• Movies The Problems with the Oscars
    The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, is arguably the most famous out of all the award shows for film and television. Some of this year’s contenders are the people involved with Oppenheimer, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things and many other movies that had a massive impact on the industry. Last […]
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  • Books Book vs Film: The Hunger Games
    Would you prefer to read and envision the story of the Hunger Games in your mind or would you prefer to lie back and watch a multitude of talented actors tell you the story? Either way, both ways are successful in conveying a brilliant storyline. Whether you have already read the fun series, have never […]
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  • Movies Movie Review: Doctor Strange – Multiverse of Madness
    Did you love the first Dr Strange and long for a sequel? Were you left wondering what happened beyond the end of WandaVision? Do you consider whether there really is a multiverse? You can get all three answers in just two action-packed and thrilling hours. Dr Strange, played by multiple-award-winning actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, casts a […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’
    For many, The Troubles in Ireland and their peak in the 1960s remain unknown and unspoken. The atrocities committed by the British in border counties like Fermanagh, Derry and cities like Belfast still affect Irish society today; with areas separated by ‘peace walls’ between Protestant and Catholic communities to prohibit further tensions. Despite the Good […]
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  • Movies 12 Lists of Christmas: Top Ten Films of 2021
    2021 has been a year of fantastic films. After the lockdown of last year, the cinema has been a pleasing place to go. So has my Netflix queue (I haven’t changed that much). Here are the top ten films that I watched in 2021. 10. No Time to Die The highly anticipated Bond film that […]
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  • Movies Spider-man No Way Home causes chaos
    Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, Marvel has consistently produced some of the biggest box-office draws. The upcoming Spider-man No Way Home looks set to mirror past successes. Scheduled to release in the UK on the 15th of December Spider-man No Way Home is perhaps one of the most anticipated releases ever for […]
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  • Editorials Five Must-Watch Netflix Originals
    Netflix Originals have proved to be some of the best televised experiences of recent times. Here, we name the top five of Netflix’s original series and films to watch. 5. Extraction In what comes across as Netflix’s answer to the growing popularity of John Wick, Extraction is a fast-paced action movie with exceptional combat scenes throughout. Though […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Spencer
    Almost twenty-five years after her death, Princess Diana’s status as a British icon has only grown. When Elton John sang at her funeral “your candle burned out long before your legend ever will,” he wasn’t wrong. But Spencer – the latest Diana saga film – goes against the grain of her typical legend status. Directed by […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Eternals
    The highly anticipated Eternals film has just been released this November. Starring Richard Madden, Gemma Chan and Angelina Jolie, this new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe gives us an additional team of heroes to fall in love with. The Eternals are a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers. They have secretly lived on […]
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  • Editorials Film Review: Dune
    Dune, the crowning achievement in science-fiction writing, was considered by many to be unadaptable. Efforts to get this groundbreaking epic by Frank Herbert off the ground have stalled in the past, from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ambitious attempt that went nowhere to David Lynch’s 1984 bizarre rendition crashing and burning. Enter Denis Villeneuve. This is a director […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Venom: Let There Be Carnage
    Venom: Let There Be Carnage, as it is so awkwardly titled, is a sequel to Venom, 2018’s most enigmatic film. Critics were in universal agreement about it being bad, yet the box office returns were so staggering, it defied belief. Andy Serkis has been brought aboard to exorcise the camp, comedy, and bromance between Eddie […]
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  • Movies Top Five Male Villains in Film
    A story is only as good as the villain who drives it along. They can be some of the most interesting, complex and entertaining aspects of any film, and we have no shortage of incredible bad guys. These are the five male villains who I believe shine above all else in their field. 5. Terence […]
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  • Movies Film Review: No Time To Die
    Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond has seen its fair share of rises and dips. His debut, Casino Royale, might be the best Bond film ever made, while its follow-up, Quantum of Solace, was a primary victim of the 2007-08 writers’ strike. Then came 2012’s Skyfall, which instantly became a classic, followed by 2015’s Spectre, […]
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  • Movies How Uncut Gems makes you anxious
    Uncut Gems, directed by the Safdie Brothers, is one of my favourite films of the past few years. The primary reason for this is the multitude of filmmaking techniques used throughout the film to induce an unbearably tense and frantic feeling in the audience. This might be the most anxiety-inducing film I’ve ever seen. How […]
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  • Movies Top Five Female Villains in Film
    Not to be outdone, the great female villains of film never cease to impress. And today, we will dissect the top five of them right here. Female antagonists offer a different breed of monster to their male counterparts, and these five effortlessly excel at their tasks of terrifying the audience. 5. Luv – Blade Runner […]
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  • Movies Top Five James McAvoy Performances
    James McAvoy is a brilliant Scottish actor who has appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, and theatre productions. He does great accents and has shown impressive range as an actor. He is also very nice to look at. This combination means that I have paid extensive attention to his work and have listed five of […]
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  • Movies Can cinemas recover from Covid?
