19 Jun

One of the few positives of a contentious period in American politics is the fiery vitriol and furious response it can elicit from the liberal-leaning arts communities. George W. Bush's presidency and controversial invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan inspired some of the greatest (and angriest) films, albums, and prose the 21st century has known. Is it any wonder the Trump era is already influencing a new wave of topical "damn the man clown" cinema?...

16:57 / Reviews
2 Likes
15 Jun

After changing the entire animation landscape with their groundbreaking debut 1995 film Toy Story, Pixar have continued to dazzle audiences for the last two decades with their knack for impeccable visuals, stellar storytelling skills, and the innate ability to deliver an emotional impact like few other film animation studios. Their arrival came at a time when animation was beginning to lose the public's interest. Disney was still continuing down its well-worn path of flashy musicals and princess fairytales with mixed results, both commercially and artistically. Pixar's unique vision for...

08:22 / Opinion / Reviews
4 Likes
12 Jun

It's finally here. The Pixar sequel fans have been demanding for the last 14 years. It's a film many thought may never happen. It's a sequel some even suggested didn't need to exist. The Incredibles is considered by many to be one of Pixar's absolute best films. It's no wonder the wizards of Emeryville have taken their time, especially after the slightly-disappointing Finding Dory, which was equally as anticipated. How do you deliver when expectations are so dizzyingly high?...

02:00 / Reviews
3 Likes
09 Jun

Hype is a dangerous thing for most films, but particularly those of the horror genre. When a horror movie comes along that's hailed as "the scariest film of all time" or it's called a "gamechanger," it raises the level of expectation for those yet to see it. Naturally, this helps with box-office returns, but it can lead to disastrous disappointments for audiences who rush out expecting to be left literally shaking in their seat. This is the unfortunate situation facing Hereditary, the debut film from writer/director Ari Aster which...

16:27 / Reviews
2 Likes
08 Jun

Every now and then, a film comes along which you could probably pick to shreds but wisely stop yourself from doing. Last year, that was Bad Moms Christmas. This year, it's Ocean's 8. That's not to say either of these films are inherently "bad" movies. It's just neither are particularly inventive or original. They're not something you'd call groundbreaking. And they suffer from glaring plot holes and narrative missteps. However, both are so much damn fun, it seems unnecessary to demonise their mistakes, given the entertainment joy they deliver to...

19:16 / Reviews
1 Like
01 Jun

Late yesterday afternoon, Amazon dropped a bombshell on Australia. From July 1, the American website will no longer ship to Australian customers, instead redirecting users to the local version of the site. This change is in response to a new Australian law coming into effect on this date, requiring all online retailers to apply a ten per cent GST to purchases made overseas and shipped to Australia. Instead of simply complying with this new law, Amazon has bizarrely decided to ban Australians from future international purchases....

15:26 / Opinion
4 Likes
30 May

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a young boy discovered a film trilogy that changed his life. I was born after Return of the Jedi was released. I missed the entire Star Wars era. It wasn't until sometime in the early 1990s that I learnt of the existence of these films. There was a buzz around school because the three films were to be shown on television across three consecutive Saturday nights. Ashamedly, I had no real idea what these movies were. I'd maybe...

17:36 / Opinion / Reviews
2 Likes