A Christmas Carol Review

If you’ve not read Charles Dickens’ 'A Christmas Carol', the chances are that you will, in some shape or form at least, be vaguely familiar with the premise, and at the very least its existence. Ebeneezer Scrooge, a disgruntled, frugal and merry-less man who grimaces at the mere mention of all things Christmas, is visited upon by three ghosts on Christmas Eve: the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.

Flash Reviews: Downsizing, Coco, The Commuter & The Post

Here are some more flash film reviews that may or may not save you some cash. And seeing as it's Oscar season, that means there are lots of opinions floating around in the ether, so why not share some of your own views and comment below.

Flash Reviews: The Disaster Artist, Molly's Game, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle & The Greatest Showman

I’ve been a little behind with posting some of my film reviews lately, but you can blame Christmas and Disneyland Paris for that. Speaking of which, I’ll be posting on that magical experience in the next few days too. For now, check out some flash reviews from December, which takes us right up until the last film I saw in 2017, The Greatest Showman. And don’t forget to check out my podcasts too, where I’ve already reviewed all of the following.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Review

In hindsight, it makes more sense than not that Abrams' The Force Awakens was a play-it-safe carbon copy of A New Hope, especially given that it was the first entry since 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, the last of the despised prequel trilogy. But there’s no denying that, despite its many strengths, it was a film weighed down by the past. Even in its controversial disposal of Harrison Ford's much-loved nerf herder, it was something of a Han Solo-centric film, though its decision to cast him into the ether in the first place spoke volumes about Disney's plans to start wiping the slate clean.

There Was Something Strange In Manchester's Bowlers Exhibition Centre... And It Looked Pretty Good!

On the first weekend of December, with my wife, Sian, and two friends, Anthony and Ben, I attended the For the Love of Sci-Fi Comic Con at the Bowler’s Exhibition Centre in Manchester. It’s been a pretty busy year for me, with my wedding in February, followed by a three-month trip (aka “greedy honeymoon”) around the world, but it might surprise you to learn that my weekend in Manchester is quite easily one of the most memorable of the year. I have to be careful when saying such things, though, but if you’re reading this, Sian, just remember - we got married on a Friday!

For the Love of Sci-Fi Preview: There's Something Strange in Manchester...

Here's a small collection of pictures from the For the Love of Sci-Fi Comic Con I recently attended in Manchester with Sian and my two equally-geeky friends, Anthony and Ben. I'll be writing up a full blog post, so check this space again tomorrow to find out more about who we met and what else we got up to!

Justice League - DC's Most Unwanted Criminal

The DCEU hasn't all been doom and gloom. I’ll defend Man of Steel as much as Superman would defend Earth. Wonder Woman was also a welcome delight, and to quote myself, was certainly the hero the franchise didn’t deserve. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad (call me two-faced but I didn't hate the latter so much at the time), however, remain the real villains of the series, and whose incoherent and laughable plots played out like riddles or jokes. But now, Justice League commits more crimes than you’d see in Downtown Gotham on a Saturday night. I may not be the greatest detective in the world, but these atrocities are more obvious than a psychopath in clown make-up. 

Paddington 2 Review

Ever since Michael Bond’s first book, A Bear Called Paddington, published in 1958, the Peruvian bear has appeared in over one hundred and fifty books and a number of his own television programmes, from stop motion animation to two-dimensional. He even has his own shop in Paddington Station, as well as his own statue on Platform One. Now, he’s already into his second film on the silver-screen. But thankfully, it’s not in vain.

Jigsaw

Like this franchise mindlessly does away with its characters, I’ll do away with the plot or any discussion around the horror genre. So let’s cut to the case. Following a seven-year hiatus, Jigsaw has returned. While the trailer begs you to ask “how”, given that the most sadistic, self-righteous and delusional killer to have disgraced the silver screen was blatantly killed (and there’s nothing that spells blatant death like this franchise) in an earlier sequel, the question on everyone’s minds is an exasperated “why”.

A Bad Moms Christmas

When the comedy-Christmas movie isn’t a series of outlandish and non-relatable events (you all know who you are) usually fuelled by booze or bad writing or both, it can be a wonderful and heart-warming thing. It’s a bit like eggnog; you have to get the mixture just right, or it will leave a bad taste in your mouth from the offset. That, or it will just be bland and forgetful. Classics like the Home Alone movies (remind yourself that there are only two…) and Love Actually remain a lot to live up to, but that said, each to their own. After all, there are those who love Christmas Pudding, and there are those who do not. In fact, the same can be said about Christmas itself.