The Last Women Standing (Sheng zhe wei wang)

The Last Women Standing (Sheng zhe wei wang) China (2015) Dir. Luo Luo There has always been a fixation in certain societies with women going through life without getting married, creating a panic among some that the longer the ring finger remains gold free a woman can’t be happy or have any value to any …

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? US (1962) Dir. Robert Aldrich What do you do when you have two of the biggest stars of the Golden Era of Hollywood who have a famous long-standing personal and bitter rivalry? You cast them as sisters in a film of course! That is the big draw for this …

Expelled From Paradise

Expelled From Paradise (Cert 15) 2 Discs Blu-ray/DVD Combo (Distributor: All The Anime) Running time: 103 minutes approx. Cyber hacking has become a major global problem ever since the rise of the internet and mobile phone technology of the past twenty years, so how ironic would it be that one solution to this issue would …

Zootropolis

Zootropolis (Cert PG) 1 Disc (Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment) Running Time: 109 minutes approx. For many people Disney represents the embodiment of the idyllic fantasy world of princes and princesses, music and magic, and happy ever after. But if we look beyond the twee, sugary aesthetic they do occasionally face up to the …

Spirits’ Homecoming (Gwi-hyang)

Spirits' Homecoming (Gwi-hyang) Korea (2016) Dir. Cho Jung-rae The Japanese occupation of China from the 1930’s to the end of the World War II has been the subject of many films from that country, yet the Koreans don’t seem so forthcoming in reflecting on the same treatment they endured on film. Understandably the memories will …

All You Need Is Love (Luo pao ba ai qing)

All You Need Is Love (Luo pao ba ai qing) Taiwan/Hong Kong (2015) Dirs. Richie Jen & Andy Luo Sorry Beatles fans, this has nothing to do with their flower power anthem from 1967. Instead, this is the directorial debut from Taiwanese heartthrob Richie Jen, who also co-wrote the script, provided some of the music …

Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond US (2016) Dir. Justin Lin After the disappointing Into Darkness, the second in the rebooted series of films based on Gene Roddenberry’s enduring sci-fi creation, there was a lot of making up to do in restoring the lost faith of the hardcore Trekkies. For this newest outing Justin “Fast & Furious” Lin …

Libero aka Along The Ridge (Anche libero va bene)

Libero aka Along The Ridge (Anche libero va bene) Italy (2006) Dir. Kim Rossi Stuart Families. Can’t live with them, etc… Some of us lucky to have solid, cohesive and loving relationships with our families while others are not so fortunate for a number of reasons. Actor turned director Kim Rossi Stuart explores this theme …

Effi Briest

Effi Briest (Cert U) 1 Disc (Distributor: Arrow Films) Running Time: 141 minutes approx. For Rainer Werner Fassbinder adapting the celebrated 1896 German novel by Theodor Fontane was a labour of love. Originally intended to be Fassbinder’s major directorial debut in 1972 it would take two years to arrive on cinema screens, after a struggle …

Parasyte The Maxim Collection 2

Parasyte The Maxim Collection 2 (Episodes 13-25) (Cert 15) 2 Discs DVD/2 Discs Blu-ray (Distributor: Animatsu Entertainment) Running time: 274 minutes approx. Part two of this superlative sci-fi/horror series kicks off with central protagonist Shinichi Izumi in the doldrums after witnessing the death of schoolmate Kana Kimishima at the hands of the parasites. Having exposed …