It’s often up to the fates and the Gods of scheduling as to which shows seem to take off and which don’t, but one show that seems to be flying under the radar – at least here in the UK – is the excellent Cinemax show Banshee. This story of an ex-con who ends up […]
So, it’s January and with both the holidays and the new series of Sherlock already over (sob!), it’s time to turn our attention to the brave new world of 2014. I’m not making any New Year’s Resolutions this year, since I’m now of an age when I realise the folly of trying anything that requires […]
Well, we’ve reached that time of year when everyone is doing their best of/worst of lists – so why should I not join in the fun? Here are the Fangirl highs (and some lows) of 2013. Did I include yours? Surprisingly good sequels I might have been (almost) alone in being disappointed in Iron Man […]
The smash hit success of Gravity proves that when it comes to space, women are just as compelling as men (and, in honesty, it also shows that it you pitch a story on special effects, no one cares which sex the protagonist is). But Sandra Bullock, impressive as she is in the role, is only […]
There’s been a splurge of new shows this year – some much anticipated (Agents of SHIELD, anyone?) some seem to have slipped quietly under the radar. So what should you be setting your Sky Plus for? Here’s my highly subjective list of hits and misses… The Originals I gave up on the Vampire Diaries a […]
Recent weeks saw the final episodes of both Breaking Bad and Dexter: one generally seen as a fitting conclusion to the most addictive TV show in years, the other an opinion dividing finale to a once mighty drama that has been allowed to drag on long past its sell-by date. So which other shows could […]
Are you in mourning over the end of Breaking Bad? Wondering if you’ll ever find anything quite so gripping again? Don’t be sad! Why not think of this as an opportunity to catch up with all those other great shows you missed? Here’s my recommendation of the boxed sets you should be buying. Walter who? […]
A brief glimpse of the new Sherlock trailer may have sent the internet into a frenzy (admittedly, much of it over John Watson’s moustache – WTF, John?) but, in what feels like a very long absence, has the BBC show’s claim to be the ultimate modern day Holmes been usurped by a pretender from overseas? […]
With the announcement that True Blood is finally getting staked next season (not before time, many would argue, but that’s a discussion for another day), does the thought of a slick vampire drama starring Bill himself, Stephen Moyer, alongside such heavy hitters as Idris Elba and Smash’s Jack Davenport make your blood tingle? Well, you […]
At a time when Hollywood seems to be remaking every film you ever heard of and plenty you didn’t, it can be curious to see what hasn’t yet been lined up for a reboot. One obvious omission is Constantine, which seems ripe for a remake (or, if you’re on the side of those who saw […]
It’s hard to believe in these post-Twilight/True Blood days, but vampires weren’t always this endemic. Back in the 80s, before Buffy staked her place in popular culture, the cinematic vamp was a pathetic creature indeed – a moribund cliché tied to history, more often inspiring comedy than fear. Then came The Lost Boys. Smart, sexy and stylish, The Lost Boys made vampires […]
While lots of people were just excited to see Pacific Rim because of its (admittedly thrilling) ‘giant robots punching giant dinosaurs’ premise, in certain circles the film also created a lot of advance buzz for being visibly different from the average blockbuster. Just look at those posters if you wonder why; a multiracial cast and […]
Fan written fiction – fanfic – is nothing new, but the internet has changed the way it’s created and distributed, allowing fan communities to flourish and interact. Technological advances now mean creating works of fanfic is no longer limited to those who can write or draw – it’s fairly easy these days to create a […]
Season 8 of Supernatural finally reaches UK shores this week, and it’s already been renewed for another season. After a seriously lacklustre showing in Season 7, this is a real return to form for the show, so if you’re a lapsed fan I’d recommend tuning in to the new season. But for those of you […]
While I’m always happy to look at a pretty-faced TV show lead, I do love a good character actor. The often unsung heroes of film and TV, they are what Television Without Pity calls the ‘who’s that guy? (or girl)’ actors, instantly recognisable faces who pop up adding class and character to your favourite shows […]
I used to be a massive comic book geek. In part this was just luck and timing – as a child in the late 70s/early 80s with a high reading age and a nearby newsagents that stocked a decent selection of comics I was perfectly primed to enjoy such classics as The X-Men’s The Phoenix […]
I may have mentioned, once or twice, how excited I am about Agents of SHIELD. I do, I admit, have a couple of reservations (Ming-Na aside, the cast of actual agents seems very white, very young and filled with the kind of slightly fratty, instantly forgettable pretty people you see in too many shows, which […]
Usually when a genre film comes out, there is a disconnect in the reviews between the mainstream press and the genre press – the latter appreciates the film for what it is, the former tends towards the slightly sniffy (“it’d be good if it wasn’t, y’know, about something as silly as superheroes or spaceships”). Usually, […]
With Iron Man 3 just about to open and the rest of the Avengers solo movies coming fast in its wake, I can’t help being sad that the one solo outing there seems to be no sign of yet is Black Widow’s. That leads me to ask – why are there no good female superhero […]
The only TV show I am more excited about than the upcoming series SHIELD (and you cannot believe just how excited I am about SHIELD) is the new procedural based on the books of Terry Pratchett, The Watch. But why has it taken so long for this to happen and why aren’t we seeing more […]
Tracey Sinclair