Ridley Scott’s Alien is rightly regarded as a classic fusion of sci-fi and horror. Not surprisingly this film has led to countless imitations. While taking inspiration from a masterpiece is understandable, imitation jeopardises a film’s individuality and overall impact. This is the case with the latest Alien-inspired sci fi thriller Underwater. From its story of a working-class crew in a
Read moreThis week on ‘Built For Speed’ we take a look at Kristen Stewart battling beasties in the ocean’s murky depths in ‘Underwater’. On a slightly different note we’ll also review the biopic of beloved US kids TV host Fred Rogers in ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood’ which stars Tom Hanks. With the Oscars happening this Monday (Aus time) we’ll
Read moreTwo decades ago, Guy Ritchie’s quirky, cartoonish but violent British gangster films such as Lock Stock and Two Smokin’ Barrels and Snatch were the cinema equivalent of Britpop to Tarantino’s grunge. Featuring a colourful rogues’ gallery of geezers, hard men and con artists tangled up in convoluted scams, Ritchie’s films were ridiculous froth but still fun. In recent years his
Read moreThis week on ‘Built For Speed’ we take a look at Golden Globe winner and Oscar hopeful, WW1 drama ‘1917’. We’ll also explore the Oscar nominees list to see which other films are in contention. We also let you know if Guy Ritchie has atoned for his recent disappointing films with his latest effort ‘The Gentlemen’. There’ll be plenty of magnificent
Read moreWith a guaranteed worldwide audience but also an amazingly finicky, near-fundamentalist fan base, helming a Star Wars film must be a very tantalising and yet daunting prospect for any director. After directing the mostly loved The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams takes back the reins from Rian Johnson who gave us the intriguingly off-beat but ultimately silly, The Last Jedi. With
Read moreThe original Jumanji from 1995 was a minor Gen X pop cultural touchstone. Often resembling a Spielberg film, it combined childhood escapist adventure, over-the-top special effects and the late Robin Williams patented brand of manic performance for a mostly entertaining adventure. Sniffing the Gen X nostalgia dollar and the instant merch potential of a film built around a video game,
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