    Cinemas were experiencing a steady revenue decline even before the pandemic. The restrictions ended up causing an almost total collapse. Tentpole franchise films ended up moving to streaming services. Blockbusters like No Time To Die, Dune and Black Widow were delayed more times than you count. Now we ask: can cinemas recover? Recommended Reading: Film […]
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  • Movies The Matrix 4: What We Know So Far
    When The Matrix was released in 1999, it changed the shape of Western action films forever. From its impressive CGI work, clever storytelling and complex and intricate martial art sequences, The Matrix had it all. The original trilogy wrapped up in 2003 with the conclusion of The Matrix Revolutions but since then there have been […]
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  • Movies Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
    Marvel Studios have been drip-feeding fresh content for the majority of the year. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings certainly lives up to the high expectations set by the many TV shows released by the franchise. Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, and Fala Chen star in Marvel’s newest film. The story follows Shang-Chi […]
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  • Movies Netflix’s Fear Street Trilogy Ranked
    Netflix’s new retro slasher trilogy Fear Street follows the teens of Shadyside through their attempt to reverse its doomed path, all while finding themselves in the bloody centre of it. Based on R. L. Stine’s Fear Street book series, the trilogy deals with familiar horror motifs of witchcraft, gory murders, horrors at campsites and nods […]
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  • Movies Film Review: The Suicide Squad
    If missing the point was a competition then 2016’s Suicide Squad would be the champion at something for once. In what, by design, should be a violent yet darkly comedic bloodbath of Z-list supervillains, we get a humiliating experience for everyone involved. Luckily, James Gunn is a filmmaker who specialises in zany pieces about oddball […]
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  • Movies Alien: Less is More
    With everything the Alien franchise has become, it’s easy to forget just how magnificent and influential the original film is. A lot of people say they prefer Aliens, the action-oriented sequel from James Cameron. But what Ridley Scott’s magnus-opus Alien sets out to do, it does like no other film can. Alien’s biggest strength is […]
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  • Movies Film Review: The Tomorrow War
    Director Chris Mckay delivers to Amazon Prime video his take on a science fiction epic, The Tomorrow War, but is there enough quality to keep viewers engaged at home? The Tomorrow War explores a world in which soldiers are taken from the past to fight for humanity in the future. The survivors are then returned […]
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  • Movies Palm Springs: Time-looping but different
    I often find it hard to get excited about new films these days. With many filmmakers having an interest in recycling and reusing past ideas and concepts, repackaging them as best they can, it’s hard to get into a film without a sense of Déjà vu. So when Palm Springs was announced, it was hard […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Bo Burnham: Inside
    Bo Burnham is in many ways a perfect figure to usher in this new wave of pandemic performance art. He is a figure of millennial endeavour, being a musical comedian who got his start on YouTube over a decade ago. One of the original internet content creators, a type of job spearheaded by this generation, […]
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  • Movies What’s Coming to Cinemas?
    Cinemas are back in full swing and it is summer season. There is a slate of upcoming blockbusters that are sure to spark interest among many who have been away from the big screen for a long time now. Let’s have a look over what is set to come out in the next few weeks. […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Black Widow
    The most recent addition to the renowned Marvel Cinematic Universe is the 2021 Black Widow film, which certainly does not divert from the extremely high expectation that comes with each instalment of anything associated with Marvel. Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz star in the film that follows the hit Captain America: […]
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  • Movies The Dark Knight Rises: Better Than You Remember
    Contrary to popular belief, many sequels end up being on par to their predecessor. In some cases, they end up surpassing it. Some examples of this include Terminator: Judgement Day, Mad Max: Fury Road, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Blade Runner 2049. Although there is a certain sequel out there that while doesn’t quite […]
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  • Movies Film Review: A Quiet Place Part II
    If you ask me, there is one film you need to see as cinemas return. Not because the film is good (which it is – very), but it marks a fantastic return to the art of filmmaking and the medium of cinema that we’ve been starved of for so long. I’m talking of course about […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Disney’s Cruella
    Disney’s 2021 release of Cruella explores the backstory of 101 Dalmatians’ infamous villain Cruella De Vil.  The plot The story begins in Estella’s childhood, where the death of her mother acts as a catalyst for a journey of danger, revenge and betrayal. The character develops from the role of a rebellious preteen, all the way to […]
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  • Movies The Venom Sequel: What it Needs to Do
    Despite the character of Venom being one of my all-time favourites in all of comic book history, my reaction to his solo outing back in 2018 was concerning at first. I went with the ‘so bad it’s good’ mindset which seemed to be a general consensus. But on a repeat viewing, I could not bring […]
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  • Movies Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka? There’s a bigger issue
    Another day, another perplexing backstory announced in the works at Hollywood.  This time it’s rising star Timothée Chalamet who will take up the mantle of the mythical confectionary guru Willy Wonka in an apparent prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There is no doubt that Chalamet will do a fine job with what he […]
