Sex Education season 3: more measured and mature

It’s a funny thing with this show. Like many others, I was a fan from the first episode… the larger than life school, with its impossibly fashionable and irrepressibly horny teenage students. The fact that it tackled so many issues that young people face today in terms of sexuality, identity and body issues, and did… Continue reading Sex Education season 3: more measured and mature

Dune (2021): beautiful, epic, yet didn’t make me feel

You might get the sense, from the title of this review, that I didn’t love Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sprawling sci-fi novel. This is not the case, at least not entirely. There are things I loved about the film, for sure. But there’s also a lot that I struggled with, not least the… Continue reading Dune (2021): beautiful, epic, yet didn’t make me feel

My favourite teen movies (watched growing up, and as an adult)

Teen movies say something about growing up — about being a teenager, the ups and downs and highs and lows, finding one’s self on the cusp of adulthood. A time when hormones and emotions assault your senses and you’re experiencing a bunch of first times: like first love or first sexual encounter, or drink or… Continue reading My favourite teen movies (watched growing up, and as an adult)

Guillermo del Toro’s love of vivid colours, beautiful monsters and steampunk

As blog titles go, this one is quite specific. To set the scene… basically, to celebrate Halloween my partner and I have been watching spooky movies. One of those was Crimson Peak (2015) as I’d not seen it, despite being a big del Toro fan. And whilst I appreciated the movie, I didn’t love it.… Continue reading Guillermo del Toro’s love of vivid colours, beautiful monsters and steampunk

Chaos Walking (2021): messy and chaotic, but still fun

Chaos Walking (2021) is a sci-fi fantasy adventure with Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland, and it’s not as bad as critics say. I’m putting that out there from the start, as there are many out there that consider it a total car crash of a movie. Yet it isn’t. It’s scrappy, yes, but at least… Continue reading Chaos Walking (2021): messy and chaotic, but still fun

The Harder They Fall (2021): a scrappy mess, but still fun

This movie is tricky. First, the good: it’s got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the cast (Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo). The soundtrack is super cool, and many of the characters get impressive entrances. The performances, as you’d expect, are all solid, with Majors shining. And yet…… Continue reading The Harder They Fall (2021): a scrappy mess, but still fun