There was once a time, a more innocently violent, popcorn-strewn time when action blockbusters were not just a lot of fun to watch but were well made, complete with richly-drawn characters (well, as richly-drawn as character exposition vs thrills and action would allow), reasonably complex plots and a visual panache Continue Reading
Is life wonderful? Last Christmas asks the festively big questions
SNAPSHOTThe romantic comedy stars Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Henry Golding (A Simple Favor) and Emma Thompson, and is directed by Paul Feig (A Simple Favor) from a script written by Academy Award winner Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) and playwright Bryony Kimmings inspired by a George Michael beat. Kate (Clarke) Continue Reading
Fear the Walking Dead: “Channel 4” (S5, E9 review)
SPOILERS AHEAD … AND EXPLODING ZOMBIES, BAD MUSTARD AND HIGHLY-DECORATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL TREE ART … You know what the zombie apocalypse needs far more of, well besides less of the undead? Pad Thai, of course! Granted, this may not be the first thing that springs to mind in a world crying Continue Reading
Book review: The Other Mother by Matthew Green
Grief isn’t just an emotional state. It is a reshaping of everything you have ever known, a resculpting of a world view that once felt as permanent as a towering mountain of solid rock but now feels like here-one-day-gone-the-next sandbars that come and go with the tide. It’s something that Continue Reading
Carnival Row: Murder, mystery and love supernatural
SNAPSHOTCarnival Row is a fantasy-noir set in a neo-Victorian city called Burgue. Mythical creatures fleeing their war-torn homeland have gathered in the city, and tensions are simmering between citizens and the growing immigrant population. The growing population of supernatural beings struggles to coexist with humans — forbidden to live, love, or Continue Reading
Are we actually making progress? Rock’s Modern Life: Static Cling asks the bizarrely big questions
SNAPSHOTAfter being in space for 25 years, Rocko and his friends return to a late-2010s era O-Town with modern amenities such as constantly updating touchscreen phones, radioactive energy drinks, food trucks and coffee shops on every corner. Rocko, who does not share Heffer and Filburt’s enthusiasm for the 21st century Continue Reading
Movie review: Late Night
Dancing along the fine line that separates cliche and sclerotic trope-ism, and heartfelt, engaging storytelling, takes a deft way with words, an ability to give breath to fully-realised characters and someone who gets the contrary depths and heights of humanity. Not everybody possesses such a laudable grab bag of talents Continue Reading
Pretty Violent: “The intersection of stunning cartooning and insane brutality”
SNAPSHOTGamma Rae wants to be a superhero, and why shouldn’t she!? She’s been strong since she was a baby. The only problem is, all her siblings are notorious hero-murdering criminals! Join artist DEREK HUNTER (DuckTales, Adventure Time), and writer JASON YOUNG (I HATE FAIRYLAND) for this all-new ongoing, gore-filled, laugh-out-loud Continue Reading
Book review: Crossings by Alex Landragin
Coming up with a truly original idea is a challenge. After all, thousands of stories, whether in oral or written form, have ensured that there are precious few new ideas under the sun; in fact, storytelling tropes are so well ingrained in our culture, that students of writing are taught Continue Reading
Why I love my favourite bookstore, Better Read Than Dead (Newtown, Sydney) #loveyourbookshopday
The following is my love letter, on Love Your Bookshop Day, to my favourite bookstore in the world – Better Read Than Dead in Newtown, Sydney, Australia. It’s a rare thing indeed for me, even as an inveterate people person who connects with just about everyone after 4.5 nanoseconds (likely Continue Reading