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  • Movies Lake Mungo – The Scariest Film You’ve Never Seen
    Genuinely great 21st century horror films deserve all the hype and excitement that the newest franchise film or Oscar contender gets. The likes of Hereditary, Possum and The Witch have all been universally praised for their deeply unsettling imagery, themes, sound design and effect they leave on an audience. However, one little film released in […]
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  • Movies Film Review: The Woman in the Window
    Something about Netflix’s latest thriller addition, The Woman in the Window, adapted from the novel of the same name by AJ Finn, makes me wonder whether a conflict between two filmmakers was at the heart of this film’s production. Such is the mismatched and muddled style of what it is I’m watching that it came as […]
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  • Movies Top Five Disney Films
    As a Disney fanatic, lockdown has given me a lot of time to watch all my favourite films on Disney Plus. As a result, I have compiled a list of my top five film recommendations so you can skip to the very best Disney films out there – in my opinion. 5. Lady and the […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Florence Foster Jenkins
    3.7/5 Yes, yes, yes – I am yet again coming to you with a review of a film Hugh Grant is in. Florence Foster Jenkins, a 2016 Stephen Frears film, is based on the true story of the eponymous New York socialite singer (Meryl Streep) and her devoted husband St. Clair Bayfield. It’s a comedy […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Notting Hill
    3.5/5 Hello and welcome to the Hugh Grant fan bandwagon. Since I’m re-watching basically all of his classic films (it’s Christmas, leave me be), I thought I may as well review them. First up is Notting Hill – the Richard Curtis film that made this pocket of London one of the most famous. The plot […]
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  • Movies Top Five Christmas Films
    Seeing as it’s officially December, it’s officially OK to watch Christmas films. After one hell of a year, who doesn’t fancy cozying up in bed watching some disgustingly happy people play around in snow, delivering an overarchingly positive message of hope and love? Even a pessimist like me wouldn’t say no to that. So, without […]
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  • Movies Album Review: folklore
    9/10 It’s a Sunday morning when I connect to my speaker to begin the journey of folklore, Taylor Swift’s lockdown brain-child. Also known as: her latest album. Bon Iver has contributed to this one – and you can tell. Mainly because every single song doesn’t begin with a capital letter. The album cover is black […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Joker
    No, you aren’t going to get shot going to watch this film. Joker is directed by the guy who made The Hangover trilogy and uses that basis to claim comedy is dead. We know Todd. We saw them too. It stars Joaquin Phoenix (a name I will spell once and only once) as Arthur Fleck. […]
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  • Movies Film Review: IT Chapter 2 (feat. James L)
    Well, that’ll teach me to get my hopes up. IT: Chapter 2 is the sequel to the 2017 horror about a child-eating clown. A film that is excellent when it’s being a charming kid-drama and annoying when it’s being a dull jump-scare fest. All in all, it was good enough to get me to read […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Brooklyn
    5/5 It’s the age-old dream of many: move to New York and start a life there. It’s a magical, monumental fairytale. A childhood dream of millions. But those brave enough to pack up their bags and head across the Atlantic to the City of Dreams know full well how difficult it really is. And so […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Pet Sematary
    4.5/5 Pet Sematary is a horror blockbuster released earlier this year, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Its horrifying storyline managed to capture audiences around the globe, even if King was hesitant to publish the novel originally, considering it too distressing. Dr Louis Creed (played by Jason Clarke) discovers a mysterious […]
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  • Movies Spider-Man out of the MCU?
    According to just about every Hollywood-scoping, star-scanning, movie minding website on the internet, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is being dragged, webbing and screaming, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The previous two films featuring Holland’s Peter Parker (Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home) have been well received by fans and critics alike. So why would anyone […]
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  • Editorials What Really Makes a Good Film?
    Aspiring film journalist and student from Newcastle Sarah Storer explains how to make a good film As a frequent cinema-goer and film critic, I’ve watched a lot of films over the years. I find that I tend to enjoy films of a similar style and genre and I will branch to them rather than seeing […]
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  • Movies Film Review: Braveheart
    9/10 Braveheart – the patriotic story of the heroic and consumer of the English, William Wallace. This film follows the medieval story of a child who lost his family to war before developing and maturing into the saviour of Scotland. When the love of his life is gruesomely slaughtered, Wallace leads a rebellion against Edward […]
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  • Editorials Top Five DJs of the 2010s
    Whether you’re desperate for some Monday morning running motivation or hitting the town for your mate’s 21st, dance music can lift anyone’s mood, regardless of age. However, looking forward to times when summer festivals are popping up everywhere in the UK, I’m going to discuss the five best DJs that I believe have had the […]
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  • Movies Film Review: I, Tonya
    I have never been sporty, but discovering ice skater Tonya Harding had me head over skates. Discovering Tonya Harding was a motivational, song-inspiring and empowering experience. It’s thrilling to watch her on ice, making history with her skating by becoming the first American woman to land a triple axel in a compeition. Before watching I, […]
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