Hello readers! Last week I watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which released on Netflix on the 7th of November. The film has received very positive reviews from audiences and critics alike – but now that it has breached containment and is reaching people beyond the del Toro fanbase, I am sensing a shift in opinion. … Continue reading Frankenstein (2025) is not for fans of the book
Tag: film review
Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising
Hello readers! I’m a bit late to the party on this one, so I suspect that many of you are already familiar with this cinematic travesty… But, for those of you who dwell outside the YouTube and Letterboxd bubbles, it is with deep regret that I must inform you about Amazon’s recent film adaptation of … Continue reading Amazon’s War of the Worlds: so bad it’s good advertising
Van Helsing (2004) is worse than I remembered
Hello readers! Do you remember the film Van Helsing, from 2004? It starred Hugh Jackman as a legendary vampire-slayer, and also had Kate Beckinsale in it. Count Dracula was the main villain, but there were plenty of other enemies. Frankenstein was in it. So was the Wolf Man. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde had a … Continue reading Van Helsing (2004) is worse than I remembered
The blog is two years old!
Hello readers! On the 27th November, this blog reached its second anniversary. We now have two whole years of miscellaneous waffle in the post archives, all tangentially related to fantasy and science fiction. This week I’m taking the opportunity to look back over the last twelve months, picking out my favourite posts and acknowledging some … Continue reading The blog is two years old!
Reading into ratings – what do they mean?
Hello readers! Have you ever wondered what a star rating really means? Our online purchasing choices are often guided by tiny rows of stars, but their meaning isn’t as clear as their simplicity would suggest. Ratings are everywhere, whether they are individual scores given by respected critics, or mean values harvested from thousands of users … Continue reading Reading into ratings – what do they mean?
Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected
Hello readers! I recently watched Event Horizon, a science-fiction horror film from 1997. It has been largely forgotten, and a quick Google search unearths a host of unflattering reviews. The film was received poorly by critics and was a box office flop – and it didn’t make much of an impact on popular culture. However, … Continue reading Event Horizon (1997) is better than I expected
Film review: Dune (1984)
Hello readers! This week I watched the original adaptation of Dune from 1984, directed by David Lynch. The film is divisive, to say the least. Reviews at the time were overwhelmingly negative, and it was a commercial catastrophe, recouping only $30 million of its eye-watering $42 million budget. David Lynch refused to discuss the film … Continue reading Film review: Dune (1984)
Film review: Damsel
Hello readers! This week I watched Damsel on Netflix, mostly out of morbid curiosity after seeing the trailer. To my surprise, I didn’t hate it – but I didn’t really like it either. Damsel is a “dark fantasy” film about a young woman (Millie Bobby Brown) trying to escape a dragon’s lair. It styles itself … Continue reading Film review: Damsel
Film review: Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire
Hello readers! This review has been brewing for a while. I watched Rebel Moon – Part One soon after it released in late December, and the film has been lingering in my mind for all the wrong reasons. Let me be clear from the outset: Rebel Moon – Part One is not a good film. … Continue reading Film review: Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire
Film review: Godzilla Minus One
Hello readers! I have seen a lot of films over Christmas, but one in particular stands out from the crowd. Of course, it isn’t hard to stand out from the feel-good, easy-watching Christmas classics when you’re an epic kaiju film with subtitles, set in post-war Japan. In fact, Godzilla Minus One stands out as one … Continue reading Film review: Godzilla Minus One
