Fantasy, along with its sister, Science Fiction, is an oft-derided genre. Critics and literary award committees turn up their noses; ‘high-brow’ readers won’t be seen dead holding a copy. A writer that manages to bridge this chasm is the Japanese/British, ...
Read More »“Serena” burns bright… and fizzles
Even a remarkable collection of talent, both in front of and behind the camera, can fall far short of delivering an outstanding film. Serena is no exception. It’s not a terrible film per say, but despite strong individual performances and ...
Read More »“The Age of Adaline”: a long-in-the-tooth romance
‘Enchanting’ music-box chimes, an extreme long shot of a spinning Earth, and third-person fairy tale narration in the opening scenes of The Age of Adaline, set the tone for this predictable but sweet film and its pre-packaged, “nice” ending. For ...
Read More »Pharrell Williams SA tour dates announced
Big Concerts in partnership with Woolworths have announced that Grammy award-winning producer and performer Pharrell Williams will perform 2 public concert dates in South Africa in September 2015. Williams has helped create such classics as Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”, Robin ...
Read More »Surprise Palme d’Or winner at Cannes
Last night saw a surprise winner take the top honours at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d’Or. Auteur Jacques Audiard won the prestigious prize for his film Dheepan, about an improvised family of Sri Lankan refugees living in Paris. ...
Read More »“What about Meera” – a difficult and uncomfortable read
After growing up on a sugar cane farm in Tongaat in Durban, 22-year old Meera Narain, is forced into a loveless and abusive marriage. Her husband, a doctor of high-standing, and her vindictive and cruel mother-in-law, treat Meera like an ...
Read More »“The Raft” – Fred Strydom’s debut novel is riveting and moving science fiction
What if you forgot who you are? What if you lost all your memories in one instant, the names and faces of your loved ones forgotten, your past erased, your hopes and dreams voided? That’s the world humankind faces in ...
Read More »“A Most Violent Year” – low-boil tension that’s never dull
1981 was statistically one of the most brutal, murderous years in New York history. Crime, decay and corruption were threatening to engulf the city that never sleeps. It’s against this murky backdrop that director and writer J.C. Chandor sets the ...
Read More »“Accidental Love” – probably the worst movie of the year.
What were you thinking Jake Gyllenhaal? Just on the back of his role in the widely-acclaimed Nightcrawler, this talented actor appears in what can only be described as bumbling, bewildering drivel. In fact, the film Accidental Love, features a host of ...
Read More »PacMan turns 35 – do you feel old yet?
http://ai.berkeley.edu/images/pacman_game.gif One of the most iconic videogame characters in history is turning 35 today. If you’re around my age you probably spent hours traversing the maze, the yellow character chomping down pellets while avoiding his alien enemies Blinky, Pinky, Inky ...
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