taste it; here in Continue Reading

Movie review: Avatar – The Way of Water

On 7th day of Christmas … I read The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan