There’s no such thing as too many Christmas movies! You have to trust me on this; I have watched hundreds of the eggnog-soaked things and I am perfectly fine and do not dream of Christmas all year long, itching to decorate the tree, eat chocolate-covered sultanas and buy and Continue Reading
Movies
Choose wisely: The serious fun of live action Aladdin (poster + trailer)
SNAPSHOT The Aladdin cast includes: Two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (Ali, Men in Black) as the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses his magic lamp; Mena Massoud (Amazon’s Jack Ryan) as Aladdin, the hapless but lovable street rat who is smitten with the Sultan’s daughter; Naomi Scott Continue Reading
Can catastrophe be averted? Two brothers race to find out in Exit Strategy
SNAPSHOT A man in a time loop must work with his brother to prevent a catastrophic fire. (synopsis via Vimeo) Exit Strategy is one powerful piece of deeply-affecting storytelling that runs its entire length including a bittersweet emotional whammy, in the course of 15 tightly-plotted but deeply human moments. Continue Reading
Star Wars triple: Anime A New Hope + heroic C3PO + The Mandalorian
You can never, as I discovered way back in 1977 in a small darkened wooden cinema in Ballina, NSW, Australia, have too much Star Wars in your life. One trip to that galaxy far, far way and a long time ago and you will want to spend the rest Continue Reading
Here comes The Food Thief with a fabulously fishy teaser trailer
SNAPSHOT The Food Thief is a 1,5 minute short-film by Mindbender Animation Studio that is currently in production. The film will be released on the internet later this year. (synopsis via Vimeo) I am usually a little indifferent to teaser trailers. They usually tantalise with atmospheric and thematic hints aplenty Continue Reading
Movie review: Ladies in Black
It is tempting in our modern age, which feels blighted, polarised and disconnected like no time before it, to imagine things were so much simpler way back when. But the truth of the matter is that they weren’t, and any illusions of an untroubled idyll free from social media Continue Reading
He even makes adorable webs! Check out Lucas the Spider and his latest creation
SNAPSHOT I can totally make a spider web and look I even put a bell at the bottom so when it rings I know I got something then I can have a new friend. This might take a while. I’ll be back. (synopsis via Laughing Squid) You can help Continue Reading
Weekend pop art: Watch pop icons change over time
Nothing stays the dame for long in this fast-moving world of ours, and that truism applies to pop culture icons as much as anything or anyone else. Recognising this salient fact, LA-based artist and cartoonist Jeff Victor who describes himself on his Kickstarter page as a “huge pop culture Continue Reading
Captive State: Is peace without freedom worth the cost?
SNAPSHOT Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents. The sci-fi feature is directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Gambler), Continue Reading
Stupid finds a way: Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom gets an Honest Trailer
In the interests of full disclosure, and I am nothing less than ridiculously honest for the most part, I actually rather enjoyed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Yes, it had more plotholes than a semi-trailer carrying an inert T-Rex, and the characters were village idiot level-stupid, and yes narrative was Continue Reading