Category Archives: Film Reviews

Rock Odyssey (1987) – When America’s Fun Factory Went Glam

Editor Jacob Calta dives deep into the vaults to review a bizarre 1987 Hanna-Barbera pop fantasia. Not a set of words you see everyday!

Oliver Stone’s Last Year in Viet Nam (1971)

When I was younger, I was very taken with the films of Oliver Stone. I would go so far as to say his films have had a tremendous impact on my attitudes towards cinema, politics, and life itself. I saw Platoon after having seen other Vietnam War-films like Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, andContinue reading “Oliver Stone’s Last Year in Viet Nam (1971)”

Oldboy (2003) – “Revenge is good for your health, but pain will find you again”

I’ve written about a number of Korean films on this site over the years. I believe the first one was Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder, which was followed by a number of films from Kim Jee-woon (who has a new film coming fairly soon titled Cobweb which I’m looking forward to), but to my surpriseContinue reading “Oldboy (2003) – “Revenge is good for your health, but pain will find you again””

Dune: Part Two (2024) – The Beginning of a Delicate Time

Know then that it is the year 2024, and not only is it exactly forty years since the release of David Lynch’s admirable but unsuccessful adaptation, we have now finally returned to Denis Villeneuve’s vision of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel Dune in the latest chapter of his adaptation. The film covers more orContinue reading “Dune: Part Two (2024) – The Beginning of a Delicate Time”

The Iron Claw (2023), A Family’s Bloodsport

What non-wrestling fans can never seem to grasp about the appeal of wrestling is that at its core, all it is is storytelling. The wrestlers tell stories in the ring, and in the kayfabe world outside of the ring. But every now and then the real-life story collided with the made up reality of wrestlingContinue reading “The Iron Claw (2023), A Family’s Bloodsport”

Mr Bates vs The Post Office (2024) – Firebrand Television

It’s quite incredible when art and media actually has an effect. It’s very easy at the minute to treat art, especially the motion picture arts, as essentially a frivolity. I think, especially in the UK at the moment, people in power do not want to think about movies and television. We live in an age,Continue reading “Mr Bates vs The Post Office (2024) – Firebrand Television”

Mean Girls (2024) – As Plastic as Ever

The story of Mean Girls follows Cady Heron. Although born in America she has spent much of her childhood with her parents in Kenya being homeschooled. But now they return to the states and like a fish out of water Cady is thrust into the world of high school drama, getting herself mixed up withContinue reading “Mean Girls (2024) – As Plastic as Ever”

The Killer (2023) – Sigma Grindset Scuppered

David Fincher over a career spanning four decades has set himself out to be one of the most enigmatic directors working. His films often play directly to the public’s appetite for popcorn thrills while serving them exploitation violence with films that often wriggle under inspection and deny any obvious moral stance. As a filmmaker heContinue reading “The Killer (2023) – Sigma Grindset Scuppered”

Gangs of New York (2002) – The Hands That Built America

In 1977, following the critical and commercial success of his previous three films Mean Streets, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and the Palme d’Or-winning Taxi Driver, a 35-year old Martin Scorsese announced the title of his next project: Gangs of New York, a historical epic about his hometown, New York City and the Five PointsContinue reading “Gangs of New York (2002) – The Hands That Built America”