Bong Joon-ho’s first English language film, based on a French graphic novel, is reminiscent of Jean Pierre-Jeunet and Terry Gilliam (indeed, John Hurt’s character is called Gilliam), and much like a train builds up momentum as it goes, peaking with about ten minutes to go before coming to a halt. As the clunky exposition captions … >
One of the great things about Orphan Black is that we really have no idea just how many clones there are. The only limit, really, is how many clones Tatiana Maslany can convincingly play. And, judging from what we’ve already seen, she can convincingly play just about anybody. In this episode, we’re introduced to a … >
After last week’s explosive episode, Hour 8 of Live Another Day is a far more subdued piece of television, but it’s equally as effective. With Heller having opted to give himself up to Margot and stop the chaos – an option made all the more appealing by his imminent slow decline through Alzheimer’s – Jack … >
As it turns out, scattered Wildling bodies seen from atop the Wall look like squashed ants; or perhaps more appropriately, King Lear’s flies, killed for sport by cruel gods. It was with this wonderful visual that Jon Snow’s battle to save Castle Black came to an end, and the finale of Game of Thrones’ fourth … >
Gia Coppola’s debut film is ambient, almost indolent teen drama that features sparks of wit, but ultimately is too laidback for its own good, and fails to distinguish itself. Based on James Franco’s short stories, it’s also going to suffer from the stigma of Franco’s appearance in the film as ‘a handsome soccer coach’ (to … >
My life was sad, and distinctly lacking Honour. My Bat’leth had grown dull and rusted after many years without shedding an enemy’s blood. And I was pretty sure that the Romulans were laughing at me behind my back whenever I went to the toilet. Then I read The Klingon Art of War and now my … >
The latest boxset from Big Finish might at first seem somewhat of a departure from their regular sci-fi staples of Doctor Who and Blake’s 7. Based on the post-apocalyptic television show from the mid-1970s, Survivors actually has plenty of connections to both, coming from the pen of Dalek creator Terry Nation and sharing plenty of … >
When John Hurt was cast as the War Doctor, a hitherto unseen incarnation who forsook his principles to take up arms against the Daleks in the Time War, it was inevitable that we would be left wanting more. While we have only ever caught snatches of that impossible conflict on screen, which might well be … >
Each of the Doctors each received an outing with 2013’s 50th Anniversary collection of Doctor Who reprints, so this year it is the turn of his foes. Casting the net wider than before, this collection holds examples from both the Virgin Publishing’s ‘New Adventures’ and ‘Missing Adventures’ ranges from the early 1990s, as well as … >
When Paul McGann joined Big Finish in 2000, their first task was to devise him a companion. Charlotte Espleth Pollard, Charley to her friends, joined the TARDIS as a self-styled Edwardian adventuress with a joie de vivre to match the Doctor’s own. Played by India Fisher, familiar to many for her voice over work on … >