WandaVision Episode 6 is the sixth instalment of the Disney+ superhero streaming TV drama. After the mind-blowing surprise ending of the previous episode, WandaVision Episode 6 carries forward the sitcom concept of the series thus far by morphing into a 90s-era TV show, complete with powerpop-based theme song (think : Friends)
(more…)
Your Honor Part 9 is the penultimate instalment of a ten-part drama miniseries set in New Orleans. The series is adapted from the Israeli TV series Kvodo. The premise of Your Honor concerns Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston), a judge who has to take drastic action in order to safeguard his son Adam, after the latter kills the scion of a mob boss in a hit-and-run accident.
(more…)
The Hours is a 2002 drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman. The movie is based on Michael Cunningham’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title.
(more…)
The Great is a 10-episode historical drama cum black comedy series loosely based on the life of Catherine the Great, Empress of All Russia from 1762 until 1796. And when we say ‘loosely based’ it’s probably more accurate to state that apart from the names of the characters The Great does not depict any true historical events whatsoever, except superficially.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman is a 1981 British romantic drama film directed by Karel Reisz and based on the 1969 novel of the same name by John Fowles. The original novel is best known for its metafictional approach of featuring multiple endings. While no such approach exists in this film adaptation, there are other metafictional elements that we will discuss below.
WandaVision Episode 5 is the latest instalment of the Disney+ superhero streaming TV drama. Episode 5 is probably the best episode in the WandaVision miniseries thus far. We believe that this has mostly to do with the parallel storytelling in Wanda’s pocket reality (a.k.a. the Maximoff Anomaly) and the real world (a.k.a. Marvel Cinematic Universe). Perhaps this should have been the approach the series should have taken in episodes 2 and 3.
(more…)
The Dig is a 2021 British historical drama film directed by Simon Stone, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston, which reimagines the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo. The movie stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin and Ken Stott.
(more…)
Offworlder #1 is the first issue of this star-spanning science fiction comic book saga by writer Mike Baron and artist Jordi Armengol. Imagine Edgar Rice Burroughs (John Carter, Tarzan et al) pulp scifi concepts melded with the brutal barbaric sensibility of Robert E. Howard’s Conan books.
(more…)
The Expanse S05E10 concludes the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Nemesis Games”, The Expanse S05E10 ties up several plot strands as diverse character arcs intersect to present a very satisfying denouement for this penultimate season. At the same time, the season finale provides the perfect set up for season 6, which will probably see broadcast in 2022.
(more…)
Your Honor Part 8 is the latest instalment of a ten-part drama miniseries set in New Orleans. The series is adapted from the Israeli TV series Kvodo. The premise of Your Honor concerns Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston), a judge who has to take drastic action in order to safeguard his son Adam, after the latter kills the scion of a mob boss in a hit-and-run accident.
(more…)
“It’s the little things, Jimmy. It’s the little things that rip you apart. It’s the little things that get you caught.”
(more…)
Best Genesis songs (with Phil Collins) is a listicle idea that has been stuck in my head for a while now. There is a common misconception amongst progressive rock fans that when Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, it was all downhill from that point. This perception has hardened against the band especially in the 1980s when Genesis (Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford) become a genuine commercial success.
(more…)
WandaVision Episode 4 is the latest instalment of the Disney+ superhero streaming TV drama. After spending three episodes in a bizarre alternate reality where Wanda and Vision were living in TV sitcoms based in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, we finally get to see what is happening in the ‘real’ world i.e. the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
(more…)
Rene Magritte (21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist. Magritte is one of my favourite artists of all time. He is famous for creating a number of thought-provoking, incongruous images. Rene Magritte depicted ordinary objects in an extraordinary context, the premise of his work being the presentation of things that do not belong together. This unique ability is borne from Rene Magritte’s fecund imagination.
(more…)
The Expanse S05E09 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Winnipesaukee”, The Expanse S05E09 is the penultimate episode of Season 5 and storylines are being wrapped up ahead of the season finale.
(more…)
WandaVision Episode 3 continues the Disney+ streaming superhero TV drama miniseries. As mentioned in our previous review, WandaVision is the first time Marvel Studios has spun off the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters into a TV series. Anyone familiar with the MCU – isn’t that everyone? – will be aware of its interconnectivity and perhaps that’s where WandaVision (so far) has held back in favour of a very fanciful storytelling artifice.
(more…)
Your Honor Part 7 is the latest instalment of a ten-part drama miniseries set in New Orleans. The series is adapted from the Israeli TV series Kvodo. The premise of Your Honor concerns Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston), a judge who has to take drastic action in order to safeguard his son Adam, after the latter kills the scion of a mob boss in a hit-and-run accident.
(more…)
The Expanse S05E08 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Hard Vacuum”, The Expanse S05E08 was expected to be a deeply plotted instalment, especially after the ending of the previous episode but once more it proved tentative and transitional.
(more…)
30 Coins is a Spanish supernatural horror fantasy TV drama that draws heavily from the Catholic religion and mythology. The series is created and directed by noted Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia. The 8-part 30 Coins Season 1 of is an ambitious mystery thriller utilising several conspiracy theories relating to the Catholic church, much in the vein of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series.
Our analysis of 30 Coins Season 1 contains spoilers.
(more…)
Outside the Wire is a 2021 scifi war thriller streaming on Netflix. The film is set in 2036 and stars Anthony Mackie (who also serves as a producer on the film) as an android officer who works with a drone pilot (Damson Idris) to stop a global catastrophe. Our short take on Outside the Wire is that it is possessed of both an interesting premise and a strong underlying message but certain narrative choices turn the third act into a unsatisfying cliché.
Please note that there are spoilers in our analysis of Outside the Wire that follows.
WandaVision is the debut Marvel Studios superhero TV miniseries drama streaming on the Disney+ platform. Of course, we have had Marvel TV series like Daredevil, Jessica Jones etc on Netflix, Agents of SHIELD on ABC and so on. However, this time around, WandaVision is effectively spinning off the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters of Wanda Maximoff and Vision into a TV miniseries. Thus far, Disney+ has released the first two episodes of the miniseries and its fair to say that WandaVision is quite different from what MCU fans may be used to in the hit movies.
(more…)
The Serpent Episode 4 is the 4th instalment in this eight-part crime drama miniseries based on the real life murders committed by Charles Sobhraj (played by Tahar Rahim) in the 1970s. Sobhraj was a French thief, fraudster and serial killer of Vietnamese and Indian origin and his victims were young European backpackers visiting South-East Asia on the so-called ‘hippie trail’.
(more…)
Synchronic is an American science fiction horror drama directed and produced by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead and written by Benson. It stars Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie. The film has been touted by many critics as one of the best scifi movies of 2020. Benson and Moorhead have a good reputation as cutting-edge indie scifi directors with previous well-received movies like Spring and The Endless. The duo are also working together on the upcoming Disney+/Marvel Studios streaming Moon Knight series.
(more…)
The Expanse S05E07 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Oyedeng”, The Expanse S05E07 is arguably the best episode of this stellar 5th season so far. This is probably because finally, the episode digs deep into the story behind Naomi Nagata’s history with Belter freedom fighter (or terrorist, take your pick) Marcos Inaros and their son Felip.
(more…)
American Gods S03E01 is the first episode in the latest season of this supernatural fantasy TV drama. The series is adapted from Neil Gaiman’s 2001 novel of the same name. The premise relates to a mythological war between ancient deities who were brought into the U.S.A. by immigrants centuries ago and new gods brought about changes in contemporary society and culture.
(more…)