“Elevated horror” movies ranked, from M3gan to Midsommar January 10, 2023 With new “elevated horror” movie M3gan coming out this week, I thought I’d round up some of the top films in this nebulous genre. While the label – largely disparaged by the film community – can be retrospectively applied to films from The Exorcist to The Shining, its use is a recent phenomenon, often used [...]
Avatar: The Way of Water was crap – here’s why I’m glad it exists January 10, 2023 A few weeks ago, you might have read my review of Avatar: The Way of Water in this paper. It’s safe to say I wasn’t a fan – I found the story dull, the dialogue inane, and the high frame rate 3D uncomfortable. Thirteen years ago, I wedged myself into a packed screening room in [...]
The M3gan dance – what is it and does it live up to the hype? January 10, 2023 New horror-comedy M3gan is out this week, and while it’s an excellent cautionary tale in its own right about the dangers of technology, the thing that has driven the internet into meltdown is a five second dance routine by the film’s robotic psychopath M3gan. The titular robot is an AI housed in the body of [...]
The Apprentice review: A recap of the new series of Lord Sugar’s show January 5, 2023 There is something unbearably heavy about the prospect of a new series of The Apprentice. Tuning in to see this nightmare unfold yet again is like watching a battered old walrus drag itself back up the same beach year after year, ungraceful, wheezing, a shadow of its former self, the light in its eyes dimming [...]
Odeon sees Christmas boom as Avatar 2 lures Brits back to the big screen January 5, 2023 Odeon, the UK’s largest cinema chain, welcomed over a million viewers during Christmas thanks to the much anticipated Avatar sequel. Cinemas in the UK have started 2023 on a high note after two rough years, according to new numbers released by Odeon. The return of viewers to the big screen was credited to the release [...]
Confirmed: Channel 4 privatisation cancelled as broadcaster to stay in public ownership January 5, 2023 Channel 4 will remain in public ownership after a planned privatisation – championed by Boris Johnson’s government – was binned today. The Culture Department confirmed the move today, confirming reports based on a leaked letter yesterday. The Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan had written to Rishi Sunak calling for the government to drop the plans to [...]
The Apprentice is back tonight: Meet the candidates, from the cannon-firer to former Barclays banker January 5, 2023 The candidates for the next season of BBC show The Apprentice have been announced, with a former Barclays banker among those hoping to entice Lord Alan Sugar to invest £250,000 in their business idea. Now in its 17th season, the show, which sees contestants complete tasks in order to demonstrate their entrepreneurial prowess, has launched [...]
Chinese New Year in London: What does the Year of the Rabbit mean? January 5, 2023 This month will see the start of the Chinese New Year, with the Year of the Tiger ticking over to the Year of the Rabbit. The main celebrations will take place on 22 January, although the build-up officially began on 30 December, day eight of the last month of the lunar calendar, with the Laba [...]
Netflix 1899 cancellation: thousands of fans sign petition to save show January 3, 2023 Thousands of fans have signed a petition in the days since Netflix’s hit show 1899 has been cancelled, asking the streaming provider to keep the show. Despite the show’s popularity bosses have confirmed the science fiction show has been axed. In the wake of the news a Change.org petition has been created and has amassed [...]
Meta to discuss bringing back Trump January 2, 2023 Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company is discussing whether Donald Trump should be allowed back on the platforms. In January 2021, Meta (then known as Facebook Inc) had suspended Donald Trump’s social media accounts for two years. Five people, including a police officer died, in the riot. Mr Trump posted a video on Facebook and [...]